Winner: Messier-Bugatti
Location: Velizy, France
Achievement: Head-up display for first 737 Category IIIB certification
SEXTANT AVIONIQUE'S head-up flight-display system (HFDS) allowed L'A‚ropostale to become the world's first carrier to gain certification for Category IIIB operation of Boeing 737-300s, in September 1995.
The judges felt that the use of head-up display systems in civil aircraft should be widely encouraged, as this represents a significant step forward by the industry.
The HFDS is coupled to the aircraft's existing autopilot, and allows the pilot to monitor an automatic landing in real time. Under Cat IIIB conditions, landing minima are reduced to a decision height of 35ft (10m) and a runway-visual range (RVR) of 125m. For take-off, RVR is reduced to 75m.
The HFDS consists of a wide field-of-view head-up display (40 x 26¡), mounted overhead of the pilot. Sextant claims that the use of the HFDS means L'A‚ropostale's aircraft have a similar capability to those equipped with more sophisticated autopilots, but without the need for expensive retrofit modifications.
Alitalia has also ordered HFDS systems for its fleet of McDonnell Douglas MD-82s.
Finalist: Sextant Avionique
Location: Velizy, France.
Achievement: Head-up display for first 737 Category IIIB certification
Sextant Avionique's head-up flight-display system (HFDS) allowed L'Aeropostale to become the world's first carrier to gain certification for category IIIB operation of Boeing 737-300s, in September 1995.
The judges felt that the use of head-up display systems in civil aircraft should be widely encouraged, as this represents a significant step forward by the industry.
The HFDS is coupled to the aircraft's existing autopilot, and allows the pilot to monitor an automatic landing in real time. Under Cat IIIB conditions, landing minima are reduced to a decision height of 35ft (10m) and a runway-visual range (RVR) of 125m. For take-off, RVR is reduced to 75m.
The HFDS consists of a wide field-of-view head-up display (40x26 degrees), mounted overhead of the pilot. Sextant claims that the use of the HFDS means L'Aeropostale's aircraft have a similar capability to those equipped with more sophisticated autopilots, but without the need for expensive retrofit modifications.
Alitalia has also ordered HFDS systems for its fleet of McDonnell Douglas MD-82s.
Finalist: Smiths Industries
Location: Cheltenham, UK
Achievement: Certification of an integrated electrical load-management system for the Boeing 777
THE BOEING 777 ENTERED service in June 1995 fitted with Smiths Industries' seven-panel electrical load-management system (ELMS). It is the world's first combined utilities and electrical load-management system to be certificated aboad passenger aircraft.
The reliability and maintainability of the system played a significant role in the granting of 180min extended-range twin-engine operations approval for the 777 at service-entry.
The judges noted that, although the concept is not uncommon in the aerospace industry, this is the first time that it has been applied to a large passenger aircraft. Smiths adds that the overall aim is to reduce ownership costs.
The ELMS integrates the functions of distribution, protection, control and monitoring of aircraft electrical power, with control of utility systems - tasks previously performed by separate relay logic and card files.
Smiths claims that the result is a 50% reduction in weight, volume and the number of associated electrical connections, the elimination of 21,500m (70,000ft) of wiring through the use of a databus, the removal of most circuit-breakers from the flightdeck and improved dispatch reliability.
The ELMS also includes built-in fault diagnosis and maintenance history functions, and consists of a series line-replaceable modules to ensure easy maintenance.
Finalist: CTT Systems
Location: Nykoping, Sweden
Achievement: Introduction of aircraft zonal drying system
THE JUDGES DECIDED to make four awards in the Systems & Components category, to recognise the successful introduction into service of CTT Systems' Zonal Dryer, on a Martinair Boeing 767-300 in January 1995.
The judges emphasised the significance of the invention, despite it being a relatively simple, "low-technology concept".
The company developed the Zonal Dryer as an airborne de-humidifying system to remove unwanted moisture and limit condensation within an aircraft. The device creates a flow of dry air between the inner and outer cabin walls, absorbing water from wet insulation, and simultaneously feeding humid air into the passenger cabin.
The Zonal Dryer can save an operator an estimated $100,000 per aircraft per year, measured in terms of reduced fuel consumption, corrosion and extended inspection periods.
Source: Flight International
