HASTAC- High stability Altimeter System for Transponders and Air data Computers

The FP6 HASTAC Project started in January 2005 and it successfully finished at the end of 2007. This project has delivered a feasibility study for relevant packages.

HASTAC project represented a specific targeted research project running under EU's 6^th Framework Programme:

Thematic priority: Priority 4: Aeronautics and Space

Call identifier: FP6-2003-Aero-1

Research area: 3 - Improving aircraft safety and security

1.3.1.3-b Accident prevention;

• To improve aircraft safety;
• To increase the operational capacity and safety of the air transport system;
• To improve the environmental impact with regard to emissions

This project responds to the challenge of ensuring that, irrespectively of the growth of air traffic, air transportation will be safer. HASTAC contributes to one of the major challenges identified in the Strategic Research Agenda for European Aeronautics. Reffering to incidents like 11 September 2001, the SAS plane in Milan Airport and the in-air crash at Bodensee, the European avionics industry has focused on development programmes that improve this type if safety.
The main project objective was to increase the safety in all in-flight situations, particularly low visibility situations, by improving the transducers used in Air Data Computers (ADC) for aircraft applications.
The project results are relevant to flying on autopilot in the reduced vertical separation minima of 1 000ft, as well as to demanding manual flying situations in darkness and low visibility. In transponders applications, the project gave significantly increased reliability in altitude information for manual and automated Air Traffic Control systems.

SINTEF (Norway) - coordinated the project.

MEMSCAP AS (Norway)

Microelectronica SA (Romania)

Penny & Gilles Aerospace Ltd (United Kingdom)

McAlpine Helicopters (United Kingdom)

and Farus Grup SRL (Republic of Moldova) - were project partners.

HASTAC developed a new generation of barometric sensors based high precision and high stability altimeter transducers of significantly reduced weight and cost that will set a new standard for accuracy and safety in rotary and fixed wing aircrafts. A HASTAC target was that European avionic system industry will regain the market lead in ADCs as well as in pressure transducers of extreme long-term stability.

Microelectronica Romania was probably one of the first Romanian companies that was an active partner in an EC FP6 proposal through the HASTAC project. This success of HASTAC project represents one of the first steps into the western European electronics and avionics market.

Results obtained in the FP6 HASTAC project will be utilized further in the HISVESTA project.