ARINC 825 PMC Module
TechSAT, of Poing, Germany, in cooperation with Innovative Control Systems, based in Phoenix, Stock Flight Systems and Wetzel Technology released the A825-PMC, described as the first commercially available ARINC 825 (CAN) PMC module. In October 2007, ARINC endorsed the new ARINC 825 standard for Controller Area Network (CAN) usage in future aircraft. The A825-PMC module comes with four optically isolated (or eight non-isolated) ARINC 825 (CAN) interfaces and additional I/O such as RS-232, RS-485, SATA, MicroSD, Ethernet and IRIG-A/B. It implements all required CAN 2.0B, ARINC 825 and CANaerospace protocol functions in onboard firmware and FPGA logic, thereby offloading the host. The companies said the A825-PMC is ideal for applications such as network compatibility verification, end system testing, CAN network analysis, flight data recording or ARINC 825 communication profile generation. Visit www.arinc825.com.
Class 2 EFB
NavAero tBagC2 received FAA Supplemental Type Certification (STC) as a Class 2 Electronic Flight Bag (EFB) system on the MD-82/83/87 series. Scheduled air carrier Allegiant Airlines plans a fleetwide deployment of the navAero EFB hardware on its MD-80s. As a Class 2 device, the navAero tBagTMC22 system is suitable for use during all phases of flight. The EFB can be used for running airline-specific software applications, real-time weather services, video surveillance, automated security and document libraries. Visit www.navaero.com.
Crash Forensics
George Bibel, an Air Line Pilots Association advanced aircraft accident qualified investigator, addresses aircraft safety technology in his book, "Beyond the Black Box: The Forensics of Airplane Crashes," published by The Johns Hopkins University Press. Bibel explains the significance of not only the "black box" and its contents, but how crash investigations have increased the current standard of airline safety. Beginning with the 1931 Fokker F-10A crash that killed football coach Knute Rockne, the book provides a behind-the-scenes look at aviation crash investigations. In each chapter, Bibel, a professor of mechanical engineering at the School of Engineering and Mines at the University of North Dakota, explains why crashes occur and how forensic experts, scientists and engineers analyze factors like impact, debris, loading, fire patterns, metallurgy, fracture, crash testing and human tolerances in their investigations.
Diode Detector
Res-net Microwave, of Clearwater, Fla., a subsidiary of Electro Technik Industries, added the Miniature Zero-Bias Schottky Diode Detector to its line of microwave and RF products. The diode has a low junction capacitance and excellent sensitivity and bandwidth, which makes it suited for navigation systems, wireless networks and devices, security/alarm systems, radar and radio controlled transmitters, the company said. The detector has a frequency range of 0.01 to 18.5GHz with a frequency response that runs at ± 0.5dB. Its Voltage Standing Wave Ratio (VSWR) is 1.5:1 with a typical sensitivity of 0.5mV/µW. It can be operated in a wide ambient range. Visit www.res-netmicrowave.com.
Situation Indicator
Sandel Avionics, Vista, Calif., released an updated version of its 3 ATI SN3500 Electronic Horizontal Situation Indicator (EHSI) that features a LED backlighting system. Providing aircraft operators with improvements in display quality, product longevity and overall cost of ownership, the new indicator replaces Sandel’s previous backlight technology with a long-life display rated at 10,000 hours MTBF, the company said. Operational benefits of the LED backlighting upgrade include increased sunlight readability, resolution and color fidelity, enhanced unit life and dispatch reliability and a reduction in maintenance costs and aircraft downtime. Visit www.sandel.com.
PC Card
Data Device Corp. (DDC), Bohemia, N.Y., created a partnership with Parvus Corp., a provider of rugged hardware platforms to the military, transportation, homeland security and medical device industries. Parvus selected DDC’s Mil-Std-1553 PC/104-Plus card for use in applications that require a 1553 interface. The DDC PC/104-Plus card provides up to four dual redundant 1553 channels, five user-programmable digital discrete I/Os, selectable external or internal time-tag clock and an IRIG-B time synchronization input. Parvus uses DDC’s BU-65578C Mil-Std-1553 PC/104-Plus card in a U.S. Navy aircraft upgrade program and has also pre-qualified the card as an integration option for its DuraCOR 810 mission processor platform. Visit www.ddc-web.com.
Tool Qualification
Bullseye Testing Technology, Redmond, Wash., and CertTech LLC, Overland Park, Kan., partnered to provide a RTCA/DO-178B tool qualification kit and support of the BullseyeCoverage software code coverage testing tool. BullseyeCoverage is a code coverage analyzer for C++ and C that indicates the extent of coverage achieved during testing of source code. Code coverage analysis is essential to evaluating test and requirements coverage for high reliability applications. FAA accepts use of DO-178B, "Software Considerations in Airborne Systems and Equipment" as a means of certification of avionics software. Level A has the most demanding requirements. DO-178B requires developers to perform code coverage analysis at Levels A, B and C. Visit www.certtech.com.
Cordless Handset
International Communications Group, Newport News, Va., was granted FAA Parts Manufacturer Approval (PMA) for its two-wire, 28-volt and four-wire, 28-volt Digital Enhanced Cordless Telecommunications (DECT) cordless handset. Based on DECT technology, the handset, which was created for business and commercial aircraft, features Active Noise Reduction, Auto Shut Off circuitry, multiple handset mounting capability and bulkhead-mounted credit card reader. The initial PMA and STC data for the handset are applicable on the Gulfstream 200. Visit www.intcomgrp.com.
AHRS System
Axitude, based in Naples, Italy, received EASA certification for its Attitude and Heading Reference System (AHRS), model AX1-100. AX1-100, a solid-state AHRS intended for general aviation applications such as advanced flight displays and autopilots, was certified according to "Software Considerations in Airborne Systems and Equipment" (RTCA/DO-178B), "Environmental Conditions and Test Procedures for Airborne Equipment," (RTCA/DO-160D), "Design Assurance Guidance for Airborne Electronic Hardware" (RTCA/DO-254), TSO-C4c (Bank and Pitch Instruments) and TSO-C6d (Direction Instrument, Magnet, Gyroscopically Stabilized). Visit www.axitude-avionics.com.
Ethernet Platform
TTTech, Vienna, Austria, unveiled a scalable, real-time Ethernet platform for control systems deployable for a variety of business applications. TTEthernet will be launched by Honeywell for applications in the aerospace and automation industries. It is compatible with existing Ethernet standards. Key operation principles allow its future use with other Ethernet-based networks in heterogeneous or legacy systems, the company said.
TTech said its Ethernet platform scales from software-based, real-time Ethernet control solutions to redundant networked applications. Integrating Ethernet with certified and time-triggered services provides a low-cost system integration platform. The experience of handling deterministic solutions and the open Ethernet infrastructure led to the unique architecture, TTTech said. Visit www.tttech.com.
Databus Extender
AIM GmbH, Freiburg, Germany, released its modular and scalable fiber optic extension system for Mil-Std-1553/ARINC 429. The Fibre Optic MILbus Stub Extension (FOMIS) provides a modular and scalable system capable of extending Mil-Std-1553 bus stubs up to 500 meters. FOMIS systems can also be combined with FOL429 modules to provide up to 500-meter extensions of ARINC 429 data links. FOMIS and FOL429 are designed to support test applications such as vehicle launch sites, anechoic chambers and engine testing. The system components are a FOMIS-F (or FOL429-F) Front-End module and FOMIS-L (or FOL429-L) remote/lab module. The Front-End and Lab modules are interconnected via a COTS fiber optic link (62.5/125uM multimode fiber). Visit www.aim-online.com.
Phenom IFE
Rosen Aviation, Eugene, Ore., in partnership with Heads Up Technologies, based in Carrollton, Texas, and Mid Continent Controls, Derby, Kan., was named the standard in-flight entertainment system supplier for Embraer’s Phenom 100 and 300 aircraft. The system will include the RosenView VX unit, moving map, DVD player and audio video switching system. Visit www.rosenaviation.com.
Fiber Optic Cables
Tensolite, of St. Augustine, Fla., introduced the "LITEflight EP" (Enhanced Performance) family of aerospace grade fiber optic cables. Tensolite said the cable series features lower loss, tighter bend radius, improved thermal stability and better handling during termination and installation than earlier versions. LITEflight EP is available in multiple sizes, configurations and temperature ratings to 260°C. Visit www.tensolite.com.
Connector Module
Tyco Electronics, Berwyn, Pa., expanded its "MultiGig RT" interconnect product family with connector modules to accommodate fiber optics and dedicated power. The company said the new modules enable users to achieve greater flexibility in creating high-performance embedded computing applications. Tyco said the modules give system designers increased flexibility to address a very broad range of applications. For example, the optical modules accommodate the most popular optical interconnection schemes used in military and aerospace applications: Expanded Beam, LuxCis optical termini and MT ferrules. Visit www.tycoelectronics.com.