Aircraft Ground Support Equipment
There are many exciting, cutting-edge developments going on in the GSE field that have come about via U.S. military R & D. As military technology very often drives civilian technology, these developments have exciting implications for use in commercial and even private aviation.
One piece of GSE presently being developed is a "vehicle-mounted maintenance platform" with compartments that can hold mission-essential aog equipment, including tools, expendable supplies, repair parts, and spares. This platform's unique design allows for the addition of more modules to itself as they are needed.
An aviation ground power unit (AGPU) is being designed to provide electrical, hydraulic, and pneumatic servicing for rotary-wing aircraft. Reseach and development has led to improving the power source, hydraulic filtration, battery, forklift slots, and the exhaust for such kinds of AGPUs.
Another modification, targeted at the U.S. Military's needs, is being designed so as to increase the alternating current continuous output and overload performance of the current power unit in order to meet the ground servicing requirements of the AH-64D Apache Longbow helicopter.
This modification introduces improvements to the gas turbine engine exhaust ejector assembly, the electrical system, the control panel, and the pneumatic system on the power unit. The AGPU is also having its turbine engines refurbished.
A set of software has been developed within the last couple of years called The Aviation Turbine Engine Diagnostics System (ATEDS). This system is hosted on a portable computer with an electronic interface device.
It utilizes artificial intelligence (AI), an export system, and an interactive electronic technical manual replete with detailed instructions for performing required diagnostic testing and electronic troubleshooting. The system was designed to provide an accurate and reliable means of performing on-aircraft turbine engine fault analysis in a field environment.
Another recently developed system dubbed the multipurpose aircraft support system (MASS) will be used to reposition fixed- and rotary-winged aircraft in maintenance areas and hangars. Another military-oriented piece of GSE, this equipment will provide a standard towing system for soldiers on the battlefield.
It will be logistically supportable and capable of on- and off- road convoy operations while not being a secondary load. Vendors who can meet the performance specifications for the MASS are competing with one another. Their systems will be rotated through selected aviation units, and the best system will be selected by the military for placing in the field.
A technologically advanced aircraft cleaning and deicing system (ACDS) has been developed within the last two or three years as a stand-alone and self-contained, portable, lightweight, low-pressure aircraft and engine cleaning and deicing system designed to collect and filter water runoff to be in compliance with the Environmental Protection Agency.
The system operates at four gallons per minute and 300 pounds per square inch, making it safe for all aircraft. It is capable of utilizing virtually any water source, even salt water.
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