January 09, 2017 - No. 003 In This Issue SpaceX delays rocket launch because of bad weather JetBlue and Premier Aviation finalise new heavy maintenance and paint deal Iran Air, Airbus seal historic aircraft order Baker Aviation reinforces FAA toxic smoke concerns Boeing near $10.1 billion order to expand toehold in India Vanilla Aircraft claims record with 56-hour unmanned flight SpaceX delays rocket launch because of bad weather SpaceX postponed a scheduled launch of its Falcon 9 rocket Sunday because of high winds and rain at Vandenberg Air Force Base. The launch would have been the company's first since a launch-pad explosion destroyed another rocket last September at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida. SpaceX said on its official Twitter account that the next available launch date at the base north of Lompoc, Calif., was Saturday. Rain is expected at the Air Force base on the Central Coast through Thursday. The plan Sunday was to carry 10 satellites into space for Iridium Communications Inc., which wants to establish a constellation of satellites to deliver mobile communications capabilities on land and on ships and airplanes. The Hawthorne-based SpaceX and its chief executive, Elon Musk, had originally hoped to return to flight as soon as last November. But the investigation of its September explosion lasted longer than anticipated. In its statement, SpaceX said the investigation team found "several credible causes" for the vessel's failure, all of which involved the accumulation of oxygen in the rocket's inner liners. The explosion destroyed a satellite that was going to be managed by Israeli satellite operator Spacecom and was also to help Facebook bring high-speed Internet access to remote parts of Africa. http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-spacex-launch-delay-20170108-story.html Back to Top JetBlue and Premier Aviation finalise new heavy maintenance and paint deal US-based airline JetBlue has entered a five-year heavy maintenance and paint deal with Premier Aviation for its Embraer 190 (E-190) aircraft. As part of the deal, aircraft maintenance has already started in New York, while painting would initially be carried out at Premier's facility in Quebec, Canada. The newly signed deal is also expected to create maintenance and paint jobs in both the US and Canada. JetBlue operations executive vice-president Jeffrey Martin said: "From our very first flight from JFK to Buffalo, we've been committed not only to providing a safe, comfortable, and reliable service for our customers, but supporting and promoting the state we call home." The carrier currently flies more than 35 million passengers a year, serving the US, Caribbean and Latin America. With four facilities in the US and Canada, Premier Aviation currently provides maintenance and repairing services for regional, narrow-body and wide-body aircraft. The company has so far performed more than 250 services on its Embraer platform and currently has several lines of E-175 and 190 aircraft at its New York and Quebec facilities. http://www.aerospace-technology.com/news/newsjetblue-and-premier-aviation-finalise- new-heavy-maintenance-and-paint-deal-5710866 Back to Top Iran Air, Airbus seal historic aircraft order Toulouse, France - Iran Air and Airbus officials have signed a firm contract for 100 aircraft, building on an initial commitment signed in January 2016 in Paris. The agreement signed by Farhad Parvaresh, Iran Air chairman and CEO and Fabrice Bregier, Airbus president and CEO, covers 46 A320 family, 38 A330 family and 16 A350 XWB aircraft. Deliveries will begin in early 2017. "I am delighted that we have reached an agreement to go to the next decisive phase and start taking delivery of new aircraft. I am gratified that this new round of cooperation with Airbus has come to fruition and brought us closer with more practical steps to follow for Iran Air's fleet renewal. Iran Air considers this agreement an important step towards a stronger international presence in civil aviation. We hope this success signals to the world that the commercial goals of Iran and its counterparts are better achieved with international cooperation and collaboration," Parvaresh said. "This is a landmark agreement not only because it paves the way for Iran Air's fleet renewal," Bregier said. "Our overall accord includes pilot training, airport operations, and air traffic management, so this agreement is also a significant first step in the overall modernization of Iran's commercial aviation sector." The agreement is subject to US government Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) export licenses which were granted in September and November 2016. These licenses are required for products containing 10% or more US technology content. Airbus coordinated closely with regulators in the EU, US, and elsewhere to ensure understanding and full compliance with the JCPOA. Airbus will continue to act in full compliance with the conditions of the OFAC licenses. The agreement follows the implementation of the JCPOA (Joint Comprehensive Plan Of Action), its associated rules and guidance and included new commercial aircraft orders as well as a comprehensive civil aviation package. The package includes pilot and maintenance training, supporting the development of air navigation services (ATM), airport and aircraft operations, and regulatory harmonization. Airbus has design and manufacturing facilities in France, Germany, the UK, and Spain, and subsidiaries in the US, China, India, Japan, and in the Middle East. In addition, Airbus provides customer support and training through an expanding international network. http://www.aerospacemanufacturinganddesign.com/article/iran-air-airbus-100-aircraft- agreement-010617/ Back to Top Baker Aviation reinforces FAA toxic smoke concerns Baker Aviation, the Master Distributor for the HOT-STOP 'L' fire containment kits, recently participated in the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Fire and Cabin Safety Research Conference in Atlantic City that emphasized the serious threat of toxic smoke that is emitted from lithium-ion battery fires of personal devices that are happening on board aircraft. In support of this very serious concern, Baker Aviation is doubling the amount it offers for its 'Surrender' program and will provide $200 as a trade-in discount (to any Part 91 or 135 operators) for any other brand of fire containment bag that allows toxic smoke to escape, towards a new zero tolerance, airtight HOT-STOP 'L' EVO fire containment kit. "As pioneers in this aviation fire containment market, we know how serious the threat of smoke is in an aircraft, especially in the cockpit, therefore in light of this recent research, we are no longer manufacturing our legacy bag with nominal escape of smoke," said Ray Goyco, Jr., president and chief operating officer at Baker Aviation Maintenance. "As the FAA pointed out in numerous presentations in Atlantic City, this smoke can cause immediate medical complications to the passengers and crew by ingesting the toxins from the melting plastic and smoke from the battery fluid. There was also a presentation at the NBAA convention in November by Capt John Cox that emphasized the implications of smoke from these battery fires and we are advocates for heightening the awareness of this serious threat." Goyco continued: "Therefore, we are offering a special $200 surrender discount on our product to Part 91 and 135 operators that may have purchased another fire containment product brand that allows these toxic fumes to escape after the device is inside the container. The new HOT-STOP 'L' EVO with the latest zipper technology is airtight and does not allow any smoke or toxins to escape once the device is properly sealed in the bag, and includes fire safety gloves. "HOT-STOP 'L' bags are quick and easy to deploy because time is critical to minimizing this toxic smoke that will quickly fill the cockpit and cabin. In support of our loyal clients that purchased the legacy HOT-STOP product we are offering them a special retrofit program that modifies the existing bag with the new airtight zipper closure that is tested and proven to lock-in all the smoke, fire and potential spewing molten from an erupting device until the runaway battery burns itself out." The new HOT-STOP 'L' EVO product line was originally designed for airlines and the plethora of lithium powered devices that are brought on commercial flights today but it can easily be stored on any size jet, business or commercial. The zero tolerance red bag incorporates the latest airtight, zipper technology, comes in multiple sizes, and can be custom-made to fit a variety of battery-powered devices. The HOT-STOP 'L' EVO bag and gloves have burn certifications, and are designed, proven, and UL approved laboratory tested to contain a battery in full thermal runaway until it has burned itself out. HOT-STOP 'L' can also conveniently be used as safe storage for a device while unattended, or as a preventative measure if a device shows signs of overheating. https://www.skiesmag.com/press-releases/baker-aviation-faa-toxic-smoke-threat- battery-fires/ Back to Top Boeing near $10.1 billion order to expand toehold in India Indian budget airline SpiceJet Ltd. is poised to order at least 92 Boeing Co. 737 jetliners, giving the planemaker a stronger toehold in the world's fastest growing aerospace market. The $10.1 billion transaction, which would more than double SpiceJet's 49-plane fleet, may be closed within weeks, after lengthy talks that pitted Chicago-based Boeing against rival Airbus Group SE, people with direct knowledge of the decision said. The order would be a record for SpiceJet, which was forced to shut down operations for a day two years ago after it ran out of money, prompting co-founder Ajay Singh to bail out the low-cost carrier. The airline may boost the total order if final talks yield substantial discounts and favorable maintenance contracts, one of the people said. Boeing would expand its footprint in India, where Airbus dominates narrow-body fleets after a string of order victories. IndiGo, Go Airlines India Pvt. and the local unit of AirAsia Bhd. all fly variants of the Airbus A320. The deal includes firm orders for at least 50 of Boeing's 737 Max, and renegotiated terms for 42 of the single-aisle jets that SpiceJet originally ordered in 2014, said the people, who asked not be identified because the discussions are private. The 92 Max jets would be valued at about $10.1 billion at current list prices, before the discounts that are customary for large purchases. "We expect to complete these negotiations and place the order this financial year," the airline said in an e-mailed statement. A Boeing spokesman declined to comment. The order would help SpiceJet, India's second-biggest budget carrier, compete with market leader IndiGo, which has ordered hundreds of Airbus jets to tap surging air-travel demand from a fast-growing middle class. While IndiGo controls about 42 percent of a market that has seen local carriers almost double to 11 in the past four years, SpiceJet's share is about 13 percent. SpiceJet shares closed up 0.63 percent at 63.55 rupees in Mumbai on Friday, after jumping to their the highest intraday level since Nov. 30. Boeing shares rose less than 1 percent to $159 in New York premarket trading Friday. India is crucial for Boeing and Airbus, and both offered aggressive discounts to SpiceJet, Bloomberg News reported in July. Boeing, whose jets dominate the current SpiceJet fleet, has the advantage of close financial ties. As the carrier's financial condition worsened, Boeing provided assistance with payments to help it cope with the situation. That earlier deal, which is still on the manufacturer's books, will now become a part of the new order, the people said. SpiceJet operates a fleet of 32 Boeing 737 jets and 17 Bombardier Q400 turboprops, according to the company. IndiGo, operated by InterGlobe Aviation Ltd., in 2015 ordered 250 Airbus A320neo jets. That order followed a 2006 deal for 100 A320 planes, and 180 A320neos ordered in 2011. IndiGo has 126 jets in its fleet. The South Asian country has been among some of the toughest markets for airlines, with some carriers failing due to fuel taxes, tariffs and low fares. As many as 17 airlines in India have shut down in the past two decades, according to consulting company KPMG and the Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India. Indian airlines posted a combined profit of $122 million in the year through March 31, 2016, the first time in a decade, according to CAPA Centre for Aviation. However, the industry is set to post losses for two more years hurt by excess capacity and low fares, CAPA said in a report in December. http://www.dailyherald.com/article/20170106/business/170109390/ Back to Top Vanilla Aircraft claims record with 56-hour unmanned flight On Dec. 2, Vanilla Aircraft's VA001 unmanned aircraft system (UAS) completed a world record non-stop, unrefueled 56-hour flight. The flight was supported by the technology innovation investments of the U.S. Department of Defense's Rapid Reaction Technology Office (RRTO) and DARPA-funded efforts through Naval Air System Command (NAVAIR 4.11 - Patuxent River). The flight, planned as a 120-hour mission, was ended early because of forecasts of severe icing and range restrictions. However, the airplane landed with enough JP-8 fuel on board for an additional 90 hours of flying, or enough for a total of six days of flight. The flight was certified as a world-duration record for combustion-powered unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) in the 50-500 kilogram subclass (Fédération Aéronautique Internationale Class U-1.c Group 1). A representative from the National Aeronautic Association was present to witness the record. Moreover, the flight was the fourth-longest for any unmanned airplane and the 11th-longest for an airplane of any type (manned or unmanned, solar or fuel-powered). Originating and ending at Las Cruces International Airport, the flight was conducted under the authority of the New Mexico State University UAS test site designated by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). "This effort represents tremendous and unprecedented coordination among civil, defense, academic, and private industry to bring a heretofore only imagined capability to reality," said Vanilla Aircraft CEO Rear Adm. Timothy Heely (ret.). Small unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) are an increasingly important means for military forces - especially small dismounted units - to bring extra communications or intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) capabilities to the field. Current designs, however, offer relatively limited range and flight endurance; additionally, their need for frequent refueling, specialized launch and recovery equipment, and regular maintenance often limit them to flying from fixed bases close to the front lines. "This record-breaking flight demonstrated the feasibility of designing a low-cost UAV able to take off from one side of a continent, fly to the other, perform its duties for a week, and come back - all on the same tank of fuel," said Jean-Charles Ledé, DARPA program manager. "This capability would help extend the footprint of small units by providing scalable, persistent UAV-based communications and ISR coverage without forward basing, thereby reducing personnel and operating costs. We're very pleased with what the Vanilla team has accomplished." The airplane carried 20 pounds of actual and simulated payload, flying at 6,500 to 7,500 feet above mean sea level (MSL), and was a further step for the VA001 towards demonstrating the system's objective performance of carrying a 30-pound payload for 10 days at an altitude of 15,000 feet. The payload included a NAVAIR-provided relay and operated continuously throughout the flight to demonstrate functionality out to the maximum range. The airplane also carried a NASA-provided multispectral imaging payload as a demonstration of Earth science and agricultural remote sensing. "The VA001 has transformational potential, providing a scalable aerial system solution without increasing personnel or operating costs," said co-founder and chief engineer Neil Boertlein. "The ability of a low-cost platform to provide persistent surveillance, battlefield pattern of life, or aerial mesh network relay, in a responsive and robust manner, and without forward basing, does not currently exist." Vanilla Aircraft is also planning a groundbreaking role for the VA001 in commercial applications, especially in agriculture. Vanilla is exploring strategic partnerships and equity financing to expand into this market. "The VA001 would be a cost-effective option for widespread and regular low-level surveying," said co-founder and program manager Jeremy Novara. "We could fill a wide cost and payload-capability market gap between small electric and large military unmanned aircraft, which is perfect for many commercial applications." http://gpsworld.com/vanilla-aircraft-claims-record-with-56-hour-unmanned-flight/ Curt Lewis