Editor's Note

Piloting the Engineer

Engineers and pilots view cockpit avionics from very different perspectives. Whereas an engineer may view his product as an enhancement to the operational environment, the pilot may see that product as yet…

ATM Modernization

Safety in Avionics: Not Your Father's Loran

Just as the value of real estate has been based on the word "location" repeated three times, the commendable safety record of the airline industry has been built on redundancy, redundancy, redundancy.…

ATM Modernization

Editor's Note: The Race for ADS-B

There is a race going on —a race against time. Pressure is mounting against the Cargo Airline Association (CAA), which is working feverishly to make automatic dependent surveillance-broadcast (ADS-B) a viable contributor…

ATM Modernization

Safety in Avionics: Bubble of Protection

There is a subtle yet profound difference in the flight control systems on Boeing and Airbus aircraft. Yes, they both have ailerons, flaps, slats, rudders and spoilers. And, yes, both manufacturers have…

ATM Modernization

Avionics System Design: Asking the Question 'Why?'

In several discussions recently, I found myself explaining why some aviation and mil-spec techniques and methods are used, and it struck me that commonly we know the how, but not the why…

Military

The Space Shuttle, Modernized

The space shuttle cockpit is getting a facelift. The U.S. National Aeronautics and Space Administration’s (NASA’s) four shuttles have flown 95 missions since 1981, equipped with 1970s/80s avionics technology. Now they are…

Military

Twice the Bang for the Buck

American taxpayers should be pleased. The U.S. Marine Corps has taken on an unusual upgrade program that is faithful to the service’s reputation of accomplishing more with less. The program is unique…