THE FIRST executive council meeting of the US government/industry Advanced General Aviation Transport Experiments (AGATE) research-and-development programme has been scheduled for April, in Florida.
The AGATE programme is a joint project involving NASA, the US Federal Aviation Administration, industry and universities. The goal is to pool resources and develop technologies which will modernise and enhance GA aircraft and system, making them more attractive and useable.
Since the programme was launched in 1994, more than 30 companies have joined the AGATE consortium. A simulator demonstrating some of the potential new technologies will be at the Experimental Aircraft Association convention at Oshkosh in July.
The initial four areas which AGATE addresses are integrated cockpit systems; propulsion sensors and controls; integrated design and manufacturing; and icing-protection systems. Companies can sign up, for one or more of the work packages.
Source: Flight International
