Aerospace Testing, Design and Manufacturing – Munich 2009

Focus on innovation

The seventh annual Aerospace Testing, Design and Manufacturing Show returned to Munich, Germany last week. According to initial figures it was well attended particularly on the second day, drawing together engineers, buyers and suppliers from different countries. More than 200 companies exhibited (including Aerospace Testing International) underlining the event’s continued popularity as a key aerospace engineering fixture.

Reed Exhibitions implemented a range of new initiatives to help buyers and suppliers meet each other. These included a series of technology trails to help buyers quickly locate the right solutions to meet their needs; networking lunches with senior engineers from the leading manufacturers, and an evening reception was hosted by the State of Bavaria, represented by Vice Minister Economic Affairs, Infrastructure, Transport and Technology Katja Hessel and Deputy Assistant Under Secretary Karl Schumacher.

While walking the floor a number of large systems could be seen displayed in a central area, courtesy of the German Air Force, ESG & MTU Aero Engines. These included a static mission avionics test helicopter which allows testing under ‘real’ flying conditions and, a full-size model of the TP400-D6, an advanced military engine developed by MTU in conjunction with ITP, Rolls-Royce and Snecma Moteurs, which will feature on board the Airbus A400M, whenever that happens.

“Serving the aerospace engineering community remains at the heart of all of our activities at Aerospace Testing, Design and Manufacturing Expo, and this year we play host to a number of new and exciting initiatives that will deliver improved value to this community,” explained Jonathan Heastie, exhibition director. These included technical presentations from 70 experts covering the breadth of aerospace design, testing and manufacture.

Part of an ongoing program to tackle the skills shortage within aerospace engineering, was the popular return of the show’s ‘Engineering Students Programme’ which guided students directly to the HR departments of key organizations within the industry and present at the show. 19 companies registered to meet with student visitors to talk with them about potential career opportunities.

From a personal perspective a particular highlight was when a very charming man introduced himself on our stand, “Hello, I am Christian Schimanski, and my team are part of the development of the largest water testing tank in the world for space crews and vehicles.” My memory is a bit vague, but I am sure he said something like 25 million gallons/liters? Also a depth of +40m and dozens of people kept under water for prolonged periods. It is huge. Anyway, Herr Schimanski will explain ‘all’ in the September 2009 issue of Aerospace Testing International, which will have a water theme throughout.

On the journey around the soothing air force blue carpet (I say this as in the opposite hall, Reed Exhibitions were hosting ‘In-Cosmetics’ a huge show; smelt fantastic, but the whole building was bedecked in a fuscia pink. You could hear the carpet it was so loud.) it was good to see a number of new innovations.

Over on the Marshall stand Vicky Lea and Andrew Chilton informed me about the new contract the company had just won to perform tests on the outboard wing flap for their newest aircraft, the CRJ1000 NextGen jetliner. Marshall Test Services will be working Bombardier and Transport Canada to provide the data for certification of the outboard wing flap.

DÜRR NDT unveiled its new computer radiography image plate scanners for NDT applications. The HD- CR 35 scanner is the only certified scanner of this type worldwide, reaching 40µm BSR from IP1 to IP6, concerning the EN 14784 / ASTME 2446. Due to the flexibility of the image plates this system is predestined for structural examinations in the field of aerospace.

Around the corner, the representatives from MTS were showcasing its AeroPro 6.1 Software for structural testing. AeroPro 6.1 builds on the powerful test-acceleration capabilities of version 6.0 with a host of new features designed to help aerospace test labs improve the speed, efficiency and safety of aerospace structural testing. “Test labs are being pushed to perform more complex cyclic and static tests faster and often with fewer test articles,” said Mike Englerth, MTS aerospace product manager. “AeroPro 6.1 software provides the capabilities they need to streamline the setup of complex structural tests, ensure the safety of valuable test articles, improve post-test analysis and adapt quickly to changing demands.”

On the AIM stand Doug Ullah chatted enthusiastically about powerful PMC card for advanced test, simulation and monitoring of up to four ARINC825 channels. I always find it slightly difficult to understand the finer technical points, but I understand the system features four isolated CAN high-speed interfaces with a localized data control and management using an, FPGA with integrated microcontroller.

It was also good to meet some companies that I had never come across before. One such company was qpunkt, an Austrian group who apply physical testing in the field of thermal management. Just some of their services include icing tests, fog tests, analysis of aerodynamics, and drag and cooling systems.

Another set of newcomers were the people from Air Force Institute of Technology in Poland, who saw a constant stream of visitors. One member of the team explained to me the use of its flying laboratory: an aircraft that carries equipment to measure any parameters of flight-tested devices. It can test prototype systems, UAV control systems and post-production systems as well as being able to carry out surveillance and measure air pollution, a busy aircraft.

A show review and pick of ‘Innovations 2009’ will appear in the June issue of Aerospace Testing International magazine.