Honda Aircraft Company has announced the new light jet Elite II, which has become the first in its class to receive approval from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) for the use of the Garmin Emergency Autoland (EAL) system. This is reported by Naked Science.
This innovative technology allows the aircraft to perform a fully autonomous landing in the event of a critical situation.
The Garmin EAL system analyzes meteorological conditions, geographical terrain, fuel levels, and the characteristics of available runways in real time to select the most suitable airport for landing. It autonomously adjusts flight parameters, navigates, and executes the approach for landing, including activating the brakes until coming to a complete stop.
The system can be activated either manually with a button or automatically if sensors determine that the pilot is unresponsive. In this case, the system also notifies air traffic control of the situation.
Additionally, the Elite II includes the Garmin Autothrottle system, which regulates engine operation at all stages of flight, ensuring optimal speed and fuel efficiency.
Honda Aircraft noted that the combination of the EAL and Autothrottle systems significantly reduces the workload on the crew, allowing the aircraft to be safely operated by just one pilot. Work is currently underway to certify these technologies in other significant aviation markets.
