September 19, 2019 - No. 074 In This Issue Istanbul on radar of aviation, tech enthusiasts as TEKNOFEST kicks off Airbus Forecasts Need for Over 39,000 New Aircraft in the Next 20 Years Improved Infrastructure, Connectivity, Safety and Technology Needed to Unlock Kenya's Economy ZeroAvia to receive grant to develop its hydrogen fuel aviation technology Gulfstream East Campus opens at company headquarters The Linux Foundation to Host Open Source Project for Drone Aviation Interoperability Etihad Airways Together with ABU Dhabi Airports Becomes First Airline and the First Airport in the Region to Trial the Use of Autonomous Wheelchairs Honeywell Auxiliary Power Units Make Aviation History With New Production Milestones HAWK30 Takes Flight - AeroVironment Achieves Successful First Test Flight of Next Generation Solar HAPS Unmanned Aircraft System Boeing, Safran Make Joint Investment in EPS to Develop Electric Aircraft Industrial Base Wing tip device for cleaner aviation wins 2019 EU young scientist prize NASA and SpaceX Win Emmy for Crew Dragon Demo-1 Coverage Istanbul on radar of aviation, tech enthusiasts as TEKNOFEST kicks off Turkey's most populous city will be the center of attraction for aviation and tech enthusiasts for the next six days with TEKNOFEST Istanbul, the second biggest aviation event in the world. Kicking off today, the second edition of the event aims to raise awareness about technology and science in society, and increase human resources trained in the fields of science and engineering in the country. Seeking to turn Turkey into a society that produces technology, the aviation expo aims to showcase the country's rapid advance in technology and to promote technology advances as a national cause. The event is taking place at the now-closed Atatürk Airport and will run until Sept. 22. Having become one of the leading aerospace events in the world by hosting more than 550,000 visitors in its inaugural year, the event is expected to attract more than 1 million visitors this time around. It is being supported by several government ministries and bodies, private companies and other academic institutions. Aviation and tech enthusiasts will have plenty of events to witness during the festival. Organized by the Turkish Technology Team Foundation (T3), the festival will sponsor fun activities in science and technology for all age groups including simulation exercises, team games and aviation activities, in addition to educational activities for kids. As part of TEKNOFEST, technology competitions will be organized in 19 different categories to support young people working on the technologies of the future. The chairman of T3, Selçuk Bayraktar, previously tweeted that over 100,000 people had registered for the event online. According to the event's official website, it has received 50,000 applications from 17,373 teams from 81 provinces and 122 countries. Some 10,000 finalists were identified in technology competitions organized in 19 different categories. The event is promising to give away over TL 2 million in prize money for young technology talents. It will also host the World Drone Cup, Take Off International Venture Summit, HackIstanbul 2019, breathtaking air shows by Solo Türk and Turkish Stars, a vertical wind tunnel, planetarium, aviation shows, workshops and the Gendarmerie Safety Special Show. Among others, Turkey's T129 Advanced Attack and Tactical Reconnaissance Helicopters (ATAK) will be performing a popular "Harmandali" folk dance. There will also be additional shows, exhibitions, concerts and many surprise events. FLYING CAR, DRIVERLESS VEHICLE, ROCKET COMPETITIONS Unlike last year, this year will see several new events, including the Flying Car Design Competition, Mini Jet Radial Compressor Design Competition, Turbo Fan Motor Design Competition, robotic competitions, Istanbul International Discussion Fair and TÜBITAK University Students Research Project Competitions. In addition, a congress of Turkish scientists living abroad will be held within the scope of the festival. LATEST PRODUCTS TO BE SHOWCASED What's more, several companies and institutions will join the event to exhibit their products, including rockets, aerial vehicles, inventions and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). Among them, leading unmanned aerial platform developer Baykar Makina will exhibit its latest armed drone the Akinci, an upgraded version of the company's trademark platform Bayraktar TB2 armed drone, which is also to be showcased at the event. Dubbed "the flying fish," the Akinci has just recently completed its first engine test and is expected to carry out its first test flight within this year. The company will also showcase a prototype of Turkey's first domestic flying car called the "Cezeri." The photos of the prototype's eight-month-long design process, from the initial sketches to its construction, were recently shared by Selçuk Bayraktar, the chief technology officer of Baykar. The car gets its name from Ismail al-Jazari, one of the great Muslim inventors and engineers of the Islamic Golden Age who lived during the 12th century in eastern Anatolia. On the other hand, Turkish Aerospace Industries Inc. (TAI) will be exhibiting a mockup of the National Combat Aircraft (MMU) for the first time in Turkey at the event. It will also showcase a number of national projects that have attracted a lot of local and international attention. The mock-up of the fifth-generation MMU was unveiled at this year's Paris Air Show. The preliminary design activities of the fifth-generation fighter jet received a TL 4.8 billion incentive certificate. The project will employ 3,200 people, with an indirect employment contribution estimated to be around 11,200. The HÜRKUS training aircraft, also developed by TAI, will also perform demonstration flights at the festival. The event will also showcase aircraft like the locally-developed T625 multi-purpose helicopter Gökbey, the UAVs ANKA and Aksungur, jet training and light attack aircraft Hürjet and ATAK II, an upgraded version of Turkey's first home-grown T129 Advanced Attack and Tactical Reconnaissance Helicopter (ATAK). MOBILE GAME BASED ON ATAK HELICOPTER TO BE LAUNCHED A mobile game based on the ATAK attack helicopter has been developed and will be launched at the event. The company previously developed a mobile action game "Operation Anka" featuring the new-generation UAV ANKA. "Operation Atak" will be available following the presentation at the festival. The project has been implemented with the aim of explaining Turkish defense industry products to young people and increasing their interest in technology. It will enable users to experience the power and capabilities of national products through the game. The game will be available for free on the Google Play and App Store. RUSSIAN JETS TO MEET VISITORS Furthermore, Russian jets will also take their places and meet visitors during the aerospace and technology festival. The Su-57 fighter jet, the latest generation Russian stealth aircraft, and the Beriev Be-200, a multipurpose amphibious aircraft, are expected to carry out flights on the sidelines of the event. In recent weeks Russian officials said Turkey was interested in securing deals to purchase both types of aircraft. In the wake of Turkey's suspension from the F-35 jet program by the U.S., Ankara has been mulling alternatives for its warplanes needs. President Recep Tayyip Erdogan visited Russia's MAKS-2019 airshow late last month, where along with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin, he examined the Su-35 and Su-57 jets. https://www.dailysabah.com/technology/2019/09/17/istanbul-on-radar-of-aviation-tech-enthusiasts-as-teknofest-kicks-off Back to Top Airbus Forecasts Need for Over 39,000 New Aircraft in the Next 20 Years The world's passenger and freighter aircraft fleet is set to more than double from nearly 23,000 to almost 48,000 by 2038 with traffic growing at 4.3 percent annually, also resulting in a need for 550,000 new pilots and 640,000 new technicians. By 2038, of the forecast 47,680 fleet, 39,210 are new and 8,470 remain from today. By updating fleets with latest generation fuel efficient aircraft such as the A220, A320neo Family, the A330neo and the A350, Airbus believes it will largely contribute to the progressive decarbonisation of the air transport industry and the objective of carbon neutral growth from 2020 while connecting more people globally. Reflecting evolving aircraft technology, Airbus has simplified its segmentation to consider capacity, range and mission type. For example, a short haul A321 is Small (S) while the long-haul A321LR or XLR can be categorised as Medium (M). While the core market for the A330 is classified as Medium (M), it is likely a number will continue to be operated by airlines in a way that sits within the Large (L) market segmentation along with the A350 XWB. The new segmentation gives rise to a need for 39,210 new passenger and freighter aircraft 29,720 Small (S), 5,370 Medium (M) and 4,120 Large (L) - according to Airbus' latest Global Market Forecast 2019-2038. Of these, 25,000 aircraft are for growth and 14,210 are to replace older models with newer ones offering superior efficiency. Resilient to economic shocks, air traffic has more than doubled since 2000. It is increasingly playing a key role in connecting large population centres, particularly in emerging markets where the propensity to travel is amongst the world's highest as cost or geography make alternatives impossible. Today, about a quarter of the world's urban population is responsible for more than a quarter of global GDP, and given both are key growth drivers, Aviation Mega Cities (AMCs) will continue to power the global aviation network. Developments in superior fuel efficiency are further driving demand to replace existing less fuel efficient aircraft. "The 4 percent annual growth reflects the resilient nature of aviation, weathering short term economic shocks and geo-political disturbances. Economies thrive on air transportation. People and goods want to connect," said Christian Scherer, Airbus chief commercial officer and head of Airbus International. "Globally, commercial aviation stimulates GDP growth and supports 65 million livelyhoods, demonstrating the immense benefits our business brings to all societies and global trade." https://www.aviationpros.com/engines-components/aircraft-engines/electric-green-engine-technology/press-release/21106152/airbus-airbus-forecasts-need-for-over-39000-new-aircraft-in-the-next-20-years Back to Top Improved Infrastructure, Connectivity, Safety and Technology Needed to Unlock Kenya's Economy Nairobi - The International Air Transport Association (IATA) presented its latest study on the economic value of air transport and tourism to Kenya at the IATA Regional Aviation Forum in Nairobi and identified opportunities for significant expansion over the next 20 years if key investments in infrastructure and policy reforms are made. In 2017, over 4.7 million passenger journeys were made to Kenya, with aviation and tourism representing USD 3.2 billion in GDP. It accounts for 4.6% of Kenya's GDP and supports 410,000 jobs. Over the next 20 years the Kenyan market could more than double in size, resulting in an additional 11.3 million passenger journeys, over 449,000 more jobs, and a USD 11.3 billion boost to GDP by 2037. IATA identified four areas where government action can promote aviation's growth and bring even more value to Kenya: • Improve air transport infrastructure to accommodate the future growth of air traffic in collaboration with users: Improving operational efficiency at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport is essential if Nairobi is to remain a competitive connecting hub and East Africa's main air cargo hub. • Implement the Single African Air Transport Market (SAATM): SAATM will open Africa's skies. We welcome Kenya's commitment to SAATM and urge the government to implement it by making its regulatory framework statutory. • Improve safety: Improvements in the safety performance of Africa's turboprop fleet remain a priority - including in Kenya. The IATA Standard Safety Assessment Program (ISSA) enhances and complements the state's safety oversight role • Adopt new innovative technology: Integrating technology such as biometrics and AI will improve efficiency and passengers' journey experience "Air transport has been a major driver in Kenya's economy, boosting tourism, attracting regional headquarters of multinational companies and fostering trade, logistics and foreign investment in the country. With 4.8 million passengers arriving to Kenya's airports every year and the country's established position as the leading cargo hub for East Africa, there is good reason to be proud of all that aviation has achieved in the country," said Muhammad Ali Albakri, IATA's Regional Vice President for the Middle East & Africa. "However, while Kenya ranks globally in the top 10% of countries for visa openness, it remains in the bottom half for air transport infrastructure. To unlock the full social and economic benefits that aviation brings, Kenya needs to improve its infrastructure, open its skies, remain vigilant and firm on safety, while taking advantage of new technologies to improve efficiency and the passenger experience," he added. "Kenya Airways has been a major driver in Kenya's economic and social development, promoting commerce, providing jobs and vital logistics to boost tourism and trade. The development of policies that support the growth of aviation and reduce bureaucracy at the points of entry are paying off. Continuing this policy focus will certainly unlock even greater development potential for Kenya and the neighboring countries," said Sebastian Mikosz, Group Managing Director & CEO, Kenya Airways. https://www.aviationpros.com/airlines/press-release/21105925/international-air-transport-association-iata-improved-infrastructure-connectivity-safety-and-technology-needed-to-unlock-kenyas-economy Back to Top ZeroAvia to receive grant to develop its hydrogen fuel aviation technology The UK Government awarded the clean aviation company with a £2.7 million grant. ZeroAvia's hydrogen fuel aviation technology has received support from the UK government, which supplied a £2.7 million ($3.3 million) grant, to the innovative company that seeks to decarbonize commercial aviation. The grant will help ZeroAvaia develop the principal technology needed to make practical emission-free aviation in commercial aircrafts possible. The UK government's grant has been matched by other Project HyFlyer participants. The goal of ZeroAvia's HyFlyer project is to demonstrate principal technology readiness for a hydrogen fuel cell powertrain. The scope of the hydrogen fuel aviation project is in excess of £5 million ($6.2 million) as the UK Government grant has been matched by Project HyFlyer participants. The UK Government grant is part of the ATI programme, supported by the Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy, the Aerospace Technology Institute and Innovate UK. "The substantial backing provided by the UK Government underlines the potential that hydrogen holds as a fuel source for commercial aviation and provides significant validation of ZeroAvia's approach to zero emission flight," Val Miftakhov, ZeroAvia Founder and CEO said in a news release announcing the grant. "Our project goal of 300 NM is equivalent to the distance from London to Edinburgh and will prove that zero emission aviation, powered by hydrogen, can play a key role within the UK and other countries' transport strategies - enabling net zero targets to be met and improving productivity and regional prosperity," Miftakhov added. ZeroAvia Maximum Speed & Power Test ZeroAvia has already started flight testing its hydrogen fuel aviation technology. Last month, Hydrogen Fuel News reported that the Silicon Valley startup had already been flight testing its technology, using a Piper M-Class airframe in California equipped with its hydrogen powertrain prototype. Presently, this is the the world's largest zero-emission aircraft that flies without requiring fossil fuel support, and it has successfully completed a number of test flights. ZeroAvia will launch Project HyFlyer at its UK operations that it will open in Cranfield. There, the company will benefit from close proximity to key partners with which it has already built a working relationship over the past year, according to the news release. The HyFlyer project is key to ZeroAvai's mission of supplying commercial operators and aircraft manufacturers with hydrogen-powered aircrafts by 2022. The company will initially target 500-mile regional flights in 10- to 20-seat fixed-wing aircrafts. The objective of the clean transportation solution is for the hydrogen fuel aviation technology to deliver the same performance as a conventional aircraft engine, but with no emissions and at about half the operating cost. http://www.hydrogenfuelnews.com/zeroavia-to-receive-grant-to-develop-its-hydrogen-fuel-aviation-technology/8538312/ Back to Top Gulfstream East Campus opens at company headquarters General Dynamics subsidiary Gulfstream Aerospace Corp. opened its new maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) facility at company headquarters in Savannah, Georgia, with a ribbon-cutting ceremony. The Gulfstream East Campus, opened to accommodate fleet growth, has been operational since Sept. 11, 2019. The 202,000ft2 (18,766m2) building on the east side of Savannah/Hilton Head International Airport was built with an investment of more than $55 million and gives Gulfstream more than 1,000,000ft2 (92,903m2) of dedicated MRO hangar, office, and back shop space in Savannah. The expansion, announced in April 2018, is expected to add approximately 200 customer support-related jobs within several years, some of which will be filled by graduates of Savannah Technical College's Aviation Technology Division. Gulfstream's announcement came before an audience of employees along with state and local dignitaries, including Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp. In August, Gulfstream opened a service center expansion in Appleton, Wisconsin - a $40 million, nearly 190,000ft2 (17,652m2) building northeast of the airport terminal. The company also has a service center opening scheduled for late 2019 or early 2020 in Van Nuys, California. In all, the company will open three service center expansions and two new service centers in 2019 and 2020, adding approximately 790,000ft2 (73,393m2) of dedicated MRO hangars, offices, and back shops in the U.S. and Europe to accommodate Gulfstream's worldwide in-service fleet of approximately 2,800 aircraft. "By growing the number of maintenance facilities and combining them with our fleet of rapid-response vehicles and Gulfstream Field and Airborne Support Teams technicians, we're offering our customers more service and support options, more accessibility, and more flexibility," said Gulfstream President Mark Burns. Like the existing nearly 680,000ft2 (63,174m2) Gulfstream Savannah Service Center, the Gulfstream East Campus offers aircraft-on-ground business aviation-dedicated MRO facility resources, hourly and calendar-driven airframe inspections, avionics installations, and interior refurbishments. Gulfstream's Savannah MRO operations are certified by the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration, European Aviation Safety Agency, Civil Aviation Administration of China, and more than 20 other civil aviation authorities worldwide. In 2018, Savannah had more than 1,500 aircraft visits. The Gulfstream East Campus is expected to receive U.S. Green Building Council Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification due to its sustainable features, which include energy-efficient lighting, enhanced control systems for heating and cooling, optimized energy performance, recycling at least 75% of construction waste, low-emitting building materials, water-saving fixtures, and preferred parking for low-emission vehicles. https://www.aerospacemanufacturinganddesign.com/article/gulfstream-east-campus-opens-company-hq/ Back to Top The Linux Foundation to Host Open Source Project for Drone Aviation Interoperability SAN FRANCISCO, Sept. 18, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- The Linux Foundation today announced it will host the InterUSS Platform Open Source Project to enable trusted, secure and scalable interoperability between UAS Service Suppliers (USSs) that advances safe, equitable and efficient drone operations. Initial contributors include both industry and regulatory organizations Wing, AirMap, Uber and the Swiss Federal Office of Civil Aviation (FOCA). Similar to the evolution of cities, our skies are becoming busier with traffic. In an effort to unleash innovation and ensure safety, aviation regulators around the world are implementing UAS Traffic Management (UTM, also referred to as U-Space) to support rapidly increasing and highly diverse drone operations. Under UTM, a set of USSs (also known as U-Space Service Providers orUSPs) assist drone operators to conduct safe and compliant operations. USSs can provide service in overlapping airspace and share data when required to support services such as a strategic deconfliction of flight plans and remote identification and industry is developing standards for this data sharing through organizations such as ASTM International. The InterUSS Project provides a forum for collaboration and development of standards-compliant, open source implementations that facilitate communication in the UTM/U-Space environment. The InterUSS Platform supports a range of UTM / U-Space services by facilitating communications between USSs and implements the Discovery and Synchronization Service (DSS) defined in the ASTM Remote ID standard. This includes two primary functions. First, it enables a USS to discover other USSs from which it needs to obtain information about flights and constraints in the airspace. Second, it provides mechanisms that require a USS to prove that it is aware of those flights and constraints. The InterUSS Platform accomplishes these functions without requiring any personally identifiable information and enables the USSs to share data only when necessary. The InterUSS platform was developed by industry in consultation with regulators and standards bodies around the world. It also provides a framework for interoperability in NASA's UTM Technology Capability level demonstrations and the FAA's UTM pilot program. "Drones and their interoperability represents one of the most important areas of innovation across the technology industry," said Mike Dolan, vice president of strategic programs, the Linux Foundation. "We're excited to support the InterUSS Platform and global developer community to advance drone operations around the world." The Foundation will use an open governance model, including a Technical Advisory Council (TAC) comprised of a variety of technical stakeholders in the drone space. Project inclusion will be determined by a review and curation process managed by the TAC. Founding Members AirMap "The InterUSS Platform enables that any drone operator, enterprise or individual can have safe and equitable access to airspace," said Andreas Lamprecht, CTO at AirMap. "This open source implementation of the ASTM standard for the Discovery and Synchronization Service represents a huge step forward in nurturing an open, interoperable and diversified market for UAS services." Uber "Drone-based deliveries have the potential to get products to people quickly and conveniently. Rolling out standards-compliant UAS traffic management services intelligently means creating a universal and secure communication protocol that drone operators can use for safely sharing the airspace. We believe this technology should be open. That's why Uber is proud to join the InterUSS-Platform as a Premier member, as we believe this open project will advance the technology to make safe drone operations a standard feature in our lives," said Tom Prevot, director of airspace systems at Uber Elevate. Wing "Interoperability through open standards is essential for a UTM ecosystem in which each USS can participate and innovate to address the unique needs of their customers," said Reinaldo Negron, Wing's Head of UTM. "As a compliant implementation of the ASTM Discovery and Synchronization Service, the InterUSS Platform provides the foundation for that interoperability. Wing is looking forward to continuing our collaboration with industry partners and regulators to build safe and effective solutions for UTM." Federal Office of Civil Aviation (FOCA), Switzerland "From an authority point of view, a close cooperation between industry and regulators is essential to ensure optimal conditions for Switzerland to remain a competitive location for innovation and digitalization in aviation worldwide. The Discovery and Synchronization Service is a key element of the Swiss U-Space Architecture and the development of its open source implementation, the InterUSS-Platform, is an important effort towards interoperability. Joining the Linux Foundation is therefore a logical step forward to ensure that FOCA can effectively perform its role as an enabler and oversight authority," said Lorenzo Murzilli, Leader of Innovation and Digitalization Unit and Head of the Swiss U-space Program. About the Linux Foundation Founded in 2000, the Linux Foundation is supported by more than 1,000 members and is the world's leading home for collaboration on open source software, open standards, open data, and open hardware. Linux Foundation's projects are critical to the world's infrastructure, including Linux, Kubernetes, Node.js and more. The Linux Foundation's methodology focuses on leveraging best practices and addressing the needs of contributors, users, and solution providers to create sustainable models for open collaboration. For more information, please visit us at linuxfoundation.org. https://finance.yahoo.com/news/linux-foundation-host-open-source-project-drone-aviation-160100018.html Back to Top Etihad Airways Together with ABU Dhabi Airports Becomes First Airline and the First Airport in the Region to Trial the Use of Autonomous Wheelchairs Etihad Airways, the national airline of the United Arab Emirates has launched an innovative trial of autonomous wheelchairs at Abu Dhabi International Airport, in advance of its move to the new Midfield Terminal. The trial is a partnership between Etihad Airways and Abu Dhabi Airports in collaboration with personal electric vehicle supplier WHILL and information technology company SITA. The WHILL 'Autonomous Drive System' wheelchairs enable guests with restricted mobility to move around the airport environment on their own, without the need for assistance from a member of staff. The introduction of the autonomous option provides guests with the choice of freedom or to have traditional assistance via a team of dedicated porters, which will remain available. The trial, which will last until the end of the year, will involve intensive testing and mapping of the airport environment to facilitate autonomous movement. This wheelchair is a first for any airline and airport in the region and features sensors to detect obstructions, providing an automatic 'stop' function. Future features in the pipeline include real-time gate and boarding time updates for guests. Mohammad Al Bulooki, chief operating officer, Etihad Aviation Group said, "Etihad is an airline that has innovation at its core, be that on the ground or inflight. This latest trial of autonomous wheelchairs not only showcases the airline's commitment to innovation, but more importantly inclusive innovation. This trial is particularly important because it empowers Etihad Airways' guests and provides them with a level of freedom at the airport which hasn't been available before. The possibilities that this new technology introduces are truly exciting and the teams are working hard to ensure that the experience of the airlines' guests is as seamless and independent as possible." Bryan Thompson, chief executive officer of Abu Dhabi Airports, said, "We are delighted to be working with Etihad Airways to trial the use of autonomous wheelchairs at Abu Dhabi International Airport. Enhancing the freedom of movement of those with mobility restrictions forms a part of our wider commitment to delivering a smooth and seamless passenger experience to each and every traveler through the implementation of innovative and cutting-edge technologies throughout Abu Dhabi International Airport and our upcoming Midfield Terminal." "Long distance travel has evolved in the past few decades, however there has been no innovation for travelling short distances. WHILL's strength lies in the capability to provide hardware and service globally in the 'safe, single-person vehicle' category. We want to create a world with smart and fun transportation for everyone including those with reduced mobility, and are excited about the opportunity to trial our technology at Abu Dhabi International Airport in partnership with Etihad and Abu Dhabi Airports," said Satoshi Sugie, founder and CEO of WHILL. The final stage of the trial will involve guests of the airline, with restricted mobility, self-driving the wheelchairs through Abu Dhabi International Airport, navigating through the duty-free shops and lounges to their departure gate, without the need of assistance from a member of staff. On arrival at the gate, and once the guest has boarded the flight, the wheelchairs will have the capability to return themselves to the collection point without staff involvement. https://www.aviationpros.com/airlines/press-release/21105731/etihad-airways-etihad-airways-together-with-abu-dhabi-airports-becomes-first-airline-and-the-first-airport-in-the-region-to-trial-the-use-of-autonomous-wheelchairs Back to Top Honeywell Auxiliary Power Units Make Aviation History With New Production Milestones PHOENIX, Sept. 18, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Honeywell (NYSE: HON) has reached two major milestones in the production of auxiliary power units (APUs) for aircraft - rolling out its 100,000th overall and the 15,000th of its most popular variant flying today, the 131-9 model. APUs provide power to tens of thousands of aircraft in the skies today, and Honeywell has been the unquestioned leader in the space for nearly 70 years. Numerous commercial and military platforms have relied on Honeywell APUs to start their main engines and provide additional power to other important systems. "Honeywell invented the auxiliary power unit, and has been the production and technological leader in APUs ever since," said Brian Sill, president, Engines and Power Systems, Honeywell Aerospace. "Our legacy and leadership in this space combined with our expertise in connectivity make us well equipped to provide aircraft operators with the next generation of APUs and dependable backup power for years to come." A flight begins and ends with the APU. From the minute a passenger boards a plane until it reaches the destination gate, this small engine provides electrical power to the aircraft to start the main engines, run the air conditioning, operate lighting and flight equipment, and more. It is also an important safety feature because of the backup power it supplies to cockpit and hydraulic systems in an emergency, which help control things like steering, air speed and altitude during flight. Honeywell's first APU took to the skies in 1950, and the company has built more than 100,000 since. More than 36,000 are in service today across more than 150 regional, executive, commercial and military applications, including both fixed wing and rotary wing. In 2009, the Honeywell 131-9A APU on an Airbus A320 played a critical role in the emergency landing of US Airways Flight 1549 in New York's Hudson River, in which all 155 passengers and crew survived. In August, Honeywell shipped its 15,000th 131-9 auxiliary power unit since introducing this model in 1995. More than 13,000 131-9 APUs are still in service today. They are primarily flown on the two most popular single-aisle passenger aircraft in the skies: the Boeing 737 and the Airbus A320. Honeywell is continuing to advance APU technology in several ways, and works to provide best-in-class operational efficiency to customers. For example, Honeywell Forge for Airlines, an advanced analytics-based software platform for airlines, helps operators reduce delays and cancellations due to unscheduled APU maintenance. In addition, Honeywell will soon debut a new and smaller power unit designed to provide on-ground power to turboprop and small to midsize jets. About Honeywell Honeywell Aerospace products and services are found on virtually every commercial, defense and space aircraft. The Aerospace business unit builds aircraft engines, cockpit and cabin electronics, wireless connectivity systems, mechanical components and more. Its hardware and software solutions create more fuel-efficient aircraft, more direct and on-time flights and safer skies and airports. For more information, visit www.honeywell.com or follow us at @Honeywell_Aero. Honeywell (www.honeywell.com) is a Fortune 100 technology company that delivers industry specific solutions that include aerospace products and services; control technologies for buildings and industry; and performance materials globally. Our technologies help everything from aircraft, buildings, manufacturing plants, supply chains, and workers become more connected to make our world smarter, safer, and more sustainable. For more news and information on Honeywell, please visit www.honeywell.com/newsroom. https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/honeywell-auxiliary-power-units-make-aviation-history-with-new-production-milestones-300920417.html Back to Top HAWK30 Takes Flight - AeroVironment Achieves Successful First Test Flight of Next Generation Solar HAPS Unmanned Aircraft System SIMI VALLEY, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Successful first test flight takes place less than two years after program start Test program to expand operating envelope with sequentially higher and longer flights AeroVironment, Inc. (AVAV), a global leader in Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) for both defense and commercial applications, announced the successful first flight of the HAWK30 solar HAPS unmanned aircraft system on September 11, 2019 at the NASA Armstrong Flight Research Center in California. AeroVironment partnered with SoftBank Corp (9434.T) to create HAPSMobile Inc., the joint venture funding HAWK30 design development and demonstration. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20190916005306/en/ "The first flight of HAWK30 builds on more than two decades of pioneering HAPS technology development and demonstration by the AeroVironment team, and comes only two years since SoftBank joined us in this endeavor," said Wahid Nawabi, AeroVironment president and chief executive officer. "We are the pioneer and leader in HAPS, delivering continued progress and demonstrated success. We look forward to achieving even greater success in flight testing, culminating in high-altitude, long-endurance flight demonstrations that will pave the way for the global commercialization of HAPS technology. "We are grateful for the expertise and support from NASA's outstanding team at the Armstrong Flight Research Center. We are proud to add another milestone to their storied history of aviation innovation," Nawabi added. Developed and assembled in AeroVironment's HAPS Innovation Center, the HAWK30 has a wingspan of approximately 260 feet and is propelled by 10 electric motors powered by solar panels covering the surface of the wing, resulting in zero emissions. Flying at an altitude of approximately 65,000 feet above sea level and above the clouds, the HAWK30 is designed for continuous, extended missions of up to months without landing. AeroVironment seeks to create value from its unique HAPS intellectual property and capabilities in multiple ways: participating in the anticipated growth of the HAPSMobile joint venture as one of its two owners; generating customer-funded research and development revenue as the exclusive developer of solar HAPS for HAPSMobile through the design, development and demonstration phases of the program; manufacturing and supplying HAPS UAS to HAPSMobile; supporting and maintaining a deployed fleet of HAPS systems; and marketing and selling HAPS UAS to non-commercial customers globally, with the exception of Japan. AeroVironment pioneered the concept of high-altitude solar-powered UAS in the 1980s, and developed and demonstrated multiple systems for NASA's Environmental Research Aircraft and Sensor Technology, or ERAST program, in the late 1990s and early 2000s. In August 2001, the AeroVironment Helios prototype reached an altitude of 96,863 feet, setting the world-record for sustained horizontal flight by a winged aircraft. In 2002, the AeroVironment Pathfinder Plus prototype performed the world's first UAS telecommunications demonstrations at 65,000 feet by providing high-definition television (HDTV) signals, third-generation (3G) mobile voice, video and data and high-speed internet connectivity. About AeroVironment, Inc. AeroVironment (AVAV) provides customers with more actionable intelligence so they can proceed with certainty. Based in California, AeroVironment is a global leader in unmanned aircraft systems and tactical missile systems, and serves defense, government, and commercial customers. For more information visit www.avinc.com. https://finance.yahoo.com/news/hawk30-takes-flight-aerovironment-achieves-131000737.html Back to Top Boeing, Safran Make Joint Investment in EPS to Develop Electric Aircraft Industrial Base Boeing HorizonX Ventures and Safran have made a joint investment of an undisclosed sum in Electric Power Systems (EPS), a privately held Utah-based company that has made headlines in recent years for establishing new advanced electric battery system supplier agreements to NASA and Bell, among other companies developing electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) vehicles. EPS will use the joint investment to develop "a highly automated" industrial base capable of reducing the cost of development for battery systems for future electric airplanes and air taxis. "This strategic investment accelerates the development of clean, quiet and safe urban air mobility solutions," Brian Schettler, managing director of Boeing HorizonX Ventures, said of the investment in EPS. Under the joint investment, Safran will look to collaborate with EPS on developing fully electric and hybrid electric propulsion system technology. Another division of Safran, the cabin interiors division, has already been involved in a partnership with Uber to release a prototype cabin for a future air taxi. The Boeing-Safran investment is the latest electric air taxi battery system supplier milestone for EPS, which also provides the battery modules, management unit and power distribution unit for the Bye Aerospace flight demonstrator. Bell selected EPS to provide the advanced energy storage system for its Nexus air taxi in November 2018. EPS is also providing an 850-pound lithium-ion battery pack for NASA's X-57 Maxwell, an all-electric experimental aircraft being developed by the agency to demonstrate the use of distributed electric propulsion in future airplanes. EPS is the second advanced battery solutions company to join the Boeing HorizonX Ventures investment portfolio, following an investment in Cuberg, an advanced lithium metal battery technology company, in 2018. Safran Ventures also recently invested in OXIS Energy, a UK-based leader in lithium-sulfur cell technology for high energy density battery systems. "Electrification of flight has the potential to fundamentally change how goods, services and humans connect. We are thrilled to work with visionary companies such as Boeing and Safran to further develop and field advanced energy solutions that can meet real world mission demands," Nathan Millecam, CEO of EPS said of the new joint investment. https://www.aviationtoday.com/2019/09/18/boeing-safran-make-joint-investment-in-eps-to-develop-electric-aircraft-industrial-base/ Back to Top Wing tip device for cleaner aviation wins 2019 EU young scientist prize An alternative aeroplane wing tip dubbed 'new raked' that would make flying more fuel efficient has been awarded one of four €7,000 first prizes at this year's European Union Contest for Young Scientists (EUCYS). The Danish student behind the design, Magnus Quaade Oddershede, 19, said his model came out of a two-week project in his last year of high school where he decided to investigate the Boeing raked wing tip, the extension of the main wing which reduces drag. 'I was investigating the design of the Boeing raked wing tip and the design of the winglet and how the three-dimensional (air) flow around the wing tip behaves,' he said, speaking from the EUCYS awards ceremony on 17 September in Sofia, Bulgaria. Oddershede came up with a device that he says visually resembles Boeing's raked wing tips but has a sharper point. He says that his tests show that 'new raked', which reduces drag and maximises lift of the wing, could be more efficient than Boeing's model. 'It works by preventing air from making a curling motion around the wing tip, which means that the circulation that is left behind the wing is reduced dramatically and this in turn reduces the induced drag on the aeroplane,' Oddershede said. As a rule of thumb, he says, induced drag contributes to around 10% of the total drag of a modern passenger aeroplane. Reducing this can lead to a significant decrease in fuel burn and pollution. The teenager says he's always been fascinated by aviation and recalls playing with a model aeroplane from as young as five years of age. 'The fact that you can make something that's heavier than air, fly. I find that, just the concept, amazing.' Climate change Oddershede, who started studying physics at the University of Copenhagen at the beginning of September, says his concern about climate change also motivated him to work on the wing tip design. 'I believe that we have to do a lot of things in order to reduce the climate impact of the way we live and aviation in general is a major contributor to pollution,' he said. 'My design could actually help with reducing the climate impact of aviation.' So far, he has only tested his alternative wing tip in a low-speed wind tunnel at a scientific centre for high school students. He hopes to run more proof of concept experiments and to optimise his model. To do this, he says he needs to gain access to a high-speed wind tunnel. 'I hope that that (winning first prize) will give me an advantage when applying for the use of those wind tunnels,' he said. First prizes were also awarded to Alex Korocencev and Felix Christian Sewing, both 18, from Germany for their prototype of a magnetic hoverboard inspired by the 80s sci-fi film Back to the Future II, and Ireland's Adam Kelly, 17, for new tools to optimise quantum computing simulations. The fourth first prize went to 17-year-old researchers Leo Li Takemaru and Poojan Pandya from the US who studied the role of the protein Coiled-Coil Domain Containing 11 (CCDC11) in HIV. Their work looked at how the protein could inform future antiviral therapies. Carlos Moedas, European Commissioner for Research, Science and Innovation, congratulated the winners for their 'outstanding achievement'. 'I am convinced that we will see many of the 154 participants hitting the headlines in the coming years with breakthrough discoveries and innovations,' he said. https://horizon-magazine.eu/article/wing-tip-device-cleaner-aviation-wins-2019-eu-young-scientist-prize.html Back to Top NASA and SpaceX Win Emmy for Crew Dragon Demo-1 Coverage SpaceX Crew Dragon Demo 1 Mission Short Film NASA and SpaceX have picked up an Emmy for outstanding interactive programming at the 71st Emmy Awards. The Emmy was awarded in recognition for the pair's coverage of the historic Crew Dragon Demo-1 mission earlier this year. The 71st Emmy Awards were held over the weekend to celebrate the past year's outstanding television accomplishments. In addition to the awards given to popular shows like Game of Thrones, The Handmaid's Tale and Chernobyl, two names made an unlikely appearance at the star-studded event. In addition to picking up the Emmy for outstanding interactive programming with SpaceX for the pair's coverage of the Crew Dragon Demo-1 mission, NASA also picked up a second for the agency's coverage of its Mars InSight mission. The Crew Dragon Demo-1 mission was launched on March 2, 2019, and was the first flight of the upgraded SpaceX Dragon spacecraft that will eventually ferry astronauts to the International Space Station. The uncrewed spacecraft docked with the space station's Harmony module on March 3 and returned safely to Earth on March 8. Both SpaceX and NASA live-streamed every moment of the mission from the launch, rendezvous, docking, and the spacecraft's return to Earth. Millions of viewers from around the world tuned into every moment of the six-day mission as a private company took one step closer to an achievement previously only attempted by national space programs. https://rocketrundown.com/nasa-and-spacex-win-emmy-for-crew-dragon-demo-1-coverage/ Curt Lewis