An airplane has routinely landed itself after an inflight emergency when an “Autoland” system was activated for the primary time.
The Beechcraft Super King Air touched down safely at Rocky Mountain Metropolitan Airport in Broomfield, Colorado, lower than a 30-minute drive northwest of Denver, on Saturday due to Garmin’s plane security know-how.
The Federal Aviation Administration instructed a number of shops two individuals had been on board the twin-engine jet when the pilot misplaced communication with air site visitors management.
“An onboard emergency Autoland system was activated,” the FAA stated.
Garmin, recognized for its health watches, confirmed to CBS Colorado that its “Autoland” system was activated, “resulting in a successful landing.”
“This was the first use of Autoland from start-to-finish in an actual emergency,” the corporate instructed a number of shops.
Garmin’s “Autoland” know-how, which was launched in 2019, directs the airplane to a close-by airport for an emergency touchdown “based upon a variety of conditions, including, but not limited to, weather, terrain, approach, runway and aircraft suitability,” in accordance with the corporate’s web site.
Buffalo River Aviation, the operators of the Beechcraft Super King Air, stated in a press release to a number of shops that the airplane “experienced a rapid, uncommanded loss of pressurization,” prompting the emergency touchdown. There had been no passengers on board, in accordance with the constitution firm.
“As per standard procedures, the two pilots immediately put on their oxygen masks,” the company’s CEO Chris Townsley said. “The aircraft, equipped with Garmin Aviation’s latest Emergency Descent Mode (EDM) and Autoland systems, automatically engaged exactly as designed when the cabin altitude exceeded the prescribed safe levels.”
The pilots, who Townsley says weren’t incapacitated as studies had recommended, “consciously elected to preserve and use all available tools and minimize additional variables in an unpredictable, emergent situation, prioritizing life and a safe outcome over all other factors, as they are trained to do.”
The North Metro Fire Rescue District in Broomfield, which responded to the emergency touchdown, wrote on X, “No patients were treated on scene or transported to local hospitals.”
The FAA is investigating the incident.
https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/aviation-denver-airplane-garmin-beechcraft-autoland-b2889920.html