September 20, 2018 - No. 074 In This Issue Inmarsat and Panasonic Avionics Enter Into Landmark Strategic Collaboration for Commercial Aviation AJW Group Awarded PBH Contract With TAP Maintenance & Engineering Arista Aviation Receives Diamond Award Nomad Rolls Out Services at EuroAirport Basel Emirates renews search for Kenyan aviation engineers Kazakhstan's Air Astana gears up for Embraer E190-E2 operations Ibom int'l airport MRO to begin operations Southwest Airlines mechanics reject tentative contract General Electric Expands Footprint in Malaysia with Aviation and IT Initiatives SpaceX's New BFR Spaceship Really Does Look Like Tintin's Moon Rocket Inmarsat and Panasonic Avionics Enter Into Landmark Strategic Collaboration for Commercial Aviation Inmarsat and Panasonic Avionics Corporation (Panasonic) have agreed a strategic collaboration, for an initial ten-year period, that enables them to combine their highly complementary market leading services to offer broadband in-flight connectivity ("IFC") paired with high-value solutions and services to customers in the commercial aviation industry worldwide. This collaboration will enable airlines, aircraft manufacturers and passengers to benefit from the combined expertise of two companies that have been at the forefront of technology and innovation for nearly four decades. Under the terms of the agreement, Inmarsat will become Panasonic's exclusive provider of Ka-band IFC for commercial aviation. Panasonic will now be able to offer Inmarsat's high-speed, broadband connectivity service, GX Aviation, powered by Global Xpress, the world's first global Ka-band satellite network, owned and managed by a single operator. Panasonic will continue to invest in its own network and, with GX Aviation as a primary offering for new business, will be perfectly positioned to serve both its current and future customers. In addition, Inmarsat will now be able to offer Panasonic's market-leading portfolio of services and NEXT solutions to Inmarsat's commercial aviation customers. This includes customer support services available from Panasonic's Customer Performance Center and Technical Services teams. The collaboration, which is already being deployed with a mutual customer, presents a unique opportunity to leverage Inmarsat's proven track record of high-quality and innovative global mobile connectivity, and Panasonic's market-leading in-flight entertainment, digital services and connectivity solutions. Looking forward, Inmarsat and Panasonic will also collaborate on the development of a next generation GX Aviation terminal, as well as new connectivity-enabled services, data analytics and technology to improve overall end-to-end performance. By delivering this step-change in aviation services capability, airlines will have access to new and better solutions that address widely recognized industry challenges of capacity, coverage and compatibility. This will give greater quality, consistency of experience and more choice to airlines and their passengers in the IFC market, which by some estimates could exceed $100 billion by 2035[1]. Rupert Pearce, Chief Executive Officer, Inmarsat, said: "Our highly complementary collaboration with Panasonic combines the unique expertise and proven capabilities of both companies to create a market-leading in-flight connectivity offer for aircraft manufacturers, airlines and their passengers. "IFC is a substantial and fast-emerging sector where the quality of customer experience is paramount. Reliable, high-quality IFC is no longer a luxury for passengers, but an expectation, and will play a vital role in securing an airline's competitive position in a market. "Today's landmark announcement is clear evidence of Inmarsat delivering on its strategy and strengthens our conviction that, building upon the success of the global GX network, aviation will be a significant individual growth driver of our overall business. It also demonstrates Inmarsat's commitment to becoming the reference IFC network for airlines around the world. "We look forward to working closely with Panasonic as we develop the relationship and accelerate our respective innovation roadmaps to ensure we continue to provide airlines and passengers with the world's leading IFC experience." Hideo Nakano, Chief Executive Officer, Panasonic Avionics, said: "For over 10 years, Panasonic has remained steadfast in its commitment to the connected aircraft. Still, many airlines have more than one connectivity partner, and this strategic collaboration ensures that even more airlines have access to a wide variety of industry-leading digital solutions." 1. 'Sky High Economics: Quantifying the commercial opportunities of passenger connectivity for the global airline industry', by London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE), 2017 "By adding GX Aviation into our NEXT Online portfolio, we're recognizing the need for IFC consistency across multiple fleets, and enabling digital solutions and services with unified customer support. It's really a win-win for customers." "After all, there's nothing quite like watching your favorite sporting event on the seatback, shopping for products that are relevant to your life and interests, or using apps that personalize your journey." "Clearly, this is truly a tremendous opportunity for our industry. We look forward to working with Inmarsat to provide a wider suite of services and solutions to the world's airlines." Notes to Editors Inmarsat's existing agreements with other strategic partners in the industry will remain unaffected, while Panasonic will continue to improve and offer its high-performance global Ku-band satellite network in delivering IFC services to its aviation customers worldwide. About Inmarsat Inmarsat plc is the leading provider of global mobile satellite communications services. Since 1979, Inmarsat has been providing reliable voice and high-speed data communications to governments, enterprises and other organizations, with a range of services that can be used on land, at sea or in the air. Inmarsat operates around the world, with a presence in the major ports and centres of commerce on every continent. Inmarsat is listed on the London Stock Exchange (ISAT.L). For more information, please visit www.inmarsat.com The Inmarsat press release newsfeed and corporate updates are on @InmarsatGlobal. GX Aviation GX Aviation is the world's first and only globally available, high-speed inflight internet service delivered through a wholly-owned and operated network of High-Throughput Satellites (HTS). It has won a string of prestigious awards for offering state-of-the-art, uninterrupted, global inflight connectivity that enables passengers to browse the internet, stream videos, check social media and more during flights, with connectivity that is comparable to the mobile broadband services they may receive on the ground. As the world's leading mobile satellite communications operator, Inmarsat continues to invest and further develop its advanced network. The company will be launching three next-generation very high-throughput (VHTS) satellites, starting next year with its fifth GX satellite (GX-5). This strategy is focused on layering additional capacity to the GX global network to meet escalating demand from airline customers in specific regions About Panasonic Avionics Corporation Panasonic Avionics Corporation is the world's leading supplier of inflight entertainment and communication systems. The company's best-in-class solutions, supported by professional maintenance services, fully integrate with the cabin enabling its customers to deliver the ultimate travel experiences with a rich variety of entertainment choices, resulting in improved quality communication systems and solutions, reduced time-to-market and lower overall costs. Established in 1979, Panasonic Avionics Corporation, a U.S. corporation, is a subsidiary of Panasonic Corporation of North America, the principal North American subsidiary of Panasonic Corporation. Headquartered in Lake Forest, California with over 5,000 employees and operations in 80 global locations, it has delivered over 9,000 IFE systems and 2,000 inflight connectivity solutions to the world's leading airlines. For additional information, please visit www.panasonic.aero https://markets.businessinsider.com/news/stocks/inmarsat-and-panasonic-avionics-enter-into-landmark-strategic-collaboration-for-commercial-aviation-1027550010 Back to Top AJW Group Awarded PBH Contract With TAP Maintenance & Engineering AJW Group has been awarded a power-by-the-hour (PBH) contract with TAP Maintenance & Engineering, a leading global MRO provider and part of the TAP Group. The contract, which takes effect from this month, builds on a long-standing relationship between AJW Group and TAP Maintenance & Engineering which includes the sale of engine parts and other rotables. AJW Group will now support TAP with the supply, repair and overhaul of rotable components on two A320neo aircraft operated by Azores Airlines. AJW has a worldwide network of established supply chain vendor relationships, and a global base of more than 1,000 customers with over 4,000 aircraft under contract, making it the ideal partner for airlines and MRO organisations requiring fully integrated solutions and seeking to achieve competitive advantage. Christopher Whiteside, President and CEO of AJW Group, said: "AJW is seeing increasing demand for its flexible PBH contracts, and the diverse component coverage, expertise and 24/7/365 AOG service they deliver. "We are delighted to be working with TAP Maintenance & Engineering, whose commitment to delivering highly effective solutions matches our own." Mario Lobato Faria, Chief Technical Officer at TAP Maintenance & Engineering, commented: "AJW's support will be instrumental in ensuring that Azores Airlines' fleet of A320neo aircraft, which is one of the most modern in the world, operates with maximum efficiency." https://www.aviationpros.com/press_release/12430194/ajw-group-awarded-pbh-contract-with-tap-maintenance-engineering Back to Top Arista Aviation Receives Diamond Award Arista Aviation received its second Federal Aviation Administration Diamond Award on Sept. 5. The award was presented for the 2017 year and is the second that Arista has received, the first being in 2015. The Diamond Award is given to companies that demonstrate a commitment to adhere to and improve aviation maintenance safety through initial and continual training programs. This is the FAA's highest corporate award, and it includes both individual and corporate recognition. The achievement recognizes the accomplishment of specialized, continuous training on aircraft systems, regulations and FAA rules over a 12-month period. Arista is a global aviation services provider that specializes in the maintenance, repair and overhaul services of rotary wing aircraft. This includes all light and medium Bell helicopters and the Sikorsky UH60 Blackhawk. The company prides itself in its ability to provide customizable maintenance solutions and aircraft upgrades to meet the need of any customer, from the single aircraft owner to the fleet manager. http://www.southeastsun.com/home/article_5c1a1f3c-bc32-11e8-8c29-93ef2ab82b8c.html Back to Top Nomad Rolls Out Services at EuroAirport Basel Switzerland-based Nomad Aviation is now offering maintenance and hangar services from EuroAirport in Basel, Switzerland. The company will have enough hangar space to accommodate aircraft as large as the Airbus A320 family and Boeing 737 series and maintenance capabilities for those aircraft in 2019. Service for the Bombardier Global XRS and 6000 and Embraer Legacy 600/650 will become available next month. "By adding maintenance and hangarage to our existing aircraft management and charter services we can offer our clients a one-stop solution for their aircraft transportation," said Heinz Koehli, executive chairman of Nomad. The company, branded as Nomad Technics, is an EASA Part 145-approved organization. "Our customers can count on a very dynamic and flexible team to take care of their assets," said Roman Hug, Nomad's technical director. https://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/business-aviation/2018-09-18/nomad-rolls-out-services-euroairport-basel Back to Top Emirates renews search for Kenyan aviation engineers Emirates Group, which owns Emirates Airline, has renewed a recruitment drive for Kenyan aeronautical technicians and ground handling staff just a year after Kenya Airways had indicated it was considering higher wages to entice back staff who had been poached by Gulf carriers. Emirates Group's aviation and travel services unit, Dnata, on Wednesday called on local airline technicians to apply for jobs. "We are one of the largest air services providers with over 41,000 employees across six continents...We are seeking qualified maintenance professional to join our Dnata technical services team in Dubai," said the UAE-based air services provider in a notice posted in local dailies yesterday. It has singled out maintenance technicians in its latest hiring spree. In 2016, it also sought local engineers for various roles. The move piles pressure on troubled national carrier KQ that in the past grappled with mass staff exits and labour disputes. Dnata is owned by the Emirates Group, the State-controlled international aviation holding company which also owns the top Gulf carrier. The aviation services company provides ground handling services at 17 airports and the Emirates Airlines, the largest airline in the Middle East. Early last year, KQ revealed it had lost more than 100 aeronautical engineers and technicians to rival airlines, in addition to losing 60 pilots to profitable Gulf carriers. The staff poaching, KQ said then, is not confined to its best engineers and has sometimes spilt over to non-technical employees too. The national carrier blamed the attrition to poaching of skilled staff by Middle East airlines offering lucrative perks and salaries to KQ's highly trained specialists. Late last year, Kenya Airways moved to sack 131 engineers it accused of participating in an illegal strike at a time of mass exodus of technical staff. https://www.nation.co.ke/business/Emirates-renews-search-for-Kenyan-aviation-engineers/996-4768066-etfxv3/index.html Back to Top Kazakhstan's Air Astana gears up for Embraer E190-E2 operations Kazakhstan's national carrier Air Astana is preparing for the introduction of its first Embraer E190-E2, which is expected later this year, thus becoming the world's second operator of the re-engined Brazilian-made regional jet after Norway's Wideroe. Ahead of the launch, the Kazakh airline has been in regular contact with the manufacturer, focusing on the procurement of components, ground equipment and tools. "By the time the first E190-E2 is delivered to Air Astana, the airline will have the flight crews and maintenance staff all in place, as well as other services involved in operating the aircraft," Embraer's representative told ATO.ru, Russian Aviation Insider's sister publication. Air Astana expects delivery of its first E190-E2 before the end of this year. It has placed an order for a total of five of the type as replacements for its existing E190s, the leases for which expire in 2019. However, Air Astana's president Peter Foster earlier told Russian Aviation Insider that the airline is planning on further expansion of its Embraer fleet. The airline's in-house maintenance base will be responsible for servicing the new-generation aircraft. The facility is currently undergoing a certification process, which is scheduled to complete before the first aircraft enters service. Air Astana currently holds EASA Part 145 approval for line maintenance and A-checks on the Embraer ?190. "The trend will continue for the E-Jets ?2. The company's engineers are currently undergoing training at the Embraer Training Centre in Brazil," the representative for the original equipment manufacturer (OEM) revealed. Other Embraer operators in the CIS and Russian region have been proactively organising maintenance facilities for their fleets too. "When large players in the Russian air travel market started operating Embraer aircraft, they embarked on developing their in-house capabilities for their maintenance," an Embraer representative explained. "For instance, S7 Airlines' MRO needs for their fleet are completely covered by S7 Engineering and Sibir Technic, which are expanding their component base for E170/E175. The trend is likely to be followed by new Embraer operators in the region, who see themselves as independent organisations for continued airworthiness of their aircraft. In addition, S7 Technics already holds approval for training engineers for E170/175 in the categories B1 (mechanics) and B2 (avionics). The presence of such a training centre in Russia provides great opportunities for those technical centres which plan to maintain Embraer aircraft in the future," the representative added. He also mentioned that Pegas Fly (part of Pegas Touristik, along with sister carrier Nordwind) is expected to take delivery of its seventh Embraer E190 this month and is on track to becoming Russia's second largest operator of Embraer jets. It has contracted fellow provider NW Technic for maintenance of its fleet. The organisation is licensed for line maintenance and A-checks on the E190. Regarding E-Jets E2 maintenance, the representative of the OEM explained that those maintenance facilities that already have the capabilities for the E-Jet family, will easily upgrade to the next-gen. The manufacturer has made a contributory effort in reducing the maintenance costs for the E2 family, including extended inspection intervals and time between overhauls (TBO). The interval between heavy checks on the E2 has been extended from 7,500 to 10,000 flight hours. Landing gear TBOs for the E2 is now 12 years. "The new generation E2 has 75 per cent of its components and systems designed from scratch. The remaining systems are those that have demonstrated the highest reliability throughout the operation of E-Jets. It's a completely new aircraft with a new engine. All of the system suppliers are very familiar with those airlines which have experience in operating Airbus and Boeing aircraft, so we anticipate they won't encounter any difficulties in continued airworthiness of their E2 fleets," the representative emphasised. Those MRO organisations ambitious to become Embraer authorised maintenance centres, will have to undergo the manufacturer's audit to confirm their compliance with the OEM's standards. Embraer itself currently has two maintenance centres in Europe and in North America but, thus far, there are no authorised centres in Russia, even though there are a dozen located across the world. They enjoy certain privileges when purchasing spare parts and components, and are recommended as priority maintenance providers to new Embraer operators. Logistics centres are based in South and North America, Europe, China and Singapore. The Brazilian OEM also offers a number of partnership options, which include participation in spare parts pools and for the exchange of components. "Thanks to these programmes, our customers demonstrate the highest levels of dispatch reliability - exceeding 99 per cent - which translates into just one delay for technical reasons lasting more than 15 minutes occurs for each 100 flights," Embraer says. http://www.rusaviainsider.com/kazakhstan-air-astana-e190-e2/ Back to Top Ibom int'l airport MRO to begin operations The Akwa Ibom State government has reiterated its readiness to ensuring that the Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) Unit of Ibom International Airport was made functional for enhancement of aviation services in the country. The State Governor, Mr Udom Emmanuel, stated this while receiving a report of Assessment of the Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul facility of the Ibom International Airport from former Governor of the state, Obong Victor Attah at Government House, Uyo. He lauded Obong Attah for his vision in establishing the Ibom International Airport, alongside a world class MRO facility, which according to him, was the first of its kind in the West African sub-region and Africa as a whole. Emmanuel commended Obong Attah for his resilience in ensuring that the facility was fully operational, saying that he has gone a step further to contacting leading aviation management companies to ensure that they bring their services to bear in the operations of the MRO facility. Emmanuel, who said that the facility which is 70 per cent completed, would commence services as soon as the state government reached agreement with a willing operator of the facility, explained that the state government was prepared to partner with the Federal Government on its proposed National Carrier services even on a good concession. He said: "We are willing as a state to give a whole lot of concession to whoever will come in, in terms of equity, sharing, and we can also forgo our goodwill probably because of what we've invested in the project so far." The governor said that the Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Sadiq Abubakar, during his last visit, had given assurance of partnership for the maintenance of aircraft in its fleet and expressed optimism that the Air Marshal will make good his promise. "We want that assurance that at least the regional flight here, all those aircrafts will be maintained here because this is one asset that activity must bring revenue and revenue is what will bring sustenance and return of whatsoever investment that we are making." He stated. Earlier, Attah who spoke on the viability of the MRO facility, described it as revenue earning and employment generation venture embarked upon by the state government and urged the state administration to expedite action on the completion of the facility as well as selection of Operator. He explained that the acquisition of Aircrafts by the Federal Government and private operators has expanded the aviation industry thereby making it viable for the MRO services. The former Governor regretted the absence of major MRO facility in Airports in the West and Central African region, pointing out that the situation has skyrocketed the cost of maintaining aircrafts in the region. Dispelling media report of no feasibility study on the project, Obong Attah said feasibility study had been undertaken and reviewed before the then Minister of Aviation encouraged the state to build the MRO to provide services to Air line operators . He said the report has provided suggestions on the way forward for the management of the MRO facility. On Obong Attah's delegation were the Chairman of Ibom International Airport Development Company, Otuekong Idongesit Nkanga, former Ibom International Airport Project Coordinator, Engr. Ime Ekanem, Consultant on the Airport Project, Captain Mfon Udom, Board Members of the Ibom Airport Development Company including Mr Nsima Uwak, Rt. Hon. Peter Linus Umoh and Distinguished Senator Anietie Okon. https://newtelegraphonline.com/2018/09/ibom-intl-airport-mro-to-begin-operations/ Back to Top Southwest Airlines mechanics reject tentative contract In a stunning turn of events, more than 2,700 mechanics at Southwest Airlineshave voted down a tentative contract agreement that was announced in June. Southwest on Tuesday confirmed the "no" vote on the tentative deal. Russell McCrady, vice president of labor relations at Southwest, said of the result: "Our professional, hard-working mechanics and related employees declined an agreement offering industry-leading pay raises and a sizable ratification bonus. Airlines operate in a dynamic business environment, and the industry is currently facing higher fuels costs and increased competition. We will re-evaluate what we can offer while we wait for the National Mediation Board to establish next steps." Southwest mechanics' rejection of the tentative agreement could have immediate ramifications for the low-fare behemoth. According to sources, per federal regulations, Southwest cannot launch new flights to Hawaii until the airline has ratified contracts in place with all key worker groups. Southwest currently doesn't fly to Hawaii, but has plans to. Southwest's McCrady, however, insisted that service to Hawaii is not contingent on getting a new deal with mechanics. McCrady only noted that the airline is "focused on the necessary preparations and approvals." Southwest CEO Gary Kelly said last spring that Southwest intended to launch nonstop service from West Coast airports to Hawaii as early as the end of the 2018. But Kelly at the time of the initial announcement left open the exact date for start of service. And he has not said anything more specific about possible launch dates since that initial announcement. A Southwest spokeswoman on Tuesday also said no more about a launch date when asked. According to a memo distributed by Jay Johnson, national secretary/treasurer for the Aircraft Mechanics Fraternal Association (AMFA), which represents more than 2,700 Southwest mechanics, 2,479 votes were cast on the tentative contract. The vote resulted in a rejection of the tentative agreement. Johnson also said in his memo that the union would soon be mailing survey instructions to all all members of the Southwest mechanics unit "to gather feedback from the membership to ascertain why the group rejected the TA (tentative agreement)." The Chicago Business Journal obtained a copy of the memo distributed today. The vote came after Southwest mechanics finally got a tentative contract deal after six tense years of negotiating. But at the time the tentative agreement was announced in late June, Bret Oestreich, national director of AMFA, said many rank-and-file Southwest mechanics felt they deserved a better compensation package than was offered in the TA. The tentative multi-year deal included 3 percent annual raises and $74 million in ratification bonuses. Southwest mechanics' rejection of the tentative agreement also comes as the Inspector General of the U.S. Department of Transportation is in the middle of an audit of the Federal Aviation Administration's oversight of Southwest's maintenance culture. The audit came after an engine exploded inflight on a Southwest jet. The explosion and subsequent damage to the aircraft resulted in one death of a passenger on the flight. Southwest has its largest hub at Chicago's Midway International Airport. https://www.bizjournals.com/newyork/news/2018/09/18/southwest-airlines-mechanics-reject-contract.html Back to Top General Electric Expands Footprint in Malaysia with Aviation and IT Initiatives GE Chairman & CEO John Flannery today reaffirmed the company's continued commitment to Malaysia with a major US$80 million investment in GE Engine Services Malaysia (GEESM). Alongside this renewed commitment to the GEESM facility, GE also announced the establishment of the Global IT Service Desk, located at its headquarters in Kuala Lumpur. GEESM, an aircraft engine services workshop, will enter into a long-term tenancy agreement with Impeccable Vintage Properties (IVP), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Malaysia Aviation Group Berhad, subject to terms to be mutually agreed in relation to GEESM's Subang facility. This long-term tenancy agreement is part of GEESM's plans to invest in tooling, testing and skills capabilities to support the maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) of CFM International's cutting-edge LEAP engine. The LEAP engine, produced by a 50/50 joint venture between GE and Safran Aircraft Engines, represents a leap ahead in terms of aviation technology and material and powers aircraft such as the Boeing 737 MAX, Airbus A320neo and Comac C919 single-aisle jets. The MRO work on LEAP will introduce the next chapter of engineering excellence for GEESM's Subang workshop, making it the first such facility outside the United States for GE. GE Aviation's presence in Malaysia dates back to over 25 years ago when national carrier Malaysia Airlines began using GE's engines for their A300 and DC10 aircraft. Incorporated in 1997, the GEESM facility at Subang was developed as a Center of Excellence for CFM56 engines. Today it employs 300 highly skilled local employees, providing MRO services for over 40 airlines globally. A memorandum of understanding (MoU) was signed by Suresh Kumar Shunmugam, Managing Director, GEESM and Nik Azli Abu Zahar, Director, Impeccable Vintage Properties in the presence of Prime Minister YAB Tun Dr. Mahathir bin Mohamad, Minister of International Trade and Industry Y.B Ignatius Darell Leiking and Secretary General of MITI Datuk Isham Ishak, as well as John Flannery, GE Chairman & CEO, Wouter Van Wersch, President & CEO of GE APAC, and Datuk Mark Rozario, CEO of GE Malaysia. "Malaysia is a globally attractive investment location, and GE is a great example of the kind of company that we're glad to see driving those investments. With our exceptional workforce and GE's world class technology and innovation, I'm confident this is a partnership which will continue to deliver outstanding results," said Y.B Ignatius Darell Leiking, Minister of International Trade and Industry, as he witnessed the signing of the MoU. Also present to witness the signing was GE Chairman and CEO John Flannery who added, "GE has a long history of partnership in Malaysia, and we want to see that relationship continue. The GE Engine Services Malaysia Center of Excellence is one of our flagship facilities in the region and the renewed lease agreement is a testament to the great work delivered by the local talent. The establishment of the GE Global IT Service Desk in Kuala Lumpur further represents our belief in the hugely beneficial shared future that GE, Malaysia and ASEAN have ahead of us." The state-of-the-art global IT hub is one of just three such centres in the world, providing a 24/7 dual-language Chinese-English support to all GE users worldwide, with an aim to accelerate towards full operation by 31 October this year. The Global IT Service Desk will be staffed by 130 local employees. "Malaysia offers the ideal location for GE's commitment to accessing the best in global talent. It is a country that boasts a young, enthusiastic and highly skilled workforce with multi-language capabilities, and a supportive environment that promotes exactly the kind of technical expertise and opportunity that a company like GE is looking for. With the new investment to expand skills and capabilities at the GE Engine Services Malaysia facility, and the path towards full operation at the Global IT Service Desk, it's clear GE is committed to its future in Malaysia," said CEO of GE Malaysia, Datuk Mark Rozario. About GE GE (NYSE: GE) drives the world forward by tackling its biggest challenges: Energy, health, transportation-the essentials of modern life. By combining world-class engineering with software and analytics, GE helps the world work more efficiently, reliably, and safely. For more than 125 years, GE has invented the future of industry, and today it leads new paradigms in additive manufacturing, materials science, and data analytics. GE people are global, diverse and dedicated, operating with the highest integrity and passion to fulfill GE's mission and deliver for our customers. www.ge.com About GE Aviation 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. Follow GE Aviation on Twitter at http://twitter.com/GEAviation and YouTube at http://www.youtube.com/user/GEAviation. https://www.aviationpros.com/press_release/12430358/general-electric-expands-footprint-in-malaysia-with-aviation-and-it-initiatives Back to Top SpaceX's New BFR Spaceship Really Does Look Like Tintin's Moon Rocket Elon Musk's love of fantasy and science fiction is on full display in SpaceX's latest spaceship redesign. On Monday night (Sept. 17), the SpaceX founder and CEO unveiled the latest iteration of the BFR rocket-spaceship duo, which the company is developing to help humanity settle the moon, Mars and other distant destinations. The new version of the 100-person spaceship is longer than the previous one - about 180 feet (55 meters), compared to 157.5 feet (48 m). And it features three rear "actuated fins" that also serve as landing pads, rather than the separate fin and landing-leg systems that Musk had disclosed previously. The spaceship now looks a lot like the vehicle the beloved comic-book character Tintin uses in the 1954 adventure "Explorers on the Moon." And that's not entirely a coincidence. "I think this design is probably on par with the other one. It might be better. It's slightly riskier technically, because of coupling legs and sort of the actuating wing-fin flaps. But I think it's the right decision overall. I think it looks beautiful," Musk said during last night's event, which introduced Japanese billionaire Yusaku Maezawa as the person who purchased a round-the-moon BFR trip that could launch as soon as 2023. "I love the Tintin rocket design, so I kind of wanted to bias it towards that," Musk added. "If in doubt, go with Tintin." This is far from SpaceX's only nod to literary works that have inspired Musk or helped shape his vision of spaceflight's future. For example, the company named its two autonomous spaceport drone ships - which serve as oceangoing landing platforms for rockets returning to Earth - "Of Course I Still Love You" and "Just Read the Instructions." These are the names of two huge, sentient spaceships in the works of legendary sci-fi writer Iain M. Banks. SpaceX included a few similar tributes on the highly anticipated maiden launch of its Falcon Heavy rocket, which occurred this past February. The Tesla Roadster lofted on that flight carries a mannequin dubbed Starman and blasts David Bowie's famous song "Space Oddity." The Roadster's dashboard display blares "Don't Panic!" - a directive repeated many times in Douglas Adams' "The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy." And Musk has said he wants to name the first BFR spaceship that carries people to Mars "Heart of Gold," after an important spacecraft in that beloved book. In addition, the entirety of Isaac Asimov's seminal "Foundation" trilogy sits in the glove compartment of the Roadster, etched on a special quartz disc designed to last millions, or perhaps billions, of years. "Asimov's 'Foundation' series is a key inspiration for SpaceX," Musk said during last night's event. Then there's SpaceX's rocket family, which currently consists of the Falcon 9, Falcon Heavy and BFR (which stands for "Big Falcon Rocket," or, alternatively, "Big F***ing Rocket). This moniker is a nod to the Millenium Falcon from the "Star Wars" films, Musk has said. SpaceX's Dragon capsule, by the way, is named after the song "Puff the Magic Dragon," which was made famous by the group Peter, Paul and Mary in 1963. The name is a reference to SpaceX's early critics, many of whom relegated the company's ambitious goals to the realm of fantasy. (The robotic version of Dragon is already flying cargo missions to the International Space Station for NASA, and the crewed variant is scheduled to make its first crewed test flight next April.) The chief purpose of Monday night's event was to reveal Maezawa as the purchaser of the BFR moon mission, and to give a few details about that flight, which Maezawa is calling #dearMoon. The Japanese entrepreneur, who started the e-commerce company Zozo, said he plans to take six or eight artists with him, in the hopes that the pieces they create afterward will inspire millions of us back on Earth. Note added at 5:30 p.m. EDT on Sept. 19: Readers have pointed out that the new BFR spaceship also resembles the Planet Express vehicle from "Futurama." I'm a big "Futurama" fan, and I agree - but Musk didn't mention that show as an influence during Monday night's event. https://www.space.com/41871-elon-musk-spacex-bfr-spaceship-science-fiction-legacy.html Curt Lewis