Editor's Note

Perspectives: Ionizing Radiation Safety

Air transport crewmen are occupationally exposed to higher doses of ionizing radiation than are most members of the general population. The Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA’s) Civil Aerospace Medical Institute (CAMI), therefore, has…

Editor's Note

Switch Evolution: Slow but Steady

Cockpit switch technology moves slowly. LED (light-emitting diode) illumination, introduced more than a decade ago, has improved product reliability and reduced maintenance costs, but there is still a sizable market for its…

Business & GA

Real-Time Operating Systems & Hardware Support

This is a big year for commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) real-time operating systems (RTOS). Green Hills Software (GHS), LynuxWorks and Wind River Systems have recently passed or plan shortly to announce DO-178B and…

Editor's Note

Europe’s Energized Mode S Program

Following a decade-long gestation period, Eurocontrol’s ambitious Mode S surveillance program is accelerating. On March 31, coordinated Mode S secondary surveillance radar (SSR) coverage was to commence over France, Germany, Switzerland, the…

Editor's Note

New Products

MEMS-Based AHRS The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) recently approved the first standalone micro electromechanical system- (MEMS)-based attitude heading reference system (AHRS) for general aviation. Crossbow Technology, San Jose, Calif., designed the equipment…

Editor's Note

People

Stevens Aviation: Altenbern, Award Winner The Federal Aviation Administration has named James Altenbern the 2003 Avionics Maintenance Technician of the Year for the South Carolina district. He is employed at Stevens Aviation’s…

ATM Modernization

Perspective: IFALPA View: Emerging Technologies

The hottest ticket for "right now" avionics applications has to be reduced vertical separation minima (RVSM) for domestic U.S. and Canadian airspace. The opening of the extra flight levels above 290 will…

Editor's Note

Product Focus: Wire and Cable

The importance of wire and cable selection, installation and maintenance cannot be overstated. The aviation industry’s approach to the parlous state of electrical wiring can be likened to an alcoholic’s progress—stout denial,…