September 5, 2019 - No. 071 In This Issue Thales Becomes Latest Iridium Certus Aviation Service Provider. Harrison County Board of Education launches high school aviation program Tech startups tout AI to airlines seeking revenue boost Sabre experts to share latest insights on airline digital transformation at World Aviation Festival. Las Vegas' McCarran airport tests security checkpoint of future Avionics Improvements a Focus of U.S. Helicopter Safety Team AEA Launches New Jobs Board Helsinki Volocopter Flight Test Evaluates UTM for Air Taxi Operations NBAA launches Emerging Technologies Committee A Robot Just Passed A Pilot's Test, Paving The Way For Unmanned Airplanes ESA's near collision with SpaceX Starlink satellite blamed on a 'bug' Thales Becomes Latest Iridium Certus Aviation Service Provider Thales has become the newest Iridium Certus aviation service provider, giving the French avionics manufacturer the ability to provide both the next generation L-band terminals and services to business jets, commercial aircraft, rotorcraft, general aviation and unmanned aircraft. Certus is Iridium's multi-service communications platform designed to provide safety services communications, with two voice channels and aircraft communications and reporting system (ACARS) network data link connectivity simultaneously. Thales is already one of several value- added Certus manufacturers, first unveiling its FlytLink satellite connected cockpit technology at the 2016 National Business Aviation Association annual conference and exhibition. Now, in addition to making the onboard technologies enabled by Certus, Thales will act as a service provider to aviation operators under Iridium's wholesaler satellite network model. Thales has become the eighth company that Iridium has confirmed will provide Certus services to the aviation industry. Other companies on that list include Avitek, Collins Aerospace (ARINC), GoGo, Honeywell Aerospace, Navicom Aviation, Satcom Direct and Skytrac. "We're excited about our aero solution on Iridium Certus and intend to be first to market," Craig Olson, vice president of connectivity solutions, Thales InFlyt Experience, said in a statement confirming the company's role as a Certus aviation service provider. Olson did not indicate when the Thales new terminals would become available. Thales was not among the 10 companies listed by Iridium as its first group of beta partners that began testing the Certus 9770 transceiver, which the satellite wholesaler claims will transfer Internet Protocol (IP) data over 35 times faster than its predecessors. Thales describes its FlytLink technology as being enabled by an embedded Iridium 9523 module, noting that it is also capable of supporting ACARS short burst data. An embedded 802.11n Wi-Fi access point, voice channels and electronic flight bag pairing are among the other connected cockpit applications supported by FlytLink. The different versions of FlytLink antennas can support up to 704 Kbps download and up to 350 Kbps upload speeds. Iridium also sees Certus as an "ideal solution" for Aeronautical Telecommunications Network (ATN) Open Systems Interconnection (OSI) capability deployed in Europe for domestic en-route communications and future Internet Protocol Suite (IPS) concept as well. "As the aviation industry continues to adopt satcom as a primary means of long-range communications, reliable and cost-effective systems with truly global coverage are becoming an increasing necessity," said Michael Hooper, director and general manager of aviation at Iridium. "The Iridium Certus platform will provide the only solutions that meet the coverage, cost and capability requirements for this new generation of aircraft communications, and we're excited to further expand our close partnership with Thales to bring these capabilities to market." https://www.aviationtoday.com/2019/09/03/thales-becomes-latest-iridium-certus-aviation-service- provider/ Back to Top Harrison County Board of Education launches high school aviation program CLARKSBURG, W.Va. - The Harrison County Board of Education has developed a program that will give high school students an opportunity to be involved with one of the fastest growing industries in the country. The new Harrison County Academy of Aviation Technology held its ribbon cutting ceremony this morning in a completely remodeled classroom at Bridgeport High School. More than a dozen aviation leaders in the industry including bombardier, Pratt and Whitney, and aurora flight sciences were on hand to show their support for the program. Superintendent Mark Manchin said that this type of program will revolutionize education in the county and throughout the state. "And over the next 10 years we're going to continue to build upon these programs so we can prepare our children for the job market that is right here in Harrison County, right here in North Central West Virginia and we would like to provide them with an educated workforce," said Superintendent Manchin. "Today, what you saw is what I consider an outstanding program and step in that direction." Ninth grade students can begin taking courses towards their air frame and power plant certifications and the advance on to piloting and engineering. https://www.wboy.com/news/harrison-county-board-of-education-launches-high-school-aviation- program/ Back to Top Tech startups tout AI to airlines seeking revenue boost SINGAPORE, Sept 3 (Reuters) - Technology startups are luring airlines with demand-forecasting tools powered by artificial intelligence (AI), promising to boost efficiency at a time of rising fuel costs and upheaval in trade relations that has clouded the aviation sector's outlook. Demand intelligence firm PredictHQ on Tuesday announced product Aviation Rank which alerts airlines to major events, whereas software developer Volantio is touting Yana, a platform that helps carriers rebook customers to maximise revenue. Airlines are turning to such products at a time when their global profit is set to decline 7% to $28 billion this year, showed data from the International Air Transport Association, as rising fuel, labour and infrastructure costs crimp margins while a Sino-U.S. trade war pulls down demand to transport cargo. Artificial intelligence is making in-roads in industries across the spectrum. In aviation, airlines use AI for website chatbots aimed at cutting customer service costs, for more targeted advertising, and to improve aircraft maintenance. PredictHQ's Aviation Rank can alert airlines to over 3,000 major events a month such as conferences, music festivals and sporting meets, and determine relative importance to demand. SINGAPORE, Sept 3 (Reuters) - Technology startups are luring airlines with demand-forecasting tools powered by artificial intelligence (AI), promising to boost efficiency at a time of rising fuel costs and upheaval in trade relations that has clouded the aviation sector's outlook. Demand intelligence firm PredictHQ on Tuesday announced product Aviation Rank which alerts airlines to major events, whereas software developer Volantio is touting Yana, a platform that helps carriers rebook customers to maximise revenue. Airlines are turning to such products at a time when their global profit is set to decline 7% to $28 billion this year, showed data from the International Air Transport Association, as rising fuel, labour and infrastructure costs crimp margins while a Sino-U.S. trade war pulls down demand to transport cargo. Artificial intelligence is making in-roads in industries across the spectrum. In aviation, airlines use AI for website chatbots aimed at cutting customer service costs, for more targeted advertising, and to improve aircraft maintenance. PredictHQ's Aviation Rank can alert airlines to over 3,000 major events a month such as conferences, music festivals and sporting meets, and determine relative importance to demand. The platform helps airlines re-sell seats at better prices by offering passengers incentives such as travel vouchers, upgrades or frequent flyer points to switch to other flights at times of high demand. "Upgrades are the most popular offers," Volantio CEO Azim Barodawala said in an email. "Our acceptance has been as high as 40% to 50%." The startup is also exploring expanding the product to give airlines the ability to prioritise high- value cargo, presenting passengers with incentives to take another flight to accommodate the cargo's weight, Barodawala said. (Reporting by Jamie Freed; Editing by Christopher Cushing) https://www.reuters.com/article/tech-airlines/tech-startups-tout-ai-to-airlines-seeking-revenue- boost-idUSL3N25Q0UO Back to Top Sabre experts to share latest insights on airline digital transformation at World Aviation Festival LONDON and SOUTHLAKE, Texas, Sept. 4, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Sabre Corporation (NASDAQ: SABR), the leading technology provider to the global travel industry, is a Gold Sponsor of the 2019 World Aviation Festival. Sabre leaders will take the stage at the event this week to discuss recent developments in airline retailing, distribution and fulfillment. One of the largest annual aviation shows, the World Aviation Festival brings together major airlines, airports and travel technology companies, offering an open exchange platform to drive the industry forward. The event is set to take place September 4 - 6, at the Business Design Centre in London. Digitalization is an important topic in the travel and aviation industry. During the Aviation IT track, Yousif Yousif, Head of Commercial Systems, Etihad Airways will join Rodrigo Celis, Senior Vice President, Commercial Solutions, Sabre to discuss Etihad's vision for digital transformation. They will highlight the Sabre and Etihad partnership as well as Etihad's commitment to continued innovation that delivers superior guest experiences. The Sabre - Etihad keynote is scheduled for September 5, at 15:10. "The process of developing and implementing new technology is complex and requires an innovative partner. Sabre has offered both high quality technological solutions and rapid innovation, and this is what drives sustainable results. It's not about creating one-off solutions together but building cutting-edge technology that benefits the wider airline community," said Yousif. "We are most proud to have built a strong and longstanding relationship with Etihad Airways. Recently, we partnered to design a new Etihad Airways branded website using our Digital Experience solution. This has further proven the flexibility of the Sabre Commercial Platform to deliver a consistent experience across all channels throughout the travel journey. Through the website, Etihad will be able to deliver personalized offers with ancillary services and encourage their guests to self-service their itineraries," said Rodrigo Celis. In addition, on September 5, during the Technology & Strategy roundtables, Michael Reyes, Senior Director, Offer Management Solutions, Sabre will discuss how the flexible, open and intelligent Sabre Commercial Platform enables personalized offers, consistent omni-channel experiences and seamless fulfillment. To find out more about the flexible, open, and intelligent solutions within the Sabre Commercial Platform, join us at booth # 64 during World Aviation Festival. Sabre booth # 64 will be available to conference attendees on Wednesday, September 4, 8:00 a.m. - 18:00. Exhibition visitors and conference attendees are welcome to visit on Thursday, September 5, 9:30 - 16:00 and Friday, September 6, 9:00 - 15:00. About Sabre Corporation Sabre Corporation is the leading technology provider to the global travel industry. Sabre's software, data, mobile and distribution solutions are used by hundreds of airlines and thousands of hotel properties to manage critical operations, including passenger and guest reservations, revenue management, flight, network and crew management. Sabre also operates a leading global travel marketplace, which processes more than US$120 billion of global travel spend annually by connecting travel buyers and suppliers. Headquartered in Southlake, Texas, USA, Sabre serves customers in more than 160 countries around the world. https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/sabre-experts-to-share-latest-insights-on-airline- digital-transformation-at-world-aviation-festival-300911655.html Back to Top Las Vegas' McCarran airport tests security checkpoint of future The latest airline security technology is being tested at Las Vegas' airport. Touted as the first of its kind, the Transportation Security Administration's Innovation Checkpoint, located in Terminal 3 at McCarran International Airport, tests emerging security technologies in a live setting. McCarran was chosen for the advanced checkpoint pilot program, which went live in June, because it is part of the TSA's Innovation Task Force and because of the diversity of passengers who pass through the facility's gates. "We have a long history of partnering with the TSA on new initiatives and have often been the first to roll out new technologies here at this airport," said Rosemary Vassiliadis, Clark County aviation director. "Las Vegas appeals to all walks of life. We see everyone from business travelers that fly several times a week, to leisure travelers who may only come to the airport once every couple of years. Our large volume of travelers and the frequency that we serve such a diverse mix of passengers makes McCarran the perfect incubator for the TSA's latest endeavor." Partnering with United Airlines, the checkpoint only screens customers from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday through Thursday to minimize the effect on customers, according to George Bieloszabski, United director and general manager of airport operations at McCarran. "We've put over 14,000 of our customers through this test process," Bieloszabski said. "It's been an overwhelmingly positive response on the experience." McCarran has tested various technology as part of the Innovation Task Force, including facial scanning recognition testing that began last week and automated security checkpoints, which began as a pilot test and has since been permanently installed in other gates at McCarran. The Innovation Checkpoint pilot program does not have an end date, according to Lorie Dankers, TSA spokeswoman. The checkpoint tests four technologies - digital signage, credential authentication technology, computed tomography X-Ray scanners and advanced imaging technology. CT 3-D scanners Four different computer tomography scanners are installed in Terminal 3, with the ability to detect for explosives and other threats by creating a 3-D image for Transportation Security Administration X-ray operators to view. One of the models, made by the Analogic Corporation, can take the 3-D image and pull, say, a laptop from inside the baggage, make it a separate image and rotate it, to allow for increased inspection. The item's image can also be split into sections for increased analysis. This eliminates a security officer from having to manually check some baggage, with only those needing further attention after an issue detected in the scan having to be hand-checked. Bags flagged for additional screening will be automatically diverted to a different section of the conveyor belt to be further evaluated by a security officer. "It will allow the officer to have that 3-D capability, virtual capability, to be able to identify anomalies," said Jose Bonilla, Innovation Task Force director. "It also auto-assists to help an officer identify an anomaly." TSA already uses CT technology to screen checked baggage and is just starting to incorporate it at the security checkpoint. The scanning technology can detect shapes and densities of items including bulk and liquid explosives that could be a threat to commercial aviation. The new technology could lead to passengers being allowed to carry on larger containers of liquid than the current 3.4 ounces allowed and to keep their electronics in their bags at a checkpoint. eAIT body scanner Another aspect of the checkpoint is the Advanced Imaging Technology scanner used on passengers as they proceed through a checkpoint while their baggage is being screened. The eAIT scanner allows travelers to have a more relaxed stance while being screened, moving away from having them hold their hands over their heads, to enable them to have their hands held just off their sides. Compared to the current scanners, that are partially enclosed and feature moving parts, the eAIT scanner uses millimeter wave technology, allowing for the less restrictive process, featuring two walls, in an open-sided setting. If an anomaly is detected on a person, the individual is sent over to a station to be searched by hand by a security agent. CAT system The Credential Authentication Technology (CAT) system allows for just a government-issued identification card to verify a passenger's flight status. The CAT system automatically checks the authenticity of the passenger's identification card, while cross-checking with the Secure Flight Database to confirm the passenger's flight information and vetting status. The passenger no longer has to present the officer with a boarding pass during this portion of the flight check-in process. The process not only increases security with the automated check, but it also speeds up the process, as travelers won't have to fumble for both their ID and boarding pass to hand over to a security officer. "It gives the officer the automated capability to validate your access media, whether it be a license or a passport is authentic," said Jose Bonilla, Innovation Task Force director. "Today our officers do that manually and they see millions of IDs from various states, passports from throughout the world that they have to validate." The only time a boarding pass is requested to be shown is when the system is not able to access an individual's boarding information. Digital signage Located near the line travelers wait in for the credential authentication station, digital posts with animated media alert passengers to the do's and don'ts of traveling, and engage them in other ways. From standard procedures to wait times, the signs are engineered to catch the traveler's eye with animated steps, compared with standard printed signage. "The goal here with our digital totem capability is engage passenger as best we can," Bonilla said. That engagement will take a step further in the future, as the ability to scan barcodes to join an airline's frequent flyer club or get information to join the TSA's PreCheck program among other uses, Bonilla said. https://www.reviewjournal.com/life/travel/las-vegas-mccarran-airport-tests-security-checkpoint-of- future-1840346/ Back to Top Avionics Improvements a Focus of U.S. Helicopter Safety Team Avionics improvements are a part of the U.S. Helicopter Safety Team's (USHST) efforts to reduce the number of fatal rotorcraft accidents. On Sept. 3, USHST released a list of 16 proposed safety enhancements for helicopters under five headings: visibility and loss of control; risk management; enhanced training; technology support; and pilot competency. Among the organizations participating in USHST helicopter safety discussions are Air Methods, Bell Helicopter, Boeing, the Dallas Police Department, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, the Federal Aviation Administration, the General Aviation Manufacturers Association, Helicopter Association International, the Helicopter Safety Alliance, L3Harris, Life Flight of Maine, Lockheed Martin's Sikorsky, the MITRE Corp., the National Transportation Safety Board, Prism Helicopters, and Robinson Helicopters. The technology support efforts include encouraging industry to develop and install stability augmentation systems (SAS) and/or simple autopilots in light helicopters; promoting the installation and use of data recording devices, for example helicopter flight data monitoring (HFDM) recorders and camera recorders to detect and monitor aircraft and engine limitations that were exceeded. USHST is also promoting the use of enhanced helicopter vision systems technologies, such as night vision goggles, enhanced vision systems, synthetic vision systems, and combined vision systems, to aid pilots in recognizing and preventing unplanned flight into degraded visibility conditions due to weather and to increase pilot safety during planned flights at night. Stability augmentation systems were once beyond the financial reach of many private helicopter owners. Last year, however, Kurt Robinson, the CEO of Robinson Helicopters, said that pilots and owners can more readily afford an autopilot/stability augmentation system for Robinson models than in previous years when the cost of a SAS roughly equalled the cost of an R22. In addition, there have been recent market innovations. For example, at the Aircraft Electronics Association 2019 convention in March, Genesys Aerosystems unveiled an instrument flight rules (IFR) version of its HeliSAS autopilot system for legacy Part 29 twin-engine helicopters. Designed for two-axis (pitch and roll) autopilot configuration for dual-pilot IFR operations and three-axis (pitch, roll, and yaw) autopilot configuration for single- pilot operations, the system includes automatic recovery to near-level flight altitude at all airspeeds and full authority control with parallel actuators. Metro Aviation has become the first operator to install and start flying the new system on an Airbus EC-145e. On the data recorder side, helicopters have been limited in their storage capacity because of the requirement that such recorders be hardened to withstand extreme flight conditions and crashes. But industry has been working over the last decade to provide high-capacity data recorders. For example, Curtiss-Wright said that its Fortress Flight Data Recorder meets the requirements of EUROCAE Minimum Operating Performance Specification ED-112A, surpasses the requirements of the upcoming 2021 EASA minimum 25-hour cockpit voice recording mandate and includes image recording. Curtiss-Wright said that it furnished Fortress for one helicopter builder that wanted the recorder to meet future requirements, such as the United Kingdom's Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) specification No. 23. The helicopter builder has also sold units to a jurisdiction that is to introduce new image recording requirements next January as the result of a police helicopter accident in 2013--a crash that resulted in a mandate to outfit helicopters conducting state operations, such as police search-and-rescue, with crash worthy image recording equipment, according to Curtiss- Wright. For enhanced vision systems, the Elbit Systems-owned Universal Avionics is partnering with the FAA to develop regulations to support the use of such systems to improve rotorcraft flight safety. Earlier this year, Universal Avionics said that the FAA is mulling the use of the company's Heli- ClearVision as a representative enhanced helicopter vision system to improve helicopter safety and provide operational benefit during day, night and low-visibility conditions. The FAA and Universal Avionics have fully integrated testing hardware into the FAA's Sikorsky S-76 at William J. Hughes Technical Center, and FAA test pilots have conducted training and familiarization flights on the technology. Further testing is to include the company's SkyLens and SkyVis technology, capable of displaying primary flight display symbology, conformal information, synthetic vision and an enhanced vision with an EVS-4000 multispectral camera and combined vision system. https://www.aviationtoday.com/2019/09/03/avionics-upgrades-focus-u-s-helicopter-safety-team/ Back to Top AEA Launches New Jobs Board Coinciding with the recent Labor Day holiday in the United States, the Aircraft Electronics Association introduced its new online jobs board. The revamped jobs board allows job seekers to find current employment opportunities with the convenient ability to search by keyword, company name, geographic location and job type. In addition, AEA member companies may post available positions free of charge for 30 days. If the position remains unfilled, AEA members may resubmit the online posting at no cost. "The need for technical talent continues to be an issue for AEA member repair stations and manufacturers," said AEA President and CEO Mike Adamson. "The primary purpose of the new jobs board is to make it easier for AEA members to find their next avionics technician, quality manager, inspector, sales representative or engineer. We are excited to offer this additional membership benefit at no cost and add even more value to being an AEA member. "I strongly believe that avionics is the most exciting field in aviation, as it combines high-tech with modern airframes, advanced propulsion systems and NextGen communication, navigation and connectivity solutions. But with workforce retirements, competition from other high-tech industries and a growing fleet, our industry is faced with the important challenge of recruiting and retaining the next generation of qualified aviation professionals. The AEA jobs board is an exceptional resource to link job seekers with avionics businesses and will help bridge the workforce gap that so many companies are facing. It also will assist our academic member institutions, other Part 147 aviation maintenance technician schools and career counselors as they proactively communicate industry employment opportunities with their students." https://www.aviationpros.com/aircraft/business-general-aviation/press-release/21095293/aea- technology-aea-launches-new-jobs-board Back to Top Helsinki Volocopter Flight Test Evaluates UTM for Air Taxi Operations During a flight test at Helsinki International Airport on August 30, Volocopter and the Single European Sky ATM Research (SESAR) Gulf of Finland U-space team evaluated the ability of integrated air traffic management (ATM) and unmanned traffic management (UTM) systems to provide surveillance of future air taxi flights. The demonstration was the final SESAR JU GOF U-space demonstration, a government-industry project designed to provide real live testing of technology that can provide future commercial drone traffic management throughout European airspace. Using a Volocopter air taxi equipped with a position reporting sensor, there were a series of flight tests performed using UTM systems provided by AirMap, Altitude Angel and Unifly. Each test was designed to value the compatibility and usability of each company's technology. The UTM platforms provided by AirMap, Altitude Angel and Unifly provide a real-time operating picture of the airspace for both manned and unmanned aircraft. AirMap for example, has been participating in drone traffic management-focused flight testing throughout the year in other areas of Europe as well, with the Volocopter demonstration being its first air taxi-focused test. "We are happy to say that all providers we tested were compatible with the Volocopter systems," Jan-Hendrik Boelens, chief technology officer at Volocopter, said of the Helsinki flight test. Boelens said Volocopter sees the U-space project, which initially was singularly focused on drone traffic management, as able to provide the type of air traffic infrastructure and technological evaluation necessary to make future urban air mobility operations a reality. "We will build our first VoloPort infrastructure before the year is out, and with the GOF U-Space demonstration we have now shown that the existing UTM technologies are viable for UAM. The indispensable aspects of the ecosystem exist, now it's time to bring Urban Air Mobility to life," Boelens said. The flight test used a prototype version of VoloCity, the new production version air taxi design recently unveiled by Volocopter for the first time. In addition to the connection the air taxi had with the systems provided by the UTM service providers, it was also plugged in to all of the airport's traditional air traffic control systems. Data collected from the flight tests will be evaluated by SESAR's U-space team to understand how air taxis, drones and manned aircraft can be integrated into the same airspace. The U-space team plans to present the results of the Volocopter and other drone management test flights in October. Maria Tamm, project coordinator for Estonian Air Navigation Services (EANS), said the flight test shows the planned technologies and rules used to govern unmanned aircraft and air taxi flights in low-level airspace will need some updating. "The demonstration at Helsinki airport showed that various systems are ready to safely and efficiently manage air taxi operations, their related services and subsequent interaction within existing aviation and airspace activities," Tamm said. Volocopter plans to fly its aircraft again publicly in Stuttgart, Germany on September 14, followed by a public revealing of its first Voloport structure in Singapore later in the year. https://www.aviationtoday.com/2019/09/04/helsinki-volocopter-flight-test-evaluates-utm-for-air- taxi-operations/ Back to Top NBAA launches Emerging Technologies Committee The National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) is looking for members to join a new committee that is tasked with examining emerging technologies. The group will focus on rule-making, standards setting and policy-related activities. "The aviation professionals who make up this committee will help drive the future of aviation safety and policy," said Heidi Williams, NBAA's director of air traffic services and infrastructure. The committee plans to tackle a number of issues that face aviation technologies such as unmanned aircraft systems, urban air mobility, unmanned traffic management, commercial space and other future technologies and infrastructures. It will also consider autonomous operations, electric propulsion and other innovative technology and specifically, the integration of these new technologies into the National Airspace System. "NBAA is excited to launch this new committee to support developing technologies that represent significant growth opportunities for its member companies," said Williams. The Emerging Technologies Committee's first meeting will be at the 2019 NBAA Business Aviation Convention & Exhibition (NBAA-BACE) in October, where additional goals and tasks will be discussed and is currently soliciting applications for committee membership. The committee is looking for members with current experience in integrating emerging technologies into the National Airspace System, developing emerging technologies, supporting emerging technology infrastructure and training of emerging technologies. "This committee is an opportunity for innovators in aviation to influence consensus standards and regulations that will allow for safe integration of new technology into the NAS," added Brad Hayden, president and CEO of Robotic Skies and chair of the new committee. "This is an exciting time in the development of the aviation industry and committee members will be a driving force in that development." https://www.businessairportinternational.com/news/technology/nbaa-launches-emerging- technologies-committee.html Back to Top A Robot Just Passed A Pilot's Test, Paving The Way For Unmanned Airplanes Uber and Waymo might be dominating the conversation of the future of travel automation, but the Air Force quietly won a huge victory last week, when their ROBOpilot bot passed the FAA's pilot test and completed its first flight. According to New Scientist, the robot successfully flew a two-hour itinerary at Dugway Proving Ground in Utah. Airplanes already rely heavily on technology. Autopilot is nearly ubiquitous for all commercial flights, as it is required by most international aviation regulations for planes with more than twenty seats. Though autopilot controls the plane's operations - including navigation, altitude, speed, and engine thrust - pilots still are in charge of take off 100 percent of the time and landings 99 percent of the time, per CNBC However, the new ROBOpilot is an incredible advancement in aviation technology. It is not a computer mode or program, but rather a real life robot that acts like a human pilot would. It has robotic arms to handle controls in the cockpit and has computerized vision to read the plane's instruments and data. "It looks like an impressive achievement in terms of robotics," said Louise Dennis of the University of Liverpool. "Unlike an autopilot which has direct access to the controls and sensors, the robot is in the place of a human pilot and has to physically work the controls and reads the dials." The ROBOpilot is also removable from the cockpit, so a plane can be used by both bot and human alike. It is also substantially cheaper than refitting planes into drones, which can tally up to a million dollars per plane. "Imagine being able to rapidly and affordably convert a general aviation aircraft, like a Cessna or Piper, into an unmanned aerial vehicle, having it fly a mission autonomously, and then returning it to its original manned configuration," said CRI senior scientist Dr. Alok Das, who helped develop the technology (via New Scientist). "ROBOpilot offers the benefits of unmanned operations without the complexity and upfront costs associated with the development of new unmanned vehicles," he added. Though researchers behind the ROBOpilot have said that it is not ready to start flying commercial flights, they hope that the new advancement can soon change the landscape of flying for cargo planes and intelligence or reconnaissance missions. This is not the first time that a robot has been inside the cockpit. Both the United States and South Korea have previously developed bots to fly planes under projects ALIAS and Pibot, respectively. However, neither of these had the ability to fly a full-size plane, like the Cessna operated by the ROBOpilot. https://www.inquisitr.com/5614284/robot-passed-pilot-test-airplane/ Back to Top ESA's near collision with SpaceX Starlink satellite blamed on a 'bug' The European Space Agency fired the thrusters on its Aeolus satellite Monday to avoid a potential collision with a SpaceX Starlink satellite. Now it turns out SpaceX just didn't see the message that it might need to move out of the way. ESA sent a series of tweets Monday morning laying out the little bit of orbital drama it had encountered with some of the birds from Elon Musk's nascent internet broadband satellite mega- constellation. "Experts in our #SpaceDebris team calculated the risk of collision between these two active satellites, determining the safest option for Aeolus would be to increase its altitude and pass over the SpaceX satellite," the agency tweeted via its ESA Operations account. "The maneuver took place about 1/2 an orbit before the potential collision. Not long after the collision was expected, Aeolus called home as usual to send back its science data -- proving the maneuver was successful and a collision was indeed avoided." ESA said this was the first time it's had to move a satellite to avoid colliding with a mega- constellation, although not enough SpaceX Starlink satellites have so far been launched to fairly bestow the fleet with "mega" status. In an emailed statement, a SpaceX spokesperson said the company missed an update from the US Air Force showing an increase in the probability that the two satellites could collide to greater than 1 in 10,000, which is the industry threshold at which evasive maneuvers are recommended. "A bug in our on-call paging system prevented the Starlink operator from seeing the follow on correspondence on this probability increase," the statement said. "Had the Starlink operator seen the correspondence, we would have coordinated with ESA to determine best approach with their continuing with their maneuver or our performing a maneuver." SpaceX said it is investigating the problem and "will implement corrective actions." The company has big plans for the satellite swarm, which is being built to offer global broadband internet access. But so far just the first batch of 60 small satellites has been launched. Those went up on a Falcon 9 rocket in May, and Musk hopes to launch thousands more in the coming years. The satellite involved in Monday's incident is one of two that SpaceX is intentionally de-orbiting as part of a test. ESA says it performed 28 collision avoidance maneuvers across its fleet in 2018 but noted that "It is very rare to perform collision avoidance maneuvers with active satellites. The vast majority of ESA avoidance maneuvers are the result of dead satellites or fragments from previous collisions." The space agency went on to warn that as Starlink and other satellite constellations grow to hundreds or thousands of satellites, manually avoiding collisions "will become impossible." ESA added that it's working to automate the process of collision avoidance using artificial intelligence. https://www.cnet.com/news/esa-spacex-starlink-satellite-nearly-collides-with-european-aeolus- satellite/ Curt Lewis