The DMV-177 single board computer is used in the Open Systems Core Avionics Requirement upgrade in the AV-8B Harrier. The computer is a 64-bit microprocessor intended for harsh, real-time applications. The DMV-177's PowerPC 603e microprocessor runs at 288 MHz., has 64 megabytes of dynamic random access memory, 10 megabytes of flash memory and 256 EEPROM. DY 4 Canada, 333 Palladium Drive, M/S 212, Kanata, Ontario K2V 1A6, Canada.
A new line of pressure-sensitive tapes has been introduced for aerospace service and repair applications. Dublfilm S3401 and S4927 are double-coated, flame retardant cloth tapes formulated for installation and repair of carpet in aircraft. Their adhesive meets FAR 28.853. Dublfilm S4927 also meets Boeing's BMS.5 133B-Type 4 Class 1 specification. Other new members of the tape family are intended for protecting leading edges of props, wings and tails, as duct tape and for paint stripping. Scapa Tapes North America, 11 Great Pond Drive, Windsor, Conn. 06095.
The FAA will abstain from using data from flight operations quality assurance programs (FOQA) to prosecute pilots for alleged violations of safety regulations, the agency's top official vowed last week. Fulfilling a promise made at an industry safety conference last month, FAA Administrator Jane F. Garvey issued a policy statement saying that agency inspectors and lawyers will not use data derived from aircraft flight data recorders (FDR) as evidence in what the FAA calls enforcement cases (AW&ST Nov. 9, p. 30).
The PLC-3000 uses light blocking sensor laser technology that can determine fluid viscosity, temperature and cleanliness in the field. As fluid flows through the sensor, particles momentarily block the laser light. A solid-state photo diode detects the decrease in light and creates an electrical pulse proportional to the size of the particle. Viscosity is measured by a transducer that measures pressure differential. A thermister measures temperature. Parker Hannifin Plc., Filter Div., Churwell Vale, Shaw Cross Business Park, Dewsbury, WF12 7RD, England.
Interstate Electronics Corp. has developed a miniaturized system that can integrate GPS and inertial guidance technology to increase the accuracy of U.S. Army and Navy artillery shells.
Roger Agniel has been appointed chairman/CEO of France-based Ferma, an Intertechnique affiliate. He was manager of the telecommunications components division of Compagnie des Signaux.
Preliminary performance and acoustical testing of the low-noise Agate/Gap propeller concept has been completed. The system consists of aluminum blades with 25-deg. tip sweep and very high lift airfoils. Initial testing on a Piper Saratoga testbed simulating the GAP engine demonstrated a flyover noise reduction of 4-6 dB. absolute without any loss of performance.
Robert S. Rearden, Jr., has been named vice president/deputy general manager of the F-22 program for Lockheed Martin Aeronautical Systems, Marietta, Ga. He was vice president-production operations at Lockheed Martin Tactical Aircraft Systems (LMTAS) in Fort Worth. Rearden succeeds Don Herring, who is now vice president-engineering at LMTAS.
U.K. no-frills carrier EasyJet has signed a contract with FLS Aerospace to provide total maintenance support for its 737 fleet, which is expected to grow to 38 aircraft by 2003. The contract is estimated to be worth 77 million pounds ($128 million) over the next seven years. A light maintenance hangar, to be managed by FLS Aerospace, will be built at EasyJet's base at London Luton airport, which itself is in the midst of a major expansion project. Heavy maintenance will be performed at FLS Aerospace's facility at London Stansted airport.
Officials at Northrop Grumman's Integrated Systems and Aerostructures Sector are implementing an Automated Purchase Order Reschedule System (APOR) that uses the Internet to exchange supply-and-demand requirements with subcontractors. The system facilitates on-line communication between the sector and its more than 350 suppliers. Northrop Grumman is a Tier One supplier to Boeing, and builds major airframe subassemblies for the 757, 767 and 747 transports.
The SOC-200 is designed for mapping the bidirectional reflectance distribution function of surfaces, paints, coatings, liquids and particles. BRDF data give engineers the precise information needed to solve problems involving the direction and magnitude of energy scattered from a surface illuminated with a beam of light. The SOC-200 can measure samples from the ultraviolet through the infrared portions of the electromagnetic spectrum.
Two companies are introducing new sealing products. ND Microspheres Acrylic Series (above) features low-cost, thread-locking products that rely on microencapsulated, room-temperature curing adhesives that can be applied to male or female fasteners. Microsphere AA 1295 is a pink, high-viscosity material, while Microspheres AA 1296 is also pink but has a low viscosity. Microspheres AA 1395 is a mint green material that offers medium strength and high viscosity. For all three, the microencapsulated activator is suspended in a quick-curing waterborne resin.
Gen. Richard Hawley, Air Combat Command chief, piloted the inaugural flight of a ``Block D'' B-1B Lancer last week at Ellsworth AFB, S.D., delivering a 2,000-lb. Joint Direct Attack Munition to mark the operational debut of this latest B-1 upgrade. Seven Block D B-1Bs will be in service with the 28th Bomb Wing by early next year. All 93 B-1Bs will complete Block D modifications in 2001 as part of the Conventional Mission Upgrade Program (AW&ST Feb. 13, 1995, p. 49).
Next on Gehman's hit list are making systems in two overlapping areas work together--those for suppressing enemy air defenses and striking mobile targets. Because the EA-6B Prowlers have taken on the joint electronic combat role for the Navy, Marines and Air Force, he says, that is the logical system to build on in developing an integrated approach to the two missions. Gehman said that all practices involving EA-6B manning, deployments and flight rates are ``on the table.''
The French government and industry executives are increasingly worried by a looming British Aerospace/DaimlerChrysler Aerospace merger agreement that excludes Aerospatiale. They believe such a bilateral initiative would further complicate a cross-border plan to form the European Aerospace and Defense Co. (EADC) set to combine all major European players. In addition, the British-German group would own a 57.9% majority stake in Airbus Industrie, a contingency France would firmly reject.
U.K. low-cost carrier Debonair plans to create a French hub operation at Pontoise Cormeilles, until recently a general aviation airport 35 km. (22 mi.) northwest of the center of Paris. The carrier began operating a twice-daily service from its London Luton Airport base to Pontoise Cormeilles on Nov. 18. Plans call for doubling the frequencies next year to the airport, which is seeking to be renamed Paris Cergy-Pontoise.
Global alliances are drawing fire in Europe from consumer groups and others who see them as providing little benefit to travelers and posing a major threat to competition. Airline passengers also increasingly complain about poor air traffic management in European airspace--which boosts delays to an unacceptable level--and criticize the carriers' overbooking practices.
The Cockpit Display System has received FAA Technical Standing Order certification. The system for general aviation aircraft, using proprietary Calestis software, offers lightning data from a BFGoodrich Stormscope receiver overlaid on GPS-driven Jeppesen NavData moving maps, as well as flight planning and flight information. The system features a sunlight-readable, 10.4-in. liquid crystal diode display with a touchscreen user interface. The system will interface with most GPS receivers and is available with installation kits for a variety of Piper and Bonanza aircraft.
The Red Box Minipak is designed to provide lightweight, economic starting power when aircraft batteries have a marginal charge. The 24-vdc. power start unit has a capacity of 13 amp hours and peak current of 600 amps. It is half the size of a pilot's chart case and weighs 27 lb., making it easy to carry on board. It can start all major light helicopters and the largest piston engines on fixed-wing aircraft. Its battery can be recharged with the three-stage charger that is supplied with aircraft cables.
Servisair has won a license to provide third-party passenger and aircraft ground handling services at Copenhagen airport. The U.K.-based company is also responding to bid invitations from several German airports as a European Commission directive for the phased deregulation of airport ground handling services nears its effective date of Jan. 1.
Derek Landers has become director of quality and continuous improvement and Pete Sterrantino senior software engineer for Unison Industries, Jacksonville, Fla. Landers was director of engineering, and Sterrantino was an engineer with Quantum Engineering Inc.
The U.S. government has an agreement in the works for New Zealand to lease American-made F-16 fighter aircraft that originally were intended for Pakistan. The hitch is that the approximately $105-million offer New Zealand is expected to make for a 10-year lease falls well short of the $501 million still owed to Pakistan for the 28 aircraft it paid for, but never received.
