Farnborough: Qatar selects HUD system for A380 and A350 fleets

The European manufacturer said at Farnborough today that HUDs are gaining industry-wide popularity and now equip more and more commercial aircraft cockpits. The system is a major situational awareness contributor giving pilots much greater visibility throughout all phases of flight, especially for take-off and landing. Most new aircraft are now designed with a basic or optional HUD as part of their initial design and certification right from their Entry Into Service (EIS).

It provides pilots with essential, intuitive and immediate trajectory information through

symbols presented on top of the pilot’s actual external view. It allows smoother  transition as pilots switch between “eyes in” and “eyes out” operation. The HUD system also has the possibility to bring some operational benefits such as reduced minima on suitably equipped runways.

“We are dedicated to providing our fleet with the latest technological innovation,” says Captain Suhail Isameel, chief flight operations officer of Qatar Airways, “We are

confident that the Thales HUD system will provide our pilots with the tools they

require and maximise our operational efficiency.”