Flight deck

The flight deck is fitted with five Rockwell’s Collins 10in x 8in high-resolution liquid crystal adaptive flight displays. Honeywell is supplying the fly-by-wire flight control system. The avionics suite is based on the Rockwell Collins Pro Line 21 system, including a VHF-4000 voice and data transceiver and an IRU-4000 digital data and audio processor. The system supports current VDL Mode 2 communications and also has the capability to support controlled pilot data link communications.

A Rockwell Collins FMS 4200 flight management system provides multiple wavepoint vertical navigation, flight time and fuel planning and prediction, Standard Instrument Departures and Standard Terminal Arrival Routes and approaches (SIDs and STARS).

A Kaiser Electro precision throttle control module interfaces with the Collins autopilot, auto throttle and the engine’s FADEC. The avionics suite also includes a fully integrated Engine Indication and Crew Alerting System (EICAS).

The navigation systems include Rockwell Collins solid-state weather radar, a Rockwell Collins AHS-3000 attitude heading reference system, a Traffic alert and Collision Avoidance System (TCAS) and an air data system.

The integrated cockpit panel assemblies and the cockpit lighting control are supplied by Eaton Corporation. Sagem is providing the flight deck control system which interfaces with the fly-by-wire system, including columns, pedals and central console.

Bae 146 Short / Medium-Range Airliner, United Kingdom

The BAE 146 short to medium range regional airliner is flown by 54 operators worldwide. 229 BAE 146 were built between 1983 and 1993, including the Statesman for the Queens Flight of the Royal Air Force and for the Abu Dhabi Royal Flight. About 180 aircraft are in service.

Three different length versions of the BAE 146 were built: the series 100 with 70 to 84 seats; the 200 series with 85 to 100 seats; and the 300 Series with 100 to 112 seats. The 146 provides versatile and low noise operation for noise-sensitive approach and take-off paths, capability of short steep approaches into city airports or onto difficult airfields with minimal ground facilities.

One BAE 146 is to be used by the UK’s Facility for Airborne Atmospheric Measurement for gathering data for studies of pollution, global warming, etc.

Capacity

The 146 family of aircraft provides seating capacities of 70 to 112 and in the Statesman configuration various VIP layouts. Passenger access is at both ends of the cabin for fast boarding and disembarkation. The doorsills suit air stairs as well as passenger jet ways.

Two baggage holds each equipped with a large access door allow simultaneous loading. The low fuselage means that baggage can be hand loaded directly from trolleys without the need for airport conveyor equipment. The very easy and fast baggage handling contributes to the 146 regularly achieving in-service turnarounds of just 12mins.

Flight deck

The flight deck is ergonomically designed for two crew operation with the important controls and indicators within reach and view of both pilots. A forward facing observer seat folds and stows behind the first officer position. The aircraft is fitted with a BAe and Normalair Garrett air conditioning and air pressurisation system and the flight deck is fitted with air conditioning controls separate from those in the main cabin.

The aircraft is equipped with a Honeywell electronic flight instrumentation system, (EFIS) with a Smiths LED display. The main vertical panel in the flight deck houses the engine instruments and the systems controls and indicators are installed in the overhead panel. The Smiths SEP 10 autopilot and main navigation are set at eye level.

BAE Systems Regional Aircraft is introducing an upgrade to older analogue displays, which will be replaced with five Rockwell’s Collins FPI-920 LCD. The upgrade involves the removal of the two electromechanical Attitude Director Indicators (ADI), two electromechanical Horizontal Situation Indicators (HSI) and two Radio Altitude Indicators (RAI). The first customers for the upgrade are Eurowings of Germany and Air Dolomiti of Italy. Certification of the system is expected by the end of 2005, with installations commencing in 2006.