Typical GFTS™ Program Schedule
The typical TAI GFTS™ design and production project is divided into several phases. This allows us to insure the end result will meet expectations, and allows stopping points if it won’t.
Phase 1 - Thermal Strap Design and analysis (2 weeks)
- Uses the customer’s requirements:
- Thermal performance
- Geometry
- Keep-out zones
- Material requirements
- Outgassing requirements
- Shock and vibration
- Number of units required
- Cost
- Results in prototype design
- As close to flight unit design as possible and practical
- Faster and cheaper to construct than flight unit
- Preliminary Design Review
Phase 2 – Prototype Thermal Strap construction and test (4 weeks)
- Construct and test prototype
- Usually no certified materials
- Usually no surface treatments
- Minimal flight-level QA control
- Form, fit, function
- Thermal performance
- Feedback for design refinements
Phase 3 – Design refinement (1 – 2 weeks)
- Redesign flight unit as necessary with feedback from Prototype
- Interim/Critical Design Review
Phase 4 – Engineering Design Unit / Qualification Unit construction and test (4 – 6 weeks, depending on requirements and controls)
- Qualification Units for customer qualification
- Vibration and shock
- Environmental
- Lifetime
- Flight-level QA control, if desired
- First Article Inspection, if desired