Precision Landing and Takeoff Operations
Operator Attitude Survey
Developed by Air Economics Group, Inc.
Wayzata, MN, USA  55391
763-420-8067

The purpose of this questionnaire is to help the aviation industry better understand current thinking about the use of modern head-up displays (HUDs) and enhanced vision systems (EVSs).  The answers to the following questions can significantly help manufacturers of these systems to make more informed decisions on where to place their emphasis and business development.

This questionnaire is being presented to over 30 airlines and cargo carriers of various sizes worldwide. With sufficient responses (at least 50%) the de-identified (no carrier is named in any way), the combined results will be posted in graphical form on Air Economics’ Website at  www.aireconomics.com, so that you can compare your own airline’s attitudes with its peers. 

Your answers only need be your best estimate. Please check your response or enter a number as appropriate. 

1.  What is the lowest landing operating minima that your airline presently operates to? (Check one)
Category I
Category II
Category III
2.  Do all your fleets operate to this minima? (Check one)
Yes
No
3.  What technology does your airline currently use to accomplish low-visibility landings? (Check all that apply)
Hand-flown with or without flight director
Coupled autopilot with or without flight director
CAT IIIa fail passive autoland
CAT IIIa fail operational autoland
CAT IIIb autoland
CAT IIIa HUD
CAT IIIb HUD/autoland “hybrid” combination
4.  What guidance technology does your airline currently use to accomplish low-visibility takeoffs?  (Check all that apply)
None, except flight director
Para-visual display (PVD)
Head-up display (HUD)
The following questions deal with your airline’s current thinking about modern head-up displays (HUD); enhanced vision systems (EVS), which use infrared or millimeter wave sensors or both to provide imaging for display on a HUD;  and synthetic vision systems (SVS) which use terrain databases and computer-generated images for display on a HUD. 
5.  Has your airline ever seriously evaluated the following for use on any of its fleet? (Check all that apply)
HUD
EVS
SVS
6.  If your airline uses a HUD, which type is it? (Check all that apply)
Rockwell Collins Flight Dynamics
BAE
Thales (Sextant)
7.  How would you describe your airline’s current interest in HUDs? (Please check one.)
Strong
Moderate
No interest
8.  How would you describe your airline’s current interest in EVS or SVS? (Please check one.)
Very interested
Mildly interested
Little or no interest
9.  On a scale of 1 to 5 (1 being little importance and 5 being high importance), please rank each of  the following HUD attributes as your airline currently views them. (Rank each individually without comparison to the others. Place appropriate number in box provided.)
CAT III landing capability
CAT II landing capability at CAT I runways (when authorized)
Lower takeoff minima (with steering guidance cue)
Added situational awareness and flight guidance (speed, flight path vector, flare cue, etc.)
Windshear guidance cue
Angle-of-attack guidance cue
Unusual attitude recovery guidance cue
Tail strike avoidance cue
Taxi guidance
TCAS (collision avoidance) information display
10.  On a scale of 1 to 5 (1 being little importance and 5 being high importance), please rank each of  the following EVS or SVS attributes as your airline currently views them. (Rank each individually without comparison to the others. Place appropriate number in box provided.). Note: Some of these attributes will require other technology, such as augmented satellite navigation and cockpit display of traffic information.
CAT II landing capability on CAT I runways
CAT III landing capability on non-CAT II/III runways
Lower takeoff minima (with HUD steering guidance cue) without regard to runway lighting.
Added visual awareness of other aircraft during close parallel landing and takeoff operations.
Added visual awareness of other aircraft, vehicles or obstacles, especially during surface operations.
Added visual awareness of runway to allow land-and-hold short operations (LAHSO) operations in low visibility conditions.
Reduced fuel reserves based on the availability of more CAT II and/or CAT III (equivalent) runways.
11.  On a scale of 1 to 5 (1 being little importance and 5 being high importance), please rank each of  the following perceived EVS “issues” as your airline currently views them. (Rank each individually without comparison to the others. Place appropriate number in box provided.)
Sensor performance (Ability to “see through” visibility obscuration.)
Quality of displayed image. (Clarity, color, depth perception.)
Transparency of displayed image. (Ability of pilot to see through)
Certification of EVS to perform CAT III approaches (Assumes HUD and appropriate navigation horizontal and vertical navigation signals.)
Certification of EVS to perform takeoffs at lower visibility than presently authorized. (Assumes ILS or GPS navigation signal.)
Authorization of EVS to perform other terminal and surface operations to provide near VFR-like capability.
Development of EVS procedures, if required.
International acceptance and interoperability of EVS
EVS AEEC characteristics.
Certification of EVS to perform very low visibility takeoffs.
12.  What percentage of your airline’s flights are disrupted (delayed, cancelled or diverted) by low visibility annually? (Check only one.) Note:  Disruptions include secondary, or downstream departure delays and/or cancellations. Delays include all related to visibility, even when airport is not below minimums.
20% or more
15% or more, but less than 20%
10% or more, but less than 15%
5% or more, but less than 10%
Less than 5%
Don’t know
13.  What payback criteria does your airline usually require for aircraft capability upgrades? (Check one.)
One year or less
One year to 1.5 years
1.5 to 2 years
More than 2 years
Don’t know
14.  When do you think EVS and/or SVS will be extensively used by airlines? (Check one.)
Less than five years
Five to ten years
More than ten years
Don’t know
15.  Would your airline be interested in participating in EVS trials? (Check one.)
Yes
No
Don’t know
Add any comments you wish in the space below:
Please provide us with the following information.  While we need this information to create effective data from our surveys no identifying data will EVER be released publicly.  Thank you again for your time and thoughtful responses.
Airline
Your name
E-mail