May 7, 2020 - No. 032 In This Issue General Electric to cut 10,000 aviation jobs Aviation Partners Names Gary Dunn President Over 500 layoffs possible for Lake City maintenance company West Star Aviation Voted #1 MRO for the Seventh Consecutive Year by PRASE Survey. Alabama Aviation College is updating major building this fall. NBAA kicks off virtual maintenance conference Piedmont Propulsion Systems Becomes First Independent Propeller Maintenance Facility to Offer Complete Model 568F Compression Wrap Removal and Application Services Supply Chain Unchained: How GE Aviation Is Helping the Air Force Sustain the Fleet Lufthansa Technik's Passenger to Cargo Aircraft Services Sees Great Interest European Commission Delays ADS-B Out Mandate to December Tom Cruise wants to film the world's first action movie in space - and he's hoping a SpaceX rocket will take him there General Electric to cut 10,000 aviation jobs General Electric announced Monday it will cut an additional 10,000 jobs from its aviation sector as the coronavirus pandemic decimates the industry, forcing companies to cancel orders. The cuts will be a mix of voluntary departures and layoffs and come after an initial wave of 2,600 job cuts in March, GE said in a statement. The company aims to reduce its aviation employment base by 25 percent, or some 13,000 employees. The austerity program, which will affect all geographic zones, is reflective of the rough time the entire aviation sector is going through. Boeing announced last week that it was cutting 16,000 jobs, about 10 percent of its workforce, in civilian aircraft manufacturing. It also heavily reduced production of its long-haul 787 and 777/777X planes. The company has yet to announce a date when it will resume assembly of its flagship 737 MAX aircraft. Airbus has similarly reduced production. GE is directly affected by these decisions, as it makes plane engines for Boeing and Airbus. Global air traffic is expected to fall 80 percent during the second quarter compared to February, GE said in a letter to 52,000 employees. "To protect our business, we have responded with difficult cost-cutting actions over the last two months," CEO David Joyce said in the letter. "Unfortunately, more is required as we scale the business to the realities of our commercial market." The job cuts are part of a $3 billion savings plan that will be implemented this year. In addition, half of the employees in charge of aviation maintenance and repairs are out of work for three months. Hiring has also been frozen and bonuses canceled. GE, which makes aircraft engines in a joint venture with the French company Safran, CFM, saw revenue fall by eight percent to $20.52 billion in the first quarter. The aviation division's revenue plunged 13 percent to $6.9 billion, while its orders were down 14 percent. The group, which warned at the end of April that the worst was yet to come, has not sought the financial aid that US President Donald Trump has promised to companies in order to protect jobs. https://techxplore.com/news/2020-05-electric-aviation-jobs.html Back to Top Aviation Partners Names Gary Dunn President Seattle, WA, May 6, 2020 - Effective immediately, Aviation Partners, Inc., announces Gary Dunn to the position of president. Dunn, age 48, has served the company for more than two decades. He has been interim president since the unexpected passing on March 30 of company founder and aviation legend Joe Clark. "Gary continues the tradition of innovation and excellence established by Joe," says Kyle Washington, a member of the board of directors of various Washington Companies, including Aviation Partners. His father, Dennis Washington, and Joe Clark founded Aviation Partners in 1991. "Gary's strategic thinking and quiet leadership have earned the trust of our clients, our board and the aviation industry." Dunn has close to 30 years' experience in aviation maintenance, engineering, product support, sales and marketing. A childhood fascination with all things flight related led Dunn to study aeronautical engineering. During an apprenticeship at London Luton Airportbased Monarch Aircraft Engineering, Ltd., he provided MRO support to a mixed fleet of Boeing and Airbus aircraft. A move to Seattle in his early 20s led to being hired in 1996 by Aviation Partners' director of engineering. He joined Clark's dream team of mostly former, senior Boeing engineers. "I joked that by hiring me, they brought the average age down to 65," says Dunn. Dunn supported the Gulfstream II blended winglet program with everything from installations to supply chain management. Clark invited Dunn to join the sales team in 2001. He later assumed the marketing role, too. As vice president of sales and marketing, Dunn oversaw Aviation Partners' blended winglet products for business aircraft plus sales of large winglet retrofits to corporate and head-of-state buyers of Boeing 737, 757 and 767 aircraft. This performance-enhancing technology has been outfitted on approximately 1,000 business aircraft worldwide. Dunn has been responsible for rolling out virtually all new products, including those for Hawker and Falcon series aircraft. In his new leadership role, Dunn continues to look for ways to be the leader in winglet technology and to expand its ability to reduce CO2 emissions to even more aircraft models. "I've had the great privilege of working alongside and learning from the industry's best; it's a privilege to carry their vision forward," says Dunn. Today's coronavirus crisis concerns him, but he believes analysts who are predicting that business aviation may ultimately come through this stronger than ever. "I experienced the downturns of 9/11 and 2008. Business aviation is a resilient industry, and the world will fly again." https://www.aviationpros.com/engines-components/aircraft-airframe-accessories/press-release/21137088/aviation-partners-inc-api-aviation-partners-names-gary-dunn-president Back to Top Over 500 layoffs possible for Lake City maintenance company HAECO, an aircraft maintenance company, may lay off up to 514 employees in Lake City due to COVID-19 impacts. The sudden decline in air travel has cut demand for aircraft maintenance services, putting at risk 510 full-time and four part-time employees at HAECO Airframe Services in Lake City. HAECO Spokesman David Kelly said that, as of Wednesday, no employees have been laid off due to COVID-19 and normal operations continue. Kelly also said the company has applied for relief funding, which it has not yet received. In an April 13 letter to state and local officials, Stephen Coley, the general manager at Lake City's HEACO facility, said terminations would begin April 30 and last through May 31. The letter was filed in compliance with the Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act. Under the federal WARN Act, employers are required to provide notification 60 calendar days in advance of covered plant closings and mass layoffs. Coley could not be reached for comment. HAECO employees have been notified of the impending layoffs, the letter said. The letter also specified that the layoffs would be permanent. HAECO does not have union employees at its Lake City facility. The affected employees perform a number of jobs, the letter said, including dozens of mechanics, technicians and inspectors. Lake City Mayor Stephen Witt said HAECO, formerly TIMCO Aviation Services, has been a significant member of the community since the 1960s and works closely with the small Lake City Gateway Airport. He also said that during this time, while employees have not been able to perform plane maintenance, HAECO has arranged to pay some of its Lake City employees to work on temporary projects with other groups in town, including the city government. "That's how good of a partnership we've had with them over the years," Witt said. He did not know how many such employees are working with the city but said they have been doing jobs such as painting and other maintenance work. Kelly, the HAECO spokesman, did not have any information about such work arrangements for the company's employees. When it comes to COVID-19 recovery, Witt said, Lake City residents have mostly voiced concerns about employment impacts caused by the mandatory shutdown of businesses. He said local officials will have to make financial adjustments as recovery takes place moving forward. "We're going to have to be tight with the budget because there will be less tax money coming in," he said. "I'm all for safety, but we know we have to reopen at some point." Columbia County experienced a jump in unemployment over the past month. The latest state data, from March, shows that the county's unemployment rate increased by 1.3% between February and March, to 4.4% total unemployment. A year earlier, in March 2019, the county's unemployment rate was 3.3%. As of Wednesday, Lake City has 89 COVID-19 cases and no deaths. Columbia County as a whole has 96 total cases and two deaths. "We're lucky that we have not had it as bad as other places nearby," Witt said. HAECO is based in Hong Kong, and a majority of its facilities are located in China. HAECO America is headquartered in Greensboro, North Carolina, and has two other North Carolina locations. Lake City is HAECO America's only Florida facility. https://www.gainesville.com/business/20200506/over-500-layoffs-possible-for-lake-city-maintenance-company Back to Top West Star Aviation Voted #1 MRO for the Seventh Consecutive Year by PRASE Survey West Star Aviation is proud to announce the company has been voted #1 Preferred Maintenance Repair and Overhaul (MRO) in the 2020 Professional Pilot Magazine's Annual Preference Regarding Aviation Services and Equipment (PRASE) survey for the seventh consecutive year. The publication began including the category "Most Preferred MRO" in 2014 and West Star has been voted #1 every year from 2014-2020. Professional Pilot magazine is a staple in the business aviation industry and has nationwide coverage reaching over 22,000 readers worldwide. The publication provides feature information, editorial and industry news to pilots and corporate aviation professionals. The PRASE survey is an interactive reader to editor conducted survey on an annual basis by Professional Pilot magazine in which industry professionals, pilots, and aircraft maintenance professionals vote based on their experience, performance, quality and company knowledge in a wide range of categories. "Having the industry recognize West Star as the #1 MRO for the seventh year in a row inspires us to work even harder for our customers. This is a phenomenal acknowledgment for our entire team and fuels our commitment to industry-leading quality and service," said Jim Rankin, CEO. West Star Aviation specializes in the repair and maintenance of airframes, engines and APUs, avionics installations and repair, major modifications, interior refurbishment, exterior paint, surplus avionics sales, accessory services and parts. In addition to its primary facilities in East Alton, IL; Grand Junction, CO; Chattanooga, TN; and Perryville, MO, West Star Aviation also maintains satellite facilities at Aspen-Pitkin County Airport in Aspen, CO; Chicago Executive Airport in Chicago, IL; Centennial Airport in Denver, CO; Conroe-North Houston Regional Airport in Houston, TX; Minneapolis/St. Paul International Airport in Minneapolis, MN and Scottsdale Airport in Scottsdale, AZ. The company also provides complete FBO services for transient aircraft at its East Alton and Grand Junction facilities. West Star Aviation is an industry leader in technical experience and expertise while providing world-class customer services in all the organization's divisions. For more information visit www.weststaraviation.com or call 800-922-2421. https://www.aviationpros.com/aircraft/maintenance-providers/mro/press-release/21136934/west-star-aviation-west-star-aviation-voted-1-mro-for-the-seventh-consecutive-year-by-prase-survey Back to Top Alabama Aviation College is updating major building this fall Ozark's Alabama Aviation College is beginning a multimillion-dollar update to a main campus building this fall. The Rufus Barnett Building, which houses the aviation maintenance technology classes, is being given a "super makeover," said airframe and powerplant instructor Jerry Northway. Work is set to begin Aug. 1. "Due to workforce shortages and high salaries, there has been a lot of excitement in the aviation industry in recent years that has transferred to the Alabama Aviation College," said its director, Stan Smith said. "I'm thrilled to give our students the best facilities we can afford. The Rufus Barnett Building was built in 1967, and it's time to modernize it to meet growing demands in the aviation industry." Funds for the renovation come from a $3.5 million state grant awarded in 2018. The funds are part of the Alabama Capital Improvement Trust Fund, which awards money for projects that promote economic development and industrial recruitment in the state. The Barnett Building, a unit of Enterprise State Community College, will see renovations to learning spaces and other areas to meet training needs of its students, according to a news release. After renovations, the building will have a new lobby, testing rooms, classrooms, offices and restrooms. The building also will have a new engine overhaul lab and storage area that also can be used as a classroom. "I am excited to be able to teach in a completely modernized facility that will include a point-of-use tool system, electronic manuals, electronic torque wrenches and electronic measuring tools," Northway said. "The building will be completely revised from the ground up, with expanded classroom sizes and lab facilities." After the renovations are complete, the building will have new exterior windows, doors and signs. The grounds will be graded, and new drainage will be installed around the building. Paving also will be completed around the building, which will have a new transformer, power and electrical service. A new fence will be added between the facility and the college's Brown Building, and the canopy over the connector sidewalk between the two will be removed. Administrators are developing a relocation plan for classes held in the building. The project is expected to be completed by summer 2021. "Our goal is to provide the best hands-on training and learning environment to our students," said Enterprise's president, Matt Rodgers said. "These improvements will make sure that we continue to meet the needs of our students and an ever-changing workforce." Enterprise State is a comprehensive community college that serves more than 1,800 students annually at its Enterprise campus and the Alabama Aviation Colleges in Andalusia and Ozark. Each campus and site fulfills the Alabama Community College System's mission for education and training that lead to high-wage, high-demand jobs in careers worldwide. Students can earn associate degrees and certificates through multiple programs at the college. https://www.dothaneagle.com/news/education/alabama-aviation-college-is-updating-major-building-this-fall/article_f3df985e-a0c1-53fe-9791-2a2d6d7f43de.html Back to Top NBAA kicks off virtual maintenance conference The COVID-19 pandemic is not preventing business aviation operators from getting the latest maintenance-related information and enhancing their professional development. On May 4, NBAA launched its 2020 Virtual Maintenance Conference, a robust series of 11 weekly sessions that promise to be timely and educational, with industry experts sharing must-know information on business aircraft maintenance in an interactive format. "With sessions running until July on such critical topics as FAA regulatory updates, SMS compliance, maintaining data link and sustainable aviation fuels, the 2020 NBAA Virtual Maintenance Conference will cover a diverse series of topics of importance to directors of maintenance and maintenance departments," said Stewart D'Leon, NBAA director of technical operations. The conference kicked off with a keynote presentation from Jackie Black, division manager for the Aircraft Maintenance Division of FAA's Office of Safety Standards. "The recent COVID challenges have redefined how we do business and changed a lot of our priorities," said Black. "Some of the things we've learned over the last few months are going to be precedent setting and are going to change the way we do business henceforward." Black noted some recent personnel changes in his division as well as some efforts that were underway even before the COVID crisis, such as UAS - "more critical now than ever" - and workforce development initiatives. "We realise that the agency has an impact on the flow of IAs, mechanics and pilots," said Black. The FAA official said that Part 147 continues to be a priority and that the COVID experience is making clear that some Part 147 rules need to be modernised. However, Black stressed the importance of maintaining an equivalent level of safety, noting that some actual classroom scenarios just can't be done remotely. Greg Hamelink, senior manager of flight operations and maintenance for Stryker Corp. and chairman of NBAA's Maintenance Committee - which has worked hard to put on informative and timely maintenance conferences, including the current virtual one - noted the recent SFAR issued by the FAA which has provided some regulatory relief to aviation entities. With regards to IAs, Black said that the SFAR allows a 90-day extension to meet the currency requirement, and that the agency is working with providers to see how they can make courses more efficient. Regarding virtual return to service, Black said that "almost every aspect of the FAA's job can be augmented or enhanced by virtual means." He encouraged the industry to take advantage of video communications technologies (VCT) and vowed to help make sure that regulations or policies don't stand in the way of using them. "Depending on the quality of those technologies, we are pretty sure that we can leverage them remotely," said Black. MMEL/MEL relief is still being worked on and there will be greater detail on that in the coming weeks, Black indicated. "The last session of this series on July 27 will do a deep dive on the FAA's MEL/STC relationship," added Hamelink. ADS-B continues to be a challenge, despite the Jan. 1, 2020, implementation date. "We've seen a spike in non-conforming flight IDs," said Black. On just one day even during the pandemic, 611 ID errors were observed. Black attributes this to improper configuration and other problems. He recommended that operators use the online ADS-B performance monitor, which allow them to check their own system performance. Maintenance directors and others who normally attend the annual Maintenance Conference are encouraged to register for the in-depth series of sessions provided by this virtual event. Participants can receive 0.25 credits toward Certified Aviation Manager (CAM) for each session, as well as credit towards FAA Inspection Authorisation (IA) renewals. Learn more about NBAA GO at nbaa.org/go, and register for NBAA's Virtual Maintenance Conference. https://www.businessjetinteriorsinternational.com/news/covid-19/nbaa-kicks-off-virtual-maintenance-conference.html Back to Top Piedmont Propulsion Systems Becomes First Independent Propeller Maintenance Facility to Offer Complete Model 568F Compression Wrap Removal and Application Services Piedmont Propulsion Systems, LLC ("PPS") announced that it has become the world's first independent Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul facility to offer complete Major Inspection support for the Model 568F propeller installed on the Next-Gen ATR family of turboprop aircraft, including the removal and re-application of the blade compression wrap. PPS worked tirelessly with support of the Federal Aviation Administration to pursue the release of the blade compression wrap removal and application process instructions, which were previously restricted to OEM-licensed facilities. "This represents a significant victory for PPS," according to Sammy Oakley, PPS's vice president and general manager. "PPS's ability to offer a complete 568F solution is a significant benefit to all ATR operators, as there is now a FAA- and EASA-certified competitor in the marketplace that can offer reduced lead-times and provide a high quality, cost-effective solution." PPS will perform the compression wrap removal and application using OEM instructions, which were not previously made available to operators or independent repair stations. Joshua Krotec, Senior Vice President of parent company First Aviation Services Inc. expressed appreciation for FAA's efforts, saying "we thank FAA for enforcing the law, which requires that Instructions for Continued Airworthiness be made available to all those - including operators and repair stations - who need to comply." PPS's 568F compression wrap removal and application services are available effective immediately to all operators, either as part of any PPS propeller maintenance contract (including cost per flight hour programs), or on an ad hoc basis. PPS, which has been authorized to perform major inspections of the 568F for over five years, previously subcontracted the compression wrap removal and replacement tasks to an OEM-authorized facility, which unnecessarily increased costs and turn times. PPS now performs these tasks in-house, significantly reducing cost and turn-around times. https://www.aviationpros.com/aircraft/maintenance-providers/mro/press-release/21136861/pr-newswire-piedmont-propulsion-systems-becomes-first-independent-propeller-maintenance-facility-to-offer-complete-model-568f-compression-wrap-removal-and-application-services Back to Top Supply Chain Unchained: How GE Aviation Is Helping the Air Force Sustain the Fleet For every dollar the Air Force spends on new weapons systems, 70 cents goes to keeping them ready for action. For if, as Napoleon famously observed, an army "marches on its stomach," then it can also be said that an air force flies on its sustainment system. Spare parts-and the ability to rapidly get them delivered and installed at the point of need-are critical to this unsung and often invisible piece of the aviation ecosystem. Will Roper, Air Force assistant secretary for acquisition, technology and logistics, sees opportunity in sustainment. That's why he established the service's Rapid Sustainment Office in 2018: He hopes to save half a billion dollars on maintenance spending by the end of this year. GE Aviation's "Captains of Industry" partnership with the Defense Logistics Agency is playing its part. The program seeks to improve aircraft readiness while driving down costs, says Scott Welsh, military materials operations director at GE Aviation. In the five years since it's been running, the company estimates the government has cut its overhead costs by about 10 percent. At Tinker Air Force Base, where GE's F-series engines go for maintenance and overhaul, GE is on site, helping out. "When they break down one of those engines, and they need to replace a part, our job is to make sure that part is there." Many of these parts are long-lead-time components. "It's not like going to AutoZone to pick up a part for your car," says Welsh. With lead times that can be more than a year, GE materials experts have to be able to foresee and anticipate the future. "Our people sit in on the production meetings at Tinker, providing eyes and ears in the customer's shop to better understand what is happening, and what we need to do to help get those engines turned around as fast as possible." GE took over the supply chain for certain critical spare parts, agreeing to guarantee availability and shouldering responsibility for readiness should they fail to deliver. "Our job every day is to understand consumption rates and make forecasts," Welsh says. "How often is a particular part needed? How many will be needed? Then we send those signals down the supply chain so that when the guy or the girl turning the wrench on the shop floor goes to pull that part off the shelf, it's there." For GE's F-series F110, F101 and F118 engines, parts availability has risen from about 85 percent to 96 percent, according to Steven Knopping, the director of military services programs for GE Aviation. "We take on their inventory," Knopping says. The government doesn't invest a dollar until it needs the part. The COI contracts leverage GE's expertise- "We can forecast our engines better than anybody else," Knopping says, and ensure GE is invested in every outcome. As the system developer and parts supplier, GE gets increased visibility into the performance of every part. With GE taking on the forecasting and logistics of getting parts ordered and delivered, government personnel are freed of managing a complex supply chain and can instead focus on repairs. And, as with GE's commercial customers, having a long-term agreement in place incentivizes the company to design for maintainability. "With GE's commercial contracts, we really own the whole maintenance process," Knopping says. "We do engine overhauls at our own facilities, using our parts and our people. It's not the same with our government work, but by owning the supply chain, we make their job easier." "It's a win-win because the better we do, the more supported the Warfighter is," Knopping says. "That's what we're here for." The DLA and GE recently signed a deal to include the A-10 Warthog's TF34 engine in that program. Being creative about how to manage each product is part of the challenge. For example, GE and the Air Force have a commercial-style contract for the T-38's JD85 engines because those aircraft don't deploy overseas. That kind of flexibility is part of GE's customer-centered approach in every area it supports the government. "Every customer wants something a little different," Welsh says. "What we've been able to do over the past five years is prove that we can flex and adapt to make the customer successful. That's our goal. Whatever is best for the Warfighter is best for GE." https://www.airforcemag.com/supply-chain-unchained-how-ge-aviation-is-helping-the-air-force-sustain-the-fleet/ Back to Top Lufthansa Technik's Passenger to Cargo Aircraft Services Sees Great Interest Lufthansa Technik's new technical and engineering services for temporary operational changes from passenger to cargo aircraft have met with great interest in the aviation market. So far, the cabin modification experts of the company have received enquiries from more than 40 airlines. More than 15 projects for different aircraft types are already in the implementation phase. A special highlight is the support of the operational change of a first Airbus A380 of an undisclosed customer with which Lufthansa Technik has now been awarded. "Over the past days, we have received strong interest from different airlines regarding our passenger to freighter service capabilities," explained Henning Jochmann, Senior Director Aircraft Modification Base Maintenance at Lufthansa Technik. "As the workscope comprises much more than just taking out seats, you need engineering experts who know exactly what the challenges are and how to document the technical solutions so correctly that the aviation authorities agree. The current exemption and our solution for it can be transferred to our Supplemental Type Certificate (STC) at a later point of time without major adjustments. This means that anyone who opts for LHT's exceptional solution now can easily switch to the permanent STC solution later." Normally, an aircraft that has been granted an approval for passenger transport cannot simply be loaded with cargo in the cabin, as the approval criteria for passenger cabins and cargo compartments are completely different. For example, cargo has a different floor load, i.e. the structural load capacity of a passenger aircraft is lower than that of a cargo aircraft. While for passenger transport rescue routes must be kept clear and the oxygen supply must be ensured for each individual, special fire protection measures must be taken on board a freighter. All these criteria, and some more, must be taken into account and incorporated into the technical documentation by suitably qualified engineers and approved. Lufthansa Technik is currently working flat out to obtain STCs for all common aircraft types so that airlines all over the world can quickly convert their passenger aircraft into auxiliary freighters. https://www.aviationpros.com/aircraft/maintenance-providers/mro/press-release/21136875/lufthansa-technik-lufthansa-techniks-passenger-to-cargo-aircraft-services-sees-great-interest Back to Top European Commission Delays ADS-B Out Mandate to December The European Commission (EC) has decided to delay its mandate for operators to equip their aircraft ADS-B Out avionics from June 7, 2020 to December 7, 2020, according to an amendment published to the agency's website May 5. Under the updated regulatory language, operators of certain European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) registered aircraft will comply with the original provisions of European Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) No. 1207/2011 and new amendments allowing certain non-ADS-B operations and a new three-year exemption for certain older aircraft types. Amending language to the provision adopted by the commission also referenced the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on airlines for the delay. "The outbreak of the pandemic of COVID-19 virus and the resulting impact on the aviation sector has led to unforeseeable obstacles for aircraft operators to pursue their activities to bring the aircraft in compliance with certain requirements of Implementing Regulation (EU) No 1207/2011. As a result, the deadline for aircraft operators laid out in Article 5(5), Article 8(1) and Article 8(2) of Implementing Regulation (EU) No 1207/2011 should be postponed to 7 December 2020, and Implementing Regulation (EU) No 1207/2011 should be amended accordingly," the amendment says. Changes to Europe's ADS-B Out mandate adopted by the commission include amendments first proposed by regulators in February, which generated comments from airlines, installers, avionics suppliers and others about the proposed changes. Operators that submit fleet plans indicating their aircraft will cease operations by October 31, 2025 are also exempted from the ADS-B equipage requirements under the new amendments. Other aircraft that can fly without ADS-B after the new December 2020 deadline include those being flown for export or to undergo maintenance. Secondary surveillance radar aircraft transponder requirements are also outlined in the amended regulation. Among the new changes are updates for operators of non-ADS-B aircraft operated for state or government purposes. On Apr. 8, Eurocontrol's communication, navigation and surveillance division published a technical "leaflet" related to flight operations being conducted after the mandate becomes effective. Similar to the 2019 rules adopted by the FAA for non ADS-B military aircraft in U.S. airspace, special conditions are being provided for operators of state aircraft in European airspace that will not be equipping with ADS-B due to privacy or security concerns. "State aircraft engaged on nationally sensitive operations or training exercises that require security and confidentiality, may also be allowed to revert to Mode A/C. Mode S (ELS and EHS) and ADS-B OUT are not secure from a military perspective," Eurocontrol writes in the leaflet. During an interview published in the April/May 2020 edition of Avionics, Akos Barany, ADS-B communications coordinator for the SESAR Deployment Manager described how the amendments to the mandate were designed to accommodate operators of older aircraft and can also help introduce a "transitional regime for the introduction of ADS-B Out and Mode S EHS functionalities in the airborne domain by establishing several exemption clauses and specifying the method for asserting an exemption in the ATC flight plan." "Air navigation service providers will appreciate the changes which greatly simplify the arrangements for sharing of surveillance data between providers," he said. Prior to the amended changes, regulators had been anticipating 76 percent of the region's EASA-registered fleet of airplanes to be equipped with transponders and other enabling equipment necessary to comply with the mandate. The delay will be the latest form of operational relief for airlines in the region in recent weeks, following Eurocontrol's decision in April to delay some 2020 payments on air traffic services. European Business Aviation Association Secretary-General Athar Husain Khan expressed support for the delay in a statement published to the organization's website, noting that the extra time will "ease some of the burdens on operators and help the Business Aviation sector continue to play its vital role in the fight against COVID-19 and the post-crisis European recovery." https://www.aviationtoday.com/2020/05/05/ads-b/ Back to Top Tom Cruise wants to film the world's first action movie in space - and he's hoping a SpaceX rocket will take him there Tom Cruise wants to take action movies to an extreme new level by filming his next blockbuster about 250 miles above Earth. His hope: SpaceX, the rocket company founded by Elon Musk, will take him there. NASA administrator Jim Bridenstine confirmed Tuesday that the agency will work with Cruise to shoot a film aboard the International Space Station. The news was first reported by Deadline. The as-yet notional mission is a three-fold collaboration between SpaceX (a private company), NASA (a government agency), and Tom Cruise (a celebrity) to make the first narrative feature film outside Earth. Bridenstine emphasized the film as a way to "inspire a new generation of engineers and scientists to make @NASA's ambitious plans a reality." NASA will grant private citizen access to the International Space Station's facilities, however, NASA will require a fee to allow an independent astronaut aboard the station. Elon Musk tweeted that SpaceX's involvement with the mission "Should be a lot of fun!" Russia is the only country with the ability to transport people to and from the station. But SpaceX has been making efforts to send private citizens to space. To that end, the company plans to launch its first crewed mission to the International Space Station on May 27. Veteran NASA astronauts Bob Behnken and Doug Hurley will ride inside SpaceX's new Crew Dragon capsule, which will fly to orbit atop a 23-story Falcon 9 rocket. The company has spent the past eight years developing and testing the seven-person, cone-shaped vehicle with funding from NASA. The new ship is part of the larger Commercial Crew Program, which the US government created in 2010 to resurrect NASA's ability to launch people into space. The agency had to turn exclusively to Russia for crewed launches after flying the last space shuttle mission in July 2011. (Boeing is another partner with a new ship, though it has seen numerous setbacks in testing and is not expected to fly its first crew until 2021 at the earliest.) SpaceX is also working with NASA to develop a larger, more efficient, and dramatically less expensive launch system called Starship, which both partners hope will help return astronauts to the surface of the moon. But that system is still in early development. The partnership to film Cruise's action movie is still in its infancy, as no studio has officially accepted to film the movie as of yet. https://www.businessinsider.com/tom-cruise-travel-elon-musks-spacex-rocket-film-space-movie-2020-5 Curt Lewis