Abstract: In an aircraft, bi-stable power drive units (PDUs) move and secure cargo within an aircraft cargo hold. Such a PDU includes a frame, by which the PDU is rigidly attached to the cargo hold floor; a body pivotably attached, via a hinge, at a first end of the frame at least one drive roller attached at a second end of the body; and an actuator attached to the body and which causes a pivoting angular movement of the body, relative to the frame, about the hinge. The actuator maintains an angular position of the body relative to the frame even upon a loss of power to the PDU. The body is movable between and including a retracted position and a deployed position. A cargo management system includes a plurality of such PDUs, at least one having a controlled area network (CAN) bus interface to control and communicate with a controller.

Abstract: A system 100 to detect aircraft ground proximity including: a transmitter 110 for transmitting a radio frequency signal along an extended landing gear 20 of an aircraft 10, a sensor 120 configured to detect a parameter of the radio frequency, and a controller 130 configured to detect a change in the detected parameter on the basis of an output of the sensor 120, and to issue a landing signal when the change in the detected parameter meets a predetermined criterion. The predetermined criterion is indicative of a certain aircraft ground proximity.

Abstract: A heated leading edge structure for an aircraft, including a leading edge panel having an outer surface configured to be contacted by an ambient flow, and an inner surface opposite the outer surface, and including a heater device mounted to the inner surface of the leading edge panel for heating of the leading edge panel. The heater device is mounted to the inner surface of the leading edge panel in a detachable manner to provide a simple, lightweight and cost-efficient leading edge structure that enables a simple, quick and efficient maintenance.

Abstract: A mold assembly for manufacturing a composite part with a stiffener, the mold assembly includes a bottom mold configured to form a first surface of the composite part, wherein the bottom mold has at least one elongated recess configured to form a stiffener in the composite part; a feeder unit having a shape corresponding to the at least one elongated recess, wherein the feeder unit is configured to fit at least partially into the at least one elongated recess; and a top mold configured to form a second surface of the composite part opposite to the first surface. Also a method of manufacturing a composite part using such a mold assembly, which includes draping a flat laminate over the bottom mold and pushing portions of the laminate into the at least one elongated recess.

Abstract: A nacelle for an aircraft, including a structure, a cap attached to the structure and a seal system including an arch forming a channel which extends beneath a rear edge of the cap and which has a bottom, the arch being attached to the structure, a seal in the form of a solid block in the channel and beneath the rear edge of the cap, a spring system arranged to move the seal away from the bottom, and a retaining arrangement configured to prevent the seal from leaving the channel under the action of the spring system. With an arrangement of this kind, it is not necessary to oversize the bead, this being replaced with a solid seal mounted on a spring system.

Abstract: A wing for an aircraft is disclosed having a main wing, a slat, and a connection assembly movable connecting the slat to the main wing, wherein the connection assembly includes an elongate slat track, wherein the front end of the slat track is mounted to the slat, wherein the rear end and the intermediate portion of the slat track are mounted to the main wing by a roller bearing comprising a guide rail mounted to the main wing and a first roller unit mounted to the rear end of the slat track and engaging the guide rail, and wherein the roller bearing includes a second roller unit mounted to the main wing and engaging an engagement surface at the intermediate portion of the slat track.

Abstract: A turbofan with a sliding element, rotary blades that can rotate between stowed and deployed positions, and a maneuvering system which moves each blade when the sliding element moves and which includes, for each blade, a rotary main shaft, for each main shaft, a transmission lever rigidly secured to the main shaft, at least two connecting strips articulated to one another, wherein each connecting strip is associated with at least three main shafts, the transmission levers of which are articulated to the connecting strip, and a drive system which rotates the first connecting strip when the sliding element moves. The use of rotary blades on the sliding element and the simplified maneuvering system makes the assembly more lightweight compared to the use of conventional reverser doors.

Abstract: A method for detecting potential dents in a surface includes providing a flying drone with an image acquisition device and a light source, the shape of which is elongate, and a data processing device. At least one series of images is acquired of portions of the surface by the image acquisition device by moving the flying drone past the surface along a trajectory so that, for each image of the series, the light source is illuminating the corresponding portion of the surface. The data processing device is operated to analyze the shape of a specular reflection of the light source in images of the series of images to estimate the position of any dents in the surface.

Abstract: A wing for an aircraft including a fixed wing and a high-lift device movable between a retracted position and an extended position. The high-lift device includes a movable fence. The fence is movable between a first position in which the fence does not protrude beyond an outer surface of the high-lift device and a second position in which the fence protrudes beyond the outer surface of the high-lift device. The fence is in the first position when the high-lift device is in the retracted position and in the second position when the high-lift device is in the extended position. Further, an aircraft with such a wing, a high-lift device and a fence as well as use of a high-lift device and a fence are provided.

Abstract: A method for removing a blind rivet includes a workpiece arrangement having first and second surfaces and a connecting hole. A blind rivet is fixed in the hole and has a shell and screw through the shell extending coaxially along a common center axis, the shell having a shell head portion, straight portion, deformation portion and threaded portion having an internal thread. The straight portion is in the hole and the deformation portion and the threaded portion protrude out of the hole, the screw having a screw head portion and pin portion having an external thread. The screw is in the shell such that the deformation portion of the shell is deformed where the outside diameter of the deformed deformation portion is larger than the diameter of the hole. The shell is cut in the region of the thread portion and/or the deformation portion, and the blind rivet is removed from the hole.

Abstract: A structure formed from composite material and method of forming a composite structure is disclosed in which one or more metal layers are disposed on a composite structural member.

Abstract: An aircraft fuselage is configured to receive two tanks designed to contain liquid hydrogen. The fuselage includes a first section for a cockpit, a second section for a passenger cabin and a third section (T3) distinct from the first section (T1) and from the second section (T2). The third section (T3) includes two housings each to house a tank. The two housings are arranged symmetrically with respect to a vertical plane of symmetry (P1). This arrangement of the tanks in a section distinct from the other sections allows them to be located as close as possible to the motors that they have to supply.

Abstract: A flow body for an aircraft with an integrated de-icing system. The flow body includes a front skin, an internal structural component, a lever having first and second ends, with an attachment point in-between, and an actuator. The actuator is spaced inside the front skin. The lever extends from the actuator to a front skin inner surface, the first end coupling with the front skin, and the second end coupling with the actuator. The attachment point is swivably supported on the internal structural component. The attachment joint is closer to the first end than the second end. The lever and the actuator apply an impulsive force in a transverse direction to the lever, such that the lever rotates around the attachment point, and such the first end urges the front skin to locally elastically deform for removing ice accretion from an outer side of the front skin.

Abstract: An aircraft landing gear is disclosed having a landing gear leg attachable at a first end to an aircraft, and an axle beam, both the landing gear leg and the axle beam being rotatably mounted. The axle beam is rotatable between a first position, in which a first end of the axle beam is a first (shorter) distance from the first end of the landing gear leg, and a second position, in which said first end of the axle beam is a second (longer) distance from the first end of the landing gear leg. A biasing member is configured to be able to bias the axle beam towards the second position. An aircraft, a blended wing body aircraft, and a method of operating an aircraft are also disclosed.

Abstract: A device for forming a composite laminate (10) for obtaining a Z-shaped profile (1) including: a grip module (5) comprising two plates (6) configured to enclose and grip between the two plates (6) a first portion of the composite laminate (10) that will form a first flange (3), and a feed module (7) comprising two plates (8) configured to enclose between the two plates (8) a second portion of the composite laminate (10), wherein the feed module (7) is configured to heat the portion of the composite laminate (10) located between its two plates (8) and to be movable with respect to the grip module (5) parallel to the plane of the web (2) of the composite profile (1) once formed to a second position in which the two plates (8) enclose the portion of the composite laminate (10) that will form a second flange (4).

Abstract: An aeronautical composite structure configured to monitor a physical status of a bonded portion between structural components using a multi-core optical fiber. A method and system for monitoring the physical status of a bonded portion in an aeronautical composite structure also uses a multi-core optical fiber. More particularly, the invention relates to a structure and method for monitoring the physical status of a bonded portion of an aeronautical composite structure from its manufacturing to its use in flight using a multi-core optical fiber.

Abstract: A method and system for determining a position error of an aircraft. The system comprises a set of collection modules implemented in an iterative manner, including an offset collection module, a position vector collection module, a set of sequentially implemented computation modules, including an angular alignment bias computation module, an observable position bias computation module and a position error computation module. The system thus allows a position error to be determined that is used to perform a landing in good conditions.

Abstract: An aircraft comprising a structure comprising a leakproof tank delimited by walls, of which at least one is in contact with the air outside the aircraft, and filled partly with a two-phase heat-transfer fluid, a fuel cell that is passed through by a heat-transfer fluid, and a line which takes the heat-transfer fluid at an output of the fuel cell and which reintroduces this heat-transfer fluid at an input of the fuel cell. The line passes through the leakproof tank immersed in the heat-transfer fluid in liquid phase.

Abstract: A method for connecting two components is proposed where a pressure acting on an adhesive between two join partners is supported by an auxiliary body which rests on a cutout of one of the components. Both components to be connected together and the auxiliary body are covered by a vacuum film and once the air has been sucked out, the compressive force is generated below the vacuum film.

Abstract: A method for parameterizing a photogrammetric cable robot, having a frame, a mobile platform carrying a camera and cables, each cable extending from a mobile platform attachment point to a position-adjustable exit point, while remaining linked to the frame. The robot's maximum workspace is defined by the ranges of possible positions of the different cable exit points. A set of pairs of setpoint positions and orientations of the platform is determined, for performing the point measurements of a scene by photogrammetry. Then, a genetic algorithm comprising crossing, transformation and selection operations is applied to a population of vectors, each representing respective positions of cable exit points, the selection being made via a fitness function involving a first objective function evaluating a collision percentage and a second objective function evaluating a percentage violation of a mobile platform constraint of equilibrium, when the platform assumes the different setpoint positions and orientations.