November 29, 2019 - No. 093 In This Issue Papua New Guinea Air Services Limited Signs Agreement To Deploy Aireon's Space-Based Technology In PNG And Contribute To A Safer Sky In The Asia Pacific Dassault Aviation invests in Pyrotechnics Coulson Aviation has been selected by the United States Air Force to install their RADS-XXL Firefighting System on the C-130H aircraft Mars Developer Adds Aircraft Marketing Tech Bombardier Reinforces Commitment to Environment and Receives First Shipment of Sustainable Aviation Fuel in Montreal Data and Safety: Lessons from TSB's Investigation of Canadian Air Taxi Accidents Blockchain, 3-D Printing Combine to Make Aircraft Parts Growing Demand of Autonomous Transportation Platforms for Higher Operating Efficiency, Safety is Fueling the Adoption of Autonomous Technology Avy launches its lifesaving Avy Wing Drone Zeppelin transport likely to see new high-tech revival SPACEX CONTINUES TO MOVE ONWARD AND UPWARD ON THE FLORIDA SPACE COAST Papua New Guinea Air Services Limited Signs Agreement To Deploy Aireon's Space-Based Technology In PNG And Contribute To A Safer Sky In The Asia Pacific NATIONAL CAPITAL DISTRICT, Papua New Guinea, Nov. 27, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, Papua New Guinea Air Services Limited (PNGASL) announced it has signed an agreement to deploy Aireon's space-based Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B) air traffic surveillance service in the Port Moresby Flight Information Region (FIR). This announcement will enable the near-term deployment of 100 percent, real-time air traffic surveillance of all ADS-B equipped aircraft. Since its operations commenced in 2008, PNGASL has relied on ground-based infrastructure for its surveillance capabilities. However, because of Papua New Guinea's extremely mountainous and difficult terrains, as well as unpredictable inclement weather, it has been a challenge for PNGASL to efficiently install and effectively maintain ground stations. To solve the geographic constraints that limit existing ground-based surveillance, PNGASL previously relied on local third-party communications links. However, the ongoing disrupted power supply and outages in service availability have made dependence on third-party solutions an unreliable approach. With space-based ADS-B, PNGASL will no longer be constrained by these geographic and technical challenges. "Today's announcement marks a significant milestone for PNGASL as we continuously strive to provide the highest standards of safety and efficiency for air traffic within and routed through our airspace," said Captain Ted Pakii, CEO and Managing Director of PNG Air Services Limited. "The Aireon surveillance data will strengthen all operations overseeing our FIR, from improving our controller's workload and broadening their capabilities, to facilitating user-preferred routes for our customers. Additionally, Aireon's technology will facilitate seamless services for the aviation industry in PNG and within the region and enable more accurate positioning for search and rescue operations among other benefits." Within the next few months, PNGASL will have real-time air traffic surveillance over the Port Moresby FIR, which shares common borders with Brisbane FIR, managed by Airservices Australia, the Oakland Oceanic FIR, managed by The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and, Ujung Pandang FIR, managed by AirNav Indonesia. "Deploying Aireon's space-based ADS-B surveillance technology in the Port Moresby FIR solidifies PNGASL's position as a leader of aviation safety and efficiency in the region, and we are certain that these benefits will extend to the greater Asia Pacific," said Don Thoma, CEO, Aireon. "PNGASL plays a significant geographic role, being a main thoroughfare for traffic going from the north to the south and vice-versa. They are looking to provide the best-in-class services to their customers and stakeholders and real-time oceanic and terrestrial air traffic surveillance will absolutely accomplish that." About PNGASL PNG Air Services Limited is a State Aviation Enterprise (SAE) that was registered as a company in 2007 but started its operation in April 2008. Its primary business is to provide Air Navigation Services to the domestic and international air operators who use PNG airspace, with the vision to be recognized as a leading Air Navigation Service Provider within the region and beyond. http://www.pngairservices.com.pg/. About Aireon LLC Aireon has deployed a space-based air traffic surveillance system for Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B) equipped aircraft throughout the entire globe. Aireon is harnessing next-generation aviation surveillance technologies that were formerly ground-based and, for the first time ever, is extending their reach globally to significantly improve efficiency, enhance safety, reduce emissions and provide cost savings benefits to all stakeholders. Space-based ADS-B surveillance covers oceanic, polar and remote regions, and augments existing ground-based systems that are limited to terrestrial airspace. In partnership with leading ANSPs from around the world, like NAV CANADA, the Irish Aviation Authority (IAA), Enav, NATS and Naviair, as well as Iridium Communications, Aireon is providing a global, real-time, space-based air traffic surveillance system, available to all aviation stakeholders. For more information, please visit www.aireon.com. https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/papua-new-guinea-air-services-limited-signs-agreement-to-deploy-aireons-space-based-technology-in-png-and-contribute-to-a-safer-sky-in-the-asia-pacific-300965812.html Back to Top Dassault Aviation invests in Pyrotechnics Saint-Cloud, 27 November 2019) - Today Dassault Aviation inaugurated its new pyrotechnic facilities at its Martignas-sur-Jalle site. The inauguration ceremony was led by Eric Trappier, Chairman and CEO of Dassault Aviation, along with site director Pascal Nibaudeau, and was attended by the general secretary of the prefecture of Nouvelle-Aquitaine and Gironde, Thierry Suquet; the president of the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region, Alain Rousset; the vice president of the Bordeaux Métropole metropolitan area, Alain Anziani; and the mayor of Martignas, Michel Vernejoul. Also present were representatives from official bodies, the aeronautical ecosystem in southwest France and the media. The pyrotechnic activities of Dassault Aviation were previously based in Argenteuil and Poitiers. All of these activities have now been relocated to the new facilities in Martignas: - A 2,500m2, tripod-shaped building in which each wing is dedicated to a specific function: production of long products (cutting cords, expansible tubes and transmission lines) in the first; manufacture of pyromechanisms and initiators in the second; and design study activities and test laboratories in the third. - A bunker for safe storage of explosive components. "Aeronautical pyrotechnics is a rare, high-technology specialty. The relocation of this activity to Martignas is fully in line with our transformation plan, 'Leading our Future,' launched at the end of 2016. This plan aims to make our company more flexible and competitive, without modifying our DNA. Today's ceremony marks another successful step in our transformation", said Eric Trappier. Pyrotechnics makes a key contribution to the safety of fighter pilots. It allows instantaneous transmission of the ejection signal and ensures that the canopy shatters to allow the ejection seat to pass through. Dassault Aviation has its own expertise in this technology for all its combat aircraft. Pyrotechnics is used on space launch vehicles for engine ignition and stage and payload fairing separation. It is also used for satellite ejection and for deployment of solar panels and antennas. This is achieved using a variety of computer-controlled pyrotechnic systems (multi-layer relays, valves, transmission lines, etc.). Dassault Aviation deploys these competences on Ariane 5, the Vega rocket, some non-European launchers, and satellites. ABOUT DASSAULT AVIATION: With over 10,000 military and civil aircraft (including 2,500 Falcons) delivered in more than 90 countries over the last century, Dassault Aviation has built up expertise recognized worldwide in the design, development, sale and support of all types of aircraft, ranging from the Rafale fighter, to the high-end Falcon family of business jets, military drones and space systems. In 2018, Dassault Aviation reported revenues of €5.1 billion. The company has 11,500 employees. https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2019/11/27/1953087/0/en/Dassault-Aviation-invests-in-Pyrotechnics.html Back to Top Coulson Aviation has been selected by the United States Air Force to install their RADS-XXL Firefighting System on the C-130H aircraft PORT ALBERNI, BC, Nov. 26, 2019 /PRNewswire/ - Coulson Aviation has been selected by the United States Air Force to install their Retardant Aerial Delivery System (RADS)-XXL Firefighting Systems on the seven C-130H aircraft to be operated by the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE). Coulson teamed with Lockheed Martin who will carry out all the installation activities at their location in Greenville, SC. With the addition of these seven aircraft, the Coulson RADS Series of Aerial Delivery Systems will be the most prominent large airtanker delivery system in the world. Coulson Aviation, the world leader in aerial firefighting technology, first developed and installed the RADS in 2011 to equip their own C-130H/Q for aerial fire suppression. Now, Coulson Aviation won a contract with the United States Air Force to provide them with state-of-the-art RADS for their fleet of C-130's. "We are honored to have been selected by the United States Air Force. This contract award is a testament to the commitment at Coulson Aviation of excellence in aerial firefighting. We are very fortunate to have so many hard working men and women supporting operations on three continents," says Wayne Coulson, Coulson Aviation. "We are the first system in the industry to employ technology to not only aid and reduce the workload of the pilots, but to produce a superior drop pattern on the ground," added Britt Coulson, Coulson Aviation. Coulson Aviation has over 25 years of experience in aerial fire suppression and is the only commercial operator of C-130H aircraft. Their RADS-XXL Firefighting System will help CAL FIRE in their fight against California's horrifying wildfires saving not only thousands of acres of land and structures but also lives. About Coulson Aviation (USA) Inc.: Coulson Aviation is a family owned business with global operations in Australia, Canada, Chile, and the United States with its diverse fleet of heavy Fixed and Rotary wing aircraft. In addition to its aerial firefighting, emergency response, and oil spill dispersant operations Coulson is also a world leader in technology and engineering with the largest aerospace design team in Western Canada focusing primary on special mission modifications. Coulson's latest design, the Boeing 737 FIRELINER, is the first multi-mission large airtanker in the world and the only aircraft that can move up to 72 passengers without requiring the airplane to be re-configured. More information can be found on the company website: www.coulsonaviationusa.com https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/coulson-aviation-has-been-selected-by-the-united-states-air-force-to-install-their-rads-xxl-firefighting-system-on-the-c-130h-aircraft-300965835.html Back to Top Mars Developer Adds Aircraft Marketing Tech Sutton Integrated has created a technology it calls the Dynamic Print Generator (DPG) to assist aircraft management companies in marketing their fleet using the online software developer's My Aircraft Reporting Reporting System (Mars). DPG allows users to generate an online fact sheet or brochure to showcase each aircraft in their fleet by way of microsites. Further, the technology allows users to print those fact sheets and brochures without the extraneous web page elements that typically appear when printing a web page. "What you see on the screen is what you get on the page," the Sarasota, Florida-based company said. DPG's online features are enabled for audio, video, and photos, and links and can be shared on social media. Users can also upload to and edit their aircraft's microsite via a desktop computer or mobile device. Mars is designed for private and fractional aircraft owners, flight departments, and charter operators that, through microsites, enables them to record operational expenses, flight activities, and charter revenue for accurate profit and loss statements. https://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/business-aviation/2019-11-26/mars-developer-adds-aircraft-marketing-tech Back to Top Bombardier Reinforces Commitment to Environment and Receives First Shipment of Sustainable Aviation Fuel in Montreal MONTREAL, Nov. 26, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Bombardier announced today that it received an inaugural shipment of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) at its Montreal facilities, further reinforcing the company's commitment to sustainable flying. This step is the first in the company's plan to secure long-term partnerships with fuel suppliers to deploy SAF to all of its facilities as worldwide supply becomes more readily available. "We stand behind our commitment to help promote the increased use of SAF throughout the industry," said David Coleal, President, Bombardier Aviation. "Today, we are proud to offer it for the first time at one of our Canadian facilities and it's only the beginning. Bombardier is working toward ensuring that the use of these fuels becomes a standard in our day-to-day operations as we do our part to reduce CO2 emissions worldwide and meet the longstanding industry climate pledge." Since 2017, Bombardier has leveraged a supply of SAF for use during demonstration flights at its Hartford, CT, facility, home to the company's customer demonstration operations. In addition, Bombardier flies its entire fleet of demonstration aircraft into major airshows and events to raise industry awareness and to demonstrate that SAF can become a mainstream, drop-in alternative to traditional jet fuel for general aviation aircraft. The company has actively participated in industry events promoting the use of SAF as a regular part of flying business aircraft, notably in Van Nuys, CA, and Farnborough, UK, and most recently at NBAA where SAF was available not just for flying in, but also on-site at the static display for aircraft to fly home. In 2009, the business aviation community developed an aggressive program in support of ICAO targets and committed to contributing to the overall aviation goals. To this end, it committed to specific targets which include carbon-neutral growth by 2020; an improvement in fuel efficiency by 2% per year from 2010 until 2020; and a reduction in total CO2 emissions of 50% by 2050 relative to 2005. Bombardier plays a leading role in the industry-wide commitment to tackling climate change, and in collaboration with organizations across the industry, such as the European Business Aviation Association (EBAA), the General Aviation Manufacturers Association (GAMA), the International Business Aviation Council (IBAC), the National Air Transportation Association (NATA) and the National Business Aviation Association (NBAA), has designed a path to achieve these goals across four pillars: technology, infrastructure and operational improvements, market-based measures, and alternative fuels. "At Bombardier, we build our aircraft with the future in mind," added Coleal. "For example, the new Rolls-Royce Pearl 15 engine, purpose-built for the Global 5500 and Global 6500 business jets, make the aircraft cleaner and more efficient, with an up to 13-per-cent fuel burn advantage, contributing to highly favorable operating costs. The GE Passport engine, designed specifically for the award-winning Global 7500 aircraft, powers it to speeds of up to Mach 0.925 with dependable reliability and greater fuel efficiency." About Bombardier With over 68,000 employees, Bombardier is a global leader in the transportation industry, creating innovative and game-changing planes and trains. Our products and services provide world-class transportation experiences that set new standards in passenger comfort, energy efficiency, reliability and safety. Headquartered in Montreal, Canada, Bombardier has production and engineering sites in 28 countries as well as a broad portfolio of products and services for the business aviation, commercial aviation and rail transportation markets. Bombardier shares are traded on the Toronto Stock Exchange (BBD). In the fiscal year ended December 31, 2018, Bombardier posted revenues of $16.2 billion US. The company is recognized on the 2019 Global 100 Most Sustainable Corporations in the World Index. News and information are available at bombardier.com or follow us on Twitter @Bombardier. https://finance.yahoo.com/news/bombardier-reinforces-commitment-environment-receives-140010577.html Back to Top Data and Safety: Lessons from TSB's Investigation of Canadian Air Taxi Accidents Earlier this month, the Transportation Safety Board of Canada released a report on safety in the air taxi sector, which operates under very different frameworks, infrastructure and schedules (or lack thereof) than most other segments of aviation. Some of the report's conclusions may be applicable to the missions many expect electric VTOL aircraft to fly in the near future, but perhaps most critical are its findings regarding insufficient data collection for air taxi missions in Canada. Studying the period from 2000-2017, where air taxi operations accounted for 55 percent of all accidents in Canadian commercial air services and 62 percent of all fatalities, the TSB investigation identified common factors contributing to accidents in this sector, including poor infrastructure in remote areas of Canada, out-of-date technology on many of the aircraft used for air taxi services, and acceptance by operators of unsafe practices. These are not new findings. "The hazards and risks have been identified and mitigation measures have been recommended in numerous studies and reviews, some of which go back nearly 3 decades," the report's introduction states. "And yet the air-taxi sector continues to experience a high number of accidents and fatalities. Why do these accidents keep happening, and how can safety in the sector be improved?" Many of safety risks identified by the report may have little relevance to future air taxi services as envisioned by Uber, Airbus, Bell and other leading players; these operations won't involve 70-year old aircraft with outdated technology, nor are they likely to involve remote areas of northern Canada with little aviation infrastructure to speak of. "When we look at air taxi accidents - first of all it's a very different operating context," Kathy Fox, chair of the TSB, told Avionics International. "The types of aircraft being used are smaller and in this case, older. They're not able to take advantage of many of the technological advances that have been made whether in navigation, recording of flight parameters, or flight tracking that would likely be available for future vehicles." "The availability of current weather information forecasts will be very different ... within urban areas, operators likely already have a lot more weather information available than is present for air taxi operators in rural areas," Fox said. In discussing the TSB report, Fox emphasized that this investigation was not intended to examine the yet-to-be-defined concept of operations for eVTOL-based air taxi operations. But other conclusions of the report -risks stemming from operational safety standards, or the availability of qualified personnel - may be relevant. "The more different types of aircraft a fleet has ... you've got to keep your maintainer current on the different types, or have people specialized," Fox said of the challenges air taxi operators often face with diverse fleets. "You're going to have more crews, more differences in operating procedures and training. If your pilots are only trained on certain types of aircraft, does that affect your ability to operate?" Fox, a former air traffic controller, also pointed out the necessity of defined air routes and identifying appropriate separation minima for vehicles with potentially vastly different performance. She also shared questions on her mind about the regulatory framework operators will function under. "What's it going to take for operators to get approved?" Fox asked. "What kinds of certification are going to be necessary for these types of operations? How are we going to track the level of activity and occurrences? All of that needs to be laid out and defined." Critically, the TSB report found deficiencies in data collection around Canadian air taxi services, as Transport Canada no longer requires operators to report activity rates in the way that scheduled commercial air services must. As a result, Fox explained, it's impossible to determine accident rates specific to the air taxi industry. "If you asked me about the safety performance of aircraft in Canada, I can tell you that Transport Canada collects total hours flown by all registered aircraft in Canada, regardless of size or activity," Fox said. "So based on an overall estimate of hours flown and the number of accidents, we can calculate an accident rate - but that's for all registered Canadian aircraft. We don't know a similar rate for air taxis versus scheduled carriers, so it's very difficult if you start taking actions to improve safety to actually identify if those actions are having an impact." "We can say, overall, that the accident rate per total hours flown has improved two-fold from 2000 to 2018, but I can't tell you why because I don't know where most of that improvement is coming from," Fox continued. "I know based on the number of accidents that it's not coming from recreational and it's not coming from air taxi." To better calculate accident rates and understand safety risks specific to air taxi services, Fox says operators must be required to report activity levels - how many hours flown, how many takeoffs and landings - by sector of aviation and by aircraft type flown, which was part of the TSB report's recommendation to Transport Canada. This data used to be required and tracked, but the organization shed those requirements in a push to reduce the regulatory burden on small air taxi operators, which in some cases use the same aircraft as an air taxi in one direction and a commuter airline in the other. The report also found the International Civil Aviation Organization's accident categorization system, developed for airline operations, "did not usefully describe accident types in air taxi operations in Canada." ICAO, the European Aviation Safety Agency and Federal Aviation Administration did not respond to requests for comment on safety risks or data collection associated with air taxi services. The National Transportation Safety Board said it "has not published a similar/equivalent report that would answer [these] questions about air taxis." As efforts to roll out urban air mobility operations with eVTOL aircraft move forward, data collection requirements that enable mission-specific safety assessments will be critical to improving regulations and meeting the incredibly high bar set for safety in aerospace. Proper data collection will also prove necessary for decisions on increased aircraft autonomy, for air taxi operations as well as commercial airliners and other sectors of aviation, as Luuk van Dijk, CEO of Swiss autonomy startup Daedalean.ai, explained at a recent EASA panel on digitalization in aviation. "Before you can make the conclusion to take the pilot out of the loop, you need data on how often the pilots save the day because the traffic advisory and the resolution advisory were wrong," van Dijk said, discussing fully autonomous aircraft avoidance systems. "And there's very little data on that, or actually none. So, that pleads for routinely logging absolutely everything. I would welcome the regulators stepping in. Actually, for the special condition for eVTOLs, comprehensive logging has been made a part of the rules and regulations and I welcome that." Currently, air taxi services represent a very small percentage of total aviation activity, and perhaps as a result the sector has been under-examined compared to commercial and business aviation. But in the future envisioned by those eager to manufacture thousands of eVTOLs for mass-market on-demand ridesharing services, that's no longer the case - and there are lessons to be learned from the existing air taxi sector. "Flying still comes down to technology, operational control and human decision-making around risk," Fox said. "Certainly, those factors will still have to be considered in that future environment." https://www.aviationtoday.com/2019/11/28/data-and-safety-lessons-from-tsbs-investigation-of-canadian-air-taxi-accidents/ Back to Top Blockchain, 3-D Printing Combine to Make Aircraft Parts Aircraft-component maker Moog Inc. is testing a combination of blockchain and 3-D printing to speed up the replacement of defective aircraft parts to a few hours from several days or even weeks. The aircraft-parts market is heavily regulated, with sales requiring certification from the Federal Aviation Administration and other agencies. That means it isn't exactly known for speed. The East Aurora, N.Y., company aims to demonstrate that putting together the two emerging technologies-the distributed ledger behind cryptocurrencies and the building of parts on demand from digital blueprints-could support a new type of digital marketplace for plane parts. "The idea is that I'm going to stock those parts digitally and turn them into physical goods when I need them," said George Small, Moog's chief technology officer. "It is, in the end, just trying to identify what all the inefficiencies are in the existing supply chains and then offer opportunities for improvement," he added. Using blockchain cuts down on paperwork, letting a buyer locate a part and buy it immediately. "I need something that replaces the paper trail, but in a way that still supports this digital model and being able to print parts on demand," Mr. Small said. Moog, which has about 13,000 employees and recorded revenue of $2.9 billion in the year ended in September, tested the combination of blockchain and 3-D printing earlier this year, allowing an airline to order a part for a plane while it was in the air and have the part installed when it landed. In the test, Air New Zealand Ltd. used Moog's blockchain system, VeriPart, to order a replacement protective part for an in-seat screen for a Boeing 777-300 as it was en route from Auckland to Los Angeles. Using the blockchain process, a maintenance team in New Zealand ordered a digital file containing the part design from Singapore Technologies Engineering Ltd., a Singapore-based company that provides airline-repair services. The order was validated on Moog's blockchain system, hosted on Microsoft Corp. 's Azure cloud. The part was then printed on a Moog 3-D printer in Los Angeles, sent to the airport and installed in the plane. It usually takes weeks to get replacement aircraft parts from suppliers, said Samuel Engel, senior vice president at the aviation practice of consulting firm ICF International Inc. Companies across industries have explored blockchain's potential to authenticate transactions and streamline processes across large networks involving various partners. Businesses are using 3-D printing to make airline parts, but connecting the technology to blockchain is a relatively new concept, said Michael Shanler, vice president and analyst at research and advisory firm Gartner Inc. Within the airline-parts market, blockchain could not only share a digital ledger of transactions and trusted manufacturers, but also host information on material used for aircraft parts, such as specific plastics or metals, so the order could be redirected to a relevant 3-D printer. Honeywell International Inc. has introduced a blockchain-based online marketplace that lets international buyers and sellers trade used aerospace parts in real time. General Electric Co. is using Microsoft's Azure blockchain technologies to provide updated information on parts. But there are challenges in creating decentralized digital marketplaces for aircraft parts. "Moving to some kind of simplified international structure-there's a lot independent systems and regulators that have to come on board," Mr. Engel said. Mr. Small said that for now, Moog is exploring the combination of 3-D printing and blockchain. An industrywide model could evolve over time, he added. https://www.wsj.com/articles/blockchain-3-d-printing-combine-to-make-aircraft-parts-11574809371 Back to Top Growing Demand of Autonomous Transportation Platforms for Higher Operating Efficiency, Safety is Fueling the Adoption of Autonomous Technology CHICAGO, Nov. 26, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- An autonomous system includes the integration of various systems and subsystems to enable effective decision-making based on the intelligent and smart processing of data. Incorporation of artificial intelligence in autonomous systems has led to the emergence of intelligent transportation across the globe. Algorithms used in artificial intelligence enable onboard computers to provide solutions for predictable problems that are typically encountered. Artificial intelligence is expected to help autonomous systems in decision-making during critical situations such as averting possible collisions by processing data received from sensors and accordingly taking necessary steps. New use cases for autonomous technology are emerging in communication, navigation and surveillance of aircraft, cruise missiles, trains, cars, ships, spacecraft, industrial robots, ASVs, AUVs, and UAVs. The growing requirement for improved efficiency and reliability through these sensors has led to substantial investments in the market. Autonomous Aircraft The current market of autonomous aircraft includes increasingly autonomous aircraft that possess semi-autonomous capabilities for various flight operations, and fully autonomous aircraft that the current market is moving towards, which will involve complete autonomy in all flight operations. The market is projected to grow from an estimated USD 3.6 billion in 2018 to 23.7 billion by 2030, at a CAGR of 17.06%. AI and machine learning integrated with 5G network will let aircraft computers communicate with each other and these advancements will drive autonomous aircraft towards becoming a reality. Companies such as Airbus (Netherlands), General Dynamics (US), and Boeing (US) are focusing on the development of autonomous aircraft for urban air mobility. Increasing demand for agile autonomous air taxis, autonomous cars, and ships for last mile connectivity which are equipped with fleet management & route planning solutions will result into asset optimization, cost savings, & reduction in human error. Emergence of an active aviation community has provided favorable conditions for innovation and entrepreneurship for new startups in the autonomous aircraft market. Companies are focusing on developing autonomous passenger and cargo vehicles for hassle-free commute within and between cities. Advances in aircraft avionics and flight control systems will be majorly driven by the low cost and high capability of computing systems, digital communications systems, and sensor technologies. Advancements in technologies including Global Positioning System (GPS) and open source hardware & software have made automation more cost-effective. Major players in the autonomous aircraft market are Boeing (US), Airbus (France), Lockheed Martin (US), Northrop Grumman (US), and Elbit Systems (Israel), among others. Along with these, there are a few startups in this market that are working on future concepts for fully autonomous passenger air travel. Autonomous Ships The autonomous ships market is estimated to be USD 6.1 billion in 2018 and is projected to reach USD 13.8 billion by 2030, at a CAGR of 7.00%. Digitalization in the shipping industry has led to an increased demand for automation systems across the globe, which, in turn, fuels the growth of the autonomous ships. Marine automation is capable of linking various components and systems of ships, especially naval vessels equipped with several types of defense systems and weapons, with a single controlling and monitoring unit. For instance, in October 2019, ABB (Switzerland), in collaboration with Keppel Marine and Deepwater Technology (KMDTech) (Singapore), announced to collaboratively develop technology for autonomous retrofit and vessels, a 32-meter harbor tugboat along with leading-edge digital solutions, enabling autonomous vessel operations in the Port of Singapore by the end of 2020. Similarly, in October 2019, Kalmar (Finland) received the contract from Asyaport Liman A.S. (Turkey) for Kalmar SmartPort solutions (process autonomous solutions). Technological advancements in the Digital Marine Automation Systems such as Sensor Fusion Solutions, Control Algorithms, Conning Systems, Autopilot, and Automated Radar Plotting Aid are expected to create newer opportunities for the players in the market. The major players in the autonomous ships market include Wartsila (Finland), Kongsberg Gruppen (Norway), Northrop Grumman (US), Rolls-Royce (UK), and General Electric (US). Rolls-Royce and Kongsberg Gruppen are key market players. Autonomous Navigation The Autonomous Navigation Market is estimated at USD 2.2 billion in 2018 and is projected to reach USD 13.5 billion by 2030, at a CAGR of 16.19%. Factors that are expected to fuel the growth of the market are development of sense & avoid systems in autonomous robots, adoption of autonomous solutions in commercial and military purposes, increased challenge of traffic congestion, increased demand for same day delivery smart applications, and demand for autonomous robots in logistics. Many companies are investing to make navigation in autonomous robots more reliable. The major trend in the market is to develop an autonomous platform-aided by Artificial Intelligence (AI) backed by powerful processing capabilities-for better decision making and improved situational awareness (through the sensor fusion technology). Prominent players in the aviation industry such as Airbus (Netherlands), General Dynamics (US), and Boeing (US) are focusing on the development of autonomous aircraft for urban air mobility. With rising traffic in urban cities across the globe and increased time of travel, air mobility seems to be one of the best options to reduce the congestion in cities. About MarketsandMarkets™ MarketsandMarkets™ provides quantified B2B research on 30,000 high growth niche opportunities/threats which will impact 70% to 80% of worldwide companies' revenues. Currently servicing 7500 customers worldwide including 80% of global Fortune 1000 companies as clients. Almost 75,000 top officers across eight industries worldwide approach MarketsandMarkets™ for their painpoints around revenues decisions. Our 850 fulltime analyst and SMEs at MarketsandMarkets™ are tracking global high growth markets following the "Growth Engagement Model - GEM". The GEM aims at proactive collaboration with the clients to identify new opportunities, identify most important customers, write "Attack, avoid and defend" strategies, identify sources of incremental revenues for both the company and its competitors. MarketsandMarkets™ now coming up with 1,500 MicroQuadrants (Positioning top players across leaders, emerging companies, innovators, strategic players) annually in high growth emerging segments. MarketsandMarkets™ is determined to benefit more than 10,000 companies this year for their revenue planning and help them take their innovations/disruptions early to the market by providing them research ahead of the curve. MarketsandMarkets's flagship competitive intelligence and market research platform, "Knowledge Store" connects over 200,000 markets and entire value chains for deeper understanding of the unmet insights along with market sizing and forecasts of niche markets. https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/growing-demand-of-autonomous-transportation-platforms-for-higher-operating-efficiency-safety-is-fueling-the-adoption-of-autonomous-technology-300965293.html Back to Top Avy launches its lifesaving Avy Wing Drone Avy 'Wing drones for good' aims to use technology to save lives During the Amsterdam Drone Week Avy, established in the Netherlands, will launch their life-saving Avy wing drone on 4 December 2019. The Avy drone flies autonomously has one hour flight time and can cover up to 70 kilometres. The aircraft will be used, amongst other things, in the Medical Drone Service pilot project, launched earlier this week. The Medical Drone Service will investigate safe and reliable transport of blood products and medicines between blood banks and hospitals over the next three years. Super Hero of the Skies Mr Patrique Zaman, founder of Avy: "We use drone technology to have a positive impact on the world by saving lives. Avy flies autonomously and will cover longer distances thanks to its wings and can transport (cooled) packages of 1.5 kilos. We took to the air because now road traffic will not slow us down, and we can also reach our destination in a straight line. Avy is a 'wing drones for good' company and will produce zero emissions. You may just call it the superhero of this new technological era." Mrs Petra van Saaze, Director of ANWB Medical Air Assistance (MAA): "Medical Drone Service has chosen Avy because of Avy's experience in Africa. Medical Drones Service and ANWB found on another in the social objective of Avy 'drones for good'. The Avy V-TOL wing drone makes taking off and landing vertically possible, so that these manoeuvres can take place on a limited area. The large wing ensures that relatively long distances can be covered, which is in line with the plans for delivering medical goods. In addition, Avy presents a wonderful Dutch product. It works very well together with local suppliers as well as the lines of communication being short." Medical Drone Service Under the name Medical Drone Service, initiators ANWB Medical Air Assistance (Dutch Air Ambulance) and PostNL (Dutch Postal and Parcel service) together with medical partners Erasmus MC and Sanquin, and technology partners KPN and Avy are investigating how drones can be used, e.g. for delivering blood, medicines and diagnostic samples to patients and care locations. The aim is to investigate what contribution drones will make in supplying care at the right place and the right time. About Avy Avy is a 'wing drones for good' company. Avy pioneers in innovative aircraft technology for the transition to sustainable aviation and focusing on life-saving missions. Avy builds wing drones, which means a combination of a drone and an aeroplane that can take off vertically and fly horizontally thus enabling beyond visual lines of sight delivery. Avy drones are used for good applications such as first response operations, medical deliveries, nature conservation purposes and search & rescue. https://www.suasnews.com/2019/11/avy-launches-its-lifesaving-avy-wing-drone/ Back to Top Zeppelin transport likely to see new high-tech revival Early examples of sci-fi depicted the 21th century as a place full of tall buildings, flying cars and skies filled with zeppelins. Although the zeppelin was subsequently abandoned over safety fears, we may soon see its revival thanks to new technological advances. The zeppelin was considered an exciting development in the 1920s, bringing hopes of mass, international transit and heavy freight transport covering large distances. However, things did not go according to plan. Following the Hindenburg disaster in 1937, in which a zeppelin exploded into flames upon landing, all hopes for a revolutionary flight age were suddenly turned to ashes. In the 1940s, American. and European governments shelved the method en masse, leaving only a vague recollection of what the technology once symbolized in old fiction and fantasy books. However, thanks to recent technological developments, the airship is looking to make a comeback. The BBC have announced that the Airlander, a new high-technology aircraft developed by the U.K.-based Hybrid Air Vehicles (HAV), is setting off for the North Pole. The Airlander will cart a group of tourists, each willing to pay $80,000 for the exciting experience. The BBC reported that the Airlander is designed to carry more cargo and go faster than its competitors. It is of a different design to other commercial aircraft of the same type, with a glass floor in the middle. As seen in early James Bond movies, the blimp has a café-bar to serve its wealthy customers. Some of the advantages that airship flight affords include the lack of need for such extensive cabin crews or hangars as airplanes. Plus, to prevent gas emissions from hybrid devices such as the Airlander, the British government is reported to have given HAV 1 million pounds ($1.29 million) to provide the craft with an electric rocket system. HAV has designed two small and one large aircraft models. Airlander 10 is a smaller, passenger-carrying craft. The Airlander 50, on the other hand, is designed to carry heavy loads. China wants to lead The Airlander may have launched the Arctic expeditions, but is not alone in the next generation of zeppelin transport, which seems to have revived once again. The production of a zeppelin developed by France-based company Flying Whales is expected to start in 2022, taking off on its maiden voyage from Jingmen, an industrial city in central China. These airships, which are expected to be around 150 worldwide in ten years, will be built in collaboration with Flying Whales and China Aviation Industry General Aircraft (CAIGA). The public transporter, which will be up to 150 meters in length just like an A380 or Boeing 737, is planned to be 12 stories high. The main use of these airships, however, is expected to be the transport of cargo. Together with the developing technology, these airships, which will be operated using hybrid-electricity with much lower carbon-emission rates than its earlier examples, will be used to travel to places with insufficient infrastructure, as well as challenging, expensive and risky circumstances for commercial aircraft to land. The relationship between Flying Whales and CAIGA dates back to 2012, when France was looking for ways to transport timber abroad. Since it was too expensive to build highways and runways, they decided that the airship was the right choice. Flying Whales, which designed a helium gas-inflated LCA60T airship that can carry a full 60-ton cargo, has since become a company worth $250 million, about a quarter of which is CAIGA's share. As in many other sectors, China is expected to lead in the purchase and production of this vehicle. Highly suited to transporting cargo to various regions with poor air and road travel infrastructure across Asia, the airships are hoped to facilitate the transit of vital technologies to these regions, such as generators, batteries, solar panels, and prefabricated building materials to these continents. U.S.-based company Lockheed Martin is also planning to get involved in this re-emergent tech, having announced their LMH-1 concept, similar to the Airlander 10 at the Paris Air Show four years ago, Lockheed Martin is known to be busy developing a prototype at its California plant. Helium, not hydrogen How can airships change the way we think about safe travel that contributes to national economies and the environment? Firstly, unlike the Zeppelin LZ 129 Hindenburg, which crashed in 1937, the new airships use helium, a much safer gas than hydrogen. However, the gas is expensive. Plus, airships fly at a much slower rate and at a lower altitude compared to other aircraft. This vehicle is more affected by weather conditions than commercial aircraft. Furthermore, it's not possible to receive dozens of orders for these vehicles, unlike commercial aircraft, which may suggest that production technology will remain limited and develop little. https://www.dailysabah.com/science/2019/11/27/zeppelin-transport-likely-to-see-new-high-tech-revival Back to Top SPACEX CONTINUES TO MOVE ONWARD AND UPWARD ON THE FLORIDA SPACE COAST The space program is alive and well out near the Kennedy Space Center on the east coast of Florida in Brevard County. That's where SpaceX is in the midst of its prototype Starship project. Despite a recent test, aired online, where a prototype vehicle exploded while undergoing a high-pressure test, Elon Musk's team moves forward, with the idea of sending people into space just as easily as it would be for them to get on an airplane. In the test, the Starship research team pressurized the capsule to the maximum threshold, so the test served to show where the "red line" is. The propulsion system has been shown to work well, as it flew over 150 meters off the ground during an August test, then returned to the ground safely. The sky is the limit, literally and figuratively, when paired with the SpaceX Super Heavy rocket booster. It will sport 37 of its own cryogenic fuel-powered Raptor engines, and payloads will have six engines of their own to assist with the thrust. That amount of propulsion, along with a futuristic design made out of stainless steel, would be enough to send up to 100 passengers and some cargo into the atmosphere. With a transport mode in place, the possibility exists of the long-term goal shared by NASA and SpaceX of colonizing the planet Mars. Later versions of the capsule could be used to send astronauts and supplies -repeatedly, since the capsule would be reusable - to the International Space Station. So keep looking toward eastward toward the Atlantic and into the sky to see what SpaceX is doing to make a positive difference in the future! https://www.positivelyosceola.com/spacex-continues-to-move-onward-and-upward-on-the-florida-space-coast/ Curt Lewis