Cincinnati, OH -- GE Aviation was proud to support Alaska Airlines with their flight management technology in a recent flight to intercept a solar eclipse. Captain Hal Andersen piloted flight 870 and arranged to intercept the solar eclipse from the air on March 8.
The flight was made in a Boeing 737-900ER using GE Aviation’s flight management system. “We used the flight management system to program a custom flight plan with required time of arrival at each point tailored to maximize the presentation of the eclipse to the passengers, said Captain Hal Andersen. “The flight management computer was able maintain the required arrival to each waypoint within two seconds which is amazing considering the winds.”
The plan was carefully coordinated with all stakeholders, giving passengers including astronomers and eclipse chasers, a bird’s eye view. In coordination with Oceanic Air Traffic Control, Captain Andersen had to make them aware that the flight might require a few more tactical changes than normal.
“The key to success here is meeting some very tight time constraints – specific latitudes and longitudes over the ocean,” Andersen added. “With the flight management computer, it’s a pretty easy challenge, but it’s something we need to pay very close attention to. We don’t want to be too far ahead or too far behind schedule.”
Although this is not the first time a total eclipse has been observed from an aircraft, it was one of the few times it's ever been observed on a regular scheduled airline flight. In addition to being a line pilot for Alaska Airlines, Andersen is a digital solutions technical leader for GE Aviation in their Kent, Washington facility.
See images and video of the event on the Alaska Airlines website: https://blog.alaskaair.com/alaska-airlines/news/eclipse-flight/
GE Aviation delivered the 10,000th flight management computer to The Boeing Company last year, marking an era of continuous partnership in support of the versatile 737 airplane. In addition to the 737-300 through 900ER models and BBJs, GE’s flight management system is currently on the U.S. Navy P-8A, E-6B, and E-2B aircraft, the USAF KC-46A, E-4B and C-130J, international variants including UK MOD, RCAF, RAAF and IAF C-130J, Airbus A320/330/340, EADS A330 MRTT, Indian Navy P-8I, Japanese Navy C-2/P-1.
GE Aviation, an operating unit of General Electric Company (NYSE: GE), is a world-leading provider of commercial and military jet engines, components and avionics, digital solutions and electrical power systems for aircraft.
GE is the world’s Digital Industrial Company, transforming industry with software-defined machines and solutions that are connected, responsive and predictive. GE is organized around a global exchange of knowledge, the "GE Store," where each business shares and accesses the same technology, markets, structure and intellect. Each invention further fuels innovation and application across industrial sectors. With people, services, technology and scale, GE delivers better outcomes for customers by speaking the language of industry.