Air New Zealand Schedules Biofuel Test Flight
Posted On: June 6th, 2008 by Andy
The Los Angeles Times (6/5, Pae) reports that Air New Zealand is planning a “three-hour test flight” this summer, during which one of its 747 aircraft will be “powered by fuel refined from” a type of oil gleaned from the “poisonous seeds of the jatropha tree.” Predictions are the fuel refined from jatropha oil “could cost an estimated $43 a barrel, or about one-third of Wednesday’s closing price of $122.30 for a barrel of crude oil.” The Times characterizes Air New Zealand’s test flight as “particularly noteworthy” as “it will come at a time when ethanol and other biofuels have come under increasing scrutiny because of their side effects.” According to scientists, “the quality of jatropha oil [is] better than most for making jet fuel.” Further, “[j]atropha-based fuel…produces about half the harmful carbon emissions of fossil fuel.”
The announcement of the test flight follows recently-released plans from the carrier “to meet at least 10 percent of its annual fuel bill with crop-based alternatives by 2013,” Bloomberg (6/5, Evans) points out. Air New Zealand is also “buying fuel-efficient jetliners to cut emissions and fuel costs, and earlier this year offered customers carbon credits to offset pollution from their travel.”
Reuters (6/5, Bathgate) notes that, according to the carrier, “its program of emissions savings had resulted in a reduction of 91,000 tons of carbon dioxide in the past three years.” Australia’s Sydney Morning Herald (6/5), the New Zealand Herald (6/5, Dye), and Aviation News (6/4) also report the story.
Popularity: 2% [?]
CAE Wins International Flight Simulator Orders
Posted On: June 2nd, 2008 by Andy
CAE won orders for full-flight simulators and related Simfinity training devices valued at more than C$56 million ($56.6 million) from Aeroflot, Ansett Aviation Training, Skymark Airlines and a JV company that owns 50% of CAE’s training center in Bangalore. SU purchased a CAE 5000 Series A320 FFS slated for delivery to its Moscow facility this year, while Skymark ordered a CAE 7000 Series 737-800 FFS for 2009 delivery. AAT committed to a CAE 7000 Series A320 FFS. The JV bought a CAE Simfinity APT trainer, a CAE 7000 Series A320 FFS and a CAE 7000 Series 737NG FFS slated for summer delivery.
–Courtesy ATW Daily
Popularity: 2% [?]
Concurrent and the FTI Group Streamline German Airbus A320 Control Systems
Posted On: May 29th, 2008 by Andy
Test Systems Will Reduce Costs, Enhance Quality and Improve Time to Market; Concurrent Will Demonstrate Benefits and Technology at The ILA Berlin Air Show, May 27-June 1 2008
ATLANTA — Concurrent (NASDAQ:CCUR), a worldwide provider of integrated Linux solutions, and The FTI Group today announced the successful delivery of a simulation system for the German Airbus project that will result in improved quality and reduced costs while enabling a faster time to market. The system will be used for the Airbus A320 High Lift System (HLSS), responsible for controlling the aircraft’s trailing-edge flaps.
“The A320 HLSS test stand is one of the most advanced test systems deployed today,” said Jochen Venrath, Head Design and Verification, The FTI Group. “Engineered to gather and store thousands of I/O points, the seamless integration with The MathWorks(R) Simulink(R) for rapid model-based simulation and Concurrent’s SIMulation Workbench(TM) and real-time scheduler enabled our team to deliver a seamless hardware-in-the-loop (HIL) system that is easy to use and reconfigurable for multiple tests.”
The HIL system will be used to test the aircraft’s high-lift control computers, which are responsible for controlling the trailing-edge flaps that generate higher lift during take-off and landing. Hosted on Concurrent’s iHawk(TM) real-time computer systems powered by RedHawk(TM) real-time Linux, SIMulation Workbench provides a complete framework to develop and execute real-time hardware-in-the-loop and man-in-the-loop simulations.
“Reduced costs, greater accuracy, improved time to market for big projects and practical, business-oriented thinking - these are some of the reasons organizations come to us,” said Dan Mondor, Concurrent president and CEO. “FTI and Concurrent are working together to offer our customers innovative real-time technology that fits their timelines and budgets.”
The Concurrent and FTI Group partnership originated in 2007 with delivery of a HIL test stand for the Airbus 400M HLSS project. This delivery marks the continued success of SIMulation Workbench.
Technical experts from Concurrent are available to demonstrate solutions and discuss projects at the ILA Berlin Air Show (Hall 6/6230), one of the world’s largest aerospace trade shows being held May 27- June 1, 2008 in Berlin, Germany.
–Courtesy CentreDaily.com
Popularity: 1% [?]
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