WONDERBOOM, Pretoria- based Global Composite Solutions (GCS) has once again proved to be a market leader in the development and manufacture of specialised aircraft components in modern composite materials.
The company recently became the first to design a retractable mounting platform around the Zeiss Optronics LEO II system for use on a P750 XSTOL aircraft, previously known as the PAC750. In order to achieve this feat, GCS joined forces with two other market leaders namely, National Airways Corporation (NAC) which provided the aircraft, and Carl Zeiss Optronics which supplied the LEO-II-A5-EP airborne observation system and Trakka Beam searchlight.
This unique surveillance solution for the P750 XSTOL fixed-wing, single turboprop aircraft consists of a custom made surveillance cargo pod, designed and manufactured by GCS, with well known aviation personality, Chris Briers being part of the implementation and design team, as well as the test pilot. The P750 aircraft was chosen as a platform for the retractable airborne observation system and searchlight combination because of its ability to fly at very low airspeeds, as well as its long endurance and low operating costs. The aircraft can also be operated from almost any surface and location, which is an added “plus” for covert surveillance operations as well as border patrols and game counting.
The LEO-II-A5-EP (extended performance) is the same system that is used by many police air support units worldwide, including the South Africa’s Police Air Wing. The selected LEO-II-A5-EP configuration includes the latest generation 640x480 high resolution 8-9um focal plane array QWIP thermal imager with three fields of view; a 3-CCD daylight TV camera with a powerful zoom lens spatially matched to the thermal imager field of view; wide spectrum spotter TV camera with dual colour and black and white capability providing close-in image magnification (0.35° H); video auto tracker; searchlight slaving kits, and eye-safe laser pointer (an optional extra) which enhances the operational effectiveness by covert marking points of interest.
This sensor combination provides the operator with best picture performance under all operational conditions such as high altitude, long slant distance operation thereby enhancing safety and covert surveillance. Once tasked by NAC to develop the system, GCS produced a complete integrated prototype in less than four weeks and it is now undergoing flight testing.
CESSNA CEO CALLS FOR PUBLIC-PRIVATE “GREEN” PARTNERSHIPS
THE NATURAL growth of the world’s general aviation industry may be stifled if industry and government failed to collaborate on environmental innovation, or arrive at parochial solutions that ignored the global interoperability of the world’s transportation systems.
Cessna’s chairman, president and CEO, Jack J. Pelton, expressed this opinion when he addressed the Les Respirations annual international environmental congress held in Enghien-les-Bains, near Paris, recently. The event brings together speakers, scientists, doctors and government leaders to discuss air and water quality issues with topics including climate change, renewable energy, emissions trading and more.
“Aviation has established an outstanding track record in reducing its environmental impact as we grow to meet rising demand for transportation around the world,” Pelton said. “We must pursue policies and practices that balance progress and technology with environmental sensitivity.” Globally, all of aviation accounted for only 2% of all CO2 emissions caused by burning fossil fuels, yet some seek to put an undue burden on it through unreasonable environmental regulation, Pelton said, adding: “Over the past four decades, aviation has improved aircraft fuel efficiency by more than 70% at the same time passenger and cargo traffic was increasing more than six-fold, making aviation an extremely greenhouse gasefficient economic driver.
“During the same period, jet engine fuel efficiency improved by 70% without government carbon emission standards, while federal emission standards for the auto industry enacted during the same period produced only about 15% improvement. It is important to note these improvements are a result of customer demand and market forces, not regulation,” Pelton said. Further reducing aviation’s impact on climate change required partnership between industry and government and a commitment to find realistic solutions everyone could live with, Pelton said. “If not, we risk damaging the growth and vitality of the aviation industry, one of the most dynamic, forward-looking and innovative sectors in the world, and an essential part of both the world’s transportation system and the global economy,” Pelton said.
Pelton pointed to Cessna’s recent ecopartnership with Greensburg, Kansas, a city almost totally destroyed by a tornado in 2007 and now rebuilding itself as the world’s first “green” city. Cessna, based nearby in Wichita, Kansas, is supporting the effort with its expertise in areas such as engineering, programme management and operations.
