AlliedSignal Aerospace is discussing with airlines and aircraft manufacturers its plan to develop a so-called integrated hazard-avoidance system (IHAS).
The IHAS would combine safety-related avionics systems, such as ground-proximity warning system, traffic-alert and collision-avoidance system and windshear detection, in a single box, with the aim of providing a "standard" installation for commercial aircraft.
"The next major development [in safety avionics] we believe will be the integration of these sensors into a single unit," says Ian Gilbert, manager of commercial-avionics systems for customer operations at AlliedSignal. "The total sum will be lighter, more cost-effective and more reliable, "he adds.
The company is also planning to introduce new functions, such as clear-air-turbulence and wake-turbulence detection, into the IHAS. These would make use of the "very powerful" processing capabilities of the windshear radar, says Gilbert.
"One of the things we are going to be doing next year is integrating a passive infra-red sensor into our system," he says. "Once we can do accurate temperature profiling, we can detect turbulence," Gilbert adds. The company expects to begin flight-testing the turbulence-detection system early in 1998.
TAP Air Portugal has selected AlliedSignal Aircraft Landing Gear Systems' convertible brakes for its recently ordered fleet of 22 Airbus A319s. The product allows operators to fit carbon-composite or steel heat-sinks in the same wheel and brake structure.
"Our new design allows airlines to configure their aircraft to obtain the most cost-effective performance for different operating conditions," says Brian Harker, Airbus business manager at Aircraft Landing Systems.
The deal is AlliedSignal's first contract for the supply of brakes on the A319/320/321 family.
Source: Flight International
