Automatic Ground Collision Avoidance System

The Automatic Ground Collision Avoidance System (Auto-GCAS) enhances safety by mitigating controlled flight into terrain (CFIT) accidents. The Auto-GCAS team was awarded the 2018 Collier Trophy for the design-integration and flight testing in the F-35, marking the year's greatest achievement in aeronautics. This team includes the Air Force Research Laboratory, Lockheed Martin, the F-35 Joint Program Office, the Defense Safety Oversight Council, and NASA. The Automatic Ground Collision Avoidance System uses inputs from terrain mapping, aircraft location, and automation to avoid ground collisions. The Auto-GCAS system detects imminent ground contact and warns the pilot. If there is no pilot response, the Auto-GCAS takes control, maneuvering to avoid ground contact. When on a safe trajectory, with pilot awareness, control returns to the pilot. Pilot unresponsiveness can be attributed to many factors including: distraction, task saturation, incapacitation, and unconsciousness. The Auto-GCAS system successfully reduced the leading cause of F-16 pilot fatalities. NASA started working on Auto-GCAS starting in 1997. The system was then jointly developed at the Lockheed Martin Skunk Works and at NASA. In July 2019, seven years ahead of schedule, Lockheed Martin began integration of Auto-GCAS into the F-35 fleet.

American military aviation safety

The Automatic Ground Collision Avoidance System (Auto-GCAS) enhances safety by mitigating controlled flight into terrain (CFIT) accidents.^[1] The Auto-GCAS team was awarded the 2018 Collier Trophy for the design-integration and flight testing in the F-35, marking the year's greatest achievement in aeronautics.^[2] This team includes the Air Force Research Laboratory, Lockheed Martin, the F-35 Joint Program Office, the Defense Safety Oversight Council, and NASA.^[2]

The Automatic Ground Collision Avoidance System uses inputs from terrain mapping, aircraft location, and automation to avoid ground collisions. The Auto-GCAS system detects imminent ground contact and warns the pilot. If there is no pilot response, the Auto-GCAS takes control, maneuvering to avoid ground contact. When on a safe trajectory, with pilot awareness, control returns to the pilot.^[3] Pilot unresponsiveness can be attributed to many factors including: distraction, task saturation, incapacitation, and unconsciousness. The Auto-GCAS system successfully reduced the leading cause of F-16 pilot fatalities.^{[3][non-primary source needed]}

NASA started working on Auto-GCAS starting in 1997.^[4] The system was then jointly developed at the Lockheed Martin Skunk Works^[3] and at NASA. In July 2019, seven years ahead of schedule, Lockheed Martin began integration of Auto-GCAS into the F-35 fleet.^[5]

References

[edit]

1. ^ "AFRL - Automatic Collision Avoidance Technology (ACAT)". Wright-Patterson AFB. United States Air Force. July 19, 2018. Archived from the original on January 1, 2020. Retrieved May 30, 2020.
2. ^ ^{a b} Griffith, Stephanie (April 5, 2019). "Automatic Ground Collision Avoidance System Team to Receive the 2018 Robert J. Collier Trophy" (PDF) (Press release). Washington, DC: National Aeronautic Association. Archived from the original (PDF) on December 18, 2019.
3. ^ ^{a b c} "Auto GCAS: Collision Avoidance System". Lockheedmartin.com. Lockheed Martin. 2025. Archived from the original on February 25, 2026. Retrieved May 30, 2020.
4. ^ "NASA-Pioneered Automatic Ground-Collision Avoidance System Operational". NASA.gov. NASA. February 11, 2015. Retrieved May 30, 2020.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
5. ^ "Lockheed Martin integrates ground collision avoidance system in F-35A". airforce-technology.com. Verdict Media. July 25, 2019. Archived from the original on June 19, 2025. Retrieved May 30, 2020.

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