In Colorado, the United States, what is believed to be the first successful real-world aircraft landing using the Garmin Autoland system without human involvement has taken place. The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) confirmed that a small Beechcraft Super King Air safely landed at Rocky Mountain Metropolitan Airport after the pilots became unable to control the aircraft due to cabin pressurization issues.
The Garmin Emergency Autoland system is designed to take full automatic control of an aircraft in the event of pilot incapacitation. It can be activated by pressing a button and selects the most suitable landing site based on factors such as runway length, remaining fuel, and other operational conditions.
According to the FAA, there were two pilots on board and no passengers. Chris Townsley, CEO of the charter company, confirmed that the system was deliberately activated and that the pilots allowed it to remain engaged to ensure safety. “Autoland engaged exactly as designed when the cabin altitude exceeded safe levels,” he said.
The Beechcraft Super King Air B200 is a twin-engine turboprop aircraft certified for single-pilot operation, although charter operators typically fly it with two pilots. The B200 can carry between seven and nine passengers and features a T-tail configuration, which improves aerodynamics and handling, particularly on shorter runways.
When the Garmin automated system engaged, air traffic control channels broadcast a message indicating “pilot incapacitation,” which initially caused some confusion. An audio recording available on LiveATC captures a robotic voice stating: “N479BR, pilot incapacitated. Two miles south of KBJC. Emergency automatic landing. Nineteen minutes to runway 30R.” The air traffic controller responded by clearing the aircraft to land.
Garmin confirmed that this was the first real-world emergency in which Autoland was fully used. The system, first introduced in 2019, automatically evaluates all relevant flight parameters and carries out a landing without human involvement, significantly improving safety in emergency situations.
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Джерело: TheRegister
