JULY 8, 2019 - No. 054 In This Issue ARGUS 2019 TRAINING COURSES Reverser failure, wet runway caused Air India 737 excursion The Air Force Selects DynCorp for $308.6 Million Aviation C2 O&M Services Federal, SC aviation officials seek to crack down on illegal charter flights Marshall closer to its destination with aviation school Peyton Anderson Foundation Awards Workforce Training Grant to CGTC Budget 2019 sets the ball rolling for FDI in aviation Cape Cod-based airline plans to fly all-electric plane Euramec strengthens operations in China with new sales office and team expansion Investigators scour scene of Bahamas chopper crash for clues SIUC'S College of Applied Sciences and Arts excels at preparing students Chasing SpaceX, Amazon seeks permission to launch 3,236 internet satellites Reverser failure, wet runway caused Air India 737 excursion A faulty thrust reverser and aquaplaning were the primary factors that caused an Air India Express Boeing 737-800 to overshoot the runway on 10 July 2018 at Mumbai airport, but the crew handled the situation well. In its final report on the incident, India's Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) says the incident involved the aircraft bearing registration VT-AXT (MSN36331) operating flight IX213 from Vijayawada. At 09:20 local time, the aircraft touched down 962m from the threshold of runway 14 at Mumbai, rolling out and travelling 5m beyond the runway end before coming to a halt on the paved surface. None of the 82 passengers and seven crew sustained injuries. The tyres of the aircraft were worn out due to excessive braking, but suffered no other damage. There was moderate rain at the time of the incident, and the crew was told at 09:18 when receiving landing clearance that wind speed was 12kt at 270° and the runway surface was wet. Three seconds after touchdown, the crew found that one of the thrust-reversers did not deploy and took steps to apply maximum manual brakes. This was insufficient to decelerate the aircraft, but they used the rudder to control direction. This reduced nearly 40% of the available landing distance, DGCA says in the report, citing dynamic aquaplaning and prevalent weather conditions as other factors. The report states that maintenance of the aircraft's thrust-reversers was conducted according to schedule and completed before the incident flight. The aircraft was considered airworthy and serviceable. The regulator agrees with the crew's course of action: the landing configuration was correct "as per briefing and landing calculations," and the crew followed standard procedures and checklists in all phases of flight. "The decision to use maximum manual brakes was correct... Rudder input was used to effectively maintain the direction control of the aircraft post-touchdown," it says. "The [handling] of the aircraft post-touchdown was satisfactory and was not a factor to the incident." Cirium Fleets Analyzer shows that VT-AXT is managed by Air India Express and is of 2007 vintage. https://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/reverser-failure-wet-runway-caused-air-india-737-ex-459492/ Back to Top The Air Force Selects DynCorp for $308.6 Million Aviation C2 O&M Services DynCorp International, Fort Worth, Texas, has been awarded a $308,616,183 firm-fixed-price contract for aviation command and control operations and maintenance services. This contract provides for air traffic control, airfield management and associated maintenance support. Work will be performed in the Air Force Central Command's area of responsibility and is expected to be completed by July 31, 2024. This award is the result of a competitive acquisition with four offers received. Fiscal 2019 operations and maintenance funds in the amount of $379,576 are being obligated at the time of award. The Air Combat Command's Acquisitions management and integration center, Langley Air Force Base, Hampton, Virginia, is the contracting activity (FA4890-19-C-A013). https://www.afcea.org/content/air-force-selects-dyncorp-3086-million-aviation-c2-om-services Back to Top Federal, SC aviation officials seek to crack down on illegal charter flights Federal aviation officials are on the hunt for illegal charter operators that use private aircraft for commercial use, skirting regulations and risking the safety of wealthy passengers flying to and from South Carolina. Officials from the Federal Aviation Administration and the S.C. Aeronautics Commission held a meeting in North Charleston last month to raise awareness about illegal charter flights and the risks they pose. The meeting was part of a larger national effort to crack down on back-room operations that offer commercial flights while ignoring federal standards that are in place to maintain safety in the sky. Legitimate charter operators offer direct flights on smaller jets and propeller-driven planes to a select group of clients willing to pay to skip commercial airport lines, overhead luggage bins and cramped seating. In order to do that, charter companies need to meet strict requirements for aircraft maintenance. Their pilots need to go through advanced training. And the businesses often must carry millions of dollars in insurance coverage. According to the FAA, 21 licensed air charter businesses are operating in South Carolina from the Upstate to the Lowcountry. It's a niche industry focused on serving business clients traveling for work and wealthy individuals looking to fly in luxury to their next vacation. Federal aviation officials are increasingly concerned, however, about less scrupulous companies that pop up, offering to supply planes and pilots to travelers without meeting the heightened safety standards. "Illegal charter operations pose a serious safety hazard to the traveling public, and the FAA works aggressively to identify and shut down rogue operators," the agency said in a statement. Federal officials have pursued enforcement actions nationwide against at least dozens of pilots, operators or other people associated with illegal charters, according to the agency. Two FAA attorneys at the the recent meeting in North Charleston cited a recent case the agency brought against a company that was flying people into and out of the oil fields of Texas. "When we find these illegal charters, we often don't find the best trained pilots and the most airworthy aircraft," said Aaron Robinson, one of the attorneys who handled the case. Randy Deberry, the manager of the FAA's flight standards office in South Carolina, said the agency is working to weed out illegal operations in the Palmetto State, too. That's welcome news to people like Jeremey Bass, the CEO of Executive HeliJet, a charter company that operates out of Myrtle Beach. He called South Carolina a "cesspool" of unlicensed operators. Bass and several other owners of registered charter companies took part in the panel discussion in North Charleston. https://www.postandcourier.com/business/federal-sc-aviation-officials-seek-to-crack-down-on-illegal/article_47a54858-9817-11e9-83a2-07ddd0087857.html Back to Top Marshall closer to its destination with aviation school HUNTINGTON, W.Va. - With all the support leading up to the Board of Governors June 28 meeting on Marshall's proposed aviation programs, MU President Jerome Gilbert was not surprised with the most recent developments. Marshall's BOG approved an "intent to plan" at its meeting in Beckley, leaving just a couple more hurdles in the way of the hopeful Fall 2021 launch of the aviation school. "We were certainly very pleased with the Board of Governors' approval for our intent to plan," Gilbert said. "But we were not surprised because we had strong support from the beginning when we discussed this with them and other people. We have had positive support all over the state." Marshall officials said the aviation science programs, which will include four-year bachelor degrees associated with fixed-wing (airplanes) and rotor-wing (helicopters), will be administered at Marshall's South Charleston campus and Yeager Airport in Charleston. Gilbert said the university is in the midst of establishing an agreement with Southern Utah University for further partnership in the program. The two schools agreed on a Memorandum of Agreement in February to jointly offer bachelor programs. He added the next agreement will be in terms of what each school can do and what each school is responsible for as Marshall will share SUU's Federal Aviation Administration's certification. Marshall Provost Jaime Taylor said the partnership with Southern Utah is crucial. "If this was being done by Marshall University alone we would have the funding to do a fixed-wing program, which is a huge demand nationally," he said. "But by bringing Southern Utah into this, they are going to help invest in this program, purchasing the helicopters. It's going to allow us to do both a fixed wing and helicopter program." Taylor said there is a limited number of four-year fixed wing programs in the eastern portion of the United States with only one in Kentucky, Tennessee, and Georgia. According to Taylor, tier one airlines such as Delta and American only hire pilots with four-year degrees, putting Marshall's potential program in the spotlight. "We have people contacting us regularly asking when is this program going to be up and running because they want to get into it," he said. Taylor said that students will be earning certificates along the way to their four-year degree including in private pilot, commercial pilot, and junior flight instruction. Those participating in the program may have the opportunity to stay in a dorm at Marshall's South Charleston campus. Gilbert said after Marshall and Southern Utah sign an agreement to continue the partnership, MU will begin to look into requests for proposals of building a private residence hall. Marshall expects around 300 students in the program once it gets established but will plan the residence hall by phases, with 50 to 75 beds being built first. From there, Marshall plans to look into construction at Yeager Airport for a classroom facility and look at what needs to be done in terms of a hangar facility. Gilbert said he was very thankful for the help from Yeager Airport, director Terry Sayre and its board as well as the West Virginia National Guard, Civil Air Patrol, and alumni in aviation for reaching out. According to Gilbert, Marshall is also looking into a 2-year program with Mountwest Community and Technical College for an aircraft maintenance program to be held at Tri-State Airport. The entire "intent to plan" and program design will be brought in front of Marshall's BOG this Fall and if approved a Fall 2021 launch date is expected. http://wvmetronews.com/2019/07/07/marshall-sees-great-opportunity-with-aviation-program/ Back to Top Peyton Anderson Foundation Awards Workforce Training Grant to CGTC The Peyton Anderson Foundation recently announced an award of $630,000 to Central Georgia Technical College (CGTC) to support local employer and workforce needs in high-demand career training programs. This grant, which will be distributed over a four year period, will specifically support the expansion of CGTC's Aviation Maintenance Technology (AMT) and Aircraft Structural Technology (AST) programs. In April, state and local leaders and Robins Air Force Base (RAFB) officials joined CGTC in announcing the relocation of aerospace training programs and a portion of the RAFB commodities workload to the former Boeing facility at the Middle Georgia Regional Airport in Macon. The Peyton Anderson Foundation grant will be used to purchase instructional equipment and training aids, including circuits and faultfinding materials, computer numerical trainers, and aviation electronics training materials. "The College is elated to receive this support from the Peyton Anderson Foundation to grow and strengthen our aerospace technology programs," said Dr. Ivan H. Allen, president of CGTC. "Our high-demand training programs in aerospace are critical to the local economy, and this generous gift will position CGTC to enhance access and opportunities for citizens throughout Macon-Bibb and the central Georgia region. Additionally, this grant award is another example of how Macon-Bibb community leaders are committed to fostering a well-trained, qualified talent pool to meet the workforce needs of local industries." Graduates of CGTC's Aerospace programs are qualified for a variety of positions with local employers. AMT graduates can also earn an Airframe and PowerPlant (A & P) license. With multiple financial aid options, including the HOPE Grant and HOPE Career Grant, qualified students can attend at little to no cost and graduate debt free. For more information on enrolling at CGTC to pursue a high-demand career field, log on to www.centralgatech.edu or call 478-988-6800. https://www.unionrecorder.com/news/peyton-anderson-foundation-awards-workforce-training-grant-to-cgtc/article_4c856a38-9f24-11e9-a664-7fd0e5107570.html Back to Top Budget 2019 sets the ball rolling for FDI in aviation Mumbai: The government has proposed to hike the foreign direct investment ( FDI) limit in domestic air carriers from existing 49%, finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman said in her maiden budget speech on Friday. "The government will examine suggestions of further opening up of FDI in aviation, media (animation, AVGC) and insurance sectors in consultation with all stakeholders," Sitharaman said. The push from the government to increase FDI limits in aviation could help troubled airlines such as Air India and Jet Airways, which had been grounded since 18 April due to an acute fund crunch, find buyers. The government will also implement measures to make the country a hub of aircraft leasing and aviation finance. "As the world's third-largest domestic aviation market, the time is ripe for India to enter into aircraft financing and leasing activities from Indian shores. This is critical to the development of a self-reliant aviation industry, creating aspirational jobs in aviation finance, besides leveraging the business opportunities available in India's financial special economic zones (SEZs), namely, International Financial Services Centre (IFSC)," Sitharaman said in her budget speech. The government will implement the essential elements of the regulatory roadmap for making India a hub for such activities, he added. The finance minister also said the government was keen to provide an enabling ecosystem for growth of maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) industry in the country to achieve self-reliance in the aviation sector. "The government will adopt suitable policy interventions to create a congenial atmosphere for the development of MRO in the country," Sitharaman added. At present, most Indian airlines lease aircraft from overseas-based companies due to a dearth of domestic options. Most Indian carriers service their aircraft abroad as domestic MRO attracts high taxes, which further increases costs of airlines. The government's emphasis on the MRO sector found resonance among local service providers. "The MRO Association of India thanks the Indian Government, especially the Ministry of Civil Aviation, The Ministry of Finance and the Office of the Prime Minister for recognizing the potential and opportunity present by MRO industry," said Bharat Malkani, president of the MRO Association of India, in a statement. "We are confident of turning India from an importer of MRO to a net exporter and create over 100,000 direct jobs and revenues exceeding 35,000 crore in the next five years," Malkani added. Aerospace manufacturers Pratt & Whitney's India managing director Palash Roy Chowdhury said the government's plans to adopt suitable policy intervention in the MRO sector will not only boost the local industry but contribute to the government's tax revenues. "We look forward to the much-needed government support that will enable the local MROs to compete with foreign ones which enjoy a more favourable import tax regime," Roy Chowdhury added. Sitharaman however didn't explicitly mention the measures that the government will take to make the country a hub of aircraft lease and aviation financing, both in her speech and in the budget documents. The minister also didn't elaborate on the policy intervention it plans to bring about in the MRO sector. Meanwhile, one of the key demands of the aviation industry, to reduce taxation on aviation turbine fuel (ATF) or jet fuel, was not addressed by the government in the latest budget. At present, jet fuel accounts for about 35%-50% of airline's costs. The domestic aviation industry has been lobbying to include ATF under the GST (Goods and Service Tax) regime. "The non-inclusion of ATF in the GST regime is extremely disappointing for the long term viability of the aviation sector," said Anuj Prasad, Partner, Shardul Amarchand Mangaldas & Co. "(While) the increase in FDI limits in the sector probably comes too late for Jet Airways but may enable Air India privatization," Prasad added. Some aviation sector officials were even disappointed not to find anything 'concrete' in the budget for the sector. "We though there will be a major roadmap to bring down taxes on ATF and even bring it under GST regime. We also thought that the government will lower the taxes on MRO (currently at 18%). However, none of this happened," said an official with an Indian airline, who requested anonymity. "There isn't anything concrete on the aviation sector in the budget. We will wait till further announcements on 'suitable policy interventions' are made in the policy front," the person said adding, "At present Indian airlines go abroad to service their aircraft since domestic taxes on MRO are very high. I don't see this changing unless taxes are brought down." An aviation consultant told Mint under the conditions of anonymity that the 2019 union budget had nothing new for the aviation sector that hasn't been already discussed by the current government. "The government has been talking about making India a hub of aviation finance leasing, apart from MROs, for some time now. But, unless, it gives tax exemptions and creates a robust mechanism that prevents double taxation, foreign leasing companies will not be interested to set up business in India," the consultant said adding that none of these have been addressed in the budget. https://www.livemint.com/budget/news/budget-2019-sets-the-ball-rolling-for-fdi-in-aviation-1562324176960.html Back to Top Cape Cod-based airline plans to fly all-electric plane HYANNIS - Cape Air is on course to become one of the first commercial airlines in the world to operate an all-electric aircraft on its regional routes. Eviation Aircraft, a startup company based in Israel, unveiled a prototype of an electric airplane at the Paris Air Show last month, announcing that Cape Air would be its first customer. "It's a really great airplane," Daniel Wolf, founder and CEO of Cape Air, said. The sleek-looking plane, called Alice, is a nine-passenger aircraft that can fly at 240 knots with a range of up to 650 miles on a single charge, according to a statement from Eviation. "The race is on," Wolf said of the introduction of all-electric aircraft. "They are the lead development company working on the size of plane Cape Air operates. It's perfect." Eviation, which already had been working with the Federal Aviation Administration, was searching globally for a launch partner and approached Cape Air because of its route structure, according to Wolf. Cape Air is one of the largest independent regional airlines in the nation, serving 35 cities in the U.S. and the Caribbean, including Hyannis, Martha's Vineyard, Nantucket and Provincetown. Integration of the Alice aircraft into its fleet will require an infrastructure investment for Cape Air, including proper charging capacity equipment and specialized maintenance and support needs for the new technology, Wolf said. Cape Air, which has been recognized by the Environmental Protection Agency for its sustainability efforts, plans to charge the new aircraft in Hyannis with solar energy generated at Barnstable Municipal Airport, as well as with wind energy from the Vineyard Wind project, Wolf said. "The beauty is that this is an electric plane being charged with solar and wind power," he said. "It's sustainable, and there's no negative footprint. And the plane will be quieter, too - it's kind of the perfect picture." Eliminating fuel costs likely will provide a significant cost savings to the airline and the flying public. Wolf estimates, depending on the cost of electricity, that the cost of operating one of the all-electric planes could be as low as $200 per hour. On its website, Eviation touts traveling between Martha's Vineyard and Boston "in no time" - a 20-minute flight - as how it is "bridging distances and opening a range of new destinations accessible for on-demand transportation by enabling emission-free air travel for the price of a train ticket." Eviation says it is conducting test flights this year and pursuing certification in 2021, with a goal of shipping the aircraft to carriers for commercial use in 2022. But Wolf says that may be an ambitious goal to get the aircraft up and running on Cape Air routes. "I think it is more realistic that we will be able to operate (Alice) in commercial service in 2023 or 2024," he said. Eviation said in Paris that Cape Air has a double-digit purchase option for the Alice aircraft. As an early adopter and partner, Cape Air will be involved in customer convenience and comfort features in the plane's development process, according to Wolf, who referred questions regarding the price of the aircraft to Eviation. A phone call and email message to Eviation's San Francisco-based communications agency had not been returned as of late Wednesday. Several media reports from the Paris Air Show said the aircraft would have a list price of approximately $4 million. https://www.providencejournal.com/news/20190705/cape-cod-based-airline-plans-to-fly-all-electric-plane Back to Top Euramec strengthens operations in China with new sales office and team expansion Hangzhou 'China Innovation-Drive Strategy' Supports Euramec China Drive Hangzhou, CHINA/Hamme, Belgium - Euramec, the European provider of advanced flight simulation solutions, officially opened its Sales and Support office today in Hangzhou as a response to the company's continued growth within the Chinese market. The office will be home to a new team consisting of hardware and software support engineers, to support Euramec's strategic partners and clients in China. In addition to bringing world-class technical support, the Hangzhou Sales and Support office will develop flight simulation systems and go to market with products that are developed, created and sold in and for the Chinese market. A Diamond DA-20 simulator and other cockpit panels are available for demonstrations and to run applicable software tests. Euramec appointed Dalvey Tan as Executive Director - Training and Maintenance Dalvey Tan joins the expanding Euramec China team to drive new business and strengthen existing operations in the region. The Greater China region is a core focus for Euramec, as the General Aviation and Business Aviation markets continue to grow in size and significance. Mr. Tan will also seek out new business opportunities and solutions that help meet the needs of Euramec's existing clients in the region. Euramec has a product and services portfolio that includes flight simulation solutions, flight training and maintenance services. Mr Tan brings more than 15 years of experience with Chinese high-tech and aerospace to the Euramec team, having most recently served as Vice President & Managing Director of HZ Yong Rong Trading Co. in Hangzhou. The Hangzhou Municipal People's Government In June 2018 Hangzhou City Jianggan District Council awarded Hangzhou Euramec Aviation Technologies Co. Ltd. with the First Prize Startup STAR Program Award to support an initiative to set up an R&D centre in Hangzhou, China. Euramec will offer design and production services to aircraft manufacturers requiring custom-made Flight Simulation Devices (FTD) for training and engineering purposes in China. The Euramec R&D Center will design and create FTDs for China's Civil Aviation market as well as for China's General Aviation and sporty Ultra-Light aircraft (ULM). These ULMs are lightweight, 2-seat fixed-wing aircraft-extremely light and are lightly equipped with avionics, making them inexpensive to purchase and maintain. All Euramec training devices are fully functional for both flight training/flight simulation as well as for crew and maintenance training programs. https://www.ajot.com/news/euramec-strengthens-operations-in-china-with-new-sales-office-and-team-expansion Back to Top Investigators scour scene of Bahamas chopper crash for clues Accident investigators in the Bahamas are going well below the surface of the water to try to figure out what went wrong in the moments before a helicopter crashed after takeoff and killed seven people, including West Virginia coal magnate Chris Cline. The Air Accident Investigation Department of the Bahamas said via Twitter late Friday that salvage teams were conducting "underwater surveying and mapping of debris field." The department said the operation has been underway since the crash of the Augusta AW139 chopper, which went down Thursday in waters just off Grand Cay after departing for Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Authorities have said it is too early to draw conclusions about the cause of the crash. They do not believe a distress call was made, and they only began searching after police received a report from Florida that Cline and the others had failed to arrive in Fort Lauderdale as expected. Those killed included Cline's 22-year-old daughter, Kameron, and three of her close friends: Brittney Layne Searson, Jillian Clark, and Delaney Wykle. Searson, Clark and Kameron Cline were recent graduates of Louisiana State University. Wykle had recently graduated from West Virginia University. Paula Wykle, Delaney's mother, said she saw her daughter for about three hours after she passed her nursing boards on Tuesday. Then Delaney "went to the Bahamas to meet her childhood best friend," Kameron Cline, whom she had not seen in about a year. "She was going to start work in August and we told her, 'This is your last chance to go before you become a grown-up,'" her mother said. Wykle said that when one of the vacationing party got sick and needed to be transported back to the mainland, Delaney Wykle wanted to be there to help. That's how she ended up on the helicopter. "She got to practice nursing for one day," Wykle said, calling her daughter "smart, loving, and one of the best friends anyone could ever ask for." The Wykle family is from Beckley, West Virginia. F. King Alexander, Louisiana State University's president, issued a statement of condolence to all the crash victims and their families. "The LSU community is mourning the loss of three recent graduates, along with all of those who lost their lives in this tragic accident. Kameron, Jillian and Brittney were all May 2019 graduates and had such bright futures ahead of them," Alexander said. The Searson family requested privacy in a statement Saturday in which they said their hearts have been "shattered at the loss of our beautiful daughter." She had a lifelong passion for dance and had just received a degree in kinesiology. Brad Ullman, executive director of the West Virginia Golf Association, confirmed that David Jude also was killed in the crash. The association said in a Facebook post that Jude was a "great ambassador for the game." Bahamas Police Supt. Shanta Knowles said Saturday that Geoffrey Painter of Barnstaple in the United Kingdom also was killed, and she confirmed the other victims' identities to The Associated Press. The Air Accident Investigation Department of the Bahamas said its investigators will be assisted by the National Transportation Safety Board, the Federal Aviation Administration, the manufacturer of the aircraft and engine and other agencies. "Once on site our team will collect data, conduct witness interviews, examine and photograph the wreckage before it is transported to the facility in Florida for further analysis and documentation," the department said. "We will also be looking to examine the maintenance history of the craft, review weather information, operations policies, regulations requirements and the operation of the aircraft. On Friday, the death of Chris Cline led to eulogies from coal industry leaders, government officials and academics who described him as a visionary who was generous with his $1.8 billion fortune. Cline began toiling in the mines of southern West Virginia at a young age, rising through the ranks of his father's company quickly before forming his own energy development business, the Cline Group, which grew into one of the country's top coal producers. He went on to amass a fortune and became a major Republican donor. https://weartv.com/news/nation-world/investigators-search-for-clues-in-bahamas-chopper-crash Back to Top SIUC'S College of Applied Sciences and Arts excels at preparing students Starting out in 1950 as the Vocational Technical Institute, SIU's College of Applied Sciences and Arts (CASA) continues to prepare students with valuable hands-on learning in our two associate, 14 baccalaureate, and six masters degree programs in the most high-demand fields in the U.S., designated by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Last month, the SIU Flying Salukis placed second in the nation, winning the Judges Trophy, with top pilots Matt Browning winning first place and Jon Ezcell at second place. Our SIU Flying Salukis have won nine national championships and have placed in the top three each year since 2010. With an extreme shortage of pilots, aviation mechanics and avionics technicians, the median income for airline pilots is $140,340 with substantial bonuses (up to $45,000), to recruit our SIU aviation graduates. Pipeline agreements with SkyWest Airlines, TransState Airlines, Republic Airlines and Air Wisconsin provide our graduates a 100% employment rate. Aviation technologies graduates are employed as aircraft mechanics and aviation technicians with a median annual income of $62,920. SIU aviation technologies is the only helicopter-maintenance training program at a public college or university. We offer Bell Helicopter certified training and are proud of our growing on-line degree completion program. SIU Aviation Management also operates five off-campus sites in California, Pennsylvania, Illinois, and North Carolina, with a sixth opening this fall in Costa Mesa, California. https://thesouthern.com/news/local/siu/column-meera-komarraju-siuc-s-college-of-applied-sciences-and/article_75f6e36d-ce9a-596e-9c39-28527998eab1.html Back to Top Chasing SpaceX, Amazon seeks permission to launch 3,236 internet satellites Amazon.com Inc. asked for U.S. permission to launch 3,236 communications satellites, joining a new space race to offer internet service from low orbits and challenge the fleet planned by Elon Musk's SpaceX. Amazon in a July 4 filing told the Federal Communications Commission that its Kuiper satellites would deliver broadband to tens of millions of consumers and businesses that now lack adequate access to the internet. The agency coordinates trajectories and radio-frequency use. The FCC already has approved nearly 13,000 low-Earth orbit satellites. Those include 11,943 for Musk's Space Exploration Technologies Corp., which launched an initial batch of 60 spacecraft in May. Besides SpaceX and Amazon, possible space-broadband providers include London-based OneWeb, which is backed by Japan's SoftBank Group Corp. and British billionaire Richard Branson's Virgin Group, and LeoSat Enterprises, a Washington, D.C., company that has partnered with major European satellite maker Thales Alenia Space. Satellite manufacturer Boeing Co. has also submitted paperwork to the FCC proposing its own satellite broadband constellation. At low-Earth orbit - altitudes of 112 to 1,200 miles (or about 180 to 2,000 kilometers) - satellites need to race around the globe to stay aloft, completing orbits in as little as 90 minutes. As one moves toward the horizon, it will hand off signal duties to the next satellite coming by. Many satellites are needed if continuous, widespread coverage is the goal. Amazon in its FCC application said its satellites would operate at altitudes of about 370 to 390 miles (590 to 630 kilometers). Amazon Chief Executive Jeff Bezos last month said the Kuiper project would cost "multiple billions of dollars." The project is separate from Bezos' space launch vehicle maker, Blue Origin. "This is a long-term project that envisions serving tens of millions of people who lack basic access to broadband internet," Amazon said in a statement in April, when the company's satellite program first became public in a filing with the International Telecommunications Union. In its FCC filing, Amazon said it would help serve U.S. communities "by offering fixed broadband communications services to rural and hard-to-reach areas." The Kuiper System will help mobile network operators to expand wireless services, Amazon said in its application. It also offered the prospect of "high-throughput mobile broadband connectivity services for aircraft, maritime vessels and land vehicles." SpaceX has similar ambitions. The company has said its broadband coverage would be aimed at customers in the U.S. and around the world, "including areas underserved or currently unserved by existing networks." In mid-June, Musk seemed to narrow the scope, saying the broadband plan's main value was in providing internet access to "rural or semirural areas, places that don't have connectivity right now." In 2017, more than 26% of people who lived in rural areas in the U.S. were not covered by terrestrial broadband internet service, according to a May report from the Federal Communications Commission; 33 million Americans don't have access to speedy mobile service. Worldwide, 3.8 billion people remain without fast and reliable broadband service, according to Amazon's application; industry experts have estimated that only 10% to 20% of the Earth's land area is covered by terrestrial cell towers. https://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-amazon-spacex-space-internet-20190705-story.html Curt Lewis