Aerospace

		NRC Institute for Aerospace Research
		Aerodynamics
		Flight Research
		Structures & Materials
		Gas Turbines
		Manufacturing

The aerospace industry remains one of the major industrial success stories for Canada. NRC has served this sector for over 50 years. NRC performs aerospace R&D, and maintains and staffs national aerospace facilities that are vital to the future growth of the Canadian aerospace industry.

As Canada's national aerospace laboratory, the NRC Institute for Aerospace Research (NRC-IAR) develops and maintains the core competencies and knowledge base critical to the needs of the Canadian aerospace community. It fosters innovation in the design, manufacture, performance, use and safety of air and space vehicles and supports the development, commercialization and implementation of leading-edge technologies through world-class research, and networking both nationally and internationally.

DID YOU KNOW?

Seeing in the Dark

For pilots on a search-and-rescue operation at night, being able to see properly can make the difference between success – and injury or death. Night vision goggles and other tools help pilots to see what's out there, but machines can't do it alone. Human factors play a key role in how well the technology works. That's where NRC researchers come in. They are experts in human factors research – the study of how humans interact with machines. Jennings, an engineer, and Dr. Macuda, a neuroscientist, bring together science and technology with engineering and psychology to understand human needs and, in the end, create a better product. 

NRC researchers' work on night vision goggles, for instance, has helped to determine the impact of placing the night vision system on the side or the front. Researchers are currently exploring the impact of "noise", the cloud of moving spots, similar to snow on a TV set with poor reception, that night vision devices produce in low light conditions, on the behaviour of users. And, because the lab for testing the goggles is a step away from the large hangar housing a range of different aircraft, theories developed in the lab can be quickly tested under real conditions – which means the aviation community benefits from improvements just as quickly.

Age and Weathering

Age and weathering have a big impact on airplane safety. NRC researchers are working to better anticipate what can happen to aircraft as they age and are exposed to environmental degradation. A process, which uses mathematical models and practical tools to predict and evaluate aircraft safety, is being used by defence departments in England, Australia, the United States and Canada.