Virtual Vision For Pilots Could Save Lives
Over the last 20 years, nearly 4,000 people have died in plane crashes in which pilots lost track of where they were, often due to poor visibility.
But now, a new technology can give pilots a "virtual" view of what they can't always see looking out the cockpit window. CBS News correspondent Thalia Assuras got a first-hand look at 15,000-feet.
A fatal crash: it's the fear of every pilot who loses track of where they are - exactly what happened when one Korean Air 747 slammed into a ravine, killing 228 people.
It's called "flying blind," but it could soon be a thing of the past. CBS News got an exclusive look at new technology that helps eliminate that problem.
Developed by Honeywell and just approved for use in Gulfstream business jets, it's called "synthetic vision." The system gives pilots a computer-generated 3-D view of what's in front of the plane - even in zero visibility.
"Pitch dark or in a rainstorm, you're going to see this picture?" Assuras asked Honeywell test pilot Jary Engels.
"Every day, it's like a nice sunny day. I can see the terrain," said Engels. "I can see the hills, that which is important to me to fly the airplane and understand the environment around me."
Pilots call it "situational awareness." But why is that so key for safety?
"Being aware of the environment around you is what keeps you safe," Engels said. "Situational awareness is all about safety and being aware of where I'm at, what condition the aircraft is in, the environment around me."
Loss of situational awareness was partly to blame when an American Airlines 757 slammed into a mountain, killing 163 - and when an Air Force plane carrying Commerce Secretary Ron Brown hit a mountain in bad weather, killing everyone on board.
"You need to be able to give pilots a forward-looking view of what's coming so that they can take action prior to an emergency occurring," said aviation analyst Peter Goelz.
This new technology is also being developed to help military helicopters fly in sandstorms, and will be offered to commercial airlines later this year.
Synthetic vision does carry a $300,000 price tag.
But experts say it's a fair price for added safety and predict it will eventually become standard equipment.