GE Druck (Stand W758) is raising the accuracy and lowering the cost of pitot-static testing of civil aircraft directly on the flightline with the launch of the ADTS 530 portable air data test set.
Product manager David Dean says there are obvious safety implications when the mandatory vertical separation of 2,000ft (600m) for civil aircraft is reduced to 1,000ft.
"Because aircraft will be able to fly closer together, the safety measures have to be that much better, and the testing has to be much more accurate," he says.
GE Druck's new self-contained unit fully complies with the new Reduced Vertical Separation Minima (RVSM), and Dean says it's significantly cheaper than existing units.
"Up to now testing units would probably cost something in the region of £50,000 ($30,000) – this unit is only £8,000."
Precision
The device comprises a twin channel Ps/Pt microprocessor-based pressure control test set for accurate verification of flight safety critical air data instrumentation such as altimeters, airspeed and rate of climb indicators.
GE Druck, a unit of GE Industrial Systems, manufactures precision measuring and test equipment, including pressure sensors, portable calibrators, calibrations standards and air data test systems. The company has representation throughout America, Europe and the Far East.
Source: Flight Daily News
