February 8, 2018 - No. 011 In This Issue The Stellar Cloud Takes Off; Built for Today, Ready for Tomorrow Textron's Scorpion Jet: Disruptive Technology, Disruptive Business Model In a Major Step Toward Fully Electric Aviation, Eviation and Kokam Announce Battery Supply Deal CAAS and Eurocontrol partner to improve air traffic management Bell Helicopter 505 to Get Intros in Australia, Vietnam, Japan Singapore Airshow 2018 Highlights New Tech in Aviation SIAEC and Safran to partner on data analytics for aviation industry GE Seeks to Narrow Manufacturing Skills Gap in Lafayette Britannica's Fox System Goes Live at ATR GE Aviation to invest in new engine part facility in Singapore Airbus To Demo Skyways Drone Falcon Heavy, in a Roar of Thunder, Carries SpaceX's Ambition Into Orbit The Stellar Cloud Takes Off; Built for Today, Ready for Tomorrow LONG BEACH, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Rockwell Collins, a leader in aviation and high-integrity solutions for commercial and military customers around the world, and Silicon Valley aviation technology innovator Stellar Labs, Inc. ("Stellar") today announced the launch of the Stellar Cloud, a next-generation software delivery infrastructure platform for business aviation solutions, built on the industry-leading and proven Amazon Web Services ("AWS") infrastructure. The Stellar Cloud is the preferred infrastructure environment for Rockwell Collins' ARINCDirect Flight Operations System ("FOS") and the foundation of future jointly developed next-generation flight operations management solutions. Current FOS customers being hosted by either Rockwell Collins or Stellar will receive a seamless, no additional cost, no hassle upgrade to the Stellar Cloud. "For more than 20 years, the FOS software has set the standard for business aviation operators," said Dave Poltorak, vice president, Business Aviation for Rockwell Collins. "Now FOS customers can effortlessly take advantage of this highly advanced, secure, scalable and reliable application deployment environment. This is a huge win for our customers and one reason why we entered into the strategic partnership with Stellar." Performance, Scalability, Security, and Reliability The Stellar Cloud delivers the experience and mobility one would expect from modern applications with the performance, scalability, security, and reliability of modern, global cloud infrastructure. Customers upgrading to the Stellar Cloud should expect significant improvement in systems responsiveness with nearly instantaneous response to common user tasks, such as building trips and quotes. "This is the fastest I've ever seen FOS run in any environment," said Fred Powell, Stellar Vice President of Operator Systems and FOS creator. By leveraging AWS's native auto-scaling, elastic load-balancing, replication, and auto-provisioning of computing resources, the Stellar Cloud scales seamlessly to match both operator growth and peak day demands. The Stellar Cloud offers advanced security and compliance capabilities including data center and data storage localization, continuous security monitoring, and advanced two-factor authentication - all with a 99.9 percent availability guarantee and best in class back-up, failover and recovery services. Operational Efficiency "The Stellar Cloud is the first step in our transformative vision of a 21st-century business aviation ecosystem," said Stellar co-founder and CEO David Fox. "Operators are in the business of managing their fleet and growing their profits. FOS - powered by the Stellar Cloud allows them to focus on their business and leave the administration, upkeep, and advancement of their digital infrastructure to us." With the Stellar Cloud, operators no longer need to allocate resources toward managing hardware, software, patches, and upgrades. The Stellar Cloud combines the functionality of FOS with next- generation, integrated support access, including knowledge base, ticket initiation, and self-service password management. For operators who currently run and administer FOS themselves, this provides an opportunity to meaningfully reduce the risk of downtime or data loss caused by system or hardware failure, all while increasing efficiency and security. The On-Ramp to the Future FOS - powered by the Stellar Cloud is another step in a long-term partnership between Stellar and Rockwell Collins. The companies are co-developing a unified, next-generation, flight planning, operations, and business platform that will combine all of the market-leading flight operations planning functionality of FOS with Stellar's innovative commerce and business optimization solutions, enabling operators to compete, grow and win their markets. By upgrading to the Stellar Cloud now, current FOS customers are positioned to join in this market-making journey, taking advantage of upcoming capabilities such as owner access, advanced business intelligence (BI), and operator-to-operator trip collaboration, all integrated with their existing FOS implementation. "We started Stellar with the vision of transforming the business of business aviation for operators and consumers," said Stellar co-founder Paul Touw. "Our partnership with Rockwell Collins is instrumental in executing this vision. This announcement marks the completion of the first step of this journey; we've taken off, and are just beginning our climb to new heights of achievement. As we like to say at Stellar, the skies are wide open, and we could not be more excited about the future of Stellar, our partnership, and most importantly our joint operator customers." Pricing and Availability This is a seamless upgrade for Rockwell Collins' hosted FOS and Stellar hosted FOS customers. Customers can schedule their upgrade with their Rockwell Collins or Stellar representatives. For on- premise FOS software customers intending to move to FOS - powered by the Stellar Cloud, Stellar is offering the Stellar On-Ramp promotion. For more information, customers should contact their Rockwell Collins or Stellar account representatives. ABOUT STELLAR LABS Stellar Labs builds and delivers innovative flight operations management, commercial management, and global distribution systems for business aviation. Designed in Silicon Valley, Stellar brings together the most advanced technologies and data science to streamline business aviation for operators and travelers alike. For more information, visit http://www.stellar.aero/, like us on Facebook (stellarlabsaero), follow us on Twitter (@stellaraero), or join us on LinkedIn (stellar-labs- inc-). https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20180207005517/en/Stellar-Cloud-Takes-Built-Today- Ready-Tomorrow Back to Top Textron's Scorpion Jet: Disruptive Technology, Disruptive Business Model Textron Aviation's Scorpion armed reconnaissance jet is unique. There is no other tactical aircraft like it in the world, and that is why Textron developed it. After conducting a detailed market survey at the beginning of the decade, the Providence, RI-based technology company concluded there was potential demand for 2,000 low-cost, multi-mission military jets around the world that nobody in the aerospace industry was addressing. So Textron decided to use its own money to develop such a plane. That isn't the way military aircraft typically get developed. The usual pattern is to find a government sponsor that will pay most of the cost of development and then become the first user. But Textron (a contributor to my think tank) wanted a plane that it could build in America and then easily export to dozens of countries, so it not only used internal funds to develop Scorpion, but avoided adopting U.S. military specifications that might impede the export process. Instead, the plane's on-board gear consists of the kind of commercial technology made by companies like Garmin that Textron uses on its Cessna and Beechcraft business jets. That not only makes exporting Scorpion to diverse overseas customers easier, but it greatly reduces the cost of buying the plane. At $20 million for a baseline design, Scorpion costs less than a quarter of what an F-16 fighter sells for today. And because the company provides contractor logistics support once fielded, the cost of operating the plane is about an eighth of what an F-16 would cost. Of course, Scorpion can't do all the things a fully loaded F-16 could, but that's the point. There are plenty of countries around the world that use their military aircraft for border patrol, maritime security, drug interdiction, disaster relief and counter-insurgency warfare rather than conducting air-to-air combat or penetrating strike missions. Many of those countries can't afford an F-16, much less a stealthy F-35, but they still have security needs that are compatible with U.S. interests. So the challenge Textron faced was designing an affordable plane that could still perform a diverse array of missions. What it came up with was a twin-engine jet (engines made by Honeywell) focused first of all on conducting reconnaissance and surveillance, and secondarily on performing strike missions against surface targets. There would be a standard configuration capable of carrying over 9,000 pounds of stores -- sensors, missiles, etc. -- but the emphasis was on flexibility so that the configuration of the plane could be tailored to the specific needs of each customer. For example, a country in Southeast Asia might be concerned mainly with maritime security, while a country in North Africa might be more concerned with border protection or counter-terrorism. Scorpion's modular design and federated electronics architecture can be readily adapted to either set of requirements. And with contractor logistics support, the planes can be kept in a high state of readiness at minimal cost. Textron Aviation's commercial logistics system delivers parts anywhere they are needed worldwide in 24 hours. What makes this approach to tactical aircraft design and sustainment so disruptive is that by relying entirely on commercial systems and suppliers, Textron Aviation can put agile air power in the hands of countries that could not otherwise afford it. Although Scorpion is only half the size of the U.S. Air Force's venerable A-10 attack plane, it flies faster (500 mph) and higher (45,000 feet). Its composite-materials structure is more durable, and its modular layout can be upgraded much faster than planes like the A-10. Scorpion thus is emblematic of a much bigger global trend in which commercial innovation is swamping traditional military approaches to modernization. Although Textron has been careful to avoid equipping Scorpion with capabilities that might present a challenge to U.S. or allied air forces, the day will undoubtedly come when it carries systems not available on U.S. tactical aircraft because commercial products and processes are advancing so swiftly. As of today, the company figures that Scorpion's capabilities are better than those of any propeller- driven tactical aircraft in the market, but no match for a high-end fighter like F-16. It thinks there is latent demand for a low-cost jet in that segment of the capabilities spectrum in many countries, including the U.S. For instance, the adjutants general of the National Guard -- which typically receives hand-me-down fighters from the Air Force -- have stated a need for a tactical aircraft with features like that of Scorpion. Because Scorpion's commercial technologies are so easy to fly and maintain, Textron figures any country that can operate its business jets can successfully operate Scorpion. That defines a very broad potential market. So now the company has to find a lead buyer, which is not easy when no U.S. service is operating the plane. Textron believes the low cost and versatility of its scalable design will eventually be too appealing to resist. Once the first deal is made, the floodgates to further sales will open. https://www.forbes.com/sites/lorenthompson/2018/02/07/textrons-scorpion-jet-disruptive- technology-disruptive-business-model/#716a29595591 Back to Top In a Major Step Toward Fully Electric Aviation, Eviation and Kokam Announce Battery Supply Deal Worth Over $1 Million at Singapore Airshow SINGAPORE, Feb. 6, 2018 /PRNewswire/-- Singapore Airshow 2018 -- Eviation Aircraft, a global manufacturer of all-electric air mobility solutions, and Kokam, a leading battery manufacturer based in South Korea, today announced details for a battery supply deal worth over $1 million. These batteries will be used to power Eviation's Alice aircraft, set to fly by the end of this year. A mock-up of the Alice can be viewed at the Singapore Air Show in Booth A11. With the goal of making clean regional air travel accessible for all, Eviation is tackling one of the world's dirtiest industries - aviation. Its zero-emissions solution, the Alice, which debuted at the 52nd Paris Air Show in June 2017, leverages an IP portfolio that includes thermal management and autonomous landing, as well as distributed electric propulsion, industry-leading battery technology provided by Kokam, and cutting-edge composite body frames capable of carrying up to 9 passengers on a single charge for 650 miles. Beginning with its patented manufacturing process, Kokam's battery solutions feature a compact battery cell design, an industry-leading energy density of 260 Watt hours per kilogram (Wh/kg) and a long cycle life, making them optimized to achieve light, energy efficient solutions meeting the safety demands of an aircraft. While the company's battery solutions have been used in aerial, ground, surface, and underwater drone applications for military, commercial, and industrial purposes, this deal with Eviation marks the first time they will be used in manned aerial flights of regional commuter aircrafts. "Eviation is taking the electric transportation revolution to its next logical level: the air," said Ike Hong, vice president of Kokam's Power Solutions Division. "While the aviation sector is behind those on the ground in electrifying, today's battery capabilities are both more compact and with higher energy density than earlier technology, already able to power flights of 500 miles or less, a distance encompassing half of the world's 4.5 billion flights annually." Eviation is primed to make regional air travel emissions-free with a fully-electric aircraft design, built from the ground up to cut costs and improve efficiency on the busiest city-to-city transit routes, such as San Diego to Silicon Valley and Seoul to Beijing. Through 2019, Eviation will certify and commercialize its all-electric Alice aircraft, while partnering with leading industry suppliers, including Kokam, to bring its prototypes to scale and to the market. "Kokam is known around the world for its exceptional lithium ion battery technology, which already powers everything from energy storage systems to unmanned aerial, surface, and underwater vehicles," said Omer Bar-Yohay, CEO of Eviation. "We're confident this is the best battery to usher in the age of electric aerial mobility, helping to save customers time and money, while being the most sustainable solution in the air." About Eviation Aircraft Eviation Aircraft Ltd. is developing and manufacturing efficient electric aircraft in an effort to make electric aviation a fast, competitive, and sustainable answer to the on-demand mobility of people and goods. Its distributed propulsion, high-energy density batteries, mission-driven energy management, and new airframe are designed from the ground up to maximize these technological advances for regional flight operators. Eviation is a member of NASA's on-demand mobility program, and serves on the electric aviation committees of the General Aviation Manufacturers' Association (GAMA) and the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). Please visit us at www.eviation.co. About Kokam Co., Ltd. With a globally acknowledged and proprietary manufacturing technology, Kokam Co., Ltd has provided a wide range of lithium ion/polymer battery solutions to customers in over 50 countries and many different industries, including the military, aerospace, marine, Electric Vehicle (EV), Energy Storage System (ESS) and UPS for industrial markets. With over 150 battery-related patents and a total of 650-megawatt hours of field performance, Kokam is a proven leader in providing innovative, high-tech battery solutions. For more information, please visit www.kokam.com. https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/in-a-major-step-toward-fully-electric-aviation- eviation-and-kokam-announce-battery-supply-deal-worth-over-1-million-at-singapore-airshow- 300594703.html Back to Top CAAS and Eurocontrol partner to improve air traffic management The Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS) has entered a cooperation agreement with European Organisation for the Safety of Air Navigation (Eurocontrol) to improve air traffic management (ATM) in Singapore and Europe. As part of the agreement, both the parties will cooperate and share knowledge in the areas of air traffic flow management, as well as ATM research, development and training. The arrangement is also expected to help increase safety, efficiency and predictability of flow of traffic between Asia and Europe at a time when air traffic between the continents is growing rapidly. It further intends to explore the development of new solutions to improve the ATM capabilities of Singapore and Europe. CAAS director-general Kevin Shum said: "As we celebrate brisk air traffic growth around the world, we also need to recognise the challenges such growth presents to air traffic managers. "It is now more crucial than ever that we collaborate and innovate to find safer and more efficient ways to manage growing air traffic." In a separate development, CAAS has signed a research collaboration agreement with Singapore Technologies Electronics (ST Electronics) and GomSpace. The agreement will see the three signatories jointly conduct a design study on the implementation of space-based very high frequency (VHF) communications for ATM in the Singapore flight information region (FIR). The space-based VHF communications system will be created by mounting communications equipment to a constellation of small low-earth-orbit satellites. This will allow clear and real-time communications between air traffic controllers and pilots over oceanic airspace. The technology is expected to enhance safety in airspace where ground-based VHF communications are not available. https://www.airport-technology.com/news/caas-eurocontrol-partner-improve-air-traffic- management/ Back to Top Bell Helicopter 505 to Get Intros in Australia, Vietnam, Japan Nautilus Aviation has taken delivery of two Bell Helicopter 505 Jet Ranger Xs. Bell said these helicopters are the first of the model to be delivered in the Asia-Pacific region - Bell expects the highest demand, worldwide, for the 505 to come from that region. "The Australian helicopter market is one of the largest and most important segments globally for Bell. We are pleased that the first 505s delivered into the region are with Nautilus Aviation, and are confident that both helicopters will deliver exceptional value to Nautilus in its endeavor to provide customers an unparalleled experience," said Sameer A. Rehman, managing director of Bell Helicopter Asia Pacific. "We look forward to working closely with Nautilus to bring these aircraft into service and supporting Nautilus' preparation of the aircraft for charter and utility operations." Those operations are to take place in the North Queensland and Great Barrier Reef regions. Vietnam is set to host its first 505s. Bell said Wednesday it signed a purchase agreement with both Vietnam Helicopter Corporation and its subsidiary, Northern Vietnam Helicopter Company (VNH North), for two. The firms operate helicopters for a variety of missions, including oil and gas, tourism, EMS and others. "As the first Bell commercial helicopter sale in Vietnam, we are pleased that Vietnam Helicopter Corporation and VNH North have chosen the Bell 505 for their operations in Vietnam and beyond," said Rehman. "The Bell 505 incorporates the latest advancements in safety and aviation technology while providing best-in-class value. We look forward to working closely and supporting both Vietnam Helicopter Corporation and VNH North as they expand their business to new territories and customers." Also on Wednesday Bell announced the delivery to two 505s to SECO International. These are the first 505s to be delivered in Japan and are to be used for passenger transport, tourism, photography and TV broadcasting. "The delivery of the first two Bell 505 Jet Ranger X helicopters to SECO International marks another key milestone for Bell Helicopter and the 505 in Japan," said Michael Reagan, Bell Helicopter's managing director for Japan. "We look forward to deepening our successful relationship with SECO International as we work together to put these two 505s into service and the smooth delivery of the remaining 505s on order." http://www.rotorandwing.com/2018/02/07/asia-pacific-region-gets-first-bell-helicopter-505s- many-come/#.Wnwl8WinHrc Back to Top Singapore Airshow 2018 Highlights New Tech in Aviation Asia's largest aerospace and defence event returns to Singapore again, where the latest tech and aircraft are showcased to eager stakeholders and aviation fans alike. This article will highlight the technology on display at the show, much of it related to manufacturing and maintenance in the global aviation hub that is Singapore (we will take a look at the aircraft debuting at the airshow in a separate article). This year 1,062 companies from 50 countries and regions will be participating in the exhibition. Obviously, we can't cover all of them, so here are a few of the main features. Pratt & Whitney Engine manufacturer Pratt & Whitney are celebrating their 35th year in the Asia-Pacific region this year, and it has marked the occasion with the inauguration of the GP7200 engine overhaul facility- located right here in Singapore. "At Pratt & Whitney, we are excited to inaugurate the GP7200 overhaul capability in Asia," said Brendon McWilliam, senior director, Aftermarket Operations Asia-Pacific, Pratt & Whitney. "While the engine center is a center of excellence for engine overhaul and repair services across multiple engine lines, our operations in this region offer a wide range of engine maintenance, repair and overhaul services for operators in this region." In addition to being a global overhaul center for the GP7200 and PW4000 engines, the facility is will be equipped with overhaul capabilities for the Pratt & Whitney Geared Turbofan (GTF) PW1100G-JM engine by 2019. The GP7200 powers the Airbus A380 for Emirates and Air France, and has achieved a 99.9 percent departure reliability rating. Pratt & Whitney also announced today that it will be introducing Electron Beam Physical Vapor Deposition and laser cladding operations at its Turbine Overhaul Services center in Singapore. Traditional welding operations have been replaced with laser cladding technology. Technicians previously had to manually weld materials together, a process that is highly dependent on an individual's skill level. With the laser cladding machine, workers can now perform the task with minimal supervision to achieve lower re-work rates. Similar to additive manufacturing, this laser cladding technology deposits coatings on blade tips at a near 99 percent first-time pass rate. The improved Electron Beam Physical Vapor Deposition process will allow the application of thermal barrier ceramic coatings on engine components to protect surfaces against corrosive environments for current and new Geared Turbofan engines. The process increases the length of time between repairs for these components and helps to increase overall durability. ST Engineering Home grown engineering company ST Electronics has its own pavilion at this year's airshow, which is divided into three specialized clusters focusing on Aviation, Defence and Smart Cities. Being a fan of VR, aviation and simulation, the C-130 VR trainer caught my attention in the Aviation Cluster. The VR simulator, which is designed to be a training aid for use during avionic systems upgrades, allows flight crews to get some virtual hands-on experience with their new gear. What is notable about this system is that it allows multicrew simulation, meaning that the entire crew can be present during the simulation at any given time for specified tasks (like with an MMORPG video game). The VR trainer being showcased simulates a part task trainer, where visitors or users can be immersed in a virtual cockpit training environment to experience both procedural and scenario training. Users can experience the virtual cockpit, as well as encounter simulated scenarios such as terrain avoidance. Also, the ST Engineering Aviation Cluster includes a sneak peek into research being conducted on unmanned freighters. It seems that ST Engineering is not planning to make cargo aircraft completely unmanned just yet, but is instead going for a softer approach by removing the copilot from the equation, and making the cockpit a single-seater rather than two-seater option. At the ST Engineering pavilion, the company is showing a solution in which the copilot is based on the ground, and can monitor the flight of the modified Airbus A320/A321 freighter from a Ground Control System(GCS). The benefit of this approach is that the copilot on the ground can divide their time between up to 12 different aircraft simultaneously. The GCS display shows how it can support and control a fleet of single-pilot freighters performing functions such as auto takeoff, auto altitude change, auto weather avoidance, and remote intervention and control of the aircraft. https://www.engineering.com/DesignerEdge/DesignerEdgeArticles/ArticleID/16443/Singapore- Airshow-2018-Highlights-New-Tech-in-Aviation.aspx Back to Top SIAEC and Safran to partner on data analytics for aviation industry Global aircraft maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) service provider SIA Engineering Company has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with technology group Safran to collaborate in the field of data analytics. As part of the MoU, both companies will investigate the possible areas of collaboration to research and develop software for predictive maintenance that can be used in the aviation industry. According to Safran, the use of advanced predictive software during aircraft operations will improve aircraft maintenance planning and reduce unexpected interruptions to aircraft revenue service. The companies are also expected to develop new aircraft maintenance solutions for their global customers, under the latest partnership. The collaboration will benefit from Safran's expertise in developing and deploying software and services, as well as SIAEC's experience in the fields of aircraft engineering and MRO. In a separate development, SIAEC is planning to sign a joint venture (JV) agreement with GE Aviation to establish an engine overhaul JV in Singapore. The development is the result of a partnership announced between the parties in June last year. GE will hold a 51% stake in the proposed JV and SIAEC will own the remaining 49% share. SIAEC CEO Png Kim Chiang said: "SIAEC is pleased to partner with GE to create a state-of-the-art facility in Singapore, which is strategic to broadening our capabilities on next generation aircraft. "The joint venture will leverage on the joint strengths of GE's technical know-how and SIAEC's MRO experience, to offer high-quality and competitive maintenance solutions for GE engines." The JV deal is subject to regulatory approvals to be granted by relevant jurisdictions. http://www.aerospace-technology.com/news/siaec-safran-partner-data-analytics-aviation-industry/ Back to Top GE Seeks to Narrow Manufacturing Skills Gap in Lafayette After creating eight factories across the U.S. over the past decade, GE Aviation is working to narrow the "skills gap" facing many young Americans seeking jobs in today's advanced manufacturing plants. More than ever, GE Aviation collaborates with universities, technical colleges and public schools on job training programs in communities where it operates plants. Nowhere is it more critical than at GE's jet engine assembly plant in Lafayette, Indiana, in the shadow of storied Purdue University. This is because GE's Lafayette operation, which opened in 2015, is in the throes of the fastest production ramp-up for a commercial jet engine since jetliners were first introduced in the 1950s. Also, Lafayette needs shop-floor technicians holding a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) airframe and powerplant license to perform the diverse technical tasks on sophisticated equipment inside the new facility. It's not your father's factory. GE's Lafayette factory produces the "LEAP" engine for CFM International, a 50/50 joint company between GE and Safran Aircraft Engines of France. More than 14,000 LEAP engines are on back order to power three popular twin-engine airplanes: the Airbus Industrie A320neo, Boeing 737 MAX, and China's COMAC C919. The Airbus and Boeing airplanes are now in airline service. Two GE Aviation factories in the U.S. (Lafayette and Durham, North Carolina) assemble half of the LEAP engines, and Safran's plant in Villaroche, France, assembles the balance.In addition to final assembly, the two GE plants produce the "hot section" (compressor, combustor, high pressure turbine) core for every LEAP engine assembled in U.S. and France. The GE and Safran factories delivered 459 LEAP engines in 2017. The LEAP delivery goal for 2018 is up to 1,200 engines, and in the 1,800-engine range in 2019. Lafayette's LEAP deliveries will grow from 193 LEAP engines in 2017 to 600 engines in 2018. And delivery rates will continue to grow for several years. When plant manager Eric Matteson opened the Lafayette plant, he knew he faced a work-skills challenge. "I needed FAA-licensed assemblers," he says. "Many people want to work at our site, but they need the license to handle the scope of work which can range from operating $3 million grinders to unique inspection machines. But the community is rallying around our challenge." In 2016, Ivy Tech Community College, walking distance from the GE plant, established a two-year Associate of Applied Science degree in aviation maintenance technology with a concentration on jet engines. The college then teamed with neighboring Purdue University to ensure the two-year degree also provided for an FAA airframe and powerplant license. Purdue doesn't offer second-year degrees, but offers the FAA license testing and provides access to its aviation equipment for the Ivy Tech students. Ivy Tech hopes to have about 30 graduates from the program each year to provide a pipeline for GE's Lafayette operation and other manufacturing operations, says Dr. Todd Roswarski, Ivy Tech's vice chancellor for academic affairs. Ivy Tech currently has 17 students in the program with the first graduates expected within a year. Why is this the program critical to GE's Lafayette plant? Today, the plant has 100 FAA-licensed technicians. By year's end, it needs another 65 technicians. And more are needed in 2019. "We are counting on Ivy Tech to be a long-term local pipeline," said Matteson. "These kind of manufacturing challenges are very common today." Matteson needs licensed technicians for more than engine assembly. They are engaged in full disassembly of LEAP engines as part of field inspection programs. In addition, Lafayette is also a designated LEAP maintenance shop. GE's FAA-licensed technicians are not only critical to Lafayette, but they can be deployed across GE Aviation's worldwide network of support sites when engine issues arise. After all, GE and CFM have 36,000 in airline service around the world. On occasion, Lafayette technicians are deployed to GE Aviation's massive outdoor test operation in Peebles, Ohio, to ensure timely LEAP delivery. Every LEAP engine assembled in the U.S. is tested in Peebles before final delivery. The FAA license also provides GE employees with a career path. "We've already promoted several of our licensed technicians to management salaried roles," Matteson said. While Ivy Tech ramps up its associate degree program in aviation technology, GE is also actively recruiting FAA-licensed technicians from the Aviation Institute of Maintenance (AIM) and the Vincennes Aviation Technology Center, both at the Indianapolis International Airport. The Ivy Tech and Purdue University two-year program is one of several initiatives in Lafayette focused on the growing "skills gap" in manufacturing. The Greater Lafayette Commerce has initiated a "Workforce 2030" team of business and academic leaders focused on school awareness programs and curriculum strategies to put a greater focus on the career opportunities in manufacturing. Roswarski says Ivy Tech is more aligned with local manufacturers to address their personnel challenges. "We are looking to design more programs that bring a technology focus to the manufacturing floor," he says. "These programs help manufacturers promote from within and show a meaningful career path for entry-level workers." Brad Rohrer, manager of human relations for Subaru of Indiana Automotive in Lafayette, applauds Ivy Tech's efforts. Rohrer, like Matteson and Roswarski, is engaged in the local "Workforce 2030" initiative. "The vocational training at the high school level has declined and it impacts our ability to grow manufacturing," he said. "We are going directly to the high schools with summer camps on manufacturing and job fairs. We need to get young men and women excited about manufacturing again." GE Aviation, an operating unit of GE (NYSE: GE), is a world-leading provider of jet and turboprop engines, components, integrated digital, avionics, electrical power and mechanical systems for commercial, military, business and general aviation aircraft. GE Aviation has a global service network to support these offerings and is part of the world's Digital Industrial Company with software-defined machines and solutions that are connected, responsive and predictive. For more information, visit us at www.ge.com/aviation. Follow GE Aviation on Twitter at http://twitter.com/GEAviationand YouTube at http://www.youtube.com/user/GEAviation. http://www.aviationpros.com/press_release/12396337/ge-seeks-to-narrow-manufacturing-skills- gap-in-lafayette Back to Top Britannica's Fox System Goes Live at ATR February 5, 2018, Toulouse, France ATR, the market-leading regional aircraft manufacturer, has implemented the Fox training management platform by Britannica Knowledge Systems. Fox is now live at ATR managing operations of all ATR Training Centers, 24H/7D, with over 3,500 trainees annually in the areas of Pilot, Maintenance, Flight Ops, and Cabin Crew training. With Fox in operation, ATR benefits from smooth training process management for each customer workflow (from reception to training payment); harmonized course scheduling processes that consider training requirements, resource availability and various constraints; and continuous instructor qualification management through advanced tools and notifications. It improves the communication and workflow between managers, administrators, schedulers, instructors and trainee profiles. Through Fox, ATR benefits from greater management oversight and control via its personalized dashboards and analytic reports that examine ATR training data for better decision-making insight. Britannica has also made it possible for employees to use Fox on Microsoft Surface tablets, which are deployed throughout the organization. Britannica customized the Fox ATR solution with features to support the activity of selling courses to other training organizations. Seamless commercial customer administration enables ATR to create and manage customer data, use this data in reports and dashboards, track training progress, and document course completion. It helps increase sales by identifying empty training slots. It supports the proposal process by generating accurate training pricing calculations. "We are proud to be the first in regional aviation to use an advanced training management system of this type and caliber," said Christian Commissaire, VP Training and Flight Ops support at ATR. "We look forward to what this platform will deliver in terms of optimizing our training operations for maximum competency, productivity and customer satisfaction." Today, ATR has five training centers in Toulouse, Paris, Johannesburg, Singapore and Miami. ATR offers a large scope of training solutions for flight and cabin crews, instructor training as well as for flight operations and maintenance. ATR delivers over 100,000 training hours to over 3,500 trainees every year. "We are happy that our product had the flexibility and robustness to allow ATR to implement it independently, as they require," said Miki Ringelhim, VP Business Development at Britannica Knowledge Systems. "We now look forward to seeing Fox support ATR in realizing its training achievement and management goals." About ATR Founded in 1981, ATR is the world leader in the market for below-90-seat regional aircraft. Since its creation, ATR has sold over 1,700 aircraft. ATR equips the fleets of some 200 airlines in nearly 100 countries. ATR is an equal partnership between two major European aeronautics players, Airbus and Leonardo. Based in Toulouse, France, ATR is well-established worldwide with a large customer support and sales network, including Customer Service Centers, training centers and warehouses. For more information, please visit www.atr-aircraft.com. About Britannica Knowledge Systems Britannica Knowledge Systems has a proven track-record of more than 30 years in providing innovative efficiency solutions to the most prestigious and demanding civil aviation, defense, security forces and corporate training operations. Delivered by experts who ensure its products' precise fit to distinct customer needs, its comprehensive training management solutions reduce costs, maximize resources, optimize scheduling, ensure personnel competency, assure regulatory compliance, and deliver BI for strategic decision-making. For more information, please visit www.britannica-ks.com. http://www.aviationpros.com/press_release/12396071/britannicas-fox-system-goes-live-at-atr Back to Top GE Aviation to invest in new engine part facility in Singapore GE Aviation is set to invest in a new facility in Singapore to produce parts for its GE9X engine, which will power Boeing's 777X aircraft. The S$42m ($32m) facility will be situated at Seletar Aerospace Park and manufacture high- pressure compressor (HPC) vanes. Set to open late this year, the facility will be built over a 50,000ft² area and is expected to help GE Aviation expand its presence in Singapore. It will initially employ 20 people and plans to add 100 skilled technicians and engineers by 2020. GE Aviation GE9X programme general manager Ted Ingling said: "The GE9X engine that will power the Boeing 777X aircraft incorporates the most advanced technologies. "With more than 700 engines sold to date, the manufacturing of components for the GE9X engine is a critical part of our production process, and this facility will play a key role." The company currently operates an engine component repair facility at Loyang Industrial Park, Singapore, and seeks to import ideas and concepts from this centre to the proposed engine parts manufacturing facility. In a separate development, GE Aviation secured a contract from global aircraft leasing company AerCap to provide GEnx-1B engines to power 15 Boeing 787 Dreamliners. The $780m deal includes an option for ten additional aircraft and is set to increase AerCap's GEnx- powered 787 Dreamliner fleet to 49 firm aircraft. GE Aviation has so far secured 700 orders for its GE9X engines. https://www.aerospace-technology.com/news/ge-aviation-invest-new-engine-part-facility- singapore/ Back to Top Airbus To Demo Skyways Drone A live demonstration of a parcel delivery drone will take place today in Singapore. Airbus Helicopters will show how the Project Skyways UAV can hover while picking up a parcel, and then set off to make the delivery. The demo will take place on the National University of Singapore (NUS) campus. Another example of the Skyways drone can be found on the Airbus stand here at the show. Project Skyways is one of four urban air mobility initiatives that Airbus is pursuing. The second is CityAirbus, a multi-passenger, self-piloted battery-powered VTOL vehicle being developed by the company's E-Aircraft Systems unit in Europe. The third is Project Vahana, another VTOL passenger transport being pursued by A3, the Airbus outpost in Silicon Valley, California that is also known as A-Cubed. The fourth is an exploration of 10 relevant technologies being conducted from Shenzhen in China by Airbus and HAX, an early-stage investor in hardware start-up companies. In Singapore, Airbus (Stand J23, Chalet CD17) has partnered with Singapore Post (SingPost) and the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS, Chalet CS12, Stand A01). The aim is to develop a safe and economically viable unmanned parcel delivery system for use in urban environments. SingPost is bringing expertise in eCommerce logistics and delivery networks. "Our trial will involve SingPost's parcel locker technology...and our long term plans...that involve drones and the vertical dimension," said SingPost managing director Mervyn Lim. In Europe, meanwhile, the CityAirbus demonstrator is progressing toward a first flight by the end of this year. It is an all-electric machine with 100 kW Siemens motors and four ducted propellers, that can carry up to four passengers over congested cities "in a fast, affordable and environmentally friendly way," according to Airbus Helicopters. The propulsion system is now being tested at the company's ground facility at Taufkirchen, Germany. Airbus told AIN that the first flights of the CityAirbus will be unmanned and include automatic takeoff and landing and flying along predefined routes. A ground-based pilot will be able to take control if necessary. Fully autonomous flight will be demonstrated later in the program. Meanwhile, the first flight of the Vahana electric VTOL aircraft occurred a week ago at a UAS range in Pendleton, Oregon. It lasted 53 seconds and the machine rose 16 feet before descending safely. "In just under two years, Vahana took a concept sketch on a napkin and built a full-scale, self- piloted aircraft," said Zach Lovering, the project executive for A3. "It proves that we can deliver meaningful innovation...to provide a real competitive advantage for Airbus," added Rodin Lyasoff, CEO of A3. A-Cubed is the company that Airbus chief Tom Enders set up in May 2015 to tap new technology and innovation in the U.S. He appointed former MIT, DARPA and Google employee Paul Eremenko as the first CEO. Lyasoff, a fellow tech pioneer and drone specialist, joined him. Within a year, Enders had moved Eremenko to Europe as the chief technology officer for Airbus, a move that caused some controversy and internal dissent with Airbus. Lyasoff became the head of A-Cubed. Late last year, Eremenko departed Airbus and returned to the U.S. as chief technology officer for United Technologies. Although the CityAirbus and Vahana projects appear to be duplicative, Airbus told AIN that they are complementary, and that regular exchanges have taken place between the two engineering teams. Airbus also told AIN that discussions have taken place with a number of cities, including Singapore, that have expressed their interest in innovative, electrically-powered VTOL systems. https://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/aerospace/2018-02-06/airbus-demo-skyways-drone Back to Top Falcon Heavy, in a Roar of Thunder, Carries SpaceX's Ambition Into Orbit KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, Fla. - From the same pad where NASA launched rockets that carried astronauts to the moon, a big, new American rocket arced into space on Tuesday. But this time, NASA was not involved. The rocket, the Falcon Heavy, was built by SpaceX, the company founded and run by the billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk. "It seems surreal to me," Mr. Musk said during a news conference after the launch. The launch of this turbocharged version of the workhorse Falcon 9 rocket, which has been carrying cargo to space for years, marks an important milestone in spaceflight, the first time a rocket this powerful has been sent into space by a private company rather than a government space agency. The rocket carried a playful payload: Mr. Musk's red Roadster, an electric sports car built by his other company, Tesla. Strapped inside the car is a mannequin wearing one of SpaceX's spacesuits. They are expected to orbit the sun for hundreds of millions of years. "It's kind of silly and fun, but silly and fun things are important," Mr. Musk said. The success gives SpaceX momentum to begin developing even larger rockets, which could help fulfill Mr. Musk's dream of sending people to Mars. To do that, he has described a new-generation rocket called B.F.R. (the B stands for big; the R for rocket) that might be ready to launch in the mid-2020s. The near-flawless performance of the Heavy on Tuesday "gives me a lot of confidence we can make the B.F.R. design work," Mr. Musk said. He added that he hoped the launch would encourage other companies and other countries to aim for more ambitious goals in space. "We want a new space race," he said. "Races are exciting." Mr. Musk's visions include humans living both on Earth and Mars. He's part of a new generation of entrepreneurial space pioneers that includes Jeffrey P. Bezos, the founder of Amazon, who has said one of the goals driving his rocket company, Blue Origin, is the prospect of millions of people living in space. Planetary Resources, an American company with a large investment from Luxembourg, hopes to mine asteroids for profit. Moon Express, based in Florida, sees a business in providing regular transportation to and from the moon. For now, the Heavy will enable SpaceX to compete for contracts to launch larger spy satellites, and some experts in spaceflight are encouraging NASA to use private rockets like the Heavy instead of the gigantic and more expensive rocket, the Space Launch System, that is currently being developed in part to take astronauts back to the moon. "It basically gives them another tool in their toolbox for accomplishing the space community's goals," said Phil Larson, an assistant dean at the University of Colorado's engineering school who previously worked as a senior manager of communications and corporate projects at SpaceX. Although delayed by high-altitude winds, the countdown proceeded smoothly, without any of the glitches that have bedeviled other maiden launches of new rockets. The Heavy roared to life, a plume of smoke and steam shooting sideways from the launchpad. It rose from the pad, with an impossibly bright glare of 27 engines beneath it. About 15 seconds later, a thunderous roar, traveling at the speed of sound, rolled over the spectators. Just over three minutes after it blasted off, the most suspenseful part of the flight was over, as the boosters dropped off and the second stage continued into Earth orbit. Some eight minutes after launch, a pair of sonic booms rocked the area as the two side boosters set down in near synchrony on two landing pads at Cape Canaveral. In the past few years, SpaceX has figured out how to routinely bring a booster stage back in one piece to fly again on future flights. The one blemish on the mission was that the center booster, which was to set down on a floating platform in the Atlantic, slammed into the water instead, because some of the engines failed to ignite for the final landing burn. Once in orbit, the rocket sent back video of the spacesuit-wearing mannequin in the car, with a hand on the steering wheel. On the dashboard were the words "Don't Panic," a nod to Douglas Adams's book "The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy." The spacecraft journeyed through Earth's Van Allen radiation belt. About seven hours after the rocket took off, Mr. Musk announced that a third and final burn had put his sports car on an elliptical orbit away from Earth and around the sun that extends beyond Mars's orbit. Since 2010, the company has been sending the smaller Falcon 9 rocket into orbit, deploying satellites and carrying cargo to crews aboard the International Space Station. The company has disrupted the global launch business with its lower prices and reusable boosters. The Falcon Heavy is capable of lifting 140,000 pounds to low-Earth orbit, more than any other rocket today. Because all three boosters are to be recovered to fly again, a Falcon Heavy launch costs not much more than one by the company's existing rocket, Mr. Musk said. SpaceX lists a price of $90 million for a Falcon Heavy flight, compared with $62 million for one by Falcon 9, a bargain in the context of spaceflight. Mr. Musk estimated that his company had spent more than half a billion dollars on Falcon Heavy and said that the program was almost canceled three times. SpaceX has booked coming Heavy flights for Arabsat, a Saudi Arabian communications company, and the United States Air Force. However, the market for the Heavy is smaller than what Mr. Musk envisioned when he announced development of the rocket in 2011. Back then, he expected that SpaceX's launches would be evenly split between Falcon 9s and Heavies. But the development of the Heavy took years longer than anticipated - the central booster had to be redesigned to withstand the stresses of the powerful side boosters - and with advances in miniaturization, the trend is toward smaller satellites. SpaceX also boosted the capability of the Falcon 9, which now can launch many of the payloads that would have originally required a Heavy. In addition to its central booster, the Falcon Heavy was equipped with two additional side boosters that essentially tripled its power at liftoff. While the Heavy uses many of the same components as the Falcon 9, Mr. Musk had cautioned that failures during a test flight would not be surprising. In particular, he worried about complex buffeting of air flowing past the boosters, which is difficult to predict even with the most sophisticated computer simulations. The success of the Heavy could quell criticism that followed SpaceX's first launch of the year - a Falcon 9 rocket that carried a highly classified payload code-named "Zuma," on Jan. 7. A day after the launch, there were reports that Zuma had fallen back to Earth. SpaceX officials vociferously asserted that the Falcon 9 performed as expected, suggesting that blame for anything that went wrong should fall on Northrop Grumman, which built Zuma. In the past year, SpaceX has tabled many of the plans for future development of the Heavy. The company had intended to use the rocket to launch one of SpaceX's capsules, known as the Dragon, without people, on a mission to land on Mars. That was scrapped last summer. Last year, Mr. Musk also said two space tourists would be launched by a Falcon Heavy on an around-the-moon tripthis year. On Monday, he said that for now the company had no immediate plans to make the improvements needed before putting people aboard. Instead, SpaceX is focusing its efforts on the B.F.R. It would be a two-stage rocket: a powerful booster to provide lift out of Earth's gravity and then a spaceship on top for interplanetary missions. The full vehicle would not be ready until the 2020s, but Mr. Musk said he had "aspirational" hopes to begin short hopper tests of the spaceship portion next year. https://www.nytimes.com/2018/02/06/science/falcon-heavy-spacex-launch.html Curt Lewis