What volcanic dust?

Advanced borescopes employed to investigate effects of volcanic dust

As volcanic dust once more creates havoc in Northern European airspace, controversy reigns over the levels of dust in which air travel is safe. As one of the measures to assess the effects of the ash, airlines and engine manufacturers are therefore looking to be able to assess the internal components of engines.

Speaking in a BBC interview and clutching a vial of volcanic ash (to demonstrate the low levels involved), Willie Walsh (right) explained that a BA plane has flown though the 'red zone' for about 45 minutes at different altitudes. The aircraft then returned and video borescopes were employed to examine the engines and found no evidence of volcanic ash. (Item in BBC Radio news programme  25th May 2011)


Alan Hasson from Ashtead Technology says "The latest video borescopes are ideal for this purpose, because they provide users with a comprehensive evaluation of the internal components of an engine, without having to dismantle it, which would be costly and time-consuming."

Following the previous Icelandic volcano eruption in 2010, Ashtead Technology was contacted by an aviation maintenance firm looking to hire a high specification endoscope for emergency aircraft engine examinations.

Avalon Aero, based at Biggin Hill Airport in Kent (GB), performed internal inspections of engines following flights in the ‘red zone’; an area in which ash might be encountered, but was deemed safe to fly by the Volcanic Ash Advisory Centre.

Martin Darling, Avalon Aero’s Technical Director, explained: “Ashtead Technology’s engineers recommended hiring the Olympus IPLEX SAII Videoscope and the device proved extremely useful, providing quick and easy visual access to the internal components of aircraft engines. Our investigations did not find any ash within the engines and this evidence was of course extremely valuable to our clients.”

Alan Hasson believes that aircraft engine inspection is a perfect example of the benefits of instrument rental: "The latest technology can be expensive to own, so instrument hire provides fast access to the best available equipment, which is especially useful when unforeseen situations occur," he says.

BA simulators energy consumption

The latest variable speed drive technology from Parker Hannifin, the global leader in motion and control technologies, is being used by British Airways (BA) to improve the efficiency and reliability of its flight cabin simulators. By enabling the simulators’ hydraulic control systems to be powered only when needed, the drives are cutting energy consumption by 95%, in addition to extending maintenance intervals and service life considerably.

The two British Airways flight cabin simulators, one based on a Boeing 737 and the other a 747 passenger cabin, are used by the airline for essential cabin crew training. The ability to simulate various incidents allows trainee crews to practice safety procedures and emergency drills in a realistic setting, preparing them for real life situations. With thousands of crew members training each year, the simulators are in high demand, making it essential they are available for use 24/7.

The cabin area in each of the simulators is a life-size representation of a section of a real aircraft, complete with seats, overhead lockers, and all other fixtures and fittings. The 747 simulator is static, with doors that are hydraulically operated in exactly the same way as on a real aircraft. In addition to hydraulic doors, the 737 version is mounted on a large hydraulic rig, which controls the rise, tilt, and shake of the simulator. This system can move the cabin forwards, backwards and side to side, simulating flight conditions, such as turbulence.

Both simulators are controlled from a single hydraulic control system located in a small external plant room, with the power output typically split 30% to the 747 rig and 70% to the 737 if both are in use simultaneously. Previously, two separate pumps and motors in the hydraulics system had to be constantly run at 100% speed, leading to high energy costs and significant wear and tear on the system. To remedy this problem, BA approached Parker SSD for a more efficient solution.

Parker worked closely with BA and Trend Control Systems to modify the hydraulic system using the latest drive and control technology. The improved system combined a Parker AC variable speed drive with a Trend controller and Parker accumulators and valves. This set up would allow the hydraulic system to be driven only when needed, and therefore reduce energy consumption considerably.

The Parker SSD 650v AC drive was ideal for the application as it offered a flexible, easy to use solution that would provide dependable performance over a long service life, and therefore maximise the return on BA’s investment. The drive makes setting up complex open-loop AC motor control systems simple and fast, with pre-programmed options and a user-friendly interface. Additionally, the compact dimensions of the unit would allow BA to make the most efficient use of space in the simulation area.

Once installed, the new system had a noticeable effect on energy consumption. Dennis Doody, Senior Engineering Technician for BA, commented, “We are very impressed with the new hydraulic control system for our simulators. The combination of the Parker SSD drive and the Trend Controller have allowed us to use the system in a much more efficient way, cutting overall energy costs by as much as 95%, from 360kW/day to just 21kW/day. As the operating conditions are now much more stable, and the system isn’t being driven flat out all the time, we are seeing a reduction in the need for maintenance, which is lowering our costs still further. “Aside from the money saving implications, we’re really happy that we’ve managed to cut the environmental impact of the simulators. They are a vital part of our training processes and essential to our ability to safeguard passenger safety, but we want to make sure we’re using them in the most efficient way. The new hydraulic drive and control system has enabled us to meet our economic objectives in line with our company-wide sustainability goals. We’re very happy with the outcome and feel sure we made the right decision choosing Parker as our partner on the project.”