Honeywell HALAS is changing high-altitude flight planning

PHOENIX, October, 09, 2023 –  HALAS supported the successful launch of BAE Systems’ High Altitude Pseudo Satellite (HAPS) Uncrewed Aerial System (UAS) PHASA-35® at Spaceport America, New Mexico. The PHASA-35’s flight trial exceeded 66,000 feet in altitude before landing safely.

“Honeywell’s HALAS played a critical role during PHASA-35’s successful stratospheric flight,” said Paul Mitchell, the chief meteorologist for BAE supporting the flight. “The reduced data delivery time and the ability to monitor meteorological conditions directly overhead would not be possible with a radiosonde carried by a weather balloon. HALAS data allowed for quick verification across our meteorological modelling, leading to the most accurate high-resolution data input into our mission planning tools. It is game-changing technology, which assisted and facilitated multiple tactical environmental decisions during our HAPS operation.”

“Weather is a common cause of launches being scrubbed, and that’s an expensive proposition,” said Matt Picchetti, vice president and general manager, Navigation and Sensors, Honeywell Aerospace. “By adopting HALAS, government agencies and launch companies can increase the number of launches per year and dramatically reduce incidences of last-minute launch cancellations. There is no significant incremental cost for our customers to use HALAS, and the system can provide more timely, accurate and relevant data for targeted areas that will prove beneficial to organizations requiring up-to-the-minute weather information.”

Today, HALAS measures atmospheric pressure, temperature, humidity, wind speed and direction. Additional capabilities being planned include aerosol measurement, optical turbulence and gas sensing. HALAS is available via a “data as a service” model under which Honeywell owns, operates and maintains the equipment while customers pay for the collected data.

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Honeywell (www.honeywell.com) delivers industry-specific solutions that include aerospace products and services; control technologies for buildings and industry; and performance materials globally. Our technologies help aircraft, buildings, manufacturing plants, supply chains and workers become more connected to make our world smarter, safer and more sustainable. For more news and information on Honeywell, please visit www.honeywell.com/newsroom.