The Powervamp Airshow division returned from Paris last week from their largest airshow to date. Despite the extreme heat, long hours and, at times, immense pressure – the team ensured the power kept running for some of the world’s highest profile commercial aircraft.
Build-up to the oldest and largest airshow started early last year when a list was submitted of confirmed airframe manufacturers and the aircraft they intended to showcase. Bombardier, Qatar, Gulfstream, Boeing and Airbus were among the first to commit to the 2015 show, and set the tone for a varied mix of power requirements.
The airshow team were tasked with calculating the power requirements for each aircraft (maximum current draw with avionics suite, internal lighting etc.), cable runs from the static junction boxes and the amount of distribution boxes required with corresponding circuit breaker ratings.
To make the situation interesting, the location of the static park junction boxes (from which all power would be taken from to run the converters, power supplies and air-coolers) was to be based on previous shows. The reality was that the locations wouldn’t be known until the team arrived on site a few days prior to the show starting. (Junction box relocation by the show organisers could easily result in a number of lengthy additional 3-phase cable runs that wouldn’t have been factored into the original kit).
The bulk of the show equipment consisted of 45 x 400Hz frequency converters, 26 x DC power supplies, 27 x air-coolers, 48 x junction boxes, 120 metres of cable protection and a mixture of 3-phase and DC output cabling totaling 4,875 metres. Total weight came to 39 tons and was transported from the Powervamp factory to Paris via 2 x 44ft curtain-side lorries.
The team of ten engineers, project manager and marketing manager arrived on site to take receipt of the kit and relocate to the holding base next to the Ariane rocket, just off the static park. Day one was committed to a detailed test of all sensitive PV45 and PV90-3 400Hz frequency converters to check the integrity of the equipment following its 350 mile journey from Luton to Paris.
Over the following six days aircraft arrived at Le Bourget and were towed into their final position on the static park. The Powervamp team ensured the correct equipment was pushed, towed or forklifted alongside the aircraft before being powered up in situ to ensure power was accepted.
With the start of the Paris Airshow just a few days away, pressure would escalate as a number of aircraft still hadn’t arrived yet. Early starts and late finishes would be expected to guarantee a trouble-free start to the show when power was required on the first day.
The Powervamp PV90-3 400Hz frequency converter was the main product in demand at the show – since the last Paris airshow in 2013, the converter has been extensively re-designed to incorporate a number of new features such as the easy power module swap out to minimize downtime and upgraded IP55 rated enclosure. The PV90-3 was also relied upon to power high profile aircraft including the Airbus A380 and A350 as well as the new Boeing 787 Dreamliner and Bombardiers C Series regional jet, which was to be launched at the show.
PV90-3 400Hz frequency converter in action
The equipment was run out, fired up and worked flawlessly despite static park temperatures reaching in excess of 30 degrees Celsius early in the week.
With high temperatures causing a flurry of additional requests for air-coolers, the team were kept busy as additional stock was wheeled out across the static park.
‘As the corporate days came to a close, a number of aircraft departed resulting in the team working long hours as equipment was relocated or brought back to base for inspection.’
Despite all equipment functioning without issue, the team were on hand during the corporate days (Monday – Thursday) to maneuverer equipment away from the numerous aircraft taking part in the airshow, and re-connecting once they were returned to the static park. As the corporate days came to a close, a number of aircraft departed resulting in the team working long hours as equipment was relocated or brought back to base for inspection.
As the pressure eased due to the reduction in aircraft on display during the public days (Friday – Sunday), it gave the team a chance to re-pack the redundant equipment with their protective transportation enclosures and re-house some of the large 3-phase cable runs.
As the weekend came to a close, so did the airshow with a large number of remaining aircraft departing late into the evening. Equipment was pulled out of the way for returning to base Monday morning. With the lorries booked to return on Tuesday, the pressure would return for the remaining Powervamp staff to have all equipment accounted for, packed and palletised in time for collection.
Lorries arrived Tuesday mid-morning and due to the previous day’s long hours, the kit was ready to load and was soon being strapped down in anticipation of the long journey back. All that was left for the team to do was a final sweep of the site before making their way back to the hotel in anticipation of the journey back to the UK.
Powervamp Airshow Services Team after a job well done
The Paris Airshow 2015 hosted 350,000 visitors over the trade and public days, with 2,303 exhibiting companies from 48 countries. 130 aircraft were in attendance and confirmed orders taken at the show were in excess of $130bn.
****The equipment used at the 51st Paris International Airshow was manufactured exclusively for the show and has only been in use for 7 days. The 400Hz 90kVA and 45Kva frequency converters are now available for sale at a special reduced price.****
For further details on specification and pricing, please email sales@powervamp.com or call our UK office on +44 (0)1934 643000 during office hours.
