Press Release |
New Member of MALMS Family
TMS Photometrics (www.tmsphotometrics.com), a world leader in the mobile photometric measurement and management of Aeronautical Ground Lighting (AGL) systems, has launched the latest member of its MALMS family of photometric measurement equipment at the 15 th Inter Airport Europe Exhibition, 11-14 th October 2005, Munich Airport. (Stand A81)
Coventry UK, October 11th 2005. TMS Photometrics, (a division of Tailor Made Systems Ltd) has announced the launch of MALMS BenchTop. This new addition to the company's MALMS range of photometric measurement equipment, compliments the existing MALMS Workshop Tester and Photometric Bench products by offering a new entry level 'static' tester. With MALMS BenchTop the increasingly necessary activity of testing the photometric performance of individual AGL fittings can now be undertaken effectively in the smallest of airport maintenance workshops.
The new 'self contained' MALMS BenchTop has been specifically designed as a very compact unit. It has a small footprint (1.8m x 0.6m) and it incorporates an easy to use operator interface and display of test results. It also comes completely pre-configured, so that no on site commissioning is required. Therefore, the new product will provide even small airports with the capability to rapidly undertake simple photometric tests for intensity and beam symmetry, on a range of different AGL fittings, after refurbishment and prior to installation on the runway.
With the development of MALMS BenchTop, TMS Photometrics now offers a product range that can meet the photometric measurement needs of any size of airport. Vernon Taylor, Managing Director of TMS Photometrics explains the background to its launch, "Airports are increasingly recognising the need to maintain their AGL system to the recommended operating criteria now laid down by all the major regulatory authorities. The main tool for helping achieve this is our MALMS mobile unit since this accurately measures the performance of operational AGL services. However, as is now being realised, there is also an important role to be played by workshop based photometric testers. These can provide both additional monitoring capability when regular mobile testing is not always feasible, and further enhance maintenance efficiency and reduce costs, by enabling individual fittings to be tested after refurbishment and prior to them being reinstalled in the runway."
He adds, "While our existing MALMS Workshop and Photometric Bench products offer advanced measurement facilities, these products are not viable for all airports, especially in terms of the investment and the physical space they require. Whereas, with a lower cost and requiring much less space, the MALMS BenchTop now offers a vital part of the solution for all those airports struggling to balance AGL system compliancy with investment justification."
TMS Photometrics is a division of Tailor Made Systems Ltd, and is based in Coventry, UK. The Mobile Airfield Light Monitoring System (MALMS) is the result of an extensive research program commissioned by the UK Civil Aviation Authority, and conducted in conjunction with the MOD and DERA.
This research firstly confirmed that due to a variety of factors (current variation, lamp aging, unpredictable contamination build up), traditional light performance monitoring (visual observation, spot readings with light meters and primary current measurement) and maintenance practices (such as block change and spot replacement approaches) are no longer sufficient to maintain systems within the new standards set by ICAO and advised by the FAA. It also proved (confirming ICAO and FAA recommendations) that to effectively meet performance level objectives, requires a combination of using a mobile measuring unit on a routine basis to analyse the characteristics of individual lights, and the adoption of new preventive maintenance approaches.
MALMS has been specifically developed as a mobile system that can easily, rapidly, accurately, and reliably, measure the photometric performance of both inset and elevated AGL runway services (Runway Centre Line, TDZ, Inset and Elevated Edge, Inset Approach) against the criteria for beam intensity and orientation defined in ICAO Annex 14, using the test methodology that Annex 14 specifies. It is therefore suitable to confirm compliance with National and International Standards. MALMS also produces routine reports and detailed graphical information for use by airfield engineering and maintenance staff.
However, while measurement can demonstrate compliance, or lack of it, it cannot ensure compliance. To effectively deliver this requires an integrated maintenance approach. Differential Maintenance, which has also been developed by TMS, in association with the UK CAA and supporting UK aerodromes, is now proven to provide such a regime. This approach enables serviceability levels to be maintained in an effective and efficient manner.
MALMS and the Differential Maintenance strategy are now being regularly employed in airports worldwide; from London Heathrow and throughout Europe, to the Middle East, Far East, Australia and North America.
For more information contact;
Vernon Taylor, Tailor Made Systems Ltd, Barclays Venture Centre, University of Warwick Science Park, Coventry UK, CV4 7EZ, Tel +44 (0)24 7641 7421, Email: sales@tmsphotometrics.com
http://www.tmsphotometrics.com
or
Andrew Lee-Mortimer,
Tel 0161 740 6065, email; andrew@lee-mortimer.prestel.co.uk
