Information Pasteboard
Weekly reports of meetings at NAL, snippets of R&D activity, conference announcements and other features of popular interest
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Information Pasteboard |
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News and Events #IP 749 22-28 Jan 2007 National Conference on Failure Analysis – NCFA 2006 The First National Conference on Failure Analysis was held in Hyderabad during 22-23 December 2006. The conference was jointly organized by Defence Metallurgical Laboratory (DMRL), National Aerospace Laboratories (NAL), Indira Gandhi Centre for Atomic Research (IGCAR), Centre for Military Airworthiness and Certification (CEMILAC) in association with the Indian Institute of Metals, Hyderabad Chapter. Air Chief Marshal S P Tyagi inaugurated the conference. Dr D Banerjee (CCR&D, DRDO), Dr A M Srirama-murty (Director, DMRL), Dr A R Upadhya (Director, NAL), Shri J K Sharma (Chief, CEMILAC) and Dr A Venugopal Reddy (Regional Director, RCMA, Hyderabad) were the other eminent scientists present to grace the occasion. While addressing the conference, Air Chief Marshal said that the accident rate of aircraft in the Indian Air Force (IAF) has dropped drastically over the years. The accident graph has come down constantly for the last 30 years from 0.88 per 10,000 hours to 0.22 per 10,000 hours at present. He said the flying environment was becoming safer due to collective efforts of various agencies, including those involved in designing, production, failure analysts and IAF. Mr Tyagi said that not a single MiG-21 was lost in the year 2006. Fuel pump failure was identified as one of the reasons for the crash of a large number of MiG-21 aircrafts in the previous years. He highlighted the role of failure analysis in achieving this. He reminded the experts in failure analysis that speed is of utmost importance saying the military people are in a hurry because it is a matter of life and death. Dr D Banerjee, Chief Controller R&D, DRDO, underlined the importance of failure analysis to meet future challenges in aerospace organizations with the introduction of new and advanced materials. More than 200 participants representing aerospace organizations, engineering industries and academic institutions, attended the conference. The technical programme consisted of a mix of invited and contributed papers, split in three parallel sessions. The papers covered all aspects of failure analysis of engineering components and systems. Also featured were panel discussions on pitfalls, future strategies and interaction among the engineering industries, R&D organizations and academic institutions. It was opined that present practice of failure analysis is mainly concerning the aerospace sector and hence, there is a need to set up a National Facility for Failure Analysis & Accident Investigation with the guidance of the expertise from NAL, DMRL, IGCAR, NML etc so that all sections of engineering industries in the country can get benefit from this profession. The conference was a good platform for interaction and exchanging views among the failure analysis experts, users, manufacturers, and maintenance personnel from all sectors of engineering industries and R&D institutions. The conference was preceded by a two-day workshop. The workshop featured the basic aspects of failure analysis and about 80 participants attended it. The conference was a great success and it was proposed to conduct the conference once in every two or three years. Subir Kumar Bhaumik NAL’s ISO 9001:2000 QMS RE- CERTIFIED After successfully going through the crucial re-certification exercise, NAL’s ISO 9001:2000 Quality Management System (QMS) has been recommended for continuation. M R Madhava ISO Audit Archives ‘Deft Maneuvering with my FCS…’
Subsequently, the operations of the flaps have been vigorously tested from zero to landing configuration and found to be working fine. #IP 748 15 - 21 Jan 2007 Twentieth NAL Familiarisation Programme The inaugural function for twentieth familiarisation programme was held on 16 January 2007. Dr M N Sathyanarayana, Joint Head, KTMD gave a brief introduction about the programme. Subsequently all the participants introduced themselves. Dr A R Upadhya Director, NAL welcomed the gathering and mentioned NAL as a very much ‘sought after place’ for R&D. He referred to the lab as a place that can offer one the freedom to experiment innovative The function ended with a vote of thanks delivered by Mr Somanarayanan, the Public Relation in charge, whose untiring effort has been the backbone for the success of the programme. Ranjan and Shailaja Menon Tests included capacitance gauging, quantity checks and flow rates to ascertain the max. fuel that could be filled in the aircraft. And, most importantly, whether the supply system to the engine was satisfactory. Test results were then matched with the earlier measured fuel gauge and flow rate indicator readings to ascertain the correctness of fuel flow. In fact, carrying out this exercise, greatly aids in spotting leakages, if any, and take suitable remedial action. These tests have been carried out in 2 configuration, i.e., level flight and cruise attitude (3 deg nose pitch up) With a good cleansing of the fuel system, SARAS seems to be saying – ‘Fill me up to the brim now, I am raring to go up into the blue Indian skies’ R Guruprasad with Suju Thomas #IP 747 8-14 Jan 2007 Air Commodore M Matheswaran, Commandant, Aircraft Systems Testing Establishment,
Indian Air Force, Bangalore visited NAL on 11 January 2007. Dr A R Upadhya,
NAL, Director welcomed the Air Commodore and made a brief presentation on NAL activities.
Air Commodore Matheswaran in his speech stressed on development of core technologies in
proper time is essential in aerospace in this country. He also reiterated ASTE’s co-operation to NAL’s programmes and said that ‘we are looking forward to working together’. Dr M R Nayak, Adviser (M&A) and Head, ALSD, has been invited to serve as an Associate Editor of the International
Journal of Systems Science (IJSS) for a period of two years from 1 January 2007. Award for Best Poster Presentation ISO Re-Certification audit complete NAL's re-certification audit ISO 9001:2000 QMS scheduled for 8 and 9 January 2007 was carried out by a team of
five auditors from Lloyd's Register Quality Assurance (LRQA) for all the ISO Audit Archives 'The Noise Shielders’ R Guruprasad with Suju Thomas #IP 746 1- 7 Jan 2007 He further spoke about “Aerospace scenario in the country is witnessing dynamic changes with a number of major national projects and also a large number of aerospace agencies from abroad evincing keen interest in interacting with India and harnessing her human resource strengths and facilities and her huge market, in terms of setting up centers for R&D, design and development, and also manufacturing and support services. These developments, while having the potential for making India a major global aerospace power, also pose great challenges to us. We need to rise to the occasion to derive maximum benefit from these changes. Our planning for future
assumes greater importance in this context. We must strive to achieve maximum progress with limited resources, at the same time giving our national interests maximum priority.” He briefly touched upon NAL’s achievements in areas of civil aviation, contribution to national projects like LCA – Tejas, space programme missile programme, support to defence services, technology contributions, facilities and systems, R&D activities, management initiatives, general facilities and infrastructure. He talked about the challenges ahead and requested Team NAL to work together and take the great institution further and higher.. Progressing Ahead To Ensure A Safe Landing… R Guruprasad with Suju Thomas Recent issues of NAL Information Pasteboard Prev To
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NAL’s familiarisation programme was set rolling almost a decade ago. The programme was designed for all the new entrants, so that they can quickly acquaint themselves with various activities of NAL, build a rapport with the divisions and staff members and feel that they are one among the NAL/CSIR family. 
ideas. He advised the youngsters to make full use of the lab’s library and experience of seniors. He concluded by saying that NAL is a lab where one can flower in the area of their expertise and asked all the youngsters to work hard and contribute largely to growth of the organization.
Dr M R Nayak, Adviser (M&A) and Head, ALSD, started with a remark that the average age at the gathering is around 30. This he said, gives the youngsters seated here an advantage, they have over three decades of working life ahead of them. This period they should keep their eyes wide open and make best use of the facilities at NAL and make a name for themselves and for the lab.
The SARAS activities this week turns our attention to the functional tests
of the various systems of the aircraft. The first of those systems that have been successfully tested is the fuel system. It’s interesting to note here, that the LH and RH wings of the SARAS aircraft together can hold close to 1,650 litres of aviation fuel. Siphoning out aviation turbine fuel from huge drums and then transferring them carefully (with exact measurements) onto the aircraft fuel tank is a very calculated affair. Fuel gauging tests which commenced around 5 pm, went on till the wee hours of the morning for two consecutive days. 
Air Commodore M Matheswaran visits NAL
Dr A R Upadhya, Director, NAL delivered his New Year address on the lush green lawns of NAL. He began his speech by wishing all his colleagues a very Happy and a professionally successful and satisfying New Year. And added "we should prepare ourselves to meet the challenges, and the expectations the country has from us. However, he said we start with a major handicap. Our beloved Director General, Dr R A Mashelkar, the father figure who guided the destiny of the great CSIR organization for more than a decade, laid down his office on superannuation on 31 December 2006.”
He mentioned, “The year 2006 has been a successful one for NAL and has given us great confidence to meet the challenges. The year saw successful completion of many of our projects and NAL was able to deliver some systems of utility to user programmes. He said it is also now clear that NAL is working as a truly mature lab – with individual efforts in specialised R&D to take forward the frontiers of science, and interdisciplinary/interdivisional teams working together to deliver technology and products of value to the nation and declared we need to be proud of this and happy with our successes so far.” 
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