Avionics News July 2021 - 59

What are some of
your customers'
biggest challenges?
I believe the No. 1 challenge
for both the operator and the
repair station is getting a firm
grasp on not only the CVR/FDR
requirements in their country
but that of the countries they
regularly visit. The AEA has done a
lot of work in helping to educate
its members and the public in this
area, but we all have a bit more
work to do. FDS will be generating
more guidance material for the
flying public in the near future.
AEA members to support this new
technology implementation as well
as generate sales and revenue.
What's happening with
flight data and cockpit
recorders?
Recorders are trending smaller
and lighter and with more and more
storage space in general. The cockpit
voice recorder is making leaps in
capabilities and technologies.
EASA is leading the way with a
recent requirement that all CVRs
installed on airplanes and helicopters
must be solid state - magnetic tape
versions being replaced.
Also, EASA currently mandates
Are you seeing any
interesting trends in
general, business or
commercial aviation or
special mission aircraft? If
so, what?
Certainly, the migration of domestic
air traffic control from radio voicebased
to a digital text-based system
is very interesting to me and our
association. The FAA's data comm
technology rollout will give air traffic
controllers and pilots the ability to
transmit flight plans and departure
clearances while CPDLC allows air
traffic controllers to send data link
clearances and instructions to pilots in
domestic airspace.
I believe data comm will benefit the
operator as much as the controller.
Like we saw with the implementations
of FANS-1A and ADS-B Out, this new
data comm technology will require
some hardware upgrades aboard
the aircraft as well as education of
industry members. Data comm offers
another excellent opportunity for
that all aircraft with a maximum
takeoff weight of 59,500 pounds first
issued with an individual certificate
of airworthiness on or after Jan.
1, 2021, has to be equipped with
a 25-hour cockpit voice recorder.
That's a significant jump in
technology and potential data for
investigators to access.
When you then add EASA and FAA
requirements to capture datalink
messaging to and from the aircraft,
you can truly see how far CVR
technology has advanced.
What's next for flight data
and cockpit recorders?
The next frontier in flight data and
cockpit recorders will be enabling
streaming of data off the recorders
in real time through satellite
communications. We are currently
working with our sister company,
SKYTRAC, to develop this capability
through Iridium Certus broadband
connectivity.
What do you consider
the most exciting
opportunities on the
horizon for aviation?
It's becoming apparent to me
that all-electric air mobility is
just around the corner. We could
soon see our skies filled with lowflying
piloted or even autonomous
aircraft. While there are many
benefits to this new transportation
mode, there are a number of other
considerations including safety first
and foremost.
I'm also interested to see
how today's aircraft electronics
manufacturers will pivot to meet
the needs of this new class of
aircraft including super lightweight,
but also crash-worthy solutions.
What do you enjoy most
about being in aviation?
It has to be the people. I've
made the joke that the annual AEA
Convention is the same old faces,
only the polo shirts change. It's
certainly true in my case. I've been
attending industry events for the
past 20 years, and I always look
forward to running into old friends
and customers but also meeting
the newest generation of AEA
members.
What has been the
highlight of your aviation
career thus far?
I once had the distinct pleasure
of speaking with Gene Cernan,
the last astronaut to walk on
the moon, during a long flight
to Brazil. Being an electrical and
aeronautical engineer, naval aviator
and astronaut, he was keen to
ask about my role and the current
state of our industry at the time.
He asked me more questions than
I got to inquire of him. I had to tell
everyone I knew at the LABACE
trade show that week. q
To learn more about Flight Data
Systems, visit flightdata.aero.
avionics news * july 2021 59
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Avionics News July 2021

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