Helmet-style cockpit vision system aims to change how pilots see in low visibility

AerSale developed the system, AerAware, in partnership with Universal Avionics and has received Federal Aviation Administration certification for the Boeing 737 Next Generation.

Yahav said the system reflects his experience with low-visibility night approaches.

"You turn your head up and look outside, and there's just nothing - pitch black or foggy," he said.

He said the system combines sensor data and imagery to support situational awareness during takeoff and landing.

AerAware departs from traditional head-up displays and instead equips both pilots with a dual wearable system that delivers the same information to each cockpit seat.

Yahav said the concept draws from military helmet-mounted displays used in aircraft such as the F-35 Lightning II.

Regulators continue to focus on runway safety, and FAA data shows there were 1,636 runway incursions in fiscal year 2025, down from 1,758 in 2024 and 1,760 in 2023. Pilot deviations accounted for 62% of incursions from 2021 through 2025.

The installation process takes about two to three days per aircraft, followed by pilot training under an approved program, Yahav said.

He said airline interest has increased alongside continued focus on runway incursions and low-visibility operations.

Jacqueline Carlon, senior vice president of marketing and communications for AerSale, said airlines evaluating the system focus on certification, installation downtime and integration into existing operations.

"It takes about a two- to three-day installation per aircraft, followed by an approved training program," she said.