Ground-breaking aircraft crash avoidance system enhances runway safety
Introducing Aerial, Landing, & Takeoff Aircraft Crash Avoidance System (ALTACAS)
COLUMBIA, S.C., Oct. 29, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- ALTACAS TECHNOLOGY today announced the latest patented innovation in aircraft crash avoidance technology primarily designed to target and provide an effective, practical solution to enhance runway safety during takeoffs and landings, while preventing collisions during climbs, mid-flights, and descents.
Latest data from www.planecrashinfo.com shows 20% of fatal accidents occurred during takeoffs and initial climb, while 46% occurred during initial approach, final approach, and landing. The majority caused by human errors. The present day use of drones may increase these alarming statistics. For example, on March 22, 2014, US Airways Flight 4650 nearly collided with a drone while landing at the Tallahassee Regional Airport.
Among these statistics, runway incursions are the most prominent, which are incidents where a takeoff or landing aircraft is threatened by an unauthorized aircraft, vehicle, or person on a runway. In the USA alone, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) reported 1,264 runway incursions in 2014, a noticeable increase from 966 in 2010. Also, latest statistics from the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), a United Nation Specialized Agency, shows runway related issues as the highest among "Occurrence Categories" at nearly 60%, and that runway excursion and incursions accounted for 19% of all accidents and serious incidents.
Several years ago, inventor and the company's chief engineer Bryan Smalls was informed by associates that the US government was looking for ways to reduce runway incidents. This information led him to conceptualize and patent ALTACAS, which employs LIDAR radar and remote sensing technology along with GPS tracking technology. Its automated systems allows individual aircrafts to particularly monitor runways and airways of initial climbs before takeoffs while allowing inbound aircrafts to monitor airways and runways before landing, thereby minimizing runway incursions. The existing crash avoidance system mainly targets mid-flight aircrafts. ALTACAS also effectively monitors mid-flight aircrafts.
ALTACAS pinpoint accuracy detects, warns, and tracks aircrafts of possible collision while providing evasive course of action. Its automated systems provides imagery, distance, speed, and direction of oncoming aircrafts and non-aircrafts vehicles, while simultaneously opening a three-way communication between pilots and air traffic controllers to defuse crisis. Sensor activated lightings alongside runways allows takeoff aircrafts to identify runway usage to incoming aircrafts and warn others on intersecting runways. Aircrafts in the vicinity receive audible warning that runway is in use.
ALTACAS reduces aircraft incidents caused by human errors and provides pilots and air traffic control additional reaction time to prevent collisions. Mr. Smalls says, "Every second is indispensible when aircrafts are on a collision course. Any safety system providing additional time may help avert a catastrophe and save the loss of lives and property."
Mr. Smalls believes ALTACAS technology can be retrofitted into existing aircrafts' safety systems, and may prove useful to trains and ships in the near future. He knows this venture will take a concerted effort by the government and private companies to implement. Consequently, he thinks it would be best to make this concept and patent available to others for licensing or sales. Additional information and a demo video can be seen at www.altacas.technology or www.altacas.com. For further information, please call (803) 724-1233 or 1-866-875-1101, or contact us by email at [email protected], or by mail at ALTACAS TECHNOLOGY, P.O. Box 24615, Columbia, SC 29224.
Video - https://youtu.be/vcH8mPTxQA8
SOURCE ALTACAS TECHNOLOGY
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