BAE Systems awarded EASA approval for TCAS 7.1 upgrade for Boeing 737 and 757 models

BAE Systems Regional Aircraft has obtained European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) approval to upgrade all previous TCAS 7.0 installations on Boeing 737s and Boeing 757s to the new TCAS 7.1 standard, and has won business from three airlines. For retrofit aircraft this new standard is mandatory from December 1st, 2015, for all aircraft flying in European airspace. The TCAS 7.1 (Traffic Collision and Avoidance System) approvals for BAE Systems cover all models of the Boeing 737 from the Classic (Series 300-500) to the New Generation variants (Series 600-900) and also all models of the Boeing 757 (Series 200/300 and Boeing 757PF). This new development builds on the EASA approvals granted last year for TCAS 7.1 upgrades to the BAe 146/Avro RJ regional jet and which has resulted in Swiss and TNT Airways S.A purchasing the modification covering their combined fleets of 36 aircraft. BAE Systems always intended that it would offer this upgrade solution to third party aircraft types as part of its business development strategy and the Boeing 737/757 approvals are the first concrete steps in that direction. BAE Systems has so far received orders covering upgrades for 60 Boeing 737/757 airliners. The two latest customers to select the BAE Systems upgrade solution are Spanish carrier Alba Star for its Boeing 737 Classic fleet and Swedish/UK freight carrier West Atlantic for its three Boeing 737-300Fs.