GAS TURBINE
PROPULSION SYSTEMS    

BD (Bernie) MacIsaac
Dr MacIsaac received an Honors B. Eng. (Mechanical) from the Technical University of
Nova Scotia in 1970. He was awarded a Science ’67 graduate scholarship which took
him to Ottawa to study Jet Engine Dynamics and Controls at Carleton University. He was
awarded an M.Eng. in 1972 and a Ph.D. in 1974.
Following completion of his studies, Dr MacIsaac spent four years at the National
Research Council of Canada where he helped to develop the first 8-bit microprocessor
control for general aviation gas turbines. He was awarded a patent for a control design
to prevent in-flight engine stalls on helicopter engines.
Dr MacIsaac formed GasTOPS Ltd. (Gas Turbines and Other Propulsion Systems ) in
1979, an Ottawa-based company which specializes in the application of intelligent systems
to machinery protection and machinery maintenance systems. Much of this company’s
work has focused on aerospace and industrial power plants. About 1991, GasTOPS began
the development of an on-line oil debris detector for damage recognition of the oil-wetted
components of power plants. This device is now fitted to many modern fighter aircraft,
many land-based CoGen and pipeline engines and is selling well in the new emerging
wind turbine market. This development has led to the establishment of a manufacturing
facility and to worldwide sales of this product.

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