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Institute of Aviation

The Institute of Aviation or Warsaw Institute of Aviation (Polish Instytut Lotnictwa) is a research and development center established in 1926, located in Warsaw, Poland. The Institute of Aviation consists of four research centres:

The New Technologies Centre (NTC) - undertakes large innovative projects in collaboration with the EU partners. The centre specializes in two areas: light aviation and space research.
The Materials and Structures Research Centre (MSRC) - offers tests across a wide range of loads and temperatures. The centre is a leader in Poland owing to a significant number of certified test stands.
The Net Institute (NET) - aims to develop network cooperation, to promote knowledge dissemination and to investigate prospective forms of activity.
The Engineering Design Center (EDC) - operates based on the strategic alliance with General Electric. The centre offers expertise and R&D services for jet aircraft engines and related areas.

New Technologies Center

The New Technologies Center (NTC) is one of four research centers of the Institute of Aviation. The Center carries out R&D projects in the area of aeronautics and space technologies, including theoretical works, design & analysis and lab research.

Laboratory research is conducted in the complexes of labs certified by the Polish Center for Accreditation (PCA) and are furnished with the unique in Poland testing and measuring equipment.

The New Technologies Center provide R&D services to Polish and foreign companies to help them raise their competitiveness. Scope of work:

Aerodynamics (CFD and experimental analysis).
Avionics and systems integration.
Design and strength analysis of metallic and composite structures (airplanes, helicopters, non-standard constructions and others).
Rocket propulsion and space technologies.
Landing gear & energy absorption systems
Aircraft propulsion including piston, turboshaft & jet engines.
- Composite technologies.
- Vibration & flutter analysis.
- Environmental research.

Aerodynamic Department

The Aerodynamic Department utilizes the extensive experience of its highly qualified staff (professor and Ph.D. and M.Sc. qualified engineers) to find solutions in the area of aerodynamics and flight mechanics for civil and military airplanes and helicopters. Their experience is used at all stages of research, from design to CFD to wind tunnel trials. Almost all Polish airplanes and helicopters have been tested in wind tunnels at the Institute of Aviation.

Applied Aerodynamics Laboratory

Lab performs aerodynamic research for land and water based transport (automotive, water and railroad) and the building industry. In our aerodynamic tunnels various types of wind resistance tests on stationary objects are carried out. We have access to five wind tunnels, including a trisonic wind tunnel and the largest in Poland (5 m test chamber) and a low and speed wind tunnel, all equipped with advanced instrumentation and calibration equipment.

Low Speed Wind Tunnel (5 m)

The Low Speed Wind Tunnel is an atmospheric, closed circuit tunnel with an open test chamber of 5 m diameter and 6.5 m length. Maximum velocity is 57 m/s and dynamic pressure - 2000 N/m2. The Reynolds number per meter is up to 3.8 x 106. The flow in the test chamber is relatively uniform with the longitudinal turbulence level of approx. 0.5 %. The stream is generated by a 7 m diameter 8-bladed fan powered by the 1.5 MW DC motor.

Capabilities:

Wind tunnel testing of aircraft models to determine aerodynamic characteristics.
Aerodynamic load and pressure distribution measurements on aircraft element models (wings, propellers, horizontal and vertical tails, control surfaces, helicopter rotors, external stores etc.).
Wind load measurements for buildings and their elements. Wind velocity and pressure distribution measurements in built-up areas.
Flutter tests of aircraft models investigation of flutter characteristics, vibration frequency, critical speed and vibration damping at subcritical speeds.
Store trajectory tests including forced deployment for external stores payload.
Flow visualization (tufts, smoke and fluorescent minitufts).

Low Speed Wind Tunnel (1.5 m)

The Wind Tunnel is a closed circuit, continuous flow low speed tunnel with a 1.5 meter diameter open test chamber. Typical tests include measurements of forces and moments, surface pressure distribution, and flow visualization of models of various aircraft, buildings, ships, cars, trains and two-dimensional airfoils.

Capabilities:

Weight and pressure distribution tests on models of airplanes, helicopters, automotive and railway vehicles and their elements.
Optimization of flap and slat position.
Hinge moment optimization for ailerons and tail units.
Tufts and minitufts with UV-light flow visualizations.
Smoke flow visualization.
Tensometric balance force measurements.
Design of Experiment (DoE).

Low Turbulence Wind Tunnel

The Low Turbulence Wind Tunnel is an atmospheric, open circuit tunnel with two linked rectangular test chambers.

Capabilities:

Laminar airfoils wind tunnel tests at turbulence level below 0.02% for velocities up to 40 m/s.
Calibration of wind measurement devices for meteorological purposes.
Smoke flow visualization.

Trisonic Wind Tunnel

The Trisonic Wind Tunnel has been in operation since 1965. The tunnel is a blow-down type with partial recirculation of the flow, and can be operated in all three regimes, viz. subsonic, transonic and supersonic (the Mach number range: M = 0.2^-2.3). The cross-sectional dimensions of the test chamber are 0.6 x 0 6 m.

Capabilities:

Tunnel tests of aircraft models to determine aerodynamic characteristics and pressure distributions for the Mach number in the range from 0.1 - 2.3.
Aerodynamic load measurements on airframe parts models (wings, horizontal and vertical tails, control surfaces, external pods and stores etc.) including the ability to individually measure load on each separate element.
Hinge-moment measurements for tail units.
Tests of airfoils including buffeting boundary determination at transonic velocities.
Visualization of flow using oil and Schlieren methods.
Tunnel tests of airfoils aerodynamic characteristics.
Aerodynamic design of aircraft, wings, airfoils high lift devices and high lift airframe configurations etc.
Weight and pressure transducers calibration.
Unsteady pressure measurements using high precision vibration generator.

Supersonic Wind Tunnel

The N2 Supersonic Wind Tunnel is a blow-down type with a closed test chamber of 0.15 x 0.15 m. The velocity range is M=1.22 - 3.5. The tunnel is used for research on aerodynamic phenomena related to supersonic flow.

Computational Fluid Dynamic and Flight Mechanics Group

The Computational Fluid Dynamic and Flight Mechanics Group is a leader among research centers in Poland in the area of aerodynamic design and CFD analysis. Its staff comprises highly qualified engineers specializing in CFD, as well as airframe design and optimization. For research and development work, both commercial and in house developed software is employed according to the scope of work and it’s specification.

Design and optimization

Basic tools for design and optimization are in house developed and implemented methods of:

Parameterization of geometries for design and optimization purposes.
Multicriterial and multidisciplinary design and optimization based on genetic algorithms.
Design of Experiment (DoE) methodology.

Capabilities:

Design of parametrical models of objects for research and optimization (airfoil, wing, inlet ducts for jet and turboprop engines, engine nozzles etc.).
Airfoil design.
Multicriterial and multidisciplinary design of aircraft and its elements.
Aerodynamic design of ducts.
Aerodynamic design of helicopter rotors,
Design of propellers, rotors, wind turbines etc.
Design of parametric models for non-aviation applications and CAD design.

Analysis

For computational analysis of flowfield, both commercial and in house developed software is employed. In collaboration with other research facilities, employees takes a part in developing the new software for academic purposes.

Capabilities:

Simulation of flow around an aircraft and parts of airframe.
Simulation of flow around a helicopter and parts of airframe, and interference with surrounding objects.
Unsteady flows in shape shifting domain and around such geometries.
Fully three-dimensional simulation of flow around the main rotor of a helicopter (in forward flight and in hover) based on URANS (Unsteady Reynolds Averaged Navier Stokes) solution.
Fluid structure interaction for modeling nonrigid blades of helicopter rotor including blade flapping.
Flow simulation in ducts (e.g. air intake ducts in aircraft engines).
Spaceship re-entry atmosphere flow simulation.

Flow issues related to non-aviation areas:

Flow in land and water based transport.
Flow in civil engineering (buildings, stadiums, bridges etc.).
Simulation of air movement in urban areas; safety issues in high altitude rescue actions.
Flow and load analysis for constructions, subject to aerodynamic and hydrodynamic forces (e.g. strong gusts of wind).
Flow in turbines, fans etc.
Multiphase flows.
Supersonic and hypersonic flows including heat and radiation modeling.
Phase changing and chemical reactions simulation.
Performance and stability analysis.

Avionics & Systems Integrations Department

The activity carried out in the Department is focused on research, design and short run production within the area covering:

avionic equipment,
systems aimed at automatic measurement & diagnostic tasks,
avionic electrical equipment including power supplies, wiring, installations,… etc.),
all designed and developed for airplanes, helicopters and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs).

Capabilities

Computer aided design.
Electronic systems design and testing, including modules based on microprocessors / microcontrollers.
Synthesis & design of specialised control systems for electro mechanical objects.
Synthesis & design of guidance, control and navigation systems for unmanned vehicles.
Diagnostic and testing equipment design.
Preparing and carrying out projects of retrofitting and modification of aircraft avionic equipment and systems.
Integration of avionic systems.
Synthesis & design of on board systems and installations.
Adaptation of cockpit and instruments lighting to make it compatible with Night Vision Imaging Systems (e.g. Night Vision Goggles).

The Department is capable to conduct and supervise technical investigations and tests of systems and aircraft equipment and is entitled to issue statements of compliance with RTCA, ARINC, MIL, TSO standards and aircraft requirements. The Department has the potential to manufacture prototypes and carry out short run production of smart systems aimed at precise measurement and diagno-stic & indicating tasks. Our laboratories are equipped with necessary test beds and measuring systems to carry out complex analysis of products.

Systems designed and manufactured in Avionics & Systems Integration Department, which are installed in Polish aircraft, as well as used in laboratories, includes:

Fuel gauging systems (capacitive type) for I 22 ‘Iryda’, PZL M 28 ‘Bryza’ and ‘Skytruck’ airplanes and W-3 ‘Sokol’ helicopter.
Radioaltimeter RWL 750M, used as the avionic equipment in I 22 ‘Iryda’, PZL M 28 'Bryza’ airplanes and ‘Anakonda’ helicopter.
Torquemetering system used in W-3 ‘Sokol’ helicopter.
Lighting regulator and warning systems for I 22 ‘Iryda’, PZL M 28 ‘Skytruck’ airplanes.
Telemetric data transmission system for an unmanned aircraft.
Autonomous control system for an unmanned aircraft the RAC analog/digital data recorder designed for data acquisition, storage and playback.
GPPA 3, GPPA 4, generators and GWE 2 electrostatic discharge generator.
AROS - the autonomous fatigue loads data recorder.
Testing instruments:
- TRS 6113 2 for on board radio transceivers.
- TPPM 1 for fuel gauging systems.
- T4S for radioaltimeters.
- UD-100M for torquemeters.
- MRT-3 for radionavigation systems.

Other works:

Integration of avionic equipment for PZL I 22 ‘Iryda’, and PZL 130 ‘Orlik’ training airplanes.
Integration of avionic equipment for I 23 ‘Manager’ general aviation aircraft.
Design, manufacturing and in flight testing of experimental version of avionic equipment for I 23 ‘Manager’ aircraft, aimed at fully automatically controlled flight in emergency conditions.
Electronic & Electrical equipment for PRP 560 ‘Ranger’ hovercraft.
Unmanned airplane ‘Sowa’ (prototype built for research and development tasks)

Environmental Laboratory

The Laboratory acquired Testing Laboratory Certificate No. AB 132, issued by Polish Centre for Accreditation on February 2005, in compliance with PN EN ISO/IEC 17025:2005 standard requirements. The scope of this Certificate covers tests of resistance to mechanical hazards, climate stresses and functional inspection of products.

Capabilities:

Strength and resistance to sinusoidal vibrations for objects of a mass up to 50 kg, within frequency range of 5-2000 Hz, and acceleration up to 200 m/s2.
Strength and resistance to repeated mechanical shocks for objects of a mass up to 450 kg, acceleration up to 3200 m/s2 frequency up to 3 Hz, and impulse duration range of 6 - 30 ms.
Resistance to high and low temperatures, max. size of tested objects: 680 x 540 x 820 mm in the temperature range from 60oC -180oC 1250 x 1900 x 2250 mm in the temperature range from -70oC to 130oC.
Resistance to cyclic temperature changes within the range from -60oC to +180oC for objects of the max. size: 680 x 540 x 600 mm.
Resistance to high level of humidity within the range from 10% to 98%. Maximum size of tested objects: 680 x 540 x 820 mm, maximum weight: 10 kg.
Resistance to low pressure (1 hPa), max. size of tested objects: 1250 x 1900 x 2250 mm.
Frost and moisture resistance for objects of maximal dimensions: 680 x 540 x 820 mm.
Resistance to linear accelerations for objects of the mass up to 10 kg and dimensions up to 300 x 300 x 300 mm.

  Laboratory Equipment:

Climatic chamber: limats Excal 7728-HE

emperature range: -900C to +2000C.
emperature variation rate: 170C/min (within the range:-550C to +1800C).
umidity range: 10% to 98%.
imensions of the test section: 900 x 950 x 900 mm (770 dm3).

Climatic chamber: eiss SB2/300/80

emperature range: -700C to +1800C.
umidity range: 10% to 98%.
imensions of the test section: 680 x 540 x 820 mm.

Temperature/pressure/humidity test chamber: WEISS 55/ABD/IMU/DMU:

temperature range: -600C to +1200C.
humidity range: 10% to 98%.
pressure range: 1120 – 120 hPa.
cylindrical test section with dimensions: 900 x 800 mm.

Temperature/pressure/humidity test chamber: BRABENDER TBSE 3000/70E:

temperature range: -700C to +1300C.
pressure range: 1120 – 1 hPa.
dimensions of the test section: 250 x 1900 x 2250 mm.

Shock vibrator TIRA – Shock 4110:

max. acceleration: 3200 m/s2.
shock impulse duration range: 6 - 30 ms.
surge frequency: up to 3Hz.
max. mass of tested object: 450kg.

Random vibration generator ERRITRON VP 180/600

Sinusoidal vibrator TIRA vib 5142:

max. acceleration: 200 m/s2.
frequency range: 5 - 2000 Hz.
max. mass of tested object: 50kg.
possibility to apply random oscillations.

Centrifuge:

max. acceleration: 200 m/s2.
max. mass of tested object: 10 kg.

Materials and Structures Research Centre

The Materials & Structures Research Center ( MSRC) is a division of the Institute of Aviation. The MSRC was founded following the longstanding and widespread involvement of the Institute of Aviation in the area of strength research of materials and elements of aircraft structures, conducted since the Institute was established in 1926.

In its present form, the MSRC has been existing since December 2004, when it was re-organized after the offset agreement between Poland and the U.S. Initially, the Center's activity focused on the transfer of technologies and research stations from Pratt & Whitney, who were executing offset commitments on behalf of Lockheed-Martin. Gradually, MSRC has begun to implement its own solutions (e.g. grip designs and circuit cooling of grip systems). At the same time, the Center has begun to cooperate with Polish producers.

Today, the MSRC is at the forefront of materials and structures research in Poland and one of the most modern and most efficient centers of its kind in Europe. It has on-going contracts with the world's largest aircraft engine manufacturers: United Technologies Corporation and General Electric. Both agreements concern the testing of materials and elements of aircraft engines.

Structural Test Laboratory

The Laboratory performes such types of tests:

Static tests & quasistatic fatigue tests

Full scale and component static and fatigue tests.
Functional tests.
Stiffness tests.

Dynamic tests

High cycle, fatigue tests.
Frequency check tests.

Other tests

Low-Revolution wear test of aircraft engine fan blades and discs (windmilling).
High Temperature Oxidation and Thermal Barrier Coating Spallation Test (Burner Rig Test).

Measurement and Test Equipment:

Static and Quasistatic Tests

Schenck-Pegasus Tension/Torsion/Compression Machine.
24 channel electrohydraulic Test System Edyz/MTS with MTS Aero90 Controller.
3 MTS Load Frames with Controller Data acquisition systems
Load, displacement, strain and temperature measurements.

Dynamic Tests

2 electrodynamic shakers with control and data acquisition systems.
Frequency check system.

Other Tests

Burner Rig (High Temperature Oxidation and Thermal Barrier Coating Spallation Testing).
Windmill Test Stand (Low revolution wear test of fan blades and discs).

Additional Equipment

Laboratory Local Standards (force, displacement, strain, DC, thermocouple signal).
Digital still cameras for documentation purposes.

Facilities

Testing Room – special design with strong floor (40m x 10m).
Acoustically Isolated Shaker Rooms.
Hydraulic Power Supplies Room
Hydraulic Power, compressed air, cooling water, uniterruptible electrical power systems.
Test Stands Standard Elements.

Non-Destructive Test & Materials Properties Laboratory

The Lab offers non-destructive tests of materials properties and structural components using the following methods:

Eddy current, Penetrant, Magnetic. Ultrasonic and Visual.

Research facilities & equipment Eddy current method:

The INSTITUTE Dr FOERSTER and GE Inspection Technologies instrumentation including a set of specialized probes and references.

Penetrant method:

Set of MAGNAFLUX penetrants (various configurations).

Magnetic method:

MAGNAFLUX Parker and BYCOSIN AB magnetic equipment.
MAGNAFLUX magnetic dyes (black and fluorescent).

Ultrasonic method:

GE Inspection Technologies instrumentation including a set of specialized heads and references.
GE Inspection Technologies, Dakota.

Visual method:

Fibroscope and boroscope test kit OLYMPUS Everest capable of recording test result.

The Lab also performs metallo-graphic tests, fractography, hardness tests, surface roughness test and analisis of syrface chemical composition.

Equipment for material properties

Sample Preparation – complete equipment from PRESSI (a cutter, a grinder-polisher, a MOUNTING PRESS).
Microscopy – CARL ZEISS - JENA microscopes (scanning, metallographic), stereoscop.
Portable hardness tester HARDMATIC, Mitutoyo.
Surface Roughness Tester, SJ-301, Mitutoyo.

Engineers are certified accord-ing to the quality standard EN 473.

Materials Test Laboratory

Materials Test Laboratory performs specialized in materials tests in accordance with the European and world standards in the area of:

Metallic materials tests

Static strength tests (tension, compression and bending).
Strain/load controlled low&high cycle fatigue tests.
Creep tests.
High temperature oxidation and thermal barrier coating spallation testing.

Composite materials tests

Mechanical properties tests and temporary strength tests under tension, compression, bending and shearing.
Strength tests of adhesive bonds for composite and metallic materials.
Fatigue tests of composite and metallic materials.
Composite materials conditioning.

Low Cycle Fatigue tests

MTS, Instron – 27 test rigs.
Specimens in accordance with ASTM and other standards (length up to 500 mm).
Tension and compression load: up to 250kN.
Frequency: up to 10 Hz.
Test temperature: up to 900˚C .

High Cycle Fatigue tests

MTS, Instron – 27 test rigs.
Specimens in accordance with ASTM and other standards (length up to 100 mm).
Tension and compression load: up to 250 kN.
Frequency: up to 60 Hz.
Test temperature: up to 900˚C.

Static Strength tests

MTS, Instron – 14 test rigs.
Specimens in accordance with ASTM and other standards (length up to 800 mm).
Tension and compression load: up to 250 kN.
Test temperature: -70 up to 900 ˚C.

Creep tests

Creeps – 24 test rigs.
Specimens in accordance with ASTM and other standards (length up to 150 mm).
Tension load: up to 50 kN.
Test temperature: up to 1100˚C.

Certificates

AB 792 Polish Centre for Accreditation In March 2007 the Materials & Structures Research Center was certified by the Polish Centre for Accreditation and achieved the Accreditation Certificate of Testing Laboratory No. AB 792, which is compatible with the requirements of the PN-EN ISO/IEC 17025:2005 quality standard. Based on this certificate, the Materials Test Laboratory obtained the highest qualifications to carry out fatigue strength and creep tests while the Structural Test Laboratory received such qualifications in the scope of static, quasi-static and dynamic strength tests under complex loads and in the vibration frequency range between 1 and 10000 Hz.

Institute of Aviation also hold certificates granted by our clients, validating the high quality of services we provide.

ACE ACE - Achieving Competetive Excellence In June 2008 the MSRC reached the bronze level in the ACE Quality System (Achieving Competitive Excellence) used by the United Technologies Corporation. Bronze is the first level in the threelevel system of the organization management and business culture advancement. The ACE guarantees impro-vements of quality and work efficiency through the enhanced process and value management and creation of a work environment that eliminates potential irregularities and wastes. The next challenge for the MSRC is to reach the Silver level and then Gold, which is planned for the year 2011.

MTU Aero Engines In April 2008 the Materials & Structures Research Center was audited by materials testing experts of MTU Aero Engines – a leading producer from aircraft engines and propulsion subsystems for the civil aviation and armament industry. The audit demonstrated the MSRC's conformance with the requirements for materials testing according to applicable standards for Strain Controlled Low Cycle Fatigue (SCLCF), Load Controlled Low Cycle Fatigue (LCLCF) and Creep Testing. As a result of the audit, the MSRC was granted the certificate for the scope of the above mentioned materials testing techniques, which is valid until 2011.

Pratt & Whitney Company Between the years 2005 – 2008, Pratt & Whitney, a company with which the MSRC has continuously cooperated since 2004, granted Institute of Aviation laboratories certificates in the scope of mechanical and component tests. The certificates granted in perpetuity concern: Creep Rupture Testing – February 2005 and January 2008, Tension/Torsion Shaft LCF Testing - December 2006, Tube LCF Testing – December 2006, Windmill Fan Blade Testing – December 2006, High Cycle Fatigue Testing – February 2008, Low Cycle Fatigue Testing – February 2008.

The Materials and Structures Research Center also received the certificates issued by customers which confirms the high assessment of the work's effectiveness.

GE In 2008 the Materials Test Laboratory renewed the certificate for ultimate strength, fatigue and creep testing, which was granted by General Electric in the previous year. Having obtained the certificate, the laboratory continues testing, mainly strain controlled low cycle fatigue tests (SCLCF) at high temperatures.

Net Institute

The Net Institute aims to develop network cooperation, to promote knowledge dissemination and to investigate prospective forms of activity.

Engineering Design Center

The Engineering Design Center (EDC) was established in April 2000 under an agreement between the aviation engines department of GE (General Electric Aircraft Engines) and the Institute of Aviation. Since the beginning, the Center has been developing very dynamically. Currently Polish engineers support with their work not only GE's aviation engines department, but also other departments, such as Energy or Oil Industry.

EDC is one of several global establishments of GE, located outside the USA and co-operates with such GE businesses like GE Aviation, GE Energy, GE Oil&Gas or GE Rail. Engineers working at the Engineering Design Center design and improve parts of aviation engines, turbine ship propulsions and turbines for land based use (e.g. aviation derivative gas turbines used as electricity generators), high power gas turbines, steam turbines, as well as boilers and environmental protection equipment, such as filters and electro filters. EDC engineers also participate in design work, analyses, technical support of such machines like compressors, turbo expanders and gas turbines used in the oil and chemical industry. Work also includes production support and testing parts and components.

EDC in Poland cooperates with other GE centres in India, Mexico, Turkey and with firms in, among others, Germany, Italy, Great Britain, Romania, South Korea and Taiwan.

The Engineering Design Center allows the utilisation of the intellectual potential of the best graduates of Polish universities of technology, thus enabling the most talented Engineering graduates to stay in Poland. Thanks to the fact that EDC has the services of the most talented Polish engineers, it can participate in ambitious international projects, such as designing the latest jet engines.

The development of the EDC is planned longterm. The Center employs approximately 800 engineers and constantly increases the number of staff.

Engineers working at EDC Aviation are divided into teams designing individual elements of jet engines.

They include:

Airfoils Center of Excellence.
Rotating Parts Center of Excellence.
Structures Center of Excellence.
Combustion Center of Excellence.
Mechanical Systems Center of Excellence.

In addition, engineers working on an engine receive strong support from such groups as system engineers. Dealing with the integration of individual engine elements and modules, the team of repair engineers developing and implementing new repairs or a large calculation group concentrating on heat exchange, tip clearances or cooling air flows around individual engine components.

An additional advantage of the EDC Aviation team is the youngest team belonging to the Aviation Systems Department, which designs composite casings of jet engines and works on the structure of wings of passenger airplanes. Despite its relative short period of existence at the EDC, this team has managed to attract many experienced specialists from the aviation sector and highly talented graduates of Polish universities from technology, who are interested in developing their career in this particular field. The EDC Energy Group work on the development and design of machinery for the power industry.

Thanks to the commitment and ideally selected group of engineers, it managed to achieve many successes in its work for GE Energy over a short period. The main task of this group in Warsaw is designing elements, modules and entire components making up gas and steam turbines. One of the areas of interest to the team is an innovative coal gasification method, which allows a reduction of the pollutants released during electricity generation using coal.

EDC Energy consists of 5 teams: Aero Energy, Steam Turbine Center of Excellence, Components Center of Excellence-Gas Turbine, Services Engineering and Integrated Gasi-fication Combined Cycle.

Engineers working in the field of the oil industry - EDC OIL&GAS – have a rare opportunity in Poland to design prototype equipment for underwater oil mining. The Warsaw group of engineers is also responsible for the reliability of individual elements of turbines working all over the world and for analysing events which occur during the operation of these turbines by clients. Thanks to an excellently equipped materials laboratory, employees of EDC Oil&Gas are able to answer even the most difficult questions submitted to them from all over the world. The department owes its successes to the carefully selected personnel consisting of both experienced engineers and young, talented graduates of Polish universities and colleges. Thanks to such interesting issues, every employee of the department has a chance of unlimited development in such a prestigious and innovative sector as the oil industry.

EDC Oil&Gas is divided into seven teams: Advanced Technology, Auxiliary Systems Engineering, Turbomachinery Design&Service, High Speed Reciprocating Compressors, Inquire to Order, Reliability and VetcoGray.

Separation of appropriate discipline, specific teams and the ability to select the staff means that the quality of the services rendered is at the highest global level. The Engineering Design Center attaches enormous importance to improving the skills of its staff. Every year, Polish engineers participate in international projects of General Electric - Edison Engineering Development Program and Advanced Course in Engineering. Both these schemes allow young Polish researchers to acquaint themselves with the latest technologies and to empirically commune with knowledge passed to them by the best specialists in the world.

In addition, EDC employees take part in many civic and emancipation programmes, such as blood and bone marrow donations for children with leukaemia in Turkey, the Junior Achievement Programme, aimed at propagating education and education awareness among young scientists, or a mutual support network for women, which promotes their professional development.

The Age Of Engineers

In 2008, the Institute of Aviation in collaboration with several dozen partners started the national programme addressed to almost 3 million gymnasium and high school students, parents and science teachers. The programme for promoting engineering professions and technical sciences, “The Age of Engineers“, is run under the patronage of Vice Premier and Economy Minister Waldemar Pawlak, Science and Higher Education Minister Barbara Kudrycka and National Education Minister Katarzyna Hall.

The programme aims at raising the visibility and social status of the engineering profession in order to increase the number of young people who consciously choose to study engineering. At the same time, the programme encourages interest in studying exact sciences. To achieve these objectives a countrywide network of partners is being built, comprising innovative enterprises, scientific establishments, schools, associ-ations, and publishers. The list of supporting partners is not closed.

There is no finish date set for the activities conducted under “The Age of Engineers“ programme. It is envisaged that the programme could be running for the next dozen or so years. The detailed action plan was developed until the year 2014. The programme embraces over 13 000 gymnasiums and high schools throughout Poland.

As its central premise, the programme has the intention to create a community focused on issues relating to technical sciences and engineering professions. Participation in the programme is voluntary and free of charge. The main goal is to stimulate and satisfy intellectual needs through entertainment and play, as well as generate maximum commitment to creating, developing and running the programme in all its aspects.

A community portal the first of its kind in Europe, has been opened as part of the programme. Besides enabling promotion of the programme, the portal functions as a meeting place and a forum for sharing information, and encourages learning through play. An important element of the programme is offering teachers of mathematics, physics, computer science and technical sciences opportunities to use tested teaching methods and participate in workshops and seminars, so that they could improve their qualifications. For this very reason, Golden Lodge of Technical Sciences was brought to life. In collaboration with innovative companies, Golden Lodge of Technical Sciences will be emphasizing the importance of application oriented research.

Outside the community portal, a series of integrated promotion and education activities, involving students, parents and teachers, are organized. These include:

Engineering, scientific, and educational picnics
Countrywide competitions for gymnasium and high school students
“Check what you know“ school visits to innovative companies
Open science labs
Open doors at technical universities
Meetings with parents
Strategic games for schools
Workshops for teachers
Science conferences
Street events
Varied forms of the internet, outdoor, press, radio and TV promotion.

The entire programme relies on the maximum involvement of students, parents and teachers in its creation and development.

KONES

KONES is the largest conference in Central Europe on power systems and means of transport. The first KONES conference dates back to 1975. The Institute of Aviation has been one of the main supporters and co-organizers of the event. Over the course of 35 meetings, KONES has made a massive contribution to advancing research into aspects of power systems and transport.

Today KONES is a fixed entry in the diaries of Polish and European researchers. References to the publication Journal of KONES appear on thousands of websites and in numerous professional journals. So far, over 100 speakers presenting papers at KONES conferences have been granted professorial nominations while numerous works presented at the conference have been awarded for their meritorious value and applicability. KONES has become a prestigious forum for exchanging technical thought and a place where many pressing civilizational issues find their solutions. At the conference, new research methodologies are presented by scientists from research centers across the world, including: Adam Opel AG Germany, AECC Belgium, AVL Austria, Ben Gurion University Israel, British ICE Research Institute UK, BRTRC Technology Research Center USA, Brunel University of West London UK, Budapest University Hungary, Cambridge University UK, Corning NY USA, Cummins USA, Czech Technical University in Prague Czech Republic, Daimler Chrysler Canada, Degusa Metals Catalysts Cerdec AG Germany, Detroit Diesel USA, Drezno University Germany, Eindoven University of Technology The Netherlands, ELSBETT Technologie GmbH Germany, Energy Industries of Ohio USA, Energy Industries of Ohio USA, European Fuel Cell Forum Switzerland, FIAT Research Center Italy, Fleetguard Technology Development WI USA, FEV Motorentechnik Germany, Flour Co. VA USA, Ford Motor Company USA, GE USA, General Motors USA, Gunma University Japan, Heriot-Watt University Edinburgh Scotland, Hokkaido University Japan, Horiba Japan, Hosei University Japan, ICE Engines Laboratory Maddras India, Institut fur Fahrzeugbau Wolfsburg (IFBW) Germany, Instituto Motori C.N.R. Italy, Isparta University Turkey, Jaguar Cars UK, Japan SME-ESD, Kistler Austria, Kyoto University Japan, Kolbenwerke Harzgerode Germany, Lithuanian University of Agriculture Lithuania, Melbourne University Australia, Minsk University Belarus, MIT MA USA, Moscow State University Russia, Nagoya Institute of Technology Japan, National Aerospace Laboratory Japan, National Automotive Center MI USA, National Traffic Safety and Environment Laboratory Japan, Nis University of Technology Yougoslavia, NIITEK VA USA, Nissan Diesel Motor Co. Ltd Japan, Oxford University UK, Optrand, Inc. USA, Peugeot France, Scania Sweden, Rostock University Germany, Russian Academy of Sciences Russia, Russian River Register Russia, Slovak University of Technology in Bratislava Slovakia, St. Petersburg State Technical University Russia, Structural Dynamics Research Corporation Ohio USA, TAM Industrial Vehicles Slovenia, Technische Hochschule Zwickau Germany, Transport Academy of Ukraine Ukraine, TSI USA, Universite de Poitiers France, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, University of Applied Sciences Biel-Bienne Switzerland, University of Applied Sciences, Amberg-Weiden Germany, University of Berkeley CA, University of Birmingham UK, University College London UK, University of Kragujevac Yuguslavia, University of Magdeburg Germany, University of Maribor Slovenia, University of Windsor Canada, University of Wisconsin - Madison WI USA, University of Zilina Slovakia, Vilnius Gediminas Technical University Lithuania, Volkswagen AG Germany, Waseda University Japan, Washington State University WA USA.

The Congress has become as a catalyst for progress in contemporary science and can be considered a pioneer in relation to power systems and transport.

The Institute of Aviation, along with its international partners, fills the role of the supporter and coordinator of the event. As the mission of the Institute of Aviation includes broadening the horizons of contemporary research, involvement in KONES is, undoubtedly, a significant step in achieving this end.

Journal of KONES

The Journal of KONES is a publi-cation presenting research outputs from top scientists across the world. The Journal is concerned with power systems and transport issues and has been published for 35 years. The publication has become a forum for exchanging technical thought and a guide to trends in contemporary technology. Inter-national research centers and educational establishments refer to the KONES conference in publications and research proceedings, while the internet references to KONES are growing by the day. The Journal of KONES is now firmly rooted on the landscape of contemporary scientific publications that make a significant contribution to the advancement of science and dissemination of knowledge. The Institute of Aviation supports the publication KONES’ Journal.

Scientific Publications

The Scientific Publications Division of the Institute of Aviation systematically edits and publishes articles and books by top Polish and foreign scientists, employees of both the Institute of Aviation and other organizations actively engaged in the aviation sector.The Scientific Publications Division bases its choice of materials for publication on the recommendations of the Editing Committee, comprised of representatives of the different research centers of the Institute of Aviation. Each book, article or announcement is re-viewed by eminent Polish academics and scientists to ensure that the publications are of the highest scientific value and interest. Scientific publications fall into four groups.

Scientific Library of the Institute of Aviation - a series on aviation and related areas, scientific monographs and other works.
Transactions of the Institute of Aviation - a quarterly in English featuring articles on major research works and projects carried out by the Institute of Aviation, statutory works and works funded by the Polish Ministry of Science and Higher Education, conference and symposium proceedings and other announcements. The quarterly also features habilitation papers of the Institute's employees in Polish.
Journal of Polish-American Science and Technology - which deals with entrepreneurial issues, opportunities and challenges posed by US - Polish cooperation. The Journal also discusses issues connected with the energy sector, space technologies and telecommunications, biological and medical engineering, health care and environmental protection.
Historical Library of the Institute of Aviation - collection dedicated to the history of technological advancement in Poland and in the world, contribution of Polish engineers to the development of aviation and the development of scientific thought and research.

Library of the Institute of Aviation

The Science and Technology Library of the Institute of Aviation (established in 1926) can be considered the central aviation library in Poland in terms of the subjects, nature of the collection and its size. Its collection contains some 80,000 volumes, which together with Polish and foreign scientific and technology journals gathered for many years (approx-imately 18,000 volumes) ranks it among the best supplied libraries attached to research and development establishments in Poland. The Library subscribes to some 90 domestic and foreign titles. Its collection also includes nearly 5,500 microfilms of scientific papers and publications, and company advertising materials. The Library also has aviation collections donated from abroad, e.g. the library of Czesław Zbierański, the well-known aviation designer.

The basic subjects covered by the largely unique collection of the Science and Technology Library of the Institute of Aviation include: aviation, aircraft, helicopters, aerodynamics, thermo and gas dynamics, mechanics, light mechanics, strength of materials, aviation engine pistons and jet, aviation instruments and equipment, mathematics, information science and computers, and aviation and astronautics as well as aviation model making.

The following catalogues are available in the Library:

Alphabetic catalogue of books.
Alphabetic catalogue of periodicals and systematic catalogue of books according to UKD (detailed division according to disciplines).

In addition, the Library also offers on inter library lending service (in cooperation with higher schools, research and scientific institutes and other civilian and military institutions) and sends photocopies of articles published in periodicals.

It should be stressed that, apart from the employees of the Institute of Aviation and the cooperating EDC and GE groups, and the neighbouring EADS-PZL production plant, the Science and Technology Library is also used by academics, students and pupils of the aviation secondary school. The Library, which gradually took over the duties of the Sector Scientific and Technical Information Center, offers assistance to students writing papers and theses. This assistance is not limited to the collection of the Library, but includes consultations. It is worth adding that the collection of the Library is also used by aviation historians, makers of historic aircraft replicas and aviation modellers. Of course, apart from book’s on aviation and general engineering subjects, the Library also orders books and periodicals in such areas as administration, management, accounting, OHS etc. which are needed in the day-to-day work of the Institute.

External Links

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 ==Net Institute==
+The Net Institute aims to develop network cooperation, to promote knowledge dissemination and to investigate prospective forms of activity.
 ==Engineering Design Center==