Four Things That Make Honeywell Anthem the Cockpit of the Future

Even if you’re not a pilot, a single glance will tell you Honeywell Anthem is not just another cockpit.

Honeywell Anthem was inspired by modern consumer electronics with intuitive touchscreens and user interfaces. It features large, high-resolution displays that put vital information where it belongs – right at the pilot’s fingertips. And there’s an uncluttered layout that aircraft manufacturers can tailor to reinforce their brand and pilots can customize in seconds to meet their specific needs. 

Behind Honeywell Anthem’s sleek appearance, you’ll find the world’s smartest and most automated cockpit. It can even anticipate what’s next on a given flight profile and cue up likely commands, which the pilot can accept or reject with a single touch. Because it’s cloud-connected, pilots can access all the information they need – from weather updates to flight plan modifications – in real-time. 

Honeywell Anthem sets new standards for flexibility, situational awareness and ease of use, making it the ideal flight deck for any platform and for pilots of all experience levels. We like to say that Honeywell Anthem makes flying an airplane safer, more intuitive, more efficient and a lot more fun. 

Here are four things that make Honeywell Anthem the undisputed flight deck of the future: 

1. Phenomenal User Interfaces

Honeywell Anthem uses intuitive technology that is familiar to pilots who already use Electronic Flight Bag (EFB) apps, tablets and smartphones every day. Our talented Honeywell User Experience (HUE) human factors group used input from countless sources – including novice and experienced pilots – to come up with a touch-first approach to this all-new cockpit system. 

The overall look and feel of the pilot interfaces and menus are so intuitive that pilots figure things out as soon as they climb into the cockpit or simulator. Unlike traditional interfaces based on text entry or basic graphical menus, Honeywell Anthem uses visualization and modern graphical and gesture-based methods, which make the flight deck much easier to use. 

For example, pilots love the PilotPredict (also known as Smart Scratch Pad), which lets them quickly enter numbers or text on a digital keypad. The system immediately recognizes what they want to do – like change radio frequencies or altitude – and auto-suggests the full input, which they can accept or change. It is very accurate and reduces pilot workload considerably.  

2. Extraordinary Flexibility 

Honeywell Anthem rejects the one-size-fits-all approach that has long-dominated flight decks. Aircraft manufacturers can now customize their aircraft’s cockpit to create a look and feel that sets them apart from the competition. The system can be sized, so it works for both small and large cockpits and all kinds of aircraft, giving OEMs lots of options when it comes to the number of displays, their orientation and placement.

We’re working with NXP Semiconductors to develop new chipsets and technologies that will strengthen Honeywell Anthem’s position as the flight deck of the future, especially for high-end business jets and airliners. NXP chips will enable large-format displays that are crisp, clean and intuitive, with state-of-the-art 3D graphics and many AI-enabled features.

Pilots also have enormous flexibility to set up the cockpit just the way they want it. They can position frequently used touch controls, menus or displays where they are most convenient. Pilots can place Honeywell Anthem features like the Electronic Flight Bag window, Mission Manager, navigation charts, synoptics, checklists, autopilot and radio controls, and PilotPredict all within easy reach during all phases of flight.

By letting pilots individually tailor the flight deck, we’re reducing pilot stress, workload and training time. We’re also reducing the potential for errors. Anthem accommodates multiple pilots flying the same aircraft and allows each pilot to save their presets to the cloud, so they are available immediately upon powering up the cockpit.

3. Always-On Cloud Connectivity 

Always-on cloud connectivity means Honeywell Anthem can deliver the right information to the pilot at precisely the right time. It gives pilots unprecedented levels of information that improves situational awareness and reduces pilot workload, starting when the wheels are still on the ground. 

Before they arrive at the airport, pilots can save cockpit settings, flight plans and other information securely to the cloud using Honeywell Forge Flight Services tools and their tablets or smartphones. Setups are retrieved securely the moment the avionics are powered up when the pilot arrives at the aircraft. On average, a pilot saves about 45 minutes of prep time – and probably a lot of stress – thanks to cloud connectivity. 

Constant connectivity makes flying safer, easier and more intuitive. It also helps pilots make better decisions thanks to a continuous flow of information that puts the most current and relevant information at their fingertips through an easy-to-access Electronic Flight Book window.  

Honeywell Anthem’s connectivity is also designed for operators, providing unprecedented levels of aircraft data to enable new insights and operational efficiency.  For example, maintenance needs and information can be streamed in real-time to allow for minimal downtime and improved dispatchability and fleet management.

4. Improved Flight Safety 

Honeywell Anthem continues Honeywell’s century-plus legacy of developing breakthrough technologies that improve flight safety. It sets new standards of cockpit synergy and situational awareness and introduces new technologies and more autonomous features that improve pilot performance and reduce human errors. 

By improving situational awareness and reducing pilot workload, Honeywell Anthem streamlines cockpit operations so pilots can focus on safely flying the aircraft rather than on managing complex systems. Cloud connectivity provides access to real-time weather updates and traffic information, which helps pilots avoid potential hazards. Augmented reality overlays make flying safer even in challenging situations. 

As Honeywell Anthem evolves, it will serve as the platform for introducing advanced safety innovations that are powered by artificial intelligence, machine learning and advanced analytics. For instance, Honeywell Anthem will help introduce our latest runway safety innovation, SURF-IA, to the aviation industry

Generations of pilots have relied on Honeywell cockpit systems, dating back to the earliest days of electro-mechanical instruments. We are proud of our past, but we’re focused on the future. With Honeywell Anthem, our dedicated teams are pioneering the sixth generation of avionics technologies as we continue to shape the future of aviation. 

Learn more about Honeywell Anthem today.