June 28, 2018 - No. 051 In This Issue AMFA And Southwest Airlines Reach Tentative Agreement For Aircraft Maintenance Technicians Basic Regulation Secures Further EU Endorsement. Solano Community College selected as Delta Air Lines partner school Marshall University to collaborate with Yeager Airport on aviation program Innovations in Blockchain Aerospace Tech Ready to Launch New Hampshire FBO Joins the Paragon Network NASA Technologies Significantly Reduce Aircraft Noise Love Field Pilots Group Forms Landing Fee Task Force Garmin to Exhibit Key Avionics Solutions for Defense, Air Transport and Business Aviation Markets at Farnborough Turkish Technic wins Ukrainian, Russian MRO contracts R2D2-like robot going to space from Florida on SpaceX rocket AMFA And Southwest Airlines Reach Tentative Agreement For Aircraft Maintenance Technicians After almost six years of negotiations, the Aircraft Mechanics Fraternal Association (AMFA) and Southwest Airlines (SWA) announced a tentative agreement (TA) on a proposed contract for the airline's Aircraft Maintenance Technicians. The TA includes retention of all existing Scope language, intermediate and heavy aircraft maintenance checks, and ETOPS for the 48 contiguous states. Additionally, it includes a 14.8% snap up in wages, a ratification bonus of $91M in retroactive compensation, and 3% increase in wages each year of the contract. If ratified, the amendable date of the Agreement would be April 1, 2023, and includes a 12-month early opener for our members. "I extend my admiration and respect for the patience and professionalism of our members during this extensive negotiation process. Our Negotiating Committee worked undauntedly to achieve this TA with Southwest Airlines," said Bret Oestreich, AMFA National Director. "Many feel they are entitled to a better compensation package, but the Company has made it abundantly clear they were not willing to move any further. Therefore, it is time for the members to vote to collectively voice their opinion on the contents of this TA." https://centreforaviation.com/members/direct-news/amfa-and-southwest-airlines-reach-tentative- agreement-for-aircraft-maintenance-technicians-425061 Back to Top Basic Regulation Secures Further EU Endorsement The Council of the EU signed off on the new EASA Basic Regulation, following European Parliament approval earlier this month. The new regulation must still receive adoption by the General Affairs Council ministers and be published in the EU's Official Journal before taking effect. But the recent endorsements clear the path for the new regulation to take effect. This regulatory change has won strong support from GAMA, which said the move will modernize Europe's safety framework. "This new Basic Regulation promises to equip EASA with the set of tools it needs to keep pace with the rapid advances in general aviation, business aviation, and maintenance operations, particularly with the emphasis on enshrining risk-based regulation into law," said GAMA president and CEO Pete Bunce. GAMA has offices in Washington, D.C., and Brussels, representing aircraft manufacturers internationally. Bunce urged the European Commission and member states to provide EASA with the necessary resources to implement the changes that will come with the new Basic Regulation. He noted that the new regulation will require a "wholesale revision" of EASA's detailed safety rules. GAMA is encouraging EASA to implement the changes over the next three years, rather than the waiting the full-five-year transition term laid out for the Basic Regulation. "This will allow the industry to yield certification and oversight safety benefits and efficiencies as soon as possible," Bunce said. https://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/business-aviation/2018-06-27/basic-regulation-secures- further-eu-endorsement Back to Top Solano Community College selected as Delta Air Lines partner school Solano Community College announced that it was selected by Delta Air Lines as one of their Aircraft Maintenance Technician partner schools. AMT's service, repair and overhaul aircraft and aircraft components follow detailed regulations set by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). During the next several years, the AMT field is expected to grow at a rate of 5 percent, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. "We are honored to be recognized by Delta Air Lines and join them in partnership to provide aviation education opportunities here in Solano County," said Dr. Celia Esposito-Noy, Solano Community College president, in a press statement. "Our faculty are stellar and our students will benefit greatly from their knowledge and experience, in addition to having direct access to a major airline. This truly fulfills our mission on multiple levels." The partnership was initiated by Dean Maire Morinec and the program faculty, Kevin Spoelstra and Brooks "Rusty" Mayes. The agreement between Solano and Delta will give SCC students who have successfully completed one year of training the chance to meet with airline employees, and provide graduates who have passed the AMT exam better opportunities for employment with Delta. The airline will, in turn, provide SCC students with scrap aircraft and avionics parts and assist with program marketing efforts. Solano's proximity to the Delta repair station at San Francisco International Airport and Travis Air Force Base makes the college a prime partner for the airline, according to SCC's statement. Departing military aviation technicians can enroll in Solano's program and pave their pathway to a career in airline technology. "Career opportunities are readily available for those who meet prerequisites and are proactive in taking the actions required to begin their new careers in aviation maintenance while at the same time, allowing Delta Air Lines to continue experiencing its successes," said Joe McDermott, Delta's managing director, in the press statement. "The schools have already demonstrated they have set high standards for themselves and for their students. The expectation is not only to maintain those standards, but through this partnership, work together to increase participation, continually improve curriculum, safety programs, quality programs, etc. in line with needs of the aviation industry. Expectation is also to reach out further and with the help of Delta, better educate the public of opportunities in the aviation maintenance field." To become a partner, colleges had to complete a questionnaire and host a Delta audit team that evaluated the program's facilities, instructors, professionalism of students, classroom discipline, safety, community involvement and curriculum. Only 38 schools across the country were accepted into two-year partnerships that will automatically renew for successive one-year periods until either party asks to terminate the agreement with the airline. For more information on the AMT program, visit www.solano.edu/business/aeronautics.php. http://www.thereporter.com/article/NG/20180626/NEWS/180629903 Back to Top Marshall University to collaborate with Yeager Airport on aviation program New opportunities in the aerospace industry are on the horizon for West Virginians with an aviation and maintenance program in the works at Marshall University. The feasibility of the program will be studied over the course of the year by both Marshall University researchers and Yeager Airport in Charleston. Charlotte Weber, Director of the Robert C. Byrd Institute, said partnerships with Yeager Airport as well as other facilities are what make the proposal possible. "We're not only looking at the affability just with Yeager but we're looking at Tri-State, we're partnering with Pierpont," Weber said. Ralph Workman, Jr, director of RCBI Aero, said the school would help bring jobs back to the state as well as set Marshall apart from other universities in the region. "With the coal industry slowing down, you have this large labor pool here, and how do you get those people jobs and training? It's all about workforce development and getting folks trained to go into the industry," Workman said. "With that being said, aviation is a growing industry, but there is a shortage of pilots in the nation and there's a shortage of people to work on the aircraft." The aviation school would potentially offer not only pilot training and a variety of degrees but a Federal Aviation Administration, or FAA, certified maintenance school. "Right now the state of West Virginia only has one FAA certified maintenance school in Bridgeport, so it would bring that here to the Tri-State region, and it's open to kids that have graduated high school all the way up through adults," Workman said. "In this region, the next closest would be Ohio State or way out at Purdue University in Indiana, so we would have the market here, there's nothing in this region for maintenance training or pilot training." Workman said if the proposed program is deemed feasible at the end of the study, the school would offer three different forms of education: a maintenance repair and operations certificate, associate degree and bachelor's degree. "The shortest amount of time would be 14 months straight," Workman said. "There's a curriculum that's specific, it's based by the FAA that we have to conduct all the skill sets needed to work on an airplane. So they could go 14 months and get their certificate, and they would be eligible to take the FAA test online to get their certification and then go out into the workforce." An associate degree at the aviation school would take nearly 20 months to complete, with more general education classes required. Workman said bachelor's degrees in subjects such as aviation management and piloting will also be available to students who wish to further their education. "You have to have certain classes and a set number of hours, we have to meet certain things just as you would if you were getting a biology degree," Workman said. "The details are still being hashed out, but we would offer classes here at RCBI, Marshall would offer the general education classes, and of course the lab part of it has to be done in an airport." Workman said while the FAA has a very strict certification process, research shows that the region is capable of supporting and expanding the aerospace industry. "We're already a couple months into the process, and it takes them about a year normally to get the school certified," Workman said. "It could be up to two years, but we're shooting for at least next year having some maintenance classes." Workman said the first classes will be designed for about 25 students looking to earn a maintenance and repair certificate through the FAA. "It's an exciting time, it is a good opportunity," Workman said. "There are kids that have the interest but they'd have to go out of state to pursue it or very far north in West Virginia. They're definitely serious, they're dedicated and this program will happen at Marshall one way or another." https://marshallparthenon.com/17199/news/marshall-university-to-collaborate-with-yeager- airport-on-aviation-program/ Back to Top Innovations in Blockchain Aerospace Tech Ready to Launch The aerospace industry, comprising aviation and space flight, generates trillions of dollars every year. Countries compete for the latest and greatest achievements in space exploration. And back on earth, eager tourists are the primary source of value to an aviation industry worth $2.7 trillion each year. Blockchain aerospace applications are still only in the very early stages of development, but things seem poised to move quickly. Accenture reports that more than two-thirds of aerospace and defense executives are planning to integrate new technologies within the next two years. As such, there are plenty of opportunities for blockchain to add value to both the aviation and space flight sectors. This article will explore developments and discussions around blockchain in the aerospace industries. Blockchain Aerospace Applications - Current and Future Supply Chain Blockchain is set to have a huge impact on industries like automotive, where manufacturers are dependent on parts coming from other manufacturers. Aviation and spacecraft manufacturing is no different. The aerospace industry has a huge obligation of safety and security to passengers and other stakeholders. Therefore, aircraft and spacecraft manufacturers are dependent on suppliers for the provision of parts that are made and tested to a high-quality standard. Blockchain offers the possibility of recording the entire manufacturing process, transparently and permanently. Each component could be digitally tagged. The tag could include data and attributes, such as the particular machine that made the part, which quality tests were carried out, and the dates, locations, and individuals responsible for performing these activities. The airplane or spacecraft could then retain this record of manufacturing throughout its entire lifecycle. Consequently, such a record would be of immense use to maintenance engineers who are later contracted to work on the craft. Maintenance Certain components of an airplane can only be used for a fixed number of cycles before they must be replaced. However, the number of cycles can vary depending on whether the plane has been operating under high-pressure or low-pressure conditions. Because there is no consistency in recording this flight data, engineers tend only to look at how many hours the plane has been in flight. Replacing parts before it's necessary creates a massive potential for wastage and increased costs for the airlines. Conversely, any airline that tries to eke out the life of parts could put passenger lives at risk. Airlines tend to contract engineers who have worked on a particular plane in the past, to offset wastage. This leads to an uneven distribution of work across the industry. On top of all this, there is no consistent system or methodology of recording aircraft maintenance. Believe it or not, but a 2016 report stated that paper was still the means of documenting around 90 percent of all aircraft records! Therefore, maintenance offers massive potential for blockchain aerospace applications. Similar to the manufacturing process, engineers could keep maintenance records on the blockchain. In principle, this means that any engineer could work on any plane. They would have a complete and intact digital record of parts used, and maintenance history throughout the full lifecycle of the aircraft. Blockchain could also act as a record for the pressure conditions of each flight. Greater accuracy in determining the lifecycle of replacement parts would also bring substantial potential cost savings to the airlines. Aircraft Leasing A 2017 Deloitte paper describes some of the issues faced by the aircraft leasing industry. The airlines often incur leasing and other costs in US dollars, but earn profits in their native currencies. Switching to payments in cryptocurrency could reduce the foreign exchange fees incurred by airlines. Not only that, but it would also mean that airlines could lease planes and pay manufacturers directly without using banks as intermediaries. The paper also introduces the idea of "Airchain"-a theoretical blockchain-based system. It would use smart contracts and crypto to manage the various transactions taking place across the airplane leasing industry. The next potential blockchain aerospace application is, therefore, industry-wide integration. Integration For the first time, blockchain introduces the possibility of a fully integrated, industry-wide data ecosystem for the entire aviation industry. In addition to the manufacturing supply chain and maintenance possibilities, integration of flight data to the blockchain is also feasible. Flight data may include the flight team, flight conditions, fuel usage, and any data of relevance. Such a system would vastly increase efficiencies and hence reduce costs across the whole sector. There are additional safety and security benefits from high-quality, complete data, as guesswork is limited. Aeron is one blockchain startup that has started to venture into this space, albeit not quite at the scale described above. Autonomous Spacecraft Blockchain combined with AI has far-reaching potential for autonomous vehicles. In April, NASA agreed to fund the development of an autonomous spacecraft, based on the blockchain. Currently, remote control of spacecraft from Earth is a slow process, taking hours to relay commands. However, Ethereum-based smart contracts offer the opportunity for enhanced digital decision-making. A spacecraft could use this technology to, for example, dodge space debris itself far more quickly than someone controlling it from Earth. Scientists spend valuable time on these kinds of routine activities. With this time freed up for further research, it is clear that blockchain aerospace innovation provides real-life utility. Additionally, a NASA representative stated that scalability is the natural next step if this project proves successful. Ultimately, an entire space network could use blockchain to communicate between nodes, sharing data securely and resiliently. Funding Space Projects Space projects require a significant amount of R&D investment and often end up having to go back to the drawing board. VC firms have therefore been reluctant to take investment risks with tech startups wanting to venture into the area of space exploration. ICOs offer an opportunity for would-be space projects to find alternative methods of funding from investors who may be less risk-averse. And of course, once they get off the ground in a literal sense, they could even set up a crypto-mining rig in space. To Infinity and Beyond? These are just a few of the potential use cases of blockchain that are currently under discussion in the aerospace sector. Blockchain development is still very much in its infancy. However, since the aerospace industries are heavily dependent on data; it seems inevitable that blockchain will play a significant role in ongoing developments. Blockchain aerospace applications seem to have a very bright future ahead. https://coincentral.com/blockchain-aerospace/ Back to Top New Hampshire FBO Joins the Paragon Network Port City Air, the lone service provider at New Hampshire's Portsmouth International Airport (KPSM), is the latest FBO to join the Paragon Network. The full-service FBO can handle any size aircraft up to the largest jumbo jets and offers luxury concierge services provided by dedicated representatives. It provides 24-hour service (no after-hours callout fees), and 125,000 sq ft of heated hangar space. It also offers Part 145 maintenance, as well as on-site 24/7 customs and immigration service, making it a tech stop candidate for international flights. "We are delighted to have Port City Air in our network," said Paragon Aviation Group president Megan Barnes. "Their ability to handle customs, immigration, and maintenance on site reinforces the Paragon Network's ability to support global traffic. We look forward to working with them and are confident that their service level will exceed the expectations of the customers flying in." Paragon was founded in 2011 and numbers 55 locations. Each member FBO must comply with a set of strategically developed core standards to join and remain in the group. https://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/business-aviation/2018-06-27/new-hampshire-fbo-joins- paragon-network Back to Top NASA Technologies Significantly Reduce Aircraft Noise WASHINGTON, June 25, 2018 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- A series of NASA flight tests has successfully demonstrated technologies that achieve a significant reduction in the noise generated by aircraft and heard by communities near airports. The Acoustic Research Measurement (ARM) flights, which concluded in May, at NASA's Armstrong Flight Research Center in California, tested technology to address airframe noise, or noise that is produced by non-propulsive parts of the aircraft, during landing. The flights successfully combined several technologies to achieve a greater than 70 percent reduction in airframe noise. "The number one public complaint the Federal Aviation Administration receives is about aircraft noise," said Mehdi Khorrami, an aerospace scientist at NASA's Langley Research Center in Virginia, and principal investigator for Acoustic Research Measurement. "NASA's goal here was to reduce aircraft noise substantially in order to improve the quality of life for communities near airports. We are very confident that with the tested technologies we can substantially reduce total aircraft noise, and that could really make a lot of flights much quieter." NASA tested several experimental designs on various airframe components of a Gulfstream III research aircraft at Armstrong, including landing gear fairings and cavity treatments designed and developed at Langley, as well as the Adaptive Compliant Trailing Edge (ACTE) wing flap, which had previously been flight-tested to study aerodynamic efficiency. The aircraft flew at an altitude of 350 feet, over an 185-sensor microphone array deployed on the Rogers Dry Lake at Edwards Air Force Base in California. The Landing Gear Noise Reduction technology element addressed airframe noise caused by airflow moving past the landing gear on approach. The experimental landing gear tested by NASA features fairings that are porous along their front, meaning they consist of many tiny holes that, in part, allow some of the air to flow through the fairing, while also deflecting some of the airflow around the landing gear. Porous concepts have been studied before, but the unique design developed by NASA resulted from highly detailed computer simulations that led NASA engineers to what they believe is the ideal design for maximum noise reduction without increasing aerodynamic drag. Another area of focus was landing gear cavities, also a known cause of airframe noise. These are the regions where the landing gear deploys from the main body of an aircraft, typically leaving a large cavity where airflow can get pulled in, creating noise. NASA applied two concepts to these sections, including a series of chevrons placed near the front of the cavity with a sound-absorbing foam at the trailing wall, as well as a net that stretched across the opening of the main landing gear cavity. This altered the airflow and reduced the noise resulting from the interactions between the air, the cavity walls, and its edges. To reduce wing flap noise, NASA used an experimental, flexible flap that had previously been flown as part of the ACTE project, which investigated the potential for flexible, seamless flaps to increase aerodynamic efficiency. As opposed to conventional wing flaps that typically feature gaps between the flap and the main body of the wing, the ACTE flap, built by FlexSys Inc. of Ann Arbor, Michigan, is a seamless design that eliminates those gaps. Significant reduction in aircraft noise must be realized in order for air transportation growth to maintain its current trend. The reduction of airframe noise using NASA technology is an important achievement in this effort, as it may lead to quieter aircraft, which will benefit communities near airports and foster expanded airport operations. "This airframe noise reduction produced by NASA technology is definitely momentous, and the best part is that it directly benefits the public," said ARM Project Manager Kevin Weinert. "While there are obvious potential economic gains for the industry, this benefits the people who live near major airports, and have to deal with the noise of aircraft coming in to land. This could greatly reduce the noise impact on these communities." For more information about NASA's aeronautics research, visit: https://www.nasa.gov/aeroresearch http://www.aviationpros.com/news/12418358/nasa-technologies-significantly-reduce-aircraft-noise Back to Top Love Field Pilots Group Forms Landing Fee Task Force A Dallas-based pilots association is assembling a general aviation landing fee task force with the hopes of becoming engaged in the process of setting fees at Dallas Love Field (DAL) in Texas. That group, the Love Field Pilots Association, asked the city to confirm it would hold off on the planned landing fees at the airport until the task force has the opportunity to provide consultation. The city of Dallas in late April authorized the assessment of general aviation landing fees at DAL, citing a need to raise additional funds for maintenance of the airfield, as well as a need for general aviation to "pay its fair share." As originally conceived, the initial fees could go into effect at the beginning of July at a rate of $5.80 per 1,000 pounds, more than twice the $2.20 rate paid by airliners. These fees would be in addition to fuel taxes. But the Love Field Pilots Association protested the imposition of the GA landing fees, saying they were devised in consultation with airlines but not general aviation itself and the result was "flawed and unfair." After discussing the fees with the GA community, city officials were willing to delay implementation until they could provide more clarity. The Love Field Pilots Association expressed a willingness to participate in consultation, telling city officials it planned a 10- to 15-member task force representing a range of GA stakeholders at the airport. It cited benefits of being able to tap into the expertise of the group in a "fair and balanced manner" adding,"assuming the department utilized that input and the parties can arrive a structure that is in fact fair and balanced to the GA community, the task force can then become a voice of assurance to our community that their concerns were heard and actually utilized by the department." At the same time, the organization asked city and airport officials in a recent letter to confirm that the original proposed landing fees will not be implemented until the consultation process can take place. https://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/business-aviation/2018-06-26/love-field-pilots-group- forms-landing-fee-task-force Back to Top Garmin to Exhibit Key Avionics Solutions for Defense, Air Transport and Business Aviation Markets at Farnborough OLATHE, Kan. /June 27, 2018/Business Wire - Garmin International, Inc. a unit of Garmin Ltd. (NASDAQ: GRMN), today announced a tandem cockpit experience to be unveiled at the 2018 Farnborough International Airshow, July 16-20 at the Farnborough Airport in the United Kingdom. Garmin's business aviation, air transport and defense markets will be showcasing commercial-off- the-shelf (COTS) scalable integrated flight displays, standalone avionics and flight technologies. These solutions seamlessly interface with a variety of mission systems and are available for reliable and rapid deployment. "Garmin continues to grow its presence within the military and government markets by providing stand-alone, cost-effective solutions that solve obsolescence issues and increase operational capability while improving mission effectiveness," said Carl Wolf, vice president of aviation marketing and sales. "We're excited to offer this premium cockpit experience at Farnborough, which demonstrates just how versatile our systems can be while providing state-of-the-art capability and reliability in a value-added avionics package." Debuting at the Farnborough International Airshow this year, Garmin will unveil a tandem cockpit experience at its exhibit that supports multi-role and supersonic aircraft. This interactive, high fidelity cockpit will feature representative controls that offer hands-on flying in a simulated environment. The cockpit will consist of a large, high definition smart display, dual Garmin touchscreen controllers (GTCs) and integrated mission controllers in the front and rear pilot positions with the ability to display combined flight and mission data. This scalable Garmin configuration also demonstrates a seamless interface between the integrated flight deck and the L3 ForceX Widow mission computer. Additionally, Garmin will be featuring integrated flight deck technology that can be tailored to accommodate specific operations, modified for a variety of aircraft types and exclusively designed and configured for individual aircraft cockpits. These NVG-compatible Garmin solutions display primary flight information in a consolidated, easy-to-read format, alongside terrain, ADS-B and TCAS traffic, weather and more on large, high-resolution displays. As an optional capability, wireless integration and connectivity between the flight deck and mobile devices will also be on display. These modern technologies offer key safety enhancements and provide pilots with an elevated level of situational awareness - particularly in high workload operating environments. In addition to flight displays, Garmin has other COTS solutions available that can be tailored to a wide range of aircraft. Ranging from air data computers to transponders, these products seamlessly interface with a variety of third-party products using industry standard protocols. These solutions are environmentally hardened to accommodate hazardous and harsh operational or environmental stresses to meet mission requirements around the globe. The Garmin Head-up Display (GHD) system will also be on display at the Garmin exhibit, which interfaces with a variety of air transport flight decks to project a crisp, clear view of pertinent flight information within a single display. Compact and self-contained, the GHD projection system offers a large 30-degree by 24-degree field-of-view. The GHD projects a familiar presentation of critical flight information, symbology and more, contributing to increased operational benefits throughout every phase of flight. Garmin is accepting appointments to visit its exhibit and experience the tandem cockpit first-hand at the Farnborough International Airshow, July 16-20, 2018. http://www.aviationpros.com/press_release/12418505/garmin-to-exhibit-key-avionics-solutions- for-defense-air-transport-and-business-aviation-markets-at-farnborough Back to Top Turkish Technic wins Ukrainian, Russian MRO contracts Turkish Technic, a supplier of aircraft maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) services, and a subsidiary of the country's flagship carrier Turkish Airlines, has won new contracts from Ukraine International Airlines (UIA) and Russia's NordWind. For UIA, the maintenance provider will carry out MRO work on the airline's two Boeing 767 wide- bodies. The Ukrainian carrier currently operates four aircraft of the type, but plans to dispense with them when their lease terms expire from 2019. UIA has already begun replacing them with Boeing 777s, and says it is considering setting up capabilities for maintaining that type in-house. Turkish Technic has also secured an agreement with NordWind for the landing gear replacement on a Boeing 777, one of eight of the type operated by the Russian carrier. The two companies have a history of co-operation. Earlier this year Turkish Technic conducted a heavy maintenance check on the airline's two Airbus A330-200s, which had earlier been operated by Turkish Airlines. The provider also supplies components for the NordWind aircraft. NordWind is part of the Pegas Group (which has Turkish ties), along with Russian sister airline Pegas Fly. In March this year Turkish Technic announced a contract for a C-check on one of Pegas Fly's Boeing 767s. Other Turkish Technic customers in the region include Turkmenistan Airlines, Russian carriers Azur Air and Yakutiya, as well as Atlasglobal Ukraine. The latter inked an agreement for components support for its A320 fleet. http://www.rusaviainsider.com/turkish-technic-wins-ukrainian-russian-mro-contracts/ Back to Top R2D2-like robot going to space from Florida on SpaceX rocket Afloating robot head built with the personality of the "Star Wars" droid R2D2 is scheduled to head into space early Friday to join astronauts on the International Space Station. Known as CIMON, the orb-shaped computer will be among the 5,900 pounds of cargo scheduled for a 5:41 a.m. liftoff aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket. Airbus and IBM collaborated to build the 11-pound device, which is roughly the size of a medicine ball and is embedded with the traits of some of Hollywood's more-famous robots, including R2D2. "The single most important thing on the ISS is time," said Matthias Biniok, the IBM developer who worked on CIMON, in a statement. "We at IBM believe CIMON ... will give astronauts back valuable time, allowing them to be more effective during their missions." The mission is set to take off from Space Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station on the Space Coast. The weather appears to be favorable for a launch, with the U.S. Air Force's weather team on the coast predicting a 90 percent chance of conditions that could support a launch. CIMON is aboard a cargo load that includes other efforts to eventually cure cancer, simplify crop science and enhance performance for high-tech medical devices like laser scalpels. CIMON will include a mobile video camera, which will help document the work being done on the ISS. German astronaut and geophysicist Alexander Gerst will help test CIMON, which stands for Crew Interactive Mobile Companion, with the robot serving as his assistant on experiments already in space. Officials say it will mark the first time an artificial intelligence-based robot interacts with astronauts in space. CIMON is designed to support astronauts and serve as a digital assistant during routine work. Once testing is done, Gerst will work with CIMON first to solve a Rubik's cube, then perform a "complex medical experiment," during which the robot will serve as a flying camera. The goal of the research is to eventually help astronauts on long-term space missions and to be applied to health and social care on Earth. The cargo will go up in one of SpaceX's previously used Dragon capsules, powered by a previously used Falcon 9 booster. http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/space/os-bz-spacex-cargo-launch-20180627-story.html Curt Lewis