Avianca

Colombian flag carrier Avianca is set to equip 21 of its A320 aircraft with Airbus’s on-board cockpit technology, the Runway Overrun Prevention System (ROPS).

Runway excursions are one of the major causes of commercial aviation accidents in the world. Airbus’s technology helps improve situational awareness of pilots during landing, as well as provides active protection when needed, while reducing exposure to runway excursion risk.

The patented Airbus ROPS system computes minimum realistic in-flight landing and on-ground stopping distances and compares the same with available landing distances in real-time.

It combines information on weather, runway condition and topography, aircraft weight and configuration.

Based on the resulting analysis, Airbus ROPS system may prompt immediate callouts and alerts pilots, helping crew in the go-around decision-making process, as well as the timely application of stopping means on touchdown.

"It combines information on weather, runway condition and topography, aircraft weight and configuration."

In November last year, Airbus secured Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) certification of ROPS for the Airbus A320 Family, and, the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) certified the system on the A320ceo Family in August 2013.

Avianca marks the first Latin American carrier to equip fleet with Airbus’s ROPS.

Avianca president Fabio Villegas said incorporating ROPS in 21 aircraft in the airline’s Airbus fleet will give pilots the information they need to quickly make the best decisions for safe landings.

"As a company, this will allow us to stay at the vanguard of technology for safety," Villegas said.

The Airbus ROPS was originally approved by EASA on the A380 in 2009 certified for the A320 family in 2013. It is currently in service or ordered on most of the A380 fleet worldwide.


Image: An Avianca A320-200 at Ernesto Cortissoz International Airport in Colombia in 2009. Photo courtesy of Jcolombia2007.

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