Loong Air Becomes the First Airline with Airbus Head-Up Display (HUD) Retrofit
China Aviation Daily | Feb. 16, 2017
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Loong Air, one of fast growing operators in China, has become the first A320 operator worldwide to install the Airbus Head-Up Display (HUD) retrofit solution onto its aircraft. The first aircraft to receive the upgrade has recently been released to service in Beijing China. The aircraft was retrofitted with the HUD on the Captain's (left) side of the cockpit to fulfill operational needs. The integrated solution provided to Loong Air includes Airbus Service Bulletins, retrofit materials (kits and equipment) and the embodiment service with direct involvement of an Airbus team in the working party. Such an integrated solution combines core competences of "Services by Airbus" and addresses market needs while ensuring Airbus' quality standards, as the original aircraft manufacturer.
The HUD option for the A320, which until recently has only been delivered from production for new aircraft, optically projects ground navigation and flight attitude computer information onto a glass display between the pilot and the cockpit windshield. In particular, it superimposes aircraft trajectory information on the external world, and enables flying "head up". The HUD thus improves pilot situational awareness and flying accuracy when hand flying and enables a seamless transition from "Instrumental Meteorological Conditions" to "Visual Meteorological Conditions" (or vice versa). Moreover, for aircraft operation, it allows lowest take-off and landing minima and reduces technical flight deviations. The HUD is designed to complement existing avionics and is fully integrated into the cockpit with automatic switching between modes.
Liu Jianjun, the Chief Engineer of Loong Air said: "We are so glad that Airbus HUD Retrofit was successfully completed on our A320 aircraft. The Airbus HUD retrofit solution will be of guiding significance to the market demand for A320 HUD modifications. Loong Air is already designated as a pioneering operator of Head-Up Displays on the A320 under the Civil Aviation Administration of China and we believe that Airbus and Loong Air will mutually benefit from the significant cooperation in the field of HUD applications, including retrofit programmes, flight training and operational practice."
François Mery, Chief Operating Officer of Airbus Commercial Aircraft China said: "Thanks to the joint teamwork between our customer, the MRO and Airbus, the very first HUD retrofit integrated solution has been deployed in just a few months. It is a key achievement for Airbus Customer Services and Loong Air and is also a remarkable proof to our customers that Airbus brings innovative and competitive services to the market with integrated solutions."
Contributed by Airbus S.A.S.