Warsaw – November 7th, 2012 – One of the world’s most successful military training aircraft, the PZL-130 TC Orlik, manufactured by EADS PZL "Warszawa-Okecie" S.A., is now being leveled with the aid of a Nikon Nivo™ 5M total station. Aircraft leveling, both longitudinal (forward and aft) and lateral (left to right), is performed in the final stages of assembly. Accurate leveling of the aircraft on the ground is required before precise alignment and symmetry checks can be performed to confirm that the geometry of the aircraft is to specification.
Prior to using the Nikon Nivo total station, leveling was accomplished with a theodolite and precision leveling rod. The theodolite system was very easy to use, but distances could not be measured, and it required manually calculating the height differences and calculation errors and manually entering the values into a computer.
ADS PZL "Warszawa-Okecie" S.A. sought a more efficient solution – one that would be easy to use and automatically collect and transmit data to an integrated computer. ImpexGEO, one of Poland’s largest suppliers of measuring equipment, suggested and demonstrated the Nikon Nivo 5M total station for the task. Now with the Nikon Nivo 5M, leveling the Orlik aircraft is significantly faster and more reliable. The reflectorless technology of the Nikon Nivo 5M eliminates the need for a levelling staff, and all the height differences are checked using both distance and vertical angle measurements. All data are automatically stored in the internal memory of the total station for later export in ASCII format to a PC. In addition, the Nikon Nivo coaxial laser pointer speeds aiming and often eliminates the need to optically point the unit.
Though Orlik leveling technicians had never before used a total station, they required only two hours of technical training. The Nikon Nivo is easy to use and its shortcut user-defined keys made it possible to customize the total station to provide access to the most important features with just a single keystroke. The lightweight, small size of the instrument, its two independent hot-swappable batteries, and full-day battery life are also valued features of the new unit.
The unit is performing so well, EADS PZL "Warszawa-Okecie" S.A expects to expand the use of the new leveling system to all its aircraft.
About EADS PZL "Warszawa-Okecie" S.A.
EADS PZL "Warszawa-Okecie" S.A. is Poland’s oldest aviation manufacturer. Founded in Okecie District of Warsaw in 1928, it has produced 22 aircraft models and sold nearly 6000 aircraft to customers in more than 30 countries. The PZL-23 Karas, PZL-37 Los, PZL-104 Wilga, PZL-106 Kruk and PZL-130 Orlik are the best-known models. In 2001 the Polish Government sold 78% of the firm to EADS CASA (presently Airbus Military).The PZL-130 Orlik first entered service in 1993, and since has become a highly successful turbo-prop military trainer.
About ImpexGEO
Founded in 1992 and headquartered in Nieporet near Warsaw, Impexgeo has grown to become one of Poland’s largest suppliers of measurement equipment for surveying and GIS applications. It is Poland’s foremost Trimble GIS dealer and the country’s sole Nikon and Spectra Precision dealer with a wide range of sub dealers to provide support throughout the entire country.
About the Nikon Nivo
Nikon’s latest generation total station, the Nikon Nivo M is the ultimate in quality for hardworking conditions all day, every day. The Nikon Nivo M5 assures accurate repeatable measurements all day long to any point. Nivo M Series field software highlights include: a complete set of CoGo functions, simple data management of files, quick-coding for convenient one-button data collection of point features and raw target data. Nivo M Series models support Bluetooth communications to external data collectors.
About Nikon-Trimble Co Ltd
Nikon-Trimble Co Ltd is a joint venture between Nikon Corporation and Trimble. The joint venture designs and manufactures a complete line of optical total stations, theodolites and autolevels featuring established technology for optimal efficiency and cost-effectiveness. Within Japan, Nikon-Trimble Co Ltd sells Nikon-branded optical surveying products and Trimble branded GNSS surveying and construction products. Outside Japan, Trimble and its subsidiary Spectra Precision are the exclusive distributors of Nikon-branded survey and construction products.
