EMA4FLIGHT and VALEMA are two related projects aimed at developing Electronic Control Units and Electromechanical Actuators for flight control systems.

The goal of EMA4FLIGHT is to design and develop optimized and reliable electromechanical actuators, as well as their Electronic Control Units (ECUs), for operating flap surfaces. The EMA4FLIGHT project contributes to current research that supports the development of a more electric aircraft (MEA).

In the case of actuators used on flight surfaces, such as flaps, the main advantages are: reduced weight and maintenance, elimination of tube vibration problems, increased system reliability and performance, and reduced pressure losses due to the absence of valves. In developing the ECUs, EMA4FLIGHT has made a special effort to use only simple components in accordance with DO-254 regulations, which simplifies the unit qualification process.

Closely linked to EMA4FLIGHT is the VALEMA project, whose objective is the manufacture and validation of the EMA + ECU subsystem, with the aim of incorporating it into the FTB2 demonstrator for in-flight validation.

VALEMA (Validation Tests of Electromechanical Actuators and Their Dedicated Control Units at TRL Level 6) has two defined objectives:

• The manufacture of EMA units (Electro-Mechanical Actuators) and ECUs, designed and developed in accordance with call for proposals JTI-CS2-2016-CFP03-SYS-02-14.
• To conduct hardware and software quality tests on the control units (ECUs) in order to obtain flight authorization for the FTB2 demonstrator of the Regional Aircraft.

One of the project’s main objectives is to achieve TRL 6 and meet safety requirements in accordance with the RTCA/DO-254 hardware standard and the RTCA DO-160 environmental standard.

These projects have been funded by the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation program.

In accordance with the dissemination policy to promote accessible and open scientific research, complete information on this project is available on the Community Research and Development Information Service (CORDIS).

These projects have received funding from the Clean Sky 2 Joint Undertaking, as part of the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation program, under the following details:

• EMA4FLIGHT Reference: 738042 – Call: H2020‐CS2‐CFP03‐2016‐01
  Skylife budget: €282,118.75 / Consortium budget: €1,698,689.38 – Funding percentage: 100%
• VALEMA Reference: 755615 – Call: H2020‐CS2‐CFP04‐2016‐02
  Skylife Budget: €85,875.00 / Consortium Budget: €1,091,512.50 – Funding Percentage: 70%

At Skylife Engineering, we lead projects thanks to our extensive experience in integrating advanced technologies and our strong commitment to sustainability in aviation. We work closely with each project manager, applying a rigorous process of review and continuous improvement. This approach ensures solutions of the highest quality—safe and effective—that have a real and lasting impact on the industry.