July 24, 2017 - No. 059 In This Issue Register tracks drones as research shows gadgets can smash plane windscreens Pratt & Whitney Canada to Bring its 100,000 Engine Celebration to EAA AirVenture 2017 PIA listed among top trade schools in Forbes Panasonic Avionics Corporation Has Become a Customer for the Digital and Maintenance Software Company GAMA to Highlight Hybrid and Electric Propulsion Technology at AirVenture NASA to Show Technologies at Experimental Aircraft Association's AirVenture 2017 Sierra Nevada confirms ULA will launch first two Dream Chaser cargo missions FAA saved $36M through shared services, reinvested into new IT Register tracks drones as research shows gadgets can smash plane windscreens A drone registration system is to be launched after research found the flying gadgets could smash plane windscreens, the Government has announced. The measure will help authorities trace the devices' owners when they are used inappropriately. New rules announced by the Government mean drones weighing 250g or more will have to be registered. An online or app-based system may be introduced and users will have to pass a safety awareness test as part of the process. Concerns that a mid-air collision between a drone and an aircraft could occur have been fuelled by scores of near misses. Forty-eight incidents involving drones or unknown objects were investigated by the UK Airprox Board during the first half of the year. Pilots' union Balpa said the results of the study into what would happen in the event of a crash were "robust verification" for its warnings of possible catastrophe. It funded independent tests with the Department for Transport (DfT) and regulator the Military Aviation Authority which revealed that drones weighing 400g could smash a helicopter windscreen, and those weighing 2kg could critically damage an airliner windscreen. Helicopter rotors could also be shattered by the gadgets, according to the research. Balpa general secretary Brian Strutton said: "Pilots have been warning about the rise in the number of cases of drones being flown irresponsibly close to aircraft and airports for some time. "This report clearly shows that readily-available drones which can be flown by anyone can shatter or go straight through an aircraft windshield or shatter a helicopter rotor. And those impacts would have catastrophic consequences." He added: "We hope that urgent Government action will now follow to control this proven threat before there is a disaster and lives are lost." The DfT said it is exploring the best legislative options for introducing the tougher operating rules. It also plans to expand the use of geo-fencing, through which drones are programmed not to enter restricted locations, such as prisons or airports. The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) called for a register of drone users to be linked to systems which would allow real-time tracking and tracing of the gadgets, to aid enforcement of flying laws. The weight restriction on the registration rules mean many small drones available on the high street will be unaffected as they are too light. An investigation published earlier this year revealed police are being flooded with reports about drones. The gadgets are at the centre of thousands of episodes registered by police forces each year, including rows between neighbours, prison smuggling, burglary "scoping" exercises and snooping fears. Figures obtained by the Press Association show forces recorded 3,456 episodes last year, almost triple the 2015 figure of 1,237 and more than 12 times the 2014 tally of 283. Aviation minister Lord Callanan claimed the new rules will strike a balance between taking advantage of the benefits of drones while minimising their misuse. He said: "Our measures prioritise protecting the public while maximising the full potential of drones. "Increasingly, drones are proving vital for inspecting transport infrastructure for repair or aiding police and fire services in search and rescue operations, even helping to save lives. "But like all technology, drones too can be misused. By registering drones and introducing safety awareness tests to educate users, we can reduce the inadvertent breaching of airspace restrictions to protect the public." The measures follow a consultation looking at ways to make drone use safer. Commercial operators already have to complete a training course approved by the CAA and notify the regulator of what drones they have. https://www.aol.co.uk/news/2017/07/21/register-tracks-drones-as-research-shows-gadgets-can- smash-plane/ Back to Top Pratt & Whitney Canada to Bring its 100,000 Engine Celebration to EAA AirVenture 2017 OSHKOSH, WISCONSIN--(Marketwired - Jul 22, 2017) - Pratt & Whitney Canada (P&WC) will have 100,000 reasons to celebrate when its team arrives at this year's EAA AirVenture, held July 24 to 30. In April of this year, P&WC marked the production of its 100,000th engine, a remarkable industry milestone. P&WC is a subsidiary of United Technologies Corp. (NYSE:UTX). "Achieving 100,000 engines produced has been a proud moment for us at P&WC and there is no doubt the support of the General Aviation segment has been instrumental in reaching this milestone," says Nicholas Kanellias, Vice President, General Aviation Programs, Pratt & Whitney Canada. "The PT6A engine contributed to shaping the General Aviation segment as we know it, and it leads our engine fleet with some 47,000 PT6A engines manufactured and 23,000 such engines in operation today." During EAA AirVenture 2017: * P&WC will be co-sponsoring the airshows. It will be using its social media channels to promote the shows and offer surprises to attendees who follow P&WC (www.twitter.com/pwcanada and www.facebook.com/PrattWhitneyCanada). * A PT6A engine workshop will be held from 10:00 a.m. to 11:15 a.m. at Forum Stage 3. This session is designed especially for aviation enthusiasts interested in discovering what the engine delivers to experimental aircraft. * P&WC will be sharing over social media news on which OEMs will be recognized at EAA AirVenture 2017 for helping achieve the 100,000 engine milestone. Next Generation Engine P&WC recently announced it is developing an integrated electronic engine and propeller control and a true 2,000 shp thermal engine tailored to General Aviation operators' business needs. It will reduce pilot workload and simplify installation, while reducing the number of levers per engine from 3 to 1. P&WC will be at EAA at booth #2132, Hangar B. Interested operators are invited to drop by to speak with a marketing or customer service representative. 100,000 Reasons to Go Beyond P&WC reached a significant milestone in April, 2017, when it produced its 100,000th engine, a testament to the company's longevity and leadership in the global aerospace market. P&WC will celebrate this achievement throughout the year, recognizing all families of products as well as dedicated employees and loyal customers who, together, have marked the many accomplishments of its journey. About Pratt & Whitney Canada Founded in 1928, and a global leader in aerospace, P&WC is shaping the future of aviation with dependable, high-technology engines. Based in Longueuil, Quebec (Canada), P&WC is a wholly owned subsidiary of United Technologies Corp. United Technologies Corp., based in Farmington, Connecticut, provides high-technology systems and services to the building and aerospace industries. https://www.benzinga.com/pressreleases/17/07/m9809049/pratt-whitney-canada-to-bring-its-100- 000-engine-celebration-to-eaa-air Back to Top PIA listed among top trade schools in Forbes PITTSBURGH - Pittsburgh Institute of Aeronautics was recognized among the top schools fighting the nation's skills gap in a list published last month by Forbes. For the first time, Forbes put together a comprehensive ranking of two-year trade schools. Using the same "return on investment" focus as the annual top colleges report, the list of 30 looks at three critical data points: earnings, affordability and quality. The Pittsburgh Institute of Aeronautics was the No. 11 two-year trade school in the U.S. and is the top school on the list for technical trades. The Forbes story led with commentary from "Dirty Jobs" and "Somebody's Got to Do It" television personality Mike Rowe. "I can think of nine magazines off the top of my head who every year will rank the top colleges. None of them ever include a trade school," Rowe said while touting the benefits of choosing trade schools over academia, including affordable tuition and availability of jobs in the field. There will only be 1,600 more aircraft mechanics and service technicians in 2024 than there were in 2014, but with more than 30,000 job openings over that time, schools like PIA are poised to hook students up with available and fine-paying jobs. "We've had recent career fairs here in Pittsburgh and at each of our campuses in Hagerstown, Myrtle Beach (S.C.) and Youngstown (Ohio), and we are finding that more companies sign up to attend than we have graduating students," said Steven Sabold, director of admissions for PIA. "That we are hosting events with such a large number of companies in comparison to the number of upcoming graduates attending is a strong indicator of career demand. We look forward to the opportunity to serve new students and prepare them with the entry-level mechanic skills we know our employers are looking for," said Suzanne Markle, president and chief executive officer of the nonprofit PIA. According to PIA career-services officials, employers are seeking A&P mechanics with strong soft skills, leadership qualities and dependability. The Occupational Outlook Handbook published by the Bureau of Labor Statistics cites a median salary for aircraft mechanics and service technicians at $60,270. Medians are not reflective of starting salaries. Since 1929, Pittsburgh Institute of Aeronautics has been training certified and work-ready aviation- maintenance technicians in high demand with programs in aviation maintenance technology and aviation electronics. PIA's flagship program, the aviation maintenance technology program, has been providing quality aircraft mechanics for more than 85 years. The program provides students with the opportunity to test for the Federal Aviation Administration's airframe and power-plant certification, the "golden ticket" to a career in aviation maintenance. http://www.heraldmailmedia.com/news/education/pia-listed-among-top-trade-schools-in- forbes/article_b24a8e85-aaeb-5e31-bba1-c247b89e2814.html Back to Top Panasonic Avionics Corporation Has Become a Customer for the Digital and Maintenance Software Company The leading provider of Aviation & Maintenance software for the Cloud, Mobile and Tablets, Ramco Systems, has released new that Panasonic Avionics Corporation has become a customer for the digital and maintenance software company. Panasonic Aviation Corporation is known for being the leading supplier of inflight entertainment and communications systems across the world and has become a customer for the Ramco Aviation M&E MRO Suite V5.8. This software uses the next generation of aviation technologies and solutions and will be used by Panasonic in order to help Panasonic integrate and improve their Service Program Management as well as the company's Repair, Line Maintenance and Supply Chain Management to name just a few areas that could be improved with the adoption of this new software. The Ramco Aviation Suite has been adopted by Panasonic in an attempt to make their systems simpler. Ramco's software offer and advanced level of planning and optimization that is powered through GAINS? will allow Panasonic the opportunity to carry out inventory planning and execution throughout their Technical Services Network. This new software will benefit Panasonic across their operation, from their distribution centers to the line maintenance and customer forward stocking locations. The Vice President of Panasonic Avionics Corporation, Sean Gavin, has said of this new contract with Ramco that the Aviation and Maintenance software provider will allow them to focus on delivering innovative products which great customer service and compliance to health and safety regulation. Through the use of the Ramco Systems software, the in flight entertainment and communication systems company will be able to carry out a range of interconnected and complex operations in order to offer the best service to their customers. Ramco Aviation Software is also continuing the increase of technical innovation through the developments of their Anywhere Apps which allows users the chance to improve on mobility and reduce transaction times when carrying out critical aircraft turnarounds as well as in AOG Conditions. http://www.memuk.org/technology/panasonic-avionics-corporation-become-customer-digital- maintenance-software-company-41709 Back to Top GAMA to Highlight Hybrid and Electric Propulsion Technology at AirVenture Washington, DC - The General Aviation Manufacturers Association (GAMA) will highlight hybrid and electric propulsion technology in general aviation at the Experimental Aircraft Association airshow in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, next week. On display at the GAMA tent, 299 in the Main Aircraft Display, will be the eSpirit, an all-electric aeroplane designed and built by the Embry-Riddle Flight Research Center, a Pipistrel Alpha Electro, the world's first all-electric production training airplane, a mock-up of the eViation all-electric airplane that was unveiled at the Paris Airshow, as well as a two-blade Bantam ultra-lightweight propeller and an electric airplane battery. Tent visitors will also be able to experience an electric flight through a Siemens Aviation interactive feature. "It's an exciting time in general aviation, with hybrid and electric propulsion coupled with increased automation," said GAMA President and CEO Pete Bunce. "The new degrees of freedom these technologies enable, when combined with the nimble design certification environment now becoming a reality, can truly invigorate our industry." GAMA will also have available at its tent information about its Electric Propulsion and Innovation Committee, its new global standards developed to facilitate this technology as well as information about the Federal Aviation Administration Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B) $500 incentive opportunity that expires on September 18. GAMA will also participate on a panel about the ADS-B incentive program on Wednesday, July 26 at 11:30 a.m. local time in the FAA Safety Center. "We look forward to showcasing these emerging technologies to the general aviation community and aviation enthusiasts at AirVenture," said Bunce. "We also invite show attendees to come to the GAMA tent so they can send a letter to their member of Congress urging legislators to oppose privatizing the U.S. air traffic control system." http://www.aviationpros.com/press_release/12353296/gama-to-highlight-hybrid-and-electric- propulsion-technology-at-airventure Back to Top NASA to Show Technologies at Experimental Aircraft Association's AirVenture 2017 WASHINGTON, July 21, 2017 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Visitors to the Experimental Aircraft Association's 2017 AirVenture in Oshkosh, Wisconsin will see NASA's latest technologies from across the agency. The annual airshow will be held Monday through Sunday, July 24-30. This year, the agency will fill the NASA Exhibit Pavilion in Aviation Gateway Park with displays and hands-on activities highlighting NASA's progress of future aircraft, the International Space Station, Earth science, the solar system, and NASA's plan for sending astronauts into deep space, including Mars. Visitors to the pavilion also will be able to touch an actual moon rock brought back during NASA's Apollo missions. NASA also will have more than 20 subject matter experts presenting at the various AirVenture venues and on the flightline. Static displays of a NASA T-38 Talon aircraft, a NASA SR22 research aircraft and a former National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics (NACA) P- 63 aircraft. NASA's main event will be a special presentation on "New Aviation Horizons: Ready for Flight" on July 27 from 8-9 p.m. CDT in AirVenture's Theatre in the Woods. Moderated by NASA Acting Chief Technologist, Douglas Terrier, the panel features senior leaders from all four of NASA's aeronautical research centers talking about their latest work on technologies involved with experimental, or "X"- planes (low boom supersonic and ultra-efficient subsonic) and testing traffic management systems for drones, followed by audience Q&As. Here is a sampling of the more than 20 AirVenture forum talks involving NASA speakers (all times Central.) For a complete list, visit: https://go.nasa.gov/2gQP8Gt Monday, July 24, 11:30 a.m. to 12:45 p.m. NASA Langley 100 Years: Airplanes - Hear about Langley's storied history as the nation's first aeronautics research facility and the hundreds of aircraft made possible thanks to critical research done in Langley's first wind tunnels. Location: Hilton Theater Thursday, July 27, 10 to 11:15 a.m. The Journey to Mars is Underway - NASA is inspiring a nation through deep space exploration. Right now we are building the launch vehicle and spacecraft that will take humans to new deep space destinations - to an asteroid, the Moon and even Mars! Learn more about America's new Space Launch System and Orion spacecraft during this "talk show" forum with industry leaders - and a former NASA astronaut. Location: Theater in the Woods Saturday, July 29, 10 to 11:15 a.m. NASA Fostering Commercial Space - Since the dawn of aviation, the government has played a pivotal role in research and technology development that has led to new knowledge and capabilities that enabled viable commercial markets, from general to commercial aviation, and beyond. Today, NASA is helping to foster new types of flight, both within and above the atmosphere. As NASA continues to move the exploration needle forward, the agency will continue to transfer new technologies and innovation to U.S. commercial aerospace firms, enabling new horizons for air and space commerce and discovery. Location: Aviation Gateway Park For information about NASA aeronautics, visit: https://www.nasa.gov/aeronautics For information about the EAA AirVenture Airshow, visit: https://www.eaa.org/en/airventure http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/nasa-to-show-technologies-at-experimental-aircraft- associations-airventure-2017-300492448.html Back to Top Sierra Nevada confirms ULA will launch first two Dream Chaser cargo missions Sierra Nevada and United Launch Alliance have announced the most powerful version of the Atlas 5 rocket, with five strap-on boosters and a twin-engine upper stage, will send the first two Dream Chaser cargo missions to the International Space Station from Cape Canaveral in 2020 and 2021, a schedule that still must be confirmed by NASA. The lifting body spaceship, designed to lift off on top of a conventional rocket and land in a runway like the space shuttle, can deliver around 12,000 pounds (5,500 kilograms) of scientific experiments, hardware and crew supplies to the space station on each unpiloted mission. The Dream Chaser will will max out at approximately 20 tons when fully fueled at launch, requiring the lift capability of ULA's biggest Atlas 5 version. The Atlas 5's modified Centaur upper stage will have two RL10 engines instead of one, a configuration flown on previous Atlas rockets that will debut on the Atlas 5 next year on crewed flights of Boeing's CST-100 capsule. NASA awarded Sierra Nevada a commercial cargo contract, alongside incumbent providers SpaceX and Orbital ATK, in January 2016 to meet the space station's logistics needs from 2019 through 2024. "ULA is pleased to partner with Sierra Nevada Corporation to launch its Dream Chaser cargo system to the International Space Station in less than three years," said Gary Wentz, ULA vice president of human and commercial systems, in a statement Wednesday. "We recognize the importance of on time and reliable transportation of crew and cargo to Station and are honored the Atlas 5 was selected to continue to launch cargo resupply missions for NASA." The Atlas 5 has dispatched three commercial Cygnus supply ships to the space station for Orbital ATK as the company worked through problems with its own Antares booster. Financial terms of the ULA-Sierra Nevada agreement were not disclosed. Sierra Nevada has long been a ULA partner, and Wednesday's announcement was expected. Sierra Nevada officials earlier this year hoped to launch the first Dream Chaser into orbit by the end of 2019, but the companies said Thursday that the first two orbital flights would occur in 2020 and 2021. "SNC recognizes the proven reliability of the Atlas 5 rocket and its availability and schedule performance makes it the right choice for the first two flights of the Dream Chaser," said Mark Sirangelo, corporate vice president of SNC's space systems business area. "ULA is an important player in the market and we appreciate their history and continued contributions to space flights and are pleased to support the aerospace community in Colorado and Alabama." Sierra Nevada's space division is headquartered in Louisville, Colorado, a suburb of Denver. ULA is based in another Denver-area suburb, and Atlas 5 rocket production is centered in Decatur, Alabama. Sierra Nevada, SpaceX and Orbital ATK were guaranteed six cargo missions to the space station under the Commercial Resupply Services-2 deals inked last year, but NASA has used the new contracts to order only one mission to date, an Orbital ATK Cygnus resupply flight to launch on an Antares rocket from Virginia in 2019. "It can take several years of lead time to build, prepare and test the vehicles for each mission," said Dan Huot, a NASA spokesperson, in an emailed statement Friday. "At this time, NASA has granted only Orbital ATK the authority to proceed with its first mission under CRS-2. This does not necessarily mean that Orbital ATK will fly first. NASA will order additional missions from all three companies based on the projected needs to resupply the space station." The authority to proceed milestone comes with a target launch date from NASA. Kimberly Schwandt, a Sierra Nevada spokesperson, said the company is in "active negotiations with NASA regarding the first mission launch date and authority to proceed." Meanwhile, engineers at NASA's Armstrong Flight Research Center in California are preparing a full- scale test model of the Dream Chaser - measuring about one-quarter the length of a space shuttle orbiter - for an approach and landing test on a runway this fall, according to Steve Lindsey, senior director and co-program manager of Sierra Nevada's space exploration division. Lindsey, a former space shuttle commander, said the Dream Chaser currently in California is "basically ready to fly." Engineers are conducting tow tests of the ship on a runway at Edwards Air Force Base, co-located with NASA's Armstrong center, to check out its braking, steering and guidance systems. Lindsey said the timing of the landing test later this year hinges on the availability of a heavy-duty helicopter, from which the Dream Chaser will be dropped from an altitude of 10,200 feet (about 3,100 meters) above the ground for an autonomous landing at Runway 22L at Edwards. The atmospheric test craft is the same vehicle that flew on an approach and landing flight in October 2013. Sierra Nevada said it was pleased with the ship's aerodynamic and guidance performance during the automated flight, but the Dream Chaser's left-side landing gear did not deploy as it made a pinpoint approach down the runway's centerline. The vehicle skidded out of control as it touched down, but technicians repaired the test craft and installed an upgraded landing gear, new computers and software and other items to make the upcoming test more similar to the way a Dream Chaser will return from orbit. "On the first flight, we were zero failure tolerant, kind of a one-off system to just test the aerodynamics of the vehicle," Lindsey said Thursday at the International Space Station Research and Development Conference in Washington. "This time, besides testing the aerodynamics, we're going to get a good look at all of our integrated avionics and integrated flight software on this vehicle." Originally developed to ferry crews into Earth orbit and back, the Dream Chaser was redesigned for robotic cargo missions after NASA selected Boeing and SpaceX over Sierra Nevada for commercial crew contracts in 2014. Engineers removed the ship's cockpit windows, added a deployable solar array and a disposable cargo module mounted on the Dream Chaser's tail. The external cargo section will jettisoned after the ship departs the space station for a destructive re-entry, while the Dream Chaser itself will glide through the atmosphere for touchdown on a runway. Space station cargo missions will end at the Shuttle Landing Facility runway at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida, a few miles from the Atlas 5 launch pad. Sierra Nevada says the Dream Chaser can be refurbished at Kennedy's Armstrong Operations and Checkout Building, in partnership with Lockheed Martin, for multiple flights. https://spaceflightnow.com/2017/07/22/sierra-nevada-awaiting-direction-from-nasa-confirms-ula- will-launch-first-two-dream-chaser-cargo-missions/ Back to Top FAA saved $36M through shared services, reinvested into new IT The Federal Aviation Administration's technology budget is $340 million and like many agencies, it needs to figure out how to stretch those dollars to modernize back-office operational IT. But unlike many agencies, the FAA isn't just talking about this need to save money and reinvest those savings. It's actually saving tens of millions of dollars and giving it back to the mission areas. Sean Torpey, the acting deputy assistant administrator for Information and Technology and acting chief information officer for the FAA, said the agency is swinging the spending pendulum from legacy IT to newer systems. "We did that with our wireless implementation and with other requirements that have gone up so we haven't gone back to our appropriators for more money. We've actually been really efficient on our dime and spending the money as best we can," Torpey said on Ask the CIO. "We are big believer in shared services. It works. We consolidated help desks. We went from seven to two, and now we are down to one. We did the same thing with email. We did the same thing with our networks, and we gained efficiencies and savings through licensing and all these other things, and we were able kick that back into the agency to support mission." During the first year of using shared services for email and other capabilities, Torpey said the FAA saved or avoided spending $36 million. "That was a big win for us," he said. "Our infrastructure and operations budget we were able to cut operations by 40 percent one year and that was able to be kicked back into implementing a wireless and WiFi solution around the country. For our stakeholders who are aviation safety inspectors or any FAA employees can go to any of the 1,033 facilities and have WiFi access. We've been able to really gain efficiencies and work it from that perspective." Torpey credited the FAA's leadership for supporting this efficiency and reinvestment effort, especially as the budget tightening increased over the last few years. One of the approaches FAA is using to modernize its IT systems is the U.S. Digital Service's playbook. Torpey said the FAA used the playbook to develop the drone registration program. "We were able to think innovatively and come up with some really cost effective ways to solving these types of problems," he said. "We used the cloud and agile development methodologies with stakeholder engagement to meet tight deadlines. We involved them in all aspects of the UAS registration effort." Torpey said the reason the drone registration platform worked so well is the agency started from scratch. While that option is not available for the legacy IT systems, he said the FAA will follow many of the same principles for modernization efforts, starting with the cloud. AA awarded a long-term cloud contract about two years ago and expect to finalize the authorities to operate for its infrastructure-as-a-service (IaaS) government community cloud this summer. "It gives us the opportunity for provisioning through a broker model that takes advantage of two of the major service providers that are out there," Torpey said. "We have an integrator that sits in front of that and who helps execute from a broker perspective. There is a lot of flexibility there." He added the FAA also is starting to look at how it could implement platform-as-a-service (PaaS) and software-as-a-service (SaaS) through the broker model. "We are at beginning of it and it will start getting a lot more momentum as we begin moving workloads in there," Torpey said. "It also will give us time to do the hard job of rationalizing our portfolio and deciding what bring to the cloud and what makes sense." Torpey said another major priority is a bandwidth modernization effort to upgrade the facilities to take advantage of new collaboration technologies. Of the 1,033 national air space facilities, the FAA plans to upgrade about 600 of those sites in the coming years. Torpey said more than 50 percent of the workforce will see increased bandwidth opening the door to better tools that couldn't have happened because the network was saturated. "We've looked at which sites are 'hurting' the most and making sure we cover those sites. We also looked at the number of people at our facilities, regional offices and our large centers, and we make sure we are upgrading those so we are affecting the largest number of employees." The FAA also is "knee deep" into the continuous diagnostics and mitigation (CDM) implementation. Torpey said CDM and other tools will help the FAA evolve to a more proactive approach to cybersecurity. "We are on the cusp of making the switchover on the CDM site and take advantage of the tools to be more proactive," he said. "We will be more on the hunting aspect of the cybersecurity threat model versus waiting for an attack to hit us." https://federalnewsradio.com/ask-the-cio/2017/07/faa-saved-36m-through-shared-services- reinvested-into-new-it/ Curt Lewis