Metamaterial Technologies (MTI; Halifax, NS, Canada) and its optical filters division, Lamda Guard, entered into an agreement with aircraft manufacturer Airbus to validate, certify, and commercialize its laser protection product metaAIR [trademarked]. In 2014, MTI signed its first agreement with Airbus to test and tailor metaAIR, which is a flexible metamaterial optical filter engineered to protect pilots against harmful laser beams aimed at aircraft.
RELATED ARTICLE: MetaAIR metamaterial film protects pilots from cockpit laser strikes
Laser strikes on commercial aircraft are rising globally and laser pointers are increasing in power and decreasing in price. Lasers can distract pilots during critical phases of flight and can cause temporary visual impairment. In 2015, according to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), the number of reported laser incidents nearly doubled to 7,703 in commercial aviation.
"We know from facts and conversations with clients that cockpit illuminations are real, immediate and increasing in frequency, and metaAIR will benefit our customers," said Pascal Andrei, VP, chief product security officer at Airbus. "We also see an increasing number of possible applications for metaAIR, beyond the commercial aircraft division." MTI is a great example of Airbus "start-up 2 partner" program led by Elsa Keïta from Airbus Corporate Innovation. This program aims at building mutually beneficial partnerships with disruptive innovators and Airbus has been working in a successful and collaborative approach with MTI to accelerate their laser protection solution for the benefit of its customers.
"Today marks another milestone in our strategic partnership with Airbus. We are given the opportunity to propel our platform technology and learn from some of the top aerospace engineers while understanding the rigours of developing a product for the aerospace industry," said George Palikaras, MTI founder and CEO. "metaAIR will provide vision protection to pilots in the aviation industry and can offer solutions in other industries including the military, transportation and glass manufacturers."
MTI has also developed a partnership with Covestro, one of the world's leading companies for high-tech polymers. Covestro supplies a custom Bayfol HX photopolymer film for the manufacturing of metaAIRT. "MTI is at the cutting edge of optical applications. They have developed a unique optical filter that is different from anything currently available on the market, and we have been working with them for the last two years to provide a specialty photopolymer material film and support the required volume," said Thomas Fäcke, responsible for marketing and business development of photopolymer films at Covestro. "Safety is very important to our company, and we are excited to be a part of this solution."
SOURCE: Metamaterial Technologies; http://www.metamaterial.com/news-and-events/press-releases/press-release/metamaterial-technologies-inc-partners-with-airbus-to-co-develop-and-commercialize-metaair-a-laser-protection-solution/
