Aircraft Engineering and Aerospace Technology

doi: 10.1108/eb037430pmid: N/A

THE desire to provide today's aircraft with high payload and long range performance capabilities has led to the search for new and innovative ways of reducing weight and increasing the strength of materials used in their construction. Justin Ratcliffe of The Shapemakers explains the role of aluminium extrusions in these developments.

Fulton, Ken

doi: 10.1108/eb037431pmid: N/A

A recent two‐line news item in the International Herald Tribune highlighted an important aspect of Russia's interest in developing cryogenic‐fuelled aircraft. The item read simply “The airport in Vladivostok, in far eastern Russia, closed down on Tuesday because it had run out of fuel.” The air routes to Vladivostok from Moscow and other major Russian cities are extremely long and all kerosene loaded at Vladivostok has to be transported there for the purpose. Fuel supply routes extend over thousands of kilometres whether they involve the limited road and rail links in that part of the world or marine tankers using equally‐long and challenging sea routes.

doi: 10.1108/eb037432pmid: N/A

ADVANCED Aerodynamics & Structures Inc., (AASI) manufacturer of the Jetcruzer 450/500 single‐engine turbine powered aircraft, has applied for and seeks approval of change of certification standards in several countries for single‐engine turbine powered airplanes to engage in (RPI) Revenue Passenger Transport, during (IMC) Instrument Meteorological Conditions or IFR, and night operations.

doi: 10.1108/eb037433pmid: N/A

TWO manually operated DEA Swift co‐ordinate measuring machines (CMM), each equipped with Tutor M measuring software, have been installed directly in the production machine shop of Pilkington Optronics Ltd., St Asaph. The CMMs are being used as flexible measuring gauges by Pilkington's machine setter/operators under a programme whereby selfcertification of component accuracy is gradually superseding conventional QC inspection.

doi: 10.1108/eb037434pmid: N/A

A wide variety of helicopters were either flown or on display at Redhill, supported by an exhibition of increased size compared to previous years dealing with components, systems and services. Despite the weather, many manufacturers managed to give convincing displays of their products which illustrated the determination of the rotating‐wing industry to ride out any recession.

doi: 10.1108/eb037435pmid: N/A

FUNDAMENTAL changes in production at Short Brothers' Belfast factory have resulted in the majority of complex, high value components being machined in‐house. The 107 subcontractors of less than two years ago have shrunk to 14, and costs have been reduced as a result.

doi: 10.1108/eb037436pmid: N/A

SAFETY considerations and regular maintenance of essential components and equipment are obvious requirements within the aircraft industry. When carrying out checking and maintenance procedures, staff have to be certain that the equipment used for such tasks is reliable and effective — with the safety factor paramount above all else.

Mayday,

doi: 10.1108/eb037437pmid: N/A

This article describes a series of full scale fire tests to evaluate and develop an on‐board cabin water spray system for use in post‐crash fires. The baseline system used for the study was the ‘SAVE’ system designed in the UK and and consisting of a large number of small nozzles, mounted through the aircraft ceiling, which discharge a fine water‐mist spray for a period of 3 minutes. The FAA test programme comprised two phases: (1) looking at effectiveness, potential benefits and the adverse effects of accidental discharge; and (2) addressing the optimisation of the system and the development of requirements and specifications.

doi: 10.1108/eb037438pmid: N/A

HERTFORDSHIRE‐BASED Lucas Aerospace has won Eastern Electricity's PEP (Power for Efficiency and Productivity) Award for its recent investment in energy‐efficient heat treatment plant.

doi: 10.1108/eb037439pmid: N/A

DDC's new BU‐61590 hybrid circuit will, for the first time, enable avionic equipment to interface with all variations of the internationally accepted Mil‐Std‐1553 aircraft data bus standard. This will allow avionic systems to be used with many different types of aircraft without modification of the data bus interface.