HomeSafe is an emergency system that automatically brings the airplane to a runway touchdown if the pilot becomes incapacitated. The system is activated manually by an easily recognizable orange button atop the cockpit instrument panel. Its software integrates weather, traffic and terrain information to select the best airport for landing, taking into account fuel range and runway length.
HomeSafe is based on Garmin’s Emergency Autoland system – available as a part of the G3000 integrated flight deck – and has been under development for the TBM since 2017 by the Avionics Engineering Office at Daher’s Aircraft Division. This work included Big Data analyses and the testing of 20 HomeSafe system versions.
Daher has submitted HomeSafe to European and U.S. aviation authorities for a certification expected this spring, enabling first deliveries of the autoland system in its top-of-the-line very fast turboprop version in June 2020. The system also will be available for retrofit on earlier-production TBM 940 aircraft at an introductory price of $85,000.
