Possible world "first" development expected to lead to other
international sales
Electronics systems developer Analysis, Management & Systems (AMS), a member of JSE-listed Spescom Group, has entered a joint venture to develop and manufacture a ruggedised Cockpit Voice and Flight Data Recorder (CVFDR), or "black box" in Midrand for use in British Aerospace Military Aircraft and Aerostructures (BAe MA&A) Hawk lead-in fighter aircraft destined for the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF). First production deliveries are due in November 1998.
"This development is full of promise as we see a growing demand for such a ruggedised CVFDR, meeting the more severe environmental requirements for combat type aircraft," says Nelis Botes, Manager: Aircraft Systems at AMS.
"We intended originally to supply an off-the-shelf CVFDR from British Aerospace Systems & Equipment (BASE), but as the development progressed, it became clear that the off-the-shelf recorders were not suited to this application. The location of the recorder in the aircraft is subject to excessive heat and vibration and, given the requirement for a very high mean time between failures (MTBF), presented our development team with a real challenge," said Botes.
It was agreed that the project would be a joint development between AMS, BASE and BAe MA&A, but AMS would take on the role as design authority for the new product.
"We will procure the core-protected memory unit (CPMU), which is really the heart of the CVFDR, from BASE, but all the electronics and mechanics will be repackaged to meet the environmental requirements of this specific programme," he said.
"The ruggedised product will also be fully compliant with EUROCAE ED55 and ED56, which are international standards that define the requirements for CVDFDRs. This is significant because, while previously military aircraft were not expected to comply with civil airworthiness requirements, it is becoming increasingly common for military certification authorities to adopt similar requirements as used for civilian aircraft.
"We believe this product is unique in bridging the gap between civil and military requirements, and expect it to provide us with a unique opportunity in the world market. It has a standard interface and while the data set, or parameters, may change from aircraft to aircraft, only the software will need to be customised; the hardware will be standard. We plan to exhibit it at the Farnborough Aerospace Show in the UK in September and expect to attract a lot of interest."
According to Botes, the decision to award the lion`s share of the joint-venture to AMS is both an expression of BAe`s determination to ensure that its industrial participation initiatives succeed in South Africa and a recognition that AMS is highly competitive in terms of technical excellence and pricing.
"Ownership of the new product will be vested in all three parties that are investing in it -- ourselves, BAe MA&A and BASE -- and all three stand to benefit from our joint international marketing efforts."
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