PHOENIX, Feb. 7, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- In a major
boost for airline accident investigations, two aviation leaders,
Honeywell (NYSE: HON) and Curtiss-Wright Corp., have partnered to
develop an entirely new way for airlines to monitor and analyze
flight data. Honeywell and Curtiss-Wright will use real-time
connectivity to reinvent the Cockpit Voice Recorder and Flight Data
Recorder — commonly referred to as "black boxes" — for the
commercial airline, cargo transport and business jet
markets.
The companies have signed an agreement to develop the next
generation of mandate-compliant Cockpit Voice Recorders (CVRs) and
Flight Data Recorders (FDRs), essential equipment in helping
accident investigators, regulatory agencies, aircraft manufacturers
and airlines determine the cause of an accident and making aviation
safer. As part of the new agreement, Curtiss-Wright will be the
exclusive supplier for Honeywell's next-generation recorders for
the air transport and business aviation markets.
The new recorder will serve as a "black box in the sky," meaning
owners, operators and manufacturers will have the option to always
access the critical aircraft data, resulting in the potential for
improving maintenance and operational insight through data
analytics. In addition, in the event of an emergency, the data on
board will be quickly and more easily accessible to
investigators.
As a rich source of aircraft data, black boxes have helped
improve aviation safety standards since their introduction in the
1950s, providing vital information on thousands of variables
including fuel levels, altitude, engine performance, temperature,
direction and speed. This ensures that, in the event of an
accident, investigators can use the data to learn more about the
chain of events leading up to it. However, black boxes can be
difficult to locate and retrieve in the aftermath of an accident to
extract this vital information.
"The importance of reliable Cockpit Voice and Flight Data
Recorders cannot be overstated. That's why we are working alongside
Curtiss-Wright to design and develop the next generation of
recorders that leverages our full hardware and software expertise
to meet the 25-hour requirement, to identify the right information
and make it available to airline operators when it's most needed,"
said Ben Driggs, president, Services
& Connectivity, at Honeywell Aerospace. "With the new
regulatory requirement, we saw an opportunity to evolve our
recorder technology to not only meet the conditions of governing
agencies, but also make this product more powerful and better
connected, providing aircraft operators with another source of data
collection that can be used to improve aircraft maintenance and
performance."
The companies will jointly develop the hardware for the new
black boxes, and Honeywell will modernize the software capabilities
for easier access to real-time data during flight. This will
provide owners, operators and aircraft manufacturers with new
cockpit voice and flight data recording options to help decrease
aircraft downtime and, in the event of an emergency, help with the
accompanying investigation. Operators will benefit from real-time
information streaming and server storage capabilities, enabled by
Honeywell's Connected Aircraft software, which allows for the swift
and remote retrieval of data from the aircraft for storage or
analysis.
"Honeywell and Curtiss-Wright have long been pioneers and
innovators of crash-protected recorders, providing Flight Data
Recorders to the industry for over 50 years," said David C. Adams, chairman and chief executive
officer of Curtiss-Wright. "Working together, we will take Flight
Data Recorder connectivity and performance to new heights, with
extended operation and greater survivability. Bringing our combined
experience to the marketplace will generate financial, safety and
operational benefits for years to come."
The new CVR and FDR, branded Honeywell Connected Recorder-25, or
HCR-25, will surpass the requirements of the upcoming 2021 European
Aviation Safety Agency minimum 25-hour cockpit voice recording
mandates. This means the aircraft data can be used for more
efficient operations and real-time playback of data and voice
communications.
Along with added connectivity, the next-generation recorders are
an easy upgrade. They were designed as form-fit replacements for
Honeywell's HFR-5 series Cockpit Voice and Flight Data Recorders,
which will help save installation time and costs. Curtiss-Wright
recently certified its Fortress recorder, a 25-hour CVR-FDR
recorder that is used as the foundation for the new HCR-25.
As part of the development of the new recorders, Honeywell will
offer the product in several variants, including as a standalone
CVR, as a standalone FDR, or as a combined Cockpit Voice and Flight
Data Recorder.
Supporting Resources
- Read more about Curtiss-Wright's Cockpit Voice and Flight Data
Recorders
- Learn more about Honeywell Black Boxes
- Read more about Honeywell Aerospace on the Follow The
Aero blog
- Like Honeywell Aerospace on Facebook
- Follow @Honeywell_Aero on Twitter
Honeywell Aerospace products and services are found on virtually
every commercial, defense and space aircraft. The Aerospace
business unit builds aircraft engines, cockpit and cabin
electronics, wireless connectivity systems, mechanical components
and more. Its hardware and software solutions create more
fuel-efficient aircraft, more direct and on-time flights and safer
skies and airports. For more information, visit
www.honeywell.com or follow us at @Honeywell_Aero.
Honeywell (www.honeywell.com) is a Fortune 100 technology
company that delivers industry-specific solutions that include
aerospace products and services; control technologies for buildings
and industry; and performance materials globally. Our technologies
help everything from aircraft, buildings, manufacturing plants,
supply chains and workers become more connected to make our world
smarter, safer and more sustainable. For more news and information
on Honeywell, please visit www.honeywell.com/newsroom.
View original content to download
multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/honeywell-and-curtiss-wright-use-connectivity-to-reinvent-airplane-black-box-recorders-300791428.html
SOURCE Honeywell