Saab is showing off a piece of Boeing 787 technology that one day could be adopted by business jets.
The 787 introduced fly-by-wire high-lift devices such as flaps and slats. The systems are powered by hydraulics as a primary power source, but use Saab's electro-mechanical actuators as a back-up supply.
Most business jets still rely on hydraulics as the power source for both primary flight controls, such as ailerons and rudder, and secondary systems, including flaps.
But Saab predicts that hydraulics systems will gradually be phased out by electrical power. Airbus is studying concepts to introduce electro-mechanical actuators to power back-up secondary controls on the A320, says Fredrik Levander, Saab senior product manager for avionics.
Saab estimates that switching to electrical power for high-lift flight controls can reduce weight by 5-10% compared with hydraulic systems.
Source: Flight Daily News