Rockwell Collins to play key role in SESAR/AIRE Green Connection evaluations

FARNBOROUGH, UK (July 19, 2010) - Rockwell Collins, as member of a consortium of industry partners led by the Swedish Air Navigation Service Provider 'Luftfartsverket' (LFV), has been awarded an active role in the AIRE (Atlantic-Interoperability Initiative to Reduce Emissions) "Green Connections" project.

The consortium includes partners LFV, Swedavia, SAS - Scandinavian Airlines System, GE-Aviation and Rockwell Collins, and represents a continuation of work done between the partners to develop initial concepts that will be applied to this project.

Rockwell Collins will provide connectivity services to allow exchange of Flight Management System (FMS)-generated trajectory and time information between the participating aircraft movements and the ground-based metering functions. Rockwell Collins Hermes functionality at the SAS data link center in Copenhagen will perform all data transactions between the aircraft, the SAS ground data link functions and the LFV air traffic control center.

In addition, Rockwell Collins will be responsible for analyzing the effects of winds aloft, Air Traffic Control (ATC) constraints, revisions in the trajectory, cost index, and other factors on movement trajectory and time. The results will be used to define the communication precision between the aircraft and the ground for real-time movement coordination.

The project will demonstrate technology and processes required to perform time-based "gate to gate" operations. When successful, the technique will reduce fuel use and generate a corresponding noise and gaseous emissions reduction by minimizing path stretching and holding occurences in today's normal operating environment.

There are potentially significant fuel burn benefits, basically corresponding to the 'excess' time spent in the air caused by traditional traffic metering onto receiving runways. In the Single European Sky ATM Research Program (SESAR), the technique is referred to as 'reference business trajectory' based operations, to indicate that the process operates "ahead of real time," covering the entire aircraft trajectory - rather than just the remaining miles (as in regular terminal maneuvering operations).

AIRE Green Connections is a 10 month trial that will start in 2010 using revenue flight operations between the airports of Stockholm (Arlanda) and Gothenburg (Landvetter).

"The Green Connection project is a great example of public-private partnership in practice. We expect it to play a pivotal role in demonstrating that by leveraging present aircraft capabilities, green results can be achieved today in all phases of flight. That is a win-win project for all stakeholders," said Alain Siebert, Chief Economics and Environment at the SESAR Joint Undertaking.

This project is organized in the framework of AIRE, an agreement between the European Commission and the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration, aimed at developing more environmentally-friendly air transport operation on transatlantic routes.

The SESAR Joint Undertaking (SJU) selected 18 projects involving 40 airline, airport, ANSP and industry partners to expand the Atlantic Interoperability Initiative to Reduce Emissions (AIRE). Under the initiative, the SJU supports integrated flight trials and demonstrations validating solutions for the reduction of C02 emissions for surface, terminal and oceanic flight operations.
http://www.sesarju.eu/sites/default/files/documents/press-releases/Press_release_AIRE2.pdf

About Rockwell Collins
Rockwell Collins (NYSE: COL) is a pioneer in the development and deployment of innovative communication and aviation electronic solutions for both commercial and government applications. Our expertise in flight deck avionics, cabin electronics, mission communications, information management, and simulation and training is delivered by nearly 20,000 employees, and a global service and support network that crosses 27 countries. To find out more, please visit www.rockwellcollins.com. 

Media Contact:
Pam Tvrdy-Cleary
+1.319.431.0951 mobile
pjtvrdy@rockwellcollins.com

# # #

CS-NR-41