19 May 2021, Мoscow – Aeroflot has become the first Russian operator to introduce the Braking Action Computation Function (BACF). The technology enables the airline to more accurately evaluate the braking action the aircraft experienced during landing and share the data with airport ground support services. BACF helps address the biggest category of accidents, so-called “runway excursions”, when an aircraft departs the runway. BACF aims to improve flight safety and help its users to satisfy ICAO latest standards.
BACF is developed by Airbus and its subsidiary NAVBLUE, a company handling flight operations and air traffic management. Aeroflot signed a contract to install BACF on its single aisle A320 Family aircraft. The technology will be later available for widebody A350 aircraft.
“Ensuring safety is priority for our airline, - said Mikhail Poluboyarinov, Aeroflot CEO. – Aeroflot meets the highest international standards and pioneers global industry initiatives in Russia. The introduction of BACF technology will allow us to more effectively cooperate with all partners involved in the air transport operations.”
“Russia has some of the most challenging weather conditions worldwide with winter season lasting up to six month. Runways can be contaminated, particularly with standing water, snow and/or ice. We are looking forward to seeing how Aeroflot’s operations will benefit from this technology and how airports will use this data to enhance Runway Condition assessment”, said Julien Franiatte, Head of Country Russia, Airbus.
BACF is a special software to be installed on aircraft. The functionality uses data from an aircraft’s braking phase during landing, comparing this information against different reference runway conditions using Airbus Aircraft Performance Data, based on this comparison the software evaluates the encountered level of braking action.
This information is displayed on the cockpit’s Multifunction Control & Display Unit (MCDU), assisting pilots in transmitting their Braking Action report to air traffic controllers, to be then shared with airport.
In parallel, BACF shares data with RunwaySense another NAVBLUE service to support runway condition reporting to access in real time using the unique data provided by aircraft. The RunwaySense technological approach is similar to mobile apps that allow drivers to see and avoid traffic jams with data generated by other drivers. By sharing reports in real-time, RunwaySense users will better understand how runway conditions are trending, and airports can anticipate and mitigate slippery conditions.
