Editor's NotePeople BAE Systems: New Officials Jeffrey Cook recently was named vice president and chief technology officer for the Information & Electronic Systems Integration (IESI) sector of BAE Systems North America. He joined BAE…
Editor's NoteClose Look at RF Connectors Avionics systems designers face a wide range of radio frequency (RF) connector choices. Each has important operational implications. Since high-frequency applications aggravate failure mechanisms unique to these connectors, understanding the devices’ strengths…
CommercialAirbus A400M Airbus Military’s A400M airlifter program – finally launched after years of waiting, wrangling and political drama – will go head to head with the C-130J and stretched C-130J-30 for export orders. Will…
Business & GABizjet Upgrades: Mandates Fill Shops Despite a lingering recession causing layoffs by business aircraft manufacturers earlier this year, the corporate jet avionics upgrade business–spurred by upcoming government mandates–remains surprisingly strong. The mandates for terrain avoidance warning systems…
ATM ModernizationThe Chicken and the Egg The Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA’s) decision in late May to shelve plans that would expand its controller pilot data link communications (CPDLC) coverage beyond the airspace served by the Miami air route…
ATM ModernizationHow an Irish Carrier Seeks More Green Dublin-based Ryanair is about to join the assembly of airlines employing operational flight data monitoring to enhance operations safety, proficiency and cost savings. However, the Irish low-cost carrier (LCC) is taking a…
CommercialStreamlined Data Loading at Alaska Air Data loading is an essential but time-consuming chore on today’s software-intensive aircraft. Every 28 days airlines need to update their navigation databases, for example, and every aircraft computer at one time or…
ATM ModernizationMiami ARTCC: Ground Zero for CPDLC All eyes in the U.S. data link community are directed toward the Miami air route traffic control center (ARTCC), where Build 1 of the Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA’s) controller pilot data link…