Business & GA

Safety in Avionics: Surviving a 'Sucker Trap'

An aphorism exists that rubber, not aluminum, should always touch the ground first. The saying relates directly to controlled flight into terrain (CFIT) accidents. A recent close call ended with rubber touching…

ATM Modernization

Industry Scan

UAVs in the NASA Recent tests run by NASA, New Mexico State University, the U.S. Navy, Scaled Composites and Modern Technology Solutions validated emerging unmanned air vehicle (UAV) collision avoidance technologies that…

Business & GA

The Post 9/11 Transponder

SINCE THE SEPT. 11 DISASTER, government and industry experts have been scrutinizing an essential but unheralded piece of avionics safety equipment-the onboard aircraft transponder. Following the tragic events in New York and…

Commercial

Avionics System Design: Antenna Placement

In my last column (April 2002, page 48), I noted the challenges in positioning radio antennas. Here are some additional thoughts on the subject. Take com-to-com interference, for example. Many newer radios…

ATM Modernization

CPDLC: Back on Its Feet

The Controller Pilot Data Link Communications (CPDLC) program–a joint government/industry effort–has progressed in fits and starts, following conditions in the aviation industry. Like other Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) development programs, CPDLC felt…

Commercial

Editor's Note: Wrestling with Cabin Surveillance

SINCE THE TRAGEDY OF SEPT. 11, much has been done to bolster air travel security in airports. However, little has been accomplished to secure the airplane–save the mandate to install bulletproof cockpit…

Commercial

Electronic Flight Bags: What Airlines Want

Jeppesen Sanderson will tell you that it took 65 years for the chart-making company to produce and deliver its 1 billionth piece of paper, but it took only 24 months to go…