American Airlines will receive its Airbus A321neos with the same advanced flight deck safety functions as its current A321 fleet, supplier Acron Aviation announced.
Acron, formerly L3Harris Commercial Aviation Solutions, has retrofitted American’s entire A321-family fleet with SafeRoute+, an ADS-B In platform developed by Aviation Communication and Surveillance Systems (ACSS)—an Acron-Thales joint venture.
American has been trialing Saferoute+ in cooperation with the FAA for several years. The system provides real-time nearby traffic display directly to pilots.
In one of several trials, American has used it to improve runway throughput at Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) by safely enabling visual flight rules-like separation during instrument flight rules conditions. The Cockpit Display of Traffic Information Assisted Separation (CAS-A) tests demonstrated the potential to increase per-runway arrival rates by up to five aircraft per hour.
Another function allows pilots to see exactly where an aircraft ahead of them lead was at a given point in time. This can help the trailing crew avoid wake turbulence from the lead aircraft.
SafeRoute+ adds a 4 in. by 4 in. ACSS ADS-B Guidance Display (AGD) screen in the flight deck. The screen replaces the digital distance and radio magnetic indicator, eliminating the need for modifications to integrated flight deck displays. The AGD is paired with an ADS-B In-capable traffic collision and avoidance system (TCAS) computer.
ACSS has been steadily upgrading American’s equipped fleet of 302 A321ceo and A321neo aircraft with new functionality as it is trialed and approved by the FAA. Recent regulatory approvals cover line-fit installations and adding the enhancements necessary for CAS-A fleet-wide. American has another 146 A321neos on order, the Aviation Week Network Fleet Discovery database shows.
“Our experience with SafeRoute+ on the A321 fleet has shown clear benefits,” said American’s Director of Air Traffic Management David Surridge, who is also an Airbus pilot. “It has enabled more efficient aircraft spacing, increased runway throughput and aided in additional pilot situational awareness, further enhancing safety. We’re excited to expand the use of this important technology.”
American’s use of ADS-B In functionality comes amid increasing calls to leverage the technology to improve safety in the wake of January’s mid-air collision between an American Eagle regional jet and an Army helicopter near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA). A group of U.S. Senators has proposed a bill that would mandate its use for U.S. airlines.
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