CMC Electronics is "on track" to certificate its infrared enhanced vision system (IR-EVS) late next year. The Canadian company has completed a second series of flight tests, conducting over 30 approaches in reduced visibility, and has begun design of the production sensor. Development of a millimetre-wave imaging radar (MMWR) EVS will follow.
"We have gone beyond proof of concept, and into developmental trials," says business development director RickBeasley. "We are into final packaging and electronic design." Certification on the IR-EVS will require the co-operation of an airframe manufacturer, and talks are under way with several business and commercial aircraft producers, he says. The first application is expected to be on a business aircraft.
The IR-EVS uses a cooled infrared sensor developed by US subsidiary CMC Electronics Cincinatti. In addition to imaging terrain ahead of the aircraft, the dual-band sensor detects the thermal output of runway lights. The system can be used with a head-up display (HUD) for approach guidance, or for taxi guidance when used with a head-down display. "We are working on both in parallel," Beasley says.
CMC's initial goal is to achieve certification for approaches in Category II reduced-visibility conditions to runways with Cat I lighting systems, using the IR-EVS. "Ultimately we are aiming for Cat III with EVS," Beasley says. Flight testing of the MMWR-EVS, which will see through weather which defeats the IR sensor, is due to begin by the end of next year. The third stage inCMC's plan calls for development of a dual-sensor EVS presenting a fused IR and MMWR image on the HUD, he says.
Development of the MMWR sensor and sensor-fusion electronics unit are set to follow once operational experience has been gathered with the infrared sensor. Beasley expects the IR-EVS to enter service in 2003. "The critical issue is raster HUD availability," he says. Raster-scanned head-up displays are required to present infrared imagery. Quebec-based CMC is designing its EVS to work with any raster-capable HUD.
Source: Flight International
