PHOTO
Dubai Air show
On the opening day of the Dubai Airshow, Thales announces the selection by Etihad of its dual configuration Head Up Displays (HUD) for the first 12 aircraft of its new Airbus A350XWB fleet scheduled to be delivered from December 2017 by Airbus.
A total of 62 A350XWBs have been ordered by Etihad, the first 12 aircraft will be delivered by December 2017
The dual-configuration (pilot/copilot) HUD is a newer development to the more traditional, pilot only HUD configuration. It is gaining traction in the commercial market as it improves situational awareness and efficiency of both pilot and copilot, by giving them the same level of eyes-out instrument visibility during critical phases of the flight, especially in low visibility and adverse weather conditions, thus improving safety.
The group already equips single configuration HUDs on Qatar Airways A380s this is the first dual-configuration HUD in the Middle East, which both strengthens Thales's position in the Middle East for this segment. It also closely follows the announcement in September, of the first ever contract for a dual-configuration system the group ever signed, with China Southern Airlines for their entire fleet of 30 Airbus A320s.
The interest by many global airlines to equip their newest aircraft with a HUD configuration is growing at an unprecedented pace. With most new build long-haul aircraft coming off assembly lines equipped with a HUD, Civil Aviation Authorities such as the Chinese CAAC, have made a basic single-configuration HUD, mandatory on all aircraft they register. Thales is amongst the world's leading HUD developers and has been selected as the supplier of choice for HUDs on all Airbus aircraft.
About Thales
Thales is a global technology leader for the Aerospace, Transport, Defence and Security markets. With 61,000 employees in 56 countries, Thales reported sales of €13 billion in 2014. With over 20,000 engineers and researchers, Thales has a unique capability to design and deploy equipment, systems and services to meet the most complex security requirements. Its unique international footprint allows it to work closely with its customers all over the world.
· Thales will equip the first 12 A350XWB aircraft of Etihad's fleet with a dual-configuration HUD.
· HUDs are becoming a crucial optional component. The dual-configuration benefits to pilot/copilot situational awareness and efficiency.
· Thales is HUD supplier of choice on Airbus and strengthens an already global footprint with second dual HUD contract signed over past several months.
"We have placed considerable efforts in making our HUD the most perfectly tailored system to the needs of pilots. The growth of our footprint worldwide and the choice by Etihad, one of the world's most successful airlines to deploy a dual-configuration across its newest fleet, is a proof of success of this system, and of the benefits it brings to pilots."
Daniel Malka, Thales Vice President, General Manager for Avionics Services Worldwide activities.
Please visitThales Group
Aerospace
Press Contact
Thales, Media Relations
Civil Aerospace
Giaime Porcu
+33 (0)1 57 77 92 18
giaime.porcu@thalesgroup.com
© Press Release 2015
