FlightGlobal.com
Home
Premium
Archive
Video
Images
Forum
Atlas
Blogs
Jobs
Shop
RSS
Email Newsletters
You are in:
Home
Aviation History
1954
1954 - 1106.PDF
498 FLIGHT PRODUCTION INFORMATION DISCUSSED Interchange of Technical News: I.P.E. and ASLIB Conference at Cranfeld SIXTY delegates attended the joint conference of the Institu tion of Production Engineers and the ASLIB Aeronautical and Engineering Groups at the College of Aeronautics, Cranfield, from April 2nd-5th. The general subject was "Production Information" and, at the opening session, papers were presented by Mr. W. E. Goff, editor of Aircraft Production and Mr. Saunders, chief work-study engineer of the Glacier Metal Co., Ltd.: Mr. F. B. Roberts, editor of Engineering, was in the chair. Discussion centred on the various aspects of the problem involved in recording and distributing information on production processes and techniques. It was agreed that there was great difficulty in persuading production engineers to write reports or articles in the first place, either because of the time involved or because of a reluctance to reveal anything which might benefit a commercial rival. From the editorial viewpoint, most of the material that was made available needed very thorough revision to put it into a form suitable for publication. It was suggested that the problems were interrelated, and that more engineers would be willing to write about new develop ments if it were known that they would not be expected to reach the high standard required for publication in a journal or presentation at a meeting of a learned society. If a central organization were willing to accept unpublished reports, prepare title lists for general distribution and lend copies to those who wished to see them, a great deal of useful informa tion would be available. Some doubts were expressed as to whether the published article could ever be so useful as the personal contact; but the main emphasis in this and the sub sequent session was the importance of improved training in information methods for the production engineer. Professor J. V. Connolly, Head of the Department of Aircraft Economics and Production at the College of Aeronautics, was in the Chair when the meeting discussed the exploitation of pub lished information. Mr. D. Seaman, general manager of the British Oxygen Engineering Co., Ltd., emphasized the importance of an integrated information policy throughout a firm. The purpose of any system of information was to attack a particular objective and it was absolutely vital that all the people in the organization should have their minds attuned to the particular target. He suggested that ASLIB should make a practical research study of the mode of control of various types of production units. Mr. P. Spear, research director of Rubery Owen and Co., Ltd., concentrated on the problems of the production engineer in a medium-sized organization. The production engineer was a specialist in "not being a specialist," or a specialist in the art of using other specialists. He would obtain his information from many places, and it would concern many different things. The librarian must have a wide experience, with a full knowledge of the sources of information, but it was most important that he should have full co-operation. The discussion showed that there was general recognition that the outlook of the production engineer towards information was gradually changing as more trained men came to the profession. The suggestion was made that the professional institutions might include in their examinations a question on available sources of information. It was announced that ASLIB and the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research were at present considering the possi bility of running short courses intended to broaden liaison engineers' knowledge of the ways of obtaining information from sources outside their own organizations. While the production engineers at the conference visited the Department of Aircraft Economics and Production, and the Work Study School, the librarians had a final session to discuss the various points which had arisen at meetings. Though the proceedings of the conference tended at times to wander away from the specific subject—as is almost inevitable at meetings of this kind—it was generally agreed that the ex change of views was likely to prove beneficial; and in any case the event provided a useful opportunity for people with mutual interests to meet one another. FLIGHT REFUELLING AND ZENITH AS briefly announced in Flight last week, French manufactur ing and sales rights for the range of aircraft fuel system components designed and produced by Flight Refuelling, Ltd., have been granted to Societe Carburateur Zenith. The agree ment, for an initial period of ten years, gives the Zenith company the sole manufacturing licence for Flight Refuelling's products in France. They will be manufactured at the French company's factories at Lyons and marketed under the combined trade name of Zenith-F.R. The agreement does not include equipment for refuelling aircraft in flight. Mr, Christopher Tonge, F.R. director and general manager, states that the decision has been taken for two reasons: to meet the increasing demands of the French aircraft industry for the British company's fuel system components; and to comply with the French Government's policy of restricting imports of articles that could be manufactured in France. For the past five years Flight Refuelling, Ltd., have been represented in France by M. Costa de Beauregard, an engineer widely known in aviation on the Continent. Under the new agreement he will act as consultant to both companies in regard to components and ancillary equipment for the French industry, whilst continuing to act as sole agent in France for other activities of Flight Refuelling, Ltd. F.R. components have been ordered for production models of a number of French military and civil aircraft; among them are the Vautour, Baroudeur, Caravelle and Hurel-Dubois H.D.45. This is the first time that Flight Refuelling, of which Sir Alan Cobham is chairman and managing director, have granted manufacturing rights for their products outside the U.K. and U.S.A. Hitherto, overseas orders have been met by the normal output from the company's factories at Tarrant Rushton. Independent production in France will do much to speed de liveries to France's expanding aircraft industry; it will also leave F.R. with greater production capacity to meet the needs of British manufacturers—needs which have increased consider ably since the recent mandatory requirement for the equipment of all British military and large civil transport aircraft with a system enabling them to be pressure-fuelled. An article ex plaining and illustrating the construction and the operation of this equipment appeared in Flight of February 5th. COMPASS-SWINGING IN A NEW LIGHT I" IKE other processes involved in the servicing of modern, high- *-* utilization aircraft, compass-swinging often has to be carried out at night. A difficulty that arises in this connection has been the reading of the landing compass in the dark, so compass adjusters will welcome news of a new lighting attachment, de signed by Kelvin and Hughes, Ltd. (New North Road, Barking- side, Essex), for fitting to their medium landing compass. Manufactured of brass, and therefore non-magnetic, the attach ment fits over the verge-ring and, when switched on, beams light on to the sighting vane, compass card and bubble level in such a manner that stray light is completely eliminated. The light-source is a three-volt "peanut" bulb under-run at 1J volts from one cell of a "pencil" battery; the continuous life of the battery is approximately half an hour. The screw cap of the battery compartment forms the switch. When not in use the attachment is stowed in the lid of the carrying case. Provision is also made in the case to stow two spare bat teries and three spare bulbs. No structural changes are required to accommodate the attachment on the medium landing compass. _ The Kelvin Hughes attachment as fitted to the medium landing compass. The tube on the left transmits light to the Jaubble level.
Sign up to
Flight Digital Magazine
Flight Print Magazine
Airline Business Magazine
E-newsletters
RSS
Events
