Enhanced Vision Recognized In Regs

The FAA is writing new regulations to accommodate the development of enhanced vision systems and to distinguish them from synthetic vision systems that will not be permitted. Both systems help pilots land in weather that is below current minimums, by allowing them to see the airport as if it were above minimums. Enhanced vision uses sensors that can display a real-time image of such handy sights as approach and runway lights and the tarmac itself. The Notice of Proposed Rulemaking appeared in the Federal Register earlier this week and comments will be accepted until March 27. The new rule will validate the existence of the enhanced vision system. Gulfstream is putting this type of system on some of its pricier bizjets. The synthetic vision system puts everything under the control of computers that take the altitude and location of an aircraft and compare it to a database of terrain, obstacles and other features to create a virtual image of the final phase of flight.