Abstract: A device for measuring the accretion of ice on a studied surface. The device has two arms, a first arm and a second arm, the second arm forming an enclosure for housing an image acquisition system disposed to acquire, through an orifice, images of a part of the studied surface located on the first arm. The device thus makes it possible to dissociate the support of the image acquisition system from that of the studied surface on which ice accumulates. Consequently, it is possible to place the second arm in the direction of the flow of the stream of air flowing along the aircraft while the first arm passes through the stream.

Abstract: A controller for a hydraulic braking system for an aircraft is disclosed. The hydraulic braking system includes a first accumulator and a second accumulator, the controller configured to: receive first signals including first pressure data from a first pressure transducer associated with the first accumulator, receive second signals including second pressure data from a second pressure transducer associated with the second accumulator, monitor the received first and second signals to determine whether a predetermined condition has been met, and issue a warning indicating a loss of integrity of the hydraulic braking system in response to a determination that one or more predetermined conditions has been met. A hydraulic braking system for an aircraft and method to determine the integrity of a hydraulic braking system are also disclosed.

Abstract: The method includes a step of acquisition of an image of the leading aircraft, a step of extraction of the outline, an adjustment step including implementing an outline registration algorithm, to determine an optimized profile from a comparison of the outline of the leading aircraft with a profile of the leading aircraft determined from a three-dimensional model of the leading aircraft and from an initial position of the following aircraft with respect to the leading aircraft, and a step of determination of the positioning according to six degrees of freedom of the following aircraft with respect to the leading aircraft, from the optimized profile and from the three-dimensional model of the leading aircraft. The method thus makes it possible to rapidly and accurately determine the positioning of the following aircraft with respect to the leading aircraft, this positioning being used to implement a formation flight.

Abstract: The trailing edge structure of an aircraft wing is subjected, in use, to high temperature efflux from an aircraft's engines. Such elevated temperatures can detrimentally affect the ultimate tensile strength of the trailing edge. An aircraft wing component includes composite material having a first portion including a metal matrix containing reinforcing material, and a second portion including a metal matrix containing hollow metal ceramic spheres, the second portion being adjacent a surface of the composite material. The provision of two portions, one of which contains reinforcing material and the other comprising hollow spheres means that the composite material has both structural strength and heat shielding qualities where they are needed most in the component. The portion of composite containing the hollow metal ceramic spheres acts as an embedded layer of heat insulation.

Abstract: A method for fabricating a central caisson of an aircraft wing including a frame formed from U-section crossmembers. Formation of at least one crossmember includes forming a stack comprising at least one layer of resin film applied to a layer of dry fibers, pressing this stack to confer on it a U-section form and such as to compress the layers thereof, and pre-polymerization and/or polymerization of the resin of the stack. The manipulated fiber layers are layers of dry fibers, such that manipulation thereof by an automated machine may be effected for a reasonable cost and at a high throughput. Deposition of resin films carried by removable leaves, i.e., of which one of the faces is not adhesive, likewise facilitates manipulation by an automated installation.

Abstract: An aircraft landing gear assembly is disclosed including a landing gear bracket, a fore lever receiving a fore aircraft wheel, an aft lever receiving a rear aircraft wheel, the fore and aft levers being independently moveable, wherein the bracket further comprises a fore lever stop to prevent downwards movement of the fore lever past a lowest rotational position with respect to the bracket at a first angle ?1 forward from the notional bracket axis, and a rear lever stop to prevent downwards movement of the rear lever past a lowest rotational position at a second angle ?2 behind from the notional bracket axis, wherein the first angle is greater than the second angle. An aircraft and a method of landing an aircraft are also disclosed.

Abstract: An aircraft-floor element comprising a first cladding element configure to be swung from a first position to a second position. In the first position, the first cladding element is arranged parallel to a main plane of the aircraft-floor element and on a side of the aircraft-floor element which is directed towards a passenger cabin. In the second position, the first cladding is arranged at an angle to the main plane of the aircraft-floor element, wherein it forms a cladding for a cargo space. An aircraft zone having an aircraft-floor element and an aircraft having such an aircraft zone are also disclosed.

Abstract: A cabin module for an aircraft comprises a section which has an upward-facing surface in an installed state of the cabin module, wherein the upward-facing surface of the section comprises an integrated drainage channel. An aircraft furthermore comprises at least one such cabin module.

Abstract: A variable length stay for an aircraft landing gear is disclosed having first and second sets of struts lying on different longitudinal axes that enable the stay to extend and contract by movement of the struts parallel to their axes. The stay may be locked in its extended and retracted configurations thus providing downlock and uplock functions for the landing gear. The struts of the stay may have an open and easy to inspect structure, have low friction kinematics, and do not need to telescope within each other or lie on a single common axis.

Abstract: A panel for covering a supply channel in a passenger cabin of a vehicle including a mounting surface facing the passenger cabin while the panel covers the supply channel. The panel is elongated in a longitudinal direction and adapted for mounting passenger supply units. The mounting surface includes spaced openings arranged along a longitudinal direction of the panel, wherein each opening includes a connector assembly for a passenger supply unit. The panel includes a mount securing passenger supply units. The mounting surface comprises extended areas for providing support in opposing lateral directions to passenger supply units mounted to the panel.

Abstract: A fuel storage system is disclosed having a fuel tank configured to store a liquid fuel; a controllable pressure source for altering the pressure in an ullage space of the fuel tank; and a controller. The controller is configured to determine a target pressure for the ullage space at a given time based on information relating to a temperature of fuel inside the fuel tank at the given time; and to control the pressure source such as to cause the pressure in the ullage space to be substantially equal to the target pressure.

Abstract: Two components of an aircraft structure are joined by providing a threaded opening in one of them and supporting an alignment insert in that opening. The alignment insert is used to guide drilling of the second component such that a hole is produced which is aligned with the threaded opening, for instance using an alignment projection which physically guides a drill. The alignment insert may then be removed. A fastener is then inserted through that hole and into the threaded opening, then tightened to form the completed joint.

Abstract: An aircraft assembly is disclosed having a wing tip device connected to a wing tip of a wing by a first connector, a second connector, and a third connector. The wing tip device includes a front device spar and a rear device spar. The first connector is associated with the rear device spar. The second connector is spaced apart in a chordwise direction forward of the first connector, and the third connector is spaced apart in a chordwise direction rearward of the first connector. The third connector includes a spigot mounting formation.

Abstract: A passenger cabin area includes at least one aisle extending along a longitudinal axis of the passenger cabin area, a seating area next to the aisle in the direction of a transverse axis, perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, of the passenger cabin area and in which at least one passenger seat is provided, and a plurality of sleeping berths arranged above the seating area in the direction of a vertical axis, perpendicular to the longitudinal axis and the transverse axis, of the passenger cabin area. Each sleeping berth is accessible from the aisle of the passenger cabin area via a stairway element assigned individually to the sleeping berth.

Abstract: A system for producing a component or semifinished product with a fibre-reinforced foam core, includes a substrate on which the foam core having a first main surface and an opposite second main surface is to be laid; a sewing device having a needle configured to be moved at least linearly; a fibre supply device for three-dimensional supply of a fibre; and a coating device. The sewing device is configured to position the needle at the first main surface and to pierce the foam core, such that a needle tip penetrates through the first main surface and then through the second main surface. The fibre supply device is configured to position a reinforcing fibre such that the reinforcing fibre is hooked into the needle tip. The coating device is configured to coat a reinforcing fibre hooked into the needle tip with resin immediately before the reinforcing fibre enters the foam core.

Abstract: An aircraft usable as a passenger aircraft and a fire fighter aircraft. The passenger aircraft includes a passenger area with passenger seats and a permanently installed fire extinguishing medium tank for storing fire extinguishing medium such as water, as well as a fire extinguishing medium nozzle for discharging the fire extinguishing medium. The passenger aircraft may be a type from an aircraft series also including a long-haul aircraft having a center tank for range extension. In the passenger aircraft, a center tank may be used as an extinguishing medium tank.

Abstract: A propeller propulsion unit, comprising at least one kinematic system comprising at least: a heat engine, an electrical energy generator, an electric motor configured to generate a rotary movement as output from the electrical energy generated by the electrical energy generator, a drive and selection device configured to assume a first configuration, in which it is coupled to the output of the electric motor, and a second configuration, in which it is coupled to the main shaft of the heat engine, and a propeller rotated by the drive and selection device. Such a propeller propulsion unit with a hybrid engine allows more power to be provided and facilitates maintenance and ergonomics and is safer.

Abstract: A wing for an aircraft, comprising a main wing and a slat assembly with a slat and a connection assembly with a slat track. The front end of the slat track is mounted to the slat, and the rear end and/or the intermediate portion of the slat track are mounted to the main wing by a roller or slide bearing. The slat track is movable along the track longitudinal axis. The connection assembly includes a drive unit. The drive unit includes a rotary actuator mounted to the main wing and having at least one drive arm rotatably driven about a rotation axis and drivingly engaging the slat track, and one of the drive arm and the slat track has at least one groove and the other one of the drive arm and the slat track comprises at least one spigot drivingly engaging the groove.

Abstract: A drilling method is provided allowing drilling in confined spaces with less effort. Two independent data sources are used for reducing tolerances between the component to be joined to the workpiece. The component is measured at the supplier using photogrammetry or laser scanning. First geometric data of the component obtained by this measurement are put in a data storage, such as a barcode tag or database. At the manufacturer, the first geometric data are used to position the component relative to the workpiece. Subsequently, the component is measured to obtain second geometric data indicative of the positions and diameters of the component joining holes. After determining a deviation between the first and second geometric data to be smaller than a predetermined threshold, the automatic drill is positioned at the correct drilling location and joining holes are drilled into the workpiece. Finally, the component and the workpiece are joined by fasteners.

Abstract: A wing for an aircraft is disclosed including a fixed wing, a high-lift device and a hold-down arrangement arranged between two supports of the high lift device having a first hold-down element attached to the high-lift device and a second hold-down element attached to the fixed wing. The first hold-down element contacts the second hold-down element when the high-lift device is in a retracted position in which it prevents a trailing edge of the high-lift device from detaching from an upper surface of the fixed wing when the fixed wing bends in the spanwise direction. One of the hold-down elements is a load-limited hold-down element which comprises a biasing means. When the load transmitted through the hold-down arrangement exceeds an operational threshold, elastic deformation of the biasing element results in the hold-down arrangement no longer preventing the trailing edge high-lift device from detaching from the upper surface of the fixed wing.