Stuff Those Tailcones

Mention tailcones to Honeywell Aerospace, and they will likely say, "Stuff them."

For that's what they want to do as the latest trend takes hold at regional airline manufacturers -- asking systems integrators to deliver a tailcone ready-stuffed with the auxiliary power unit, fire detection and suppression systems, and all other plumbing so it can just be bolted on.

"We're already doing this for the Hawker Horizon business jet and Fairchild 728JET regional airliner," Steve Loranger, Honeywell president for engines and systems told Show News.

The tailcone -- which Honeywell farms out to a structures company -- is easy to view as a complete module in itself, but systems integration goes much further throughout the aircraft.

Honeywell is working with Airbus, Boeing and other manufacturers to design and supply complete integrated systems incorporating (all or partly) the auxiliary power unit, power management, lighting, flight control systems, communication, navigation and safety avionics, and environmental control systems.

"If we look at an aircraft like the Boeing 777, which we are working on, systems integration can save thousands of dollars and hundreds of pounds of weight," said Loranger.

Honeywell's integration is based on an open architecture philosophy, which means it can easily accept products from other suppliers as well.

Being chosen to supply integrated systems brings another benefit. "This will give us access to all the aircraft systems data in digital form, so we can link it to our e-commerce services to provide real-time monitoring, maintenance and flight planning," said Loranger. "This is part of our long term growth strategy."

By John Morris