Horizon Air, along with its sister carrier, Alaska Airlines, is known as an innovator in the use of technology for customer convenience and flight safety.
The Internet
In 1995, Horizon and Alaska became the first U.S. airlines to book flights and sell tickets via the Internet.
Web check-in
In 1999, Horizon and Alaska became the first U.S. airlines to offer Web check-in, allowing customers to check in and print a boarding pass via the Internet from their home or office.
Wireless check-in
In 2001, Horizon and Alaska introduced wireless check-in using a Web-enabled phone or a wireless handheld device.
Check-in kiosks
Horizon and Alaska offer ticketless travel using check-in kiosks throughout airports and other busy locations in more than 70 cities. Using this service, travelers can check in electronically, receive a boarding pass and head straight to the plane without ever going to the ticket counter.
In-flight technology
Satellite Flight Guidance Systems: GPS/EGPWS/RNP
In 1996, Alaska became the first airline in the world to integrate the Global Positioning System (GPS) with the latest in Enhanced Ground Proximity Warning System (EGPWS) technology. In 1997, Horizon began using GPS, and in 2000, it began integrating EGPWS. GPS employs a network of 24 orbiting satellites to triangulate a plane's position in three dimensions. EGPWS takes that information and compares it to an onboard computer database of contour maps from around the world and continuously updates pilots on their location relative to nearby terrain. Using GPS and EGPWS, Alaska pioneered Required Navigation Performance (RNP) to fly contoured approaches and departures with pinpoint accuracy into and out of rugged Alaska airports. Today, RNP technology is used at numerous airports in Alaska and is also spreading to airports in the contiguous states and throughout the world.
Head-Up Guidance System (HGS®)
In 1989, Alaska became the first airline to use HGS during a passenger-carrying flight to reduce disruptions in scheduled service caused by fog. In 1995, Horizon became the first turboprop operator to use the HGS “Fogbuster." The system superimposes a holographic image of the approaching runway on a transparent screen positioned between the pilot and the cockpit windshield. Flight data from the instrument panel is also displayed on the screen.
