Honeywell Aerospace has been selected by Tibet Airlines to be the only provider of auxiliary power units (APU) and aftermarket service and support on its entire A319 family fleet, establishing a strong partnership with an emerging carrier flying across some of the highest and most rugged topography in the world.

In addition to Honeywell's 131-9A APUs, all firm and optional aircraft will also be equipped with selected Honeywell safety avionics, including Traffic Collision Avoidance System and Enhanced Ground Proximity Warning System. Tibet Airlines has also selected Honeywell's Flight Management Computer, Flight Data Recorder, Cockpit Voice Recorder and AOC data communication software for these A319's.

Honeywell's 131-9A APU is the most commonly used APU for single-aisle commercial transport, operating on more than 1,700 aircraft. An APU is a small turbine engine that provides bleed air for main engine starting and electrical power for cockpit and galley systems. Honeywell's 131-9A averages more than 10,000 hours between unscheduled removals, a more than 60 percent improvement over other APUs in its class size.

Two A319 airliners were already delivered in July and August, respectively, to Tibet Airlines, which is the only plateau-based airline in China. The airline entered into service only two months ago to start providing flight services from Lhasa to Ngari and other cities in China.

"Honeywell is proud to be the vendor of choice for Tibet Airlines," said Mark Howes, president of Honeywell Aerospace's Asia-Pacific region. "Honeywell's solutions have been rigorously tested to operate successfully in challenging physical environments like Tibet.  We're happy to support Tibet Airlines as they grow their business in the region."

EGPWS, invented by Honeywell, provides a terrain display and alerts the flight crew if the aircraft approaches too close to terrain. Honeywell's TCAS system meets standards recommended by the International Civil Aviation Organization and reinforced by the Association of European Airlines as a global safety update for all TCAS systems. 

Honeywell's aftermarket service programs provide a comprehensive range of cost-effective maintenance and asset availability solutions to support airline operations throughout the life of the aircraft.  From service agreements and innovative repairs to logistics and parts availability programs, solutions are focused on solving airlines' specific challenges. Honeywell's wide range of support services can also be customized to create cost-effective solutions that allow airlines to better manage and predict maintenance spending, asset requirements and repair needs, while lowering operating expenses with a reduced total cost of ownership.

Contributed by Honeywell