EMTEQ has been selected by the US Department of Defense (DoD) and the Office of Naval Research for Phase I of the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Program to develop a rotor blade tip lighting system. Firms with the capability to conduct research and development (R&D) and to commercialize the results of that R&D are considered for SBIR programs.

The DoD SBIR Program stimulates technological innovation, strengthening the role of small business in meeting DoD research and development needs, and increasing the commercial application of DoD-supported research or research and development results.

The goal of this DoD SBIR Program is to design and build a reliable, lightweight rotor blade tip lighting system that can be modulated to provide red, green and white navigation lights at the appropriate positions on the azimuth; a hover mode to clearly mark the complete rotor disk circumference to ground crew; and a low-observable, Night-Vision Goggle (NVG) compatible mode for night formation flight. A lighting system attached to the blade tips that allows navigation lights to be displayed directly at the edges of the rotor disk would greatly improve visibility to other aircraft.

Phase I of this program is to determine, insofar as possible, the scientific, technical, and commercial merit and feasibility of ideas submitted under the SBIR Program. This phase occurs over six months.

Only those firms that were awarded Phase I contracts are eligible to participate in Phases II and III based on results of the Phase I effort and the scientific, technical, and commercial merit of the Phase II proposal. Phase II involves fabricating a full-scale version of the system to demonstrate the applicability of the system. Phase III transitions to a flight-qualified technology that the small business may offer to aircraft manufacturers for incorporation in experimental and/or production aircraft.

About EMTEQ and Its Partners
Incorporated in 1996, EMTEQ offers an extensive selection of innovative, value add products and services for both retrofit and forward fit applications in the air transport, government systems, and corporate markets. Products range from avionics systems installation kits, to interior lighting and CMS, to exterior lighting and structural modification kits. To complement this product offering is EMTEQ’s unsurpassed product engineering and design, FAA/EASA/Transport Canada certification and consulting services, and comprehensive program management. Employing more than 400 employees worldwide, offices and manufacturing facilities are located in Miramar, Florida; Winnipeg, Canada; Montreal, Canada; Taubaté, Brazil; Bachenbülach, Switzerland; and strategic partner Cable Technology Inc. in Great Falls, Montana. EMTEQ complies with EN/JSIQ/AS9100:2004, ISO9001:2008, or EN9100:2003 standards backed with FAA/EASA Part 145 Repair Stations and global technical support. Learn more about EMTEQ and its partners at www.emteq.com.