CENTRALISED AIR CONTROL MODULE

The increasing concerns for safety of personnel and the speed of recovery, have now become important issues in Aircraft recovery. AMS Systems Engineering have designed and developed a Centralised Air Control Module. Using the latest pneumatic technologies, the Centralised Air Control Module is a safer and more efficient way of inflating the Airbags and controlling the lifting operation.

Traditional methods of Lifting Aircraft with Airbags, use Single Control Consoles. Each Console requires one operator, to lift a B747 as many as eight recovery personnel could be required. The recovery of a large Aircraft using this method requires perfect coordination between each Console operator.

The Centralised Air Control Module is the first Aircraft lifting system to allow a single operator, the ability to control the recovery of an Aircraft. The complications of communicating instructions over large areas, and synchronising the other recovery personnel are eliminated. The operator can view the pressures of all the
Airbags, from fuselage to outer wing, using the pressure gauges on the control panel, giving the operator complete confidence and control over the recovery situation.

To reduce the risk of fire, all the components that control air supply are pneumatic. Mounted in the centre of the Trailer is the Centralised Air Control Consoles dedicated Compressor unit. All the Components used in the system are standard parts and are already widely used in the aviation industry.

The first Modular stage is the Immediate Response Kit. This contains all the equipment required for a 3 metre high, single point lift. All the equipment can be stowed in the dedicated stowage compartments. Once equipped, the Centralised Air Control Module can be left on stand-by, ready for rapid deployment anywhere
on the Airfield.

An Immediate response Kit can be economically upgraded to any lifting combination in the future. By adding Airbags and Hoses, as budgets allow, the system can be upgraded to full B747-400 lifting capacity.

SINGLE CONTROL CONSOLE

The Single Control Console is the industry standard for inflating Airbags. The simple but effective design offers a cost effective method of controlling the inflation and lifting process.

Each Control Console requires one operator to control the inflation and pressurisation of each individual Airbag. The pressure in each Airbag element is controlled using the pressure gauge provided on the Console.

Using all 15 outlets and 15 Single Element Airbags, will give operator a lift height of 3 metres.

If the Consoles are to be used to inflate a Multi-stack Airbag more than 15 elements, a 1 metre Link hose can be used on gap fill Airbags to give the Console the extra capacity, thus enabling the AMS Single Control Consoles to be compatible with any system already available.

AMS Systems Engineering supply two types of Single Control Console, to meet the needs of different budgets, the Single Control Console 10001-13 has the added option of a pressure gauge on each air supply outlet. This enables the operator to monitor the Air pressure of each Airbag Element, without depressurising the air chamber to take the reading from a single gauge.