Mon, May 13, 2013
Flight Services Can Automatically Monitor GA Flights, Initiate SAR Efforts Sooner
New updates to the Lockheed Martin Flight Services (LMFS) automation system and Pilot Web Portal will make general aviation safer and more convenient - at no cost to pilots. The Surveillance-Enhanced Search and Rescue service (SE-SAR) allows LMFS to automatically monitor flights and determine if aircraft stop moving, stop reporting their position, or transmit an emergency signal. As a result, the system is able to initiate search and rescue procedures with more precision and speed than previously possible. SE-SAR is available for use with SpiderTracks GPS position reporting devices registered on the Pilot Web Portal. The service will expand to other position reporting devices and automatic dependent surveillance-broadcast equipped aircraft in the near future.
SE-SAR is the second major safety enhancement recently deployed by LMFS. In October 2012, LMFS deployed the Adverse Condition Alerting Service (ACAS). The ACAS alerts pilots to critical safety conditions that arise after they have been briefed and filed a flight plan. Enhancements to the LMFS Pilot Web Portal now allow pilots to review and acknowledge the adverse conditions without having to call LMFS.
Other new capabilities on the LMFS Pilot Web Portal include integration of graphics into briefings and the ability to activate flight plans without having to call LMFS. In addition, LMFS has released a set of free interfaces that allow suppliers of popular, mobile flight planning apps to provide access to SE-SAR, ACAS, and other LMFS-unique capabilities directly from their apps.
"Lockheed Martin is committed to improving safety, efficiency, and convenience for the general aviation community," said Jim Derr, director of Lockheed Martin Flight Services. "Look for more features later this year including our Next Generation Briefing capability that includes automatic summarization of text-intensive information and enhanced graphics that help pilots understand their briefings faster."
More News
Aero Linx: International Business Aviation Council Ltd IBAC promotes the growth of business aviation, benefiting all sectors of the industry and all regions of the world. As a non->[...]
"During the annual inspection of the B-24 “Diamond Lil” this off-season, we made the determination that 'Lil' needs some new feathers. Due to weathering, the cloth-cove>[...]
Also: Bushcat Woes, Hummingbird 300 SL 4-Seat Heli Kit, Carbon Cub UL The newest Junkers is a faithful recreation that mates a 7-cylinder Verner radial engine to the airframe offer>[...]
Also: Seaplane Pilots Association, Rotax 916’s First Year, Gene Conrad After a decade and a half of struggling with the FAA and other aero-politics, G100UL is in production a>[...]
Also: Martha King Scholarship, Montaer Grows, Textron Updates Pistons, FlySto The FAA is hiring thousands of air traffic controllers, but the window to apply will only be open for >[...]