December 31, 2018 - No. 103 In This Issue Australia's Civil Aviation Authority Confirms Roll Out Of Counter Drone Measures Aviation Sector Contributes 15 Percent to UAE's GDP. Mediaplanet and Piedmont Airlines Team up to Highlight Career Opportunities in Aviation Eviation, ERAU Join Forces on Electric Aircraft JetPack Aviation Launches the World's First JetPack Racing League Former Norfolk christian school to be turned into aviation training institution Arizona's Luke Air Force Base feels effects of national pilot shortage MRO services provider Air Works pulled up in DGCA audit report FAA workers at LAX say government shutdown already taking its toll What is SpaceX doing in South Texas? Australia's Civil Aviation Authority Confirms Roll Out Of Counter Drone Measures Following on from the chaos at London's Gatwick airport earlier this month, Australia's Civil Aviation Authority (CASA) has confirmed that new surveillance technology will be deployed at sensitive locations in 2019 as part of a "crackdown" on drones and their prevalence in public areas. These measures will include what CASA communications manager Peter Gibson describes as "monitoring equipment" at major airports. This equipment, Gibson says, will give officials the ability to identify a drone, its serial number and the location of its pilot while in flight. "We can identify therefore who is flying it," he said, adding that combined with incoming registration requirements the tech will "dramatically" change the way rules relating to drones are enforced. "2019 will be a drone safety crackdown," he said. It could well be that Gibson is referring to a system such as DJI's Aeroscope, which provides situational awareness to local authorities, pinpoints DJI aircraft in the sky, transmits telemetry data and highlights the location of the pilot. However, it's not clear that the system would help prevent deliberate incursions into airport boundaries by those who are seeking to disrupt and know how to avoid being tracked. As we commented earlier this week, counter-UAS providers have a lot of work to do before any can claim to have developed a Silver Bullet to mitigate the potential threat from malicious drones. Despite this, Gibson said that the incident at London's second-busiest airport "highlights the importance of having this capability". Education and enforcement? Just like in the UK, CASA is launching a drone registration scheme in 2019 for recreational pilots and online safety tests to encourage the community to stay up to speed with aviation regulations. Let's hope the list of registered pilots improves accountability and isn't simply the first port of call or police whenever there is a drone-related incident. That's exactly what appeared to happen after the Gatwick fiasco, when a couple living nearby the airport was taken into custody and released two days later without charge. In 2019 Australian authorities will also have greater powers to conduct safety checks and an increased ability to issue heavy fines of up to drone pilots in breach of the rules. https://dronelife.com/2018/12/30/australias-civil-aviation-authority-confirms-roll-out-of-counter- drone-measures/ Back to Top Aviation Sector Contributes 15 Percent to UAE's GDP The aviation sector is a key pillar in enriching the national economy, said the UAE Minister of Economy and Chairman of the General Civil Aviation Authority, GCAA, in a statement on the upcoming Global Investment in Aviation Summit, GIAS 2019. The first edition of the summit will kick off in Dubai with the participation of the largest ever gathering of aviation ministers and heads of civil aviation authorities from around the world. The event will focus on guiding investments towards six sectors, including aircraft maintenance, manufacturing and supply, aircraft engineering and technology, defence aviation, duty free markets and airline catering industry. Al Mansouri said the summit coincides with the "remarkable achievement" recently attained by Dubai International Airport, where the number of passengers traveling through the airport exceeded one billion. "The Global Investment Aviation Summit in Dubai highlights the UAE's leading regional role in the aviation sector, which is a key pillar in enriching the national economy," he affirmed. Taking place on 28th and 29th January, GIAS 2019 will see the attendance of Sultan bin Saeed Al Mansouri, Minister of Economy and GCAA Chairman, Sheikh Salman Al Sabah, Chairman of Kuwait's Directorate-General of Civil Aviation, Kamal bin Ahmed Mohammed, Bahrain's Minister of Transportation and Telecommunication, Abdul Hakim bin Mohammed Suleiman Al Tamimi, Chairman of Saudi Arabia's General Authority of Civil Aviation, Dr. Olumuyiwa Benard Aliu, President of the International Civil Aviation Organisation, ICAO, Hadi Sirica, Nigeria's Aviation Minister, Blade Nzimande, South Africa's Minister of Transport, Volodymyr Omelyan, Minister of Infrastructure in Ukraine, Monica Azuba Ntege, Uganda's Minister of Works and Transport, Captain Sameh El Hefny, President of the Egyptian Civil Aviation Authority, and Ricardo Fenelon Junior, Director-General of Brazil's National Civil Aviation Agency, among other decision makers. The engagement of aviation ministers along with key industry leaders confirms the importance of GIAS, given the prestigious status occupied by the UAE in the airline industry regionally and globally. The Minister added that the UAE is invested in advancing its aviation sector in terms of using the latest developments in modern technologies, research and development, and hosting and participating in regional and international exhibitions and conferences, with the aim to reach significant agreements with local and global partners, increasing trade and investment opportunities in the aviation industry. GIAS 2019 will offer an ideal platform for ministers of aviation, airline companies and professionals in the air transport sector to keep them up-to-date with the latest developments on the airline industry, and allow them to gain insights into investment opportunities available in local, regional and global aviation markets The UAE is ranked among the top countries in ease of doing business, in addition to its accumulated expertise in increasing the capacity of its international airports that achieved phenomenal growth rates in passenger traffic. All this has coupled with a massive expansion in its infrastructure and the fleets of its national carriers, use of the latest technological equipment and provision of quality of services, among others. Commenting on the inaugural summit, Saif Mohammed Al Suwaidi, GCAA Director-General, said, "The participation of aviation ministers and heads of air transport agencies and airline companies, as well as industry leaders and businesspeople from all around the world, is a testament of the importance of GIAS. It also emphasises the prestigious stature occupied by the UAE in the aviation industry, which is a key driver of economic growth in the country." Al Suwaidi added, "The UAE's aviation and air transport sector has made unique jumps during the past few years, where the state managed to reach milestones on a par with the leading countries in this sector, whether in terms of the number of flights taking off or landing every day at Emirati airports or the number of passengers." Highlighting the importance of the aviation sector, the GCAA Director-General said that the industry has contributed significantly to cementing the UAE's position as one of the leading countries that provide the highest quality in air transport services, by harnessing the latest technologies and smart services in the aviation industry." The UAE is one of the leading countries in the world's aviation and air transport sector, where aviation is one of the most prominent sectors that contribute to creating a sustainable economy, which ultimately leads to the country's overall future sustainable development. The country seeks to become first globally in the airline service quality index after it achieved a unique shift in the size of its air transport infrastructure projects over the past few years. It focuses on the aviation sector, which contributes 15 percent to the country's GDP, and is expected to reach 20 percent over the next few years. National carriers are continuing their expansion in various foreign markets, thereby reinforcing the UAE's position in the global air travel industry. Dubai has increased the capacity of its airports, in terms of the number of passengers and flights taking off and landing, in addition to its ongoing expansion plans to reach new destinations across the world. https://www.albawaba.com/business/aviation-sector-contributes-15-percent-uaes-gdp-1232164 Back to Top Mediaplanet and Piedmont Airlines Team up to Highlight Career Opportunities in Aviation NEW YORK, Dec. 28, 2018 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- Mediaplanet today announces the launch of this year's edition of "Careers in Aviation & Aerospace." This campaign will advocate for the fulfilling careers that are available in the aerospace and aviation industry, stressing the importance of students pursuing the education and training in these verticals to prepare the next generation of aerospace professionals. According to a 2018 Boeing Outlook Report, North America needs 189,000 new aircraft technicians and 206,000 new pilots in the next 20 years. With growing industry demands, the need for qualified and competent aviation professionals is at an all-time high. Aviation plays a critical role in the nation's tourism, security, and economic growth. To meet these demands, the industry calls for increased recruiting, training, and solutions aimed to attract the new generation of professionals that will keep the industry moving. The print component of "Careers in Aviation & Aerospace" is distributed within today's edition of USA Today in the Chicago, Los Angeles, Atlanta, New York, Dallas, Houston, Las Vegas, Charlotte and San Francisco markets, with a circulation of approximately 250,000 copies and an estimated readership of 750,000. The digital component is distributed nationally, through a vast social media strategy, and across a network of top news sites and partner outlets. To explore the digital version of the campaign, visit http://www.futureofbusinessandtech.com/topic/careers-in-aviation-and- aerospace Piedmont Airlines, a regional airline owned by American Airlines, is working hard to make great career paths in aviation known to all. "There's no better time to become a commercial airline pilot" says Lyle Hogg, CEO of Piedmont Airlines. While the path of becoming a commercial pilot is no easy task, Hogg highlights that finding success comes with being informed on a secure flight path. Not all regional airlines offer the same opportunities, and prospective aviators with goals of flying a legacy airline should do their research when thinking about his or her first job. Students who take a job with Piedmont are guaranteed a spot flying for its parent company, American Airlines, after five years with the regional carrier. Piedmont Airlines is also offering great opportunities for more technical students in aviation maintenance tech. Facing a critical skills shortage, airlines are seeking mechanically-inclined students to fill in positions as aviation maintenance technicians, Piedmont is on track to hire 125 mechanics in 2019. "Students in vocational schools - the people who are good with their hands, that's exactly what we need" says Bill Arndt, VP of maintenance and engineering at Piedmont Airlines. While high school students typically don't consider a two year trade school as a preferred career path, an A & P mechanic license needed to work on aircraft from a reputable program can lead to an average annual salary of around $84,000. Being a pilot for more than 30 years, Hogg's passion for flight has only grown "Aviation really is the way to go, it really makes for a wonderful career." https://www.aviationpros.com/news/12439569/mediaplanet-and-piedmont-airlines-team-up-to- highlight-career-opportunities-in-aviation Back to Top Eviation, ERAU Join Forces on Electric Aircraft Eviation, the Israel-based developer of the Alice 11-seat electric aircraft, has teamed up with Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University (ERAU) on research and development of its all-electric aircraft technologies. The program, involving fourth-year undergraduate engineering students, will launch in the spring at ERAU's Prescott, Arizona campus. Students will focus on performance analysis, validation, and testing along with future electric propulsion and airframe design concepts, participating in preliminary design and sub-scale testing. "By including Embry-Riddle engineers and students in the R&D pool, Eviation and the Alice Aircraft will take advantage of the exposure and knowledge from our best and brightest engineers," said Embry-Riddle chancellor Frank Ayers. Founded in 2015, Eviation is anticipating the debut of the Alice commuter aircraft during the 53rd Paris Air Show in June 2019 with first flight coming after the show. Much of the flight testing will take place in Prescott, with plans calling for three flying prototypes by the second quarter of 2020, Eviation CEO Omer Bar-Yohay told AIN. He estimated the certification program should last 24 to 36 months. The aircraft will be built using technology available today, Bar-Yohay said. Honeywell is supplying flight control systems and Siemens the electric engines. With a composite body, the Alice leverages thermal management and distributed electric propulsion, as well as autonomous landing technologies. The aircraft is designed to carry up to nine passengers 650 miles with a single charge. Eviation expects the charging stations will be mobile, similar to aviation fuel trucks, he said. A half- hour charge would equal one hour in the aircraft. Eviation has secured an unidentified launch customer for the Alice and is eyeing other future projects, he said. ERAU is "instrumental for certification since it is a brain powerhouse and can be used to source personnel for Eviation," Bar-Yohay added. "With one of the oldest and most well-respected universities at the helm, we're confident that the Alice Aircraft is in good hands and we look forward to partnering with the prestigious university." https://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/business-aviation/2018-12-28/eviation-erau-join-forces- electric-aircraft Back to Top JetPack Aviation Launches the World's First JetPack Racing League Los Angeles, CA, December 28, 2018 --(PR.com)-- JetPack Aviation, the only company in the world to build a true turbine powered personal VTOL. JetPack has launched the world's first JetPack Racing League and flown two jetpacks together for the first time in history. The company has spent the past 12 months test flying to determine whether its jetpacks can be flown safely in close proximity to each other. Today it released a video (www.youtube.com/watch) of two of its company pilots flying in formation. JPA CEO and Chief Pilot David Mayman says, "We are all really excited about this, it is the first time in history that two jetpacks have flown together, we've done a huge amount of testing and now it's time to get racing!" JetPack Aviation specifically tested the impact of exhaust flows on other jetpacks when flying close together. Operations Manager and JetPack Pilot Boris Jarry noted, "It's really amazing, we found that we are able to fly within inches of each other with no problems at all - the jetpacks are just so stable it's incredible." JPA will invite qualified teams to participate in trials during 2019. The JPA jetpacks used in the racing league are capable of flying at over 200 mph. Mayman says, "We are also in discussions with inventors of other VTOL aircraft to determine whether their aircraft are appropriate for the league. We love turbine VTOL technology and want to see the league become a place where other companies can also demonstrate their contribution to the future of transportation." Boris Jarry added, "This really will be an amazing spectator sport, we expect it to grow rapidly. It's possible for trained and skilled pilots to fly within inches of each other while doing incredible speeds. It's an extraordinary thrill for the pilot and the audience will love the sight and sound - we sound like a group of fighter jets going past." https://www.benzinga.com/pressreleases/18/12/r12907093/jetpack-aviation-launches-the-worlds- first-jetpack-racing-league Back to Top Former Norfolk christian school to be turned into aviation training institution NORFOLK, Va. (WAVY) -- A former Christian School will soon be home to airplane hangers in order to train future aviation technicians. "This campus will be the premier campus for aviation training throughout the entire country," said Dr. Joel English, the Vice President of the Aviation Institute of Maintenance, as he stood on the grounds of the institutions recent property grab. The Virginia Beach-based trade school, recently purchased the former Calvary Christian School complex off East Little Creek Road in Norfolk in order to expand it's operations. The more than 100,000 square foot former elementary and middle school was built in 1992. Recently assessed for $7.7 million, the institute paid $5 million for property, and included an additional $1 million in scholarships to members Calvary Christian Church, the former owners, for tuition at either the Aviation Maintenance campus or Centura College Campuses. In total, there are 20 for-profit college campuses, owned by Pungo businessman Jerry Yagen. "We've done a lot of buildings and a lot of build outs, but this will be the most significant one here in Hampton Roads," English said. Inside the school, things were left as they were the day the Calvary School closed down. Clocks continue to tick, lesson plans are written on dry erase boards and the library is stock full of books. Before the aviation institute can move in to build the planned state of the art aircraft hangar, engine room and power plant hangars, English said they will be clearing out what is left behind. "We are donating about 300 chairs and nearly 100 tables and other furnishings to the city of Norfolk in early January," English said. "This will help provide resources to the city's youth programming." English along with Campus Director Bruch Jones hope to begin moving in to the space by mid- summer. "We are working to train aviation technicians not only for work in Norfolk and Virginia, but for the country as a whole," Jones said. "70-percent of the technicians that work in the industry, in aviation today, are over 50 years old, baby boomers. They are all retiring. There is literally going to critical shortage. There is a shortage now, but in a few years a critical shortage." Jones said there are also discussions with other trades moving into the space. "We hope to have this open for community events as well," English said of the gymnasium. "We will be refurbishing the basketball court and gym to allow not only our own students to play intramural athletics, but also so that sports teams of all ages in the community can use our gym for practices and sports events." The Aviation Institute of Maintenance's current facilities on Military Highway will be sold following the move of the school. https://www.wavy.com/news/local-news/norfolk/former-norfolk-christian-school-to-be-turned-into- aviation-training-institution/1678649010 Back to Top Arizona's Luke Air Force Base feels effects of national pilot shortage GLENDALE - Luke Air Force Base is feeling the effects of a national pilot shortage, which has left the Air Force without enough pilots, maintenance crew and support staff to fully power U.S. military needs. "Right now we don't have enough of certain types of pilots to actually account for all the jobs that we need to do in the Air Force," said Maj. William Andreotta, operations director for Luke's 56th Training Squadron. "Those can be anything from here in the front line of actually flying the aircraft all the way to staff jobs that require pilot knowledge as a background to be able to do the job." The Air Force is trying to make training more efficient, and programs around the state are playing their part by building passion in high schoolers, teaching them the intricacies needed to become a pilot, mechanic or air-traffic controller. As of September, the Air Force had unfilled positions for 1,500 pilots. At Luke, a training base, the shortage of instructors to train fighter pilots to fly F-16 and F-35 fighter jets is particularly acute. Pilots have tough work lives and those undergoing training often leave to pursue a better balance between work and family life, leaders said. Luke spokesman Jensen Stidham said that as of September, there were 58 instructor pilots, leaving 26 open positions for F-16s. For F-35s, 85 out of 101 instructor-pilot positions were filled. A backlog of aircraft mechanics also has led to a decrease in available aircraft, which leads into an ongoing loop: The number of pilots who can train depends on the number of aircraft available. Andreotta said one way the Air Force is trying to solve the problem is to make training more efficient. "Where we can decrease the course length but not decrease the quality of the product that we're sending out there, so that's how we produce more" pilots, he said. Air Force officials say their goal is to have most positions manned at 95 percent by 2024, Andreotta said. But that's going to be longer for fighter pilots: the 95 percent goal is set for 2029. For the high-schoolers, students are learning what it takes to build a kit airplane through Southern Arizona Teen Aviation, a nonprofit organization. They're building a two-seat Van's Aircraft RV12 and will fly it, according to the group's website. The students are involved in building all parts of the single-engine airplane, the website says. The experience gives the students skills to pursue careers ranging from pilot to aircraft mechanic. "We're trying to give the kids an opportunity to get their hands on an airplane, see what an airplane's like, fly on an airplane, work with an airplane, build an airplane," co-founder Alan Muhs said. At Phoenix's South Mountain High School, senior Jaja Obasi enrolled in his school's aerospace program. According to the school's website, students enrolled in the program learn aviation fields such as aircraft maintenance and air-traffic control and can work towards their private-pilot certificate from the Federal Aviation Administration. Obasi said he loves aviation and that he wants to become a pilot. "Then just getting up in the air, that feeling that you get in your stomach," he said. https://docs.google.com/document/d/1XyczSH1ikdkLQp3XbDnP79wV36Szq94X-6nNFTRhhS0/edit# Back to Top MRO services provider Air Works pulled up in DGCA audit report Aircraft MRO services provider Air Works has been accused of indulging in various malpractices including releasing planes for flights "without recording and rectifying known defects". During an audit carried out at the company's facilities in Mumbai, Delhi, Pune and Ahmedabad between July and September, the regulator DGCA also found that dedicated store inspectors had not been made responsible for the Juhu (Mumbai) and Pune facilities, said a source. The Gurugram-based over six-decade old Air Worksprovides maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) services to airlines, business jets and chopper operators through its 17 facilities in India and abroad. "You are advised to take immediate corrective and preventive action to address the findings," the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) said in a notice to Air Works late last month. When contacted, a top Air Works Executive Director, Ravi Menon, said the company will take all "required steps" following the audit findings, but also added that nobody "compromises" on the issue of safety. "Aircraft were found to have been released for flights without recording or rectifying the known defects. Such practice was noticed across many product lines and stations during sample verification. "Operational and maintenance personnel had failed to record the defects/abnormalities observed by them. Maintenance personnel had issued certificate (s) of release to service without carrying out appropriate maintenance work on the defective aircraft," said the audit findings, a copy of which is with PTI. The audit also found that the "company did not have system of assessing maintenance man-hour requirement to establish that it has sufficient staff to plan, perform, supervise, inspect and quality monitor the organization in accordance with the approval at any given time and at each approved facility." Notably, the DGCA, which conducted a similar audit of another MRO Indamer Aviation following an aircraft crash in Mumbai in June this year, had found the company indulging in similar malpractices and subsequently suspended the aircraft maintenance and repair work at its Ahmedabad facility and partially restricted the operations at Mumbai unit. A parliamentary panel, which submitted its report in the Lok Sabha last Friday has said that the civil aviation ministry and DGCA "must be more serious about safety." The DGCA audit findings also said that "the organization could not satisfactorily demonstrate compliance to the applicable regulation, and records provided to establish the regulatory and compliance status of the organization were found unreliable". Menon said the audit gives the company a perspective on what it needs to do to improve. "The first part of the audit is completely procedural and documented, which we will address, no doubt. These are the processes which have been approved by the local or regional offices. So we will make the necessary amendments to align them with the expectations of the audit committee," he said. "When it comes to level-1 findings, nobody compromises aviation safety. I will not say that we are squicky clean, there may be some errors," he added. https://www.business-standard.com/article/pti-stories/mro-services-provider-air-works-pulled-up- in-dgca-audit-report-118123000378_1.html Back to Top FAA workers at LAX say government shutdown already taking its toll LOS ANGELES (KABC) -- As the government shutdown continues, it's beginning to take a toll on Federal Aviation Administration employees who are working without pay. "The union is outraged because we are unaware of when we're going to get paid," Cesari Vallente said. Vallente is one of 420,000 federal employees deemed essential and working unpaid during the partial closure. "I'm deemed essential because I'm trying to protect the safety of the public and protect federal property," he said. "It is stressing me out because I'm constantly thinking about when I will get paid. It degrades my performance on doing my duties." He works for the FAA and spoke to Eyewitness News on behalf of his union PASS, which represents aviation inspectors, system specialists and aeronautical professionals. Vallente said he's unhappy with how the shutdown is taking its toll on union aviation workers. "This is very dangerous because they can't perform their duties and we rely on them for support, for parts, new test equipment, new procedures in case those come down and new modifications," he said. Union workers like him are responsible for installing, maintaining, certifying and inspecting the nation's aviation system. "We monitor the radars, the radios, the navigational systems for LAX," he said. Outside of the thousands of employees who are forced to work without pay, an additional 380,000 have been furloughed and aren't working at all. Some of those sitting at home are Vallente's fellow union aviation workers, who he believes are critical to helping him keep people as safe as possible in the air. "Right now, we're OK. But if this prolongs any longer, we will suffer. Maintenance will degrade, systems will degrade. There will be delays. A lot of the flying public will be mad," he said. Vallente is also a veteran and he said many of his fellow aviation workers are also veterans. He said they are all suffering and scared about when they'll get paid, which is also creating anxiety. https://abc7.com/politics/faa-workers-say-government-shutdown-already-taking-its-toll/4983130/ Back to Top What is SpaceX doing in South Texas? Something is happening at the SpaceX space port in Boca Chica in far South Texas that could change the world. Space News reports that a test article of the Big Falcon Rocket's upper stage, dubbed "Starship," is under construction at the SpaceX launch facility. The test rocket will be as wide as the operational Starship rocket but not as tall. Piecing together the test vehicle in late 2018 is significant because test flights, essentially hops into the air and back, may happen earlier than expected. Previously, SpaceX had announced that the hop-test flights would occur in late 2019. Now the Starship test article may fly as early as April 2019. Another interesting detail is that the test Starship is being fabricated from stainless steel and not a carbon composite, which modern rocket ships tend to be made of. "That metal," the CEO of SpaceX Elon Musk told Space News, "is stainless steel, in particular a family of alloys called 300 Series, known to maintain its strength at high temperatures." Despite being heavier than carbon composites, Musk said that stainless steel offered 'slightly better' strength-to-weight performance at cryogenic temperatures, needed for the vehicle's liquid oxygen propellant tanks, and was "vastly better" at high temperatures. He acknowledged that steel was worse than carbon composite at room temperatures. To surface the vehicle in stainless steel, he added, would require "much less" thermal protection but also would not be painted. "Skin will get too hot for paint," he tweeted. 'Stainless mirror finish. Maximum reflectivity.'" The test article will be powered by three Raptor engines, designed to burn methane and liquid oxygen. The Raptors will run so hot that SpaceX had to develop a special alloy to handle both the heat and the pressure. The full-sized Starship will use seven of the advanced rocket engines. The first stage of the Big Falcon Rocket, dubbed "Super Heavy," will fly with 31 Raptors. Musk has ambitious plans for his new rocket. By 2023 he intends to send the Starship around the moon with a Japanese billionaire named Yusaku Maezawa and a group of invited artists as passengers. But a year earlier than that, Musk plans to send two of his rocket ships uncrewed to Mars to start setting up a propellant plant and a base. In 2024, SpaceX plans to send four rocket ships to Mars, two uncrewed and two with the first colonists to head for the Red Planet. Observers of SpaceX have noted that Musk tends to be optimistic where schedules are concerned. The Falcon Heavy was five years late when it finally launched for the first time in February 2018. Rocket science is a synonym for something that is incredibly difficult for a reason. On the other hand, Musk tends to eventually accomplish what he sets out to do. He has made the first stage of SpaceX's Falcon 9 reusable so that the cost of flying the launch vehicle is much less than those of his competitors. The Falcon Heavy is scheduled to become operational in 2019. In other words, even if Elon Musk is a few years late launching Maezawa around the moon or sending people to Mars, no one should bet against him accomplishing both. Musk is sometimes noted for bizarre tweets and arresting behavior, such as the time he smoked pot during a podcast. But he is, if anything, a mad genius. Which part of that phrase is more dominant remains to be seen. If NASA is smart, and the space agency does have a pretty sharp leader in Jim Bridenstine, it should watch what Musk is doing in South Texas with great interest. SpaceX may well upend NASA's careful, "sustainable" plans to go back to the moon and on to Mars by developing the capability to do both far earlier than anyone has a right to expect. The Big Falcon Rocket, with its Super Heavy and Starship stages, may become the ocean-going caravel of the space age. Portugal's Prince Henry the Navigator developed that sailing vessel to reach the spice markets of India. Christopher Columbus used caravels to sail west across the Atlantic and, quite by accident, to discover America. What will future explorers do with the rocket ship that the modern Prince Henry is building to open the space frontier? https://thehill.com/opinion/technology/423087-what-is-spacex-doing-in-south-texas Curt Lewis