smn - attn grogmonster Hey grogmonster,This is a bit of a...

smn - attn grogmonster Hey grogmonster,

This is a bit of a roundup of info gleaned from the boards and announcements.

Disc; I bought a small parcel just recently.

www.smsystems.com.au

Structural Monitoring Systems is involved in the development and commercialisation of technology for testing and monitoring structural integrity of materials that are subject to stress and fatigue in structures such as aircraft, ships, rolling stock and power plants.

The company owns all of the rights to the patented Comparative Vacuum Monitoring technology. CVM is a technology that can detect and monitor materials for very early signs of stress, corrosion and fatigue cracking. It can also monitor progression of these defects in real-time.






They have contracts for the trial of their technology or are working on JV's with:

Boeing
Airbus
US military (Chinook Helicopters)
Australian Army (Blackhawk Helicopters)
UK MoD Royal Navy (Sea King Helicopters)
UK MoD Royal Air Force (Harrier jet airframe rig)
Pakistan Air Force
Republic of Singapore Air Force


$830,000 contract for a Stage 1 project with the Pakistan Air Force, with a "significantly larger Stage 2 program due to commence in late 2005". Also "the Company is also in discussion with another Air Force regarding the adoption of this full service approach to aircraft structural integrity analysis and management."


Dec 09/04
DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM FOR BOEING AIRCRAFT

Structural Monitoring Systems plc (ASX: SMN) is pleased to announce that the Company has

commenced a program to have the Company’s patented Comparative Vacuum Monitoring (CVMTM)

technology approved and entered in to the Standard Practices Manual (SPM) for Boeing commercial

aircraft.

The program is significant for the Company because, once published in the Boeing SPM, the

technology will be approved for all operators of Boeing commercial aircraft to use on their aircraft.

This will result in major savings to the airlines and substantial revenue for SMN.

Other parties to this program are Northwest Airlines, United Airlines, Federal Aviation Authority (FAA)

and Iowa State University

The FAA is providing funding into the program and will coordinate technical verification work

undertaken by the Iowa State University

This is a significant development for SMN as Boeing commercial aircraft represent the largest fleet

market for the Company’s technology.

There are approximately 8,000 Boeing commercial aircraft in service around the world. .

Northwest Airlines and United Airlines between them fly most of the Boeing commercial aircraft types

in their fleets. These airlines will provide technical input into the program and make aircraft available

for installation of the CVM technology during the program.

The current plan is to have CVM tested, approved and published in the SPM for Boeing commercial

aircraft by mid 2006.

This program is in addition to the programs the Company has already announced with Boeing

Corporation, Northwest Airlines and FAA on applications of the CVMTM technology for DC9 and MD80


Newsletter March18/05

Joint Development Agreement is being
finalised with Airbus.
CVMTM used in the development of the new
A380 airliner.

Airbus and SMS are finalising a Joint Development Agreement (JDA) to have a
CVM™ system available for in-flight structural health monitoring by the end of
2007.
The initial goal is to monitor Airbus aircraft structures with the aim of reducing
maintenance costs and increasing aircraft availability. The longer term goal would
be to enable structural weight savings.
CVMTM has already been used in the certification of a lightweight, aluminium
epoxy laminate known as GLARE®, which forms approximately one-third of
the fuselage surface area of the new giant A380 aircraft, recently rolled-out in
Toulouse, France.
The integral sensors also successfully detected cracks on a large GLARE® test
panel in real-time. Airbus regards this as a first in aviation history. Surface sensors
have been used for a variety of crack detection and crack propagation tests.
The JDA covers integral and surface sensors plus associated hardware and
software.
The JDA requires SMS to productionise the CVMTM technology for in-flight use
while Airbus will validate the technology for incorporation into Airbus aircraft.

Boeing Connections

Boeing is one of the world’s two major commercial aircraft manufacturers. More
than 8,000 of their aircraft fly in the commercial airline market.
SMS is working with Boeing, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), airline
operators and research organisations in the US on a program to qualify CVMTM
technology for inclusion in the Boeing Standard Practices Manual (SPM).
This is a necessary step before operators of Boeing aircraft can use CVMTM sensor
products to monitor airframe structures. It is intended that CVMTM be qualified
during the second-half of 2006 for use on Boeing commercial aircraft.
The programs that SMS were already working on with Boeing, FAA and major US
airlines have been included into the Boeing SPM program. The results generated
under the earlier programs are being included in the SPM program.
The importance of this program to SMS is that Boeing has the largest fleet of
commercial aircraft in the world. A significant proportion of the Boeing in-service
fleet can potentially benefit from using CVMTM technology to reduce the cost of
airframe inspection related maintenance and increase aircraft availability.
SMS is also in discussions with Boeing regarding the relationship between the
two companies for the supply and retrofit of CVMTM sensor and instrumentation
products to a number of Boeing aircraft types upon completion of this program.

Military Markets

Because military aircraft are governed by self-administered regulations it can be
quicker to get clearance to use a new technology on military aircraft than on the
multi-national, highly regulated civilian market.
SMS has completed validation installations on an A-4SU Sky Hawk and S-211
trainer of the Republic of Singapore Air Force. Last November a contract was
signed with the Australian Defence Force (ADF) for a trial installation on the Black
Hawk helicopter that will take place in April 2005.
Since 2002 CVMTM sensors have flown successfully on a US CH-53 helicopter and
have detected a crack on three separate occasions.
In the UK significant progress has been made on increasing the awareness of
CVMTM technology in the RAF and RN, and preparations are well advanced on
trial fits to three in-service aircraft and a structural fatigue test program. A draft
contract has been received. Successful completion of these trials could lead to
programs with other military operators and acceptance by UK military operators
of CVMTM systems for use in time consuming inspection locations.
In association with Aerostructures Technologies Pty Ltd, SMS expects to
commence studies for the Pakistan Air Force in the near future for the lifeextension
of one aircraft type and structural integrity planning and monitoring
using CVMTM for two other types.


Article dated March 2005


"Many aircraft inspections currently require personnel to access difficult or hazardous areas. The inspections also require removal of structure, sealant often must be removed and restored with the commensurate damage to structure, ventilation must take place, etc. An automated inspection method that does not have reduced accuracy and that could take place with personnel remote to the inspection area is desirable. Permanently mounted sensors in the inspection areas that could be remotely interrogated would be the simplest option. A CVM portable system is currently available for this purpose. Boeing, FAA, Airbus, Northwest Airlines, US Navy and RAAF are currently conducting independent verification trials with Structural Monitoring Systems Ltd (SMS). These trials involve laboratory, environmental and on-aircraft tests. The validation trial with the US Navy has involved an on-aircraft installation for the last 18 months and recently successfully detected a crack. SMS is now conducting a joint Boeing/Northwest Airlines/FAA validation trial on a flying DC-9. The wing spar in the fuel tank area of the wing is to be monitored. The current inspection requires four days for completion and will be reduced to five minutes by CVM. The system has been installed and should result in CVM being approved as an alternate means of compliance (AMOC)."