On the Record with
KEN MACIVER, PRESIDENT & CEO, TRW AERONAUTICAL SYSTEMS

(LUCAS AEROSPACE)

TRW Throws Itself Behind the A380

Some of the hottest items at Le Bourget this year fan out from Airbus Industrie's gargantuan A380 airliner project, the pioneering technologies it eventually incorporates, and who wins the really big contracts.

This will be civil aviation's biggest ever supplier risk-sharing enterprise, in which TRW Aeronautical Systems alone has reportedly already invested more than $15 million.

TRW is proposing an array of electronic flight controls, as well as management systems for the new Rolls-Royce Trent 900 engines, via which president and CEO Ken Maciver aims to gain some of the most lucrative responsibilities in the program.

TRW (previously Lucas Aerospace) has been developing and promoting a broad range of power-by-wire alternatives for more electric aircraft, which will effectively supersede current fly-by-wire technology through which the substantially heavier, high-pressure hydraulic systems which run throughout an aircraft are operated .

The new electrohydrostatic actuation (EHA), which provides the extra power required without significantly increasing weight, has been baselined by Airbus for application to the A380.

So too, has variable frequency power generation, which reduces complexities and the weight and cost of conventional hydro-mechanical constant frequency systems.

TRW's pioneering variable frequency system is already the world's first to be certificated and flying on a civil aircraft (Bombardier's Global Express business jet); it also has more than three years' successful testing behind it.

Another candidate for the next generation of civil jets will be distributed control systems-placing computer power where it's required rather than in one large central black box-which are also waiting in TRW's own magic box.

"A lot of these exciting things come together for the A380," says Maciver. "It remains to be seen how far forward the manufacturer goes, for the industry as a whole can still be fairly conservative. But we have a high degree of competence in these solutions, for you can be sure we didn't start looking at today's needs today for the A380, and I am confident we will be moving forward on that basis.

"Our investments have been and have to be for the long term, and clearly these investments also go way beyond the A380," he adds.

"In conjunction with governments and academia, we have to be looking at technologies ten to 15 years out, so we have very carefully structured future technology programs."

TRW is still looking at new markets for them. "Frankly," says Maciver, "We have not so far given some of these opportunities the attention they deserve, but they are getting it now."

He cites the helicopter sector where, partly through acquisition, notably of SAMM from Peugeot two years ago with its controls on helicopter engines and flight controls, and through its involvement with hoist and winch product lines, TRW has a very significant presence.

"The benefits derived from adopting more electric aircraft systems applies to helicopters and tiltrotors as well," Maciver says.

He also sees unmanned combat aerial vehicles as an area of increasing importance and of major growth. "I don't know when we are going to be comfortable without fighter pilots, but there are undoubtedly types of mission which can be more safely and efficiently carried out by UCAVs.

"Through electric actuation and distributed systems, and our experience with missile actuation, we have a very good technical base to compete effectively in this market."

Maciver points out however, that financing the long-haul projects has to be balanced with shorter-term objectives.

Contracts ranging from flight controls to cargo mechanical systems for the Airbus A340-500/600s will be worth more than $615 million over the life of the program, for example.

TRW Aeronautical Systems has also developed a flight/hour maintenance and asset management service for airline customers which will significantly reduce costs for those participating, and ensure a long-term income stream for the supplier.

TRW recently signed the third of these contracts-a 10-year agreement with Continental Express valued at more than $80 million, embracing the airlines' fleet of 145 Embraer regional jets. Continental's total commitment for these aircraft stands at 275 firm orders, with options for a further 100 over the next six years.

This is the largest-ever equipment supplier, asset management deal in the regional aircraft market in terms of the 11,000 TRW line replacement units involved.

"This is an innovative and comprehensive service which relieves them of all sorts of problems," Maciver says "and presents us with an enormous incentive to improve the performance of our products.

"We are advancing it as part of the new e-business portal which we are launching here in Paris, and with which we intend to provide our suppliers and customers with service based on total quality principles, and to enhance our own reputation for optimal performance."