Airbus has entered the final three months of its Dragonfly testing phase, a system that will allow more automation in the cockpit. For example, the system can assist pilots while taxiing and auto landing when pilots are disabled.

If the pilots of a passenger aircraft are disabled for any reason or at least can no longer control the aircraft, the Dragonfly system can land the aircraft autonomously and safely, Airbus said. An Automated Emergency Ops application is used for this, which in an unjustified way identifies the need for assistance.

After that, the most suitable airport is chosen, taking into account weather conditions and military conditions, after which the most appropriate route is chosen. In addition, there is automatic communication with air traffic control, among other things. This allows the Dragonfly to safely land the aircraft at any airport, regardless of whether the airport has the usual landing assistance systems.

The system can also help pilots land in difficult weather conditions where visibility is poor. To this end, the aircraft is equipped with non-specific sensors that improve visibility on the runway, which also includes computer vision algorithms and computer vision calculations. guidance You must contribute to.

Dragonfly also includes an app that assists taxi pilots in busy airports. If air traffic control gives clearance for a departure, the system will display a map of the airport, and interpret and translate air traffic control instructions into automated voice prompts to make taxiing easier. According to Airbus, this means pilots can focus more on other important tasks.

The system is currently being tested on the ground and in the air on the Airbus A350. The last three months of the testing phase have now begun. Accordingly, a decision will be made whether the technology is to be further updated or whether it is ready for eventual integration into future programmes. So it remains unclear whether the system will actually be integrated into future A350s or other passenger aircraft, what parts that will be and when that should be done.