News
Fairchild Controls to develop more energy-efficient aircraft systems under contract to U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory
May 13, 2009
An industry team involving the Fairchild Controls business unit of EADS North America has won a competitively-awarded contract from the U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory to develop new concepts and system architectures for an Adaptive Power and Thermal Management System (APTMS).
The APTMS is one of three focal areas addressed in the Air Force Research Laboratory’s Integrated Vehicle Energy Technology (INVENT) Program. The INVENT program has the goal of enhancing the power and thermal capacity of advanced air vehicles scheduled for introduction to service over the next 10 to 15 years.
Phase I of the APTMS program includes conceptual design of the Adaptive Power and Thermal Management System, prediction of the system’s performance, and modeling simulation of the various system components integrated with other subsystems on the air vehicle. GE is leading the APTMS team, which also includes Microturbo, Inc. along with Fairchild Controls.
Fairchild Controls will focus on designing more energy efficient cabin pressurization and vapor cycle environmental control systems by optimizing the aircraft’s on-board power sharing and minimizing power-related engine performance penalties when compared with current state-of-the-art technologies.
“Fairchild Controls’ technical capabilities are particularly relevant as we evolve future concepts for cabin heating, cooling and pressurization, as well as motor controls and avionics thermal management,” said Fairchild Controls’ Growth, Strategy & Technology Vice President Tom Delash. “This contract award represents an extraordinary opportunity for our company, and we look forward to working with our team members in pursuing this initial phase, and positioning ourselves for the potential follow-on phases.”
About Fairchild Controls Corporation (www.fairchildcontrols.com)
Fairchild Controls designs and manufactures vapor cycle systems, air management systems, control electronics and air turbine drives for military and commercial aerospace and defense applications. Fairchild Control's vapor cycle systems and air management systems provide cooling for externally mounted aircraft pods that carry targeting, navigation, reconnaissance, and electronic countermeasure systems for U.S. and foreign military services. The company's air turbine drives supply supplemental hydraulic and electrical power for a variety of aircraft. Fairchild Controls is a business unit of EADS North America, and is headquartered in Frederick, Maryland.
About EADS North America (www.eadsnorthamerica.com)
EADS North America is the North American operation of EADS, a global leader in aerospace, defense and related services. As a leader in all sectors of defense and homeland security, EADS North America and its parent company, EADS, contribute over $11 billion to the U.S. economy annually and support more than 200,000 American jobs through its network of suppliers and services. Operating in 17 states, EADS North America offers a broad array of advanced solutions to its customers in the commercial, homeland security, aerospace and defense markets.