Summary
- L2 Aviation and Klatt Works have developed a brand new oxygen mask called the SAVED system, which mixes a heads-up display with an oxygen mask to help pilots in navigating in smoke-filled cockpits.
- The SAVED system features a camera that records what the pilot sees and provides visual references on the heads-up display, helping with landing and displaying critical flight information.
- The SAVED system is currently within the certification process with the FAA and the businesses plan to certify it to be used in a wide selection of aircraft, including Boeing, Airbus, Gulfstream, and McDonnell Douglas models.
Two United States-based firms have come together to create revolutionary technology for pilots. L2 Aviation, based in Dripping Springs, Texas, and Klatt Works, based in Pleasanton, California, have revealed their newly developed oxygen mask. The brand new technology combines a heads-up display with an oxygen mask and utilizes augmented reality to help pilots in navigating the cockpit and aircraft controls within the event that the cabin fills with smoke.
Newly developed technology
Klatt Works and L2 Aviation have named their recent mask the SAVED system, which stands for Smoke Assured Vision Enhanced Display. Specifically, the SAVED system includes each the required oxygen system and a vision display.
A camera situated within the nose of the mask records what the pilot or first officer is seeing. The Video Amplifier Splitter (VAS) records the video into the system. The system then provides symbology on its heads-up display on the mask to help the crew members. The display provides the crew members with visual references to assist with landing the aircraft and may also display critical flight information.
Photo: Klatt Works
The SAVED system will almost definitely be utilized by pilots and first officers during a smoke-in-the-cockpit emergency. Within the event that a cockpit fills with smoke, the flight crew members wouldn’t give you the option to obviously see the instrument panel, controls, and even outside the front window. The mask will allow the crew members to navigate the cockpit and even land the aircraft with its heads-up display. Other features of the mask include a 60 fps and 720p video display, adjustable brightness, dual redundant power, and the flexibility to integrate into various standard masks without modification.
The Chief Operations Officer of L2 Aviation, Tony Bailey, spoke in regards to the recent technology saying,
“The Klatt Works SAVED system brings an unparalleled level of safety to the cockpit and we couldn’t be prouder to be a component of the team to assist certify the system to be used in the worldwide aircraft industry.”
Certification process
Klatt Works and L2 Aviation have partnered for this project and on November 20, the businesses announced a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU). This sets the certification framework and process for the brand new technology. Currently, the SAVED system is within the Supplemental Type Certificate (STC) certification process with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).
Photo: sockagphoto | Shutterstock
The Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Klatt Works, Nate Klatt, spoke in regards to the recent technology and partnership with L2 Aviation, saying,
“L2 is a frontrunner within the aircraft products certification industry and we couldn’t have asked for a greater partner to integrate our SAVED system into additional aircraft beyond the FedEx fleet of Boeing 757, 767, and 777 aircraft as previously announced in AIN. L2’s expertise and our revolutionary vision display system will enhance flying safety in critical visibility situations like few other products have before.”
The 2 firms want to certify the SAVED system across a wide selection of aircraft. Currently, STF certification flight testing is planned on the Boeing 777, 767, 757, and the McDonnell Douglas MD-11. Other certification efforts are planned for the Airbus A320 and A330, the Gulfstream G550 and G650, in addition to several other industrial, business, and military aircraft.
Source: Klatt Works