March 30, 2017 - No. 026 In This Issue GE Aviation buys aircraft records management company Critical Technologies Heated pavement technology tested at Des moines International Airport Cold spray technology to repair surfaces of corroded aircraft parts EU and South Asia launch aviation partnership project Boeing Skyview plane window, the largest of all time, to launch in 2018 StandardAero Agrees to Acquire PAS Technologies to Expand MRO Portfolio Praxair Surface Technologies Signs Long-Term Contract to Supply Rolls-Royce FAA, Industry and Academia Partner on Flight Tests of Sense-and-Avoid Avionics System for Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) The LEAP 500: Engine Ramp Up is Off to Fast Start at GE Lafayette SpaceX set to launch 'used rocket' GE Aviation buys aircraft records management company Critical Technologies GE Aviation has purchased digital aircraft records management company Critical Technologies for an undisclosed sum. With the deal, GE aims to boost its ability to focus on asset lifecycle management and maintenance optimisation for the aviation sector. The deal has enabled GE to gain access to Critical Technologies' portfolio AirVault, which provides cloud-based digital records management services and mission-critical records across the industrial supply chain network. Along with GE's Configuration Data Exchange capability, AirVault will also enhance web-based fleet maintenance records management across the aviation ecosystem, as well as enable the development of various innovative industry applicationsn when combined with GE's Predix industrial cloud platform. GE Aviation vice-president and chief digital officer Jim Daily said: "Our focus is to help our customers and the overall industry to be more efficient. "The acquisition of AirVault combines some of the best people and records management capability with GE's domain expertise in flight analytics and engine diagnostics to bring disparate data together to drive operational efficiencies." AirVault currently has data centre operations in Dallas and Oklahoma City, US. The brand is presently managing the maintenance records for more than 50% of the North American commercial aircraft fleet for 4,400 aircraft tail numbers and 20% worldwide. AirVault manages more than seven billion records in a private, secure cloud-hosted at the company's data centres for 40,000 users worldwide. In a separate development, GE Aviation announced that it has delivered its new Update 13 (U13) flight management software for Boeing 737 MAX family aircraft. http://www.aerospace-technology.com/news/newsge-aviation-buys-aircraft-records-management- company-critical-technologies-5773304 Back to Top Heated pavement technology tested at Des moines International Airport Iowa State University's Halil Ceylan picked up his smartphone, opened up an app and called up the remote controls for the first full-scale test slabs of electrically conductive concrete installed at an American airport. When a winter storm approaches, Ceylan can use that app to turn on the heated pavement system and, thanks to real-time video capability, watch as snow and ice melts away. Late last fall Ceylan and his research team from Iowa State's Program for Sustainable Pavement Engineering and Research installed two, 15-by-13.5-foot test slabs of electrically conductive concrete into the apron at the southwest corner of the Elliott Aviation hangar on the north side of the Des Moines International Airport. The hangar is in the middle of the general aviation apron devoted to smaller aircraft. Ceylan, an Iowa State professor of civil, construction and environmental engineering, still working the system's phone app, called up pictures of the slabs during one of this winter's rare snowfalls. The apron all around the test slabs was covered with an inch or two of white snow; the two slabs, marked by diagonally painted red stripes, were clear and drying. "We have proven this technology does work," Ceylan said. "Our goal is to keep airports open, safe and accessible. We don't want any slips or falls, or any aircraft skidding off runways. Our technologies can contribute to providing a safe environment and fewer delays." The cost of heating pavement It's the first thing Ceylan brings up after noting the success of the test slabs at the Des Moines airport: "People wonder how much this costs." Ceylan and his research group have run the numbers: Using 333 watts per square meter (about the energy used by three light bulbs) for seven hours, the operating cost is about 19 cents per square meter. Seven hours "is way more than enough to melt an inch of ice or snow," Ceylan said. While the installation costs would be higher than regular pavements, the heated pavement technology also saves on the cost of plows, de-icing chemicals and wastewater treatment of chemical runoff. Ali Nahvi, a graduate student in civil, construction and environmental engineering and part of Ceylan's research group, has been analyzing the economics of heated runways at airports. And so far, Ceylan said Nahvi's data say the benefits are greater than the costs. How it works Ceylan, calling up video of the test slabs the day after a light snowfall, noted how dry they were. "It's not snowing right now, but it's still cold with snow and ice on the ground," he said. "It's really neat how it works." The test slabs of electrically conductive concrete are made up of 1 percent carbon fiber and a special mix of cement, sand and rocks. The carbon fiber allows the concrete to conduct electricity, but there is some resistance to the moving electrons, which creates heat. Alireza Sassani, a doctoral student in civil, construction and environmental engineering, led studies of the concrete mix. With help from the National Concrete Pavement Technology Center based at Iowa State, he prepared hundreds of concrete samples in the lab to find just the right combination of compressive strength, tensile strength, workability, durability and electrical conductivity. The test slabs at the Des Moines airport are 7.5 inches thick in two layers -- the bottom 4 inches are regular concrete, the top 3.5 are electrically conductive concrete. Between the layers are twelve metal electrodes, six per slab, running the width of each slab. The electrodes are wired to the nearby hangar's power supply. The slabs are also wired with various sensors: temperature probes, strain gauges, humidity sensors and more. There are two surveillance cameras mounted nearby. And the team just acquired its newest research tool -- a high-grade thermal camera. Hesham Abdualla and Sajed Sadati, doctoral students in civil, construction and environmental engineering, recently demonstrated the camera by sending 70 volts of power through a test sample of electrically conductive concrete that was 14 inches long, 4 inches wide and 4 inches thick. Ali Arabzadeh, another doctoral student in civil, construction and environmental engineering, set the thermal camera nearby and you could watch the electrodes heat up, creating thermal images in reds and whites. Then, as the carbon fibers in the test sample spread electricity and heat, the camera's images turned from blues to greens to yellows. After several minutes, the camera recorded a sample temperature of about 75 degrees. Airport perspective Ceylan's heated pavement research is part of the Federal Aviation Administration's Center of Excellence Partnership to Enhance General Aviation Safety, Accessibility and Sustainability, or PEGASAS. The partnership was established in 2012 and is led by researchers at Purdue University. Other core members are from Iowa State, The Ohio State University, Georgia Institute of Technology, Florida Institute of Technology and Texas A&M University. The FAA's centers of excellence establish cost-sharing research partnerships with the federal government, universities and industry. PEGASAS researchers are studying a variety of general aviation issues including airport technology, flight safety and adverse weather operations. The program is providing about $2.2 million for Iowa State's full-scale demonstration of snow- and ice-free airfield pavements and other studies of heated pavements. The university is matching those funds. After early success with heated pavements in his campus lab, Ceylan and his research group were ready to move on to larger-scale studies. That led to discussions about airport tests with Bryan Belt, the director of engineering and planning at the Des Moines International Airport. Belt said this is the first major research project at the airport. With Ames and Iowa State only about 40 miles away and the FAA as a major partner of the airport, he thought the airport should find a way to participate. "It's a major accomplishment to coordinate with the airport," Ceylan said. "We really appreciate the cooperation." Through their discussions, Ceylan and Belt thought it would be better and safer for the initial tests to be on a section of airport apron before trying this technology at other areas of the airport. Ceylan noted that aprons are the most congested areas at airports and it takes a long time to clear them of snow and ice because big plows and other heavy equipment can't work in such busy areas. So Belt identified a site and with the help of a project team from Foth Infrastructure and Environment, the test slabs were installed last October and November. Belt has checked on the test slabs three times during snowy or icy weather. "It was fascinating to see that it worked," Belt said, noting Ceylan is now "trying to beat the weather to the punch" by turning on the heated pavements even before the snow starts flying. Belt said he can see the technology being useful in and around gates where there are lots of airport ground-handling equipment and employee activity. He also said heated pavements would be a big help at the front of the terminal with its sidewalks, crosswalks and ramps -- he said it takes a lot of work to keep the areas clear and safe. "There are definitely some opportunities for the technology," he said. But, he said he's going to take a wait-and-see approach until there's more testing and there's more information about installation and operating costs. The testing is hardly over, Ceylan said. In addition to collecting more data on the electrically conductive concrete, he said the team will soon be adding a hydrophobic coating to one of the test slabs. The water-repelling coating is designed to keep snow and ice from sticking to the pavement, making it much easier to keep clear and dry. "We're looking at hybrid heated pavements systems," Ceylan said. "We think we can take advantage of multiple technologies to keep airports open and safe during the winter." https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2017/03/170328120831.htm Back to Top Cold spray technology to repair surfaces of corroded aircraft parts Faster, market competitive and safer airplane repairs. That's the goal of a project by The University of Akron and Airborne Maintenance and Engineering Services in obtaining Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) approval for "cold spray" repair of corroded and worn parts on commercial aircraft. Promising demonstrations and test results of this application were showcased at Airborne Maintenance and Engineering Services at the Wilmington Air Park on March 27. Members of the Ohio General Assembly - including Speaker of the Ohio House of Representatives Cliff Rosenberger and Ohio Senate President Pro Tempore Bob Peterson - viewed progress of Supersonic Particle Deposition (SPD), a groundbreaking aircraft repair method for applying metal particles to rebuild the surfaces of corroded and worn parts. Boost to economy expected By extending the useful life of an aircraft's parts, this public-private partnership initiative is anticipated to lead to the first FAA certification for full-scale commercial aircraft repair operations. For a region that is actively expanding the job market by developing emerging technology to grow the aviation sector, this approval is another step forward in additional jobs and economic development opportunities. The technique involves a high pressure spraying process in which metal particles contained in a supersonic jet of an expanded gas impact a solid surface with sufficient energy to cause bonding with the surface. This additive manufacturing process builds up and repairs the surface of the metal part without creating a heat-affected zone that would occur during welding or high temperature thermal spray. Development and testing has been underway for two years, funded by the Ohio Legislature in the last Operating Budget, and supported by The University of Akron's National Center for Education and Research on Corrosion and Materials Performance (NCERCAMP) in collaboration with Airborne Maintenance and Engineering Services (AMES), SAFEngineering, Inc., and U.S. Technology Corporation. The data gathered has provided the foundation with the information required for FAA approval of SPD dimensional restoration of aircraft structure. Significant opportunities for growth This collective effort has produced numerous achievements with the SPD technology highlighting the effectiveness of public-private partnerships for economic growth. Once the goal of this program is attained, the application of the process is limitless across the commercial aviation sector. "This technology in commercial applications creates significant ongoing opportunities for economic advancement in Ohio through advanced manufacturing and job growth," said Greg Smith, director of engineering for Airborne Maintenance and Engineering Services. UA's Corrosion Engineering program is the first of its kind in the United States. Housed at The University of Akron, NCERCAMP provides a multidisciplinary approach to help government and industry develop solutions for corrosion and materials performance challenges. In response to requests from private industry and the Department of Defense in 2006, The University of Akron launched an effort to help address the cost of corrosion on the nation's economy, estimated at more than $400 billion annually. In 2010, NCERCAMP was established by Congress and the U.S. Department of Defense. https://phys.org/news/2017-03-cold-technology-surfaces-corroded-aircraft.html Back to Top EU and South Asia launch aviation partnership project The European Union (EU), in collaboration with South Asian states, has launched a new technical cooperation project in order to improve its civil aviation relations. The EU-South Asia aviation partnership project (APP), which is managed by the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), will be carried out over a four-year period. Implemented with Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka, the new technical cooperation project will help improve safety, support institutional and industrial links, and reduce the environmental impact of aviation. Funded by the EU, the €7.5m project was officially launched at the Global Aviation Safety forum on Regional Safety Oversight Organisations in Swaziland, South Africa. EASA executive director Patrick Ky said: "South Asia has the highest forecast traffic growth of any region in the world over the next 20 years. "Europe looks forward to partnering with South Asia to meet the opportunities and challenges this presents." Additionally, the EU-South Asia APP will help boost technical cooperation at the regional level as well as improve EU-South Asia policy dialogue. In addition to strengthening civil aviation relations between South Asian and European institutions, the EU-South Asia aviation project will also enhance technical exchanges between the South Asian and European aviation industries. The project has been launched to help South Asia to develop its safety oversight capacity, as well as enhance the environmental performance of the region's aviation sector. http://www.airport-technology.com/news/newseu-south-asia-launch-aviation-partnership-project- to-boost-civil-aviation-ties-5772469 Back to Top Boeing Skyview plane window, the largest of all time, to launch in 2018 The largest window on any passenger aircraft, measuring a whopping 137cm x 45cm, will be unveiled next year. That's more than three times wider than a standard plane window. The Skyview Panoramic, developed for Boeing by aerospace firm Fokker Technologies, will offer unrivalled views from 35,000 feet. But not everyone will get the chance to enjoy the vistas - plans are only in place to install them on corporate planes. Following a 2018 launch, all new Boeing Business Jet (BBJ), BBJ2 and BBJ Max aircraft will include the giant apertures, which can sit in multiple locations to the aft of the wing. They may also be added to Boeing's existing corporate aircraft at the request of owners. Fokker first proposed the Skyview Panoramic several years ago but had been waiting for FAA and EASA approval. "We are proud to announce the next step for the Skyview Panoramic window together with Boeing Business Jets," said Peter Somers, President of GKN's Fokker Services business. "The innovative technology applied in the largest window in the market, enhances passenger comfort and is now also available for BBJ MAX airplanes." One of the most notable features of the Boeing 787 Dreamliner, which launched in 2009, is its larger windows. But at just 45cm in length they pale in comparison to the Skyview Panoramic. The world's private jets are already packed with lavish features - even without this latest addition. Photographer Nick Gleis, who has snapped inside more than 800 such aircraft, said he had seen everything from a domed ceiling that changed colour to simulate dawn, day, dusk and night (including star constellations) to a "living wall" of plants. For a glimpse of the plane cabins of the future, it's hard to beat the annual Aircraft Interior Expo. This year's event takes place in Hamburg from April 4, but a shortlist of award nominees has already been released. As with the Skyview Panoramic, it's the wealthiest travellers that look set to benefit. Highlights include the first business-class cabin to feature a sliding door for each passenger, courtesy of Delta Air Lines, and the first underfloor heating system for a private jet, the work of Austria's F.List GmbH. US-based Kestrel Aviation Management, meanwhile, has been praised by Expo judges for its Dreamjet concept, which sees the 787 Dreamliner (which ordinarily carries between 240 and 335 passengers) turned into a 40-passenger plane so spacious it resembles an airborne penthouse apartment. It features an entertainment and study lounge, dedicated dining spaces, and en-suite master bedroom, and is finished with hardwood floors and hand-tufted carpets. http://www.traveller.com.au/boeing-skyview-plane-window-the-largest-of-all-time-to-launch-in- 2018-gv9n63 Back to Top StandardAero Agrees to Acquire PAS Technologies to Expand MRO Portfolio SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. - March 29, 2017 - StandardAero announced today that it has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire PAS Technologies, a high technology components provider, to expand its portfolio of industry-leading MRO service offerings. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed. PAS specializes in providing cost-effective OEM and MRO solutions for the aerospace, oil and gas, and industrial gas turbine markets. By using innovative and proprietary high-technology processes, along with solutions licensed from OEMs, the company provides great value for customers whose components are exposed to high wear, high heat and corrosive environments. The company's highly engineered, innovative products are known for advanced technology and unsurpassed reliability. "We are very pleased to announce this strategic acquisition and we welcome all PAS Technologies employees and customers to the StandardAero family," said Russell Ford, CEO of StandardAero. "PAS will align with our current Components, Helicopters & Accessories business division." "With the addition of PAS, StandardAero will now be a key player with new make manufacturing capabilities along with supporting the entire MRO requirements across the full engine life cycle," said Rick Stine, President of StandardAero Components, Helicopters & Accessories. "This is a very strategic fit and we are looking forward to working together to support and expand partnerships with all of our OEMs and to offer our customers a much broader range of capabilities and services," said Tom Hutton, CEO of PAS Technologies. PAS performs work across a substantial installed base of engines including PW4000, LM2500, F117, F110, F100, F414, V2500, CFM56 and its capabilities include both manufacturing and a full suite of special processes. The company leverages its special coating capabilities for new build and aftermarket components to create a balanced business model between manufacturing and repair services across a diverse range of end markets. The transaction is expected to close within the next 60 days. About StandardAero StandardAero is one of the world's largest independent providers of services including engine and airframe maintenance, repair and overhaul, engine component repair, engineering services, interior completions and paint applications. StandardAero serves a diverse array of customers in business and general aviation, airline, military, helicopter, components, energy and VIP completions markets. The company celebrated its 100th year of industry leadership in 2011. In 2015, StandardAero was purchased by Veritas Capital, a leading private equity firm headquartered in New York City. Veritas invests in companies that provide critical products and services to government and commercial customers worldwide including those operating in aerospace & defense, healthcare, technology, national security, communications, energy and education. More information can be found on the company's web site atwww.standardaero.com. About PAS Technologies PAS Technologies is a privately held corporation that currently operates from six facilities around the world, totaling nearly 400,000 square feet of operations at the following locations: Hillsboro, OH; Kansas City, MO; Phoenix, AZ; South Windsor, CT; Singapore; and Romania. The company employs nearly 500 people and has annual revenues exceeding $100 million. http://www.aviationpros.com/press_release/12320454/standardaero-agrees-to-acquire-pas- technologies-to-expand-mro-portfolio Back to Top Praxair Surface Technologies Signs Long-Term Contract to Supply Rolls-Royce DANBURY, Conn. & INDIANAPOLIS--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Praxair, Inc. (PX) announced that its Praxair Surface Technologies (PST) subsidiary was awarded a long-term contract by leading aero engine manufacturer Rolls-Royce. Over the 10-year contract, PST will apply its Tribomet™ abrasive coatings to rotating components in jet engines of wide-body aircraft. The coatings help prevent frictional heating, increase fuel efficiency and extend component life. The project, which will begin in mid-2017, will be serviced from PST's coating operations in Indianapolis and Weston-super-Mare, England. "We are proud to extend our relationship with Rolls-Royce, a leading aerospace producer," said Freddie Sarhan, vice president for the Americas at Praxair Surface Technologies. "This is just the latest example of the type of long-term business relationships we develop with our customers that support their business growth in the U.S. and around the world. It also further builds on PST's long and successful history of serving the aerospace industry." "We are very pleased to collaborate with Praxair Surface Technologies, a key supply chain partner, to expand our in-state relationships and contribute to the overall growth of the aerospace sector," said Jeff McInerney, Rolls-Royce vice president of supply chain, Americas. Rolls-Royce is a major aerospace company in Indiana. However, this contract supports coating operations for Rolls-Royce Crosspointe, a facility located south of Richmond, Virginia, that manufactures engine components for its large Trent engine family. "It is a great testament to the sophistication of Indiana's aerospace supply chain when a global engine manufacturer like Rolls-Royce chooses to invest in a technology developed locally," said Ryan Metzing, director of the Conexus Indiana Aerospace & Defense Council. "With both of these companies serving on our statewide council, we look forward to learning from this partnership and creating more of these opportunities throughout our supply chain." PST offers a comprehensive array of high-performance coatings and technologies to the aviation, energy and other industries. By continuously advancing coatings technologies, the business helps customers improve environmental performance, decrease energy consumption, extend component life, improve productivity, minimize downtime, reduce operating costs and produce high-quality products. About Praxair Praxair, Inc., a Fortune 300 company with 2016 sales of $11 billion, is a leading industrial gas company in North and South America and one of the largest worldwide. The company produces, sells and distributes atmospheric, process and specialty gases, and high-performance surface coatings. Praxair products, services and technologies are making our planet more productive by bringing efficiency and environmental benefits to a wide variety of industries, including aerospace, chemicals, food and beverage, electronics, energy, healthcare, manufacturing, primary metals and many others. More information about Praxair, Inc. is available at www.praxair.com. http://finance.yahoo.com/news/praxair-surface-technologies-signs-long-123000740.html Back to Top FAA, Industry and Academia Partner on Flight Tests of Sense-and-Avoid Avionics System for Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) PHOENIX, March 28, 2017 - The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and partners Northrop Grumman and ACSS, an L3 and Thales Company, today announced a series of successful flight tests of the sense-and-avoid avionics systemfor Unmanned Aerial Systems (UASs). The flight tests led by Northrop Grumman were conducted at the Mojave Air and Space Port in Mojave, California. Participating were FAA staff from federally funded research and development centers, including the Massachusetts Institute of Technology Lincoln Laboratory and Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory (APL), which developed the algorithms and software for ACAS Xu. The FAA TCAS Program Office is developing the advanced Airborne Collision Avoidance System (ACAS) as a successor to the Traffic Alert and Collision Avoidance Warning System (TCAS) to support the objectives of its Next-Generation Air Transportation System Program (NextGen). All ACAS X variants detect conflicts with intruder aircraft, issue Resolution Advisories and coordinate maneuvers with other collision avoidance systems. ACAS Xa and Xo are intended for current TCAS users, and ACAS Xu is designed for UAS and other vehicles with new surveillance technologies and different performance characteristics. "The flight tests collected data necessary to validate simulation models and help inform the continued development of ACAS Xu," said Greg Boerwinkle, ACSS UAS Program Manager. "This is a critical capability to advance the economic viability and safety aspects of large UAS operations. The capabilities under development for large UASs to detect and avoid collisions will be substantially better than the ability of a pilot to see with the human eye and avoid collisions." Lincoln Laboratory and APL provided the ACAS Xu software to ACSS and supported the flight tests with overall system expertise. ACSS integrated and tested the ACAS Xu software and provided the hardware to host ACAS Xu leveraging its commercialT³CAS® product, which includes TCAS, transponder and Terrain Awareness Warning System (TAWS) functions. The T³CAS, with ACAS Xu Version 2 software, was integrated on the Northrop Grumman Firebird Demonstrator, an optionally piloted aircraft. Both ACSS and Northrop Grumman also provided manned aircraft that flew predetermined collision encounter geometries with the Firebird Demonstrator. As part of the ACAS Xu development, the FAA is also working with the European Organization for Civil Aviation Equipment (EUROCAE) on international safety standards. Aviation Communication & Surveillance Systems (ACSS), 70 percent owned by L3 and 30 percent owned by Thales, is a joint venture managed by L3's Aviation Products sector. ACSS provides design and manufacture of products for all aircraft and helicopter segments, and supports products for air transport and regional airlines, business aviation, and helicopter, general aviation and military aircraft operators. ACSS produces avionics systems that increase safety, situational awareness and efficiency for commercial and military flight operators. More than 75,000 ACSS products are operating in commercial, corporate and military aircraft. Thales Avionics is the exclusive air transport sales and support agent of ACSS products. For information about ACSS, visit www.acss.com. For information about Thales Avionics, visit www.thalesgroup.com. About Thales Thales is a global technology leader for the Aerospace, Transport, Defence and Security markets. With 62,000 employees in 56 countries, Thales reported sales of €14 billion in 2015. With over 22,000 engineers and researchers, Thales has a unique capability to design and deploy equipment, systems and services to meet the most complex security requirements. Its exceptional international footprint allows it to work closely with its customers all over the world. About L3 Technologies Headquartered in New York City, L3 Technologies employs approximately 38,000 people worldwide and is a leading provider of a broad range of communication, electronic and sensor systems used on military, homeland security and commercial platforms. L3 is also a prime contractor in aerospace systems, security and detection systems, and pilot training. The company reported 2016 sales of $10.5 billion. To learn more about L3, please visit the company's website at www.L3T.com. http://www.aviationpros.com/press_release/12320285/faa-industry-and-academia-partner-on- flight-tests-of-sense-and-avoid-avionics-system-for-unmanned-aerial-systems-uas Back to Top The LEAP 500: Engine Ramp Up is Off to Fast Start at GE Lafayette Lafayette, IN | March 29, 2017 - Just 60 miles from the iconic Indianapolis Motor Speedway, the GE Aviation Lafayette team is focused on its own 500. This year, GE's facilities in Lafayette, Ind., and Durham, N.C., are teaming to produce about 500 jet-engine "hot sections" for the world's fast-selling airline jet engine - the CFM International LEAP engine. The "hot section" module combines the compressor, combustor, high-pressure turbine areas to give the engine its power. Half of these 500 "hot sections" will be used to assemble 250 full LEAP engines at Lafayette and Durham in 2017; the other 250 "hot sections" will be shipped to Safran Aircraft Engines facilities in Villaroche, France, for final engine assembly. CFM is a 50/50 joint company between GE and Safran Aircraft Engines, and final engine assembly occurs at both GE and Safran. Between GE and Safran, 500 LEAP engines are expected to be assembled this year - that's more than four times the number of LEAP engines assembled in 2016. This tremendous ramp up is designed to meet customer demand for LEAP, which in its short existence is already the world's best-selling jet engine with more than 12,200 orders. "The 500" will take a combination of precision, technology and teamwork to execute, so GE has finely-tuned its Lafayette facility to meet the demand. The $50 million, 300,000-square foot, state-of the-art facility is loaded with new technologies, including automated vision inspection systems and radio frequency parts management to easily spot parts on the shop floor. The facility's main structure has a 2,500-ton steel frame with a 370-lb column design to support its overhead gantry cranes. This allows minimal movement for the precision engine work taking place. With GE's added investment of machinery and equipment to perform maintenance, repair and overhaul capabilities, the company has invested more than $110 million here. It's part of more than $4.3 billion that GE has spent on its growing US operations since 2011. "The Lafayette Assembly and MRO Facility is among our most advanced sites" plant leader Eric Matteson said. "Its proximity to our primary warehouse near Cincinnati and the central location between large airports in Chicago, New York, Washington, D.C. and Atlanta also makes it very valuable to the business." Lafayette's workforce numbers are also ramping up. The facility opened in September of 2015 with a team of 21 employees. The number has swelled to 72 as of March and could grow to more than 230 when the LEAP program reaches peak production. GE coordinated with two Indiana universities - Ivy Tech at Lafayette and Purdue University - on a co-enrollment program that trains students to fill the emerging talent needs at the facility. "The community has proven to be an invaluable partner and I know we'll continue to be successful as we take on this additional work at the Lafayette site," Matteson said. "Our area colleges are training the "right" talent for the plant. This will give our operation a competitive advantage as we move forward." GE Aviation, an operating unit of General Electric Company (NYSE: GE), is a world-leading provider of commercial and military jet engines, and avionics, digital solutions and electrical power systems for aircraft. GE Aviation has a global service network to support these offerings. For more information, visit us at www.ge.com/aviation. Follow GE Aviation on Twitter at http://twitter.com/GEAviation and YouTube at http://www.youtube.com/user/GEAviation GE is the world's Digital Industrial Company, transforming industry with software-defined machines and solutions that are connected, responsive and predictive. GE is organized around a global exchange of knowledge, the "GE Store," where each business shares and accesses the same technology, markets, structure and intellect. Each invention further fuels innovation and application across our industrial sectors. With people, services, technology and scale, GE delivers better outcomes for customers by speaking the language of industry. www.geaviation.com/digital http://www.aviationpros.com/press_release/12320455/the-leap-500-engine-ramp-up-is-off-to-fast- start-at-ge-lafayette Back to Top SpaceX set to launch 'used rocket' California's SpaceX company expects to make a piece of history later when it re-flies a Falcon rocket. Traditionally, rockets are one-use only - all the elements of the vehicle are discarded in getting a satellite payload into orbit. But SpaceX has become adept at landing its boosters safely back on Earth after a mission. Now, the firm is ready to put one of these "flight proven" vehicles on the launch pad again. The window for a lift-off from Florida's Kennedy Space Center opens at 18:27 EDT (22:27 GMT; 23:27 BST). The satellite passenger is the property of the Luxembourg operator SES. Designated SES-10, this 5.3-tonne spacecraft, which was manufactured in the UK and France by Airbus, is booked to deliver a range of TV and telecom services to the Caribbean, Central and South America. Only the lower segment - the first-stage - of the Falcon is "second hand". The upper-stage and the clamshell fairing that protects the satellite on the ascent are all new. The first-stage was originally flown from Florida eleven months ago, to send cargo to the space station. Once that job was done, the booster navigated its way back to a floating platform in the Atlantic where it made a propulsive landing on deployable legs. Several months of detailed inspection followed, after which the stage was declared fit to go again. It should have gone back up in October but the flight was postponed following the launch pad explosion of another of SpaceX's rockets in September. Re-using stages is part of SpaceX's strategy to lower the cost of access to space, and SES is getting a discount off the normal launch price, which is advertised at $62m. But although cost is a key driver here, so too is schedule. At the moment, the opportunities to fly the big telecoms satellites into orbit are limited by the availability of capable vehicles. The commercial launch industry is constrained principally to just three major providers and when one of these has a problem, as SpaceX did with its September anomaly, the "pipeline" to orbit for everyone gets squeezed. "This is not just an issue about money," emphasised Martin Halliwell, the chief technical officer of SES. "Will re-usability lead to cheaper prices? I hope so, but for us it's also about having a route to space," he told BBC News. "We've been waiting for six months now to fly SES-10, and that's because there was no other alternative opportunity. If we can start getting the rocket companies looking toward re-usability and going down this path, we should have much more flexibility in being able to launch our various different missions." Illustrating that point is the fact that SES will be trying to put up 10 satellites this year: SES-10, SES-15, SES-11, SES-16, SES-14, SES-12, and four satellites in its medium orbit constellation, O3b. Already, the next mission after Thursday (SES-15) looks like it will be delayed because of strike action in French Guiana, the home of Europe's spaceport and launch provider Arianespace. Obviously, reliability is a critical aspect to all this as well, and SES has had two individuals embedded at SpaceX to oversee the booster's evaluation. This work has satisfied the Luxembourg operator that Thursday's Falcon mission carries no additional risk. Certainly, no change has been required to the insurance package supporting the flight. "We would not risk such an important spacecraft, with such huge investment, on top of any rocket that we didn't believe is actually going to make it correctly into orbit," said Mr Halliwell. Getting away from expendable rockets has been a long quest. Famously, Nasa's space shuttle system was partially re-usable. The white solid-fuel strap-on boosters, for example, were recovered after each mission and their casings re-used. And yet the complexities of servicing the shuttle system after every flight swamped any savings. SpaceX hopes its simpler Falcon 9 rocket can finally deliver a practical commercial solution. It believes its technology will eventually permit rapid turnaround, with boosters flying multiple times before being retired. Other players are following close behind. The Amazon entrepreneur Jeff Bezos already has a re- usable sub-orbital rocket and capsule system that he has successfully launched and landed five times. Mr Bezos now plans a recoverable orbital rocket called New Glenn. And United Launch Alliance, which puts up the majority of America's national security payloads, is in the process of designing a new vehicle that will return its engines to Earth via parachute. SpaceX will again seek to land Thursday's first-stage booster on a floating platform in the Atlantic. This will give the company's engineers further data on the durability of the Falcon's components and sub-systems. http://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-39437407 Curt Lewis