{"id":5973,"date":"2021-11-12T21:26:31","date_gmt":"2021-11-12T21:26:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lasertechprod.wpengine.com\/?p=5973"},"modified":"2024-03-19T11:44:02","modified_gmt":"2024-03-19T17:44:02","slug":"universal-laser-wipaire-landinggear","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lasertech.com\/universal-laser-wipaire-landinggear\/","title":{"rendered":"Wipaire Uses Universal Laser Sensor (ULS) for Aircraft Safety"},"content":{"rendered":"
by T Hart, 11\/12\/21<\/h6>\n

Recently, Wipaire Inc. installs LTI\u2019s Universal Laser Sensor (ULS) in amphibious planes as part of a safety solution.\u00a0Wipaire Inc.<\/a> is a Minnesota-based company that has engineered and manufactured aircraft floats for more than 55 years. They have also provided professional services in aircraft modification, maintenance, avionics, interiors, and other float services.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Wipaire Uses Laser Tech’s Universal Laser Sensor (ULS) to Enhance Amphibious Aircraft Safety<\/span><\/b><\/h2>\n

A Lengthy Process Done Right<\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n

Clint\u00a0<\/span>Clouatre<\/span>, vice president of marketing and sales for\u00a0<\/span>Wipaire<\/span>, sums up <\/span>the<\/span> mission. He states that <\/span>Wipaire thinks<\/span> “the problem of accidents related to out-of-position landing gear<\/span>s<\/span> can be dramatically reduced with an additional safety measure.\u201d<\/span> To tackle this goal, the company turns to laser sensor integration.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Wipaire Marketing Manager Amy Gesch recalls<\/span> the duration of the project a decade after purchasing LTI\u2019s ULS<\/span>: <\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"\u201cAs for the length of the project, we started in on this back around 2008. The FAA regulations we\u2019re\u00a0<\/span>governed by require extensive testing which can take years, as it did in our case.\u201d Once the testing is complete, a reliably accurate system is born. The company announces the certification of their first \u201csmart\u201d amphibious gear advisory system in 2014. This features LTI\u2019s ULS installed on a Cessna 182 craft\u2019s Wipline 3000 floats.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

With a successful debut in their rearview, Gesch proudly procl<\/span>aims a plan for Wipaire to release the laser [system] to customers selectively at first, starting in 2015, and then roll it out to almost <\/span>all<\/span><\/i> of Wipaire’s product line in 2017. First, some technical adjustments come into play, to combat the complex nature of both Wipaire\u2019s objective and amphibious piloting itself.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

An\u00a0Element of Jeopardy<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n

Amphibious airplane pilots navigate routes that utilize both solid ground and bodies of water. These distinctly unique points of takeoff and landing often exist within the same trip. This regular variability designates the position of an amphibious craft\u2019s landing-gear, whether up or down, as a critical element to both the financial success and general welfare of any given flight. <\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Touching\u00a0down\u00a0on a runway with the\u00a0wheels\u00a0up,\u00a0and\u00a0instead\u00a0landing on the\u00a0plane\u2019s\u00a0pontoons,\u00a0may\u00a0not\u00a0be a\u00a0life-threate<\/span>ning error; however, one expects considerable damage. In contrast, landing on water with wheels down may prove to be a fatal mistake. This can trigger a pole-vaulting motion that sends planes flipping across water, nose-to-end. It goes without saying that pilots prefer smoothly coasting to a gentle upright stop.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>These daunting scenarios inspired Wipaire to seek LTI’s ULS due to its upstanding reputation as a measurement and detection sensing device of significant integrity.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

A Solution Arrives<\/span><\/b><\/h3>\n

\"\"<\/h3>\n

Wipaire\u2019s<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>certified gear advisory system centers on a laser array \u201ceye.<\/span>\u201d<\/span> This detects whether the aircraft is over water or land. The eye can also<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>be combined with a second-generation gear selector and display. Their integration can further the solution’s activity into a pilot\u2019s habitual processes<\/span>.<\/span> When<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>aircrafts<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>have been incorrectly configurated for landing<\/span>, warnings<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>to check the landing-gear\u00a0<\/span>are sent\u00a0to pilots\u00a0via audible alerts<\/span>. <\/span><\/p>\n

These warnings rely on the surface-readings\u00a0detected by the ULS laser-solution. <\/span>A similar\u00a0functionality is also tied to\u00a0takeoff, as pilots are reminded\u00a0to check the landing<\/span>–<\/span>gear position if not raised within 60 seconds\u00a0of becoming airborne<\/span>.\u00a0<\/span>These\u00a0features<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>are\u00a0especially\u00a0important\u00a0to pilots who routinely fly short flights from paved airports to bodies\u00a0of water.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n