Active sidestick operations make so much sense to most pilots that talk of anything else seems a waste of time. Sidesticks are a mainstay in business aircraft like the newest Falcons, recent Embraer jets and Airbus aircraft. The Cirrus fleet of single engine piston aircraft even sports a sidestick of sorts. There’s a difference though between these sidesticks and the system undergoing certification inside the new Gulfstream G500. The Gulfstream’s system is an active sidestick configuration, rather than a passive version like some others.
BAE’s Active Sidestick Debuts in Gulfstream G500
Key Takeaways:
- Active sidesticks provide linked control and force feedback between pilots, ensuring both crew members are aware of flight control inputs, unlike passive systems which contributed to confusion in accidents like Air France 447.
- The Gulfstream G500 is implementing an active sidestick system, developed in partnership with BAE Systems, marking Gulfstream's first aircraft to feature this technology and BAE's entry into the civil market for active sidesticks.
- This active sidestick technology enhances pilot situational awareness, improves handling qualities and precision, frees up cockpit real estate, and boasts triple redundancy with a fail-safe passive mode.
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