Indonesian N-219 aircraft used sophisticated 3D technology

N-219 aircraft made by PT. Dirgantara Indonesia (PTDI)/Indonesian Aerospace (IAe) were officially introduced on Thursday, December 12, 2015 and then, in the cockpit is equipped with synthetic vision technology.

Synthetic Vision Technology (SVT) is a computer system that displays the image of the surrounding environment in the aircraft cockpit main screen (Multi Function Display/MFD).

The first N-219 prototype aircraft shown completely in public on Thursday, December 12, 2015 at the hangar of PT. Dirgantara Indonesia, Bandung. (Picture from: http://bit.ly/1ZfnajG)

The screen will display the contours of the earth's surface (topography) in three-dimensional (3D) model, complete with flight principal information (Primary Flight Display/PFD) is required pilot, such as altitude, airspeed, and plane attitude.

"Synthetic vision is like playing a game, all the data information is displayed, if there is a mountain data around us could enter and synchronized," says Director of Technology and Development PTDI, Andi Alisjahbana to Nextren on Thursday, December 10, 2015.

Left side view of N-219 aircraft made by PT. Dirgantara Indonesia. (Picture from: http://bit.ly/22jWTDb)

"So if there is a mountain in front, so real there, the mountain will visible (on screen)," Andi said on the sidelines of the launch of the N-219 aircraft at the PTDI hangar, in Bandung.

Inside the cockpit of the latest Indonesian N-219 aircraft. (Picture from: http://bit.ly/1NGGr6b)

According to Andi, SVT technology can help the pilot and co-pilot in making decisions. Although in darker conditions or when there is fog, the pilot can still see the natural conditions around. "This can be regaded as a technology that can save people," he said.

In the cockpit of N-219 aircraft has been equipped with the latest SV-PFD (Synthetic Vision-Primary Flight Display) technology. (Picture from: http://bit.ly/1IjpMJ7)

Synthetic vision technology first developed by NASA and the US Air Force in the late 1970s and 1980s. After decades of research, in 2005, NASA successfully integrate synthetic vision system into the Gulfstream V aircraft were used in testing. FAA provide the first certification for SV-PFD (Synthetic Vision-Primary Flight Display) technology on 2009 in the Gulfstream aircraft.

Synthetic Visual display of the Garmin G1000 instrument system used N-219 aircraft, featuring the mountains in west of Husein Sastranegara Airport, Bandung, West Java. (Picture from: http://bit.ly/1IjpMJ7)

SV-PFD also replace artificial horizon traditional blue-brown with a display computer-generated topographic data, once overwritten with PFD symbols already known by the pilot during this time.

The display of Synthetic Visual on the N-219 screen instrument, combining contour plains (terrain) with information that is usually displayed on the Primary Flight Display (PFD). (Picture from: http://bit.ly/1IjpMJ7)

Since then, many manufacturers of glass cockpit systems integrate the technology into their products, including the Garmin with its G1000 instrument system which is also used in the N-219 aircraft.

Passenger cabins of N-219 aircraft. (Picture from: http://bit.ly/22jWTDb)

Now, most of the planes are already integrating the latest release of SV-PFD in the cockpit, such as the Twin Otter Series 400 and Cessna Mustang. While the four major aircraft manufacturers, Boeing, Airbus, Bombardier, and Embraer has committed to provide the SV-PFD features in their planes in 2018, on the buyer requests.

In one research conducted by CAST (Commercial Aviation Safety Team) who studied 18 accidents throughout 2003 and 2012 mentioned that the synthetic visual technology, alias SVT, could help prevent 17 of the 18 accidents related to loss of orientation of the flight crews.

Several incidents including accidents in question was the accident of Bombardier Q400 of Colgan Air and Boeing 737-800 of Turkish Airlines, both of which occurred in 2009.

According to CAST, as qouted of Aviation Week, the visual appearance of the flows that could assist the flight crew in determining the orientation, movement, and feel the distance to the mainland, compared with the previous attitude screen display.

CAST predict the risk of accidents due to the missing orientation could be reduced by 16 percent, assuming 30 percent of the airline in the world are already using it in 2035 later. *** [EKA | FROM VARIOUS SOURCES | KOMPAS TECHNO]

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