Meeting the International F-16 User Community

F-16 TCG

Every September all the OEMs, subcontractors and suppliers for the F-16 Fighting Falcon (pictured on the left) meet with the world’s F-16 Air Forces during a 3-day event in Ogden, Utah.  This is the F-16 World-Wide Review (WWR).  During this year’s F-16 WWR show about 200 companies had stands and presented their products and services for the F-16; there was also a wide range of contractor presentations about specific F-16 topics which all participants could attend.
 
Copernicus Technology Ltd (CTL) attended the F-16 WWR for the 3rd year in a row, working closely together with our USA partner, Universal Synaptics Corporation (USC).  One of the highlights of the show was the presentation on the Intermittent Fault Detection and Isolation System (IFDIS) given by Ken Anderson, USC’s VP Business Development.  A superbly delivered presentation, it generated a huge response and triggered a variety of Air Forces’ officials to visit the USC stand to explore how this revolutionary technology can be implemented.  Of course, this was also the perfect opportunity to demonstrate how CTL can provide the same range of equipment sales and services to F-16 customers in the EU.

Every September all the OEMs, subcontractors and suppliers for the F-16 Fighting Falcon (pictured on the left) meet with the world’s F-16 Air Forces during a 3-day event in Ogden, Utah. This is the F-16 World-Wide Review (WWR). During this year’s F-16 WWR show about 200 companies had stands and presented their products and services for the F-16; there was also a wide range of contractor presentations about specific F-16 topics which all participants could attend.Copernicus Technology Ltd (CTL) attended the F-16 WWR for the 3rd year in a row, working closely together with our USA partner, Universal Synaptics Corporation (USC). One of the highlights of the show was the presentation on the Intermittent Fault Detection and Isolation System (IFDIS) given by Ken Anderson, USC’s VP Business Development. A superbly delivered presentation, it generated a huge response and triggered a variety of Air Forces’ officials to visit the USC stand to explore how this revolutionary technology can be implemented. Of course, this was also the perfect opportunity to demonstrate how CTL can provide the same range of equipment sales and services to F-16 customers in the EU.

ThJim Cockram & John Schulmere show also provided CTL with the perfect platform to launch new products in support of the Ncompass technology. Firstly there is our new Breakout Box (BoB) which is a huge aid to use of the Ncompass tester because it speeds up the process of building interface test adapters; not only that, the BoB can be used as an interface test adapter itself, for connecting other test equipment types (such as TDRs) to the ‘Unit Under Test’. The second new product on offer was CTL’s revolutionary software application, NODES (Ncompass Operator Data Entry/Evaluation System). NODES is another aid to augment the use of the Ncompass because it is used for compiling test files, managing test point data, managing results data and provides reporting for all aspects of the Ncompass’ testing function.  CTL’s Sales & Marketing Director, John Schulmer (pictured above on the right, alongside CTL Technical Director Jim Cockram, on the left) concluded that “For Copernicus Technology Ltd this was another hugely successful show with new products launched, new contacts made and our excellent relationship with USC strengthened even further”.

Presentation by Copernicus Technology Ltd at Prestigious RAeS Conference

 

RAES_LOGOManaging Director of Copernicus Technology Ltd (CTL), Giles Huby, presented CTL’s latest academic paper at the Royal Aeronautical Society's Airworthiness & Maintenance annual conference on the 16th Sept at Cranfield University, alongside fellow speakers including Mr Mick Adams (Maintenance Director of Monarch Air), Air-Vice Marshal Nick Kurth CBE (Senior Engineer Officer in the RAF’s Air Command) and Dr Bill Johnson of the FAA.

 

Giles' presentation was extremely well received and generated a lively discussion during the subsequent Panel Q&A session, which was facilitated by Jim Rainbow OBE, Chairman of the RAeS Airworthiness & Maintenance Specialist Group.  Questions ranged from the issues of using maintenance data to inform fault diagnosis and to provide feedback into the design organisation, to the differences in approach in detecting the root causes of intermittent faults in the military vs civil sectors, to future developments in applying such technology to Systems Prognostics.

Managing Director of Copernicus Technology Ltd (CTL), Giles Huby, presented CTL’s latest academic paper at the Royal Aeronautical Society's Airworthiness & Maintenance annual conference on the 16th Sept at Cranfield University, alongside fellow speakers including Mr Mick Adams (Maintenance Director of Monarch Air), Air-Vice Marshal Nick Kurth CBE (Senior Engineer Officer in the RAF’s Air Command) and Dr Bill Johnson of the FAA.
 
Giles' presentation was extremely well received and generated a lively discussion during the subsequent Panel Q&A session, which was facilitated by Jim Rainbow OBE, Chairman of the RAeS Airworthiness & Maintenance Specialist Group.  Questions ranged from the issues of using maintenance data to inform fault diagnosis and to provide feedback into the design organisation, to the differences in approach in detecting the root causes of intermittent faults in the military vs civil sectors, to future developments in applying such technology to Systems Prognostics.
 
It became apparent throughout the presentations and discussions of the day that there were 2 significant themes emerging.  The first was the obvious degree of uncertainty surrounding the eventual impact of the UK MOD's Strategic Defence & Security Review (SDSR) on the Military Air Environment - which capabilities will remain and how might the MOD improve the affordability of their support.  AVM Kurth stated that there would need to be an even greater joint effort with industry to introduce 'game changing' innovation, in this context.
The second emergent theme that CTL detected was the paucity of genuinely new innovation being talked about.  The majority of the presentations talked of reinvigorated approaches to 'working smarter' by smarter use of communications, of knowledge and of people's experience.  Perhaps the real innovation of the moment is to go back to basics and focus on effective 2-way communications, forward planning and sound engineering common sense?
 
This is an approach that CTL wholeheartedly endorse: focus on root causes and focus on knowledge, but not on norms.  Overall this was a fascinating conference and an excellent opportunity to raise the awareness of the real cost impact on maintenance support caused by intermittent faults and NFF problems, and of how to tackle it.  If you want to find out how to do this then contact us now: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
 

Reducing Maintenance Costs Through Innovation

Airworthiness and Maintenance Conference

Presentation by Copernicus Technology Ltd at the Royal Aeronautical Society conference: “Reducing Maintenance Costs Through Innovation”
 
Copernicus Technology Ltd’s Managing Director, Giles Huby, has just spoken at this conference at Cranfield University, having presented the CTL technical paper on reducing the cost impact of ‘No Fault Found’ and Intermittent Faults.  This was the RAeS’ annual Airworthiness and Maintenance conference, and the theme of reducing Total Ownership Costs in Aerospace was highly pertinent given the ongoing uncertainty of the global economic situation and the implications of the UK’s eagerly awaited Strategic Defence and Security Review (SDSR).  The SDSR will doubtless be taking a long hard look at the cost of military aviation capability, so it remains to be seen what the impact on the Front Line and on the Aerospace and Defence industries will be.  What was clear from this conference, however, is that maintenance organisations in every field of Aerospace must spend every last penny intelligently and effectively: innovation in maintenance has a great deal to offer to this inexorable challenge.
 
If you would like a copy of the CTL paper presented at the conference then contact us .  In due course we will post a direct link to it on the website.
 Presentation by Copernicus Technology Ltd at the Royal Aeronautical Society conference: “Reducing Maintenance Costs Through Innovation”

Copernicus Technology Ltd’s Managing Director, Giles Huby, has just spoken at this conference at Cranfield University, having presented the CTL technical paper on reducing the cost impact of ‘No Fault Found’ and Intermittent Faults.  This was the RAeS’ annual Airworthiness and Maintenance conference, and the theme of reducing Total Ownership Costs in Aerospace was highly pertinent given the ongoing uncertainty of the global economic situation and the implications of the UK’s eagerly awaited Strategic Defence and Security Review (SDSR).

Copernicus Technology Ltd at the 2010 European Corporate Aviation Summit, Linköping, Sweden

 ECA1“Light Jets Take Off” was the theme of the 2010 ECAS, which was held at the Swedish Air Force Museum in Linköping in Sweden, on the 2nd of Sept.  Copernicus Technology Ltd (CTL) took the opportunity to spread the word about improving aircraft availability and reducing their support costs through tackling NFFs and intermittent faults, having been invited to present at this international conference.  Giles Huby, CTL MD, presented on this subject, which clearly struck a chord with many of the attendees, ranging from test pilots to CEOs of Fixed Base Operations (FBO) businesses.
 
The focus of the Summit - which was chaired by retired Saab Aerospace VP, Göran Berséus - was twofold.  Firstly, it highlighted Linköping’s growing role in the European aerospace scene.  Having long been the home of Saab Aerospace, Linköping’s industry and academic stature is growing rapidly.  This city of 145 000 is also home to a cluster of over 50 aerospace companies; boasts internationally acclaimed collaborations between academe, industry and government; and has a flourishing university of 27 000 students.  Looking to the future, Linköping plans to build on its aerospace capabilities, such as UAVs, and establish a major aerospace business district, benefiting from its central location within the Scandinavian and Baltic regions.
 
However, the major focus of the Summit was on the largest growth sector, currently, in corporate aviation: Very Light Jets (VLJs).  Discussion of VLJs encompassed the growth of the sector (from single figures of VLJ flights per day in Europe 2 years, to over 40 per day in 2010 - and continuing to increase), the issues for 3rd party agents (FBOs) in handling different sizes and needs of corporate jets from large types to VLJs; and the potential exploitation opportunity in the Air Taxi sector that VLJs present.
 
The Summit was punctuated by an extremely pleasant lunch sat in the main aircraft hall of the museum, just along from a display of a prototype Gripen fighter aircraft.  This is Saab’s leading military aircraft product, having been developed by the programme headed up by the Summit’s chairman Göran Berséus.
 
VLJs are an exciting growth aviation business in Europe and further afield and, if the predictions of this Summit come to pass, the use of Air Taxis could soon be as commonplace as flying with low cost carriers such as Easyjet.  You heard it here first!

CTL Director becomes a Fellow of the RAeS

RAES_LOGOAfter joining the Royal Aeronautical Society (RAeS) in 1991 and attaining his Chartered Engineer status in November 1997, Jim Cockram became a Fellowship of the Royal Aeronautical Society in September 2010.

Fellowship (FRAeS) is the highest grade attainable and is only bestowed upon those in the profession of aeronautics or aerospace.  Cockram expressed "the Society provides excellent networking opportunities, while also providing a framework for those actively wishing to continually develop their professional status; its a fantastic organisation to be part of".

The Society has over 17,000 members in over 100 countries, an international network of 70 branches and more than 3,500 young members worldwide.  Visit the RAeS website for more details.