Trident had AL, but it wasn't either the first or the best at the time
Yes, Trident did have AL, but it wasn't either the first AL, the first jet AL, or the first jet transport AL, or anything close to the best AL system at the time...
The Trident did however, achieve some "firsts", as noted below:
The Trident was the first “air carrier” automatic landing with passengers on board, on 10 Jun 1965 – British European Airways (BEA) HS-121 Trident 1C flying as BE343 LFPB-EGLL - with a Smiths SEP-5 AP – ...but it did it with significant regulatory restrictions. The specifics were: a commercial flight with passengers aboard, achieved on flight BE 343, with a Trident 1 G-ARPR, from Paris Le Bourget to Heathrow Rwy 28R, with Captains Eric Poole and Frank Ormonroyd
Then, in Nov 1966 - BEA HS-121 Trident - made the First air carrier (non-revenue) civil AL in fog - at London (EGLL) Rwy 28.
And finally, on May 16, 1967, the Trident made the first 3 Ch A/L with Passengers - that was Trident 1C G-ARPP – Nice/London
Nonetheless, the Trident and its Smiths AP did make valuable contributions to the AWO and Cat III evolution, and state of the art...
Last edited by 7478ti; 26th Feb 2016 at 23:55.