February 9, 2017 - No. 012 In This Issue PROS 2017 TRAINING Airbus left red-faced as failure of new military plane strands defence chief Honeywell Joins Clean Sky Joint Undertaking To Advance Green Aviation Technology Across Europe A Towbarless Electric Aircraft Tug with Unique Universal Capabilities Uber hires 'flying car engineer' from Nasa Schiphol Airport starts facial recognition boarding trials Embry-Riddle Partners with FireSpring Fund to Invest $1 Million Toward Innovation FedEx to Demonstrate Industry Leadership at MRO Middle East SpaceX readies for its fastest launch pace with new Florida site Airbus left red-faced as failure of new military plane strands defence chief Germany is investigating whether engine trouble in an Airbus A400M, which broke down during a visit by Germany's defence minister to Lithuania, represents a new technical problem for the plane, Europe's largest defence project. Germany's defence ministry described the incident, which follows years of delays and technical issues for the A400M, as "very aggravating". The defence minister Ursula von der Leyen was on her first foreign trip on the plane, which was meant to showcase the capabilities of the multinational programme. She had to fly home on another older plane, leaving the A400M behind. A German defence ministry spokesman said the air force was investigating oil leaks discovered in one of the plane's four engines during a routine check after arrival in Lithuania. "The company knows what needs to be done. We want a reliable and efficient aircraft," the spokesman said. Airbus, which has already written off over €5 billion (Dh19.65bn) on the programme after gearbox problems and fuselage cracks, said it was doing all it could to help with any analysis required, adding that an Airbus pilot was standing by to help return the defective aircraft to Germany. "We are shocked and deeply regret that the defence minister and her delegation suffered significant travel consequences as a result of the breakdown of an A400M," an Airbus spokesman said. The A400M programme is years behind schedule, with Germany's share of the costs having risen to €9.6bn from an initial estimate of €8.1bn. Germany is the largest customer for A400M, which was initially developed for seven European Nato nations at a cost of €20bn. The latest episode followed a report that Germany hoped to maintain access to more A400M planes by signing pooling agreements with several countries, instead of selling on 13 of the 53 aircraft it is due to buy. German officials said new aircraft often experienced "growing pains" but it was unclear if the latest issue revealed a new technical challenge. A German air force spokesman said investigators were focused on the engine's hydraulic system but had no further details. The defence ministry spokesman said Germany had a good contract with Airbus that allowed it to demand compensation for delays and other issues. Germany only took delivery of the defective A400M - the first delivered with self-defence equipment - in December. A second was delivered one or two weeks ago, and German sources said they expected to receive eight or nine more A400M aircraft this year. Airbus said it had made great strides on the programme over the last year, with the total A400M fleet now having logged more than 40,000 flight hours. http://www.thenational.ae/airbus-left-red-faced-as-failure-of-new-military-plane-strands-defence- chief Back to Top Honeywell Joins Clean Sky Joint Undertaking To Advance Green Aviation Technology Across Europe ROLLE, Switzerland, Feb. 8, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Honeywell (NYSE: HON) has joined the Clean Sky 2 Joint Undertaking, the largest European research program developing innovative technologies aimed at reducing carbon dioxide emissions and noise levels produced by aircraft. As a core partner of Clean Sky, Honeywell received funding worth 35 million euros to back the development of aerospace technologies in support of the initiative. The funding will further strengthen Honeywell's commitment to its European engineering centers, particularly in the Czech Republic, France and the United Kingdom. As part of its membership, Honeywell will undertake projects to develop priority technologies from cockpit solutions to health monitoring. It will also use the funding to advance its electromechanical actuators, which help improve aircraft performance and encourage lower operating costs. "Honeywell is honored to join the Clean Sky 2 Joint Undertaking as a core partner. We are committed to enhancing Honeywell technology to make a positive impact on the environment, while providing added value to help our customers drive their businesses forward," said George Papageorgiou, engineering director, Advanced Technology, Honeywell Aerospace. "We are eager to apply our significant expertise in aviation technology to develop innovative solutions to reduce carbon dioxide emissions and noise levels produced by aircraft and help shape greener aviation across Europe." "Ensuring the continued advancement of environmental sustainability and the competitiveness of the European aviation industry would not be possible without the strong support of key European aerospace innovation players, including leading industry suppliers such as Honeywell, research establishments, universities and small to medium-size enterprises," said Ron van Manen, Clean Sky 2 programme manager. "We are excited to welcome Honeywell as a new member of the Joint Undertaking and look forward to working together on projects that will enable cleaner and greener aviation and that will strengthen European industrial leadership. Honeywell's aerospace capabilities in the Czech Republic, France and the United Kingdom will enable the development of new technologies and solutions in Europe through participation in the Clean Sky 2 Programme." Aircraft manufacturers, including Honeywell customers Airbus, Dassault and Leonardo Aircraft, are involved in the development of new technologies as part of the Clean Sky 2 programme, including leadership in initial requirement assessment, testing and validation exercises. Ultimately, customers will benefit from a shorter supply chain and the added value of developing advanced technology closely with Honeywell, which will help increase their competitiveness and significantly reduce their product costs. Honeywell has been awarded four Clean Sky 2 grants for projects with a duration of between four and eight years. Clean Sky is funded by the European Union's Horizon 2020 framework program, which aims to shape the future of scientific research both across Europe and globally. Honeywell Aerospace products and services are found on virtually every commercial, defense and space aircraft, and its turbochargers are used by nearly every automaker and truck manufacturer around the world. The Aerospace business unit develops innovative solutions for more fuel-efficient automobiles and airplanes, more direct and on-time flights, safer flying and runway traffic, along with aircraft engines, cockpit and cabin electronics, wireless connectivity services, logistics, and more. The business delivers safer, faster, and more efficient and comfortable transportation-related experiences worldwide. For more information, visit www.honeywell.com or follow us at @Honeywell_Aero and @Honeywell_Turbo. Honeywell (www.honeywell.com) is a Fortune 100 diversified technology and manufacturing leader, serving customers worldwide with aerospace products and services; control technologies for buildings, homes and industry; turbochargers; and performance materials. For more news and information on Honeywell, please visit www.honeywell.com/newsroom. http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/honeywell-joins-clean-sky-joint-undertaking-to- advance-green-aviation-technology-across-europe-300403699.html Back to Top A Towbarless Electric Aircraft Tug with Unique Universal Capabilities St. Augustine, FL - Feb 7th 2017 - TNA Aviation Technologies announced the North and South American release of the TowFLEXX 120e HG, the industry's most advanced and versatile electrical towbarless aircraft tug in it's class. This product combines the best in flexibility, adaptability, practical features, tow capacity and capability. "Customers have been asking for more affordable and compact tow tug systems, especially in the aircraft weight range of 10,000 to 30,000 lbs MTOW, and we've responded by introducing a smart electrical aircraft tow system, making it much easier for pilots and ground crews," said Michael Turwitt, Managing Partner of TNA Aviation Technologies. "The TowFLEXX 120e HG features a powerful electric motor and many capabilities that deliver functionality normally only found in bigger and more expensive tow tugs," he added. The towbarless electrical tug design combines functionality with an esthetic look. Customers can use this versatile tug for a wide range of aircraft, all the way up to medium size corporate jets, both with single or twin nose wheel configuration. There are no special adapters required and loading the aircraft nose gear is fast and easy. The ergonomic multifunctional tiller steering control can be operated with one-hand. Additionally, visible markers and anti-slip covering allow for improved wheel tracking. The advanced multi-speed transmission drive technology helps further to increase the ease of maneuvering. "The TowFLEXX 120e HG is the new standard for electric tugs in this size class, providing users with the highest degree of protection. I'm very excited about this launch. The new design offers usability combined with ruggedness and I'm confident our customers will see and appreciate the level of innovations in this very competitively priced product," says Uli Nielen, Co-Owner of TNA. About TNA Aviation Technologies TNA Aviation Technologies, a division of Turwitt, Nielen & Associates, P.A., is the exclusive American distributor for German designed aircraft ground handling tugs, known in Europe under the brand Flyer-Truck and TugMAXXE. These advanced electric towbarless aircraft tow tugs are easy to operate and offer limitless flexibility. The company provides modern solutions to all aircraft moving and ground support needs for fixed-wing aircraft and helicopters between 2,000 lbs. (910 kg) up to 220,000 lbs. (100 tons) MTOW. The company offers best-in-class products that meet the needs of a diverse aviation marketplace, from private aircraft owners, FBO's, MRO's, charter and corporate flight operators, airlines, military and law enforcement. TNA Aviation Technologies is a member of the NBAA. http://www.aviationpros.com/press_release/12303287/a-towbarless-electric-aircraft-tug-with- unique-universal-capabilities Back to Top Uber hires 'flying car engineer' from Nasa A former Nasa engineer has been hired by taxi-hailing firm Uber to help its research into flying cars. Mark Moore is joining Uber's Elevate division as its director of engineering for aviation. Uber's interest in flying cars was outlined in a White Paper in October, which discussed vertical take-off and landing on-demand (VTOL) aviation. It welcomed Mr Moore's appointment, adding its wider role was as a catalyst to the "growing VTOL ecosystem". Uber is already investing in self-driving cars, with partnerships with Volvo and Daimler. In its White Paper, Uber said that on-demand aviation "has the potential to radically improve urban mobility, giving people back time lost in their daily commutes". "Just as skyscrapers allowed cities to use limited land more efficiently, urban air transportation will use three-dimensional airspace to alleviate transportation congestion on the ground." It envisaged a network of small, electric aircraft that would take off and land vertically. Mr Moore explored a similar concept in a paper published while he was at Nasa. He said that electric propulsion was a "potential game changing technology" for aircraft, adding that the only thing holding it back was current battery storage. Slovakian company Aeromobil is one of several working on a prototype flying car, which it is aiming to commercialise this year. http://www.bbc.com/news/technology-38892390 Back to Top Schiphol Airport starts facial recognition boarding trials Schiphol Airport has started a test with KLM involving "biometric boarding", one-off boarding without showing your boarding pass or passport. Passengers board the aircraft quickly and easily using a special door that recognizes passengers by their faces. With the help of this test, Schiphol and KLM want to study the technology of facial recognition - the system's speed, reliability, and user-friendliness. They will also examine the boarding process and the passenger experience. The ultimate aim is to make the boarding process as quick and easy as possible for our passengers. The test period will last a minimum of three months. It will take place at a specially selected gate at the airport. Boarding with facial recognition will require passengers to register first. In the waiting area near the gate, there will be a special registration kiosk. KLM staff will assist the passengers. Registration involves scanning the passport, the boarding pass, and the passenger's face. In the interest of privacy, the data will be used only for the test. Following boarding, all personal data will be erased. All data storage in the registration kiosk is erased after ten hours. Schiphol and its partners are constantly working to develop innovations and create smart ways of improving ease of travel, speed, and airport processes. The airport aims to become "Leading Digital Airport" in 2018. This test is just one step in that direction. Over the past two years, the airport's collaboration with KLM and governmental authorities has resulted in the introduction of the very first security scan for passengers, crew and staff, and the new Security Lane in 2015. Right now, there is a test involving carry-on baggage scanning which allows passengers to leave their laptops and liquids in their bags. In the time to come, innovative technologies will be tested on a regular basis and, when proven successful, will be put to use. https://aviationtribune.com/airports-atc/schiphol-starts-facial-recognition-boarding-trials/ Back to Top Embry-Riddle Partners with FireSpring Fund to Invest $1 Million Toward Innovation, Job Growth in Florida FireSpring Fund, a nonprofit accelerator of early-stage technology companies in Central Florida, has been selected by Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University to receive $1 million to invest in promising new technology companies to help jump-start a thriving Volusia County-based innovation corridor. "Embry-Riddle is committed to giving back to the local community by partnering with forward- thinking organizations like the FireSpring Fund to increase job growth, prosperity, competitiveness, and success at the regional, national and international levels," said Embry-Riddle Board of Trustees Chairman Mori Hosseini. "Access to talent, seed capital and effective business-growth strategies are essential to the success of early-stage technology companies. The FireSpring Fund's expertise, combined with the array of resources at Embry-Riddle's Research Park, will provide a significant, vital and exciting boost for economic development in Volusia County." FireSpring Fund is a non-profit 501(c)3 with the mission to bridge the funding gap and help companies start, grow and stay in Central Florida. Applications for the seed funding, to be distributed by the FireSpring Fund, will be accepted beginning on Feb. 15 at www.firespringfund.org/apply. The review process will continue for about two months before investment recipients are selected to receive initial investments of $25,000 each, with additional funding support available, up to a total of $225,000 each, dependent on meeting milestones of growth and performance. For more information, see http://firespringfund.org/ The FireSpring Fund was modeled after the successful JumpStart Inc. organization, which has been supporting entrepreneurs in Northeast Ohio for the past 13 years. One of the companies assisted by JumpStart Inc. was recently sold for $1.1 billion, making it a significant success story. The idea, explained FireSpring Fund Executive Director Donna Mackenzie, is to "plant the seeds of success into the economy by investing in innovation and then providing each investment recipient with seed funding, mentorship and support that they need to grow and thrive. I expect this investment will have a tremendous positive impact on the entrepreneurial ecosystem blossoming in the region. We are delighted to be a part of it." Many other Central Florida organizations specializing in advanced technology, business startup, legal services, IT, professional sports, and venture capital have already joined Embry-Riddle's Research Park. International Speedway Corporation (ISC), DuvaSawko EM Billing & Management Solutions, and Wellspring have signed on as Nexus Partners and are positioned to influence, contribute to, and access the burgeoning businesses that will bring new tech enterprises to market. In addition, Resident Partner positions at the park have been filled by the FireSpring Fund, Cobb Cole, James Moore & Co., Vann Data Services and venVelo. Resident Partners will be on premises to provide professional advice, direction and services while making connections and long-term relationships with startup companies within the Research Park and university. They will support startup ventures and advance new technologies toward commercialization and launch. Nexus as well as Resident Partners will in many cases offer pro bono professional services to up-and-coming businesses. All partners will be housed in the Research Park's cornerstone building, the John Mica Engineering and Aerospace Innovation Complex. Named after former U.S. Representative John Mica (R-Florida) in honor of his key role in supporting the university's educational and research endeavors and more commonly called the MicaPlex, it is a 50,000-square-foot, state-of-the-art innovation hub designed to encompass research enterprises in aviation, space, engineering, unmanned systems and the environment working in partnership with Embry-Riddle faculty and students. Located adjacent to the Daytona Beach Campus, it will include 10,000 square feet of flex lease space as part of a collaborative platform for incubating new technologies. Tenant partnership opportunities are still available for the flex lease space. https://news.erau.edu/headlines/embry-riddle-partners-with-firespring-fund-to-invest-1-million- toward-innovation/ Back to Top FedEx to Demonstrate Industry Leadership at MRO Middle East DUBAI, U.A.E., February 6, 2017 - FedEx Express, a subsidiary of FedEx Corp., and the world's largest express transportation company, will lead a discussion on best practices in shipping oversized cargo at MRO Middle East, the Gulf region's leading conference and trade show for commercial aircraft maintenance. MRO Middle East guests can also visit FedEx booth (#536) to explore the full range of solutions available. FedEx will sponsor a panel entitled 'Engines, Wings or Fuel Tanks... Best Practices in Moving Large, Oversized Shipments' on Feb. 8, 2017. The panel will be hosted by Chris Swearingen, manager of Marketing for SenseAware of FedEx Services, and will address the challenges of delivering oversized shipments. Sammy Bousaba, managing director of Sales and Saleh Mansour, managing director Operations for FedEx in the Middle East, will share best practices for efficiently managing large international and domestic movements to ensure timely delivery. "FedEx has developed world-class procedures to ensure every shipment, regardless of its dimensions, is delivered with the utmost care" explains Taarek Hinedi, vice president of Operations for FedEx Express Middle East and Africa. "FedEx has extensive experience in successfully handling oversized cargo. Our Hub facility in Dubai has set new precedents for transporting difficult and sensitive items within the Middle East and beyond." With breakthrough innovations, such as SenseAware, a product that offers real-time tracking and monitoring of shipments, FedEx provides customers with cargo of all sizes peace of mind, from pick-up to the delivery of their shipment. This product has enhanced FedEx's ability to offer unique solutions to customers taking advantage of FedEx's Aerospace Solutions. With a strong global network, FedEx is capable of fast, reliable shipping of critical airplane parts around the world. FedEx SenseAware and FedEx Aerospace Solutions will be demonstrated at FedEx booth #536 during the MRO Middle East exhibition in Dubai on Feb. 8 and 9, 2017. About FedEx Express FedEx Express is the world's largest express transportation company, providing fast and reliable delivery to more than 220 countries and territories. FedEx Express uses a global air-and-ground network to speed delivery of time-sensitive shipments, by a definite time and date with a money- back guarantee. About FedEx Corp. FedEx Corp. (NYSE: FDX) provides customers and businesses worldwide with a broad portfolio of transportation, e-commerce and business services. With annual revenues of $58 billion, the company offers integrated business applications through operating companies competing collectively and managed collaboratively, under the respected FedEx brand. Consistently ranked among the world's most admired and trusted employers, FedEx inspires its more than 400,000 team members to remain "absolutely, positively" focused on safety, the highest ethical and professional standards and the needs of their customers and communities. To learn more about how FedEx connects people and possibilities around the world, please visit about.fedex.com. http://www.aviationpros.com/press_release/12302607/fedex-to-demonstrate-industry-leadership- at-mro-middle-east Back to Top SpaceX readies for its fastest launch pace with new Florida site SpaceX plans to launch its Falcon 9 rockets every two to three weeks, its fastest rate since starting launches in 2010, once a new launch pad is put into service in Florida next week, the company's president told Reuters. The ambitious plan comes only five months after a SpaceX rocket burst into flames on the launch pad at the company's original launch site in Florida. SpaceX, controlled by billionaire Elon Musk, has only launched one rocket since then, in mid-January. "We should be launching every two to three weeks," SpaceX President Gwynne Shotwell told Reuters in an interview on Monday. SpaceX was approaching that pace last autumn, before the Sept. 1 accident, which happened during a routine preflight test. The explosion destroyed a $200 million Israeli satellite and heavily damaged the launch pad. Shotwell said repairs to the launch pad at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, which are still underway, should cost "far less than half" of a new launch pad, which she said runs about $100 million. The new launch pad is at NASA's Kennedy Space Center, just north of the Cape Canaveral site. SpaceX is also modifying the rocket's engines to increase performance and resolve potential safety concerns, said Shotwell. Changes to rocket The company plans to change the design of the Falcon 9's turbopump - which provides propellants to the rocket's engines - to eliminate cracks that have prompted concern from NASA and the U.S. Air Force. NASA has hired SpaceX to taxi astronauts to and from the International Space Station starting in late 2018. Shotwell said the new turbopumps will be installed before the first unmanned test flights of the commercial space taxi, scheduled for November. SpaceX is one of two companies certified to fly military and national security satellites for the Air Force, the other being United Launch Alliance, a partnership of Boeing Co and Lockheed Martin Corp. "For us, the concern was not the cracks, but do they grow over time? Would these cracks cause a flight failure?" Shotwell said. "I think NASA is used to engines that aren't quite as robust, so they just don't want any cracks at all in the turbo machinery." SpaceX discovered two types of cracks during ground tests of its Merlin engines in 2015, Shotwell said. The cracks were not related to the Sept. 1 launch pad explosion. To fix the more serious cracking issue, the company devised a software fix and then redesigned the turbine wheel, Shotwell said. The first of the redesigned turbine wheels flew in July 2016. A second set of cracks in welds and shrouds are not a concern for flight, but NASA and the Air Force have asked for a redesign, Shotwell said. SpaceX has a backlog of more than 70 missions, worth more than $10 billion. It has successfully flown 27 out of 29 times since the Falcon 9's debut in 2010. The company flew eight missions in 2016 before the launch pad accident in September grounded the fleet. The rocket returned to flight last month, flying from a second launch site in California, which is only used for satellites heading into polar or high inclination orbits. A fourth launch site in Texas is under construction. http://www.cbc.ca/news/technology/spacex-fastest-launch-pace-new-site-1.3972190 Curt Lewis