NASA technology helps remote Alaskan pilots
Category Archives:Aviation News
NASA technology helps remote Alaskan pilots
WASHINGTON, D.C. — NASA has formally delivered to Alaskan officials a new technology that could help pilots flying over the vast wilderness expanses of the northern-most state. The technology is designed to help pilots make better flight decisions, especially when disconnected from the Internet, telephone, flight services and other data sources normally used by pilots.
S. Peter Worden, director of NASA’s Ames Research Center in Moffett Field, California, and Thomas Edwards, Director of Aeronautics at Ames, met with Alaskan officials last week to deliver the software innovation known as the Traffic and Atmospheric Information for General Aviation (TAIGA). This technology, a collection of algorithms, concepts and data, is the result of a joint effort between Ames and the State of Alaska.
Over the vast expanses of Alaska, with its mountainous terrain and extreme weather events, pilots often are disconnected from vital navigation aids and communication. Taking on these factors, NASA developed a satellite-based communication method through which regional data is sent only to that specific region. The customized data sets can be downloaded and plugged into a mobile application.
NASA has developed only a conceptual version of the mobile software application, which includes full 3-D terrain visualization. The algorithms, concepts and data are available as an open-source project for further development by industry and the aviation community into an end-user system. The 3-D terrain visualization software will be made available separately.
“We are excited to lend a helping hand to general aviation pilots in Alaska,” said Worden. “With the TAIGA app, Alaska pilots will be able to remain independent, but with a dose of safety when needed.”
In a recent test at Ames, data from a satellite-based messaging system was successfully received on the satellite receiver and viewed on the concept version of the mobile app while in flight. Since sending data via satellite can be expensive, NASA also developed a method for tightly bundling the data to be transmitted, decreasing the cost of satellite data transmission using this technology.
“Each data broadcast will go only to the areas that are appropriate for those data,” said Joseph Rios, TAIGA engineer at Ames. “Once a pilot receives a data broadcast, it will be available for viewing on their iPad.”
The next step in development of the TAIGA concept will be for engineers with the State of Alaska to take the NASA concept and develop it to an app that meets the specific needs of Alaskan pilots. Ames will continue to investigate new functionalities, and Alaskan officials hope to distribute a production prototype app to general aviation pilots for testing early next year.
For more information: NASA.gov
Source: General Aviation News
Category Archives:Aviation News
Embraer delivers Legacy 500 to launch customer
Embraer has completed delivery of the first Legacy 500 business jet to an undisclosed Brazilian launch customer, concluding a six year-long process to introduce the first fly-by-wire aircraft in the midsize category.
“Our teams developed a revolutionary product, which symbolises our commitment to offer our customers the most innovative solutions in the industry,” says Embraer Executive Jets president and chief executive Marco Tulio Pellegrini.
The aircraft features the Parker Aerospace fly-by-wire system, Rockwell Collins Pro Line Fusion cockpit and Honeywell HTF7500E turbofan engines.
The fly-by-wire itself is the most ambitious of all the three technologies. The system replaces mechanical linkages with digital signals commanded by a flight control computer based on the pilot’s inputs into a sidestick. The computer also provides envelope protections that inhibit the pilot’s ability to stall and overspeed the aircraft by mistake.
Embraer also introduced several other innovations into the midsize jet, such as a flat-floor cabin and a 3,130nm (5,790km) range that approaches the lower end of the super midsize category.
The aircraft enters service more than two years late, due to difficulties developing advanced systems such as the fly-by-wire controls.
Embraer has pledged to ramp up production slowly, starting with six aircraft this year. By 2016, the company plans to open a second production line in Melbourne, Florida, which celebrated with a groundbreaking ceremony on 9 October.
Meanwhile, flight testing continues on the Legacy 450, a shorter-range stablemate based on the Legacy 500 design. It is scheduled for first delivery in the second quarter next year, but will make its public debut in less than two weeks at the NBAA convention in Orlando, Florida.
Source: Flightglobal
Category Archives:Aviation News
Airbus delivers 18th HC-144A Ocean Sentry aircraft to U.S. Coast Guard
Airbus delivers 18th HC-144A Ocean Sentry aircraft to U.S. Coast GuardAirbus Defense and Space, Inc. has delivered the 18th HC-144A Ocean Sentry maritime patrol aircraft to the U.S. Coast Guard. The Ocean Sentry is based on the Airbus CN235 tactical airlifter with more than 235 currently in operation by 29 countries.
The latest HC-144A will join a fleet of Ocean Sentries operating from Coast Guard Air Stations in Cape Cod, Mass.; Mobile, Ala.; Miami and most recently Corpus Christi, Texas. This month Air Station Corpus Christi turned over the maritime patrol mission to the HC-144 after the retirement of the last HU-25 Guardian aircraft.
“Airbus Defense and Space is dedicated to supporting the U.S. Coast Guard’s HC-144A fleet and will provide technical engineering services and spare parts for decades to come,” said Mike Cosentino president of Airbus Defense and Space, Inc. “The ease of maintenance and low operating costs have allowed the Coast Guard to achieve exceptional operational effectiveness and reliability with the HC-144A.”
The Coast Guard competitively selected and acquired the HC-144A. The aircraft is effective and efficient in a broad range of demanding maritime patrol missions, including search and rescue, homeland security and disaster response.
The Department of Homeland Security recognized the Coast Guard’s HC-144A program as its 2013 DHS Project of the Year. Airbus Defense and Space has worked to deliver to the Coast Guard this capability consistently on or ahead of schedule and on cost. The HC-144A achieved initial operational capability with the Coast Guard in 2008.
The U.S. Coast Guard’s Ocean Sentry fleet recently completed its first 50,000 hours of flight. The demonstrated maintainability of the HC-144A aircraft allows the Coast Guard to fly more hours per airframe in a year with the Ocean Sentry than any other aircraft in its fleet.
Source and image: Airbus
Category Archives:Aviation News
International Airport Expo, 14-16 Oct., 2014, Las Vegas
International Airport Expo will be showcasing their latest technology will occupy stands alongside airport equipment suppliers, parts manufacturers, IT solution specialists and a multitude of other industry forerunners. This is one of the comprehensive exhibition for related industry which is being organized by The International Airport Equipment Manufacturers Association IAEMA.
IAEMA, the organizers of the show, is formed of a group of leading international ground support equipment manufacturers. Their input helps to ensure that this will be an industry focused event, one that is organised by the industry, for the industry. What does that mean? It translates into an exhibition where any profits derived are ploughed back in for the members’ benefit. That way, stand rental costs can be kept low, far lower than those of any comparable show, and exhibitors also benefit from premium show services either heavily subsidised or free of charge such. That, and the fact that this event is very strongly slanted towards GSE, means that anyone attending is going to benefit from a huge array of ramp technology – and not ancillary or peripheral airport services. These factors are, in essence, what sets the event apart from all the other airport equipment shows on the calendar.
The 2014 International Airport Expo Las Vegas will be held at The Rio All Suite Hotel and Convention Centre from 14 to 16 October, 2014
Source and image: International Airport Expo
Category Archives:Aviation News
Dassault Upgrades Early Naval Rafales
Dassault has redelivered to the French Navy the first of 10 Rafale M aircraft that are being upgraded from F1 to F3 standard. The work included replacement of the fighter’s central mission computer, new cockpit screens, wiring and weapons store changes. The Spectra electronic warfare system was also upgraded, and provision to change the RBE2 radar to the latest AESA version was made.
These first 10 operational Rafales were delivered to the Navy at the turn of the century, as an urgent replacement for aging F-8 Crusaders. They were limited to air superiority missions, not least because of the small capacity of the central mission computer. Subsequent Rafale deliveries were to the F2 standard, with much greater versatility, Dassault explained. The current F3 standard provides complete multirole versatility, the company added.
Of the 180 Rafales ordered by France, 133 have now been delivered. Production continues at a slow rate of 11 per year. The fleet has now amassed 120,000 flight hours, of which some 16,000 have been on combat operations over Afghanistan, Libya, Mali, Central Africa, and now Iraq.
Source: AINonline
