UTC Aerospace Systems introduces a radar-based aircraft Taxi Strike Alert System (TSAS) designed to help flight crews navigate safely during taxiing operations and to detect and alert on impending collision threats with ground obstacles, including other aircraft, ground vehicles and stationary airport infrastructure. The TSAS capability was developed by UTC Aerospace Systems' Sensors and Integrated Systems business in Burnsville, Minnesota. UTC Aerospace Systems is a unit of United Technologies Corp. (NYSE: UTX).

Each year, time and money are lost due to commercial aircraft accidents incidents during ground operations, of which significant portions occur during taxiing maneuvers. TSAS leverages aircraft position, velocity and heading data with fuselage mounted sensors to survey the area forward of the wingtips, detecting obstructions in the potential collision path and provide visual and audible alerts to the cockpit. TSAS radar-based sensing technology enables all-weather, day and night operations and delivers superior performance compared to video-based collision detection systems.

"We see increased customer demand for taxi collision avoidance systems as a safety enhancement measure and as a means for reducing operational costs and flight schedule disruptions. UTC Aerospace Systems' radar-sensing technology has matured to the point where price and performance now allow cost-effective application to the aircraft industry, much the same way radar-use in automotive applications is increasing," said Brian Sartain, director of Business Development, UTC Aerospace Systems.