January 30, 2020 - No. 007 In This Issue CAMP Systems Previews New Mx-tracking Programs Chuck Aaron to donate aerobatics school to SUU Aviation Can Blockchain Enhance Aviation Data Security?. Flight Docs Brings Maintenance Tracking to a Higher Level. Seward-based aviation company denies it's to blame for crash in Georgia that killed 3 Heli-One Norway Opens New Engine Testing Stand Southwest Flew Millions on Jets With Unconfirmed Maintenance Records, Government Report Says Airbus Expands Its Flight Data Ecosystem Rolls-Royce and APA select H&P General Aviation Services for maintenance work in China SpaceX successfully launches 60 more satellites for its Starlink satellite internet constellation CAMP Systems Previews New Mx-tracking Programs Aviation maintenance tracking provider CAMP Systems is previewing its new suite of digital maintenance tools this week at Heli-Expo 2020. CAMP is also being joined by its recently acquired digital parts, equipment and services marketplace company-Inventory Locator Services (ILS)-in exhibiting at the show. The new digital solutions on display at CAMP's booth (4636) include advanced component maintenance tracking, comprehensive fleetwide document management, and a fully digital maintenance program manager. "CAMP has worked very closely with our customers to develop tools and processes that affect meaningful improvements in the airworthiness reliability of their aircraft," said CAMP director of rotor aircraft health management Brian Driscoll. "Modern maintenance organizations require airtight control over their maintenance program. Tens of thousands of operators rely on CAMP every month to ensure their aircraft are airworthy and these tools help them do that." Formerly a subsidiary of Boeing, ILS also displayed several of its offerings at the CAMP booth, including the Fair Market Value (FMV) report that uses analytical data and artificial intelligence algorithms to determine up-to-date market values of parts and services for helicopter industry customers. "Forward-thinking helicopter industry operators, OEMs, and distributors increasingly need aerospace industry intelligence to make better decisions faster," said ILS executive v-p and general manager John Herrman. "We look forward to demonstrating the value of our marketplace, as well as our business intelligence solutions, to our customers and helicopter industry partners." CAMP supports 20,000 aircraft, 32,000 engines, and 1,500 maintenance facilities. The company is the factory-recommended maintenance tracking provider for Airbus Corporate Jets, Beechcraft, Bell, Boeing Business Jets, Bombardier, Cessna, Daher, Dassault, Embraer, Gulfstream, Honda Aircraft, Leonardo, Piaggio, Pilatus, Quest, Viking, and numerous other aircraft manufacturers. https://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/general-aviation/2020-01-28/camp-systems-previews- new-mx-tracking-programs Back to Top Chuck Aaron to donate aerobatics school to SUU Aviation In an effort to increase safety across the helicopter industry, Chuck Aaron and Southern Utah University's College of Aerospace Sciences and Technology are exploring options for a potential donation of the Chuck Aaron Aerobatics School to SUU. Aaron and SUU have signed a memorandum of agreement to work side by side to create advanced safety courses. These courses will be offered to experienced pilots in areas such as advanced upset recovery, advanced maneuvers flight, and advanced mountain operations. The agreement includes a substantial donation to the university. Aaron will provide his expertise to train a select few of SUU's chief instructors, course curriculum and Aaron's famous aerobatics certified B.O.105 helicopter. The intent of this donation is to provide very specific training to advanced pilots on how to survive inadvertent IFR situations, including advanced upset recovery. "This is a monumental event for the College of Aerospace," said Michael Mower, executive director and chief instructor. "Chuck has proven to be an invaluable asset to the helicopter industry during his illustrious career. Chuck's actions represent a "passing of the torch" and the continuation of his legacy. I am humbled that Chuck chose Southern Utah University as the home of his 47 years of experience." "I am very much looking forward to the opportunity to pass on my knowledge and ability of advanced helicopter flight and extreme upset recovery to Southern Utah University aviation division, so that others may live," stated Aaron. Aaron will also utilize his A&P experience by being involved in SUU's "first of its kind" aviation maintenance training program. With Aaron's endorsement and support, SUU's aviation maintenance program will continue to be on the cutting edge of training. Aaron's experience as an A&P mechanic spans multiple platforms, projects, and decades. SUU's maintenance program is highly focused on helicopter maintenance and Aaron's rotor maintenance experience will now be passed on to future graduates and is a valuable asset to the program. Aaron and FX Aerobatics is currently located in Cornelius, North Carolina. Aaron has been training aerobatics and advanced upset recovery for more than two years. He is the first ever FAA certified helicopter aerobatics instructor pilot and has operated the first FAA certified aerobatics helicopter since 2005 - a 15-year track record of accident free operations. Southern Utah University is located in Cedar City, Utah. Its aviation program currently has more than 400 aviation students including nearly 200 helicopter students. With an altitude of over 5600- feet and local mountainous terrain over 10,000-feet in the local area, it's a prime location for helicopter training. https://www.verticalmag.com/press-releases/chuck-aaron-to-donate-aerobatics-school-to-suu- aviation/ Back to Top Can Blockchain Enhance Aviation Data Security? Blockchain is a data structure that has the ability to establish a digital archive or record blocks of data such as transactions that can be shared and easily accessed by users across networks of different computers. In recent years, several airlines, aircraft maintenance repair and overhaul (MRO) providers and other aviation companies have announced initiatives and research programs ranging from the use of blockchain for managing the replacement of parts on in-service airplanes to purchasing flights. Security experts now believe that Blockchain has the potential to secure multiple processes and transactions across multiple processes across the aviation ecosystem. This digital ledger of transactions can record each time a part is installed or removed from an airplane. It can also readily capture each part's pedigree and how long the part being replaced was in service and the identity, location and credentials of the technician performing the repair. By design, a blockchain is resistant to modification of this historical data. Along with Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Internet of Things (IoT), it's been described as one third of the "holy trinity of disruptive technology." Because it can be de-centralized, blockchain's feature of storing information on a digital ledger makes it appealing to avionics players involved in design as well as the industry as it looks for smarter, more secure says to store flight records, maintenance statuses, and other data. "Blockchain will provide a safe harbor for design - we'll always be able to revert to a safe design, plus we would theoretically have the ability to track all changes and the authors of those changes," says Vance Hilderman, co-founder and CEO of AFuzion, a 45-person software systems and safety development consulting company that has trained more than 1,500 engineers on how to implement cybersecurity and software systems standards for FAA and EASA compliance. Hilderman says that blockchain's user anonymity that is so prized in financial transactions would need to be made visible for aviation applications. Using it to design avionics systems would require revising it so every supplier, developer and user along the chain is identified along with the version and their contributions. David Sheets, security architect for Curtiss Wright, sees the blockchain being a future security strategy to fight cyber intrusions from quantum computers, especially in the area of encryption. "As more quantum computers come online, they can potentially break asymmetric encryption, which is used for signing and verification. Blockchain is an alternate strategy that relies on hashing instead of asymmetric encryption, so it's resistant to those quantum computer attacks that asymmetric encryption fall to," says Sheets. https://www.aviationtoday.com/2020/01/28/can-blockchain-enhance-aviation-data-security/ Back to Top Flight Docs Brings Maintenance Tracking to a Higher Level Flightdocs of Bonita Springs, Florida, started in 2003 with a focus on maintenance compliance tracking. "We came to market with the first completely web-based maintenance tracking platform and focused on business aviation," said president Greg Heine. "We always focused on two main things: technology and constantly working with our customers, understanding what problems existed inside their operations," he continued. "We want to know where they have lags in information, and data errors or where they are duplicating a lot of their work. Many people say they have good customer service, but we really mean it: 24/7, 365, you'll get a live person on the phone." Over the last 17 years, Fightdocs has invested in technology. "We've gone from just checking maintenance for business jets to doing maintenance inventory management, purchasing, and flight operations; and we're doing it across all segments of aviation. So, fixed-wing, rotor, and UAVs, and a little bit in commercial." The company has about 1,000 customers worldwide. Flightdocs charges an annual subscription per aircraft in different tiers, from Robinson helicopters to Boeing 777s. Prices vary by the number of aircraft and the different modules the customer chooses. Options include maintenance, inventory, flight operations, or the full package, called "Flight Docs Enterprise Professional," which is the complete integrated platform that also allows the customer to have unlimited users. Heine said Flight Docs also develops its own native mobile apps for iOS and Android devices. "This allows full connectivity among the different departments in an organization. For example, a pilot creating a flight log and writing up a discrepancy; that automatically gets sent to maintenance, which can create an electronic work order and a purchase order, as well as buy parts through the system." https://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/general-aviation/2020-01-29/flight-docs-brings- maintenance-tracking-higher-level Back to Top Seward-based aviation company denies it's to blame for crash in Georgia that killed 3 A wrongful death lawsuit can go forward for now against a Seward-based aviation company that worked on a single-engine plane that eventually crashed in 2017, killing a Georgia couple and the pilot, a federal judge in Nebraska has ruled. Whisler Aviation of Seward and Central Cylinder Service Inc., an Omaha company it contracts with for maintenance, had sought dismissal of the case filed in U.S. District Court in Nebraska by the estate of William Cocke, 42, and Catherine Cocke, 39, of Savannah, Georgia. The couple had five children. A second suit has been filed in federal court in Georgia over the Aug. 28, 2017, crash, later ruled by the Nebraska Transportation and Safety Board to have been caused by the loss of engine power because of a maintenance error. There, the estate is suing Continental Motors Inc. of Alabama, Aviation Development Group of Georgia, and the estate of the pilot, Randall Hunter. In the Nebraska suit, attorneys for the Cockes say the plane experienced a "total and catastrophic in-flight engine failure" shortly after takeoff as it was traveling from the Savannah/Hilton Head International Airport to Atlanta. About five minutes after takeoff, the pilot declared an emergency, advising air-traffic control that he had experienced a total engine failure. The aircraft crashed four minutes later. Attorneys allege it happened as a result of Whisler's work on the engine, which had been improperly installed or re-assembled. In an answer filed this month, Kansas City attorney John Nettels said Whisler had provided routine maintenance and repairs on the airplane between January 2007 and June 2010 and overhauled the engine in December 2007. He said June 2010 was the last time it performed any work on the Beechcraft Bonanza model A36 that crashed more than seven years later. Nettels denied that anything Whisler Aviation did or didn't do was a direct or proximate cause. "Plaintiffs' claims are barred," the attorney said, "because the negligence of others, including the pilot and those responsible for dispatching and maintaining the airplane on the day of the accident, taken together is equal to or exceeds that of Whisler Aviation Inc." Last month, United States District Judge Brian C. Buescher denied the motion to dismiss, saying it could go forward - for now. "Upon a properly made motion for summary judgment, it is possible many or all of the remaining claims will fail, especially if Whisler is able to support its contention that its actions are too remote in time to support liability for the plane crash," the judge wrote in his order. However, Buescher said, at this early stage, he found the allegations could go forward on wrongful death and survival claims based on negligence. He dismissed two other claims based on an alleged breach of warranty. https://norfolkdailynews.com/news/seward-based-aviation-company-denies-it-s-to-blame- for/article_ee8e2c32-5fbb-5a67-9d50-9f83f3b42f02.html Back to Top Heli-One Norway Opens New Engine Testing Stand Heli-One, a leading provider of helicopter maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) services, has opened a new engine test stand at their Stavanger, Norway location. This test stand features state- of-the-art technology that reduces testing times through automation and upgraded equipment. The stand supports the facility's engine shop servicing the Safran Makila 1A engine variant. Designed in close collaboration with Safran Helicopter Engines, the test stand features major advances in testing and safety technology. Test data reporting is now automated, facilitating faster and more informed maintenance decisions leading to lower overall project times. Based on testing performance and analytics, calibration adjustments to the engine can be made on the stand immediately. The test stand can process two engines in one working day, leading to faster turnaround times for a customer's overhauled unit. "We are excited to open this test stand for use - it is a great development for the Engine team that continues to deliver excellent MRO services for Makila operators worldwide. This test stand not only features modern data analytics but new safety features to keep our team, equipment, and engines safe in testing scenarios," said Christian Drouin, Vice President Heli-One. The Stavanger Engine shop offers full MRO for the Makila 1A (1A, 1A1, 1A2) variant including fuel control units, oil pumps, and bleed valves. The shop has a 45-day turnaround time on engine overhauls and has completed over 500 full overhauls and 1600 repairs. https://www.aviationpros.com/aircraft/maintenance-providers/mro/press- release/21122919/helione-helione-norway-opens-new-engine-testing-stand Back to Top Southwest Flew Millions on Jets With Unconfirmed Maintenance Records, Government Report Says A government report to be released in coming days says Southwest Airlines Co. LUV -1.23% failed to prioritize safety and the airline's regulator, the Federal Aviation Administration, hasn't done enough about it. Southwest pilots flew more than 17 million passengers on planes with unconfirmed maintenance records over roughly two years, and in 2019 smashed both wingtips of a jet on a runway while repeatedly trying to land amid gale-force winds, according to the Transportation Department report, reviewed by The Wall Street Journal. The lapses are highlighted in a draft audit by the agency's inspector general that also criticizes the FAA's oversight of the carrier as lax, ineffective and inconsistent. The document indicates no agency enforcement action resulted from those safety slip-ups or certain other alleged hazards. In some cases, the report alleges, the FAA's overall approach served to "justify continued noncompliance with safety regulations." Following a roughly 18-month inquiry, the inspector general found FAA managers in the Dallas-area office that supervises Southwest routinely allowed the carrier "to fly aircraft with unresolved safety concerns." And it said they failed to adequately confront shortcomings in the airline's approach to safety, which were recognized by agency officials ranging from senior headquarters personnel to local inspectors. The audit indicates nearly two-thirds of the 46 FAA employees interviewed "raised concerns about the culture at Southwest." "It is clear that the Agency is not yet effectively navigating the balance between industry collaboration and managing safety risks at the carrier," according to the report. A spokesman for the inspector general declined to comment. An FAA spokesman said, "We will respond directly to the Office of Inspector General." A Southwest spokeswoman said the company reviewed the draft on Tuesday and strongly disagrees with "unsubstantiated references to Southwest's Safety Culture." "We have communicated our disappointment in the draft audit report to the OIG and will continue to communicate any concerns directly with its office," she said in an email, adding that Southwest's safety systems meet or exceed all regulatory requirements. "Our friends, our families board our aircraft and not a single one of us would put anything above their safety." Previously, Southwest executives characterized many of these same issues, which concern both maintenance documentation and the weight of planes at takeoff, as differences of opinion between the airline and its regulators-and sometimes between various groups of regulators-that didn't affect safety. As the DOT report was being prepared, the FAA also confronted concerns from lawmakers, airlines and safety experts that it was too deferential to Boeing Co. in approving the plane maker's 737 MAX jet, which is now grounded following two fatal crashes in 2018 and 2019. FAA officials have said they plan to respond to various outside reports and recommendations about the agency's oversight of industry. The Journal previously reported issues at Southwest regarding maintenance compliance and computing correct takeoff weights. The new DOT report offers additional details and provides official findings and recommendations. Operational problems such as the wingtip strikes haven't been revealed before. The carrier transports more domestic passengers than any rival and has a controversial, decadelong history of dealings with a series of local FAA managers who have been investigated by lawmakers and scrutinized by the agency's top brass for allegedly being too accommodating to Southwest. The most recent shake-up occurred seven months ago, when three senior managers in the local office that oversees Southwest were reassigned. The final version of the report, expected to incorporate only minor changes from the draft reviewed by the Journal, according to people familiar with the matter, could be released as soon as the end of the week or as late as mid-February. Beyond Southwest, the findings raise questions about a core FAA philosophy that depends heavily on data generated by airlines themselves. The audit indicates that in relying on information from such company safety management systems, the FAA also must evaluate the safety culture of individual airlines. The audit is recommending the agency provide its inspectors with guidance materials to make such assessments. Numerous FAA officials, according to excerpts of interviews included in the document, complained Southwest often was slow or resistant to providing the agency with safety information. The newest and most gripping details are in a section that faults both the carrier and the FAA as failing to adequately investigate the root causes of three successive botched landings during a flight last February at Bradley International Airport near Hartford, Conn. No one was hurt, but the plane was damaged and, according to the audit, the cockpit crew continued descents through major turbulence, low-level wind shear and gusts stronger than those the pilots were trained to handle. One of the approaches ended with the pilots pulling up a foot above the runway and later, about a dozen feet before touchdown, according to a separate safety report prepared by Southwest after its internal investigation and reviewed by the Journal. Once the jet diverted and landed safely outside Providence, R.I., flight attendants alerted a Southwest employee who met them at the gate that a crew would need to clean the cabin splattered with vomit from "the number of passengers who had gotten sick," the internal report dated May 31 says. Southwest management didn't identify problems with the pilots' decision making and determined a random gust caused the wings to hit the tarmac, according to the internal safety analysis. The pilots told company investigators they "had never seen winds like this before in their flying careers," the internal May report said. Rather than questioning the pilots' judgment, the airline took steps to adjust crosswind landing calculations and enhance flight attendant training to alert cockpit crews of wing strikes or other in-flight emergencies, according to the report. The DOT audit said the FAA's review of the Bradley incident failed to determine whether Southwest's safety system "was effective in achieving the highest possible degree of safety." On Wednesday, Southwest said it thoroughly investigated the incident and shared all airline safety data with the FAA during that process. The DOT audit also provides new details about problems that led to Southwest's incomplete documentation of certain aircraft inspections and repairs over the years that prevented the FAA from determining if all mandatory work had been completed on dozens of Boeing Co. 737 jets. The audit reveals that initial FAA approval of mandatory maintenance certificates for 71 of 88 used aircraft-a process the agency told investigators typically takes three or four weeks-occurred in one day. After problems with that process were identified, the FAA gave Southwest two years to fully inspect and verify that the planes-already phased into the fleet-met all safety requirements. In a December interview, Southwest Chief Executive Gary Kelly said the carrier has always complied with FAA directives and reiterated that late last year Southwest agreed to accelerate the checks at the agency's request. Southwest's statement on Wednesday said it has completed reviews of 75 aircraft and found "very low risk, well within acceptable parameters." The airline said it is in the process of inspecting the remaining 13 aircraft, months ahead of the original schedule. Another section of the audit blames local FAA managers as having allowed Southwest, rather than federal inspectors, to determine potential hazards stemming from the airline's chronic failures to accurately monitor the weight of checked baggage loaded into aircraft. Such noncompliance has persisted for roughly two years, according to the audit. The FAA closed that enforcement case without taking action against the carrier, though people familiar with the details said agency inspectors continue to find weight discrepancies. The carrier has long held that heavier-than-expected baggage loads fall well within its planes' operating safety margins and that its system for calculating weight and balance data didn't present a systemic safety risk. Amid an FAA investigation, the airline last year phased in a new system to scan checked bags loaded in the bellies of jets and has said it resulted in much more accurate weight calculations. Southwest on Wednesday said it added new planeside scanning equipment for bags after the inspector general stopped collecting data. "We agree with the FAA we have opportunities to improve there," Mr. Kelly said during the same interview. "We've been working hard at that and I think that the results attest to that." Southwest was concerned enough about the audit to request a September meeting between Mr. Kelly and Calvin Scovel, then the inspector general. At the time, a spokesman for Mr. Scovel said the sit-down was "at the airline's request" and didn't influence the results of the audit. Mr. Kelly said in December that his meeting with Mr. Scovel didn't include a discussion about the substance of the report. Investigators for the House Transportation Committee and the Senate Commerce Committee have been looking into that meeting, according to people familiar with those inquiries. https://www.wsj.com/articles/southwest-flew-millions-on-jets-with-unconfirmed-maintenance- records-government-report-says-11580380201 Back to Top Airbus Expands Its Flight Data Ecosystem Over the past year, Airbus Helicopters has almost doubled the number of rotorcraft now sharing flight and maintenance data with the OEM. Currently, it has nearly 1,000 helicopters representing more than 165 operators worldwide in the program. Among them is Hungarian Air Ambulance, which announced a three-year contract this week at Heli- Expo 2020 to deploy the manufacturer's connected services for its new fleet of nine preowned H135s, thereby digitizing its entire chain of maintenance and flight operations. The EMS operator also became the first customer for Flight Analyser analytics, which supports operational safety by analyzing aircraft and flight data post-flight to identify risks before they lead to incidents or accidents. "Collection of such valuable data is made possible thanks to our strategy of building digital solutions, such as HUMS, digital log cards, and digital logbooks, which enable customers to digitize their operations," said Christoph Zammert, the manufacturer's executive v-p of customer support and services. The airframer also noted it added 250 helicopters to HCare Smart and Infinite contracts last year, increasing its rolls to 2,250 aircraft, or 19 percent of its worldwide fleet, now covered by the HCare material management program. Newly added are Papillon's 21 H130s and HeliPortugal's nine H125's. The program provides customer support in five areas: material management, MRO and upgrades, technical support, training and flight operations, and connected services. On-call experts are available 24/7. Airbus Helicopters (Booth 3432) has unveiled new digital services improvements, including the new collaborative AirbusWorld customer portal and an online marketplace, making e-commerce available to its customers. The new portal, which replaces Keycopter, offers integration of the global network of service and training centers and new functionalities such as an online catalog and online communities to foster dialogue among operators and with the OEM. Four companies-Wesco Aircraft, Boysen Aerospace, PPG Aerospace, and Addev Materials-this week at the show signed vendor agreements with Airbus, making them official vendors on the marketplace. https://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/business-aviation/2020-01-29/airbus-expands-its-flight- data-ecosystem Back to Top Rolls-Royce and APA select H&P General Aviation Services for maintenance work in China Asia Pacific Aerospace (APA), a Rolls-Royce FIRST network Authorised Maintenance Repair & Overhaul Center (AMROC), has signed an agreement with H&P General Aviation Services Co., Ltd for helicopter engine support in China. The H&P General Aviation Services facility, based in the Chinese city of Guangzhou, will provide in- country service as an Authorised Service Center (ASC) for Rolls-Royce M250 and RR300 turboshaft engines. Rolls-Royce has a strong relationship with APA and contract terms allow the latter to subcontract maintenance service to qualified third-party companies. The agreement with H&P General Aviation Services will provide authorised service on Rolls-Royce helicopter engines in China for the first time, giving the company an important foothold in an emerging market. Jim Payton, Rolls-Royce, Vice President of Sales - Civil Helicopters, said: "The H&P General Aviation Services team in China will provide in-country maintenance service and technical support for the fast-growing Chinese market. We are excited for the opportunity to significantly enhance the support experience for our customers in China, a strategically important growth market for the M250 and RR300 engines." Tony Cotroneo, Asia Pacific Aerospace, General Manager, said: "With the growth of Rolls-Royce M250 and RR300 markets in Northern Asia, especially China, it has been a long-term goal of APA to have a presence in region through an approved service centre. APA has worked closely with the team at Rolls-Royce to ensure we appointed the right maintenance organisation in China and H&P General Aviation Services ticks all the right boxes to ensure this endeavour provides Rolls-Royce customers in region the best support available." The proven Rolls-Royce M250 and RR300 engines have powered more than 260 million flight hours of dependable service around the world. To date, more than 33,000 of these workhorse engines have been delivered to the marketplace, including nearly 80 customers in China. M250 and RR300 operators are supported by the Rolls-Royce FIRST network, a global, authorised system providing outstanding service. The Rolls-Royce FIRST (Fully Integrated Rolls-Royce Support Team) network provides affordable, reliable support solutions. The FIRST network includes more than 30 approved, licensed service centres around the world and its competitive structure means operators can find affordable and reliable service anywhere for Rolls-Royce M250 or RR300 engines. M250 and RR300 Authorised Service Centers (ASCs), provide customers with the convenience of regional operation and maintenance support through direct association with an Authorised Maintenance Repair & Overhaul Center (AMROC). https://www.adsadvance.co.uk/rolls-royce-and-apa-select-h-p-general-aviation-services-for- maintenance-work-in-china.html Back to Top SpaceX successfully launches 60 more satellites for its Starlink satellite internet constellation SpaceX has launched yet another batch of 60 Starlink satellites - its third production batch of the orbital communication spacecraft, and its second batch this year alone. The launch took off from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida this morning at 9:06 AM EST, using a Falcon 9 rocket whose booster stage had already flown for two prior SpaceX missions in 2019. SpaceX also recovered the Falcon 9 booster yet again, landing it back on its drone landing ship in the Atlantic Ocean after it separated from the payload and the rocket's second stage. At this point, SpaceX's ability to recover its Falcon 9 boosters is pretty reliable - it has succeeded in 48 of 56 landing attempts overall, and the last time a Falcon 9 landing attempt went awry was in December of 2018. The deployment of the Starlink satellites seems to have gone exactly to plan, which means SpaceX now has around 240 satellites in service for Starlink. Already after the last batch went up in early January, SpaceX became the largest private satellite operator in the world, and now it's just extending its lead. Its continued launches of batches of these satellites put it on track to launch actual broadband internet service for customers in the U.S. and Canada this year, a timeline shared by SpaceX COO and president, Gwynne Shotwell. It's aiming to launch at least half a dozen more batches of satellites before the end of this year, and it should be able to provide global service after an estimated 24 launches in total. SpaceX has been criticized by astronomers for the effect its constellation is having on night sky observation from Earth, but it says it's taking mitigating measures, including experimenting with a darkening treatment on the side of its Starlink satellites that face Earth. Today, the company said it's still evaluating the results of a test satellite equipped with that coating it sent up last launch, and will provide updates when it has analyzed the results. Once it has enough satellites to provide coverage, Starlink will provide high-speed internet (capable of delivering smooth video calls and streaming) to areas that previously have not had access to this kind of service. This includes remote locations, as well as cruise ships and airplanes, SpaceX says. This launch today included an attempt to recover both halves of the fairing, a protective covering that shields the payload during the rocket's launch. Those return to Earth once the launch vehicle reaches space, and SpaceX is attempting to catch them using "Ms. Tree" and "Ms. Chief," two ships that are equipped with large nets. Catching these as they descend aided by parachutes could potentially save SpaceX as much as $6 million per launch, adding yet another re-usable component to the system in addition to the Falcon 9 first-stage booster. https://techcrunch.com/2020/01/29/spacex-successfully-launches-60-more-satellites-for-its- starlink-satellite-internet-constellation/ Curt Lewis