COMPANY IN ELBRIDGE HAS TECHNOLOGY THAT TESTS WIRING
Charley Hannagan Staff writer
As Doug Hirsh watched American Airlines cancel flights and strand passengers to perform wiring inspections, he knew the solution lay on the computers at his employer, Northeastern Electronics. Northeastern, located on Route 5 in Elbridge, has an exclusive license with Rome Labs to use technology that can easily detect problems with electrical cables.
Sen. Charles E. Schumer, D-New York, promised Monday to push the Federal Aviation Administration to test the Universal Smart Cable technology, and if it proves successful, to allow airlines to use it.
“They should be asking all airlines to use this technology,” the senator said after touring the plant that employs 40 and has about $10 million a year in sales.
Founded 27 years ago, Northeastern makes cables used in military and civilian products.
Here’s how the Universal Smart Cable technology works:
Using Northeastern’s equipment, a maintenance worker sends a radio frequency through a cable to get a base reading. Any change in the reading afterward can show that the wiring has become damaged, such as through corrosion or pinching, which could then lead to a spark and fire, said Hirsh, the company’s operations manager.
The company could have a prototype ready for FAA testing by October, said Northeastern founder and President Steven M. Peltz. If airlines were ordered to use the technology, Peltz said the company would need to hire more workers and expand its facility.
In addition to aircraft, Hirsch said the technology could be used in other ways, such as by the Department of Homeland Security, or for testing cable strength on bridges.
You can contact Charley Hannagan at 470-2161 or channagan@syracuse.com
Michelle Gabel/The Post-Standard
SEN. CHARLES SCHUMER, D-N.Y., Monday visits Northeast Electronics in Elbridge. The company has technology that could detect problems in planes’ wiring. Manually checking such wiringhas forced American Airlines to cancel hundreds of flights. Schumer promised to push the Federal Aviation Administration to test the company’s Universal Smart Cable technology.
Copyright, 2008, The Herald Company