British Airways Selects Vibration Monitors

British Airways will use vibration monitors from Inflight Warning Systems Inc. and the IMI Sensors division of PCB Piezotronics in a number of its commercial aircraft. The monitors are designed to detect bearing failure in air recirculation fans, and the British Airways order completes a long-term program to incorporate such monitors into aircraft. So far the monitors have been incorporated into 11 applications aboard major commercial airliners throughout the world, according to a release from PCB. "The issue of fan bearing failure has significantly impacted the industry in the past few years,” IWS president Steve Ehrick said in a statement. “Having approached PCB after referral from another aerospace aftermarket component supplier, we were pleased to find that their sensors could contribute to the success of our vibration monitor." Added Eric Yax, IMI Sensors division manager, hopes the order will lead to additional new incorporations of PCB industrial product technology into this market segment. “What is most interesting is the IWS vibration monitor allows the same technology, most common to industrial applications, to be innovatively applied for benefit of the aerospace industry,” Yax said in a statement.