CommercialAvionics System Design: Designing with PC104 Technology As people try and port various kinds of intelligent displays and systems into aircraft, especially for special-purpose data applications, they feel considerable pressure to use popular technology from the embedded microprocessor world–in…
ATM ModernizationAn ATC Upgrade of Olympian Size Athens, city of antiquity and tourism, has a new airport–one fit for the 21st century, and for the Olympic Games that the city will host in 2004. Due to be inaugurated this…
Business & GABarcoView's ISIS, Goddess of Light? Air traffic controllers, spending their days staring at screens, know the importance of clear, easy-to-read images. Screen makers know that, too, and seek to offer better clarity in their products–which is why…
ATM ModernizationRunway Incursions: The Threat on the Ground The world’s worst aviation accident occurred in 1977, almost a quarter of a century ago, at Tenerife, the largest of the Canary Islands. Five hundred and eighty-three persons were killed when a…
CommercialProduct Focus: CVRs & FDRs First, the disclaimer: It’s impossible for me to write about cockpit voice recorders (CVRs) and digital flight data recorders (FDRs) with less than a passing interest in the subject. I fly jets…
ATM ModernizationEditor's Note: Cynics and the FAA's ATO Former President Clinton’s Dec. 7, 2000 executive order to establish a performance-based air traffic control (ATC) entity, called the Air Traffic Organization (ATO), has drawn its share of cynicism. The order "sounds…
ATM ModernizationFeedback Facing the Realities of UWB Your articles on ultra-wideband (February, page 20) captured both sides of the argument and painted a clear picture of key UWB issues. I thoroughly enjoyed the articles…
Business & GAPilots, Toss Away Your Flight Bags A typical scene at a major airport: Pilots walk to the gates dutifully carrying their black, near-suitcase-size bags bearing charts, flight manuals and aircraft technical manuals. Meanwhile, the business travelers walk to…
Business & GARefining Rugged Russian Rotorcraft The Mil Mi-8 and its twin in appearance, the Mi-17, exist in numbers far greater than any other helicopter model–save, possibly, the ubiquitous UH-1 "Huey." The Russians built thousands of these twin-engine…
Business & GAPulling Aircraft Diagnostics Together Digitally The longstanding war against flight cancellations and delays is being waged on many fronts. One battle being fought by aircraft operators is against maintenance-related delays. Their weapons are better diagnostic techniques, which…