ORLANDO, FL – A Honeywell Runway Awareness & Advisory System (RAAS) was recently installed into a H800XP aircraft by StarPortUSA, based out of the Orlando-Sanford International Airport.
StarPort’s avionics team completed the installation after obtaining an STC on the project and aircraft type. According to Avionics Manager John Coon, the project took three months long due to the STC approval. ”We had a staff of eight on this project and it took 450 man-hours to complete,” he said, emphasizing the large size of the installation.
Coon then described the project’s complexity. “We started from scratch with this aircraft. We first had to install the EGPWS [before moving on to the RAAS installation].” Coon described how the company’s avionics team and additional engineers worked together to get an STC for the H800XP aircraft for the installation. “The biggest challenge was the engineering to make it work—and, getting the FAA and everyone else to sign off on it,” he said.
Next, he emphasized the importance of the RAAS. “The Honeywell RAAS tells the pilot where on the airport he is, and what runway he’s headed for,” he said. “It tells what taxiway he’s on with voice prompts from the cockpit’s speakers—like a car’s GPS. It even monitors the aircraft’s speed when flying and when on the runway,” said Coon.
The Honeywell RAAS is an advisory system to the pilot, which locates the position of the aircraft at the airport or on approaches. The system helps pilots to gain situational awareness during times of bad weather, dark conditions, and when landing on unfamiliar runways—therefore helping to prevent accidents. Verbal enunciators are given through the system’s speakers. “On long touch-downs, the system even tells the pilot how many feet they have left before there’s civilian area,” added Coon.
Executive Director of Sales Eddie Hidalgo said, “We expect more interest in RAAS installations in the future due to the safety factor for ground operations.”
StarPort’s full-service avionics department provides avionics sales, installations and modifications, in addition to avionics repairs. The facility is a factory-authorized dealer for many of the top avionics manufacturers, including Universal, Rockwell-Collins, Honeywell and Aircell. The team includes engineering specialists available for the structural design, layout and installation of avionics and electronics. StarPort’s factory-trained technicians install a wide-range of avionics systems, including FMS, SATCOM, EFIS, RVSM, TCAS, TAWS, autopilot systems, and flight director systems, in addition to weather radar, communication and navigation systems.
StarPort, a Cambata Aviation International company, is an Orlando, Florida-based leading business aviation firm with a full-service FBO, heavy maintenance service center, complete aircraft refurbishment center and an aircraft sales division. The company’s aircraft refurbishment capabilities include exterior paint and interior refurbishment, with full cabinet, upholstery and seat-shop services for small, medium and large-cabin business aircraft. Heavy maintenance capabilities include around-the-clock scheduled maintenance and mobile AOG services, with extensive sheet-metal and structural repair capabilities, full avionics services, in-house level III NDT services with radiography, and a Honeywell 731 engine line maintenance service center. To cater to business aviation customers in North & South America, in addition to Europe and the Far East, StarPort’s facility is strategically located at the Orlando-Sanford International Airport, in Sanford, Florida. StarPort has a proven track record of maintaining a wide range of airframes, including Bombardier, Cessna, Falcon, Raytheon and Gulfstream aircraft. The company is a licensed FAA Repair Center (#Q5BR079X), and an EASA (#145-6200) approved Repair Station.
