Honeywell Aerospace Selected For Australia's First Precision Landing System At Sydney Airport

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Honeywell

13 Feb, 2013, 19:59 GMT

-- Airservices Australia adopts SmartPath® to support Sydney's growth as an international hub

SYDNEY, Feb. 13, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Honeywell's (NYSE: HON) SmartPath has been selected by Airservices Australia as the country's first Ground-Based Augmentation System (GBAS) to improve operational efficiency and decrease air traffic noise at Sydney Airport.

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Designed to overcome the limitations of traditional Instrument Landing Systems (ILS), a ground-based instrument approach system that relies on radio signals and lighting, GBAS augments Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS) to make them accurate and safe enough to use during aircraft approaches and landings at airports experiencing high traffic volumes. Honeywell's SmartPath is the world's only certified GBAS, with certifications from the Federal Aviation Administration and Germany's BAF, and replaces older ILS technology.

Sydney Airport as an International Hub

  • Sydney Airport has developed into a major international hub for the Australian and Asian region, serving a record 36.9 million passengers in 2012, a 3.6 percent rise from the previous year.
  • Responding to growing passenger demand, the selection of SmartPath at Sydney is the result of a successful partnership between the airport, Airservices, Australia's Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) and Qantas Airways, which provided GNSS landing system (GLS)-equipped A380 and B737 aircraft for system testing.
  • SmartPath will complete operational testing and evaluation by Airservices, Sydney Airport and Qantas by the end of Q1 2013 before becoming commercially operational, pending certification by CASA.

Benefits of SmartPath Precision Landing System

  • SmartPath supports up to 26 precision approaches for aircraft across up to four runways simultaneously, eliminating the need for multiple ILS systems at airports with several runways.
  • SmartPath reduces maintenance and can yield annual maintenance savings of up to $400,000 over ILS.
  • SmartPath reduces tarmac congestion and increases airport throughput by mitigating the need for taxiing aircraft to "short-hold."

Honeywell SmartPath Worldwide

  • Honeywell is a pioneer in GBAS technology and has demonstrated the benefits of GBAS at more than 25 airports around the world.
  • As well as the recent completion of SmartPath at Bremen, Germany, the system also went live at Newark Liberty International, New Jersey, in September 2012.
  • SmartPath systems are also currently being installed at Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; Malaga, Spain; Memphis, Tennessee and Houston, Texas.
  • Following the success of the SmartPath trials at Sydney, Airservices is now commencing work on extending the country's GBAS network to Melbourne International Airport.

Supporting Quotes

  • Mike Underwood, Director of Business Development, Honeywell Aerospace
    "The rapid rate of passenger growth seen at Sydney Airport requires a greater level of precision for approaching aircraft. Installing SmartPath will help meet demand, drive efficiency and ensure that the airport is better equipped to service airlines, fleets and passengers now and in the future. SmartPath complements the existing performance-based navigation capabilities of today's aircraft, further increasing fuel savings and lowering emissions."
  • Nick Welch, Program Manager, Airservices Australia
    "Honeywell's SmartPath exceeded expectations during testing,and the Civil Aviation Authority of Australia will shortly receive the application for the system to operate without restriction.As air traffic across Australia continues to grow, we are now starting work on extending our GBAS network to Melbourne International Airport."
  • Kerrie Mather, Chief Executive Officer, Sydney Airport
    "We are proud to be one of the first airports in the world to use SmartPath, which will deliver a better passenger experience, reduce delays and improve operations, particularly in poor weather conditions."
  • Alex Passerini, Technical Pilot, Qantas Airways
    "From taking delivery of the world's first GLS-capable jet transport aircraft in 2005 in the form of a Boeing 737-800, followed by the first Airbus aircraft with this remarkable technology, Qantas understands the significant benefits it offers. The International Civil Aviation Organization has designated it as the default replacement system for ILS, and our flight crews have been very impressed with the accuracy and stability of the uplinked flight path. As operators, we also understand the infrastructure advances GLS provides over conventional technologies like ILS and the overall improvements this means for the air traffic system and ultimately to the environment and our customers."

Supporting Resources

Based in Phoenix, Arizona, Honeywell's aerospace business is a leading global provider of integrated avionics, engines, systems and service solutions for aircraft manufacturers, airlines, business and general aviation, military, space and airport operations.

Honeywell (www.honeywell.com) is a Fortune 100 diversified technology and manufacturing leader, serving customers worldwide with aerospace products and services; control technologies for buildings, homes and industry; turbochargers; and performance materials. Based in Morris Township, N.J., Honeywell's shares are traded on the New York, London, and Chicago Stock Exchanges. For more news and information on Honeywell, please visit www.honeywellnow.com.

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