December 10, 2018 - No. 097 In This Issue GE ceramic matrix polymer manufacturing in North Carolina Government unveils new Sector Deal championing low-carbon aviation New opportunity to study aviation in Hawaii thanks to UH partnership TIACA, Air Cargo Belgium Launch Masterclass on Digitization and Data Sharing Able Aerospace Begins Major Expansion Project. This high school aviation program aims to stave off the pilot shortage o Launches Training School. Vietnam opens first aircraft engine parts factory Germany to Launch Remote Airport Operations in January SpaceX Dragon Delivers Cargo (and Christmas Treats) to Space Station GE ceramic matrix polymer manufacturing in North Carolina GE Aviation's two-plant manufacturing site in Asheville, North Carolina, is among the first operations to mass produce ceramic matrix composite (CMC) components for commercial jet engines. Tough as their metal counterparts but lighter and more heat-resistant, CMC technology enables engines to save airline-fleet energy costs while boosting performance. Four years after the Asheville CMC plant opened, manufacturing is thriving. Production rates for the engine turbine shrouds that the plant makes for the LEAP jet engine have more than tripled each year. Produced by CFM International, a joint venture of GE Aviation and Safran Aircraft Engines, LEAP has a backlog of more than 15,500 engines. That translates to more than 300,000 shrouds for the Asheville plant to produce, following the delivery of its 25,000th shroud in August. The CMC facility opened alongside the company's longtime nickel alloy rotating parts plant. The CMC components are one-third the weight of metal parts and handle temperatures more than 500°F hotter. The newer plant is also the centerpiece of hundreds of millions of dollars that GE Aviation has invested to upgrade its four manufacturing and assembly sites in North Carolina in recent years, in part to meet the backlog of orders for its next-generation engines. We recently spoke with Asheville Plant Leader Michael Meguiar about the facility's growth. Aerospace Manufacturing and Design (AM&D): Describe the Asheville operation and its importance to GE Aviation. Michael Meguiar (MM): The Asheville operation has been around since the late 1940s and has always been known for its strong technical talent and the entrepreneurial spirit of its employees. This was the type of workforce and community GE Aviation was excited to expand to support the record-selling LEAP engine, as well as the GE9X - the world's largest jet engine - now being developed for the Boeing 777X. Our site produces some of the most complex rotating parts for all of GE's jet engines, as well as the advanced material system of CMCs. The business continues to look to the Asheville site, which produces 15 critical LEAP components and eight GE9X components, to support its growth platforms. AM&D: What is so special about the LEAP engine turbine shrouds? MM: CMC is a much lighter material and more durable than its metallic counterpart, and it allows running the engine at higher temperatures while not requiring the same cooling air to be redirected to the core, thus improving efficiency and fuel burn. AM&D: Why did GE Aviation choose Asheville, North Carolina? MM: The Asheville team has always been very adaptive to change. They're early adopters of technology, new approaches to manufacturing, and have an entrepreneurial approach. The team is very competitive and strives every day to get better in every area of our operation. We also have a very strong sense of family and community, whether it's our self-directed work teams or our relationship to our local government and nonprofit organizations. This is a workforce that's committed to seeing technology and job growth in western North Carolina, and that's what motivates a lot of people. Also, Asheville is a fantastic place to live, work, and play. Our community is a melting pot of ideas, innovation, and eclectic cultures, which we love and celebrate. Our local government, community college and universities are extremely business and manufacturing friendly, because they recognize the value of great advanced manufacturing jobs and how they lift the entire community. Lastly, the beauty of our mountain region is unparalleled. There is a reason Asheville is one of the hottest vacation spots in the country. AM&D: The Asheville plant groundbreaking was in November 2013, and it opened less than a year later. Can you explain the fast turnaround? MM: Relationships with our local city and county officials could not have been better. We have a great partnership that helped with permitting, construction, and other hurdles associated with building a $20 million facility. Our partnership with the general contractor throughout the design and build process was exceptional. Their use of local trades and strict adherence to GE and Buncombe County standards allowed us to move so fast and ultimately complete in approximately 10 months. AM&D: How has North Carolina helped your plant achieve its workforce needs? MM: We established a great partnership early on with Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College. We worked together to build a customized training program so that together we can hire technicians with little-to-no experience and give them the skill set to produce some of the most complex engine parts designed. We also have a longstanding partnership with Pisgah High School, southwest of Asheville, with a formal apprenticeship program, allowing students to complement their schoolwork with real-world experience while building a pipeline of the next generation of machinists. Asheville has some of the best machinist workforces of all supply-chain sites across GE Aviation. Much of it is a result of our apprenticeship program with Pisgah High. on. Why is this expansion necessary? MM: GE Aviation continues to win orders at a very high rate, specifically on LEAP and 9X. The Asheville site has built a brand of success around delivering for our customers, so that GE Aviation is looking to grow Asheville capital investment and headcount. AM&D: What would you tell a company regarding why it should consider establishing a facility in North Carolina? MM: I've spent the last 20 years with GE and have moved all over the country, and there is no better place to build a footprint than Asheville, North Carolina. Economic Development Partnership of North Carolina https://edpnc.com GE Aviation https://www.geaviation.com https://www.aerospacemanufacturinganddesign.com/article/ge-ceramic-matrix--polymer- manufacturing-in-north-carolina/ Back to Top Government unveils new Sector Deal championing low-carbon aviation The UK Government has unveiled its highly-anticipated Sector Deal for the aerospace industry, outlining plans to funnel £125m into sustainable aviation projects including those developing electric aircraft. Published on Thursday evening (6 December), the £343m sector deal outlines measures Ministers will take to help the Government achieve the Aerospace-related aims detailed in its Industrial Strategy, which lists the future of mobility as one of the four 'Grand Challenges' facing the UK today. Perhaps most notably, the deal sets aside up to £125m worth of funding for projects researching and developing innovative and green aircraft, including electric passenger planes, automated drones and zero-emission air taxis capable of vertical lift-off. The funding will be allocated on a competitive basis, with businesses and projects asked to apply for investment through the Government's newly launched Future Flight Challenge competition - designed to help reduce the 6% of total UK emissions currently accounted for by aviation. The sector deal additionally outlines plans to invest £13.7m into SMEs within the aerospace and aviation industries, in a bid to help them scale up green technologies and bring them to the wider market. Launching the sector deal at a Government-led summit in Bristol, Business Secretary Greg Clarke said the deal showed the "Industrial Strategy in action", combing ambition from businesses within the sector with those of policymakers. "The UK's contribution to the global aerospace industry cannot be underestimated - half of the world's modern large passenger aircraft have wings designed and built here in the UK and every 2.5 seconds, a Rolls-Royce powered aircraft takes off or lands," Clarke said. "But we are not complacent. The future of aerospace is cleaner, greener, and more efficient, and we want the UK to be the pioneers of new technology that will pave the way for increased electrification and autonomy in commercial aviation." Sector deals The Sector deal additionally outlines how funding and expertise from the UK Aerospace Research Consortium of universities will be used to help the aviation industry understand emerging technologies and foster a culture of collaboration. Furthermore, it commits the Government to working with Devolved Administrations to develop apprenticeship standards to train new aerospace engineers, and to partnering with big-name business in the sector to develop localised investment plans. The launch of the Aerospace deal follows on from sector deals covering construction, the automotive industry, the public sector and an offshore wind deal. The Government plans to publish sector deals covering plastic packaging, quantum technology, healthcare and manufacturing in the coming months. https://www.edie.net/news/11/Government-unveils-new-Sector-Deal-championing-low-carbon- aviation/ Back to Top New opportunity to study aviation in Hawaii thanks to UH partnership HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) - A major opportunity has opened in Hawaii for those hoping to work in the airline industry. The University of Hawaii is partnering with an aviation academy to create courses which will foster pilots, mechanics, flight attendants, and aeronautical engineers. The University of Hawaii and Japan Aviation Academy signed a letter of intent to work together on Thursday. Stakeholders say this could not only help with the world-wide pilot shortage but could boost Hawaii's economy and the university's enrollment numbers. "One of the opportunities we see is combining the pilot training, that's the flight training aspect of it, with our ability to deliver education and ideally we can end up developing a program in partnership that results in students who get a B.S. (Bachelor of Science) in aviation science and also are qualified to become pilots," said University of Hawaii President David Lassner. Japan Aviation Academy is the largest and oldest aviation school in Japan. Chancellor Shigeo Umezawa plans to expand and create Japan Aviation Academy of Hawaii. In addition, the academy is looking to add a business component to the school. The goal is to be a one-stop-shop: not only train and educate those aspiring to work in the aviation industry, but provide jobs for them as well. "We are hoping not only to create people who will be able to work in the industry with the skills, but current employees who are already working in the industry, we hope to provide them the training to improve their skills," said Umezawa. This comes at a critical time as Boeing projects that airlines worldwide will need about 635,000 new pilots in the next 20 years. Hawaii aviation experts estimates Hawaii needs about 100 new general aviation pilots a year just to replace the pilots who reach their mandatory retirement age of 65. Governor David Ige said it is another important opportunity for our economy and for the people of Hawaii. "The fact that they want to invest in a business that will give the graduates of the academy the opportunity to get a job, I think is just a terrific enhancement to the education," said Governor Ige. Lassner said they are still working out logistics and exploring all avenues. He said one option they are looking at is the University of Hawaii at Hilo where they have a specialized Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) program. https://www.hawaiinewsnow.com/2018/12/07/opportunity-study-aviation-hawaii-may-soar-sky- high-thanks-new-uh-partnership/ Back to Top TIACA, Air Cargo Belgium Launch Masterclass on Digitization and Data Sharing Miami, Florida, USA, Friday, December 7th 2018 - TIACA and Air Cargo Belgium, the community organization at Brussels Airport, have teamed up to offer a masterclass next month exploring how the air cargo supply chain can leverage digital transformation and data sharing as enablers for growth. The 'Connected Air Cargo Masterclass' will feature important debates including building a connected air cargo community, using technology as an enabler, and digital transformation best practice, when it takes place at BRUcargo's Air Cargo Academy in Brussels, Belgium, from January 30th to 31st. The Masterclass will also include a seminar on the story of BRUcloud, an open data sharing platform that enables the different stakeholders to work more "integrated" and act as a network. "We are living in a period of great change for the airfreight industry, and it is imperative that supply chain professionals learn how to take advantage of emerging technologies and trends, as well as explore new ways of collaborating," said Steven Polmans, Vice Chairman, TIACA, and Head of Cargo and Logistics at Brussels Airport Company. "Attendees have the option of attending an additional session, 'From theory to practice, getting started with collaborative apps', which looks at how to put theory into practice and even includes live demonstrations, when it takes place on February 1st." In addition to the Masterclass, TIACA offers the Professional Development Workshop Series, which are co-organised by the Strategic Aviation Solutions International (SASI). The training program covers a range of topics from building management skills to insight sharing sessions about the whole supply chain. Earlier this year, TIACA teamed up with UK-based aviation consultancy TSA Group for an extensive training program for air cargo professionals, including the development of several new courses aimed at providing participants with a complete overview of the aviation industry. TIACA also runs the Air Cargo Supply Chain Internship program, which organizes week-long visits for young participants between various air cargo companies, aimed at developing talent and building connections. For further information on attending the Masterclass and to contact the organizers visit aircargomasterclass.com. https://www.aviationpros.com/press_release/12438678/tiaca-air-cargo-belgium-launch- masterclass-on-digitization-and-data-sharing Back to Top Able Aerospace Begins Major Expansion Project Aircraft component overhaul and maintenance provider Able Aerospace has broken ground on a 50,000-sq-ft expansion of its headquarters facility at Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport in Arizona. According to the Textron subsidiary, the project will enable it to enhance the technology used in its repair and overhaul processes and generate as many as 100 new skilled aerospace jobs in the area over the next two years. The company relocated to Mesa in 2013 and since that time it has added more than 200 employees, bringing it to a total of 450, and enlarged its footprint with the addition of mezzanine space, a new paint shop, and build-out of the hangar that is now home to Able's maintenance center. That facility delivers airframe repair and completion services, avionics upgrades, and full paintwork. When the addition is completed, it will bring the location to 250,000 sq ft of work space. "Able's world-class support aligns with our mission to provide customers with the resources needed to thrive and succeed as aircraft operators," said Kriya Shortt, senior vice president of customer service for Textron, which acquired the company in 2015. "With this expansion, the Able team will broaden its service offerings even further." https://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/business-aviation/2018-12-07/able-aerospace-begins- major-expansion-project Back to Top This high school aviation program aims to stave off the pilot shortage Jonas De Leon used to watch jets zooming by overhead from the porch of his childhood home, dreaming of what it would feel like to fly. "That was the only dream I had that stayed with me," De Leon said, chuckling as he pointed to his 1984 single-engine Mooney aircraft across the tarmac of Maryland's Frederick Municipal Airport. "She took her first flight lesson at a teacher's workshop and thought, "Wow, I can do this." De Leon learned to fly at the age of 17. Now a science teacher at Gregorio Luperón High School for Science and Mathematics in Manhattan, he's part of a small national program introducing students to aviation. This fall, Gregorio Luperón, a school where 100 percent of the students are recent Latino immigrants, is one of 80 public, private or charter schools in the U.S. to participate in the first year of a four-year STEM aviation curriculum created by the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA), the world's largest community of private pilots. Several years ago, AOPA members began to talk about creating an educational program in order to tackle some significant challenges, including a pilot and mechanic shortage that's driving upheaval in the industry. When students are exposed to aviation, it opens their eyes up to new possibilities, said Cindy Hasselbring, the director of the curriculum at AOPA who is a former math teacher and a private pilot. It's happened to her. She took her first flight lesson at a teacher's workshop on aviation in Lansing, Michigan, and thought, "Wow, I can do this," she recalled. The need for workers The new curriculum aims to instill in young people a love of flying, which has somewhat waned in American culture for a variety of reasons, and could be key to driving more skilled workers into the field. By 2037, Boeing estimates that 206,000 new commercial pilots, 189,000 mechanics and 174,000 cabin crew will be needed in the United States. Boeing's forecast comes as thousands of baby boomers prepare to retire from the industry and the company looks to double its fleet over the next 20 years. A 2017 study by the Aviation Technician Education Council showed 30 percent of airplane mechanics are right around retirement age, but only 2 percent of those jobs will be refilled by new workers each year, leaving a large skills gap. And the Federal Aviation Administration has also seen a drop in the number of pilot certificates by more than 60 percent since 1980, due in part to new safety measures. "In the program, 25% of students are female and 51% are minorities, compared to 6% of pilots who are female and 12% who are minorities." At an AOPA training in June, former high school teacher and pilot Chris Moser showed teachers how to complete a preflight checklist and taught a lesson on airline crashes. The class sat still as they listened and then discussed the flight data recorders of the deadly Colgan Air flight that crashed outside Buffalo, New York, in 2009. The accident was significant because it highlighted the low salaries and working conditions of regional airliners at the time, although the probable cause of the crash involved pilots not heeding the stall warnings properly. In response, Congress increased the minimum number of training hours that commercial pilots needed from 250 hours to 1,500, a move that has come under scrutiny from the regional airlines and Republican lawmakers. They said the new rules have exacerbated the pilot shortage. Last year, Horizon Air, Alaska's regional airline, was forced to cancel hundreds of flights, because it didn't have enough pilots to fly the planes. How the program works Classes offered to ninth grade students involve a mix of theory and hands-on projects, which include making hot air balloons, setting off rockets, and building cardboard wind tunnels - something the Wright Brothers used in their own flight experiments in the early 1900s. The AOPA's curriculum will be completed by the 2021-22 school year, which will allow this year's freshman class to take it all the way through high school. The course is also available as an elective. The curriculum is free for schools, aside from some costs of teacher training and classroom supplies. The AOPA Foundation funds the initiative through private and corporate donations, including $100,000 from American Airlines. At the end of the four years, the goal of the program is to provide students with the skills either to get a job in the industry or pursue a degree in a related field, said Katie Pribyl, AOPA's senior vice president for Aviation Strategy and Programs. "It could never be a better time to get into aviation and aerospace," she said. De Leon says the course makes him feel like a new teacher again. The class meets daily, and his students return after school to practice flying the simulators. The hands-on activities give them a chance to compete to their fullest potential, he said. Before the class, his students didn't know about career options in aviation or steps to become a qualified pilot, or even how to get to the airport. "It's piqued their curiosity," De Leon said. And their career options could be vast. There is demand in cargo transport, flight instruction, drone operation, software and electrical engineering sectors as well as in the commercial space industry, which includes aerospace engineering and rocketry, said Pribyl. Other ways to take off Brandon Jones, a 24-year-old pilot based in his hometown of Boise, Idaho, says he wishes he had had a program like AOPA's when he was in school. Jones attended a fairly large school district that offered career and technical education classes, but no courses in aviation. Instead, he became interested in an aviation career mainly through hearing his grandfather's stories as a pilot. Jones called the AOPA curriculum "revolutionary" and said he likes that the classes are built into the school day and count toward academic credit. "There are so many things aviation can offer, they just have to know about them." "It is a family when you get into aviation," said Jones, who flies even in his free time, renting planes and taking friends and family flying. He likes the idea of mentoring young people, too, and sharing that sense of adventure. Aviation historian Millbrooke can point to government efforts to promote aviation as early as the 1920s, but which did not seem to have the comprehensive approach that AOPA hopes will make their program a success. The Civil Air Patrol has kept its youth program in place since World War II and offers free STEM lesson plans to educators. Mervin K. Strickler, Jr., a pioneer who served as the patrol's director of aviation education, researched how flight programs could help disadvantaged youth in the 1970s. Similar to the Girl Scouts and Boy Scouts, however, the Civil Air Patrol's flight programs are conducted outside of school. The military is another pathway to aviation for underrepresented groups, according to Millbrooke. Drone operators and mechanics are currently in high demand as the armed forces integrate new technology in its missions. Once servicemembers complete their military service, they can take those skills to the private sector, like real estate and aerial mapping. Still in its infancy, Jones said this sector poses a tremendous opportunity for young learners who may excel in video games and have good hand-eye coordination and motor skills. "There are so many things aviation can offer," Jones said, "They just have to know about them." Changing the face of flying Attracting more women and minorities, two groups historically underrepresented in the industry, could help address the worker shortage. Historically, both faced significant discrimination, as well as financial and legal barriers, to entering the field. Hollywood's romantic pilot archetype may not have helped woo these groups either, said historian and pilot Anne Millbrooke, who wrote "Aviation History," a textbook for colleges and flight schools also used by high-school aviation clubs. By casting a wider, more inclusive net, the AOPA hopes its program will attract people who haven't previously considered aviation. So far, the participants in AOPA's program are much more representative of what society looks like than the industry. Of the 2,000 students enrolled in the program, 25 percent are female and 51 percent are minorities. That's compared to 6 percent of pilots who are female and 12 percent who are minorities, according to the Department of Labor. The program is also reaching out to students in rural areas. Pribyl, who grew up on a cattle ranch in rural Montana, said her graduating high school class had 15 students and her school didn't have access to flying or aviation. "I didn't really have anyone to turn to," said Pribyl, who worked as a commercial pilot for several years before coming to AOPA. She believes the aviation curriculum could be a game changer - for both rural students like her and for those in the inner-city. For years, De Leon didn't tell his students he was a pilot. He didn't want to sound like he was bragging, but when his students eventually found out, they were in awe and asked him many questions. He now proudly shares his stories about flying, in hopes that other students might choose to become pilots themselves. "My life is pretty much their life," De Leon said. "They can see me and an example of what is possible." https://www.pbs.org/newshour/education/this-high-school-aviation-program-aims-to-stave-off-the- pilot-shortage Back to Top Aero Launches Training School Aero Contractors has launched training school after obtaining Approved Training Organisation, ATO, licence from the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA). The training school will commence admission of students in January. The school which will partner with the Nigerian College of Aviation Technology (NCAT), Zaria and similar international institutions, will kick-off with the training of cabin crew and dispatchers and later other courses will be added to the curriculum, as it aims to be aviation training facility for the West and Central Africa. Disclosing the development, CEO of Aero Contractors, Captain Ado Sanusi said, "We have just got Aviation Training Organisation license. We have been on this for a long time because we wanted to get it right; we wanted to make sure we have a training organisation that is based on a solid foundation, which can be grown into a centre of excellence. "Now, we are starting with two approvals on our ATO, which are flight dispatcher and cabin crew. We intend to grow that into a bigger school and eventually into a research centre. Sanusi further said Aero Contractors intends to be a one-stop shop in aviation. "After the training organisation approved by NCAA, we have maintenance organisation that is also approved by NCAA; we have maintenance facility, charter business and scheduled flight service. These are four strategic business units that we would like to grow separately so that they can feed the market. The market is under served in all these aspects that I have mentioned. We intend to build all these strategic business units into full business organizations that can sustain themselves and be profitable," he said. Speaking also the head of the ATO, Rex Okunor said the aim of Aero Contractors opening the school is to use it to support the industry. Okunor said : "We want to use the training school to support the industry. What we want to do is to partner with all the training centres in Nigeria and run programmes. We also have plans to extend to the West and Central African sub-region. "In the aviation industry there is really dearth of manpower, especially for pilots and we believe we can partner with international organizations that are involved in this kind of training", he said. https://www.vanguardngr.com/2018/12/aero-launches-training-school/ Back to Top Vietnam opens first aircraft engine parts factory Vietnam's first airplane parts factory, invested in by South Korean conglomerate Hanwha Group, was inaugurated Thursday in Hanoi. Located in the capital city's Hoa Lac Hi-Tech Park, Hanwha Aero Engines will make aircraft engine components for export. The $200 million factory is expected to turn out its first products by January 2019. Speaking at the inauguration ceremony, Nguyen Van Binh, head of the Party's Central Economic Commission, said the project will become a representative for technology transfer from Korean enterprises to Vietnam, opening up opportunities to access key technologies and build capacity in the country. He said it would create a spill-over effect, attracting more hi-tech enterprises from South Korea and other countries to Hoa Lac Hi-Tech Park. Hanwha Group chairman Kim Seung Yeon said they were the only South Korean company producing aircraft engines, and one of the 10 companies with most advanced technologies in the world. More than 40 technicians from Hanwha Group are present at the factory to train about 200 Vietnamese technicians. The factory is expected to create jobs for thousands of workers, train high quality workers, transfer know-how, and contribute to Vietnam's technological capabilities. Kim said he hoped that with advanced technology, the production facility will contribute to the development of Vietnam's aviation industry and precision manufacturing. Chu Ngoc Anh, Minister of Science and Technology, said at the ceremony that Vietnam will continue to support Hanwha throughout its operations in the future. As of now, the Hoa Lac Hi-tech Park has 87 investment projects with a total registered capital of VND78 trillion ($3.35 billion). https://e.vnexpress.net/news/business/companies/vietnam-opens-first-aircraft-engine-parts- factory-3850900.html Back to Top Germany to Launch Remote Airport Operations in January Germany's first landing and take off of airplanes monitored remotely by air traffic controllers occurred at Saarbrücken Airport on Dec. 4. Both aircraft, a Luxair Bombardier DHC 8400 arriving from Luxembourg and a CRJ-700 taking off en route to Berlin's Tegel Airport were watched by controllers 280 miles away at Leipzig tower. "We have established a new standard in the world of remote tower technology," said DFS Chief Executive Klaus-Dieter Scheurle. The remote tower technology was deployed by DFS Aerosense, a provider of remote air traffic solutions. DFS Aerosense was established under a March 2018 joint venture agreement between Austrian information systems provider Frequentis and Germany's air navigation service provider (ANSP) DFS. Surveillance of the airport is provided by redundant optical technology that beams panoramic images of the entire airport surface to a row of monitors installed within controller working positions back in Leipzig. Infrared cameras automatically lock on to the trajectory of aircraft flying into and out of Saarbrücken, which handles about 15,000 flights annually, putting it at the lower scale of volume with an opportunity to evaluate the remote tower concept. The adoption of remote tower technology has expanded to more ANSPs globally, including in the United States. Northern Colorado Regional Airport became the second U.S. civilian airport facility to begin testing remote tower technology in October 2018. The test will evaluate the use of new high- definition cameras and a light signal gun capable of relaying a 360 degree view of the airfield to the control room. Leesburg Executive Airport in Virginia in 2017 became the first U.S. airport to work with the FAA and Saab Sensis to test the use of remote towers for pilots flying IFR and VFR flights. The airport is currently still evaluating the performance of the remote tower concept. Germany's first entrance into the remote air traffic surveillance era will bring 10 air traffic controllers from Saarbrücken to Leipzig. DFS also confirmed plans to transfer the control of Erfurt and Dresden airports to Leipzig's remote tower control center. The plan is to have the Leipzig controllers monitor air traffic at all three airports. "Our system allows us for the first time to control a large international airport around the clock from one external location," said Scheurle. Moving forward, the remote tower will undergo a four-week trial period before becoming officially integrated into German air traffic operations. https://www.aviationtoday.com/2018/12/07/germany-launch-remote-airport-operations-january/ Back to Top SpaceX Dragon Delivers Cargo (and Christmas Treats) to Space Station A SpaceX Dragon cargo ship made a special delivery at the International Space Station Saturday (Dec. 8) just in time for the holidays. And yes, Virginia, there are Christmas treats on board. The robotic Dragon spacecraft arrived at the space station Saturday morning to deliver more than 5,600 pounds (2,540 kilograms) of fresh supplies for the six Expedition 57 astronauts on the orbiting lab. SpaceX launched the Dragon ship Wednesday (Dec. 5) from the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida on Wednesday (Dec. 5). Station commander Alexander Gerst of the European Space Agency captured the Dragon capsule with a robotic arm at 7:21 a.m. EST (1221 GMT) as both spacecraft sailed 249 miles above the Pacific Ocean, just north of Papua New Guinea. Gerst and his crew are likely looking forward to the supplies packed aboard the spacecraft. "On this resupply craft they also have some special things like candied yams, green bean casserole and even some Christmas cookies," NASA spokesperson Leah Cheshier said during live commentary. The spacecraft is also carrying a trove of science gear for 250 experiments, including a robotic in- space refueling demonstration, a powerful GEDI laser to study Earth's forests and a novel SlingShot device designed to launch up to 18 cubesats from a Cygnus cargo ship already at the station. A team of space-traveling mice and 36,000 worms are also on making the space trip. Dragon's arrival was delayed briefly due to a communications glitch between a NASA's Tracking and Data Relay Satellites (TDRS) and a ground station in White Sands, New Mexico. A processor at the ground station for the TDRS East satellite failed, forcing NASA to switch to a different TDRS satellite to restore communications with the space station. Dragon was forced to back away to a safe station-keeping position 100 feet (30 meters) from the station, then make a new approach about an hour later than planned. Flight controllers at NASA's Mission Control center in Houston then took remote control of the station's arm to attach Dragon to its berth on the orbiting lab's Harmony module. Today's space rendezvous marks the 16th cargo delivery mission for NASA by SpaceX. The Dragon on this flight, called CRS-16, has actually visited the space station before. It delivered supplies to the station February 2017 as part of NASA's CRS-10 mission. Dragon will be the sixth spacecraft to link up with the space station in recent months. Its arrival follows a Russian Soyuz crew capsule, which arrived last week with three new crewmembers, and the Northrop Grumman Cygnus cargo shipin November. Another Soyuz crew capsule and two uncrewed Russian Progress cargo ships are also docked at the station. "We congratulate the entire ISS team for managing six individual spaceships that will be simultaneously docked to the International Space Station from today on," Gerst said. "This shows what a successful science and exploration program we have up here, making full use of the one and only microgravity observatory that humanity has available for the benefit of all humans on Earth." SpaceX's Dragon capsule will spend about four weeks at the space station before returning to Earth, according to company representatives. In January, the spacecraft will be filled with about 4,000 pounds (1,814 kg) of experiment results and other gear and released back into space. It will splash down in the Pacific Ocean to be retrieved by a SpaceX recovery ship. https://www.space.com/42675-spacex-dragon-delivers-christmas-treats-to-station-crs16.html Curt Lewis