Curtiss-Wright Corporation announced that its Defense Solutions division has introduced its latest generation air data computer, the new Air Data Computer Module (ADCM). Designed and manufactured by Defense Solutions’ Avionics & Electronics business unit, the commercial off-the-shelf ADCM is Curtiss-Wright’s smallest, lightest and most stable vibrating cylinder-based air data computer module, with features unmatched in the market today. The ADCM provides aircraft avionics designers with a compact and lightweight slot-based solution for integrating air data processing directly into their platform’s existing host equipment, thereby reducing weight, LRU count and fuel consumption. Curtiss-Wright’s first air data computer module to use high-accuracy, high-stability vibrating cylinder sensor technology, the low-maintenance ADCM significantly reduces cost of ownership. Designed for use in both Civil and Defense aircraft platforms, the module speeds and simplifies the integration of air data processing into existing avionics such as Attitude Heading Reference Systems (AHRS), Electronics Flight Instrument Systems (EFIS), Inertial Reference Systems (IRS) or Global Navigation Inertial Reference Systems (GNIRS).

“With over 30 years as leading air data experts and over 12,000 units fielded, this is the smallest, lightest and most stable air data computer Curtiss-Wright has ever developed,” said Lynn Bamford, Sr. VP/GM, Defense Solutions division. “The new ADCM, our first air data computer module with vibrating cylinder sensors, is a card-mounted solution that weighs less than 0.9lb yet contains the pneumatic sensors and processing electronics to generate the complete International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) air data parameter set.”

First ADC Module to use Vibrating Cylinder Technology
To lower the cost of ownership the ADCM uses vibrating cylinder technology, which eliminates the need for calibration and the costs of scheduled maintenance. It also delivers significantly reduced drift, resulting in less downtime and increased operational readiness. Furthermore, because the ADCM integrates directly into an existing avionics subsystem, overall weight is lowered resulting in reduced fuel consumption.

The highly configurable ADCM is ready for future airspace requirements such as NextGen and SESAR’s advanced air traffic management. Its ADC functionality and interfaces can be easily tailored to meet the requirements of many aircraft types.