Mystere IV A
January 29, 2003, 09:44 AM
Malev Hungarian Airlines tomorrow will become the first airline to operate an aircraft equipped with Boeing's new navigation performance scales (NPS).
NPS is intended to minimize flight delays and increase airspace capacity by allowing the aircraft to navigate through a narrower flight path with higher accuracy. Malev has initially installed NPS on one of its 737-700s and has secured the necessary certifications to support tomorrow's launch.
NPS became available to 737 customers last year and is expected to become available on other Boeing types in a few years. A Boeing spokeswoman says other unnamed 737 operators have also ordered NPS, but they have not yet operated aircraft with the new technology. She believes any new 737 delivered to Malev from now on will also have NPS as an added feature.
NPS is part of a suite of new avionics and instrumentation unveiled last year on the Boeing 737-900 technology demonstrator aircraft. Other new flightdeck technologies now available for the 737 include vertical situation display (VSD) and integrated approach navigation (IAN).
Boeing VSD is designed to enhance safety by displaying the vertical profile of the aircraft's flight path and indicate the presence of terrain in the flight path. The IAN enhances current aircraft landing approach capability by simplifying pilot procedures and potentially reducing the number of approach procedures pilots have learned in training, says Boeing.
"Boeing is committed to providing the capabilities across its product line. Timing will be dependent on both market interest and airplane model development plans," says the manufacturer.
Fly High :windsock:
:pilot_2:
NPS is intended to minimize flight delays and increase airspace capacity by allowing the aircraft to navigate through a narrower flight path with higher accuracy. Malev has initially installed NPS on one of its 737-700s and has secured the necessary certifications to support tomorrow's launch.
NPS became available to 737 customers last year and is expected to become available on other Boeing types in a few years. A Boeing spokeswoman says other unnamed 737 operators have also ordered NPS, but they have not yet operated aircraft with the new technology. She believes any new 737 delivered to Malev from now on will also have NPS as an added feature.
NPS is part of a suite of new avionics and instrumentation unveiled last year on the Boeing 737-900 technology demonstrator aircraft. Other new flightdeck technologies now available for the 737 include vertical situation display (VSD) and integrated approach navigation (IAN).
Boeing VSD is designed to enhance safety by displaying the vertical profile of the aircraft's flight path and indicate the presence of terrain in the flight path. The IAN enhances current aircraft landing approach capability by simplifying pilot procedures and potentially reducing the number of approach procedures pilots have learned in training, says Boeing.
"Boeing is committed to providing the capabilities across its product line. Timing will be dependent on both market interest and airplane model development plans," says the manufacturer.
Fly High :windsock:
:pilot_2: