WSJ: Airbus Works on System To Avert Crashes on Its Jets

[question everything]

Airbus Works on System To Avert Crashes on Its Jets

By ANDY PASZTOR
Staff Reporter of THE WALL STREET JOURNAL
June 17, 2005; Page A6

PARIS – European jet maker Airbus is actively developing revolutionary safety technology, which eventually could be installed on nearly all of its planes, allowing cockpit computers to automatically grab control away from pilots to prevent an imminent crash in the air or with the ground.

Industry officials attending the international air show here indicate that the concept is steadily gaining adherents, and senior Airbus management appears increasingly inclined to eventually introduce it across the fleet. Airbus is 80%-owned by European Aeronautic Defence & Space Co. and 20%-owned by Britain's BAE Systems PLC.

By linking autopilots and flight-management computers with existing onboard collision-warning equipment, the proposed cockpit-automation system would direct planes away from nearby aircraft, mountains and even man-made obstacles -- all without pilot commands. Indeed, the system as it is envisioned would take over the controls of an aircraft in the last few seconds to avoid a collision or crash, regardless of whether pilots failed to react to warnings or initiated incorrect evasive action.

Such a relatively inexpensive safety fix, requiring primarily software changes, probably is years away from being installed. First, the company must overcome widespread opposition from pilots and skepticism from some regulators on both sides of the Atlantic; and extensive testing will be required to demonstrate the technology's reliability. Airbus previously considered but ultimately opted against installing such safeguards on its double-decker A380, which is currently undergoing flight tests, because of concerns over potential schedule delays.

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Write to Andy Pasztor at [e-mail]

URL for this article:
http://online.wsj.com/article/0,,SB111897300862862284,00.html

[TahitiNut]

1. So, will this mean it's safe to rebuild the WTC?

Uh-huh. Sure. :eyes: