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In March 2002, Boeing unveiled its Technology Demonstrator airplane. The aircraft, a 737-900, was outfitted with a suite of new and emerging flight deck technologies that promise to enhance safety, capacity and operational efficiency.
These leading-edge technologies -- nine in all -- demonstrate Boeing's global leadership in creating airplanes that reduce noise, enhance safety, decrease flight delays, and improve the ease of operation and efficiency of pilots in the flight deck. These technologies include:
- Quiet Climb System (QCS) -- Automatically and consistently reduces engine thrust over noise-sensitive areas, reducing community noise and pilot workload during takeoff. Reductions depend on weight and other takeoff conditions. QCS may allow for increases in passengers and cargo as airlines can be assured of staying below airport noise limits.
- Vertical Situation Display (VSD) -- Displays a side view of the airplane's flight path to the flight crew. It enhances safety by showing the airplane's current and predicted flight path relative to terrain. Additionally, it helps the pilot determine a stable and appropriate glide path during approach and landing.
- Navigation Performance Scales -- Allows the airplane to navigate through a much narrower airspace envelope with greater accuracy. This can help minimize flight delays and increase airspace capacity.
- Integrated Approach Navigation (IAN) -- An enhancement to an approach capability, making the pilot interface and procedures very similar to existing approaches. By allowing a common operational approach procedure, this feature minimizes pilot workload and training, reducing 18 separate approach procedures to one.
- GPS Landing System (GLS) -- A highly accurate and reliable satellite-based landing system that will open additional airports and runways to regular service during most weather conditions. This system combines ground-based components with a multi-mode receiver on board the aircraft.
- Head-Up Display (HUD) -- Provides "eye-level" critical flight and safety information to the pilot and can reduce takeoff and landing visibility minimums, which may mean fewer delays.
- Surface Guidance System (SGS) -- An emerging technology under evaluation that improves taxi safety and airport efficiency during poor visibility and darkness, reducing the risk of runway- and taxi-related incidents.
- Enhanced Vision System (EVS) -- An emerging technology under evaluation that uses thermal (infrared) imaging, which allows pilots to see objects at night and in some inclement weather, enhancing safety and potentially reducing delays.
- Synthetic Vision System (SVS) -- An emerging technology under evaluation that provides a computer-generated view of the outside world, synthesizing easy-to-follow cues for takeoff, landing, and taxi guidance.
Many of the new technologies are available as options on the 737. Three of the features -- Surface Guidance System, Enhanced Vision System, and Synthetic Vision System -- are more developmental, and Boeing is not yet committed to having them certified and implemented.
View how the 737 stacks up against its competitor when it comes to technology.