Archives :: Avionics Magazine :: Issue :: Cover Story
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February 1, 2012
In December 2010, Gulfstream Aerospace announced the opening of a new regional sales office. Nothing unusual about that, but unlike most such announcements, this time there was a twist: Gulfstream’s new office is located in downtown Beijing, China. That’s a long way from corporate headquarters in Savannah, Ga. “China has emerged as one of our most important global markets,” said...January 1, 2012
The business aviation industry is bracing for what is forecast to be another slower-than-expected year in 2012, as the national economy struggles to come out of a recession. For the most part, airframe manufacturers are predicting flat or slightly higher deliveries in 2012 from 2011. In recent down years, operators have been focused on increasing the capabilities of their aircraft by upgrading current...December 1, 2011
Stealthy, smart and sensor-rich, the F-35 Lightning II is the first tactical fighter with an all-round infrared visionics system that enables pilots to see through their own aircraft to track missile threats, opposing fighters and formation wingmen. The Northrop Grumman AN/AAQ-37 Distributed Aperture System (DAS) is flying on Lockheed Martin F-35 test aircraft AF-3, BF-4 and BF-5, and on two systems test...November 1, 2011
The Rocket-Propelled Grenade (RPG) that claimed a U.S. Army Chinook loaded with Navy SEALS last August was a grim reminder that threats to battlefield rotorcraft are more than guided missiles. The Joint and Allied Threat Awareness System (JATAS) is meant to warn helicopter and tilt rotor crews of Man Portable Air Defense Systems (MANPADS), unguided munitions and telltale lasers. “You take a lot of...October 1, 2011
The cabins of new and even some older business aircraft are becoming a nexus for the latest developments in commercial electronics market. Passengers are not only watching video on the latest high-definition flat screen monitors but also are using an array of personal devices, including iPhones, iPads and Androids, to connect to the Web and, increasingly, to control many of the functions of the cabin...September 1, 2011
Just a few years ago, in-flight entertainment (IFE) meant just that entertaining passengers during flights. But since then the focus has shifted from entertainment to business and information platforms that provide services and allow passengers to stay connected while in flight. “The idea is to connect the pleasure of flying with the business of flying, and now you have a better proposition for the...August 1, 2011
The payoff of unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) for military, law enforcement and scientific missions is constrained by the airspace they can share with manned aircraft. As of May 2011, one Broad Area Maritime Surveillance system Demonstrator (BAMS-D) was providing 50 percent of the Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) imagery for the U.S. Navy’s 5th fleet in the Arabian Gulf. The...July 1, 2011
Only a few European manufacturers produce and develop high-tech fighter aircraft. The Eurofighter and the Rafale are the final contenders selected by the Indian air force in the 125+ aircraft purchase program to replace that service’s old MiG-21 fleet. Both companies are gloating about their respective fighter’s warfighting qualities while both aircraft demonstrate excellent combat readiness...June 1, 2011
After a long and controversial bidding and contract process, Boeing won the long-awaited U.S. Air Force (USAF) KC-46A aerial refueling tanker contract, bringing with it a long list of avionics suppliers to equip the aircraft. In a program to replace 179 of the Air Force’s 400 KC-135s which first entered service in 1956 Boeing received a $3.5 billion fixed-price incentive contract on Feb. 24 for...May 1, 2011
The key argument for synthetic vision systems (SVS) has always been safety. The technology, which delivers real-time, color 3-D imagery of the terrain outside the aircraft to the pilot, is broadly praised for boosting pilot situational awareness, driving SVS sales for corporate and general aviation aircraft and helicopters. Some vendors now are eyeing even bigger returns, seeing a place for SVS in the...April 1, 2011
Cargo carrier FedEx Express operates a fleet of hundreds of aircraft across a global network, employs thousands of pilots and maintenance professionals and is responsible for making sure packages arrive safely and on-time. Keeping that fleet operating efficiently and safely, and with the latest avionics, is a mammoth job. A look at the FedEx Express avionics maintenance operation reflects the overall...March 1, 2011
After years on the drawing board, the Robinson Helicopter Co. (RHC) R66 Turbine in October 2010 was granted FAA certification. The latest in Robinson’s phenomenally successful line of single-engine helicopters, it is the first non-piston offering from the Torrance, Calif.-based company. Larger than its older brothers, the two-seat R22 and the four-seat R44, the five-place R66 seems poised to break...February 1, 2011
The Royal Australian Air Force graduated its first mission crew for the Wedgetail airborne early warning and control (AEW&C) aircraft last November and should achieve Initial Operating Capability with the long-endurance, multi-sensor platform by the end of 2011. The heavily modified Boeing 737-700 airframe with its radar “top hat” and nose-to-tail antennas is a key component in Australian...January 1, 2011
Aspire and Ascend are the names of two new product lines announced by EMS Aviation and Rockwell Collins, respectively, at the National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) convention in Atlanta in October. They might also describe the state of business aviation in general as the industry claws back from an historic low. This year should mark the bottom of the business jet delivery down cycle begun in 2009...December 1, 2010
Avionics Magazine proudly presents the fifth edition of our biennial Aerospace Acronym...November 1, 2010
Rushed to combat theaters last year, laser-pointing Directed Infrared Countermeasures (DIRCM) protect U.S. helicopters from shoulder-launched missiles. The Army acknowledges the Advanced Threat Infrared Countermeasures (ATIRCM) system on a Chinook defeated a multi-missile ambush soon after the quick reaction capability was fielded. The Naval Air Systems Command, meanwhile, notes DIRCM-enabled Marine Corps...August 1, 2010
Though vertical takeoff unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) have yet to make the combat contribution of fixed-wing UASs, four very different autonomous rotorcraft show near-term warfighting potential. The 16-pound Honeywell T-Hawk ducted fan UAS helps the U.S. Army scout convoy routes and joint-service Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) teams spot Improvised Explosive Devices in Iraq and Afghanistan. The...July 1, 2010
Stealthy, supersonic and sensor-rich, the Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II, or Joint Strike Fighter (JSF), will engage air and ground targets day or night. Key to using the F-35 in combat is a Helmet-Mounted Display System (HMDS) that superimposes flight and target symbology on the view seen through the pilot’s helmet visor. This virtual Head-Up Display slews sensors and weapons to pilot head...June 1, 2010
A vision that underpinned the formation 50 years ago of Europe’s multi-national air traffic control agency, Eurocontrol, was that one day there would be a Single European Sky (SES) instead of a fragmented, multi-faceted airspace structured around national boundaries. This vision has not yet materialized, although it is getting closer to realization. Eurocontrol and the European Commission (EC), the...May 1, 2010
While operators and industry in the United States are coming to terms with the transformation of air traffic management embodied in the Next Generation Air Transportation System (NextGen), their European counterparts are preparing for an equivalent revolution under the Single European Sky (SES) initiative and the associated Single European Sky ATM Research (SESAR) development effort. At the heart of both...
Avionics Jobs
Nominations Deadline: March 2, 2012
Awards Banquet: June 4, 2011 - Washington, D.C.
These awards honor Women for their work in aviation electronics engineering, research and development in commercial, business and military aviation, and in air traffic management, as well as a company that demonstrates vision and leadership in promoting Women in avionics technology roles.
• Avionics Women of the Year Award
• Women in Technology Corporate Award
• Emerging Leader Award
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