Transportation Industry

Aerospace & Defense News - Technology

AirGuide Business, Oct 13, 2008

Oct 13, 2008

Pentagon funds bomb-sniffing technology based on Fido's nose Engineers once hopeful of quickly creating bomb-sniffing technology to rival a dog's nose are now warning such a system could be at least 10 years away. The Pentagon recently awarded an $18 million grant for further research, extending a program that began in the late 1990s. Because dogs can distinguish the scent of thousands of chemicals, bomb-sniffing technology could one day be deployed from battlefields to airports worldwide. Houston Chronicle/The Associated Press (10/3) Oct 6, 2008

Bombardier

Bombardier plans to test new brake system technology developed by Meggitt on a demonstrator aircraft in the coming weeks. Bombardier is removing the hydraulic braking system on its demonstrator aircraft and replacing it with Meggitt's EBrake suite that features electro-mechanically actuated brakes, brake data concentrators, electronic motor actuation control units and supporting aircraft wiring and power distribution. Oct 7, 2008

CMC Electronics

CMC Electronics has attended since its acquisition by Esterline 18 months ago. Bruce Bailey, Esterline CMC[sup.1]s vice-president, commercial aviation, says visitors should not miss the double-decker booth, which also features products from three other companies in the Esterline group. Bailey says: [sup.3]Business aviation continues to grow for us - in 2005 it represented about 10% of our commercial aviation turnover, but by next year we expect that to have grown to around 40%. CMC is keen to show visitors its SureSight enhanced vision system (EVS) products, which help increase flight crew situational awareness by helping pilots see through fog, haze, precipitation and at night. The EVS provides an image on the Head Up Display (HUD), a Head Down Display (HDD) or both to enable the pilot to see the terrain/airport environment in low visibility situations. Oct 6, 2008

Elbit Systems

Elbit Systems is planning the first flight of its Hermes-900 unmanned air vehicle before the end of the year. The Hermes-900, Elbit's largest UAV, is an all weather system that has an automatic take-off and landing capabilty able to operate with runways that are not instrumented. With its 15m (49ft) wingspan and a 970kg (2,100lb) maximum take-off weight the 115hp (84.5kW) Rotax 914 engine that powers it provides for a 300Kg payload capability and endurance of 40h. For communication it uses a secured redundant line of sight datalink and a satellite communication system for beyond line of sight. The UAV is operated by Elbit's own Universal Ground Control Station, which according to the company can control two UAVs at any given time. Elbit has teamed with Thales and L-3 MAS Canada and is offering the Hermes-900 to the Canadian army. In mid 2006 Elbit's Skylark UAV was procured by Canada and is mainly used by its forces deployed overseas. Oct 6, 2008

International Communications Group

International Communications Group has launched NxtMail, its on-board global e-mail service for business aircraft, using the Iridium satellite service. The service allows users with BlackBerry smartphones, iPhones and PDAs to access e-mail and internet anywhere in the world via wi-fi. The NxtMail server can handle 10 users at a fraction of the cost of broadband services, and can send e-mails with small attachments. Jeff Saucedo, ICG's VP of product sales, says: [sup.3]NxtMail provides global coverage without the limitations inherent to regional systems that rely on radio towers or other services that use geosynchronous Satcom systems.[sup.2] Oct 6, 2008

Korry

Korry has launched its Opticon low profile digital control technology for the cockpit that could save fuel through weight-reduction and air resistance. The new technology features compact solid-state switching and a digital interface to reduce weight. [sup.3]Our Opticon low-profile technology helps manufacturers design new-generation aircraft from the inside out to cut fuel use,[sup.2] says president Dan McFeeley. Korry engineers estimate a weight saving of more than 50% over conventional cockpit control systems. Oct 7, 2008

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