JULY 29, 2019 - No. 060 In This Issue Naval Air Station North Island Celebrates Century of Aviation Maintenance Forsyth Technical Community College Holds Groundbreaking Ceremony for the Mazie S. Woodruff Aviation Technology Lab Former Air Force One jet bought by Dutchess Community College for student training. A Year After Incidents, Embry-Riddle Replacing Bulk of Training Fleet With 60 New Cessna Skyhawks Delta's latest plane features wider seats, larger windows Airline not adhering to 'basic maintenance practices', caused death of SpiceJet technician, DGCA probe reveals Bid from Jet Airways' employees consortium & AdiGro Aviation under a cloud Family of helicopter crash victims want answers, changes to aviation safety Modifications Tilt Toward Lighter, Denser Seating Used SpaceX Dragon Cargo Ship Arrives at Space Station for Record 3rd Time Naval Air Station North Island Celebrates Century of Aviation Maintenance U.S. Naval Air Station North Island will host an event Friday to celebrate 100 years of excellence in aviation maintenance at the base. The event will celebrate aviation maintenance done at the air station's Fleet Readiness Center Southwest. The event is expected to feature 100th anniversary commemorative items, a car show and proclamations from Congressional districts 49, 50, 52 and 53, the county Board of Supervisors, the Port of San Diego's Board of Port Commissioners and the cities of San Diego, Coronado and Chula Vista Elected officials from the county as well as the cities of Coronado and Chula Vista are expected to attend and speak during the event. Fleet Readiness Center Southwest Commanding Officer Capt. Tony Jaramillo and Fleet Reading Centers Commander Rear Adm. Mike Zarkowski are also expected to speak. The celebration is scheduled to begin at 10 a.m. between Buildings 333 and 472 at the air station. The event is open to all military personnel who have access to the air station. https://timesofsandiego.com/military/2019/07/26/naval-air-station-north-island-celebrates-century-of-aviation-maintenance/ Back to Top Forsyth Technical Community College Holds Groundbreaking Ceremony for the Mazie S. Woodruff Aviation Technology Lab Winston- Salem, NC - Today, Forsyth Technical Community College held the official groundbreaking ceremony for the Mazie S. Woodruff Aviation Technology Lab at 2739 Aviation Drive in Winston-Salem on the grounds of Smith Reynolds Airport , "In 2016, Forsyth Tech leaders worked diligently to secure funding for the project and we are grateful to the Forsyth County Commissioners for moving forward with the bond referendum for capital improvements at Forsyth Tech, including the Mazie S. Woodruff Aviation Technology Lab," said Ann Bennett Phillips, board chair, Forsyth Tech board of trustees. The lab will be named in memory of Mazie S. Woodruff, the first African-American elected to serve on the Forsyth County Board of Commissioners. "Ms. Woodruff's dedication to education, her commitment to change and social justice, and her devotion to public service is unparalled," said Spriggs. "All of us at Forsyth Tech share her passion for public service and access to high quality education for everyone. I also believe we share a belief in the power of education to empower individuals and transform lives and communities." Guests at the ceremony included members of the Woodruff family, Forsyth County Commissioners, Smith Reynolds Airport Board, Forsyth Tech board of trustees, North Carolina Community College System representatives and community leaders. Guest Speakers included Ann Bennett Phillips, board chair, Forsyth Tech Board of Trustees; David R. Plyer, board chair, Forsyth County Board of Commissioners; Vivian H. Burke, mayor pro tempore and Winston-Salem City Council Member representing the Northeast Ward; Mr. Peter Hans, president of the North Carolina Community College System; Scott Piper, board chair, Smith Reynolds Airport; and Janet N. Spriggs, president, Forsyth Technical Community College. The 53,000 square foot facility will include a 12,000 square foot air frame lab that can accommodate eight aircraft. The two-story building will include classrooms and components labs including sheet metal, composite structures, avionics/electrical, paint, aircraft welding and piston/turbine engines. The lab will provide high-tech educational programming to build a skilled workforce of Aviation Maintenance Technicians and Avionics Electronics Technicians. Aviation Systems Technology will provide students with the knowledge and skills to qualify for an aircraft mechanic's certificate with airframe and power plant ratings, and Aviation Electronics (Avionics) Technology will educate students in the operations, repair and overhaul of general avionics, electrical and electronic systems, practical wiring, navigation, flight management and communications equipment. The aviation technology lab building is expected to cost $16 million and construction completion is set for Fall 2020. About Forsyth Tech Forsyth Technical Community College is a catalyst for equitable economic mobility, empowering lives and transforming communities. The college offers associate degrees, diplomas, and certificates in more than 200 programs of study, including programs that promote personal and professional development through non-credit courses and seminars, as well as customized training for business and industry. Forsyth Tech serves more than 35,000 students with approximately 1,500 full and part-time faculty and staff. For additional information, please visit forsythtech.edu and follow Forsyth Tech on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn. https://yesweekly.com/forsyth-technical-community-college-holds-groundbreaking-ceremony-for-the-mazie-s-woodruff-aviation-technology-lab/ Back to Top Former Air Force One jet bought by Dutchess Community College for student training WAPPINGER, N.Y. - A Gulfstream G-3 jet that served as one of the Air Force One aircraft for President George H.W. Bush has been acquired by Dutchess Community College and will make its home at the Hudson Valley Regional Airport It's the fourth plane to be acquired by DCC for less than $1,300 through the government's General Services Administration surplus program. All four aircraft, including two Cessnas and a Beechcraft, will be used on the ground as part of the college's Airframe and Powerplant Maintenance certification program to be offered at the Wappinger airport in 2020. The 12-month FAA-approved program will prepare students to be certified as aircraft mechanics. "The hands-on experience that Dutchess Community College students in the aviation maintenance technician program will receive on this aircraft will prepare them for high-paying jobs in the aviation field," said County Executive Marc Molinaro. The students' learning experiences will be enhanced by a state-of-the-art laboratory and classroom facilities housed in a yet-to-be-constructed hangar at the airport, according to the college. The G-3 purchased by DCC was delivered to the Air Force in 1983. In 2004, after transporting top government officials, it was assigned to the Army Corps of Engineers. It has been based in the U.S., Germany and the Middle East. Air Force One historically refers to whatever plane the president is aboard at a specific time, though the term commonly is associated with the Boeing VC-25 (a modified 747) used by the commander-in-chief. The Gulfstream G-3 is generally thought of as a business executive's jet. It can hold only about 20 passengers, and its range without refueling is just 4,200 miles. An unmodified 747 can hold more than 400 people and has range of about 8,350 miles. https://www.dailyfreeman.com/news/local-news/former-air-force-one-jet-bought-by-dutchess-community-college/article_aaeb8506-afbb-11e9-aca3-bb75dcfdb738.html Back to Top A Year After Incidents, Embry-Riddle Replacing Bulk of Training Fleet With 60 New Cessna Skyhawks Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, the world's leading aviation and aerospace institution, plans to replace many of its existing aircraft with at least 60 new Cessna Skyhawks from Textron Aviation Inc., a Textron Inc. company, as well as four new Diamond DA42-VI aircraft from Diamond Aircraft Industries, school leadership said this week. The fleet replenishment, confirmed at EAA AirVenture in Oshkosh, Wis., reflects Embry-Riddle's continuous effort to advance aviation education in service to students by ensuring that the school's fleet is updated on a regular basis. Last year the university's planes experienced a string of incidents, one of them fatal to a student and an examiner. "In keeping with Embry-Riddle's rigorous focus on aviation safety, new aircraft for our fleet were selected following an exhaustive evaluation by a team of experts on both our Prescott, Ariz., and Daytona Beach campuses," said Dr. P. Barry Butler, president of Embry-Riddle. "We are honored to extend our successful, long-term relationships with Textron Aviation and Diamond Aircraft Industries to replenish the Embry-Riddle fleet, to provide our students with a highly effective and reliable training platform that will serve them well." Embry-Riddle's fleet, encompassing both of the school's residential campuses, currently includes more than 100 aircraft, making the school's flight-training operation the size of a small regional airline. In Daytona Beach and Prescott, flight students complete more than 120,000 flight hours per year. "A global pilot shortage and the promise of high-paying careers have resulted in high demand for our flight-training programs," Butler said. In Daytona Beach and Prescott combined, total enrollment in the university's residential Aeronautical Science programs leading to a bachelor's degree for professional pilots has increased about 25 percent over the past three years, with nearly 2,000 students enrolled as of fall 2018. Demand for the fall 2019 semester is expected to reach more than 2,300 students. In response to this high demand, Embry-Riddle is gearing up for a major replenishment and likely expansion of its fleet, based on enrollment. Between now and September 2022, Embry-Riddle will purchase at least 60 new Skyhawk aircraft. After that, the university has the option to purchase another 10 Skyhawks per year, through 2030, based on demand for the nation's No. 1 aviation-training program. Four new Diamond DA42-VI aircraft are also being purchased for the Prescott Campus, along with two new industry-leading Frasca flight simulators. All of the new aircraft were selected for their reliability and performance, particularly at high altitudes - an important attribute for flight-training in Prescott. "A large committee of experts - including students, flight instructors, faculty, aviation maintenance professionals and business representatives - carefully assessed a variety of aircraft attributes before identifying the Skyhawks as the best choice for Embry-Riddle," said Dr. Kenneth Byrnes, chair of the Daytona Beach Flight Department. "The group ultimately concluded that these aircraft offer a safe, dependable design, they are easy to maintain, and they have an excellent operational safety record." A global pilot shortage and the promise of high-paying careers have resulted in high demand for Embry-Riddle's flight-training programs. Professor Parker Northrup, Flight Department chair on the Prescott Campus, reported that his program is gearing up to serve approximately 600 students this fall. The Daytona Beach Campus Aeronautical Science program expects to serve roughly 1,700 students in September, Byrnes said. "The decision to acquire the new Skyhawks resulted from a deliberate and inclusive review process," Northrup said. "Embry-Riddle chose this particular aircraft because of our zero-defect aircraft flight policy. The maintenance record of the Skyhawk is superb, and these aircraft have a track record of reliable service in a busy flight-training environment." The Diamond DA42-VI aircraft offer superior high-altitude performance and are fully compliant with Federal Aviation Administration ADS-B (navigational) requirements, Northrup added. Finally, he said, the planes offer "full authority digital engine control," known as FADEC, and therefore will prepare Embry-Riddle students to fly with the most up-to-date technology. "Diamond Aircraft is honored to have Embry-Riddle select the Diamond DA42-VI for their Prescott and Daytona campuses," said Scott McFadzean, chief executive officer of Diamond Aircraft Industries Inc. "Embry-Riddle has been at the leading edge of aeronautical training for decades, and Diamond represents the leading edge of general aviation aircraft, with an all-composite design, proprietary jet fuel piston engines and Garmin G1000 NXi glass cockpits, so the partnership is a natural fit for both organizations." Embry-Riddle and Textron Aviation affirmed their business relationship at EAA AirVenture. Embry-Riddle President P. Barry Butler was joined by Textron Aviation President & CEO Ron Draper. Also on hand were the deans of Embry-Riddle's Colleges of Aviation in Prescott and Daytona Beach, Drs. Timothy Holt and Alan Stolzer; Flight Department Chairs Parker Northrup and Kenneth Byrnes; and Textron Aviation's Senior Vice President of Sales, Rob Scholl, and Vice President of Piston Sales, Chris Crow. https://flaglerlive.com/139613/embry-riddle-replacements/ Back to Top Delta's latest plane features wider seats, larger windows MINNEAPOLIS - Delta pilot Mike Roelofs was on his aircraft at Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport more than two hours before departure, making sure everything was as it should be. A cubby in the cockpit didn't have fire gloves. So he hollered back to a colleague to move the safety wear from the flight attendant's galley space to the front of the plane, where they are supposed to be stowed. Roelofs was scheduled to fly a brand-new Airbus A220 airplane on its inaugural trip from MSP to Dallas-Fort Worth at 9:05 a.m., and he wanted everything to be perfect. It was the plane's first flight with passengers aboard and the first time the new aircraft model had been parked at one of Delta's MSP gates. The A220 plays a key role in Delta's drawdown of its reliance on regional airlines, as it transitions those flights to Delta's mainline. The A220 isn't a big plane, just 109 seats, but it's Delta's new workhorse, primarily replacing 76-seat regional jets. It's also part of the Atlanta-base carrier's long-term strategy of increasing its typical aircraft size while decreasing the number of 50-seat airplanes. For passengers and aviation enthusiasts, the aircraft has a few things going for it: wider seats than any other Delta aircraft, larger windows, a new and improved entertainment system and the buzzworthy bathroom-with-a-window. For pilots, there's no yoke column, which they use to steer the plane, jammed between their knees. Instead, they operate the aircraft with a joystick. The cockpit screens are bigger, and so are the windows. "Other airplanes you feel like you're on a submarine with those little windows. These are so big," Roelofs said. The dials and equipment are more intuitive, he said. The aircraft, originally called the C Series, was designed by Bombardier before it sold that business line to Airbus. "Most of the aircraft coming out today are just newer versions of the older one," Roelofs said. "This is an entirely new aircraft." Roelofs flew the Boeing 717 before taking a five-week training course for certification on the A220. Now he oversees others on their flight checkoff runs. The aircraft's new engine is 20 percent more fuel efficient, and the hydraulic levels self regulate. "There's just so much more automation, it's incredible," he said. Delta is the first U.S. airline to take delivery of the aircraft. Though it will be used to serve lower-volume and often shorter routes, the aircraft has a 3,200-mile range. There are three seats on one side of the aisle and two on the other, which means fewer middle seats. Delta has 16 in service so far, and plans to eventually scale up to 95 of the aircraft. Delta flight attendants, who were on their way to work other MSP flights, swung by the new A220 to take photos of the bathroom with a view. The mechanics were giddy as they poked around their newest toy. Jerry Hawkland, wearing his reflective safety vest, was roaming inside and outside the aircraft. The veteran maintenance instructor is the airplane's babysitter, flown in from Atlanta for a few weeks to train MSP's maintenance staff on the machine. Every airplane model is different, and he is there to make sure the right buttons get pushed and the wrong ones don't. Roelofs does the same from the cockpit, checking off other Delta captains on the new aircraft. "It's the latest and greatest in narrow-body aircraft," Roelofs said. https://www.dailyitem.com/business/delta-s-latest-plane-features-wider-seats-larger-windows/article_a9361bdc-837c-54f3-ac92-82344048ee17.html Back to Top Airline not adhering to 'basic maintenance practices', caused death of SpiceJet technician, DGCA probe reveals Lack of proper training, unsupervised maintenance and the airline not adhering to "basic maintenance practices" led to a young SpiceJet technician losing his life while servicing an aircraft at Kolkata airport in the early hours of July 9, a probe by the Director General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has revealed. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has completed its probe into the accident that claimed the life of 22-year-old technician Rohit Pandey when he got stuck in the Bombardier Q400's main landing gear door. The Aviation regulator had constituted a committee to investigate the incident. The report of the committee has pointed out that the Trainee (Engineer) was not trained and was carrying out work on the aircraft without any supervision by a trained/ licensed engineer, an official statement said. "The Committee in its report has also given contributory factors to the fatal incident, which include lack of training, unsupervised maintenance by unlicensed/ unauthorized personnel and non-adherence to basic maintenances practices. Action to address the shortcomings, including action against those responsible for the said incident will be taken by DGCA," the statement added. On July 7, the flight SG-3218 on Kolkata-Silchar sector had taxied out from apron at 3: 35 PM IST and returned to bay no. 32 at 3: 55 PM IST due to snag in Yaw Damper unit. The aircraft was parked for trouble shooting and rectification. The rectification could not be completed by licensed engineers (AMEs) during the day shift and the task was carried forward for rectification by the engineers during the night shift. During this time, the AME while attending to another snag on the same aircraft ("Intermittent Take-off warning"), pressurized the aircraft hydraulic systems to check the movement of flaps and spoilers. On pressurization of the Hydraulic System, the right hand (RH) landing gear door closed resulting in the trapping of the Trainee (Engineer) who was carrying out layover inspection inside the right hand (RH) main wheel aft door. The Trainee (Engineer) was taken out by cutting the doors and was declared dead by the attending doctor. https://www.thedispatch.in/airline-not-adhering-to-basic-maintenance-practices-caused-death-of-spicejet-technician-dgca-probe-reveals/ Back to Top Bid from Jet Airways' employees consortium & AdiGro Aviation under a cloud All may be not well in the partnership between Jet Airways' employees' consortium and AdiGro Aviation, which had joined together in June to bid for the airline. Sources told Moneycontrol that while the two sides differ on funding, AdiGro is also apprehensive about seeing a timely resolution via the insolvency process. The setback comes even as the August 3 deadline to submit bids for Jet Airways looms. Till now, the Jet Airways' employees' consortium and AdiGro were the only suitors that had confirmed their interest in the airline. While Etihad Airways and Hinduja Group are expected to submit a bid, an official statement is yet to come through. "It is over for all practical purposes," an executive said, adding: "The two sides differ over funding and there is little clarity on the source of funds." While reiterating that AdiGro Aviation continues to be interested in the bidding, its founder Sanjay Viswanathan said, "We have asked the employee consortium to seek clarification from the resolution professional (RP) and Committee of Creditors (CoC) to ensure the process is completed by September 20 if AdiGro has to commit time, effort and money to this process." "Alternatively, we have offered them (the employee consortium) the freedom to partner with any other equity sponsor who's willing to overlook this risk (of timely resolution)," Viswanathan told Moneycontrol. Jet Airways, which had suspended its operations on April 17, has liabilities of about Rs 25,000 crore. The interest The two partners had announced their intent on June 28 to bid for 75 percent stake in the airline through the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) process. The Jet Airways Employee Consortium includes The Society for Welfare of Indian Pilots (SWIP) and Jet Airways Aircraft Maintenance Engineers' Association (JAMEWA). Of this 75 percent stake, AdiGro was to acquire 49 percent stake and the rest by the employees' consortium. But now a bid from the two partners looks highly unlikely. "They seem to be lacking the financial wherewithal to place a bid," said another industry executive. Viswanathan though countered, saying that AdiGro has 'committed capital'. On the other hand, raising concerns about the insolvency process, he said, "We have seen every NCLT case being stuck in the higher court...If the RP and CoC can't give us or any bidder the confidence that they can deliver in 90 days (ie 20 Sept), no one can revive this airline." "Unlike in a steel or cement plant , where even if it's mothballed for a year, you can reboot it, you can't do the same with an airline," Viswanathan added. Earlier this month, the RP had received claims of over Rs 25,000 crore for Jet Airways, but had admitted only a third of it. https://www.moneycontrol.com/news/business/companies/exclusive-bid-from-jet-airways-employees-consortium-adigro-aviation-under-a-cloud-4257871.html Back to Top Family of helicopter crash victims want answers, changes to aviation safety The Transportation Safety Board of Canada sent a team of investigators on Friday to examine the wreckage of the R44 helicopter belonging to Savoura CEO Stéphane Roy, found near Valtrie Lake. The TSB is looking for clues at the site to try to understand why the Sagami-Savoura company's helicopter crashed, killing the pilot and his 14-year-old son. The pair had been reported missing since July 11, a day after contact was lost with the helicopter. Two TSB investigators arrived at the scene on Friday at noon and various specialists will join the team as the investigation progresses. According to TSB spokesperson Jean-Marc Ledoux, the investigators will begin by documenting the scene and wreckage to determine the helicopter's trajectory before the crash. If no final conclusion is drawn from the field survey, the helicopter will be transported to a laboratory in Ottawa for further analysis. While Ledoux says no red flags have been spotted so far, the investigation is complicated by the fact there were no witnesses, no radar data and no black box. The weather conditions at the time of the crash, the condition of the helicopter engine and Roy's physical health and flight qualifications are all factors that will be considered, Ledoux said. Ledoux also mentioned the investigators will look at the helicopter's maintenance over the years, as previous reports indicated the aircraft suffered a power failure two years ago, necessitating an emergency landing. "What was the reason for this motor failure and what repairs were made after that?" Ledoux asked. "These are questions that will be part of the investigator's data collection." Ledoux said "investigators will try their best to complete the investigation in a year or so." As the TSB conducts its investigation, the Quebec businessman's family are seeking answers and want changes to aviation safety regulations. "It is unthinkable that today, in 2019, we can't quickly find an aircraft carrying two passengers in an emergency situation," said Roy's brother Daniel. "We rely on the distress signal, but we see it can't save lives. "Something has got to change, there are regulations that have to change, there are technologies that have to adjust. I'm devastated by this." Daniel Roy said that the family will mourn and take his brother and nephew to their final resting place. "But one thing is certain, things can't go on like this." Roy also praised his brother's achievements: "He was a builder, someone who still had a lot of projects, and his son Justin cannot be forgotten in all of this. He was the image of his father, just 14 years old with all of his life ahead of him. "We want people to think of both of them. It wasn't just a CEO who was lost, but a father and son, a family." The search for the missing helicopter covered 20,000 square kilometres of densely wooded forest in the upper Laurentians. Canadian Armed Forces and the Sûreté du Québec carried out aerial and ground searches in the days after the aircraft was reported missing. https://montrealgazette.com/news/local-news/family-of-helicopter-crash-victims-want-answers-changes-to-aviation-safety Back to Top Modifications Tilt Toward Lighter, Denser Seating With the long traffic boom extending further, many senior jets are going into shops for upgrades. These upgrades must reflect both airline economic objectives and passenger tastes. Airlines are increasingly moving toward higher yield, all-economy layouts, according to Tom Mills, marketing executive with UK-based ACC Aviation Group, which does interior modifications among other businesses. "Many of our customers are favoring modern, light-weight seats, allowing them to transition to high-density configurations while making significant fuel savings, which in turn allows them to offset the initial cost of the seats," Mills adds. But lighter must not mean less attractive. Mills says with increasing competition, especially among low- cost carriers, many airlines focus on improving cabin aesthetics as a way to stand out. "It is vital to present your customer with a sleek and modern looking cabin." And full-service airlines are seeing a drop in demand for first-class service, with customers instead choosing business or economy. ACC is thus seeing a trend among airlines operating widebodies for removal of first-class seats and a shift from three-class to a two-class seating. Interestingly, ACC is also seeing a shift away from integrated inflight entertainment systems. Many airlines now prefer to offer an in-seat power system instead. "Customers often bring tablets or phones with movies, books, or music downloaded already and use these devices far more than they use the existing IFE systems," Mills observes. In-seat power allows customers to use their devices freely without power concerns. "A number of airlines are looking to improve upon existing in-seat power and increase the output, which would allow customers to power larger devices such as laptops as well." This might mean a decrease in seat-back IFE, but personal devices can still benefit from the C in IFEC, connectivity to the ground via Internet. On the cost side, Mills says refurbished seat prices have generally been stable, typically around 40-50% the cost of new seats. One reason: wider acceptance of PMA seats has helped to keep refurbishment costs from rising year-on-year. "The refurbished seat market remains robust and competitive on pricing and airlines benefit greatly from these savings." ACC Interiors offers refurbished aircraft seats, spare parts for interiors, interior refurbishment, new dress covers, as well as designing, engineering, testing, and certification. Mills says his company has the world's largest platform of seat availability, offering the biggest range of part numbers and seat series, competitively priced and with short lead times. OEMs typically require six months lead time on seats, while ACC can supply high-quality refurbished seats in as little as six weeks. This is especially important for leased aircraft, which must often be turned around in a few months. And ACC also offers consulting and management for full cabin retrofits. https://www.mro-network.com/maintenance-repair-overhaul/modifications-tilt-toward-lighter-denser-seating Back to Top Used SpaceX Dragon Cargo Ship Arrives at Space Station for Record 3rd Time SpaceX's robotic Dragon cargo capsule arrived at the International Space Station today (July 27), ending a two-day orbital chase and setting a new record for SpaceX's reusable spacecraft. The Dragon, which launched Thursday (July 25) from Florida's Cape Canaveral Air Force Station atop a two-stage Falcon 9 rocket, was captured by the space station's huge robotic arm at 9:11 a.m. EDT (1311 GMT) as both spacecraft sailed 267 miles (430 kilometers) above the coast of southern Chile in South America. "We want to congratulate the team spread across the globe that makes delivering a vehicle like this. It's pretty looking at it out the window," astronaut Nick Hague radioed to NASA's Mission Control in Houston after capturing Dragon with the station's robotic arm. "It's full of science and cargo and things to keep us busy. So, the mission continues." SpaceX's most-flown Dragon This is the record third cargo delivery mission to the International Space Station (ISS) for this particular Dragon, which also ferried cargo to the station in April 2015 and December 2017. The Falcon 9 was preflown as well; the rocket's first stage had one mission under its belt before Thursday's launch. Such reuse is key to SpaceX's quest to slash the cost of spaceflight, thereby making ambitious exploration feats such as Mars colonization achievable. Dragon is carrying more than 5,000 lbs. (2,268 kilograms) of supplies and equipment up to the ISS on this trip, including 2,500 lbs. (1,135 kg) of science gear that will enable dozens of experiments aboard the orbiting lab. Later today, flight controllers on Earth will attach Dragon to an open berthing port on the space station by remotely controlling the outpost's robotic arm. Astronauts will then be able to open the spacecraft and begin unloading its bounty. Big science aboard One of those experiments will study how microbes interact with rocks in a low-gravity environment, possibly paving the way for space "biomining" down the road. Another will attempt to fabricate human tissue using a 3D printer, and another will gauge how microgravity affects the processes of healing and tissue regeneration. Yet another experiment will use Nickelodeon's famous green slime to study the behavior of fluids in microgravity. ISS crewmembers will also play "slime pong" and do other fun things with the stuff, and film the activities for our viewing pleasure down here on Earth. Dragon also toted up another International Docking Adapter (IDA), which is designed to allow a variety of spacecraft to link up with the ISS. Such visitors will include the crew version of Dragon and Boeing's CST-100 Starliner capsule, both of which are scheduled to start carrying astronauts in the next year or so. The ISS already has one IDA, which a different Dragon brought up in 2016. Dragon is scheduled to remain attached to the ISS for about a month, NASA officials said. It will then return to Earth for a Pacific Ocean splashdown, bearing a variety of science samples for researchers to study. The current cargo mission is the 18th that SpaceX has flown under a contract with NASA. https://www.space.com/spacex-dragon-cargo-ship-crs-18-arrives-space-station.html Curt Lewis