JULY 18, 2019 - No. 057 In This Issue United Airlines Becomes Newest Sponsor of MIAT College of Technology Houston Campus Classroom With Focus on Developing and Recruiting Skilled Workers Aviation Mx Training School Opens Charlotte Campus FLYHT and ATP CaseBank Partner to Produce Enhanced Aircraft Reliability Application FL Technics implementing next generation mechanics training using VR Singapore-Thailand Grow MRO Ties Missing in action: where are aviation employee shortages hitting hardest? Baker FORMS New Aviation Services Group, Names Industry Veteran Ray Goyco, Jr. to CEO Role GAMECO angling for narrowbody freighter conversions with new maintenance lines Sanderson Field introduces new FBO Ampaire Offers First Hybrid Electric Aircraft for Sale to General Aviation Pilots SpaceX Reveals How Its Crew Dragon Spacecraft Exploded - And It May Not Launch Humans In 2019 United Airlines Becomes Newest Sponsor of MIAT College of Technology Houston Campus Classroom With Focus on Developing and Recruiting Skilled Workers United Airlines has become one of the newest sponsors of a classroom at the Houston campus of MIAT College of Technology. One of several Houston area employers focused on developing and recruiting skilled workers, United Airlines initiated a collaborative relationship with faculty and staff of MIAT in Houston in 2015 when the college expanded its aviation maintenance program. MIAT offers career education and training programs that support the need for skilled workers in high demand fields such as aviation maintenance, energy, industrial manufacturing, wind power, welding, and heating, ventilation, air conditioning and refrigeration (HVACR). MIAT College of Technology offers opportunities for Houston area employers to sponsor classrooms at no cost. Terms and conditions apply to MIAT's classroom sponsorship for the purposes of clarifying the commitment and expectations by and for all parties involved. "I am extremely thankful for the involvement of United Airlines in our career college and for expanding its relationship with us. By volunteering to become a classroom sponsor this year, United Airlines puts itself in an excellent position to achieve 'top of mind' recognition from our students. Like other classroom sponsors on our campus, United Airlines is hoping to be viewed as a future employer of choice when our students graduate from our program," explained John Willis, MIAT College of Technology Houston campus president. United Airlines and others in the aviation industry sector are experiencing a global shortage of qualified maintenance technicians because many workers are "aging out" and retiring. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, overall employment of aircraft and avionics mechanics and technicians is expected to grow by 5 percent over the period of 2016 to 2026, an increase from 148,500 to 157,000. (See www.bls.gov for more information.) Representatives of United Airlines are active members of MIAT's Program Advisory Committee, which provides recommendations for educating and training MIAT's students to fulfill the requirements for FAA-certified Airframe and Powerplant maintenance technicians. In addition, United Airlines maintenance supervisors and team members assigned to Bush Intercontinental Airport near the MIAT Houston campus serve as guest speakers for graduation ceremonies and supplemental instruction. United Airlines also hosts field trips for MIAT students, offers part-time employment opportunities, and employs MIAT's graduates. In addition, MIAT and United Airlines have negotiated a special training agreement for employees and their relatives. About MIAT College of Technology MIAT College of Technology was founded in Michigan in 1969 and has built a strong reputation and effective, mutually beneficial working relationships with leading employers throughout the United States. MIAT is accredited by the Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges (ACCSC). With 50 years of vocational and technical education experience, MIAT serves several hundred students at its 125,000 square-foot headquarters facility in Canton near the Detroit Metropolitan Airport and its 40,400 square-foot campus in Houston near the Bush Intercontinental Airport. The Houston campus, which opened in 2010, is approved to accept international students and is approved and regulated by the Texas Workforce Commission (TWC). Both campuses offer admissions guidance, career services, financial services, housing assistance, and a Learning Resource Center, and are approved for Federal Military and Veterans Education Benefits (VA). With the support of highly qualified and actively engaged faculty and staff, MIAT College of Technology has graduated thousands of students since its inception. MIAT equips its students with the industry-relevant skills, experience, relationships and connections to employers that it takes to pursue rewarding technical careers. MIAT develops its programs and curricula in direct response to feedback and input from industry leaders who are seeking qualified employees. The school collaborates with its employer partners to tailor its programs to address the highest needs and priorities of the end users in the industries that they exist to serve. MIAT graduates gain the confidence and extensive preparation that facilitate a smooth transition into the workplace through their industry-influenced, practical training. https://finance.yahoo.com/news/united-airlines-becomes-newest-sponsor-171600716.html Back to Top Aviation Mx Training School Opens Charlotte Campus The Aviation Institute of Maintenance (AIM) has established its 12th campus, this one in Charlotte, North Carolina, where more than 15,000 manufacturing jobs have been added in the past six years, according to the Charlotte Regional Business Alliance. AIM is enrolling students in a manufacturing, fabrication, and repair program that it said will equip them to work as millwrights, industrial maintenance mechanics, and machinery workers. Housed in a 51,000-sq-ft facility, the Charlotte campus includes a learning resource center, computer lab, and 17 classrooms equipped with audio-visual technology. "As the Queen City continues its exponential growth, AIM is proud to develop the workforce for current and future needs of the manufacturing industry," Charlotte campus executive director Alex Diaz said. Its network of 12 schools primarily serves as aviation maintenance schools that prepare students to obtain their mechanic's certificate with ratings in airframe and powerplant for commercial, cargo, corporate, and private aviation operations. https://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/business-aviation/2019-07-16/aviation-mx-training- school-opens-charlotte-campus Back to Top FLYHT and ATP CaseBank Partner to Produce Enhanced Aircraft Reliability Application CALGARY, Alberta, July 17, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- FLYHT Aerospace Solutions Ltd. (TSX-V: FLY) (OTCQX: FLYLF) (the "Company" or "FLYHT") today is pleased to announce a new partner relationship. FLYHT, an industry leader in capturing, processing, and transmitting real-time aircraft data, along with ATP CaseBank, the leading provider of troubleshooting, reliability and defect trend analysis solutions, are pleased to announce a jointly offered solution to improve aircraft reliability. The two companies have joined forces to create an application that will help identify and communicate potential and existing aircraft equipment health issues, more effectively allowing for better diagnosis and subsequent repair. This Aircraft Health Monitoring System (AHMS) is designed to detect, alert, and automatically capture key diagnostics data for all aspects of the aircraft, in real-time. This breakthrough helps airlines discover issues before they affect the serviceability of the aircraft, enabling proactive maintenance to avoid future flight delays or cancellations. "This new partnership with FLYHT delivers the two things the aviation industry values most when it comes to maintenance - efficiency and accuracy," commented Chris Lewis, Chief Operations Officer of ATP CaseBank. "CaseBank's advanced troubleshooting ecosystem coupled with the dynamic on- board data capture capabilities of FLYHT allows airlines to detect and fix emerging faults sooner than previously possible, often prior to failure." The unique benefits offered by this innovative AHMS application can be classified into three main groups. First, real-time monitoring always allows for the operational status of the entire fleet of aircraft to be known, with instant updates relayed as conditions change. Graphical displays also provide location and health status for each aircraft. Next, the diagnostic capabilities of the troubleshooting and analysis ecosystem allow the on-board system to automatically capture important data relevant to each fault and give airline maintenance control the ability to explore current and historical data, send action messages, and launch troubleshooting guidance to resolve technical issues as soon as possible. Finally, the solution proactively identifies impending issues detected in the patterns of data produced by the aircraft which have not yet affected the serviceability of the aircraft - allowing them to be identified early and enabling maintenance recommendations to pre-empt functional failures. "It's an exciting combination of capabilities," said Tom Schmutz, CEO of FLYHT. "FLYHT offers real time reporting of aircraft faults and the ability to query aircraft systems for diagnostic information. CaseBank's Spotlight adds the intelligent database to guide the query and diagnose the fault. A real-time problem can be identified and quantified before the aircraft even lands." Customers of both ATP CaseBank and FLYHT can begin taking advantage of this partnership immediately and those interested in obtaining more information about this new technology are encouraged to visit http://www.flyht.com. About ATP CaseBank www.casebank.com ATP CaseBank is a global information services and software company focused on helping maintenance professionals improve speed, quality, and cost of maintenance, to enhance business performance. The CaseBank software division provides troubleshooting, reliability, and defect trend analysis tools that help engineering and service teams accelerate equipment repair, increase uptime, reduce warranty costs, and improve product support and performance. The company has deep roots in the general aviation, automotive, technology, aerospace, and defence industries and has deployed solutions worldwide to support multiple Fortune 100 companies. As a global company, ATP CaseBank has more than 6,700 customers in 137 countries, with over 43 years of experience in the information services and software industries. About FLYHT Aerospace Solutions Ltd. FLYHT's mission is to improve aviation safety, efficiency and profitability. Globally, and for more than 20 years, airlines, leasing companies, fractional owners and original equipment manufacturers have installed FLYHT's differentiated aircraft and enterprise-based solutions to deliver real-time, flight-deck, satellite connectivity for tracking, health monitoring, and streaming of operational, maintenance and weather data. FLYHT is publicly traded as FLY in Canada on the TSX.V; and as FLYLF in the USA on the OTCQX. FLYHT is based in Calgary, Canada with an office in Littleton, Colorado and is an AS9100 Quality registered company. For more information visit www.flyht.com. https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2019/07/17/1883885/0/en/FLYHT-and-ATP- CaseBank-Partner-to-Produce-Enhanced-Aircraft-Reliability-Application.html Back to Top FL Technics implementing next generation mechanics training using VR FL Technics, a global provider of integrated aircraft maintenance, repair and overhaul service, which is part of Avia Solutions Group, has begun implementing VR modules for the basic training of aviation mechanics. The company has presented its first VR module, which covers the opening of the reverse thrust engine of a Boeing 737NG, and is set to expand its list of modules in the coming months to cover the full scope of maintenance training. Zilvinas Lapinskas, CEO at FL Technics, explains what inspired this innovative approach to training: "Our main goal is to reduce the time it takes new mechanics to enroll in the company. Globally the industry struggles with the 3-month long enrollment process needed for aviation mechanics. So that's why we are pushing to shorten that process as much as we can, and we aim to try to get it down to 3 weeks. Once we've reached that target, we'll be looking into the possibilities of taking our training product to market." The VR module itself has been designed to be as intuitive as possible, with the trainee mechanic proceeding through the series of tasks necessary for the opening of the engine. This starts with the mechanic selecting the right tools, then opening the covers, opening the reverse, inserting the safety lock and so on. The trainee can also select whether or not they require in simulation guidance. All efforts have been made to make the simulator as accurate and realistic as possible, even down to the fact that it will record any financial damage that would have been done to the aircraft as a result of the trainee's performance. Ramunas Paskevicius, Head of IT and Innovations at FL Technics, who is heading up the companies VR initiative, is convinced of the value that such training will provide: "We are currently testing the modules in-house and this will give us a better idea of how they fit into the business. As the general demand for professional mechanics in the aviation industry is constantly growing, we are hoping to make the process shorter and prepare mechanics as fast as possible with no loss in quality. I am sure that our VR modules will help us to achieve all our goals." This new innovation is part of the company's already successful strategy for reducing the enrollment time needed for new aviation mechanics. The adaptation course that FL Technics created for onboarding new mechanics has already cut the enrollment process by almost a month. However, Mr Paskevicius, the course's creator, is not content to rest on his laurels: "Despite the fact that our special enrollment course is working, we still want to make the process faster. And, of course, new technologies are extremely valuable in this situation. A few years ago, very few professionals in the industry believed in the ideas for the future that I was presenting. Now we can see the results and how rapidly the technology has advanced. I am sure we can use it to our advantage." About FL Technics FL Technics is a global provider of aircraft maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) services. The Company specializes in base & line maintenance, spare parts & component support, engine, APU & LG management, full aircraft engineering, and technical training. FL Technics is an EASA Part-145, Part-M, Part-147, Part-21 as well as FAA-145 certified company with hangars in Lithuania, Indonesia and China as well as line stations around the world. FL Technics is a part of Avia Solutions Group, an international aerospace business group with 42 subsidiaries worldwide. https://www.baltictimes.com/fl_technics_implementing_next_generation_mechanics_training_ using_vr/ Back to Top Singapore-Thailand Grow MRO Ties Singapore Airlines Engineering (SIA Engineering) is a company with a penchant for forming joint ventures, with 25 in total located across eight different countries in Asia-Pacific and North America. Last week it continued this trajectory by incorporating its line maintenance partnership with Thai carrier NokScoot for a repair station at Bangkok's Don Mueang Airport. Building on a partnership first announced in March of this year, which will see a 51%-49% split between NokScoot and SIA Engineering respectively, the JV will operate as Line Maintenance Partnership from Thailand's second busiest airport. Initially, it will service NokScoot's fleet, which as of July, is comprised of five in-service Boeing 777- 200ER aircraft and services mid- to long-haul routes to Asia-Pacific, China and India. Over time, these line maintenance locations could grow at other airports in Thailand depending on any increases to the NokScoot fleet, which currently stands at an additional two 777s scheduled to join the fleet. Not only does this partnership further grow the ties between Singapore and Thailand--with NokScoot itself a JV of Thai carrier Nok Air and Singapore's Scoot, but it also adds to the maintenance infrastructure of Thailand, a country with ambitious plans to become one of the Asia- Pacific region's MRO hubs. Much of this activity centers on its eastern seaboard region, with Don Meaung one of three airports, along with Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi Airport and U-Tapao Airport located near Pattaya, which are set to serve as the focal point of the country's plans to grow capacity and better logistics links. U-Tapao, owned by the Royal Thai Navy, is set to be transformed into an MRO hub, with a joint- venture maintenance facility between Thai Airways and Airbus set for 2022, along with plans for a specialized MRO campus in which Thailand hopes to attract repair specialists. While Singapore will almost certainly remain as the aftermarket hub of the Asia-Pacific region, space is limited within the realms of the city-state. Thailand, sure to face competition from other regional nations benefiting from low-cost labor markets such as Malaysia, Indonesia and Vietnam, will most likely try to capitalize on this. https://www.mro-network.com/maintenance-repair-overhaul/singapore-thailand-grow-mro-ties Back to Top Missing in action: where are aviation employee shortages hitting hardest? With the summer season fast approaching, holidaymakers risk facing disruption as the aviation industry braces for a new wave of staff shortages across the sector. Where is this employee deficit being felt the most, and how is it affecting the industry? The aviation industry has been facing a serious shortage of skilled professionals for a long time, but it is only in the past few years that the issue has reached worrying, unprecedented levels. Whether they are on strike due to low salaries, discouraged by increasingly challenging training courses or attracted by more competitive markets, airport and aircraft workers are decreasing in number, often leading to disruption in flights and limited service across the world. Figures from Boeing's Pilot and Technician Outlook 2018-2037 suggest the situation could even get worse if not urgently tackled. According to the company's estimates, the industry will need two million new commercial airline pilots, maintenance technicians and cabin crew members over the next 20 years. Here's a look at where these shortages have been hitting hardest and how they're affecting the industry and passengers. Pilots A widespread deficit of pilots across all continents has affected the sector particularly in recent years, with cases of pilot shortages regularly appearing on the news. For example, in India local airline Jet Airways has been grounded since April, when staff went on strike for not being paid their wages. A similar crisis hit Scotland earlier this year. Here, Flybe blamed a series of cancelled or delayed flights on its shortage of pilots. In Japan, Jetstar Japan cancelled 70 flights for the same reason. With Boeing's report predicting some 635,000 pilots will be needed for commercial lines alone over the next two decades, companies are now working to launch new and better training schemes that would allow them to source workforce locally instead of relying on international markets. Cabin crew Cabin crew shortages happen almost as often - and often together with - pilot shortages due to low salaries, competition and a slow generational turnover. In March this year, Air India was forced to cancel ten flights as a result of a substantial cabin crew shortage that left it in need for an estimated 4,000 to 5,000 workers. Emirates faced a similar fate in 2018, as Reuters reported a series of resignations and workforce constraints were affecting services throughout the line. Data published by aviationpros.com in 2016 seem to support this trend, suggesting 85% of surveyed airlines were looking to hire more staff, most of which was cabin crew. Engineers and mechanics With air traffic poised for a huge growth over the next couple of decades and customer expectations increasing as a result, the role of aviation engineers and aviation maintenance technicians (AMTs) will become more and more indispensable. Yet several countries have recently witnessed a radical drop in the market, making the need for new skilled technicians a high priority for the aviation sector. Last year, this issue was brought up in the UK by Baroness Liz Sugg - at the time working as Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Transport - who announced that the government is working on a strategy to attract more qualified engineers to aviation. Similarly, recent reports in the US have estimated the country will have a deficit of 15,000 certified AMTs by 2027 - a worrying prospect considering that the global fleet size is expected to grow by 40% over the next decade. According to Boeing's research, maintenance personnel will be particularly required in the Asia Pacific region and North America, with global demand reaching approximately 754,000 technicians. Air traffic controllers A rising problem in both the US and Europe, the scarce availability of air traffic control staff has long been the cause of disruption in these areas, often during peak seasons. In May this year, Airlines for Europe managing director Thomas Reynaert warned that striking air traffic controllers in France and throughout the continent will likely cause disruption over the summer. This has already meant an increase in en-route delays by almost 40% in April compared to March. Meanwhile, several inbound and outbound flights were cancelled at New York's La Guardia airport in January, as air traffic controllers and other federal aviation employees took on sick leave during the government shutdown. Similar cases were registered in Florida and Washington DC over the same period. Security A shortage of Transportation Security Administration (TSA) officers spread across the US in January this year, sending the local aviation authorities into a state of chaos. Protesting against the government shutdown, which led to massive delays in salary payments, TSA officers took to the streets and their workplaces to protest, which led to severe disruption throughout the country. While the issue has now been tackled in some areas, it is nowhere near sorted at Seattle's Sea-Tac Airport. Here, a growing shortage of TSA screening officers is increasingly exposing passenger to safety risks, with Sea-Tac's managing director Lance Lyttle explaining to the US Congress in May that the airport is losing staff almost as fast as it hires them. https://www.airport-technology.com/features/aviation-staff-shortages/ Back to Top Baker FORMS New Aviation Services Group, Names Industry Veteran Ray Goyco, Jr. to CEO Role July 16, 2019 - Fort Worth, Texas - Baker Aviation in Forth Worth, Texas, has formed Baker Aviation Services Group, LLC and announced Ray Goyco, Jr. will be leading the newly formed entity as Chief Executive Officer. The Baker Aviation Services Group will focus on managing current strategic partnerships, contractual management, and compliance, as well as manage HOT-STOP 'L' fire containment kit sales and parts sales, while developing new relationships for Baker as dealers and distributors. Goyco previously served as the President and COO for Baker's Aviation Maintenance entity, where he led the business activities since its infancy in 2012. While working to expand the FAA Part 145 repair station at Addison Airport, Goyco quickly grew the business by adding manufacturer repair capabilities and expanding into three maintenance hangars. Goyco was also instrumental in the upgraded tarmac and taxiway to accommodate larger business jets into the Baker maintenance facility, as part of an Addison Airport renewal plan. Recently, the Baker Aviation charter, management, and maintenance businesses announced the centralization of their operations in Fort Worth as part of a master plan. Located at the east side of the KFTW airport, the new Baker Aviation 66,000 square foot complex, currently under construction, will include two state of the art hangars, both with 28-foot-high hangar doors to accommodate the largest business aircraft flying today. Mr. W. Stanley Baker, Jr., founder of Baker Aviation and prominent Fort Worth business owner, commented, "Ray's 30-year tenure in the industry and his proven ability to drive an effective business plan, past and present, has earned him the opportunity to drive our newest business group. We created this entity to capture and manage new opportunities, and I am confident that Ray will continue to help us grow the Baker business as we take this next step in our Fort Worth expansion plan," added Mr. Baker. "I am proud of what we accomplished over the last seven years with the Baker maintenance business and anticipate that my new leadership role will prove to be both challenging and extremely rewarding," stated Ray Goyco, Jr., CEO of Baker Aviation Services Group, LLC. "There are countless relationships and bonds that I have forged over the years with many business aviation professionals in this industry, and I look forward to working with them in my new role to advance our mutual success. My appreciation goes out to Mr. Baker and family for their encouragement and support as we continue to build and expand the Baker aviation business brand." As CEO for Baker Aviation Services Group, Ray Goyco will also assist in all aspects of Baker Aviation as a direct consultant to the ownership and its divisions. Goyco's offices and contact information will remain the same, located in the Atlantic Aviation FBO at the Addison Airport. https://www.aviationpros.com/aircraft/maintenance-providers/mro/press-release/21088672/baker- aviation-baker-forms-new-aviation-services-group-names-industry-veteran-ray-goyco-jr-to-ceo- role Back to Top GAMECO angling for narrowbody freighter conversions with new maintenance lines Guangzhou Aircraft Maintenance Engineering Co., Ltd. (GAMECO), in which China Southern holds a 50% stake, is in the process of constructing a third hangar with up to eleven maintenance lines as it seeks to support China Southern's growing fleet and increase its involvement with third-party projects including passenger-to-freighter conversions and freighter maintenance. GAMECO broke ground on the 98,500 sq. meter hangar in May and expects the facility to be operational by 2021. The third hangar will add eleven maintenance lines (five narrowbody and six widebody), bringing the MRO's total capacity to thirty lines across its three hangars. While freighter conversions weren't the only consideration driving GAMECO's expansion, opportunities to provide touch labor for conversions, and maintenance for the lifecycle of the airframe were factors, CEO Norbert Marx told Cargo Facts. Last year, Boeing and GAMECO inked an MoU to bring a conversion line to Guangzhou, but to date, the MoU no concrete plans to add any lines for NG conversions have been announced. Last month during the Paris Air Show Boeing hinted that this will soon change as the company's growing order book for 737-800BCFs may soon prompt it to add additional conversion lines. Boeing expects to more than double the number of 737-800BCF redeliveries from eight in 2018 to seventeen in 2019, but for now, two MROs host conversion lines for Boeing's program, including Boeing Shanghai Aviation Services (BSAS) and Shandong Aircraft Engineering Company (STAECO). Regardless of whether a conversion line for the 737-800BCF lands in Guangzhou, other STC holders continue to use the MRO for freighter conversions. In the past, GAMECO has performed touch labor for 737 Classic conversions, first for Bedek, and more recently, for PEMCO. The MRO had also planned to convert A321s for the now defunct PACAVI. https://cargofacts.com/gameco-angling-for-narrowbody-freighter-conversions-with-new- maintenance-lines/ Back to Top Sanderson Field introduces new FBO SAULT STE. MARIE - After years under the management of Soo Air and its owner Larry Putnam, Sanderson Field Municipal Airport (ANJ) of Sault Ste. Marie has a new fixed-base operator, Great Circle Aviation Services, LLC. (GCAS) - a company founded, owned and operated by the brothers Dave and Ted Waite of Brimley. The two share a passion for aviation and between them have served in all aspects of the field from pilot to mechanic to instructor. Decades of work with the Army, Navy, and Department of State Air Wing took them to countries all over the globe before retirement allowed them to return to the Sault in 2015. The specialty of their business is aircraft maintenance and repair, and the shared expertise they bring provide new opportunities to the airport and the community. A fixed-base operator, or FBO, sees to the operation of an airfield, from managing fuel sales and hangar rentals to mowing grass, plowing snow, etc. In addition to these operations, Dave Waite says that GCAS is set to "enhance the aviation aspect of Sault Ste. Marie" by expanding the airport's current offerings to include airplane repair, aircraft charters/rentals, and notably, opportunities for aviation education. Waite's passion for sharing his love of aviation began during his work in Columbia (one of the 42 countries he has visited on business), where he served as an advisor to the Colombian military teaching aircraft maintenance. "I really enjoyed it," he said. "And want to continue doing that here." Another goal of GCAS is to expand the maintenance profile of the airport and eventually obtain a Part 145 Certification from the FAA that would make Sanderson Field a recognized aircraft repair station. "We are keeping the current maintenance staff and adding to it," said Waite. "We're going to bring in more tooling so we can provide a wider range of maintenance services." GCAS has also expanded the concierge services offered by the airport. Office manager and concierge Dolly Waite coordinates accommodations for incoming pilots and passengers, helping to arrange their stay in the Sault from hotels and transportation to stops at local attractions. GCAS is a 100% veteran-owned company and was founded in 2015. Sanderson Field is the second of the company's locations. The first is an aircraft repair base at the Chippewa County International Airport (CIU) located in Kincheloe. Sanderson Field Municipal Airport (ANJ) will continue to host annual events such as the summertime Young Eagles Day. Next on the calendar is the Airport Movie Night & Open House, set to take place on Friday, September 27 at 6 p.m., and the Fall Aerial Color Tours which will take place on Saturday, September 28 from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Visit SandersonField.com for more information about the airport, and follow them on Facebook @sandersonfield for updates on upcoming events. https://www.sooeveningnews.com/news/20190716/sanderson-field-introduces-new-fbo Back to Top Ampaire Offers First Hybrid Electric Aircraft for Sale to General Aviation Pilots Ampaire, a pioneer in practical applications of electric power for aviation, will begin accepting Letters of Intent for its Ampaire Electric EEL hybrid electric aircraft at the EAA AirVenture airshow next week. The EEL is a retrofit of a Cessna 337 and has a conventional combustion engine plus an electric motor/battery pack drivetrain. The company already has more than a dozen letters of interest from regional airlines and charter providers. "The Ampaire Electric EEL is the first step in bringing lower emissions, lower-operating costs, and quieter operations to general aviation through electrification," according to the company's CEO Kevin Noertker. "The original Cessna 337 provided great utility, and this hybrid electric conversion retains those advantages while reducing fuel cost and maintenance by about 50 percent." The EEL made its first test flight in June and is in the process of systems evaluation and envelope expansion. It has made flights of more than one hour's duration and demonstrated single-engine climb on each powerplant. The test program will last about 30 months, with additional propulsion configurations tested, culminating in STC certification by the end of 2021. Customers will be offered two versions. The first will include an avgas-burning Continental IO-550 310 hp piston engine and a 215 hp (160 kW) electric propulsion system. The second will include a Continental CD-300 Jet A diesel 300 hp engine and the same 215 hp (160 kW) electric system. The company will offer pressurized and unpressurized versions of the aircraft. Winglets and STOL kit are standard. The interior can be equipped with four or six seats. The aircraft will be cost competitive with comparable current production piston twins. "This is something new and exciting in general aviation-twin engine redundancy and performance on as little as 10 gallons per hour in cruise flight," said Noertker. "Plus the opportunity to reduce your environmental footprint and still enjoy the freedom and flexibility to fly as you wish. We look forward to engaging with pilots at Oshkosh about this groundbreaking aircraft." https://www.aviationpros.com/engines-components/aircraft-engines/electric-green-engine- technology/press-release/21088955/ampaire-ampaire-offers-first-hybrid-electric-aircraft-for-sale- to-general-aviation-pilots Back to Top SpaceX Reveals How Its Crew Dragon Spacecraft Exploded - And It May Not Launch Humans In 2019 SpaceX revealed yesterday, July 15, the cause of the explosion that destroyed its Crew Dragon spacecraft - and delayed its first launch of humans to at least the end of 2019. On April 20, the Crew Dragon vehicle SpaceX had sent to the ISS weeks earlier on its first mission (Demonstration Mission 1, or Demo-1) experienced an "anomaly", as the company called it at the time, on a test pad at Cape Canaveral in Florida. Details were few and far between, although images and leaked footage appeared to show the spacecraft exploding during some sort of test. Almost three months later that was confirmed by SpaceX yesterday, who said in a press call that the issue occurred during a test of the capsule's thrusters. The company had first tested the capsule's smaller Draco thrusters before it was about to test the larger SuperDraco thrusters - which would be used for a launch abort test sometime after - when the vehicle was destroyed. The cause of the explosion appears to have been a faulty valve. Just before the SuperDraco thrusters were ignited, a "slug" of nitrogen tetroxide (NTO) oxidizer was sent into a helium check valve made of titanium, which caused the valve to ignite, leading to the vehicle's explosion. "The initial tests of twelve Draco thrusters on the vehicle completed successfully, but the initiation of the final test of eight SuperDraco thrusters resulted in destruction of the vehicle," SpaceX said in a statement. "In accordance with pre-established safety protocols, the test area was clear and the team monitored winds and other factors to ensure public health and safety." SpaecX noted the "anomaly" happened about 100 milliseconds before the ignition of the SuperDraco thrusters. And they said the reaction between the titanium and the NTO slug was "not expected", as titanium had been "used safely over many decades and on many spacecraft from all around the world". In the press call, SpaceX VP of Build and Flight Reliability Hans Koenigsmann said SpaceX was about 80% of the way through its investigation with NASA into the accident, with additional time planned to look into the physics of how it occurred. The investigation so far has relied on high- speed cameras that captured the incident, as well as various debris that had been ejected around the site. SpaceX is now planning to replace the type of valve used for this component of the spacecraft, switching from a check valve to a burst disk - the latter of which separates the oxidizer and fuel from the liquid, making Crew Dragon "a safer vehicle" Koenigsmann said, reported TechCrunch. The vehicle that exploded in this test was originally planned to be used for an in-flight abort test, checking that the capsule could safely escape from its rocket while launching to space in case of a failure (as was performed recently by NASA's Orion crew capsule). With this vehicle destroyed, however, SpaceX noted that the vehicle built for Demo-2 - the first crewed launch, traveling to the International Space Station (ISS) - would now be used for the abort test. Demo-2 will instead use the vehicle planned for Crew Dragon's first full mission to the ISS, Crew-1. As for when those launches might occur, that's unclear at the moment. SpaceX had hoped to launch its first humans to space in July 2019, but that is obviously off the table now. There is the possibility this launch could occur before the end of 2019, although Koenigsmann said this was becoming "increasingly difficult". At any rate, SpaceX appears glad that this incident happened now - calling it a "huge gift" - so that problems with the spacecraft can be ironed out before any humans climb on board. The company will now be hoping things proceed smoothly towards the first crewed flight, and with any luck, we'll see it by late 2019 or perhaps early 2020. https://www.forbes.com/sites/jonathanocallaghan/2019/07/16/spacex-reveals-how-its-crew- dragon-spacecraft-exploded-but-may-not-launch-humans-in-2019/#4f58535121f8 Curt Lewis