Feasibility of Cessna T303 Cockpit Upgrade - Research Paper Example

Feasibility of Cessna T303 Cockpit upgrade Feasibility of Cessna T303 Cockpit upgrade Introduction Cessna T303 is a turbo-charged corporate and utility aircraft that was first produced in October 1979. In its definitive original form, the winged six seat plane incorporates a number of important features such as dual alternators, full IFR avionics suite, dual bus avionics as well as a fairly well designed cockpit with plenty of space for potential upgrade among other features (Taylor, 2010, p.34). However, the production of Cessna T303 was prematurely terminated in 1985 due to the general decline in consumer demand for light aircraft particularly during the time. Despite its almost superb cockpit design, Cessna T303 users have experienced a number of handling problems that have resulted in the increasing need for cockpit overhaul and upgrade using modern Garmin Traffic Advisory System to TCAS II standard on the current cockpit configuration of Cessna T303 aircrafts. One of the common design issues affecting Cessna T303 aircrafts is unreliable engine instruments and cockpit controls that makes the plane to be particularly more vulnerable to potential mid air collision incidences than most of its modern counterparts. Within the last decade, the number of aircrafts fitted with traffic alert and collision avoidance system known as TCAS II have significantly increased. TCAS II is an important security tool that is often designed to help prevent mid-air collisions of aircrafts. This research aims to present a comprehensive study on the feasibility of upgrading Cessna T303 cockpit with a modern Garmin Traffic Advisory System to TCAS II standard to reduce its risks of mid air collisions. Theory of Traffic Alert and Collision Avoidance System (TCAS) Traffic collision avoidance systems are important components of aircrafts that are primarily designed to minimize the potential incidences of mid air collisions between aircrafts. This is particularly achieved by installing equipment that enables the pilot to effectively monitor the airspace around the craft for other aircrafts equipped with similar corresponding transponders without the involvement of the air traffic control. In this regard, the system may then warn the pilot of the presence of other TCAS equipped aircrafts in order to avoid the likelihood of mid-air collision (Coombes, 2000, p.85). The mechanism of operation of traffic alert and collision avoidance system is normally based on the use of secondary surveillance radar transponder signals that often independent of ground based air traffic controls. Many modern aircrafts are increasingly equipped with glass cockpits where the TCAS systems may be effectively integrated and fitted into the Electronic Horizontal Situation Indicator (EHSI) or the Navigation Display (ND) of the aircraft. However, the older aircrafts such as Cessna T303 models which have mechanical instrumentations, an integrated TCAS such as modern Garmin GTS 8000 Traffic Advisory System can only be fitted by replacing certain mechanical components such as the mechanical Vertical Speed Indicators that were originally meant to show the rate at which the plane is ascending or descending. One of the most recent TCAS systems that can effectively be installed in Cessna T303as part of their cockpit upgrade is the GTS 8000. As part of its efforts to enhance air traffic management, Garmin International Inc. recently launched a modern GTS 8000 Traffic alert and Collision Avoidance System (TCAS II) that can effectively be installed in most transport category aircrafts including the Cessna T303 models. According to Stanton and Harvey (2013, p.124), the new GTS 8000 system is designed to improve the safety of aircrafts in mid air by maintaining constant surveillance within the collision zone, identifying and locating potential air traffic conflicts as well as providing prompt traffic alerts and relevant maneuver commands to the pilots to help them avoid such traffic conflicts. Assessment of the installation of the Garmin GTS 8000 TCAS on Cessna T303 The installation of the modern Garmin GTS 8000 TCAS on Cessna T303 will require a number of modifications in the cockpit as well as addition of other features to ensure the smooth installation and operation of the new Garmin GTS 8000 Traffic Advisory System on current Cessna T303 aircraft systems. The major components of Garmin GTS 8000 TCAS II system to be installed during the upgrade include a GTS 8000 traffic processor unit, antennas and a system of cockpit presentation displays to relay information to the pilot. Garmin GTS 8000 TCAS II Computer Unit Installation One of the main components of the traffic alert and collision avoidance system (TCAS) to be installed in the cockpit of the Cessna T303 aircraft during the upgrade is the processor unit. The GTS 8000 traffic processor is the component that is primarily responsible for carrying out a number of traffic advisory functions including performing airspace surveillance, tracking intruders within the vicinity of collision zone, altitude tracking, maneuver determination, detection of threats, selection as well as generation of traffic advisories among others (John, 2009, p. 384). Fig 1: GTS 8000 traffic Processor Unit (Source: Garmin International, 2014) Generally, the TCAS processor utilizes radar altitude, pressure altitude and a number of discrete aircraft status inputs to control the aircrafts collision avoidance logic parameters. This is particularly achieved by computing the responding aircraft’s bearing, range, relative altitude as well as its closure rate. The information is then displayed in the traffic displays in the cockpit. Installation of Antennas Another important component of the TCAS II that will have to be installed in the Cessna T303 aircraft during the upgrade is a system of antennas. For example, a directional antenna will be mounted on the top of the T303 aircraft while another optional omni-directional antenna may be placed at the bottom of the aircraft to optimize coverage particularly during the maneuvers. Additionally, another set of two antennas will be required for the proper functioning of the mode S transponder by allowing the transponder to effectively receive interrogations at 1030MHz and be able to reply them and 1090MHz. With regard to the upgrade, the installation of the antennas is generally, a simple process that will only require fastening the antennas with screws and a few modifications. Fig 2: Antenna Sensor System Installation of Cockpit Presentation Displays The installation of the Cockpit presentation displays for the Garmin GTS 8000 Traffic Advisory System will require a number of modifications of the Cessna T303 cockpit configurations. This is particularly attributed to the fact that unlike most of the modern cockpits that are normally fitted with integrated electronic displays, the older aircrafts such as Cessna T303 models only has a system of mechanical instrumentation. As a result, the installation of the display components of the modern Garmin GTS 8000 Traffic Advisory System will require replacing certain mechanical components such as the mechanical Vertical Speed Indicators to create space for the new traffic display as well as the RA display (Jenkinson and Simpkin, 2009, p.68). On the other hand, additional traffic symbology displays at the cockpit can be enhanced by installing modern PFDs equipped with Garmin Synthetic Vision Technology (SVT). After the removal of some mechanical components from the Cessna T303 cockpit, the displays can easily be implemented in a number of ways depending on the need of the customer or owner of the aircraft being upgraded. For example, the two displays can effectively be incorporated into a single unit as shown in figure 3 below. Fig3: Garmin PFDs display system (Source: Garmin International, 2014) Modification of Existing Cessna T303 cockpit Systems Although Cessna T303 models have been determined to meet the minimum configuration requirements for the installation of Garmin GTS 8000 Traffic Advisory System components, a few modifications may be carried out particularly in the cockpit to ensure effective integration with the new systems after the upgrade. The modification of the Cessna T303 cockpit during the upgrade will involve removing some mechanical instrumentation that may become obsolete after the successful installation of the modern GTS 8000 Traffic alert and collision avoidance System (TCAS II) to as part of the aircraft cockpit upgrade. Some of the mechanical components that will be completely removed to create space for the installation of the new GTS 8000 systems include the mechanical Vertical Speed Indicators. A number of default T303 gauges and instruments including the Mechanical Vertical Speed Indicators, altimeters and radios will be replaced during the upgrade because their functions will be taken by the new Garmin GTS 8000 Traffic Advisory System. For example, apart from being a leading traffic surveillance system that issue accurate advisories to the pilot to help clear mid air conflicts, GTS 8000(TCAS II) system also displays digital climb and descend information similar to Mechanical Vertical Speed Indicators. The removal of the Mechanical Vertical Speed Indicators will create the required 6.25 inch wide space required for the installation of the GTS 8000 traffic processor. On the other hand, further space for the installation of the Cockpit presentation displays for the Garmin GTS 8000 Traffic Advisory System will demand removal of additional components such as altimeters and radios. Fig 4: The Analogue Cessna T303 Cockpit before Upgrade Source: (Taylor, 2010, p.54) Figure 5: How the Cessna T303 Cockpit will look like after the Modifications and Upgrade After the removal and replacement of these components, a new panel will be installed in the cockpit to cover the new instruments and provide a new finishing to the cockpit as shown in figure 6 above. Lastly, the required software will be installed to integrate the traffic advisory system and the upgraded Cessna T303 will be ready for flight with new traffic alert and collision avoidance system (TCAS II) capabilities. Potential Constraints and Precautions to be taken during the Cockpit Upgrade Despite the feasibility of a successful installation of the modern Garmin GTS 8000 Traffic Advisory System into the old Cessna T303 aircraft models, there are a number of potential constraints and aircraft system configuration challenges that are likely to be met during the upgrade process. For example, the addition of components and the modifications may result in increased weight of the aircraft thereby affecting its carrying capacity (Raymer, 2012, p.34). Additionally, the upgrade must comply with the regulations of the national aviation airworthiness authority. Generally in order to ensure a good experience and prevent potential glitches, some of the precautions to be taken during the upgrade include complying with the regulations of the international civil aviation organization as well as the required safety standards during the installation of the new components. Conclusion In conclusion, it is very possible to successfully upgrade the cockpit of the old Cessna T303 aircraft models by installing modern Garmin GTS 8000 Traffic Advisory Systems. The upgrade promises a number of potential flight benefits including improved the safety of aircrafts in mid air through constant surveillance, identification of potential air traffic conflicts as well as prompt traffic alerts to the pilots to help them avoid such traffic conflicts. References Coombes, L.F. 2000.The Aircraft Cockpit from stick-and-string to fly by Wire. Wellingborough, UK: Stephens Publishers. Garmin International Inc. 2014. Official Corporate Website. Retrieved on February 24. 2014 from https://www.garmin.com Jenkinson, L. & Simpkin, P. 2009. Civil Jet Aircraft Design. London, UK: Arnold Publishers Limited. John D. A. 2009. Aircraft Performance and design: Upgrading older aircrafts. New York: McGraw-Hill Publishers. Raymer, D. 2012. Aircraft Upgrade: A conceptual approach. New York: American institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics. Stanton, N. A. & Harvey, C. 2013. To twist, roll, stroke or poke: A study of input devices for menu navigation in the cockpit, Ergonomic Abstracts, Vol. 56 (4), pp. 590-611. Taylor, J. R. 2010. Cessna T303: Janes All The Worlds Aircraft 1982-83. London: Janes Yearbooks. Read More