June 15, 2017 - No. 048 In This Issue Boeing plans to shift hundreds of jobs to Arizona GE Aviation acquires robotics maker Paris Air Show: MTU Aero Engines Showcases Cutting-edge Innovations for Aviation Helicopter Makers Are Propelling The Way Forward Boom Supersonic and Stratasys Sign Technical Partnership to Improve the Speed of Development for Supersonic Aircraft With 3D Printing Textron Aviation Rolls Out First Production Cessna Citation Longitude, Introduces Advanced Manufacturing Technologies to Super-midsize Market United to Evaluate SwiftBroadband on Boeing 767s Integrated Nacelle Systems Take Flight On Global 7000 and C919 CAE Inaugurates New Training Facility in Korea in Partnership with Korea Airports Corporation SpaceX's Mars Colony Plan: How Elon Musk Plans to Build a Million-Person Martian City Boeing plans to shift hundreds of jobs to Arizona Boeing plans to transfer yet another substantial work group out of the Puget Sound region, the company confirmed Wednesday. The work shifting to Mesa, Arizona, will involve hundreds of jobs. The changes are coming at Boeing's Shared Services Group (SSG), which employs about 3,000 people in the Puget Sound region and provides a wide range of support services to Boeing's corporate and production units. The unit's leadership has initiated a sweeping review and has begun to inform specific groups that their work is pegged for moving. It's part of Boeing's intense corporate drive to cut costs, which is largely responsible for the loss of more than 18,300 Boeing jobs in the state since the most recent employment peak in fall 2012. Boeing aims to complete the SSG reorganization by 2020, but SSG president Beverly Wyse will move from Renton to Mesa sooner. Wyse, a longtime Boeing exec who previously ran Boeing's South Carolina complex and headed the Renton 737 assembly plant, said the reorganization will also take out some layers of management and is aimed at making SSG more efficient and productive. Wyse said managers have begun meeting with employees and working out details. At this point, she said, it's too early to tell how many jobs will be moved. "In the next six to eight weeks, we'll understand everyone's preferences and develop a transition plan for each employee," Wyse said. In one affected group, a person with knowledge of the plan said Boeing will offer relocation packages to just 5 to 10 percent of the current employees who are considered critical to the work. To stay at SSG, the person said, others will have to reapply for their jobs and accept a lower salary offered in Mesa. http://www.seattletimes.com/business/boeing-aerospace/boeing-plan-could-shift-hundreds-of- jobs-to-arizona/ Back to Top GE Aviation acquires robotics maker GE Aviation has acquired a United Kingdom-based manufacturer that builds snake-arm robots for work in confined and hazardous areas. Terms of the deal to acquire OC Robotics were not disclosed. The robots are typically used in hazardous and hard-to-get to confined areas for inspections, repairs and cleaning in the aerospace, construction, nuclear, petrochemical and security industries, GE said in a statement. GE will use the technology for work on jet engines, a company official said. The snake armed robots can stretch more than nine feet and bend more than 180 degrees, GE Aviation said. "OC Robotics will play an important role in how we service our customers' engines," Jean Lydon- Rodgers, GE Aviation Services vice president and general manager, said in a statement Monday. OC Robotics, which started two decades ago and is located in Bristol, England, has worked for more than a decade to develop the technology, officials said. "For 15 years, OC Robotics invested heavily to develop snake-arm robot technologies, and the aviation industry has always been a target area for this technology," Andy Graham, OC Robotics director, said in a statement. GE Aviation operates the $51 million Electrical Power Integrated Services Center, opened in 2013, on the University of Dayton campus and produces aircraft parts at a facility in Vandalia. The company report revenues of $26 billion in 2016 and employs 44,000 employees, including 9,000 in southwest Ohio, said company spokeswoman Deborah Case. OC Robotics was a privately held company and revenues were not immediately released. http://www.daytondailynews.com/business/aviation-acquires-robotics- maker/2T3d7xZXvF9pFVvRAVvd2J/ Back to Top Paris Air Show: MTU Aero Engines Showcases Cutting-edge Innovations for Aviation Munich, June 9, 2017 - MTU Aero Engines, Germany's technology leader in aircraft propulsion systems, has revamped the concept for its exhibition booth at this year's Paris Air Show. On the "Path of Excellence", the company introduces visitors to the innovative high-tech products and services it is offering to support commercial and military engines throughout their entire life cycle. Among the highlights on display at its trade show booth in Hall 2A (No. C254) are high-tech engines and engine components made by MTU and visualization tools that provide a glimpse into the future of digitalization in engine development and production. Breaking new ground in development and production A mouse click in lieu of trial and error: Simulations are transforming development and production - and this also holds true for the aviation industry. A simulation screen at MTU's booth demonstrates how it all works. For MTU, simulations are indispensable, virtual development making processes faster, more efficient and more cost-effective. They ensure a validated and optimized design of the propulsion system. Production, too, is changing. When it comes to manufacturing technologies, MTU Aero Engines is among the world's leading companies in the industry: It has developed a new process for producing high-pressure compressor nickel blisks, dubbed precise electrochemical machining (PECM). Blisks are high-tech components manufactured in one piece that eliminate the need to fix separately manufactured blades to the disk. Additive manufacturing, or 3D printing, allows highly complex components to be produced at a high rate. MTU Aero Engines has achieved a breakthrough in engine construction: As one of the first companies worldwide, MTU is manufacturing a production part for the PurePower PW1100G-JM, the engine powering the A320neo, using additive manufacturing technology. Highlights in commercial and military programs In terms of their technology, the latest narrowbody aircraft have ushered in a new era of efficient and sustainable aviation. A case in point are the PurePower PW1000G-family geared turbofan (GTF) engines. The holography box, an interactive communication platform, provides trade show visitors with a unique insight into the technology of GTFs. The 3D animations and video sequences provide information on topics such as MTU's core modules, as, for instance, the high-pressure compressor or the high-speed low-pressure turbine. An original copy of the latter is also exhibited at the trade show booth. The main focus is placed on the benefits the GTF technology affords both for the customer and for the environment: fuel consumption and CO2 emissions are reduced by 16 percent, perceived noise is cut in half, and maintenance costs are lower. The message has reached the market: The current order backlog stands at more than 8,000 engines. Among the components showcased by MTU that go into propulsion systems for long-range aircraft is the turbine center frame for the GEnx engine, which powers the Boeing 787 Dreamliner and the Boeing 747-8. Other exhibits from the military business include a cutaway model of the EJ200 engine powering the Eurofighter Typhoon and a T408 engine, which will power the Sikorsky CH-53K helicopter. Tailor-made solutions for customers MTU's commercial maintenance sector will be presenting its cutting-edge aftermarket solutions. Take V2500 drum repair, for example. This procedure prevents fretting damage at the middle stages of the high-pressure compressor by incorporating newly designed damper wires with improved ends that MTU has developed. Another innovative repair procedure is MTUPlus ERcoateco for application of a high-temperature-resistant erosion protection coating onto high-pressure compressor blades and vanes. The coating is produced using nanotechnology. This repair helps reduce specific fuel consumption and CO2 emissions. What's more, it increases the life of the blades and vanes by protecting the base material from excessive erosion. Both repair solutions are being demonstrated on a V2500 high-pressure compressor on display at MTU's booth. Perspectives for the future Aviation continues to have plenty of innovations in store down the road. As guests at MTU's booth, futurologists from the Munich-based Bauhaus Luftfahrt think tank will be showcasing their latest concept study. In cooperation with 12 students from the Glasgow School of Art, 25 scientists from Bauhaus Luftfahrt have developed a well-matched airport and aircraft concept: "CentAirStation" and "CityBird". Their mission statement: New inner-city airports and new aircraft operating regionally between these new inner-city airports and conventional airports will contribute greatly to solving major air transport challenges in 2040 and beyond. http://www.aviationpros.com/press_release/12343411/paris-air-show-mtu-aero-engines- showcases-cutting-edge-innovations-for-aviation Back to Top Helicopter Makers Are Propelling The Way Forward Changing the concept of helicopter designs can start only with the evolution of helicopter propulsion and power systems, said a panel at Singapore's Rotorcraft Asia 2017 conference in April. The panel consisted of Airbus Helicopters chief technical officer Jean-Brice Dumont, Bell Helicopter's director of innovation Scott Drennan and Pascal Dauriac, Safran's research and technology director. Dauriac thinks the way forward will follow two development paths; the conventional combustion or hybrid engine design, and the distributed propulsion multi-rotor craft. However, pure electrical power with today's battery packs is not sufficient to power even a multi- rotor aircraft carrying two passengers for 20 minutes, and he foresees only hybrid propulsion system consisting of combustion and battery to be feasible within the next decade. He believes that as proof-of-concept; a prototype can be developed with a central engine connected to the various electrical generator and motors. "This [multi-rotor] system is the answer to safer missions thanks to redundancy to the many rotors and will venture into new missions and markets," Dauriac said. "It might not be the most energy- efficient solution at the moment due to the numerous transfers from fuel; to electrical; and to mechanical energy." "The overall architecture of the plane and helicopter hasn't changed. But distributed propulsion, if we get there, will be a game changer with new shape and design. But right now, we are stuck," said Airbus's Dumont. "Propulsion development has been steady, but hasn't seen any exponential growth." Meanwhile, Safran's Arrano engines are now achieving 10- to 15 percent reduction in fuel burn and C02emissions, and the French company hopes to achieve 25 percent by 2025 on a 2,500- to 3,000- shp engine with electrical assistance. Beyond that, they hope to develop a Constant Volume Combustion (CVC) engine with 35 percent lower fuel burn and emissions. Dauriac said the CVC is very complicated to develop and factors such as noise, leakage and pressure have to be considered. He estimates it won't be ready until 2030. Airbus Helicopters is developing the Clean Sky 2 (CS2) high-speed rotorcraft in line with the European Clean Sky initiative to reduce carbon emissions over Europe. Co-funded by the European Union, the CS2 hybrid helicopter is based on the company's X3 concept demonstrator, which includes two tractor propellers on short-span wings. Currently 37 partners from 12 countries are on board the CS2 program. The concept aircraft is to cover more ground at 1.5 times the speed of most helicopters, which could be extremely useful in Emergency Medical Services and Search and Rescue Operations. CS2 is projected to consume 15 percent less fuel per nautical mile at 180 knots compared to a standard helicopter at 130 knots. Airbus hopes to start assembling the first demonstrator prototype by December 2018, and have the platform airborne by 2020. Bell Helicopter likewise has big ambitions for its FCX-001 concept rotorcraft unveiled this year at the HAI Heli-Expo. It aims to introduce new advanced anti-torque technology and alternative propulsion. The FCX-001 will have no tail rotor and is said to use thrust-vectoring for anti-torque control. Drennan says the priority for Bell's innovation department has always been high speed VTOL development. Short-term plans include projects such as the V-280 Valor tiltrotor which aims to make its flight debut this year. Autonomous flight is increasingly within reach, and both airframers are taking steps to reach that goal. The City Airbus project is part of the company's ambition to achieve urban air mobility. The development of a quadcopter is underway, and Dumont hopes that the platform will fly soon, first with a pilot, followed by unmanned operations. "It will also be our first large-scale distributed propulsion. We might not be the first to do so, but we want to be ready for the market down the road," he said. "It is not just about the development of the aircraft, but also the infrastructure, regulations and air traffic management." While Bell does not have any high-profile autonomous program lined up, the company's breakthrough project is its Model 525 Relentless; the world's first fully fly-by-wire helicopter. Drennan said that is one of the first steps to autonomous flights. "As a community we have to be ready for the breakthrough, and when it comes, it will change us," said Airbus's Dumont, in closing. https://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/business-aviation/2017-06-14/helicopter-makers-are- propelling-way-forward Back to Top Boom Supersonic and Stratasys Sign Technical Partnership to Improve the Speed of Development for Supersonic Aircraft With 3D Printing MINNEAPOLIS & DENVER--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Stratasys Ltd. (Nasdaq:SSYS), the 3D printing and additive manufacturing solutions company, and Boom Supersonic today announced a significant technical partnership to bring the commercial airline industry one step closer towards routine supersonic travel. Aimed at shaping the future of high-speed aviation, this three-year agreement was signed to help Boom accelerate production of advanced tooling and production-grade aircraft parts based on Stratasys FDM 3D printing technology. By leveraging the design freedom, production speed, and heightened cost efficiencies of additive manufacturing, Boom plans for the first flight of XB-1, their supersonic demonstrator, to take place next year. The company is deploying Stratasys FDM-based Fortus 450mc and F370 3D Printers - both designed to produce on-demand parts leveraging production-grade thermoplastics, as well as advanced manufacturing tools that perform even under aviation's most challenging environments. Boom's supersonic airliner will fly 2.6 times faster than any other aircraft on the market today. Accelerating to 1,451 miles per hour, the planes could reduce typical New York to London flight times of seven hours to just over three hours. "Supersonic flight has existed for over 50 years, but the technology hasn't existed to make it affordable for routine commercial travel. Today's significant advances in aerodynamics, engine design, additive manufacturing, and carbon fiber composite materials are transforming the industry at all levels. Additive manufacturing helps accelerate development of a new generation of aircraft," said Blake Scholl, Founder and CEO of Boom. "With a proven track-record of success across aviation and aerospace, Stratasys now becomes a key catalyst in our design and production processes - helping to transform the future of aviation through the power of 3D printing." The agreement will allow Boom to leverage Stratasys 3D printing solutions, materials and expert services. The 3D printing solutions will advance speed, cost savings and performance across critical engineering and manufacturing processes at its headquarters in Denver, Colorado. "Boom is working towards a major breakthrough in supersonic, commercial airline travel - and we're excited Stratasys is now playing a strategic role in helping them achieve their goals. We are proud to add Boom Supersonic to a roster of leading aerospace companies successfully implementing our additive manufacturing solutions to deliver new innovations in aviation," said Rich Garrity, President of Americas for Stratasys. "Stratasys' engineering-grade, high-efficiency 3D printing solutions are perfectly suited for producing the complex part designs and custom manufacturing tools this industry demands." At the Paris Air Show on June 19 - 25, Boom Supersonic and Stratasys will jointly be exploring the many ways additive manufacturing is shaping the future of aerospace. Register now and book a tour of the Stratasys booth, or participate at the advanced demonstrations and executive presentations in Hall 4, Stand C208. About Boom Supersonic, Inc. Boom Supersonic is a Denver-based startup dedicated to removing the barriers to experiencing the planet, starting by building a Mach 2.2 airliner economical enough to operate with business-class fares. Boom is backed by venture capital from firms such as 8VC, RRE, Lightbank, Y Combinator, and Caffeinated Capital, as well as angel investors including Sam Altman, Paul Graham, and Greg McAdoo. For more information, please visit boomsupersonic.com. About Stratasys For nearly 30 years,Stratasys Ltd. (NASDAQ:SSYS) has been a defining force in 3D printing and additive manufacturing, shaping the way things are made. Headquartered in Minneapolis, Minnesota and Rehovot, Israel, the company empowers customers across vertical markets, including Aerospace, Automotive, Healthcare, Education, and Consumer Products, by enabling new approaches for design and manufacturing. Stratasys solutions offer design freedom and manufacturing flexibility, reducing time-to-market and lowering development costs, while improving products and communication. Subsidiaries include MakerBot, Solidscape, and Stratasys Direct Manufacturing, which offers 3D printed parts on demand. The company also offers Expert Services in North America, and the Thingiverse and GrabCAD communities, with 4.5 million free, 3D printable design files. Stratasys has 1,200 granted or pending additive manufacturing patents and has received more than 30 technology and leadership awards. Online at: www.stratasys.com or http://blog.stratasys.com/. Follow us on LinkedIn. Stratasys and FDM are registered trademarks, and the Stratasys signet is a trademark of Stratasys Ltd. and or its subsidiaries or affiliates. All other trademarks belong to their respective owners. http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20170615005506/en/Boom-Supersonic-Stratasys-Sign- Technical-Partnership-Improve Back to Top Textron Aviation Rolls Out First Production Cessna Citation Longitude, Introduces Advanced Manufacturing Technologies to Super-midsize Market WICHITA, Kan. (June 13, 2017) - Textron Aviation Inc., a Textron Inc. (NYSE:TXT) company, today announced it has rolled out the first production unit of the Cessna Citation Longitude, the company's latest clean-sheet design, super-midsize business jet. State-of-the-art assembly and fabrication tools and techniques bring exceptional quality and superior fit and finish to this revolutionary aircraft. "The Citation Longitude sets a new standard in the super-midsize segment, not only through the aircraft's design and performance, but also in the way we are manufacturing it," said Ron Draper, senior vice president, Integrated Supply Chain. "We're incorporating a number of new and innovative fabrication and assembly techniques that will improve processes, reduce the number of parts and provide excellent quality and precision that will aid in the overall maintainability of the aircraft." The Longitude production program takes advantage of new technologies such as monolithic machining where major assemblies are milled from a single piece of metal rather than assembled from smaller pieces, reducing the number of parts and resulting in more precise tolerances for easier assembly. Textron Aviation also has employed and expanded vertical tooling on the assembly line of the Longitude. First utilized on the Citation Latitude midsize jet, the vertical tooling stations provide enhanced ergonomics for employees and make more efficient use of factory space. "Careful attention to detail, combined with advanced manufacturing techniques results in a production process that greatly benefits our customers," Draper said. "We are able to move more quickly from concept to delivery with a high-quality product that we know will exceed the expectations of our customers." This aircraft will join the company's demonstration fleet this summer and will travel the world to showcase the Longitude's amazing capabilities and class-leading interior to customers. The first Longitude flew in October 2016 and to date, the flight test program's four aircraft have accumulated more than 550 hours. A fifth aircraft will join the flight test program this summer, showcasing the company's dedication and commitment to getting the aircraft in the hands of its customers. The Longitude is expected to enter the market by the end of the year. About the Citation Longitude With a range of 3,500 nautical miles and full fuel payload of 1,600 pounds, the Citation Longitude is set to elevate passenger expectations in the super-midsize class by delivering the quietest cabin, lowest cabin altitude (5,950 feet), more standard features and a comfortable, bespoke interior. With seating for up to 12 passengers, including an optional crew jump seat, the Longitude features a stand-up, 6-foot tall flat-floor cabin. A standard double-club configuration allows the most legroom in the super-midsize class. Fully berthable seats are designed and manufactured in-house and a class-leading walk-in baggage compartment is accessible in flight. State-of-the-art cabin technology allows passengers to manage their environment and entertainment from any mobile device, while standard high-speed internet maximizes in-flight productivity. The clean-sheet design of the Longitude integrates the latest technology throughout the aircraft, bringing customers the lowest ownership costs in this class. It features the next evolution of the Garmin G5000 flight deck and is powered by FADEC-equipped Honeywell HTF7700L turbofan engines with fully integrated autothrottles. With Garmin's new Head-up Display (GHD 2100) and enhanced vision capability, the Longitude facilitates eyes-up flying. The spacious cockpit incorporates easier access and an ergonomic design that fully focuses on crew comfort and efficiency. No super-midsize business jet offers more range, greater payload or higher cruise speed at a lower expected total ownership cost. The Longitude is designed to feature the longest maintenance intervals in its class - 800 hours or 18 months - expected to make it the most cost effective to operate in its category. http://www.aviationpros.com/press_release/12343885/textron-aviation-rolls-out-first-production- cessna-citation-longitude-introduces-advanced-manufacturing-technologies-to-super-midsize- market Back to Top United to Evaluate SwiftBroadband on Boeing 767s United Airlines is ready to start evaluating the use of SwiftBroadband Safety (SB-S) on four of its Boeing 767s. The Chicago-based carrier is looking to evaluate the use of SB-S on its aircraft flying North Atlantic transoceanic routes. SB-S is Inmarsat's next generation Internet Protocol (IP)-based safety communications system, developed specifically for aircraft cockpit data and voice communications. In recent years, Inmarsat has added new distribution partners, achieved line fit selection across Airbus A320 and A330 cockpits, and has integrated the service into Hawaiian Airlines aircraft. In a September 2016 white paper, Inmarsat released future roadmap and performance details about SB-S, noting that the service uses spot beam technology within its I4 satellite network to "dynamically allocate resources to the areas where it is most needed." It is capable of enabling cockpit data communications speeds of up to 432 kbps, and is designed to support data volumes on modern aircraft, such as the Airbus A350 which produces up to 4 gb of data per flying hour, and the Boeing 787, which is capable of producing up to 500 gb of data per flight. The onboard piece that enables the use of SB-S for cockpit communications is Cobham Satcom's Aviator 300D satellite communications system. The Aviator 300D is a a class 7 SBB terminal with the addition of an ACARS gateway, and the software installed on the Aviator 300 system has been configured to convert the ACARS messages to IP data and vice versa. It is a similar gateway for ACARS service, complete end to end ACARS over IP link, with a ground gateway as well. Cobham first earned a supplemental type certificate (STC) for the Aviator 300D on Boeing 767s in 2015. United is the latest carrier to announce that it will launch an evaluation of the Aviator 300D, after Shenzhen Airlines launched an evaluation of the technology on its Airbus A320 aircraft in April. According to Cobham, United will install the Aviator 300D on its Boeing 767s later this year, under the Aviator 300D STC developed by L2 Aviation. "United is excited about installing and using this powerful new communications capability as we expect to see it enhancing our operational efficiency, especially in places like the North Atlantic," said Chuck Stewart, chief technical pilot for United Airlines. http://www.aviationtoday.com/2017/06/14/united-evaluate-swiftbroadband-boeing-767s/ Back to Top Integrated Nacelle Systems Take Flight On Global 7000 and C919 The past 12 months have been both busy and rewarding for Nexcelle, which has seen two of its advanced integrated nacelle systems make progress toward service entry. First, in November 2016, Bombardier's new Global 7000 business jet achieved its first flight, powered by the GE Aviation Passport engine with Nexcelle's nacelle and thrust reverser. Then, last month, China's Comac's C919 narrowbody airliner flew for the first time, powered by the CFM International Leap 1C turbofan, featuring Nexcelle's nacelle and O-Duct thrust reverser. The joint venture between GE's Middle River Aircraft Systems division and its French engine-making partner Safran was created with the goal of delivering more operationally efficient and aerodynamically optimized propulsion systems that will result in lower fuel and maintenance costs. "We are now executing on this vision by building the first of our new nacelles, and shipping products," Nexcelle president Kenneth Onderko told AIN. Three Global 7000 engines are involved in flight tests now, and Bombardier is set to get Passport engines to power two more test aircraft as it prepares to complete type certification in 2018. The new model's first flight saw the full deployment of the thrust reversers, which Nexcelle views as a vote of confidence in the system. "We're delivering assets for these now, and then transitioning to production. For the second half of this year we'll be focused on the production ramp up," said Onderko. "The steps and gaps and weight requirements [aerodynamic clearances for the nacelles and thrust reverser] are second to none. This is like nothing we've ever done before, and the reaction of the flight team at Bombardier has been very positive. It's been very robust straight out of the box." At the same time, Nexcelle has an engineering team in China to support Comac, which Onderko said would soon resume flight testing after the initial maiden flight of the C919. Formed in 2008, Nexcelle won the contract from Comac in 2010 to develop what it says is the industry's first fully integrated propulsion system for the Leap 1C-comprising nacelles, thrust reverser and exhaust system. The design features Nexcelle's new translating O-Duct thrust reverser configuration, as well as a fan cowl that is structurally integrated with the engine. It also has an integrated mounting system for reducing engine distortion and enhancing on-wing performance. The O-Duct deployment is performed with an evolved electrical thrust reverser actuation system that replaces heavier hydraulic technology, greatly simplifying maintenance. The reverser for the Passport engine, for example, has just two actuators. The O-Duct design replaces the traditional two-piece "D" doors on the thrust reversers. When the reversers are deployed, the O-Duct eliminates drag links in the engine's secondary flow part, improving airflow and reducing fuel consumption in the process as well as boosting the overall efficiency of the equipment, according to Nexcelle. Future potential applications of Nexcelle's technology will very much be driven by the programs that its parent companies GE and Safran pursue. "The technology can definitely be applied to other new engines," concluded Onderko. "But this year, all of our focus is on delivering what we committed to [for Bombardier and Comac], and that means certification for both programs and production ramp up for the Passport [engine]. https://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/air-transport/2017-06-14/integrated-nacelle-systems- take-flight-global-7000-and-c919 Back to Top CAE Inaugurates New Training Facility in Korea in Partnership with Korea Airports Corporation SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA--(Marketwired - June 14, 2017) - (NYSE:CAE)(TSX:CAE) CAE and Korea Airports Corporation (KAC) inaugurated a new CAE training facility at Gimpo Airport, Seoul, Korea, to support the growing pilot training needs of Korean carriers including Jeju Air, Korean Airlines, Asiana Airlines, Eastar Jet and Air Seoul. The event was attended by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport (MOLIT) of the Republic of Korea as well as representatives of airlines, and the Canada and Korea governments. The new six simulator bay training facility is owned by KAC; and CAE operates four full-flight simulators at the centre, including two Boeing 737NG, one Airbus A330 and one Airbus A320. The ceremony was officiated by Suh, hoon-taik, Deputy Minister for Civil Aviation, Sung, il hwan, CEO of Korea Airport Corporation, Eric Walsh, Canadian Ambassador to South Korea, and, Nick Leontidis, CAE Group President, Civil Aviation Training Solutions. "The relationship between CAE Korea and KAC is a great example of the synergies that can be achieved when CAE partners with a local aviation champion," said CAE's Nick Leontidis. "CAE has been providing pilot training services in Korea since 2012, in fact, we have already trained more than 5,000 pilots in Korea. This new state-of-the art facility, built and owned by KAC, has allowed us to bring together in one centre the new CAE-built Cessna M2 full-flight simulator we sold to KAC last year, as well as the four CAE-owned simulators already in service. We are proud that our client list, much like the Korean aerospace market, continues to grow rapidly with customers coming from Korea as well as neighboring countries." Today's inauguration also marks the beginning of KAC's new jet training program, under which up to 200 cadets will be trained every year at the new centre. The Cessna M2 full-flight simulator will be ready-for-training in the summer 2017. "We are pleased to partner with the worldwide training leader CAE and we are delighted to build upon this new relationship," said Mr. Sung, il hwan, CEO of Korea Airport Corporation. "We are confident that CAE will deliver world-class training services and help us with all of our training needs to address the growing demand of new pilots in Korea." About CAE CAE is a global leader in the delivery of training for the civil aviation, defence and security, and healthcare markets. We design and integrate the industry's most comprehensive training solutions, anchored by the knowledge and expertise of our more than 8,500 employees, our world-leading simulation technologies and a track record of service and technology innovation spanning seven decades. Our global presence is the broadest in the industry, with 160 sites and training locations in 35 countries, including our joint venture operations, and the world's largest installed base of flight simulators. Each year, we train more than 120,000 civil and defence crewmembers, as well as thousands of healthcare professionals. www.cae.com http://www.aviationpros.com/press_release/12343871/cae-inaugurates-new-training-facility-in- korea-in-partnership-with-korea-airports-corporation Back to Top SpaceX's Mars Colony Plan: How Elon Musk Plans to Build a Million-Person Martian City Elon Musk has put his Mars-colonization vision to paper, and you can read it for free. SpaceX's billionaire founder and CEO just published the plan, which he unveiled at a conference in Mexico in September 2016, in the journal New Space. Musk's commentary, titled "Making Humanity a Multi-Planetary Species," is available for free on New Space's website through July 5. "In my view, publishing this paper provides not only an opportunity for the spacefaring community to read the SpaceX vision in print with all the charts in context, but also serves as a valuable archival reference for future studies and planning," New Space editor-in-chief (and former NASA "Mars czar") Scott Hubbard wrote in a statement. Musk's Mars vision centers on a reusable rocket-and-spaceship combo that he's dubbed the Interplanetary Transport System (ITS). Both the booster and the spaceship will be powered by SpaceX's Raptor engine, still in development, which Musk said will be about three times stronger than the Merlin engines that power the company's Falcon 9 rocket. The booster, with its 42 Raptors, will be the most powerful rocket in history, by far. It will be capable of launching 300 metric tons (330 tons) to low Earth orbit (LEO), or 550 metric tons (600 tons) in an expendable variant, Musk said. For comparison, NASA's famous Saturn V moon rocket, the current record holder, could loft "just" 135 metric tons (150 tons). ITS rockets will launch the spaceships to Earth orbit, then come back down for a pinpoint landing about 20 minutes later. And "pinpoint" is not hyperbole: "With the addition of maneuvering thrusters, we think we can actually put the booster right back on the launch stand," Musk wrote in his New Space paper, citing SpaceX's increasingly precise Falcon 9 first-stage landings. The ITS boosters will launch many spaceships and fuel tankers (which will top up the spaceships' tanks) to orbit over the course of their operational lives; the rockets will be designed to fly about 1,000 times each, Musk wrote. The spaceships, meanwhile, will hang out in orbit, and then depart en masse when Earth and Mars align favorably. This happens once every 26 months. Eventually, Musk wrote, he envisions 1,000 or more ITS spaceships, each carrying 100 or more people, leaving Earth orbit during each of these Mars windows. The architecture could conceivably get 1 million people to Mars within the next 50 to 100 years, he has said. The ships would also fly back from Mars, using their nine Raptor engines and methane-based propellant that was manufactured on the Red Planet. Each ITS ship would probably be able to make 12 to 15 deep-space journeys during its operational life, Musk wrote, and each fuel tanker could likely fly to Earth orbit 100 or so times. The ITS' reusability is key to making Mars colonization affordable. This reusability - combined with other measures, such as fueling the spaceships in Earth orbit and making propellant on Mars - could bring the price of a Red Planet trip down to $200,000 or so per person, from an estimated $10 billion using conventional spaceflight systems, Musk said. ITS spaceships could begin flying to Mars about 10 years from now, if everything goes well, Musk added. But he acknowledged that success is far from guaranteed. "There is a huge amount of risk. It is going to cost a lot," Musk wrote. "There is a good chance we will not succeed, but we are going to do our best and try to make as much progress as possible." And SpaceX has a history of overcoming long odds. When Musk founded the company in 2002, he wrote, "I thought we had maybe a 10 percent chance of doing anything - of even getting a rocket to orbit, let alone getting beyond that and taking Mars seriously." You can download a free copy of Musk's Mars paper here: http://online.liebertpub.com/doi/full/10.1089/space.2017.29009.emu https://www.space.com/37200-read-elon-musk-spacex-mars-colony-plan.html Curt Lewis