May 2008  New AANA website online!

After weeks of intensive designing and programming we have launched the brand new AANA website.

When we started this project the goal was to communicate that Aerospace Applications NA is flexible, energetic and professional company. So did we succeed? Take a look around and see for yourself!

The site was designed and built by Netherlands-based designer Niels Heijman. Check out Vides for more of his work.

Feb 2008  Lunar Lander Virtual Cockpit

AANA, as part of the ACES Team, flew three successful demonstration flights proving Virtual Cockpit technology for future lunar missions.

The goal of the test campaign was to demonstrate how fusion of live video data and synthetic objects could augment operator awareness during future landings on the surface of the Moon.

The added value was demonstrated while flying notional lunar approaches into Ellington Airfield (EFD) near Johnson Space Center (JSC). The research aircraft, a Challenger 604, was equipped with three cameras mounted in the front of the airplane, three flat panel displays as well as a portable monocle head-up display and a kneeboard display.

AANA supported the definition of the test operations and briefings in collaboration with the Aircraft Operations Division at EFD as well as the definition and implementation of the prototype display, lunar symbology and trajectories.

Sep 2006  Desert Test at Meteor Crater

For the second year in a row now, NASA's Advanced Cockpit Evaluation System (ACES) supported the Desert Research and Technology Studies team at Meteor Crater, Az.

The Desert RATS investigate how man and machine can work together in the exploration of the Moon and Mars. Next to the planetary rover called SCOUT (Crew Operations and Utility Testbed), a few different robots joined the tests this year, from left to right: Centaur, Athlete and K-10.

ACES focus during this intense week of testing was the remote control of SCOUT (right) from the ACES Van. ACES studies the remote operation of vehicles, particularly handy when exploring in harsh conditions as on the Moon and Mars. ACES uses a set of screens to provide a 180° field of view to the operator.

A live stream of video data coming from one of SCOUT’s camera’s is overlaid on top of 3D terrain data, augmented with waypoints, keep-out zones, work areas and specific information depending on the tasks at hand.

AANA was responsible for the definition of the test operations and test plan as well as the definition and implementation of prototype displays.

We are proud to mention that we received a Group Achievement Award from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).

Mar 2006  Flight Tests at Ellington Field

A combined NASA/FAA and AANA effort resulted in a 4-day test campaign at Ellington Field, home of NASA's T-38s and the Super Guppy.

ACES is studying how the FAA's flight inspection missions can be made easier, safer and cheaper. Flight inspection ensures the integrity of instrument approaches and airway procedures that constitute our National Airspace System infrastructure. This is accomplished through airborne inspection of all space and ground based instrument flight procedures and instrumentation.

The tests were performed with the Challenger 604, an actual FAA Flight Inspection Airplane that was modified for these tests with additional cameras, computers and screens. AANA, as a member of the ACES Team:

• supported the design and implementation of the camera, computer and screen mounts
• defined the operational scenario's, briefings and evaluations
• implemented the HUD Displays and Augmented Terrain Models to support the flight inspection missions

The whole effort truly was a great success and proofed to be a prelude into a multi-year effort to design and implement the necessary equipment and operations for unmanned flight inspection missions.

Nov 2005  Radio Relay in Gulf of Mexico

AANA Pilots took part in the radio relay operations in the Gulf of Mexico. Under contract of Ascent Aviation LLC, the pilots were flying from Laporte Municipal Airport to Sabine Pass and Cameron where they were holding at 10.000ft for up to 5 hours.

Their mission: relaying position information from the helicopters operating in the Gulf to their base camp.

This service allowed for continuity of helicopter operations in the Gulf while engineers were rebuilding their network of ground antennas, destroyed by the devastating powers of hurricanes Katrina and Rita.