Acra KAM-500 Helps to Breathe New Life into the Young Eagle

Acra KAM-500 Helps to Breathe New Life into the Young Eagle
Acra KAM-500 Helps to Breathe New Life into the Young Eagle
Case studies
October 31, 2015

Acra KAM-500 Helps to Breathe New Life into the Young Eagle

The PZL-130 "Orlik" (Young Eagle) is a single-engine, two-seat trainer aircraft designed and built for the Polish Airforce. The TCI variant has successfully operated as a trainer and acrobatic aircraft since the mid-90s, but several issues make continued operation a challenge. 

The Air Force Institute of Technology (ITWL) began a complete upgrade to the Orlik (new wings, avionics and engine) and the implementation of a new maintenance system based on Aircraft Structural Integrity Program (ASIP) principles. The ITWL required a compact form-factor DAU, capable of sampling a high number of analog acquisition channels synchronously along with avionics flight parameters (velocity, pitch/yaw/roll angles etc.). A clear upgrade path was also desired to allow for future unplanned measurement requirements. 

Results 

The SEWST program successfully concluded in 2014, and the new damage-tolerant maintenance system was put into effect at the beginning of 2015. The benefits realized by the program included: 

  • Huge savings from reducing maintenance costs (approximately $70M over the lifetime of each aircraft) 
  • Increased operational availability by eliminating downtime during overhauls (about 25% of the fleet would have to be constantly in the depot) 
  • Extension of total service life to 6,000 flight hours, with future extensions possible 

 

Download the case study to learn more.

Acra KAM-500 Data Acquisition Systems

Our modular data acquisition units (DAUs) let you create custom systems using COTS elements. Choose from a selection of chassis and over a hundred modules to create the exact combination to meet your requirements.

Continued Airworthiness: Assuring a Lifetime of Safe Flight

This white paper presents some of the challenges associated with managing instrumentation, data and certification over the life-time of a continued airworthiness program. Download the white paper to learn more about:

  • Continued Airworthiness
  • Life Extension Programs
  • Upgradability of instrumentation
  • Automation and data management
  • Handling “Big Data”