Honeywell releases cloud-connected cockpit system
Honeywell has unveiled an all-new aircraft cockpit system with an always-on, cloud-connected experience that improves flight efficiency, operations, safety and comfort.
The Honeywell Anthem flight deck offers improved levels of connectivity, an intuitive interface modelled after everyday smart devices, and a highly scalable and customisable design. Honeywell Anthem is powered by a flexible software platform that can be customised for virtually every type of aircraft and flying vehicle, including large passenger and cargo planes, business jets, helicopters, general aviation aircraft, and the rapidly emerging class of advanced air-mobility (AAM) vehicles.
“Honeywell is not just launching a new flight deck today — we are changing the way pilots operate aircraft and creating a more intuitive experience than ever,” said Mike Madsen, President and CEO, Honeywell Aerospace. “In the same way we moved from flip phones to smartphones, Honeywell Anthem will transform the pilot experience with customisable controls operated quickly and easily with a few swipes of the finger.”
Honeywell Anthem generates and transfers data from ground-based servers so those involved in a flight’s operations have the information they always need. An aircraft doesn’t need to be powered on for pilots and maintainers to see the information they might need prior to launching a flight.
“Everyone who touches a flight is able to get information that matters to them when they need it,” said Vipul Gupta, Vice President and General Manager, Avionics, Honeywell Aerospace. “The aircraft becomes accessible via the cloud computing infrastructure, and things like maintenance data, flight plans and overall aircraft status are stored automatically by the avionics or via ground-based applications used by support personnel. This means data is accessible by any authorized user from anywhere.”
Honeywell Anthem seamlessly integrates with popular electronic flight bag planning applications to let pilots create, store and retrieve flight plans from anywhere. After pilots load the flight plan remotely, it will be ready and waiting when they arrive at the aircraft. The new Mission Manager function allows fuelling teams, ground transportation and caterers are aware of the mission plan, even if the plan has to change due to unexpected weather.
A smartphone-like, easy-to-use interface provides pilots and operations personnel with several capabilities that dramatically improve access to data, improving operational efficiency and safety. This includes allowing pilots or operators to customise the layout of digital displays within the cockpit to their preference. Honeywell Anthem uses visualisation and modern graphical and gesture-based methods, making the flight deck much easier to use.
Another of Honeywell Anthem’s unique features is a web browser that allows third-party applications and websites to run in the Honeywell Anthem cockpit, which also integrates with Honeywell Forge, a software platform that includes in-air and on-ground solutions for flight operations, flight efficiency, and connected maintenance in a single user interface.
“When you combine unprecedented connectivity and new features with our brand new, intuitive user interface that can be tailored to look and feel exactly how a pilot wants, you’ve got a truly game-changing system,” Gupta said. “Honeywell Anthem is going to bring us closer to our shared industry goals of better pilot experiences and more autonomous flight.”