3 replies to this topic

[malcolm]

Re the module, is there a backup or does everything listed rely on this module?

Incident: Air Canada E190 near Toronto on Jun 8th 2011, multiple system failures

By Simon Hradecky, created Wednesday, Jun 15th 2011 22:23Z, last updated Wednesday, Jun 15th 2011 22:23Z

An Air Canada Embraer ERJ-190, registration C-FFYJ performing flight AC-1160 from Edmonton,AB to Toronto,ON (Canada) with 94 people on board, was enroute at FL350 near Winnipeg,MB when the crew received EICAS messages indicating faults in a number of aircraft systems, for example the loss of weather radar, spoilers and flaps as well as the loss of hydraulics causing reduced brakes performance and loss of nose wheel steering. The crew declared PAN reporting non-critical system faults and requested a block altitude between FL350 and FL370. On approach to Toronto the crew declared emergency and performed a safe landing with emergency services on stand by.

The Canadian TSB reported the NIC+ processor module 1 (MAU-1, NIC-1) was replaced, the aircraft tested serviceable thereafter.

http://flightaware.com/live/flight/ACA1160/history/20110608/1615Z/CYEG/CYYZ

story link

[conehead]

Malcolm;  the Embraer 170/190 family aircraft use something called "Integrated Modular Avionics", which is a way of housing the avionics systems in fewer components.  Instead of having dozens of different boxes to do the required jobs, the IMA accomplishes the required tasks in something like a big desktop computer, with many processor cards in it.  So to answer your question, yes.  Sometimes when one processor card fails, it can take down a whole bunch of systems.  

This particular system is called the Primus Epic, and is designed by Honeywell.  It pretty well runs all the avionics in the Embraer, although there is still a few "stand-alone" systems on board.  Honeywell and Boeing designed the first IMA system to be used in any airliner, and used it in the 777.  It's called "AIMS" in that airplane, and works really well.  We can expect Boeing and Honeywell to go right to town with this concept when we see how the 787 is put together.  It will very much be a software-driven airplane.

Pretty good explanation of all this on Wiki;  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Integrated_modular_avionics

[malcolm]

thanks Conehead.  Guess it is therefore like placing all of your eggs into one electronic basket,  great unless part of the basket breaks......

[boestar]

Same System in the Bombardier Global Express Aircraft aswell.