By bringing together traditional cockpit flight data recording/acquisition functions into a single integrated package, Smiths Industries Aerospace has not only offered clear cost savings but also opened the way towards improved aircraft and engine monitoring.
The Smiths Integrated Data Acquisition and Recording System (IDARS) replaces what have traditionally been three separate cockpit units: the cockpit voice recorder, flight data recorder and digital flight data acquisition unit. Typically the separate units would cost close to $70,000 and weight around 20kg. The IDARS alternative packages the functions together into a single 7kg crash survivable box costing $40,000.
The package is also designed for easy integration of additional functions to provide health and usage monitoring system (HUMS) capability.
HUMS is already recognised for its ability to bring operational and safety gains, providing early warnings of the state of engines and structures. The benefits are even greater for the helicopter sector, with the need to keep a constant check on areas such as the drive train or rotor.
The IDARS package has now been selected for military and civil helicopter HUMS applications on both sides of the Atlantic, as well as a range of fixed wing aircraft, including the US Air Force/US Navy Joint Primary Aircraft Training System (JPATS).
In July 1997 Smiths began deliveries of IDARS units, shipping the first systems to Raytheon to include on the JPATS aircraft.
Source: Flight International
