JUNE 3, 2019 - No. 044 In This Issue Textron Aviation Launches New Maintenance Data Hub Unilode adds Hong Kong centre EU aviation agency develops tests to approve AI for air taxis HK Airlines asked to address concerns over falling plane parts VIPA Looks for New Aviation Manager, Prepares for FAA Compliance Visit World's Longest Flight to Be Even Less Comfortable Than Expected Number of incidents involving military planes down 40% over years, says defence chief EASA STC for DART's R66 Emergency Float System Emirates Aviation University Programmes receive top accreditation Boeing Ordered to Replace 737 Wing Parts Prone to Cracking SpaceX readying Starhopper for hops in Texas as Pad 39A plans materialize in Florida Textron Aviation Launches New Maintenance Data Hub Textron Aviation is launching a new Aircraft Maintenance Data Hub this summer to provide owners of Beechcraft, Cessna and Hawker aircraft more comprehensive maintenance records. Available through Textron's Aviation Customer Portal, the data hub will offer customers the choice between working with multiple industry tracking system providers, which include CAMP, FlightDocs, SierraTrax and Traxxall. Previously, Textron's data tracking was exclusive to CAMP. "It's important to our customers that they have a clear understanding and record of work done on their aircraft," explains Kriya Shortt, Textron Aviation's senior vice president of global customer support. "This new data hub will offer customers more choices in their tracking system and a comprehensive picture of maintenance records across all their Textron Aviation products." Within the data hub, customers will be able to track maintenance work performed on aircraft-regardless of where they choose to have their aircraft serviced-along with news and maintenance updates. Meanwhile, Textron will be able to see full maintenance history when diagnosing a customer's service need. The company offers MRO and specialized services through a global network of more than 3,000 employees. The company's global network is also growing: Textron recently announced that it is doubling the size of its European Distribution Center in Dusseldorf, Germany later this year. The expansion will increase available part numbers to nearly 35,000 items across Europe, says Brad Thress, Textron Aviation's senior vice president of parts, program and flight operations. "The additional space keeps us ahead of growing demand and ready to support our customers at any time," he says. In addition to Textron's primary distribution sites in Dusseldorf, Singapore and Wichita, Kansas, the company has four regional distribution sites in Sao Paulo, Brazil; Orlando, Florida; Mesa, Arizona; and Teterboro, New Jersey. Shortt says Textron's global strategy is to "provide unrivaled support" for the aircraft it produces with its parts distribution and service centers, mobile service units and 1Call AOG response. https://www.mro-network.com/maintenance-repair-overhaul/textron-aviation-launches-new-maintenance-data-hub Back to Top Unilode adds Hong Kong centre Unilode Aviation Solutions has opened a new ULD and galley cart repair centre in Hong Kong. The repair centre has an area of around 3,000 sq m and will employ up to 30 repair technicians, who will carry out ULD repair, ULD assembly, pallet net repair and inflight equipment maintenance and repair services. The facility will also be used as a storage centre for Unilode's ULD leasing solutions, and as a logistics, storage and repair centre for Envirotainer. Benoît Dumont, Unilode CEO, said: "With Hong Kong being the largest cargo airport in the world, it made strategic sense for us to add this location to Unilode's global MRO footprint to provide an outstanding repair service to our long-standing ULD management customer Cathay Pacific Airways and to all our other ULD management and MRO customers. "This new location will allow us to strengthen our partnership with Envirotainer, the global leader in cool containers, and expand the storage network for Unilode's new short- and medium-term ULD leasing services." https://www.aircargonews.net/services/uld/unilode-adds-hong-kong-centre/ Back to Top EU aviation agency develops tests to approve AI for air taxis Europe's aviation safety agency is developing tests to ensure that the artificial intelligence being built for the emerging field of air taxis makes them safe to fly. EASA said it would examine air taxis' software "with the level of robustness needed" to ensure any vehicles piloted through AI did not pose a danger to those using the taxis or people in their vicinity. "This new certification approach would allow EASA to understand how the software behaves in different circumstances," the agency said. EASA's approach to air taxis, which is still at an early stage, would cover the vehicles' operations and maintenance, "competence requirements" for people involved in operating them and broader airspace issues, from noise pollution to privacy. Companies from Airbus to Uber are investing a lot of money in air taxis, propelled by breakthroughs in electric motors and battery power, and designing aircraft that can hop from one rooftop to another. The four-passenger CityAirbus electric vertical take-off and landing aircraft made its first tethered flight on May 3 in Germany. Uber does not want to build its own vehicles, but has recruited manufacturers including Bell, Boeing and Embraer towards its goal of launching an "Uber Air" aerial ride-sharing network by 2023. In July last year UK aero-engine group Rolls-Royce announced plans for an electric aircraft with rotating wings that could take off or land vertically, and which it thinks could be available by the early to mid-2020s. Lilium, a German-based start-up, last month unveiled what it claimed was the world's first all-electric, five-seater plane that it plans to use as a public air taxi service from as early as 2025. The company is already in talks with EASA about certifying the plane. However, a spokesman said that the aircraft, which will be piloted and has a fixed wing, is designed in such a way that it could fly under existing certification that covers "light aircraft". "We would prefer not to do that and EASA are working on a specification specifically for our sector," said a Lilium spokesman, adding that "whichever certification route we go down, it will be as rigorous as today's large commercial aircraft". Elaine Whyte, UK drones lead at consultancy PwC and a former safety and airworthiness engineer in the RAF, said air taxis would need the same safety standards that a century of aviation had already established. "This is likely to be a significant barrier to entry and require different skill sets for those potential manufacturers new to this sector." Anita Sengupta is co-founder of Los Angeles-based start-up Airspace Experience Technologies, which wants to popularise "private air mobility". She said: "Cyber security needs to be sorted in the air just as it does on land...Currently you would be cleared by air traffic control but in future you could imagine a different system", involving AI and machine learning. https://www.ft.com/content/13a8bd1e-82be-11e9-9935-ad75bb96c849 Back to Top HK Airlines asked to address concerns over falling plane parts Hong Kong's aviation authority has demanded explanations from a local airline company as to why its commercial jets had seen some of their components breaking off multiple times over the past few days. The Civil Aviation Department (CAD) on Wednesday said it has asked Hong Kong Airlines, a member of China's HNA Group, to submit as soon as possible a detailed report on the incidents, which its spokesperson had claimed had no impact on the safety of the planes in question, the Hong Kong Economic Journal reports. According to Japanese media reports, a total of eight planes operated by the company were found to have suffered from falling parts since May 26, involving a total of 19 pieces. All of them were flights between Hong Kong and Tokyo's Narita International Airport. One of the reports said Narita's airport authorities had to close a runway and ensure the parts had not fallen there, delaying other flights, and that authorities later determined that the missing parts may have fallen off during the flight. Local media cited Japan's Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism as saying that it is "unusual that components from several airplanes of the same airline fell off successively in such a short period of time", The Standard reported. Responding to media inquiries, Hong Kong Airlines said all of its flights have to undergo careful inspection before taking off, adding that the missing items are usually only small screws that did not pose any safety risk. It also said it had taken the initiative to report the incidents to both Hong Kong and Japanese civil aviation authorities. "The small missing item is usually a screw and washer set which falls within operationally acceptable regulatory standards and does not pose any safety risk or violation," The Standard quoted the airline as saying. It said all of its aircraft are carefully inspected before each flight. "We abide by the strict requirements set out by our aircraft manufacturer and regulatory authorities for every flight dispatch. We will continue to uphold our inspection and maintenance standards." In response to inquiries from HKEJ, Hong Kong Airlines admitted that the reported incidents did take place and the latest one, which happened on Wednesday, involved flight HX609 as it was about to leave Narita airport for Hong Kong. In the latest incident, two screws loosened and fell out of the airplane's wing, necessitating repair. As a result, the flight was delayed for as about six hours before it took off at 10:03 p.m. on the same day, the airline said. Civic Party lawmaker Jeremy Tam Man-ho, a commercial pilot, said on Wednesday it is uncommon to have frequent cases of missing plane parts within a short period of time, suspecting there could be a design problem with a particular model of aircraft, RTHK reported. The CAD should investigate whether the problem involves maintenance issues. or is related to the aircraft's design, Tam added. Secretary for Transport and Housing Frank Chan Fan told media on Friday the CAD is very concerned about the reported incidents. Both the CAD and Hong Kong Airlines said the situation does not affect aviation safety, but the CAD is very serious about following it up, Chan said. He said the CAD had earlier met with the management of Hong Kong Airlines, and called on the airline to carry out a comprehensive detailed inspection and give an account of it to the department. The CAD has also performed on-site inspections to make sure the airline's flights and the city's aviation safety are not affected, Chan added. http://www.ejinsight.com/20190531-hk-airlines-asked-to-address-concerns-over-falling-plane-parts/ Back to Top VIPA Looks for New Aviation Manager, Prepares for FAA Compliance Visit The V.I. Port Authority is looking for a new aviation manager following the resignation last month of staff member Mitchell Todman, and board members were told that eight candidates have been shortlisted, with interviews to begin this week. "This is a crucial position for us, especially in terms of making sure we stay in compliance with Federal Aviation Administration requirements," VIPA acting Executive Director Damian Cartwright said at last week's board meeting. In a separate statement, VIPA has said that its Deputy Executive Director Anise Hodge will supervise airport operations in both districts until the position is filled, and doesn't expect any interruptions in either airport operations or the continuation of airport projects. Meanwhile, FAA officials are expected to be in the territory this week for an annual assessment that ensures airport operations are safe and in compliance with federal standards. Cartwright told board members he has pulled all of the port's aviation resources, particularly the maintenance staff, to make sure everything is up to snuff, and that while recent rain delayed a few projects, field crews will be coming in to cut and maintain airfields on both islands. Speaking in his monthly report about specific signage and lighting issues at the airports, Cartwright assured the board that on any given day, there can be problems, but that doesn't mean the airports' inspections will be compromised. The bigger concern is that the port doesn't have the capability to remove the striping of the airfield at Cyril E. King Airport on St. Thomas, but Cartwright said that bids are out for the project and due on June 7. "What I'm looking at is budgeting for some equipment that will allow us to rehab our markings and do our own rubber removal so we can better maintain the airfield on short notice instead of contracting and waiting for the services to be completed," he proposed as a solution moving forward. The FAA levied the port with fines last January following an inspection that pushed VIPA to consider structural changes in its operations, along with the purchasing of certain equipment and the addition of certain personnel, among other things. Cartwright said during the meeting that a settlement agreement has been drafted for review, which will come to the board for approval after being approved by the FAA. Cartwright also spoke about the execution of a memorandum of understanding with Aerostar, which manages and operates San Juan's Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport. A contingent of VIPA staff has traveled to Puerto Rico to observe airport operations there, and overall, left with the understanding that the FAA is "pleased" with how it runs. "We want to establish an arrangement that will allow us to benefit from the emergency procurement of parts and other things," Cartwright said, adding that he hopes to get more feedback from the FAA in June before sending the MOU onto the board for approval. https://stjohnsource.com/2019/06/02/vipa-looks-for-new-aviation-manager-prepares-for-faa-compliance-visit/ Back to Top World's Longest Flight to Be Even Less Comfortable Than Expected Flights half way around the globe are set to be even less comfortable than expected -- that's if the marathon 20-hour non-stop services from Sydney to London get off the ground at all. Qantas Airways Ltd. has ditched the notion of rolling out bunks, beds, a gym or even a creche for passengers enduring the world's longest commercial flight. Instead, they'll be given a space to have a stretch and a drink of water, Qantas Chief Executive Officer Alan Joyce said Monday in Seoul. The more spartan comfort levels underscore Qantas's challenge as it tries to break through what it calls aviation's last frontier. There are other barriers, too: While Joyce said the planes proposed by Boeing Co. and Airbus SE for the ultra long-haul flights can make the distance, neither can carry the weight that Qantas initially targeted. Speaking to reporters in Seoul at the annual gathering of airline bosses, Joyce said he still needs Qantas pilots to agree to the longer working hours the ultra-long flights will entail. "There are a significant number of hurdles to overcome but we think we can make this work," he said. "There's still not full payload on each aircraft, but there's enough we think to make it commercially viable if the other parts of the business case get there." Deadline Looms Qantas expects to receive final aircraft proposals from Boeing and Airbus by August. That will include the price of the plane, as well as guarantees on fuel efficiency, maintenance costs and reliability. Joyce said he'll order the jets by year-end if he decides to push ahead with the flights, which are known at Qantas as Project Sunrise. Qantas has said it's sizing up the long-range Airbus A350 against Boeing's 777X. Boeing or Airbus would deliver the aircraft in 2022 and the first flights would be in 2023, he said. Still, there's little margin for error. For example, the Sydney-London service won't be able to carry extra freight, Joyce said. Direct flights to New York from Sydney are more achievable, he said. Qantas is trying to roll out a network of super-long direct services connecting Australia's eastern seaboard with South America, South Africa and North America as rising oil prices squeeze profit margins. Even after promoting Project Sunrise for years, Joyce said he'd be ruthless. "We will kill the project" if the economics don't stack up, he said. Joyce said the planes will have sections for first class, business, premium economy and economy passengers. https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2019-06-03/world-s-longest-flight-to-be-even-less-comfortable-than-expected Back to Top Number of incidents involving military planes down 40% over years, says defence chief MOSCOW, May 31. /TASS/. The number of incidents involving military planes has been down 40% over several years, Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said at a meeting of the ministry's board on Friday. "Higher quality of aviation technologies, creation of an advanced logistic and maintenance base and better instruction of personnel in using new weapon systems and equipment have reduced the rate of incidents by 40%," Shoigu said. "This is evidence flight safety in the armed forces is kept at a rather high level," Shoigu said. Since 2013 air units have been rearmed with new or upgraded aircraft on the massive scale. "The hardware's parameters are improved steadily. Objective control means are perfected, which allows for obtaining more detailed and accurate information about the technical condition of aircraft and flight parameters. Aircraft are being equipped with means of intellectual support for crews' decisions," Shoigu said. Military airdromes get modern flight control and communication systems. http://tass.com/defense/1061199 Back to Top EASA STC for DART's R66 Emergency Float System Hawkesbury, Ontario - May 31st, 2019 - Recently, DART received a European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) certification on its R66 Emergency Float System. This float system, designed and manufactured by DART, is an aftermarket retrofit option available for R66 operators that allows the aircraft to safely perform over-water operations. The system can be easily retrofitted on the R66 aircraft and is designed with multi air-holding chambers. The float systems are manufactured using patented lightweight urethane-coated fabric. This maintenance friendly system has longer inspection intervals and does not have to be returned to the manufacturer for recertification. Other key features include a reservoir made of aluminum with a carbon fiber and fiberglass wrap to reduce the risk of corrosion. The entire kit includes includes Fwd, Aft floats, reservoir, skid extensions and installation hardware. In addition, it is fully certified by these following authorities: NAAC, IAC AR, DCA, FAA, TCCA and now EASA. "Achieving the European approval for this kit is a big deal for DART" states Steve Ghaleb, Vice President of Commercial Operations at DART Aerospace. "The DART commercial team has been receiving lots of interest from the European R66 community for an aftermarket option to install emergency floats," continues Steve "we are happy to now be able to service that demand". DARTCare, a Repair & Overhaul Program offered by DART, can be purchased alongside the R66 Emergency Float System. This program consists of repairing, testing and repacking of float systems, liferafts and vests as well as servicing on reservoirs. DARTCare features price escalation and aircraft downtime protection, reduced maintenance costs and guaranteed TAT. https://www.aviationpros.com/aircraft/rotorcraft/press-release/21082856/easa-stc-for-darts-r66-emergency-float-system Back to Top Emirates Aviation University Programmes receive top accreditation Emirates Aviation University (EAU) announced today that its undergraduate and graduate engineering programmes are now accredited by The Royal Aeronautical Society. The latest international recognition bolsters the university's credentials as the educational institution offering the most extensive range of accredited aviation programmes in the region, reinforcing its focus on quality education, training and career progression for professionals in the industry. The accredited programmes include Bachelor of Science in Aeronautical Engineering, Bachelor of Engineering in Aerospace Technology, Avionics Technology, Applied Mechanical Engineering as well as Aircraft Maintenance, in addition to Master of Science in Aerospace Engineering and Mechanical Engineering Moreover, three master degree programmes; MSc in Aviation Safety, MSc in Aviation Security and MSc in Unmanned Aerospace Systems Design have been awarded the status of "Recognised" as programmes providing further learning towards Chartered Engineer, CEng registration. The programmes underwent a rigorous evaluation process which considered course delivery, the level and standards of practical resources available to students, advancement of learning provided by student secondment to the Emirates maintenance facility, general support for students and the promotion of aviation and engineering through various outreach activities. The Royal Aeronautical Society accredits academic programmes that reinforce understanding, knowledge and a strong skill set that underpin professional competence to help graduates on their way to registration as Chartered Engineers (CEng) or as Incorporated Engineers (IEng). EAU programmes are also accredited by different national and international institutions including the UAE Ministry of Education, the Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA), the UAE General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA), the Chartered Institute for Logistics and Transport-UK (MBA aviation management and MBA logistics and supply chain management), the European Union Aviation Safety Agency - EASA (aircraft maintenance programmes) and the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development - CIPD (MA HR management). Emirates Aviation University recently announced a new six-month internship programme with the Emirates Group for third year students who demonstrate extraordinary academic performance and are enrolled in the university's upcoming fall semester. The coveted internship programme with one of the region's largest and most successful organisations will help students combine academic study with practical, applied experience relevant to their education and career plans. Established in 1991, Emirates Aviation University is a leading educational institution in the Middle East for aeronautical engineering, aviation management, business management, and aviation safety & security studies. The University is the academic wing of the Emirates Group; a global travel and tourism conglomerate known worldwide for their commitment to the highest standards of quality in every aspect of business. The Royal Aeronautical Society, also known as the RAeS, is a British multi-disciplinary professional institution dedicated to the global aerospace community. Established in 1866, the Society has been at the forefront of developments in aerospace, seeking to promote the highest professional standards and provide a central forum for sharing knowledge. - TradeArabia News Service http://www.ttnworldwide.com/Article/294433/Emirates-Aviation-University-Programmes-receive-top-accreditation Back to Top Boeing Ordered to Replace 737 Wing Parts Prone to Cracking Airlines worldwide must inspect 312 of Boeing Co.'s 737 family of aircraft, including some of the grounded 737 Max, because they have wing components that are prone to cracking and must be repaired within 10 days, U.S. aviation regulators said Sunday. Boeing informed the Federal Aviation Administration that so-called leading edge slat tracks may not have been properly manufactured and pose a safety risk, the agency said in an emailed statement. The parts allow the wing to expand to create more lift during takeoff and landing. While less critical than the global grounding of its 737 Max since March, Boeing's latest production issue adds another headache for a management team trying control the fallout from two deadly crashes and get the U.S. manufacturer's top-selling plane flying again. The head of the International Air Transport Association warned airline CEOs at the industry's annual gathering this past weekend that the plane-approval process is damaged and the industry is under scrutiny. The FAA plans to issue an order calling for operators of 737 planes worldwide to identify whether the deficient parts were installed and to replace them, if needed. A complete failure wouldn't lead to a loss of the aircraft, the FAA said, but could cause damage during flight. Boeing has notified operators of the planes about the needed repairs and is sending replacement parts to help minimize the time aircraft are out of service, the company said in a statement. The slat tracks in question were made by a supplier to Spirit AeroSystems Holdings Inc., Boeing said in an email. Boeing has identified 148 parts made by a subcontractor that are affected. The parts may be on a total of 179 737 Max aircraft and 133 737 NG planes worldwide, including 33 Max and 32 NG aircraft in the U.S., the FAA said. The NG, or Next Generation, 737s are a predecessor to the Max family. The deficient parts may be on fewer of the identified planes, Boeing said. While the full number of jets must be inspected, 20 Max and 21 NG aircraft are "most likely" to have the suspect parts installed, according to the company. The 737 Max has been grounded worldwide since March 13 after two fatal crashes tied to a malfunction that caused a flight control system to repeatedly drive down the plane's nose. Boeing is finalizing a software fix along with proposed new training that will be required before the planes fly again. https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2019-06-02/boeing-ordered-to-replace-737-wing-components-prone-to-cracking Back to Top SpaceX readying Starhopper for hops in Texas as Pad 39A plans materialize in Florida With the arrival of a new Raptor engine at their Boca Chica launch facility, SpaceX is gearing up for a second round of testing with the Starhopper vehicle in South Texas. The latest test campaign is slated to begin in mid-June and is expected to include the first untethered hop of Starhopper. Meanwhile, on the Florida side, SpaceX continues to make progress with their plans to utilize Pad 39A for the Starship program. Starhopper The Starhopper vehicle is a testbed for the development of SpaceX's upcoming Starship spacecraft. The launch provider hopes to one day utilize the fully reusable Starship system to launch humans and cargo to the Moon and Mars. Starhopper performed its first two hot-fire tests at the beginning of April. During the tests, a single Raptor engine was fired for a couple of seconds to verify that Starhopper was ready for more rigorous testing including untethered hops to higher altitudes. Following the April events, the Raptor engine - designated SN2 - was trucked away for post-testing analysis. Then, work quickly began to prepare the Starhopper vehicle for the next phase of testing. This work included the installation of quick disconnect umbilicals, attitude control systems, and shock absorbers on the legs of the Starhopper. These systems will allow Starhopper to perform untethered hops from SpaceX's launch facility in Boca Chica, Texas. The first untethered hop is currently scheduled for mid-June - with the Starhopper expected to target an altitude of around 20 meters. However, prior to the hop, SpaceX is also set to perform fueling, ignitor, and preburner testing along with a static fire of the Raptor engine. That being said, it should also be noted that the test plans for the Starhopper vehicle are rapidly evolving, so the events are heavily subject to change. For instance, up until recently, the company was planning to utilize Raptor SN4 for the untethered hops. However, the company has now decided to utilize this engine only for fit checks, and will instead perform the hops with SN5 - the latest Raptor to come out of SpaceX's factory in Hawthorne, California. SN4 arrived in Boca Chica for the fit checks on Friday afternoon. Meanwhile, SN5 is already at SpaceX's test facility in McGregor Texas for verification testing before being shipped south. While the precise reason for the engine change is unknown, by still shipping SN4 to Boca Chica first, SpaceX will be able to ensure that the Starhopper is ready for hopping ahead of SN5's arrival. This should help to reduce the delays caused by waiting for SN5. Once SN5 arrives, SpaceX is expected to quickly dive into the test campaign. However, as seen with the previous round of hot fire testing at Boca Chica, it may take several attempts to conduct each of the various tests. Raptor is a full flow staged combustion cycle engine running on methane. An engine of that class has never been used to launch a vehicle into space. Therefore, its development is heavily subject to growing pains. Furthermore, the methane ground support systems are also new to SpaceX, as their currently operational vehicles use RP-1 for propellant. Subsequently, it is anticipated that the teams will encounter issues during the testing in Boca Chica. Starship The lessons learned from the Starhopper vehicle will be used to influence the design of the more advanced Starship prototypes. The vehicles are currently being built simultaneously in both Boca Chica Texas and Cocoa Florida. It is understood that the Texas-based vehicle has been designated Mk.1 while the Florida-based vehicle has been designated Mk.2. The Texas and Florida-based teams are competing to see which is most effective at building and launching the spacecraft. While the Mk.1 prototype has had SpaceX's launch site in Boca Chica lined up for its test flights, the launch site for the Mk.2 vehicle had been slightly more uncertain. SpaceX already has two launch pads in Florida, but both are being actively used to support the Falcon 9 and Falcon Heavy rockets. Therefore, the company had been looking at a variety of options for launching Starship. However, Pad 39A has recently become the frontrunner to support Starship. While it is perhaps the obvious choice when considering its large size, the launch complex is also needed to support critically important Falcon launches. These include national security missions for the U.S. Air Force on Falcon Heavy and Crew Dragon launches for NASA's Commercial Crew program on Falcon 9. NASA and the Air Force are SpaceX's largest customers, and thus it is vitally important that the Starship testing does not pose a significant risk to the launch provider's ability to support its existing manifest. The good news is that Air Force and NASA missions will likely only be launching from Pad 39A a couple of times a year, and thus there will be plenty of downtime for the Starship testing. Therefore, as NASASpaceflight.com reported last month, SpaceX is exploring the addition of a second launch mount to the east of the existing Falcon infrastructure. Since then, more details about the proposal have emerged including plans for a landing zone. Due to Starship's large diameter of approximately nine meters, transporting it will be difficult. Consequently, SpaceX wants to land the vehicle following launches at a proposed landing pad inside the fence of Launch Complex 39A. Specifically, current plans call for the landing zone being placed on the east side of the pad between the Horizontal Integration Facility and the Falcon launch pad. While the plans for both the launch and landing complexes are still in the early design phase and are subject to permitting and environmental reviews - several sources have confirmed that these plans are under serious consideration. Interestingly, it is also understood that the potential modifications to Pad 39A may include the ability to support Super Heavy - not just Starship test flights. Super Heavy is the first stage booster which will be used to launch Starship into orbit. The rocket will fly with 31 engines on fully operational flights, but SpaceX CEO Elon Musk has stated that it will likely fly with around 20 to reduce the risk during the early test flights. That being said, even with 20 Raptor engines on Super Heavy, it will still generate a similar amount of thrust as the Saturn V. Therefore, it is unclear if SpaceX would still use a secondary launch mount for Super Heavy. Utilizing the primary launch mount at Pad 39A would seem to be preferable given Super Heavy's power. In fact, the Saturn V has already flown from that exact spot. However, it is also possible that doing so may not be possible, as it would pose too much interference to the Falcon program. Musk is expected to provide an update on the Starship program later this summer which may help to shed more light on SpaceX's plans for the launch complex. Additionally, further tweaks to the design of the Starship and Super Heavy vehicles are expected at the presentation. However, the changes are anticipated to be far less drastic compared to the ones announced at previous Starship update presentations. https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2019/06/spacex-starhopper-hops-texas-pad-39a-plans-materialize-florida/ Curt Lewis