Shanghai, China – China Southern signed a purchase agreement with Thales for their selection of the NXT-800 Automatic Dependent Surveillance – Broadcast (ADS-B) Transponder from ACSS, an L3Harris Technologies and Thales company, during the fourth China International Import Expo (CIIE).
The NXT-800 meets the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) DO-260B mandates requiring transmission of more precise position, speed and intent data for China Southern’s fleet consisting of 335 Boeing and Airbus aircraft. China Southern will start retrofitting their fleet this year.
“As a valued partner and VIP service and repair customer; Thales wanted to provide the most effective and cost-efficient solution to the airline to meet the global mandates for DO-260B,” said Jerôme Bendell, Vice President of Thales North Asia and CEO of Thales in China, “ACSS’ NXT-800 has been installed in hundreds of airlines globally and has a proven record for reliability and lower lifetime costs. This solution reduces China Southern’s maintenance and pilot training costs by having the same equipment across the fleet.”
ACSS’ NXT-800 provides precise, real-time flight data information, including the current aircraft position, speed and intent to nearby equipped aircraft and Air Traffic Control. It can enable pilots to take advantage of more efficient routing which results in increasing airspace capacity, situational awareness and overall operational safety. Operators can perform timely onboard software loads for simplified upgrades which increases aircraft utilization and lower maintenance costs.
“China Southern’s selection of the NXT-800 is the first mixed configuration for Boeing and Airbus platforms across the fleet based in China,” said Alan Crawford, President L3Harris Technologies Commercial Aviation, and ACSS representative. “The reliability of the product enhances the overall surveillance system capabilities and augments China’s aviation industry growth by providing an innovative solution that improves safety and airport efficiency.”
ADS-B is the cornerstone surveillance technology of the FAA’s NextGen and Europe’s SESAR airspace Initiative, and now China’s. The NXT-800 from ACSS incorporate FAA-specified diversity, optimizing signal strength and reducing multi-path interference, providing enhanced safety. This selection provides China Southern a platform for future ADS-B upgrades designed to evolve airline and airport safety and efficiency as air travel demand increases in China.
China Southern is China’s largest air travel provider and industry leader currently operating a total fleet of over 600 aircraft. “This agreement highlights ACSS’ and Thales’ strong focus on local support to airlines through innovative products that create value and help improve operations, especially during the post-pandemic recovery, and well into the future”, said Eric Huber, Vice President, Aviation Global Services at Thales.
About ACSS
Aviation Communication & Surveillance Systems (ACSS) is an L3Harris and Thales joint venture. ACSS produces avionics systems that increase safety, situational awareness, and efficiency for commercial and military flight operators. They design and manufacture communications and surveillance products used throughout air transport and regional airlines, business aviation, helicopters, general aviation, military aircraft and unmanned vehicles with more than 75,000 products operating globally. Thales Avionics is the exclusive sales and support agent of ACSS products to Commercial Air Transport customers operating Airbus and Boeing aircraft.
About Thales
Thales (Euronext Paris: HO) is a global leader in advanced technologies, investing in digital and “deep tech” innovations – connectivity, big data, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity and quantum computing – to build a confident future crucial for the development of our societies. The Group provides its customers – businesses, organizations and governments – in the defense, aeronautics, space, transport, and digital identity and security domains with solutions, services and products that help them fulfil their critical role, consideration for the individual being the driving force behind all decisions.
Thales has 81,000 employees in 68 countries. In 2020 the Group generated sales of €17 billion.
About Thales in China
Thales provides innovative solutions for the infrastructure that forms the backbone of China’s growth. The Group has been present in China for more than 40 years and is the trusted partner for the Chinese aviation and urban rail transportation industries. In the meanwhile, from secure software to biometrics and encryption, Thales has successfully applied its advanced technology to mobile communication, banking, IoT, software monetization, etc. Thales has 3 JVs and employs 2,100 people with offices located in 7 cities in China. Thales established R&D centers and Innovation Hubs in Beijing, Dalian and Hong Kong to provide innovative solutions for both China and international market.
About L3Harris Technologies
L3Harris Technologies is an agile global aerospace and defense technology innovator, delivering end-to-end solutions that meet customers’ mission-critical needs. The company provides advanced defense and commercial technologies across air, land, sea, space and cyber domains. L3Harris has approximately $18 billion in annual revenue and 47,000 employees, with customers in more than 100 countries. L3Harris.com.
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