Bombardier Chooses ISIS
Smiths Industries Aerospace is to supply its integrated standby instrument system (ISIS) as basic fit for the Learjet Models 60, 45 and 31A. Deliveries to Bombardier Aerospace began in December 2000.
The ISIS is a complete standby system in a single instrument, using liquid crystal display technology. It is based on a 3ATI (3-inch-square) system that displays altitude, attitude and airspeed.
It was certificated for commercial use in March 1998 and currently is on six aircraft types across air transport, business jets and helicopters. See www.smithsind-aerospace.com.
FlightViz for SFIM, Northwest
SimAuthor Inc.’s FlightViz data visualization software has been chosen by SFIM Inc. as the image component for its Analysis Ground Station (AGS) and by Northwest Airlines to enhance its training programs.
FlightViz will add capability to SFIM’s AGS–a flight-data-analysis tool–by providing three-dimensional data visualization. Northwest will use FlightViz on a PC, replacing for the traditional "chalkboard" training sessions. Pilots can view 3-D renderings of the aircraft’s flight with reference to the surrounding terrain and runways (from inside or outside the cockpit), and they can see any flight virtually re-enacted with navigational charts and a full range of cockpit instruments. Other uses that the airline is planning for FlightViz are instructor standardization, TCAS training, visualizing runway incursions, and integration into a computer-guided briefing (CGB) tool that is currently under development. The CGB will allow instructors to brief a simulator training session using the computer as a presentation tool. See www.simauthor.com, www.sagem.com, or www.nwa.com.
Sandel EHSi Standard on SR22
Cirrus Design Corp. says it will integrate Sandel’s SN3308 electronic horizontal situation indicator (EHSI) into the standard avionics suite in its newly announced SR22 single-engine aircraft. The Sandel SN3308 EHSI fits into 3-inch panel cutouts. It is a TSO- and STC-approved full-color primary navigation display that serves as an HSI, RMI, moving map and Stormscope display. Visit www.sandel.com or www.CirrusDesign.com.
Classic TSU
British Airways has chosen the Smiths Industries Aerospace transient suppression unit (TSU) for retrofit on its fleet of 13 Boeing 747 Classic aircraft. The TSU has been approved as an alternate means of compliance (AMOC) to Wire Separation Airworthiness Directive AD 98-20-40, issued by the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration in November 1998. Deliveries run from November 2000 to May 2001. See www.smithsind-aerospace.com.
L-3 Donates to Smithsonian
L-3 Communications donated its 50,000th flight recorder to the Smithsonian Institution during a Nov. 5 ceremony at the National Air and Space Museum in Washington, D.C. The donation is a combination flight data and cockpit voice recorder. Among those taking part in the event were NTSB Chairman James Hall, L-3 Aviation Recorders President Bruce Coffey, L-3 Communications Chairman/ CEO Frank Lanza, National Air and Space Museum Director Gen. Jack Dailey, and L-3 Communications President/CFO Bob LaPenta. See www.l-3com.com.
In-Flight Entertainment
Collins IFE, I2S for Airbus Demo
Airbus Industrie has selected Rockwell Collins Passenger Systems’ in-flight entertainment (IFE) and Integrated Information System (I2S) technologies for its Cabin Communication Demonstrator. The equipment will demonstrate a full range of passenger communication services. In a simulated in-flight network (IFN) environment, Collins’ IFE and I2S systems will provide such services as satellite television, e-mail, intranet, Internet and video-on-demand. The systems also will offer to host Airbus cockpit and maintenance applications. For more about Collins’ IFE and I2S technologies, visit www.collins.rockwell.com.
VIP DC-8
Jet Aviation recently added this newly finished McDonnell-Douglas DC-8-72 VIP aircraft to its charter fleet. Configured to transport up to 36 passengers, the Swiss-registered aircraft has been fitted with an enhanced cockpit voice recorder, a digital flight data recorder, and for the passengers, a DVD player with large, flat-screen television (shown here). The aircraft has a 6,200-nm range. See www.jetaviation.com.
Air Traffic Control
Airsys ATM Systems for Korea
Airsys ATM, in cooperation with Hanjin Information Systems and Telecommunications of the Republic of Korea, has delivered two major programs that provide air traffic management systems for Inchon International Airport (its tower shown, right) and Kimpo Airport in Seoul.
Airsys ATM was responsible for the overall project management, involving co-ordination and integration of the radars, airport surface detection equipment, and the ATC system, along with implementation of navigation aids. Site acceptance tests of the air traffic management systems for these two airports have now been completed.
The Airsys ATM equipment supplied for Inchon International Airport consists of:
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Two high performance S-band primary STAR 2000 radars.
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Two RSM 970 monopulse secondary surveillance radars.
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Airport surface detection equipment (ASDE).
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A Eurocat 2000 air traffic management system.
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Navigation aids.
Seoul’s Kimpo Airport was equipped with the Airsys ATM Eurocat 2000 air traffic management system. Visit www.airsysatm.thomson-csf.com for further information.
NovAtel Signs EGNOS Contract
NovAtel Inc. announced it has inked a contract with Thomson-Racal Avionics Ltd. for the European Geostationary Navigation Overlay System (EGNOS) Remote Integrity Monitoring System-C (RIMS-C) receiver program. EGNOS, managed by the European Space Agency, is the European equivalent of the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration’s Wide Area Augmentation System (WAAS); RIMS-C is the designation for the ground reference system being provided by Thomson-Racal to Alcatel Space Industries, the prime contractor for EGNOS. For more on NovAtel, visit www.novatel.ca.
Belgian Order
Belgocontrol recently contracted Airsys ATM to supply an air traffic control system (ATC) comprising a STAR 2000/RSM 970S radar station and a Watchkeeper approach control system for Liège-Bierset airport near Brussels. Thomson-CSF Electronics Belgium will manage the contract and oversee the infrastructure. The STAR 2000 is a solid-state primary radar, while the RSM 970S is a monopulse secondary surveillance radar (MSSR), designed to support full Mode S operation. Watchkeeper is an ATC system developed for control towers and for approach and en route control. See www.airsysatm.thomson-csf.com.
Terminal for the A3XX
During the recent ground breaking ceremony for the new Terminal 3 at Singapore’s Changi International Airport, it was revealed that an additional 28 aerobridge gates are planned. Eight of the gates have been designed to accommodate the new generation of large aircraft, the A3XX. The new terminal is scheduled to open in 2006.
Defense
L-M JSF Performs for USAF
The U.S. Air Force in November performed its first flight evaluation of the Lockheed Martin Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) X-35A. During a 36-minute flight, Lt. Col. Paul Smith reached an altitude of 10,000 feet and a maximum speed of 360 knots. During a subsequent 45-minute flight, Lockheed Martin test pilot Tom Morgenfeld pushed the X-35A’s flight envelope to 390 knots at 10,000 feet with a series of rolls, sideslips, afterburner transients and other maneuvers. See www.lockheedmartin.com, www.lmaeronautics.com or www.jast.mil.
F-4 Upgrade for Greece
Production recently began for the "Peace Icarus 2000" upgrade program, awarded to the military aircraft business unit of the European Aeronautics Defence and Space Co. (EADS), in Munich. The program, launched in 1997, would improve the mission effectiveness and sensor and weapon delivery both for air-to-air and air-to-ground missions for a total of 36 F-4E Phantoms flown by Greece’s Hellenic Air Force (HAF).
After 15 months of work by EADS, HAF, and Hellenic Aircraft Industry (HAI) members at EADS’ Ottobrunn and Manching plants, the electrical and avionics systems have been modified to integrate an advanced radar, mission computer, navigation and communication systems, radar altimeter, and identification friend or foe (IFF). In addition, the cockpit has been fitted with new multifunction color displays, and the new hardware is accompanied by a powerful software.
EADS developed the program, scheduled for completion in 2001, in cooperation with Greek partners HAF and HAI, and Elbit of Israel. The program is based on experience EADS gained during a modernisation project for 146 Phantoms of the German Air Force.
HAI is upgrading of 35 HAF Phantoms in their Tanagra factory in Greece with support from EADS. The first aircraft within the "Peace Icarus 2000" program, serving as a proof-of-concept demonstrator, made its maiden flight on April 1999 at EADS Manching. The first HAI-modified aircraft rolled out at Tanagra in March 2000.
Nimrod Takes AIMS Boeing Operations International Inc. recently contracted CAE’s Military Simulation and Controls Division to upgrade the magnetic anomaly detection (MAD) systems on the UK Nimrod MRA4 Maritime Patrol Aircraft. Boeing Operations International, MRA4 Tactical Command System contractor; BAE Systems, prime contractor to the UK Ministry of Defence for the major refurbishment of the Nimrod, and CAE will work together on the contract.
The operational and performance improvements to the equipment will allow the RAF Nimrod MRA4 to fly with the latest software version for the AN/ASQ-504 (V) Advanced Integrated MAD Systems (AIMS). The Upgrade to the MAD System will increase the computing processing capacity, improve magnetic environmental compensation, and reduce component obsolescence. For additional information, visit the Website at www.cae.com.