Page 63 - World Airnews Magazine June 2020 Edition

NEWS DIGITAL

really helped us solve technical questions very quickly.” medical beds stowed in the lower cargo compartments, and then
rapidly converted for medevac on the return.
Soon after its conversion, the A400M transported four COVID-19
patients from Ile-de-France to Clermont-Ferrand early this month In an ‘intensive medevac’ configuration - which is being used to
- and went on to perform three more medevac missions over the transport COVID-19 patients - critical care modules are installed to
following two-day period. replicate an intensive care unit in the air.

A MULTI-ROLE SOLUTION A GROWING PRESENCE
The French Air Force began flying the A330 MRTT for COVID-19- The presence of Airbus military aircraft in the fight against
related humanitarian flights on 18 March, when its no. 1 aircraft COVID-19 continues to grow: the German air force is utilising
- designated FR01 - transported six patients from EuroAirport A400Ms to transport COVID-19 patients from France to German
Basel-Mulhouse-Freiburg to Marseille-Marignane. hospitals in an operation supported by Airbus-built NH90 military
Since then, FR01 has performed seven such medevac missions. helicopters from the French air force.
The military service’s second A330 MRTT, FRO2, also has been Also in Europe, the Spanish air force medevac unit has finished
converted for use in the fight against COVID-19. adapting an A400M from its fleet to carry out medical evacuation
missions - capable of transporting up to five critical patients and as
Derived from Airbus’ widebody twin-jet airliner, the A330 MRTT many as 14 for less intensive care. UMAER previously configured an
is well-suited for medevac operations, with its large fuselage Airbus C295 tactical aircraft for medevac missions.
enabling maximum flexibility for up to 130 NATO stretchers to be Further east, the Royal Malaysian air force this month deployed
carried over intercontinental distances. its A400M - filled with medical supplies and personal protective
In a ‘light medevac’ configuration, medical beds can be installed equipment (PPE), including nearly three million face masks - to
above designated fold-down seats. This allows the aircraft to be the East Malaysian states of Sabah and Sarawak on the island of
used as a troop transport on an outbound relief mission, with Borneo. Q

NEWS
FAA CERTIFIES GARMIN

AUTOLAND

By Frank Wolfe

the event of an accidental deactivation, passenger-centric visual and verbal com-
he US Federal Aviation the system shows passengers how to munications in plain-language so passen-
TAdministration has certified the re-activate Autoland if needed. gers in the aircraft know what to expect,"
Phil Straub, Garmin executive vice pres-
Garmin Autoland system in the company's ident and managing director of aviation, Garmin said. "The flight displays show
G3000 integrated flight deck for the Piper called Autoland “one of the industry’s most the aircraft’s location on a map alongside
information such as the destination airport,
M600/SLS, Garmin said recently. forward-thinking technologies that will estimated time of arrival, distance to the
Autoland is to permit general aviation forever enhance aviation safety and save destination airport and fuel remaining.
aircraft to make autonomous touch downs lives.” Airspeed, altitude and aircraft heading
in emergencies. The Autoland system controls and lands are also labelled in an easy-to-understand
In addition to the Piper M600/SLS, the the aircraft by determining the optimal format. Passengers also have the option to
system is soon to be available on Cirrus airport and runway - one that has a Global communicate with ATC by following simple
Vision Jet and Daher TBM 940 aircraft and Positioning System approach with lateral instructions on the display using the touch
Garmin said that it expects certifications of and vertical guidance - and taking into screen interface on the flight deck."
Autoland for more aircraft. account factors such as weather, terrain, Autoland is one of three technologies in
For its part, Piper Aircraft said that obstacles and aircraft performance Garmin's ‘Autonomí’ family for integrated
the FAA has certified its HALO safety statistics. flight decks. The other two Autonomí
system, which includes a number of The Garmin Autothrottle system is technologies are EDM for automatically
safety technologies for the G3000 avionics automatically used "to manage aircraft descending the aircraft to a preset altitude
suite, including Autoland, Autothrottle, speed, engine performance and engine without pilot intervention and ESP, which is
Emergency Descent Mode (EDM), power so the aircraft can climb, descend to aid pilots in avoiding unintentional flight
Electronic Stability and Protection (ESP), or maintain altitude as needed during an attitudes or bank angles beyond those
surface watch, SafeTaxi, and Flight Stream Autoland activation," Garmin said. for normal flight. If a pilot inadvertently
connectivity. Piper pointed to Autoland as Autoland is able to analyse factors, exceeds pre-determined pitch, roll or
the most important of the safety technolo- such as weather, fuel, runway surface and airspeed limitations for an aircraft, ESP
gies in the HALO safety system. length, the availability of a GPS approach activates and the flight controls guide the
In an emergency, the pilot or passengers with lateral and vertical guidance to the aircraft back to a recommended flight limit.
may activate Autoland by pressing a runway, terrain, and obstacles, when According to Piper, FAA officials complet-
dedicated button and the system is also determining the best airport for landing, ed the certification flight with their team at
able to activate automatically, if the system according to Garmin. Garden City Airport in Garden City, Kansas
determines it is necessary, according to The system is also able to communicate on May 5. Piper is to begin deliveries of
Garmin. with Air Traffic Control and pilots operating new production Piper M600/SLS aircraft
A pilot can de-activate Autoland by near the aircraft about its location and featuring Autoland immediately. Q
pressing the “AP” autopilot key on the intentions.
autopilot controller or the autopilot "Throughout an Autoland activation, Article courtesy: https://www.aviationto-
disconnect button on the controls and in the G3000 integrated flight deck provides day.com/

World Airnews | June Extra 2020
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