This is the introduction to the business page of this web site. All the business activities of WAB are covered by the four links just above. So if you know which one you are interested in - see you there! (If you wish to see the family portion of the site follow the "Home" link - don't worry, you can easily get back here.)
Originally (~ 1986) WAB stood for 'Words and Bytes' - which related to technical authorship and programming. The authorship has waned and art and illustration became much more important early in this century. More recently, since Jan 2008, I have taken to providing advice as a consultant to aviation companies unused to working to commercial aviation software standards. I suppose this activity provides the "Words" component now! However the "a" should now be an "i" for Illustration.
Preferred contact is normally by email to -
wab@pathcom.com
or by phone between 9 am and 4:30 pm (Pacific time) Monday through Friday to 604 947 2023 using the country code for Canada if necessary
1957 Joined Southern Electricity Board (SEB) (England) as a Student
Apprentice
1963 Awarded B.Sc. Electrical Engineering
1964 Became Graduate Member of the IEE
1964 Worked for SEB as Distribution Engineer
1965 Moved to the Plessey Co. as an Electronics Engineer in the underwater
acoustics division (wrote first professional software)
1968 Moved to Smiths Industries as an Electronics and Systems Engineer on
the aircraft engine control side.
1969 Started work on Smiths first digital engine control - doing mostly
analogue, digital and computer design
1972 Became a Member of the IEE (#10531387). Around this time my work had
shifted from primarily hardware to primarily software development
1976 Made Deputy Lab Head
1979 Made Lab Head - still primarily concerned with software development.
1984 Moved to ‘John Bell Technical Systems’ as a “Principal Software
Engineer”
1985 Moved to Pratt and Whitney Canada as Assistant Project Engineer (after
gaining P. Eng. from the PEO in 1988 # 29679503) Worked on 209T, 206B,
(helicopter) and 305 (fan jet) engine controls. Companies worked with
included Smiths Industries, Hamilton Sundstrand, and BAC - primarily as
technical / program supplier manager
1990 (approx..) Moved to PWC’s Control Group. Worked on 305, 306A, 306B, 308B
(fan jet) and PT6 (turboprop) engine controls. Primary roles were customer
liaison, requirements production, and software / control certification as
Team Leader. Companies worked with included Smiths Industries, Hamilton
Sundstrand, SNECMA, Hawker, Fairchild Dornier, and Lear jet.
2003 Appointed Chief Controls Engineer and
TCCA delegate (DAA) (software) Worked on PT6
(turboprop) and the new small business jet engine, however primary role was
to integrate the activities of PWC’s Mississauga and Longueil sites controls
groups into a streamlined and common team. Companies
worked with included Hamilton Sundstrand, Pilatus, and Hispano Suiza Canada
Jan 2007 Retired from PWC, IEE, and PEO
Jan 2008 I started to work with clients and Transport Canada to facilitate
applicants attaining certification for their software under RTCA DO-178B. At
times this involves substituting for Transport Canada at review meetings. I
have been involved in developments at all four 178B software levels. Earlier
I was involved in the development of RTCA DO-248, and during 2008 I joined
three sub committees working on RTCA-DO178C, though this waned during the
Summer of 2009 owing to my wife Susan being ill.
2009 –
I continued to work for clients
involved in 178B related applications. These have now covered aircraft,
engine and system level applications, at levels A through D, and involved
ten different Companies that I either worked for or oversaw the work of.
This has included direct work ( e.g. qualification of tools), document
reviews,
