TheAutomatic Ground Collision Avoidance System (Auto-GCAS) enhances safety by mitigatingcontrolled flight into terrain (CFIT) accidents.[1] The Auto-GCAS team was awarded the 2018Collier Trophy for the design-integration and flight testing in theF-35, marking the year's greatest achievement in aeronautics.[2] This team includes theAir Force Research Laboratory,Lockheed Martin, theF-35 Joint Program Office, the Defense Safety Oversight Council, andNASA.[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 ofF-16 pilot fatalities.[3]
NASA started working on Auto-GCAS starting in 1997.[4] The system was then jointly developed at theLockheed MartinSkunk Works[3] and atNASA. In July 2019, seven years ahead of schedule, Lockheed Martin began integration of Auto-GCAS into the F-35 fleet.[5]
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