Industry Moves Toward Wider Use Of Required Navigation Performance
Development of Required Navigation Performance (RNP) flight operations has been ongoing for nearly two decades. But despite years of research and study, the practice of RNP approaches is still in its infancy, according to speakers participating in the June 30 Avionics Magazine Webinar, "Required Navigation Performance: Operations and Equipment."
Research and development of RNP began in the early 1990s with the first aircraft certification — a Boeing 737-300 — in 1994. Early adopters of the technology have been flying trials for about 10 years, but widespread adoption of RNP has been relatively slow. That is about to change. RNP implementation is beginning to accelerate as airlines experience the operational benefits from using these procedures, according to Steve Fulton, co-founder and chief technology officer of Naverus, based in Kent, Wash.
"We’re moving from focusing on individual airlines who you might have characterized as early adopters of the technology… and we’re transitioning to working through the air navigation services providers," Fulton said. "We will get these procedures deployed broadly, nationally, so that we have all of the operators able to use these procedures once they’re deployed."
RNP, a type of area navigation (RNAV) that utilizes GPS with inertial reference system backup, allows aircraft to fly predetermined paths loaded in their flight management computers, leading to greater operational efficiency, increased safety and reduced emissions. RNP, data communications and Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B), are cornerstones of FAA’s NextGen system modernization.
Naverus in June signed a contract with Airservices Australia to establish a nationwide Performance-Based Navigation network. The company will develop RNP procedures for arrival and departure flight paths at up to 28 major airports around Australia over the next five years.
It is important to create an environment to support these procedures, including training pilots and air-traffic control personnel and clearing airspace congestion to make them possible, speakers said. Fulton related a conversation he had with an airline executive about Atlanta International Airport, where 10 RNP procedures are in place. As of December 2008, a year and a half after the procedures had been implemented, the airport hosted 800,000 operations without a single RNP approach.
"We need to recognize the potential of the technology, but we need to be measured and careful in how we integrate these paths into the complex airspace, so they can actually be flown," Fulton said.
Independent of RNP, continuous decent arrivals (CDA), when coupled with an RNP Authorization Required (AR) approach, have the potential to wring even more efficiencies out of the airspace. (RNP AR, also known as RNP SAAAR, are RNP operations that must be approved by a regulator.)
"Most pilots don’t get to do these types of descents, primarily because of the air traffic flow," said Chad Cundiff, vice president, Crew Interface Products, with Honeywell Aerospace. "If we spent some time relaying how we’re going to get into these airports, we could address this as an industry upfront and save a lot of fuel, a lot of time and a lot of flight hours on these aircraft."
Successfully implementing an RNP approach requires industry players, including air traffic control, government, unions, local environmental interests and end users, to work together.
"RNP is a complex undertaking. We’ve listened to our customers, and for RNP to be successful to them, they want an integrated solution that consists of navigation, operations, crew and fleet," said Capt. Rob Holleran, chief technical pilot with Jeppesen.
Boeing, which manufactures its aircraft to be RNP capable, is actively involved with regulators and industry partners to make RNP operations available worldwide.
"We view RNP AR as a total solution set, and not just a means for shortening an approach by a minute and five miles," said Capt. Philip Adrian, 737 Technical Pilot, Regulatory Affairs Operational Focal, with Boeing Flight Safety and Technical.
Adrian said RNP can further boost efficiencies involving en route spacing and missed approaches. —Emily Feliz
To hear an archived version of the June 30 Avionics Magazine Webinar, visit www.aviationtoday.com/webinars.html.
Commercial
SESAR Partnership
The public-private partnership formed to manage the development phase of the Single European Sky ATM Research (SESAR) initiative will be expanded to include airlines and additional industry members.
In June, the SESAR Joint Undertaking (JU) founded by Eurocontrol and the European Commission to manage the SESAR development phase, signed contracts worth €1.9 billion with 16 industry partners, including Thales, Honeywell, air navigation service providers, airports, airframers and ground equipment suppliers. At a Paris Air Show briefing June 18, Patrick Ky, SESAR JU executive director, said that grouping will be expanded with about a dozen airlines.
Also, the current grouping of industrial partners will be expanded next year to about 20 to 25 members, Ky said.
The Paris briefing was hosted by Thales, which is involved in all 16 work packages and co-leading three packages in the areas of air-traffic control systems, System Wide Information Management, and communications, navigation, surveillance technologies. The Thales share of €240 million, including €120 million in JU funding, makes it the largest contributor after Eurocontrol to the SESAR development phase.
Thales is "the main industry player in the program," said Pierre Fossier. "We are going to devote to SESAR a big portion of our R&D competency and funding."
MINT Project
An Airbus A321 operated by Swedish charter airline Novair flew an optimized descent "green" approach into Stockholm Arlanda airport June 16, beginning demonstrations of the Minimum C02 in Terminal Maneuvering Area (MINT) project.
The flight, originating from Zakinthos, Greece, demonstrated how minimum CO2 emissions can be achieved by optimizing the vertical profile and reducing the distance of the lateral track in the terminal area through the use of Required Navigation Performance with Authorization Required (RNP AR) procedures. In addition to RNP AR 0.3 routing, wind information was uplinked to the aircraft before its top of ascent. The aircraft is equipped with Release 1A flight management system software from Thales and GE Aviation.
MINT falls under the Atlantic Interoperability Initiative to Reduce Emissions (AIRE), an agreement between the European Commission and FAA to reduce CO2 emissions and take advantage of air-traffic management best practices and mature technologies.
The RNP AR procedure at Stockholm Arlanda was designed by the LFV Group, Sweden’s civil airport operator and air navigation services provider, for minimum track miles and to circumnavigate noise sensitive areas. It is the first RNP AR procedure developed for this purpose in Europe, according to the SESAR Joint Undertaking (JU).
Other members of the MINT consortium are Avtech, the project leader; Novair, Airbus and Egis Avia, of Toulouse, France, providing ground system engineering. Thales Avionics, Thales Air Systems, Scandinavian Airlines System and GE Aviation are members of the project’s Expert Advisory Group.
"Taking this step from conceptual idea into an operational demonstration is truly a milestone," said Christer Forsberg, MINT project leader with Avtech. "It has been made possible by a dedicated project team, support by SESAR JU and very importantly a regulatory authority, Transportstyrelsen, the Swedish Civil Aviation Authority."
AIRE Demonstration
American Airlines became the first U.S. airline to test new operational procedures over the Atlantic June 11 on a revenue flight from Paris to Miami.
Under the Atlantic Interoperability Initiative to Reduce Emissions (AIRE), an American Airlines Boeing 767-300 was flown using several fuel conservation measures, including single-engine taxi on departure and arrival, continuous climb out and descent, optimized routing over water and tailored arrival into Miami International Airport. AIRE is a joint initiative of FAA, the European Commission and several airlines.
Following the demonstration flight, FAA and American Airlines planned to conduct a two-month trial in Miami to continue testing the procedures.
"It is critical that the aviation industry work with our air-traffic control partners to demonstrate the benefits of NextGen technology today," said Bob Reding, American Airlines vice president of operations. "By implementing this technology as quickly as possible, we can make real and meaningful strides to reduce our impact on the environment, increase system capacity and reduce air-traffic delays."
‘SmartLanding’ Order
Emirates Airline signed a memorandum of understanding with Honeywell to acquire the latter company’s "SmartLanding" runway incursion warning product. Emirates will be the launch customer for SmartLanding, a software enhancement to Honeywell’s Enhanced Ground Proximity Warning System.
SmartLanding uses auditory alerts and visual messaging to warn pilots if an aircraft is approaching the runway too high, too fast or is not configured properly for landing. Using GPS data, SmartLanding alerts are based on aircraft position, speed and flight path compared to airport runway locations stored in the Honeywell terrain and runway database.
Capt. Alan Stealey, divisional senior vice president for Flight Operations, said Emirates was among the first airlines to implement Honeywell’s first-generation Runway Awareness and Advisory System two years ago. The SmartLanding feature is expected to be incorporated this year on Emirates Boeing 777-200/300 and Airbus A330 and A340 aircraft.
Thales IFE
Thales has continued to receive orders for its TopSeries in-flight entertainment (IFE) systems despite the economic downturn hurting the airline industry.
In a Paris Air Show briefing June 16, Alan Pellegrini, Thales Avionics general manager of In-Flight Systems, said the company in the last year received orders from British Airways, Qatar Airways, Japan Airlines and China Southern. In March, the company said Saudi Arabian Airlines had selected its new TopSeries digital single-aisle system for 42 Airbus A320s. "Thales has done pretty well, even considering the economic crisis," Pellegrini said.
The British Airways order is for 40 widebody aircraft, including new build Airbus A380s, Boeing 777-300s and 787s.
Pellegrini said Thales has 12 customers for IFE on the 787 Dreamliner, representing 150 aircraft. The company already has delivered some production hardware for the 787, and in June delivered software. Asked how delays in the 787 program have affected Thales, Pellegrini said the company continues to "replan based on (Boeing’s) schedule" and has tried to contain its inventory.
Thales and Panasonic Avionics Corp. have been pre-selected to provide IFE on the new Airbus A350XWB. "My understanding is (Airbus) may consider a third player" for IFE, Pellegrini said.
Thales has been working with Airbus for two years on the A350, however, customer IFE selections had not begun.
CSeries Cabin
Panasonic Avionics Corp., Lake Forest, Calif., has been selected by Bombardier Aerospace to provide the Cabin Management and Passenger Address Systems (CMS) of the new Bombardier CSeries.
The CSeries CMS will allow control, monitoring and diagnostics of aircraft cabin functions, including temperature and lighting. The system also provides an embedded digital audio solution offering passenger address, interphone and pre-recorded announcements and music to passengers, cabin and flight crew, Panasonic Avionics said.
The CSeries, consisting of the 110-seat CS100 and 130-seat CS300, was officially launched in July 2008 at the Farnborough Airshow. In March, Bombardier announced a firm purchase agreement for 30 CS100s from Lufthansa subsidiary Swiss International Air Lines. The CSeries is expected to enter service in 2013.
Also in June, Bombardier selected Hamilton Sundstrand, of Windsor Locks, Conn., to supply the Electric Power Generation and Distribution System for power generation, power distribution and load management functions.
Satcom Certification
The EMS Satcom AMT-3800 High-gain Antenna and HSD-440 High-speed Data Terminal were awarded European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) supplemental type certification. The antenna and transceiver were tested and certified on an Asia-based Airbus A319.
The certification tests were performed by EAD Aerospace, of Toulouse, France.
The "SBB by Alnair" satcom system, integrated by Alnair Aerospace of UAE, also received a Vendor Supplemental Type Certificate approval from the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC). The system provides passengers with airborne e-mail, voice, Internet and Wi-Fi capabilities, along with Inmarsat cockpit safety services and Aero H+ voice.
The high-gain, low-profile AMT-3800 is a two-LRU antenna system, compliant with ARINC 781 and ARINC 741, with dual Inmarsat SwiftBroadband type approvals. The HSD-440 terminal supports channels for ACARS, Aero H+ voice and SwiftBroadband cabin services.
CMC Satcom
The CMA-2102SB high-gain antenna system from Esterline CMC Electronics recently was certified on the Airbus A380 and A330/340 series aircraft.
The top-mounted, low-profile antenna supports Inmarsat Aero H+, Swift64 and SwiftBroadband satcom services. The system has received Inmarsat multi-channel SwiftBroadband approval and Transport Canada Appliance Type Approval.
CMC also announced an agreement with Boeing to supply the CMA-2102SB system on the Boeing 777.
Condition Maintenance
Boeing and GE Aviation said they have developed a method to implement condition-based maintenance systems on aircraft, making it practical for embedded health monitoring of aircraft systems.
The Open System Architecture for Condition-Based Maintenance (OSA-CBM) will become an industry standard with the signing of an agreement by the two companies to grant rights for its use to the Machinery Information Management Open Systems Alliance (MIMOSA) organization.
"This technology demonstrates a major step forward in condition-based maintenance for an entire aircraft," said John Armendarez, GE Aviation president of avionics.
Project managers implementing condition-based maintenance systems must integrate a wide variety of software and hardware components, each one developed to monitor a single supplier’s system such as an engine, hydraulic or braking system. OSA-CBM simplifies this process by specifying a standard architecture and framework to implement condition-based maintenance systems. The standard defines the binary form to implement the open systems architecture for condition-based maintenance, the companies said.
Airspace Modeling
Raytheon was selected by NASA to develop enhancements to the system-wide modeling and simulation capability in the Airspace Concepts Evaluation System, or ACES. The contract is valued at $29 million.
ACES is NASA’s real-time computer simulation tool that analyzes local, regional and nationwide factors that contribute to the dynamics of aircraft operations from gate departures and flight paths to landings and gate arrivals. The system provides a flexible environment for researchers to identify and test NextGen air-traffic management concepts.
The "plug and play" models developed by the Raytheon team will help NASA, FAA and other researchers better understand the tools and concepts needed to support NextGen. The Raytheon team includes Intelligent Automation, Sensis, Mosaic ATM and Aerospace Computing.
"Our partnership with NASA will lead to transformational results that accelerate the benefits of increased safety and maximized airspace capacity," said Andy Zogg, vice president of Raytheon Network Centric Systems Command and Control Systems.
Business/GA
Blue Mountain Folds
Blue Mountain Avionics (BMA), based in Copperhill, Tenn., a manufacturer of electronics for experimental and light sport aircraft, in July announced it had ceased production, citing the lagging economy. "Well, it’s been fun," stated a message on the company’s Web site. "We developed a whole new class of machine, started an industry, dominated it, and are now leaving it. BMA will be ceasing production and spinning down.
"There is some hope (and a fond desire) that we may return to full production when the economy recovers," the message continued. "We are actively seeking someone to buy the code and continue development."
Blue Mountain personnel will be available to service, support and assist with equipment, "as time permits," but "BMA is essentially closed."
Blue Mountain was a pioneer of synthetic vision and electronic flight instrument systems in the late 1990s.
Hawker WAAS/LPV
Hawker Beechcraft Services announced June 26 that a Wide Area Augmentation System (WAAS) Localizer Performance with Vertical Guidance (LPV) solution will be available this summer for Hawker 800XPs equipped with the Rockwell Collins Pro Line 21 avionics suite.
Hawker Beechcraft’s factory-owned service centers were taking pre-orders and scheduling aircraft for the installation.
Adding WAAS/LPV functionality enables operators to fly more precision approaches, reduce decision altitudes and visibility minimums, and use GPS as a primary means of navigation from take-off to approach, Hawker Beechcraft said.
The upgrade, a cooperative effort with Rockwell Collins, eliminates the need for a receiver autonomous integrity monitoring prediction report, reducing pilot workload. It also enables more "direct-to" operations, providing significant fuel savings, and creates a glide path for every runway served by GPS.
William Brown, president of Hawker Beechcraft Global Customer Service and Support, said the company plans to offer WAAS/LPV solutions for Pro Line 21-equipped Hawker, King Air and Premier I aircraft, as well as a Honeywell NZ 2000 solution for the Hawker 800 series.
Bizjet Internet
Aircell announced in June the receipt of FAA supplemental type certification (STC) and Parts Manufacturer Approval (PMA) for its ATG 4000 High Speed Internet system in the business aviation market. The first installation was completed by Midcoast Aviation on a Bombardier Challenger 605.
The ATG 4000 is a modular add-on to the Aircell Axxess cabin system. Customers can choose to install wired or Wi-Fi connections as part of their installation.
The system for business aviation weighs 11 pounds. Its two belly-mounted antennae weigh 1.25 pounds each.
Learjet 85 Selection
Goodrich was selected to provide its SmartProbe air data system for Bombardier’s Learjet 85 midsize business jet. The Learjet 85 is set to enter service in 2013.
The SmartProbe system provides air data parameters to the aircraft’s flight control, pilot display and other systems. SmartProbe air data sensing technology integrates multi-function sensing probes, pressure sensors and air data computer processing, Goodrich said.
Military
Radar Demonstrated
Northrop Grumman said it successfully demonstrated key electronic protection capabilities of the AN/APG-81 radar slated for the F-35 Lightning II during the Northern Edge 2009 joint military exercise in Alaska.
The AN/APG-81 active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar was flown on the company’s BAC 1-11 test aircraft. Northrop Grumman said it demonstrated the electronic protection (EP) capabilities of the radar by successfully countering advanced electronic attacks intended to degrade, neutralize or destroy friendly combat capability.
Northern Edge 2009 was held June 15-26 in Alaska and involved more than 9,000 participants from the United States military services supervised by the Joint Electronic Protection for Air Combat (JEPAC). The exercise integrated a dozen types of fighter and bomber aircraft as well as a naval carrier strike group.
"This event represents a major milestone in electronic protection testing for the AN/APG-81 in an operationally representative environment," said Teri Marconi, vice president of Combat Avionics for Northrop Grumman Electronic Systems. "We have been able to prove a number of EP capabilities years ahead of normal development timelines."
The AN/APG-81 radar was undergoing integrated avionics flight testing on the Lockheed Martin Cooperative Avionics Test Bed (CATBird) aircraft, and was being installed in production F-35s on the assembly line in Fort Worth, Texas.
Cockpit 4000
Esterline CMC Electronics said it is "on track" to begin deliveries later this year of its Cockpit 4000 integrated avionics suite for the T-6B Texan military trainer.
The T-6B is an upgrade of the Hawker Beechcraft T-6A turboprop trainer, already in service as the U.S. military’s Joint Primary Aircraft Training System (JPATS) aircraft and with NATO Flying Training in Canada and the Hellenic Air Force of Greece. (Hawker Beechcraft announced July 13 the first flight of the T-6 avionics upgrade aircraft.)
CMC received an order from Hawker Beechcraft last November for the first 35 T-6Bs in the production run. The Cockpit 4000 suite includes an Integrated Avionics Computer, a head-up display, Up Front Control Panel and multifunction displays. Deliveries are scheduled to begin in the fourth quarter.
Also, at the Paris Air Show in June, CMC said it had received civil certification from Transport Canada for Cockpit 4000, its first civil cockpit certification.
Tanker Upgrade
Esterline CMC Electronics said it has been contracted by Air France Industries to supply its latest generation CMA-9000 flight management system, the IntegriFlight CMA-5024 GPS receiver and a Fuel Management Panel for the French Air Force fleet of 14 C-135FR and KC-135R tankers.
The upgrade involves the installation of dual CMA-9000 FMSs, providing Precision Area Navigation capability, and a single GPS receiver providing Space Based Augmentation System/Wide Area Augmentation System navigation.
"With the CMC Electronics’ CMA-9000 FMS already established on military trainer and air transport aircraft, this important program will enable CMC to further position itself as the FMS/GPS supplier of choice for avionics upgrade programs," stated Bruce Bailey, CMC Electronics vice president of Commercial Aviation.
Euroflir Selection
Sagem said its new Euroflir 350 optronic observation system was selected by Eurocopter for the EC725 Caracal helicopters deployed by French special forces.
The gyrostabilized observation system will expand the Caracal’s day/night operational capabilities to carry out missions including transport, medical evacuation, combat search and rescue, intelligence and ground target designation, the company said.
The Euroflir 350 system comprises a Matis high-resolution infrared imager, high-definition color nighttime channel, eye-safe laser rangefinder and laser pointer, and target tracking, automatic search and geo-location functions. It is coupled with the Sigma navigation system, also supplied by Sagem.
The Euroflir 350 system already was selected as part of the modernization package for the French army’s AS532 Cougar helicopters.
The French navy’s NH90 NFH and Eurocopter AS365 Panther Mk. II helicopters will be fitted with the Euroflir 410 version.
Dlink+ Certifications Announced
Spectralux Corp., of Redmond, Wash., in July said its Dlink+ digital communications management system had received European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) certification on the Boeing 757. The system was granted FAA supplemental type certification approval March 11.
Dlink+ is a single LRU that combines a Communications Management Unit (CMU), VHF Datalink Radio (VDR) and a Control Display Unit (CDU). The system provides ACARS functionality such as Airline Operational Control (AOC), Air Traffic Services (ATS), customized menus and aircraft condition monitoring functionality. It also offers growth to Controller Pilot Data Link Communications (CPDLC) to meet the Eurocontrol Link 2000+ program.
The system supplies an Ethernet connection to file servers, laptops and electronic flight bags, allowing for the display of incoming messages.
"EASA’s approval is welcome news to operators of Boeing 757 aircraft who want to utilize ACARS functionality today, and who are anticipating the approaching implementation of CPDLC under the Eurocontrol Link 2000+ program," said Michael Burke, Spectralux president.
Unmanned Systems
Sagem Unveils ‘Patroller’ UAS At Paris Air Show
France’s Sagem revealed its new "Patroller" long-endurance unmanned aerial system (UAS) at the Paris Air Show in mid-June.
The propeller-driven aircraft, developed by Sagem and motorglider manufacturer Stemme, of Strausberg, Germany, achieved its first flight June 10 at the Kemijarvi test site in Finland, where the photo (above) was taken.
Powered by a ROTAX 914F piston engine, the aircraft "has very weak sound, thermal and radar signatures, making it particularly stealthy," according to Sagem.
The Patroller is being targeted for the defense and homeland security markets and uses the same avionics and ground control station of Sagem’s catapult-launched Sperwer UAV. The aircraft will be equipped with the Euroflir 410 gyrostabilized optronic pod, and is capable of carrying a pod-mounted synthetic aperture radar.
Boeing UAS Division
Boeing has formed an Unmanned Airborne Systems (UAS) division within its Military Aircraft business, the company announced June 15 at the Paris Air Show.
The new division "will lead the company’s sustained pursuit and execution of UAS business and the transition of new products from research to production," Boeing said. It assumes program management responsibility for the A160T Hummingbird and Unmanned Little Bird helicopters and solar-powered SolarEagle (Vulture) programs.
Insitu Inc., of Bingen, Wash., acquired by Boeing in September 2008 and now a subsidiary, will report to the UAS division. Insitu manufactures the ScanEagle and Integrator UASs.
Vic Sweberg was named UAS division director. Sweberg reports to Chris Chadwick, president of Boeing Military Aircraft, and leads a team that operates from Boeing sites across the United States. The UAS division will work in concert with Boeing Phantom Works, developing the Phantom Ray demonstrator, and with Boeing Global Services & Support, which operates the ScanEagle for military customers.
"This new division establishes a single leadership team focused on implementing a common strategy for unmanned airborne systems and services, and ensures access to resources and capabilities from across" Boeing Integrated Defense Systems (IDS), said Jim Albaugh, IDS president and CEO.
Reaper Engines
The U.S. Air Force plan to procure 319 MQ-9 Reaper unmanned aircraft systems will result in $400 million in additional orders for the TPE331-10 engine over the life of the program, engine manufacturer Honeywell said.
The TPE331-10 engine produces 900 shaft horsepower and comes with Digital Electronic Engine Control, which improves engine power management to increase loiter time, Honeywell said.
Since 1962, the company has delivered more than 13,000 TPE331 engines, with 11,000 still in service. Honeywell also provides the Reaper’s Embedded GPS/INS (EGI) navigation system.
Global Hawk
Northrop Grumman and the U.S. Air Force in June unveiled the next-generation RQ-4 Block 40 Global Hawk in a ceremony at the company’s Palmdale, Calif., manufacturing facility.
The Block 40 aircraft is equipped with a multi-platform radar technology insertion program (MP-RTIP) sensor, marking the first time the active electronically scanned array technology has been used on a high-altitude unmanned aircraft.
Designated AF-18, and set to begin flight testing in July, the aircraft is the 27th Global Hawk built since the program’s inception in 1995. The Block 40 Global Hawk will fly at altitudes of more than 60,000 feet for 32 hours per sortie at speeds approaching 340 knots.
The Global Hawk industry team includes: Aurora Flight Sciences, Bridgeport, West Virginia, V-tail assembly and other composite structures; L-3 Communications, Salt Lake City, communications; Raytheon, Waltham, Mass., ground station; Rolls-Royce Corp., Indianapolis, engine; and Vought Aircraft Industries, of Dallas, wing.
Contracts
Boeing received a $750 million, 10-year contract from the U.S. Air Force to provide engineering support for the B-52 bomber. Under the Engineering Sustainment Program contract, Boeing will perform engineering assignments for the aircraft, including software support, communications, avionics and electrical upgrades, structural analysis, rewiring.
Led by Sweden, member states of the European Defence Agency (EDA) signed a Project Arrangement on the MID-air Collision Avoidance System (MIDCAS) to develop sense-and-avoid technologies for UAS. The MIDCAS contract is valued at €50 million and will last 48 months. EDA was tasked in May 2007 to develop and propose a strategic road map for the seamless integration of UAS into non-segregated airspace by 2015.
Lockheed Martin was awarded a five-year, $60 million contract from the U.S. Air Force to provide continued depot maintenance support for LANTIRN navigation and targeting pods. Under the contract, Lockheed Martin will operate the depot at Warner Robins Air Force Base, Ga., through 2014. LANTIRN navigation and targeting pods provide aviators with enhanced range, resolution and reliability.
Data Link Solutions, a joint venture of Rockwell Collins and BAE Systems, was awarded a $28.9 million contract from the U.S. Navy to provide its Multi-functional Information Distribution System-Low Volume Terminals to U.S. and coalition forces. The terminals will be installed on American and international platforms that include the F/A-18, F-16, Eurofighter Typhoon and other aircraft. Work will be completed by 2010.
Honeywell was awarded a $26.3 million contract modification from the U.S. Navy for full-rate production of 498 Advanced Multi-Purpose Displays for retrofit of F/A-18F and EA/-18G aircraft operated by the U.S. and Australia.
NovAtel Inc., based in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, signed a $9.7 million contract with FAA to develop the next generation Wide Area Augmentation System reference receiver. The GIII receiver program is expected to be completed over the next three years, and will include growth provision for additional signal capability, including the European Galileo satellite system.
Selex Galileo and UOMZ (Urals Optical and Mechanical Plant) of Russia signed a collaboration agreement for electro-optic systems for civil applications. Under the agreement, UOMZ will supply stabilized turrets to Selex Galileo for their airborne surveillance solutions. "For UOMZ it represents an important opportunity for our growth in the export markets, said Veniamin S. Elinson, UOMZ deputy general director.
Barco said it received a "sizable order" from Highland Integrated Surveillance Systems of Toronto for its MDU-268 avionics-grade mission display units. The display units will be combined with an RN6 Digital Map Generator from EuroAvionics Navigation Systems and installed on 30 helicopters for a customer in the Middle East.
The Sensis Corp. Low Cost Ground Surveillance system was selected by FAA for evaluation under the agency’s low-cost ground surveillance pilot program to reduce runway incursions at small and medium-size airports. Sensis will deploy its initial system to Long Beach Airport, in Long Beach Calif.
CLARIFICATION
The Rockwell Collins MultiScan weather radar will be standard on the Boeing 787 Dreamliner. The radar supplier for the 787 was misidentified in the article "Bigger, Faster, Safer, Smarter," in the July issue of the magazine, page 20.