Aircraft Rivets

Standard solid-shank rivets and the
universal head rivets (AN-470) are
used in aircraft construction in both
interior and exterior locations.
Roundhead rivets (AN-430) are used
in the interior. Rivets of pure aluminum are used for
riveting nonstructural parts fabricated
using the softer aluminium alloys. When riveting magnesium alloy
structures, 5056 rivets are used
exclusively because of their corrosion-
resistant qualities in combination with
the magnesium alloys.
Mild steel rivets are used primarily in riveting steel. Galvanized rivets should not be used
on steel parts subject to high heat.
Corrosion-resistant steel rivets are
used in riveting corrosion-resistant
steel parts such as firewalls, exhaust
stack bracket attachments, and similar structures.

In-flight Entertainment System

In the world of Aircraft Interiors, IFE
and Connectivity go hand in hand with
seats and interiors design, but in its
own right, is a rapidly growing market
segment. In 2010, connectivity will be
a growth business as will be the delivery of in-seat embedded
(portable-based) IFE and associated
in-seat power. This area is probably
the growth area of portable IFE. The manufacturers' holy grail is
Exceptional Reliability combined with
exceptionally low weight. A typical
installation with a high level of
functionality will weigh less than five
pounds per seat even when all cabling, distribution, headend
equipment and kits are accounted for.
That means there will be more capacity
for passengers, cargo and fuel, to
ensure high levels of operational
efficiency. Optimized configurations can be even lower in weight. Seatback units that are not portable,
but stand-alone distributed content
systems (the seat hardware is hard
disk based with content at each seat)
are also in development, using fibre
optics that are already in the aircraft for broadcast solutions like map
features and content updates.

Aircraft Fuel Tanks and Cells

Fuel tank repair
Welded or riveted fuel tanks that are
made of commercially pure aluminum,
3003, 5052, or similar alloys, may be
repaired by welding. Aircraft fuel
tanks made from heat-treatable
aluminum alloys are generally assembled by riveting. In case it is necessary to rivet a new
piece in a tank, use the same material
as used in the tank undergoing repair,
and seal the seams with a compound
that is insoluble in gasoline. Special
fuel tank sealing compounds are available and should be used in the
repair of aircraft fuel tanks. Inspect
fuel tanks and cells for general
condition, security of attachment, and
evidence of leakage. Examine fuel
tanks or cell vent line, fuel lines, and sump drain attachment fittings closely.

Ground Power Unit(GPU)

GPUs provide either AC, or AC and DC
power for the operation of aircraft
avionics and engine start up on the
ground. Solid-state Ground Power
Units (GPUs) convert utility power into
400 Hz power for the aircraft. The GPUs take over when the Auxiliary
Power Units (APUs) onboard aircraft
are switched off, in order to reduce the
noise, the air pollution, and the
maintenance required by the APUs. The use of ground power also means
cost savings, the power can be
converted on the ground much
cheaper and much more efficiently
than by burning jet-fuel on the aircraft.
GPUs can also be mobile units, giving further flexibility. GPUs have also been
developed to meet the needs of
operators who have a requirement to
carry portable ground power aboard
the aircraft on a regular basis. These gpus are extremely powerful
for their size and weight and can be
loaded and carried aboard if required.

Integrated Primary Flight Display (IPFD)

Integrated Primary Flight Display (IPFD) is Honeywell’s Synthetic Vision System (SVS) ― a new product that will be offered on multiple platforms for business jets. IPFD uses cues that pilots already understand to provide them with a VFR visual environment regardless of the time of day or weather conditions.

The integrated primary flight display uses Honeywell’s industry-leading Enhanced Ground Proximity Warning System (EGPWS) database and our advanced Head-Up Display (HUD) symbology. Combined, they give pilots an unprecedented, coherent, and continuous window of situational awareness of their flight path, terrain, and navigational environment.

The IPFD synthesizes key information for the pilot and delivers it in an easy way that is:

Ambient – The pilot makes no special effort to gather data

Natural – The pilot makes no special effort to interpret the data

Continuous – The pilot makes no special effort to update the data

First 'Super Hercules' handed over

NEW DELHI: The first of the six C-130J
' Super Hercules' military transport aircraft customised for "special
operations", being inducted under a
$1.2 billion deal inked with the US in
late-2008, was handed over to the
Indian Air Force (IAF) near Atlanta on
Thursday. IAF pilots will fly the first two C-130Js
to India towards late-January, while
the next four will come later in 2011.
Even as India is moving towards
ordering another six C-130Js, the first
six will be based at the Hindon airbase on the outskirts of New Delhi. IAF officers say the C-130Js, the latest
version of Hercules with four
powerful engines and greater
payload-carrying capacity, will
enhance India's rapid reaction
capabilities. Capable of even landing on makeshift
airstrips due to their rugged nature,
the C-130Js will primarily be used for
covert airlift missions for special
forces. With India now upgrading airstrips in
forward areas -- both on the western
and eastern fronts -- the aircraft will
also be able to swiftly transport
combat-ready troops to border areas.

Kannur airport nod in view of Keralites contribution: Patel

Civil
Aviation Minister Praful Patel
said the central government
sanctioned the Kannur airport despite
some legal issues as non-resident
Keralites contribute significantly to India's overall growth with their
remittances. He was speaking at the foundation
stone laying ceremony for the airport. 'People from Kerala make a group
which contributes to the overall
growth of the economy of the country
with their remittances. So with this in
mind and despite the Mangalore and
Kozhikode airports near to this one, the centre decided to waive all such
issues and give the sanction for this
airport,' said Patel. The proposed airport will come as a
boon to the large number of non-
resident Keralites from Kannur and
Kasargode who now have to travel to
either Kozhikode or Mangalore.

GEnx-1B Engine Makes its First Flight on Boeing's 787 Dreamliner

GEnx-1B Engine Makes its First
Flight on Boeing's 787
Dreamliner
The GEnx-1B
engine has completed its first flight on
the Boeing 787 Dreamliner, which flew
today at Paine Field in Everett,
Washington. "The GEnx engine program has been
designing, developing and testing the
engine for five years so today's events
are a testament to the team's
extraordinary efforts," said Tom
Brisken, general manager of the GEnx program. The first flight of the Boeing 787
aircraft lasted three hours and 48
minutes and is part of the overall
flight-testing program to demonstrate
the aircraft's capabilities. The first flight
of the GEnx-1B engine follows the February first flight of the GEnx-2B
engine, which has logged more than
1,800 flight-hours on the Boeing
747-8 aircraft. The GEnx is the fastest selling engine
in GE's history with about 1,300
engines on order and more than 800
of these orders are for the GEnx-1B
engine. Based on the proven architecture of
the GE90, the GEnx engine will
succeed GE's CF6 engine. Compared to
the CF6 engine, the GEnx-1B engine
will offer 15 percent improved fuel
efficiency, which translates to 15 percent less CO2. The engine achieves
these improvements with
aerodynamic advancements that
enable higher pressures and
improved energy extraction from a
more compact core architecture that has significantly fewer parts.