In a press release Thales announced on May 6th that it "has been selected by Airbus to equip its commercial airliners with the most powerful and innovative flight management system on the market".
According to the press release this new fully connected flight management system from Thales provides secure access to open-world data and offers airlines an array of new possibilities.
The new flight management system, which is based on the PureFlyt product and has been adapted to meet the specific requirements of Airbus, will process and share vast amounts of data to optimise flight operations, enhance interoperability and reduce environmental impact.
With its expertise in avionics, connectivity and cybersecurity and air traffic management, Thales is the only European company to offer end-to-end onboard and ground-based solutions that help to meet the ambitious objectives of optimising flight operations in terms of the air transport sector's carbon footprint.
The FMS is the “brain” of the aircraft. It is used to prepare flights, calculate and provide the crew with the information they need, set flight parameters and ensure aircraft guidance throughout the flight and during approach and landing procedures, based on fuel efficiency factors and instructions from air traffic control. Designed from the outset to be connected and cybersecure, the system maximises the benefits of access to open-world data including real-time weather information. By linking the new FMS with non-avionics systems — such as the pilot’s Electronic Flight Bag and airline operational control centres — the solution makes it quicker and easier to analyse flight plan revisions, providing the pilot with the best route and simplifying interaction with air traffic control. It will help to ease airport congestion, cut fuel consumption, decrease noise pollution and reduce pilot workload.
PureFlyt draws on 40 years of experience in flight management systems and over 100 million flight hours with Thales’s current generation of FMS systems, enabling airlines to benefit from an optimal combination of flight safety, operational efficiency and fuel savings. This comprehensive solution includes navigation and performance databases for precise calculation of optimal flight paths and flight times. Airbus’s choice of a system that is compatible with all its aircraft will enhance fleet interoperability for airlines and make it easier for pilots to make the transition from one Airbus aircraft type to another. The new system, which is based on the PureFlyt product and has been adapted to meet the specific needs of Airbus, will also be available as a retrofit option for aircraft currently in service.
