ALBUQUERQUE, N.M., 22 Feb. 2006. The Netherlands Ministry of Defense is choosing the Honeywell Inc. Defense and Space segment in Albuquerque, N.M., to provide an integrated avionics cockpit for the country's Boeing CH-47F (NL) Chinook helicopter fleet.
Honeywell has received authorization from Boeing to start planning and long-lead activities that will support the CH-47F (NL) helicopter production.
"We have worked closely with Boeing and the Netherlands Ministry of Defense to define the avionics requirements for the procurement of new CH-47F (NL) Chinooks and modernization kits for the existing fleet," says Rich Douglas, vice president of sales and marketing at the Honeywell Helicopter Division.
The Honeywell Avionics Control and Management System (ACMS) provides integrated cockpit and complete pilot-vehicle interface, mission subsystems control and air vehicle subsystem monitor and display enabling pilots to have critical information at their disposal during flight. "The Honeywell ACMS system offers improved functionality and highly integrated and efficient human factors to minimize pilot workload," Douglas says.
Honeywell's system for the Netherlands CH-47F (NL) Chinook has weather radar, color multi-function displays, electronic flight instruments, integrated air vehicle and mission processors, air data computer, communications, moving digital map, guidance navigation and control including embedded global positioning system (GPS).
Radio interface via secure satellite communications and night vision and viewing during low level light conditions through the forward-looking infrared system provides improved situational awareness and survival features.
The Honeywell system also includes engine and other subsystems monitoring including fuel system, torque, cruise, rotor RPM, hydraulics, transmission, engine, heater, anti-ice, cargo, electrical system, and provides warning, caution and advisory messages to the crew.
Honeywell received the go-ahead for the work in January. Development will be at Honeywell Defense and Space facility in Albuquerque, N.M. Integration of the improved ACMS into the CH-47F (NL) will take place at the Boeing facility in Philadelphia. Boeing and the Netherlands Defense Materiel Organization intend to execute the full production contract in 2006 with aircraft deliveries planned to begin in 2008.
For more information contact Honeywell online at www.honeywell.com.
