Aerospace

NRC Aerospace conducts R&TD across the full spectrum of issues related to the design, manufacture, qualification, performance, use and maintenance of air and space vehicles. This work covers all of the major concerns in aerospace—cost, weight, safety, and most recently, environmental footprint.

The development and delivery of demonstrated technologies into the aerospace market can best be achieved by combining expertise and resources, and maximizing opportunities for Canadian companies at all levels of the supply chain. In this respect, NRC Aerospace plays a critical role in supporting its collaborators bridge the gap between innovation and commercialization and facilitating the introduction of new technologies into both civilian and military markets.

We are here to assist you in providing technology solutions for the following market segments:

• Aeronautical product development, to accelerate the development of new technologies and bring them to market more rapidly;
• Air defence technologies, to reduce the acquisition, maintenance and operating costs as well as the environmental footprint of air defence operations;
• Aircraft icing, detecting and mitigating icing risks to meet new regulatory requirements, reduce operational costs and improve flight safety;
• Cabin and cockpit technology, improving working and traveling onboard aircraft;
• Future aircraft development, technologies for the design, manufacturing and demonstration of next generation cost-effective and environmentally-friendly aircraft; and,
• Unmanned aircraft systems civil certification and applications.

NRC Aerospace is home to critical infrastructure that allows us to support a diverse client base with services in various aeronautical fields. We oversee a fleet of fixed and rotary wing research aircraft, materials performance evaluation tools and first-class aerospace manufacturing equipment. We offer technical and advisory services in the following areas:

• Advanced material removal technologies
• Aeroacoustics measurement, testing and evaluation
• Aerospace structures and materials performance, including aging aircraft, composites and novel airframe materials, spin rig with cyclic and dwell mode testing capabilities, electrodynamic shaker capability, Thermal Mechanical Fatigue and more.
• Alternative fuels research
• Automation, robotics and intelligent manufacturing systems
• Combustor and fuel nozzle development and evaluation
• Composite structures fabrication, forming and joining
• Flight data recorder and playback centre
• Flight testing
• Flight vehicle aerodynamics
• Gas turbine engine certification
• Gas turbine engine research, including performance assessment, test cell development, and diagnostic, prognostic and health monitoring.
• Ground vehicle and ground-based structures aerodynamics
• Icing formation, detection and mitigation
• Mechanical components and tribology (lubricants, bearings, gearboxes)
• Metal joining and forming
• Sports aerodynamics
• Structural health monitoring and non-destructive inspection technologies for manufacturing and MRO

NRC Aerospace maintains national research and technology development facilities in Ottawa, Montreal and Thompson, Manitoba. These facilities are an important component of Canada’s engineering infrastructure and include a state-of-the-art manufacturing centre; six wind tunnels; engine test cells with various customizable capabilities; and, the Global Aerospace Centre for Icing and Environmental Research (GLACIER), a specialized 9-metre-diameter outdoor test facility that sprays super-cooled water mist into the world's largest aircraft turbines.

• Aerospace manufacturing technologies
• Engine icing facilities
• Full-scale aircraft testing facility
• Gas turbine engine and component test facilities
• Materials and structures testing facilities
• Research aircraft facilities (rotary and fixed wing)
• Reverberant acoustic chamber
• Wind tunnel testing facilities

NRC Aerospace exclusively owns a number of software programs, processes and technologies that are available for licensing under conditions tailored for each licensee. To discuss licensing opportunities that fit your specific needs, please contact one of our business experts today. Below is a sample list of the current licensing opportunities we offer:

• 2D morphogenetic icing code
• Advanced NDI (non-destructive inspection) technologies for manufacturing and MRO
• Bell 412 flight model data package (that meets the requirements for FAA level D simulation)
• Continuous resistance welding of thermoplastic composites
• Erosion resistant coatings
• Frequency selective response type control system
• High accuracy, high efficiency conductive heating technology for integral mould tool heating, bonded assembly of composite structure, and bonded repair of composite structure
• Ice crystal sensor technologies