Stepped-up security concerns in the wake of 11 September have given a boost to Telair International's newly approved baggage security system, which is on display at Asian Aerospace.
"There's been a lot of new interest in this technology, and in security applications in general," says Dennis Staver, vice-president and general manager of Telair (Hall A/435).
The US Federal Aviation Administration on 8 February granted certification for Telair International's Hardened Unit Load Device (HULD), a baggage or freight container capable of withstanding explosions and ballistic security threats.
Challenge
The HULD was designed to prevent damage from explosions such as the one thought to have caused the crash of Pan Am flight 103 near Lockerbie, Scotland.
The key challenge is weight. In combination with its HULD, Telair is introducing a lightweight new companion container, and together the two units entail no added weight penalty, says Staver. The HULD unit itself, although designated as hardened, is a soft-sided design that uses a kevlar composite material over a lightweight aluminium frame.
Telair has also begun production of a new ballistics-tested and flammability qualified ‘hardened' material for aircraft cockpit doors and other cabin security applications.
Source: Flight Daily News
