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IABG takes over flight testing competence from Dornier to enhance test palette

Ottobrunn/Oberpfaffenhofen – IABG has enhanced its range of services in the area of aviation testing. Following the takeover of equipment and the hiring of specialists from the former Fairchild Dornier AeroIndustries in Oberpfaffenhofen, IABG can now also carry out aviation testing in the air. This makes it the first medium sized aviation company to offer the full spectrum of tests from computer simulation, to structural testing on the ground through to the flight tests required for the development and airworthiness certification processes.

Before entering service, a newly developed aircraft must be put through its paces. First of all, its structural durability is simulated on computers. It then undergoes static and dynamic tests in a fracture cell on the ground. Only at this stage are tests carried out under operational conditions (ground running and flights) using a prototype in which pilots and engineers can test and evaluate the performance and characteristics of the new aircraft. Once all these tests have been successfully completed, aviation authorities such as the <link http: www.easa.eu.int external-link-new-window externen link in neuem>European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) issue certification. The newly developed aircraft can then enter production and be delivered to customers.

IABG has been carrying out aviation tests on the ground for over 40 years. For example, the Airbus A380 is currently undergoing a service life test at IABG’s Dresden plant. IABG is now also able to test aircraft in actual operation on the ground and in the air. Measurement equipment for this purpose is now available and can process and display the measurement values from a wide range of sensors located on and inside the aircraft. This data can also be transmitted to a telemetry station on the ground. This allows the development engineers to monitor the data in real-time and offers them the flexibility to adjust the test programme during the flight as required. To facilitate this, additional staff members have been hired to assist the IABG specialists in operating the complex hardware and software and evaluating the data recorded. The standard of the current technical equipment and the qualifications of four of the new additions to the team are extremely high and together embody the cutting edge of the aviation sector. The sophisticated testing and development activities carried out by the former Dornier company in the area of flight testing will now live on in IABG.

“By taking over Dornier’s flight testing expertise, IABG has succeeded in retaining important know-how within the German aerospace industry. As an independent technology company, we are delighted to be in a position to offer this knowledge and service both to medium-sized aviation companies as well as to large international concerns”, declared the two directors of IABG Prof. Dr. Rudolf F. Schwarz and Thomas Dittler.

The hardware and software used by IABG for the flight tests can be applied across all aircraft programmes. As a result, the test systems can be integrated into any aircraft. This is of great benefit for small and medium sized aviation companies, who only rarely develop new aircraft: They must neither purchase expensive test equipment nor hire specialised staff for the duration of the flight test, which lasts around two years. Instead, they can make use of the comprehensive and independent flight testing services offered by IABG. Large concerns can also profit from this because they can also turn to IABG during capacity bottlenecks. The spectrum of services offered covers the provision of the on-board measuring systems, the telemetry infrastructure, the planning of individual test sequences, the preparation of certification papers right up to full supervision and execution of all activities relating to the flight test. An additional advantage is that the systems are not permanently stationed at IABG Oberpfaffenhofen, but can be deployed as mobile facilities, in particular for campaigns (for example, cold or heat trials). This provides IABG with the flexibility to serve customers throughout Europe and even worldwide.