29 MAY 2009 _______________________________________ * Boeing 787 On Track To Fly In June - CEO * SIA A380 Airbus Experience Engine Failure * Jet aircraft biofuel passes flight * 'Waggling' Wings Could Save 20% in Fuel Consumption * Flying on fruit juice: Jumbo powered by jatropha eco-oil takes to the skies * FAA Honors Alaska Airlines * Army looks into cause of copter's fatal crash *********************************** Boeing 787 On Track To Fly In June - CEO May 27, 2009 Boeing's delayed 787 Dreamliner is on track for its first test flight next month, Boeing CEO Jim McNerney said Wednesday. "I think the airplane will fly in June. We will embark on a flight test program as we described it," McNerney said. The company pushed back the 787 delivery schedule for a fourth time in December, making its plane almost two years late and risking cancellations from angry airlines. The plane has been plagued by repeated production delays. McNerney said demand for the 787 is strong despite what he called "market churn." McNerney was referring to order cancellations this year, including 57 canceled 787 orders. Boeing and rival Airbus are suffering as airlines and cargo operators defer plane deliveries amid weak demand in the economic recession. After 60 orders and 60 cancellations, Boeing now has zero net orders for 2009. McNerney said he expects the the first 787 deliveries in the first quarter of 2010. But he said there is always the chance that the schedule could be disrupted by a mechanical issue coming to light during the test flight. http://news.airwise.com/story/view/1243459904.html *********************************** SIA A380 Airbus Experience Engine Failure The Aviation Herald, 28 May 2009, Simon Hradecky A Singapore Airlines Airbus A380-800, registration 9V-SKA performing flight SQ-318 from Singapore (Singapore) to London Heathrow,EN (UK), arrived at London's Heathrow Airport on just three engines with the fourth (Trent 970) shut down and with a delay of about one hour. The airplane landed safely. The return flight SQ-321 had to be postponed to the next day and was performed by the incident airplane with a delay of 18 hours. http://singaporenewsalternative.blogspot.com/2009/05/sia-a380-airbus-experie nce-engine.html *********************************** Jet aircraft biofuel passes flight tests: Fuel made from algae, plants also cuts greenhouse gases LES BLUMENTHAL; The News Tribune | . Published May 29, 2009 Comments (0) Recommend (0)WASHINGTON - Initial tests have found that jet fuel made partly of camelina, algae or other bio-feed stocks can reduce greenhouse gas emissions from airplanes by more than 50 percent, doesn't affect performance and presents no technical or safety problems, a top Boeing official said Thursday. "It meets all jet fuel requirements and then some," said Billy Glover, who heads The Boeing Co.'s environmental strategy group. Glover said a full report on the test flights would be released next month and aviation biofuel could be approved for use as early as next year. Despite its promise, however, Glover said the real problem is how quickly growers can start producing and refiners processing enough biofuel to make it an alternative to the Jet A fuel used today. Aircraft account for about 3 percent of the nation's carbon dioxide emissions, the principal greenhouse gas, according to the federal Environmental Protection Agency. Though Boeing doesn't expect much growth in aircraft carbon dioxide emissions, some have estimated they could triple by 2050. Boeing, Virgin Atlantic, New Zealand Air, Continental Airlines and Japan Airlines, along with GE Aircraft Engines, have conducted four tests using a mixture of biofuel and regular jet fuel over the past 15 months. The planes involved included wide-body 747s and single-aisle 737s. The biofuels included blends of babassu, sustainably grown coconut oil, jatropha, algae and camelina. Babassu oil comes from a tree that grows in the Amazon region of South America. Jatropha is a scrub brush that grows on marginal farmlands. Camelina, which provided oil for lamps in the days of the Roman Empire but for centuries was dismissed as little more than a weed, also can be grown on marginal lands, perhaps in rotation with such crops as dry-land wheat. Of all the crops, camelina, for now, holds the most promise, Glover said. Molecular biologists at Targeted Growth, a Seattle company, have used genetic engineering to develop a super strain of camelina seeds that are being sown on tens of thousands of acres in eastern Washington, Montana, Idaho, North Dakota and South Dakota, said Thomas Todaro, chief executive. Eventually, camelina could be grown on more than 10 million acres in the U.S. In addition to the five states where it's now grown, Todaro said, it could be grown in eastern Oregon, in high plains states such as Texas and Oklahoma, and even as far east as North Carolina and Georgia. "This year, there were three times more requests for our seeds than we were able to provide," he said. While reluctant to call camelina a wonder plant, Todaro said it could produce 100 to 200 gallons of camelina oil an acre, or about 1 billion gallons a year. The plant also grows well in Australia, Canada and central Europe. Todaro said it wouldn't compete with other crops, such as wheat and corn, because it can be grown on marginal lands or in rotation, and doesn't require irrigation or heavy use of petroleum-based fertilizers. Although the world's airlines consume about 65 billion gallons of fuel a year, Todaro and Glover said that camelina would be a good start. In addition, Glover said the test show a camelina blend of aviation fuel reduced carbon dioxide emissions by more than 80 percent, more than any other bio-feed stock. "Camelina is very encouraging, but we need a portfolio of things," he said. While algae may be the most promising biofuel, it's still eight to 10 years away from full-scale production, Todaro and Glover said. "It could be the great savior, but it's in its early stages," Glover said of algae. "I'd be very careful in hyping algae," added Todaro, whose company also works with algae. The test flights lasted a total of less than six hours, but Glover said the biofuels have been thoroughly tested in the laboratory. The Air Force and Boeing competitor Airbus have also been working to develop aviation biofuel. "As soon as it is approved, we just need to start getting it to the filing stations," Glover said. Les Blumenthal: 202-383-0008 lblumenthal@mcclatchydc.com blogs.thenewstribune.com/politics http://www.theolympian.com/southsound/story/864871.html *********************************** 'Waggling' Wings Could Save 20% in Fuel Consumption by Sami Grover, Carrboro, NC, USA on 05.29.09 Image credit: Jstockard Aircraft 'Waggle Effect' Can Reduce Fuel Consumption 20% Everybody knows that flying is an energy intensive activity. Unfortunately, many long awaited innovations in fuel-efficient aviation are of the more far-fetched variety - I'm thinking airships, blended wings etc. Yet it's long been noted that the addition of 'winglets' to aircraft wings can reduce fuel consumption - in fact, Southwest Airline's use of winglets even earned them a nomination from one of our readers for our Unexpected Green competition. But that's not the only simple improvement that could cut fuel use - now a team from the University of Warwick in the UK claims that 'waggling' air accross aircraft wings could cut skin friction drag by 40%, offering a 20% savings in fuel consumption and emissions. Read on for more details. Green Car Congress brings us more details on this cutting-edge aviation research from the UK that could lead to significant airplane fuel efficiency improvements in the medium to short term: Aircraft wings which redirect air to waggle sideways over their surfaces could significantly reduce drag and thus cut fuel consumption and emissions by 20%, according to researchers at the University of Warwick (UK). The new approach, which promises to dramatically reduce mid-flight drag, exploits Helmholtz resonance-the same phenomenon that happens when blowing over a bottle-to produce micro-scale jet flows in response to turbulent noise. The main contributor to aerodynamic drag, and thus fuel consumption and emissions, is fine-scale turbulence that exists very near to the aircraft's surface during cruise. The Turbulence Flow Control group at the University of Warwick has been studying non-powered (passive) flow control actuators as a means of reducing drag for some time, with the goal of developing flow-control technologies capable of major drag reductions on passenger jet aircraft. Warwick is focusing on passive actuators because if an actuator is to be used on an aircraft, it must save more energy (in reduced drag) than it requires for its operation. Unfortunately, the researchers at Warwick note, many powered devices that have been developed for the drag-reduction application are unlikely to satisfy this fundamental net-saving requirement. In a project funded jointly by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) and Airbus, Warwick and other universities are investigating the potential of using new types of passive devices for turbulent drag reduction. One of the ideas under investigation was the use of Helmholtz resonance. Dr Duncan Lockerby, one of the researchers, said in a press release about the waggle wing research that they were not entirely sure why the waggle effect was so pronounced, but "with the pressure of climate change we can't afford to wait around to find out. So we are pushing ahead with prototypes and have a separate three year project to look more carefully at the physics behind it. Here's hoping they can figure out a way to make it work in the real world! http://www.treehugger.com/files/2009/05/waggling-wings-aviation.php *********************************** Flying on fruit juice: Jumbo powered by jatropha eco-oil takes to the skies By Mail Foreign Service Last updated at 2:12 PM on 29th May 2009 The plane fueled by fruit juice oil has taken to the skies, it emerged today. The Air New Zealand Boeing 747-400 was powered by a 50-50 blend of oil from the plum-sized fruit known as jatropha and traditional jet fuel. The two-hour flight, which took place in New Zealand in December, demonstrated that greenhouse gas emissions from long-haul flights could be cut by 65 per cent by using the biofuel. Air New Zealand's chief pilot Dave Morgan said that up to 1.5 tons of fuel could be saved in a 12-hour flight, and cut carbon dioxide emmissions by about 5 tons - around 60 per cent. Air New Zealand Boeing 747 Jumbo jet. Lord Of The Rings: The Return Of The King film advertising on side of plane. Success: The commercial airliner flew for two hours on a biofuel made of fruit oil He called the fuel savings 'significant,' though the monetary gain will depend on the price of oil. Andrew Herdman, director general of the Asia Pacific Airlines Association said: 'At the moment these feed stocks are still facing the challenge of reaching cost competitiveness with conventional jet fuel, particularly when the price of oil is around $60 a barrel.' Biofuels would become competitive sooner if an emission trading system raised the price of carbon-based fuels, he added. Air New Zealand obtained the jatropha oil for its test flight from Malawi, Mozambique, Tanzania and India. Seeds from the jatropha - a bush with round, plum-like fruit - are crushed to produce a yellowish oil that is refined and mixed with diesel. Some environmental groups have questioned whether jatropha and other plants used as biofuels are sustainable. Jatropha Superfruit: Air New Zealand's biofuel is made from the jatropha plant, which produces small, plum-sized fruit They have expressed concerns about the plants' impact if more land and resources are devoted to growing them on a commercial scale. Mr Herdman warned that while several airlines testing biofuels have shown promising results, the 'drop-ins' as the plant oils are called, still face 'another couple of years' work to demonstrate that it can be certified' as a suitable addition to jet fuel. 'It's got to perform exactly the same or better, and it's got to be a competitive price,' he said. Mr Morgan also cautioned that 'many more steps' were needed before biofuel could become 'a commercial aviation fuel source.' http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/worldnews/article-1189536/First-plane-fuelle d-fruit-oil-successful-test-flight-New-Zealand.html?ITO=1490# *********************************** FAA Honors Alaska Airlines FAA Honors Alaska Airlines With Eighth Consecutive Diamond Award for Maintenance Training Excellence SEATTLE, May 28 - Alaska Airlines has received its eighth consecutive Diamond Award for maintenance training excellence from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). This is the sixth consecutive year Alaska received the award with the distinction of Special Recognition, an honor given only when all eligible employees participate in the Aviation Maintenance Technician Awards (AMT) program. The FAA also presented Alaska Airlines with a special award to recognize its six-year record of 100-percent participation in the AMT program. "This award underscores our commitment to the core values of safety and compliance," said Fred Mohr, Alaska Airlines' vice president of maintenance and engineering. "In order to achieve this commitment and be at the top of our game, we make a daily investment in the training and technical excellence of our technicians. I am so proud of everything we do to ensure the safety and compliance of our airline. In my opinion, we have the best technicians in the industry." The FAA also honored 736 Alaska Airlines employees with individual AMT Awards. Anchorage, Alaska-based Lead Aircraft Technician Patrick Durbin and Seattle-based Technical Training Instructor Ray Bundrick received the highest honor -- the Diamond Award -- for completing more than 100 hours of training in 2008. The Aviation Maintenance Technician Awards program began in 1991. Its purpose is to provide incentives for aviation maintenance technicians to participate actively in initial and recurrent training programs, either on their own or in programs subsidized by their employer. Source : Alaska Airlines Horizon Air 2009-05-29 Web : http://www.alaskaair.com http://www.aeromorning.com/en/news.php?id_newss=31275 &numnews=25 ********************************** Army looks into cause of copter's fatal crash By Gregg K. Kakesako (Single Page View) | Return to Paginated View Army investigators have begun the tedious task of trying to determine the cause of an OH-58D Kiowa Warrior helicopter crash that took the lives of two Schofield Barracks aviators at Wheeler Army Airfield this week. As in past incidents, the investigation is expected to be led by officials from the U.S. Army Safety Center in Fort Rucker, Ala. Two aviators assigned to the 25th Combat Aviation Brigade were performing a general- maintenance test flight when the two-man aircraft made a "hard landing" at 3:30 p.m. Wednesday on the runway. Neither pilot survived the crash -- the third fatal helicopter crash at Schofield Barracks since 1996. The two fliers have not been identified by the Army. The brigade and its helicopters are slated to leave for Iraq for its third combat tour in October and will be assigned to Tikrit-based Multi-National Division-North. All of the brigade's Kiowa helicopters are assigned to its 2nd Squadron, 6th Cavalry "Lightning Horse" Regiment, commanded by Lt. Col. Kenneth Hawley. The Army's OH-58D helicopter is a single-engine, double-rotor craft that was put in service in 1991 to replace the AH-1 Cobra attack helicopter in some units. Other models of the Kiowa, however, have been in continuous use by the Army since 1969. Four of these Kiowa models are flown by a Hawaii Army National Guard unit stationed on the Big Island. Bell Helicopter originally manufactured the 34-foot OH-58 for the Army, based on the 206A JetRanger helicopter. There are about 375 OH-58D Kiowa Warriors now in service. The primary mission of the helicopter is in a scout-attack role. It was the first Army helicopter to have an all-glass cockpit, where the pilot sits on the right side to fly the aircraft. The left-seat pilot operates the mast-mounted sight, which is a low-light-television, thermal-imaging system and laser range finder/designator located above the rotor. The mast-mounted sight system allows the helicopter to operate at day and night. It is capable of transporting cargo weighing up to 2,000 pounds. The Army's fleet of OH-58D Kiowa Warriors was supposed to be replaced by the next-generation armed reconnaissance helicopter, the ARH-70 Arapaho -- a military version of the Bell 407 built by Bell. However, excessive delays and cost overruns forced the cancellation of the four-bladed, single-engine Arapaho in October. Army investigators have begun the tedious task of trying to determine the cause of an OH-58D Kiowa Warrior helicopter crash that took the lives of two Schofield Barracks aviators at Wheeler Army Airfield this week. As in past incidents, the investigation is expected to be led by officials from the U.S. Army Safety Center in Fort Rucker, Ala. Two aviators assigned to the 25th Combat Aviation Brigade were performing a general- maintenance test flight when the two-man aircraft made a "hard landing" at 3:30 p.m. Wednesday on the runway. Neither pilot survived the crash -- the third fatal helicopter crash at Schofield Barracks since 1996. The two fliers have not been identified by the Army. The brigade and its helicopters are slated to leave for Iraq for its third combat tour in October and will be assigned to Tikrit-based Multi-National Division-North. All of the brigade's Kiowa helicopters are assigned to its 2nd Squadron, 6th Cavalry "Lightning Horse" Regiment, commanded by Lt. Col. Kenneth Hawley. The Army's OH-58D helicopter is a single-engine, double-rotor craft that was put in service in 1991 to replace the AH-1 Cobra attack helicopter in some units. Other models of the Kiowa, however, have been in continuous use by the Army since 1969. Four of these Kiowa models are flown by a Hawaii Army National Guard unit stationed on the Big Island. Bell Helicopter originally manufactured the 34-foot OH-58 for the Army, based on the 206A JetRanger helicopter. There are about 375 OH-58D Kiowa Warriors now in service. The primary mission of the helicopter is in a scout-attack role. It was the first Army helicopter to have an all-glass cockpit, where the pilot sits on the right side to fly the aircraft. The left-seat pilot operates the mast-mounted sight, which is a low-light-television, thermal-imaging system and laser range finder/designator located above the rotor. The mast-mounted sight system allows the helicopter to operate at day and night. It is capable of transporting cargo weighing up to 2,000 pounds. The Army's fleet of OH-58D Kiowa Warriors was supposed to be replaced by the next-generation armed reconnaissance helicopter, the ARH-70 Arapaho -- a military version of the Bell 407 built by Bell. However, excessive delays and cost overruns forced the cancellation of the four-bladed, single-engine Arapaho in October. http://www.starbulletin.com/news/20090529_army_looks_into_cause_of_copters_f atal_crash.html ********************************** Curt Lewis, P.E., CSP CURT LEWIS & ASSOCIATES, LLC