Esterline’s Mason Products broadens its civilian use of unmanned systems controls

July 25, 2018, © Leeham News, Farnborough:  A unit of Esterline Corp. that supplies parts for all commercial airliners, including the cockpit for the Embraer E-Jet E2 is creating an advanced control system for Unmanned Systems to keep the US armed service members out of harm’s way.

It’s appropriately called Harm’s Way Controllers, or HaWC®.

Esterline’s Mason Products company of Sylmar (CA) is also gearing up to sell this system to the civilian world, beginning with law enforcement, fire departments and other public agencies, says David Tessier, president. The HaWC is used on UAVs, robots that scout dangerous situations, helicopters (providing live situational awareness) and other applications.

Eventually, Tessier expects that HaWC will migrate to uses in environmental surveys, agriculture and inspections for such industries as oil and gas.

Military services

Esterline Mason Products HaWC.

The Mighty HaWC controller complements the Small HaWC (these are their names, not adjectives). The Mighty HaWC includes a color monitor that allows the service man or woman to remotely control a robot that goes around corners and down alleys, spotting explosives, enemy combatants or other threats while safely out of harm’s way.

The unit and the unmanned systems can spot threats at far ranges, on the ground or airborne. Multiple targets can be tracked and weapons fired to take them out.

Civilian uses

As drones gain in popularity, Tessier sees a broader market for Mason’s control units. Law enforcement, fire departments and other regulatory agencies (such as environmental) are obvious targets.

The private sector’s increasing use for unmanned systems, such as inspecting pipelines, power lines, oil spills, agricultural crops, etc., is another new market for the HaWC, Tessier says.

Aircraft controls

Mason’s aircraft control business supplies military, civilian and commercial airplanes. The Embraer E2 is the first time Mason supplied a full cockpit.

Mason’s controls are used on the Premier 1, 400A, Sino Swearingen SJ30, G100, G150, G200, G400, G500, Boeing 717, and Canada Air Regional Jets. They are also used on many military platforms, such as the C-130 and C-5 transports, the company’s web site says.

Mason is one of Esterline’s smaller companies, with just 500 employees and about $100m in annual revenue.

2 Comments on “Esterline’s Mason Products broadens its civilian use of unmanned systems controls

    • Interesting little paragraph in there about the surge in unidentified orders:

      “Muilenburg also said he was not surprised by the unusually high number of plane orders announced during last week’s Farnborough Airshow with unnamed buyers. Rival Airbus said the firms did not want to be identified due to jitters about appearing to side with the United States or other economic powers amid heated trade rhetoric.”

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