FAA Certifies Honeywell Collision Avoidance System for Use on All Military Aircraft
March 28, 2007 // Published as a news service by IHS
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The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) certified the Honeywell military airborne collision avoidance system - formation rendezvous (MILACAS-FR), selected by Boeing for the C-17 formation flying system, for use on all military aircraft.
Honeywell is producing 180 MILACAS-FR systems for the Boeing C-17 fleet in a $20M contract. The technology is designed to enhance accuracy and safety during military formation flights.
MILACAS-FR is similar to the Honeywell traffic collision avoidance system (TCAS) in that it detects nearby aircraft in flight and evaluates their threat potential. The system provides traffic alerts and maneuvering advisories to help pilots avoid midair collisions.
MILACAS-FR applies TCAS technology to formation flying by guiding aircraft within a group while simultaneously identifying and tracking aircraft outside a formation. The system is lighter and more accurate than existing technology and allows a lead pilot to fly an entire aircraft formation through an encrypted data link.
"MILACAS-FR equipped C-17s will be able to fly in tighter formation than ever before," said Scott Starrett, vice president, military aircraft, Honeywell defense and space. "We expect this innovative technology to help reduce the risk of midair collisions by [using] new variable power and directional options to maintain multi-aircraft formations."
Source: Honeywell.