NEUILLY-SUR-SEINE, 23 Oct. 2009. Thales announced that its head-up display (HUD) was certified by the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) on the Airbus A380 avionics system in single configuration (left seat only) and dual configuration (left and right seats).
The HUD will make its first appearance on an A380 aircraft with the entry into service of the A380 with Air France, the first airline to select the Thales HUD (in dual configuration) for this aircraft type. Other Thales A380 HUD customers include China Southern Airlines and Korean Air.
The basic function of the HUD is to display flight information (symbols) superimposed on to external visual cues (landscape, horizon, runway) through the Combiner, in the pilot's forward Field Of View (FOV). It allows smoother transition from head down to heads up. The HUD contributes to improve pilot situational awareness, particularly during the approach and landing phases by showing trajectory related symbols superimposed on the pilot's actual external view.
The HUD is part of the state of the art cockpit display system provided by Thales on the A380. The new Thales HUD is a catalogue option on the Airbus A320 Family in single configuration (already certified), and on A380 Family in single and dual configuration.
Thales was recently selected by Airbus to equip the future A350 XWB with single or dual HUD from its entry into service.
The HUD system provides a flexible platform for growth to support new functionalities such as the Enhanced Vision System (EVS) and potentially the Surface Guidance System (SGS) in conjunction with the Onboard Airport Navigation System (OANS) as well as the Synthetic Vision System (SVS). In addition, it offers a unique symbology in line with Airbus's flight deck philosophy.
The EVS is electronic system that provides the flight crew with an enhanced or sensor-derived image of the situation outside the aircraft, based on the integration of forward-looking infrared, millimeter-wave radiometry, millimeter-wave radar and/or low-light image intensification.
The SGS is cue guidance symbology specific to the taxiing and takeoff phases, superimposed on a computer-generated image of the external scene.
OANS is a head-down display of a digital airport map with the precise position of the aircraft to facilitate taxi maneuvers, particularly at large airports. Also integrates the Brake to Vacate (BTV) and Runway Overrun Protection (ROP) functions.
The SVS is an electronic system that provides the flight crew with a computer-generated image of external scene topography, derived from the aircraft attitude (or state), high-precision navigation solution and database of terrain, obstacles and/or relevant local features.
