wiredInUSA July 2019

Safety moves

Wired for flight

GKN Aerospace has announced that its Indian joint venture, Fokker Elmo SASMOS Interconnection Systems Ltd (FE-SIL) in Bangalore, has been given a contract to manufacture electrical wiring interconnection systems (EWIS) for the Pilatus PC-24 aeroplane. GKN Aerospace’s FE-SIL already provides wiring systems for the PC-21 and PC-7 MkII to Pilatus Aircraft Ltd. Production of the PC- 24 EWIS will necessitate at least 30 highly skilled operators in India, and this number will increase as production is established. Over 30 PC-24s are currently in operation around the world, including three PC-24s used as medical/evacuation aircraft for the Australian Royal Flying Doctor Service. Pilatus plans to deliver about 40 of the PC- 24 Super Versatile jets in 2019, and 50 in 2020. John Pritchard, CEO of GKN Aerospace ASEA, said: “We are very proud of our continued participation in the Pilatus aircraft family. We’ve been producing EWIS at FE-SIL in India for Pilatus aircraft since 2015 and, thanks to the team’s continuedcommitment to quality, on-time delivery and customer focus, we have strengthened our business relationship for many more years to come.” Fokker Elmo SASMOS Interconnection Systems Ltd has been awarded the contract to manufacture electrical wiring interconnection systems (EWIS) for the Pilatus PC- 24 aeroplane. Photograph courtesy of GKN Aerospace

The Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) may soon propose an Indian standard for fire- survival cables. Most short-circuits and electrical fires are caused by melting cables and currently there are no standards to be followed for fire-survival cables in India. The move is important against the backdrop of heightened awareness around fire- safety since the reports of several deaths in recent accidents. “Presently the domestic industry is benchmarking itself to the British Standard BS 7846 for fire-survival cables. These cables are supposed to withstand temperatures up to 950°C for at least three hours. This is to ensure that elevators and fire pumps are operational to ensure a safe passage for inhabitants,” said Sanjeev Ranjan, managing director at the International Copper Association. “The BIS is in the process of standardizing parameters for fire-survival cables and it is likely to complete this in the next six months. Since copper has a melting point of 1,085°C, it will be mandatory for these cables to have copper,” he added.

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wiredInUSA - July 2019