MS-21

UTC Aerospace Systems has unveiled an active side-stick controller for commercial aircraft, to provide pilots with visual feedback of the aircraft behaviour.

Already in use in aviation industry, active side-sticks are now being introduced for large commercial planes.

UTC Aerospace Systems actuation and propeller systems programme manager Arnaud Delpeuch said: "The development of the active technology for large commercial aircraft constitutes an engineering breakthrough offering new features to pilots and wider opportunities for the aerospace industry."

The company’s actuation and propeller business unit is providing the new component for the Irkut MC-21 single aisle aircraft.

"The development of the active technology for large commercial aircraft constitutes an engineering breakthrough offering new features to pilots and wider opportunities for the aerospace industry."

The MC-21 aircraft will be offered in two versions designed with 150 to 212 seating configurations.

The MC-21-300 is planned to take its first flight in 2017 with plans to enter service the following year.

During a series of trial runs in Figeac, France, the active side-sticks were successfully evaluated by Irkut test pilots.

Yakovlev MC-21 programme flight tests deputy general director and chief test pilot Roman Taskaev said: "Active side-sticks significantly improve the level of safety, making evident control inputs of pilots to one another and allowing prompt recovery actions."

Based in Hartford, Connecticut, US, UTC Aerospace Systems provides systems and components for aerospace and defence industries.

Image: A model of the proposed Irkut MC-21-200 airliner. Photo: courtesy of MilborneOne / Wikipedia.