Acme Aerospace

Acme Aerospace designs and builds power systems for military and commercial aircraft. It makes startup, backup and emergency power systems, and it builds them in house from prototype through production. It also supports aircraft through repair work and 24-hour AOG service. The company says it has more than 70 years of experience and has powered over 12,500 aircraft worldwide.

The product range covers batteries, chargers, control units and emergency backup systems. Battery chargers are designed so they do not disturb aircraft radios and navigation systems. Lithium-ion battery systems are lighter and more powerful, with built-in thermal management and fault protection. The company's own fiber nickel-cadmium battery is a sealed cell that needs no routine maintenance. It can be serviced without leaving the aircraft, which lowers upkeep costs.

Other products include battery charger control units with software that watches voltage, current and temperature. The software follows DO-178C. Main aircraft and APU batteries range from a 3 Ah emergency pack to a 60 Ah main battery. Emergency backup systems keep flight controls, communication and lighting running if main power fails. The catalogue lists 26 products.

Engineers design to DO-160 for general aviation and MIL-STD for defense. Testing includes thermal shock from minus 40 to plus 70 degrees Celsius, altitude simulation, vibration and humidity. Teams of mechanical, electrical and chemical engineers work with quality and production staff. The company plates its own electrodes, winds transformers, builds circuit boards and harnesses, and runs system tests. A 90,000-square-foot site holds design, qualification, production and repair work.

Acme Aerospace serves commercial airliners and cargo aircraft, military and defense programs, air medical and emergency services, and specialized or modified aircraft. Past programs include the Apache helicopter, the C-17, the Boeing 777, the F-18, the Embraer E-190 and the F-35. The company shows Airbus, Boeing, American Airlines, Lufthansa, Lockheed Martin, Embraer and De Havilland Canada among the names it works with.

The company holds an FAA Part 145 repair station and says it also has an EASA certified repair station. It is AS9100 certified, and customers such as Boeing, Lockheed Martin and American Airlines audit it each year. Its roots go back to Acme Electric, founded in Cleveland, Ohio in 1917. A sister company, Avionic Instruments, adds skills such as welding and circuit design.

Services

• Battery chargers
• Lithium-ion battery systems
• Fiber nickel-cadmium batteries
• Battery charger control units
• Main aircraft and APU batteries
• Emergency battery backup systems
• Repair and overhaul
• 24/7 AOG support
• Engineering and qualification support