GE's Integrated Display Suite and Flight Management Provides Most Efficient RNP Operations
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--GE Aviation has been awarded a $40 million contract from Southwest Airlines to provide the new SDS-6000 large area display suite for Boeing 737 Classic aircraft. First production deliveries will take place in early 2011. The systems will be installed on up to 150 aircraft.
Integrated with the flight management system upgrade awarded to GE by Southwest last year, the combined system will provide the full benefit of flying the most efficient Required Navigation Performance (RNP) operations available. Southwest will be well equipped to lead the way in the expansive use of these approved routes realizing fuel, emission and noise reductions.
Patricia O'Connell, president, Civil Business unit for GE Aviation Systems, said, "Southwest Airlines is the launch customer for this new large area display suite. This integrated display system, coupled with our flight management system, enables operators to fly advanced navigation procedures and reduce operator costs from less fuel, less emissions and less through life costs."
The GE solution comprises a complete integrated cockpit display solution, including primary flight displays, standby instrument and control panels. The primary flight displays, which have been designed to mimic the appearance of the B737 Next Generation cockpit, feature new 15.4" widescreen displays with innovative dual-channel display architecture, which is patent pending and offers unprecedented levels of display availability. The displays feature integral signal and video processing and graphics generation, eliminating the need for a separate symbol generator. The suite includes GE's Integrated Standby Instrument System (ISIS), which provides a single box solution for standby instrumentation. Southwest has selected Boeing Commercial Airplanes as the integrator of the system into the fleet of Boeing 737 Classic aircraft.
"The integrated system of GE's large area display suite and flight management system is a key part of our plans to conduct Required Navigation Performance (RNP) operations. It allows us to realize significant cost savings with lowered fuel consumption while simultaneously benefiting the environment with reduced emissions," commented Mike Van de Ven, Executive Vice President, Chief of Operations for Southwest Airlines. "Southwest is pleased to select GE to provide this capability to enable us to operate more efficiently considering today's air traffic challenges and economic pressures worldwide. This contract is key to the success of Southwest Airlines' implementation of RNP and their partnership with the FAA to advance NextGen airspace."
The integrated large area display suite and flight management system controls the aircraft track to an accuracy of 10 meters and the time of arrival to within 10 seconds to any point in the flight plan. Benefits include the ability to fly shorter flight paths and idle-thrust descents which reduces fuel consumption, thereby lowering emissions and community noise levels. Software and hardware updates provide the latest technology to continue to meet the needs of the world's evolving airspace requirements, offering safe and efficient improvements to aircraft operations.
This advanced flight management and display system will form the core of a 737 Classic retrofit package available to all operators. The retrofit package will increase the operational effectiveness of the aircraft by improving overall performance and dispatch reliability.
GE Aviation, an operating unit of General Electric Company (NYSE: GE), is a world-leading provider of jet engines and components as well as integrated systems and product solutions for commercial and military aircraft. GE Aviation has a global service network to support these offerings. GE Aviation Systems LLC and GE Aviation Systems Ltd are subsidiaries of General Electric Company. For more information, visit us at www.ge.com/aviation.
Jennifer Villarreal
GE Aviation
[email protected]
1-616-241-8643
1-616-617-7755