May 21, 2020 - No. 036 In This Issue Aviation giant Rolls-Royce announces sweeping job cuts as the coronavirus outbreak batters air travel AAR shutting down Duluth facility WSU technology breathes new life into aging Army helicopter fleet AKKA and Avianor Join Forces to Offer an EASA Approved Passenger-to-freighter Solution to European and Worldwide Customers Malaysia Airlines details maintenance plan amid pandemic grounding The Graphene Flagship Project: The Key Developments in Aviation BAE Systems Awarded $26.7 Million for Modification and Installation of Electronic Countermeasures Aboard KC-130J Aircraft US Air Force launches contest to replace the B-52 bomber's engine British Airways to cut hundreds of job in Wales Indigo Partners ties up with Oaktree for Virgin Australia bid NASA's human spaceflight leader mysteriously resigns before big SpaceX Crew Dragon launch Aviation giant Rolls-Royce announces sweeping job cuts as the coronavirus outbreak batters air travel Rolls-Royce Holdings Plc Chief Executive Officer Warren East's five-year bid to revive earnings has been shattered by the coronavirus as the U.K. engineering giant moves to scrap 9,000 jobs and considers closing sites. The jet-engine maker will cut 17% of its workforce and boost savings goals to contend with a travel slump that's drastically shrunk the aviation market, according to a statement Wednesday. The plans are based on the assessment that the wide-body market will shrink by about a third from 2019 levels and take three to five years to rebound, East said. "The impact of Covid-19 on global aviation is not going to be short term and therefore our reaction can't be short term," the CEO said on a conference call. "We're trying to protect jobs for the future." Rolls-Royce is particularly exposed because of its focus on larger aircraft that will play a reduced role in global fleets as travel comes back. The pandemic crisis has depressed economies, and the return to flight will be colored by health-related restrictions that will discourage long-distance flights. East said before the outbreak that the London-based company was turning a corner after years of restructuring that saw it eliminate about 10,000 posts in an effort to become more agile and productive. Now, Rolls-Royce faces the test of rapidly resizing its business. East said on the call that the aerospace firm already has sufficient liquidity to get through the pandemic but must protect future jobs by acting now. Rolls-Royce shares traded as much as 4.9% lower and were down 2.2% to 261.8 pence as of 9:45 a.m. in London. The drop took the decline this year to 62%, valuing the business at 5.1 billion pounds ($6.2 billion). Job Cuts East said that the company aims to make more than half of the job cuts this year, after union consultations that could take months. He added that two-thirds of the employees in civil aerospace are in the U.K. with one-third in the rest of the world and that's "a good proxy" for where the ax will land. The high number of job cuts suggests Rolls isn't expecting a quick "V-shaped" recovery, said Norbert Kretlow, an analyst at Commerzbank AG. The reorganization will predominantly impact the civil aerospace business but also have implications for central support functions, Rolls-Royce said. The company also said it's carrying out a detailed review of its facility footprint. Its main civil engine plants are in Derby, central England, Singapore, and Dahlewitz near Berlin, while it has maintenance sites in other locations. The company has a presence in 50 countries, East said. Cost Savings East, who joined from semiconductor developer ARM Holdings Plc, had told investors that Rolls-Royce needs to save 1 billion pounds this year as it faces the biggest challenge since the 1970s, when it was nationalized after entering liquidation. That figure will now be extended to 1.3 billion pounds on an annualized basis, including 700 million pounds from job cuts. The company would consider taking advantage of the U.K. government's Covid-19 Corporate Financing Facility to ensure extra liquidity but it would "be a relatively small amount of funding," he said Wednesday. While the cuts are an "essential step," Rolls needs to do more to provide clarity on the cost base, Sandy Morris, an analyst with Jefferies International, wrote in a note. Rolls-Royce had already taken measures to ensure extra cash flow, announcing in April that it would suspend its dividend and borrowing 1.5 billion pounds to boost reserves. The company also cut its forecast for engine deliveries this year, and now plans to produce 250 plane engines, down from its previous estimate of 450. It was reported earlier this month that Rolls was considering a 15% cut to its workforce. https://fortune.com/2020/05/20/rolls-royce-slash-jobs-coronavirus/ Back to Top AAR shutting down Duluth facility Aviation company AAR (NYSE: AIR) is shutting down its Duluth aircraft maintenance base, according to KBJR TV. In 2014, AAR said the facility makes a $47 million annual economic impact on the area economy. Company officials confirmed Wednesday they will not be reopening, and have laid off staff, KBJR is reporting on its web page. The company began operating in Duluth during 2012. Tom Werner, the Executive Director of the Duluth Airport Authority, told KBJR the loss will have a "big impact on the aviation sector and the region as a whole." "The DAA will continue to work hard to support our existing aviation partners and air service. We have a strong aviation sector and new infrastructure that will put us in a good position for when new opportunities arise," Werner said. When originally built by Northwest Airlines, the massive facility employed about 400 persons. The property was turned over to the City of Duluth in 2007 as a stipulation in NWA's bankruptcy settlement. AAR has previously said its Duluth pay scale ranged from $30,000 to $80,000 per year. As of July 2019, the company employed more than 300 people at its 180,000-square-foot Duluth facility. Northwest operated from the structure until 2005. Cirrus later used the base but moved out in September of 2009. Just last July, AAR extended its maintenance hangar lease with the city of Duluth and the Duluth Economic Development Authority, which own the structure. But the COVID-19 pandemic has substantially changed the market for commercial aircraft maintenance as people stopped flying. According to the trade publication Avionics International, maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) providers are facing the possibility of a steep drop in global demand for MRO services this year because of the outbreak. It noted that commercial MROs may face greater declines than MROs that have a higher proportion of business aviation clients. The corporation's stock, at $45.73 on Feb. 20, closed at $17.76 Wednesday. AAR also operates U.S. maintenance bases in Indianapolis, Miami, Oklahoma City and Rockford. http://www.businessnorth.com/daily_briefing/kbjr-aar-shutting-down-duluth-facility/article_4673b8e4-9ae0-11ea-a4d0-a35f50eeec6f.html Back to Top WSU technology breathes new life into aging Army helicopter fleet The U.S. Army is turning to "digital-twin" technology from Wichita State University to resolve challenges and boost efficiencies for its enduring fleet of Black Hawk helicopters. Through a partnership between the U.S. Army Aviation and Missile Command and Wichita State University, researchers at the National Institute for Aviation Research (NIAR) will create a virtual model of a UH-60L Black Hawk helicopter. Researchers will completely disassemble the airframes and capture a 3-D scan of each structural part, creating a virtual model - or digital twin - of the workhorse of Army aviation. As a first step in this endeavor, an operational Black Hawk helicopter and a separate fuselage began an 800-mile journey Tuesday from Corpus Christi Army Depot in Texas to Wichita, Kansas. "This opens a new door to aviation maintenance and sustainment," said AMCOM Commander Maj. Gen. Todd Royar. "We welcome a new partnership with Wichita State University, while fortifying our existing relationships across the Army aviation enterprise." This is the first Army aircraft to enter a larger military effort with NIAR for legacy aircraft sustainment. "This is a unique opportunity to bring a game-changing technology to the sustainment and logistics fields," said Maj. Sam Gray, Program Manager for the Strategic Capabilities Office. The Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter entered Army service in 1979, replacing the UH-1 Iroquois - also known as the Huey helicopter. The UH-60 Alpha model was the first to enter the fleet, which was followed by the more advanced Lima and Mike models. The Lima model of the Black Hawk helicopter has been out of production for 15 years, so most of its technology is at least that old, with some parts dating back 40 years. The digital twin opens the door to acquire parts that are out of production while building the capacity to use advanced techniques, such as additive manufacturing, to produce components. Many industries have turned to digital-twin technology to create and improve opportunities to visualize, analyze and predict performance. The technology provides 3-D replicas of everything from buildings, trains and air conditioning systems to including human body parts to test scenarios and ultimately boost the equipment's performance. "The intent is to enable readiness across the Army and the UH-60 fleets in the joint service and the applicable foreign military sales environment," Royar said. "At the same time, we generate new opportunities to provide parts that are obsolete, low-volume or small quantity. The result is reduced operation and sustainment costs." Among the driving factors for digital-twin technology is easing the sustainment effort to keep the Black Hawk helicopters flying over the next decades. As with other enduring military systems, the Army is often dependent on a single-source provider or faces challenges in obtaining certain parts. In turn, potential manufacturers must rely on 2-D drawings, many with changes and updates, that make it difficult to interpret, bid or produce the part. "Certain low-use or low-volume parts don't receive any bids from vendors," Royar said. "When we need those parts, we need the opportunity to get them in the system quickly - not the two-plus years it sometimes takes right now." With future sustainment in mind, the endeavor to create a digital twin of the UH-60L connects NIAR experts with the Army and Sikorsky - the original equipment manufacturer - to convert all legacy 2-D drawings into 3-D parametric models. "The intent of the UH-60L program is to demonstrate the application of this technology in fleet sustainment operations to increase threat timelines and operational readiness, reduce the cost of documentation, and increase sustainment affordability," said John Tomblin, senior vice-president for Industry and Defense Programs and NIAR executive director. "The program will also allow the Army to maintain, and in some cases, increase, the size of the current functioning fleet." Wichita State University has conducted teardown investigations for the Department of Defense (DOD) for the past 15 years and has been performing digital-twin programs with the commercial industry over the last decade. In 2018, it began digital-twin work for the DOD, and disassembly of the Air Force's B-1 bomber begins this summer. The Strategic Capabilities Office has been working with Wichita State University and NIAR to improve fleet sustainment efforts, aimed at increasing readiness by leveraging advanced technologies, including the digital twin. Additional efforts are underway to leverage robotics and machine learning to improve repair time of different components, which pose potential readiness risks to the operational forces. SCO's recent ventures in modernizing sustainment and life-cycle management capabilities for DOD platforms demonstrates the critical importance of integrating modern technologies into supply, logistics, and maintenance operations. "Our goal is to develop a prototype capability which will transition into not just existing platforms within the Department of Defense, but identify the digital engineering requirements for future platform development," Gray said. "It will be of great benefit to the Army if we can reduce sustainment costs and increase readiness for the UH-60L." To ensure the digital twin can support future airworthiness activities, AMCOM is working with the Combat Capabilities Development Command Aviation and Missile Center's (CCDC AvMC) Systems Readiness Directorate, which uses drawings, structural reports and physical checks to evaluate airworthiness of ongoing modifications to the UH-60L. "The digital twin offers significant opportunities for improving the efficiency of airworthiness assessments and the potential to streamline evaluation and modifications from a fit and maintenance perspective," said Douglas Denno, CCDC AvMC's lead for coordinating actions on the digital-twin effort. "This is a thrilling opportunity to bring these key elements of technical data for the Army's utility workhorse into the digital age." As the first step in this project takes place with the aircraft transport, NIAR's Tomblin said researchers are excited to begin the program with the Army in support of the UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter. "The ability to provide support to the warfighter and increase readiness is a primary objective of this program, and we hope the results of this study can impact future maintenance and sustainment for this aircraft for decades to come," Tomblin said. The collaborative effort of this project also includes the helicopter's original manufacturer. Dina Halvorsen, Sikorsky program director for Army and Air Force Sustainment, said Sikorsky is proud to be partnered with the U.S. Army and Wichita State University on this project. "With a collective focus to improve supply availability and readiness on the Lima platform, this initiative serves as a unique learning and discovery opportunity for all parties involved - particularly on how these next-generation technologies and processes work and how we can apply our findings from this effort to maximize the sustainment capability of both our existing and future fleet," Halvorsen said. Beyond resolving supply-chain issues, the virtual technology will also improve maintenance issues. Repetition and exposure are the best ways to grow skills in mechanics and technical inspectors. But training and repetitive work on operational aircraft has the propensity to cause maintenance issues. "Digital-twin technology provides a virtual environment that facilitates the crawl, walk, run training philosophy that enables Soldiers to develop confidence in a simulated environment before performing the task on an actual aircraft," said AMCOM Command Sgt. Maj. Mike Dove. "Virtual environments enable a task to be taught through distance learning with the subject matter expert thousands of miles away." The project to create a digital twin and ultimately a catalog of the UH-60L parts, brings academic and industry partners into a collaboration that includes the Office of Secretary of Defense Strategic Capabilities Office, several Army organizations, including AMCOM, Army Futures Command and Program Executive Office-Aviation. "It takes this team of teams' approach that will benefit not just the military but also academia and industry," Royar said. "As we embark on this effort, I recognize the hard work being done between and across organizations, and I'm excited about the great opportunities it means for all interested parties and, ultimately, for aviation readiness." https://salinapost.com/posts/5ec48797eb7f170536055cb9 Back to Top AKKA and Avianor Join Forces to Offer an EASA Approved Passenger-to-freighter Solution to European and Worldwide Customers AKKA Technologies (Paris:AKA) (BSE:AKA) (ISIN:FR0004180537) and Avianor, the majority-owned affiliates of DRAKKAR's Aerospace & Ground Transportation Division, announced today that they have signed a collaboration agreement for Avianor's Passenger-to-Freighter conversion solution, certified by the Canadian civil aviation authority (TCCA), and already embodied on several wide body aircraft. In order to promote this solution to international markets, AKKA Technologies and Avianor have signed a framework agreement to certify the solution with the widely adopted European Union Aviation & Safety standards. As a leading global aerospace MRO & Cabin Modification player, AKKA Technologies is among the few companies able to provide comprehensive EASA certification services by delegation to the aerospace industry and its operators. Avianor, an aircraft maintenance and cabin integration specialist, developed an engineering solution and associated kits to remove passenger seats from an airline's aircraft and designate cargo loading zones for light weight boxes restrained with cargo nets. For a Boeing 777 or Airbus A330 type aircraft, such modifications can be embodied within four days, providing the aircraft with additional cargo capacity of up to 19 tons. This modification can be easily extended to other aircraft types providing most airlines and operators with an easy and comprehensive solution. The agreement between AKKA & Avianor will also give AKKA the 'rights to use' this engineering solution, in order to respond to the urgent cargo conversion demand worldwide. While AKKA will support airlines requiring EASA certification, Avianor will continue to support airlines requiring TCCA certification and supply conversion kits for both EASA and TCCA customers. "The COVID-19 pandemic has deeply hurt airlines and forced them to reinvent themselves. As a leader in the aviation industry, Avianor reacted quickly to the needs of its customers in this time of crisis. In just shy of a week's time, our specialists reconfigured a first Boeing's 777-300ER followed quickly by six other 777 and A330. We are currently at work converting A340 aircraft cabins, soon adding another certified wide-body solution. We pride ourselves on our innovative actions and responsiveness to contribute to the urgent need for increased cargo capacity for medical and essential goods. We are pleased to establish this collaboration with the AKKA Group and enable a broader access to our solution for airlines", said Matthieu Duhaime, President & COO, Avianor. "About half of the world's air freight is carried in the cargo holds of passenger aircraft. And since COVID-19 has grounded most of the passenger fleets around the globe, cargo capacity worldwide has dropped and the price per kilo skyrocketed. In order to compensate for reduced passenger traffic and keep their fleets operational, airlines are reconfiguring their passenger aircraft to so called 'preighters' (passenger-to-freighter) to generate revenue", said Charles Champion, member of AKKA's board of directors. About Avianor Avianor, a privately-owned company from which the Aerospace & Ground Transportation Division of DRAKKAR has a majority participation, specializes in maintenance, modifications and aircraft completion, including a highly skilled internal engineering support team. Avianor has positioned itself as a vertical integrator in the marketplace. The company occupies over 200,000 square feet of hangars, repair shops, fabrication facilities and warehouse space at Mirabel Airport (YMX) and employs more than 350 people. About AKKA AKKA is the European leader in digital solutions, engineering consulting and R&D services in the mobility segment. As an innovation accelerator for its clients, AKKA supports leading industry players throughout the life cycle of their products with cutting edge digital technologies (AI, ADAS, IoT/IIOT, Big Data, robotics, embedded computing, machine learning, etc.). With approximately 21,000 technology-passionate employees and half a billion Euros digital platform, AKKA is dedicated to advancing the future of industry and supporting the digital transition of its clients. The Group recorded revenues of €1.8 billion in 2019. AKKA Technologies is listed on Euronext Paris and Brussels - Segment A - ISIN code: FR0004180537. For more information, please visit www.akka-technologies.com Follow us on: twitter.com/AKKA_Tech https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200519005472/en/AKKA-Avianor-Join-Forces-Offer-EASA-Approved Back to Top Malaysia Airlines details maintenance plan amid pandemic grounding As Malaysia Airlines parks nearly half of its fleet in long-term storage amid the coronavirus outbreak, its engineering unit has switched up its usual operations. For instance, various representatives from divisions within the unit - such as technical services, quality assurance, and maintenance control - have come together to form a "command centre" to marshall maintenance and repair resources for the period. Malaysia Airlines senior executive engineer for production, planning and control Chan Kin Ting says the engineering unit has had to "make a lot of ad hoc and prompt decisions" on the fly, because of uncertainty about the outbreak's impact. Malaysia Airlines has parked about half of its fleet of nearly 90 passenger aircraft at Kuala Lumpur international airport for the long-term, including its entire fleet of six Airbus A380s, as well as 29 Boeing 737-800s. Given the unprecedented number of parked aircraft, the engineering division - which has more than 1,990 staff across Malaysian airports - has grouped its line and base maintenance teams and divvied up the work according to tail number. Checks included as part of the long-term parking maintenance procedures include making sure the fuel tanks do not contain microbiological growth, and ensuring engine parts do not fall victim to Malaysia's humid weather. A group of 300-400 engineering staff have also been regrouped as maintenance "frontliners". Their responsibilities deal primarily with line maintenance checks at its Kuala Lumpur hub, such as physical inspections of aircraft exteriors, and cabin equipment maintenance. Precautions put in place because of the pandemic mean that this group of staff are only allowed access into the aircraft cockpit, to limit exposure to any suspected cases, says Chan. The aircraft is then towed to a remote parking bay for checks and repair works to commence. Once the all-clear is given by the engineering command centre that no suspected infected persons was on the prior flight, the staff will enter the cabin to begin their defect checks. Chan says this process now takes longer than the usual practice, but declined to specify. Checks - and subsequent repair works - on an A330 can usually take about one to 1.5 hours, Chan notes, but that has since been extended as a result precautionary measures. Malaysia Airlines joins other carriers in and around the region, which have also had to tweak their maintenance workflow to cater to an unusually large number of stored aircraft. For instance, Middle Eastern giant Etihad Airways in April said it was working to bring forward maintenance checks of aircraft already grounded, and would be stepping up cabin and airframe maintenance during this period. Separately, Malaysia Airlines is also looking to expand the number of passenger-to-freighter flights during this period. Since March, the carrier has already mounted more than 150 such flights, with cargo put in the belly of its passenger aircraft. On 14 May, it also flew its first flight ferrying cargo in the passenger cabin with an A330-300 to Melbourne. Captain Jacob Kurien, a senior manager for flight safety analysis at the carrier's corporate safety oversight office says destinations it is looking at include to points in China, Japan, as well as in Australia. https://www.flightglobal.com/airlines/malaysia-airlines-details-maintenance-plan-amid-pandemic-grounding/138454.article Back to Top The Graphene Flagship Project: The Key Developments in Aviation What is the Graphene Flagship Project? Graphene, a two-dimensional atomic crystal constructed of carbon atoms arranged in a hexagonal lattice, is the strongest and lightest material known so far (Kostarelos & Novoselov, 2014). Acknowledging its versatility, the EU Commission initiated the Graphene Flagship project (Graphene Flagship, 2020) as the first technology flagship to endorse graphene from laboratories to numerous industries. The initiative coordinates over 145 academic and industrial research groups in 21 countries, and runs in two phases: 30 months under the 7th Framework Program with a total European Commission funding of €54 million The remaining months under the Horizon 2020 Program. The Graphene Flagship Project and the Aviation Industry The aviation industry is continuously looking into reducing the maintenance time or delay time on the ground while still keeping safety in the priority. In 2018, global maintenance, repair and overhaul was valued at $69 billion, representing 9% of airline operational costs. This is expected to reach $103 billion by 2028 (IATA, 2019). In freezing conditions, de-icing becomes a challenging and essential safety aspect as frozen contaminants jam control surfaces, preventing them from functioning normally. De-icing fluid costs between 1,000-10,000 Euros for smaller to larger private planes (Private Fly, 2020). The time, facilities, vehicles and personnel needed for de-icing quickly adds enormous amounts to already high operating costs. Graphene-Based Thermoelectric Ice Protection Systems One of the newest Spearhead projects, GICE (2020-2023), funded by the Graphene Flagship and backed by Airbus, is aiming to develop graphene-based thermoelectric ice protection systems to keep aircraft parts ice-free without affecting aerodynamic properties. The key industrial partner Sonaca, which is the components supplier for Airbus, will collaborate to commercialize the graphene-based ice protection systems to the technology readiness level six. Successful completion of this project will provide an innovative de-icing system that is economically and environmentally beneficial for the aviation industry. The current widely used de-icing system requires airport staff to spray the aircraft with either ethylene glycol or propylene glycol mixed with water until the contaminants are completely removed (Government of Canada, 2010). Graphene Is.... Aeronautics Other currently investigated materials to replace this system are carbon black, carbon rovings or carbon nanotubes (Graphene-info, 2019). However, the popularity of graphene as an electrically conductive material has initiated the exploration in this sector. A reliable and inexpensive graphene-based ice protection system is in the development stage by many researchers (Vertuccio, De Santis, Pantani, Lafdi, & Guadagno, 2019) (Karim, et al., 2018). The GICE project aims to further commercialize using an electrical current to convert into heat and melt the ice. A History of Aircraft Materials In 1903, the Wright brothers flew the first motor-operated airplane made out of aluminum, wood and steel. Since then, aircraft materials have come a long way (Thomas, 2019). Aircraft constructed of heavier materials such as metals were designed to withstand the load of passengers and goods. Aluminum or aluminum alloy was essentially preferred due to its lightweight properties, designed for fuel-efficient technology. In the mid-1930s, all-metal design principles were introduced, making it the primary material for the aviation industry, though the problems of corrosion and metal fatigue were discovered (Berends, Burg, & Raaij, 2011). During World War Two, the shortage of metals stimulated the use of plastics in some of the replaceable parts, as they showed a proven ability to withstand chemically harsh environments. Lighter and more fuel-efficient plastics became popular as electrical insulators and some mechanical components. High-speed aviation required high strength and thermal resistance, leading the way to advanced carbon-carbon composites, titanium-aluminum alloys, and titanium alloys reinforced with ceramic fibers. The aviation industry began to investigate various fiber-reinforced resin matrices that use resins. These included polyester, vinyl ester and epoxy reinforced with fibers such as glass and carbon. The modern Airbus A350 is thought to contain 52% carbon-fiber-reinforced polymer (CFRP) (Marsh, 2007). Carbon composite materials consist of only 60% of the density of traditional aluminum, saving 20% weight and reducing fuel consumption. Although using carbon composite is popular among Airbus and Boeing, the functional advantage of graphene in this industry is widely recognized and is the current focus of the aviation industry. Graphene Materials in the Aviation Industry Graphene can be chemically modified, making it applicable to a wide range of applications. Under the Graphene Flagship project, the world's first model aircraft 'Prospero' with graphene-skinned wings was tested and flown successfully at the Farnborough International Air Show in the UK in early 2016 (University of Central Lancashire, 2016). This joint venture between The University of Manchester, the University of Central Lancashire and several SMEs, including Haydale Composite Solutions, reveals a new opportunity in investigating the effects of graphene material in drag reduction, thermal management and potential lightning strike protection. Another fascinating initiative of Graphene Flagship in cooperation with the European Space Agency (ESA) has evaluated the use of graphene material in space applications (Graphene Flagship, 2019). In 2017, the consortium successfully tested graphene to enhance the efficiency of heat exchangers in gravity-free conditions to manage the temperature difference. The electrical and thermal conductivity of graphene material induces a faster flow of electrons than silicon, improving the heat transfer between the electronic units. The Future of Graphene in the Aviation Sector The inclusion of graphene material in the aviation industry has demonstrated the improvement of the mechanical properties while saving significant amounts of fuel, reducing maintenance time, and decreasing greenhouse gas emissions. The Graphene Flagship Project has widely covered the rectifiable aspects of the industry in which graphene could be incorporated. So far, technological development has proved that graphene will play a huge role in making the aviation industry safer, more environmentally friendly and economically attractive in decades to come. References and Further Reading Aviation benefits beyond borders. (n.d). New materials and structural weight saving. [Online] Aviation benefits beyond borders. Available at: https://aviationbenefits.org/case-studies/new-materials-and-structural-weight-saving/ (Accessed on 03 May 2020). Berends, H., Burg, E. v., & Raaij, E. M. (2011). Contacts and Contracts: Cross-Level Network Dynamics in the Development of an Aircraft Material. Organization Science, 22(4), 940-960. https://doi.org/10.1287/orsc.1100.0578 Government of Canada. (2010). Chapter 3 - Deicing/Anti-icing Fluids. [Online] Government of Canada. Available at: https://www.tc.gc.ca/eng/civilaviation/publications/tp10643-chapter3-summary-207.htm (Accessed on 03 May 2020). Graphene Flagship. (2019). Airbus-Backed European Project Could Produce Safer Aircrafts. [Online] Graphene Flagship. Available at: https://graphene-flagship.eu/project/spearhead/Pages/GICE.aspx (Accessed on 03 May 2020). Graphene Flagship. (2019). Graphene goes to space. [Online] Graphene Flagship. Available at: https://graphene-flagship.eu/news/Pages/Graphene-goes-to-space.aspx (Accessed on 03 May 2020). Graphene Flagship. (2020). Graphene Flagship. [Online] Graphene Flagship. Available at: http://graphene-flagship.eu/ (Accessed on 03 May 2020). Graphene-info. (2019). Graphene Flagship launches Airbus-Backed Project for graphene-based thermoelectric ice protection systems. [Online] Graphene-info. Available at: https://www.graphene-info.com/graphene-flagship-launches-airbus-backed-project-graphene-based-thermoelectric (Accessed on 05 May 2020). IATA. (2019). Airline Maintenance Cost Executive Commentary Edition 2019. [Online] IATA. Available at: https://www.iata.org/contentassets/bf8ca67c8bcd4358b3d004b0d6d0916f/mctg-fy2018-report-public.pdf (Accessed on 05 May 2020). Karim, N., Zhang , M., Afroj , S., Koncherry, V., Potluri , P., & Novoselov, K. S. (2018). Graphene-based surface heater for de-icing applications. RSC advances, 8, 16815-16823. https://doi.org/10.1039/C8RA02567C Kostarelos, K., & Novoselov, K. S. (2014). Graphene devices for life. Nature Nanotechnology. https://doi.org/10.1038/nnano.2014.224 Marsh, G. (2007). Airbus takes on Boeing with reinforced plastic A350 XWB. Reinforced Plastics. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0034-3617(07)70383-1 Plane Finder. (2017, 08 10). How Graphene could Revolutionise the Future of Aviation. [Online] Plane Finder. Available at: https://planefinder.net/about/news/graphene-revolutionise-aviation/ (Accessed on 05 May 2020). Private Fly. (2020). De-icing for private jets. [Online] Private Fly. Available at: https://www.privatefly.com/privatejet-services/de-icing-private-jets.html (Accessed on 05 May 2020). Thomas. (2019). A Brief History of Aircraft Materials. [Online] Thomas. Available at: https://www.thomasnet.com/insights/a-brief-history-of-aircraft-materials/ (Accessed on 05 May 2020). University of Central Lancashire. (2016). World's first flight of graphene-skinned aircraft to take place at Farnborough Air Show. [Online] University of Central Lancashire. Available at: https://www.uclan.ac.uk/news/graphene-skinned-aircraft-farnborough-show.php (Accessed on 05 May 2020). Vertuccio, L., De Santis, F., Pantani, R., Lafdi, K., & Guadagno, L. (2019). Effective de-icing skin using graphene-based flexible heater. Composites Part B: Engineering, 162. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.compositesb.2019.01.045 https://www.azom.com/article.aspx?ArticleID=19285 Back to Top BAE Systems Awarded $26.7 Million for Modification and Installation of Electronic Countermeasures Aboard KC-130J Aircraft The U.S. Navy's Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division's (NAWCAD) Aircraft Prototyping Systems Division has awarded BAE Systems a prime position on a $26.7 million task order to install, integrate and test the Department of the Navy (DoN) Large Aircraft Infrared Countermeasures (LAIRCM) system on KC-130J aerial transport and refueling aircraft. The DoN LAIRCM advanced missile warning system improves aircraft capability and survivability by countering advanced infrared missile system threats. "We understand how vital the KC-130J is to the U.S. Navy and U.S. Marine Corps and the enhanced capability the DoN LAIRCM system brings to the fight," said Pete Trainer, vice president and general manager of BAE Systems' Air Force Solutions. "With more than 40 years of experience managing complex aircraft modernization and sustainment programs, we're excited that NAWCAD has entrusted us to integrate this system onto their aircraft to ensure the safety of the aircrews and protect this vital capability." The BAE Systems turnkey solution provides program management, inventory control, engineering support, installation, and system testing of the DoN LAIRCM upgrade. Aircraft maintenance and support activities will also be provided as required. This is the second task order awarded to BAE Systems under the Prototyping and Limited Production indefinite delivery indefinite quantity contract. The DoN LAIRCM installation will be performed on up to 19 KC-130J aircraft over the next five years; the work will take place in Crestview, Florida in partnership with Vertex Aerospace Aircraft Integration & Sustainment (AIS) Division. "The program office looks forward to working with BAE Systems on the DoN LAIRCM installations," said CAPT Steven Nassau, program manager for Naval Air Systems Command's PMA-207. "This competitive award will allow the Marine Corps to move from government depot installation to industry without a gap in services. It is a great reflection on the dedication of the KC-130J Mission Systems Team and the contracts office. It also speaks to the flexibility of both the Navy and industry." BAE Systems' Intelligence & Security sector has extensive experience in advanced aircraft engineering, fabrication, installation, modification, systems integration, and logistics support, and has performed more than 200 separate complex modification programs involving over 2,200 aircraft. The BAE Systems and Vertex AIS team have installed Directional Infrared Countermeasures and DoN LAIRCM systems for the U.S. Air Force and foreign military customers under previous contracts. https://www.aviationpros.com/aircraft/defense/press-release/21138895/bae-systems-bae-systems-awarded-267-million-for-modification-and-installation-of-electronic-countermeasures-aboard-kc130j-aircraft Back to Top US Air Force launches contest to replace the B-52 bomber's engine WASHINGTON - General Electric, Rolls-Royce, and Pratt & Whitney will compete for the chance to outfit the U.S. Air Force's B-52 bomber fleet with new engines, with a contract award projected for June 2021. The Air Force released a request for proposals for the B-52 Commercial Engine Replacement Program to the three companies on May 19. The engine makers are already under contract to create digital prototypes, and they have until July 22 to submit final proposals, the solicitation stated. The Air Force operates 76 B-52s, each outfitted with eight TF33 engines. The service plans to order 608 new engines, plus spares and support, from the winner of the competition. The public version of the RFP obscures the estimated value of the program, which is projected to extend from 2021 to 2035. Pratt & Whitney, which manufactured the TF33 currently onboard the B-52, has stated it will propose the PW800. "Its industry-leading reliability, robust sustainment infrastructure, and significant fuel efficiency savings will greatly improve the legendary bomber and keep it flying for decades to come," said Chris Johnson, Pratt & Whitney's executive director for mobility and diverse engine programs. "Our unique experience with the B-52, coupled with our expertise integrating commercial engines onto military applications, will deliver a low-risk, high-performance engine to power the Stratofortress fleet through 2050." GE Aviation will put forward the CF34-10 and Passport engines, spokesman David Wilson said. "GE is the only company to have been involved in re-engining U.S. Air Force aircraft three times over," he said. "Add in our deep experience powering six strategic bombers, entrenched support of air combat and the reverence we have for the role we play in protecting this country, and GE is the clear partner to ensure the B-52 is ready at all times for mission critical." Rolls-Royce intends to offer its F130 engine, the company confirmed. "Rolls-Royce is excited to move to the proposal stage of the campaign and ready to demonstrate that the Rolls-Royce F130 engine is the perfect fit for the B-52," Craig McVay, senior vice president for Rolls-Royce Defense, said in a statement. "The F130 is a highly reliable and proven engine which is already in commercial production. Our team is focused and energized, and eager to compete for the B-52 Commercial Engine Replacement Program and provide the best possible solution for the U.S. Air Force and the key missions of the B-52 weapon system." The Air Force plans to operate the B-52 into the 2050s and sees new commercial engines as a way to reduce fuel burn and the time it takes to maintain the bomber. Last year, B-52 maintainers at Barksdale Air Force Base, Louisiana, told Defense News that modern engines would make it easier for crews to diagnose problems and make needed repairs. "I would like to know if I need to take that aircraft down out of the schedule and give it a new engine ahead of time," said Lt. Col. Tiffany Arnold, 2nd Maintenance Squadron commander. "We could prioritize, we could understand the patterns of the engines in a way that we could maintain them better. And hopefully the new motor, whoever designs it, will have a shorter mean time between failure, and we can fly them longer." https://www.defensenews.com/air/2020/05/20/the-air-force-launches-a-contest-to-replace-the-b-52s-engine/ Back to Top British Airways to cut hundreds of job in Wales British Airways is to begin a consultation process as it seeks to cut hundreds of jobs at its Engineering bases in Wales. BA originally said that up to 1000 jobs could be shed but Welsh Economy Minister Ken Skates has said the figure would be nearer 400. British Airways currently operates three sites across Wales that carry out maintenance to its long haul fleet Boeing aircraft, cabins and avionics. British Airways Maintenance Cardiff (BAMC) is the largest aircraft maintenance site in Wales and employs around 650 people in the Vale of Glamorgan. The facility, which is based at Cardiff Airport, carries out maintenance and aircraft checks on Boeing 787, 777 and 747 aircraft as well as being a Boeing Gold Partner carrying out work for other airlines. The site at Llantrisant maintains and repairs avionics equipment for the airlines fleet including Airbus 318, 319, 320, 321, and Boeing 737, 747, 767, 777 aircraft types. the 142,000sq ft site boasts a highly-skilled workforce. BA Interiors is based at Blackwood and is an advanced cabin interior and safety equipment maintenance facility. As well as seats and cabin interiors the site also maintains evacuation slides, life vests, survival packs. British Airways will start a 45-day consultation process with Unions over the potential job losses. https://ukaviation.news/british-airways-to-consult-on-1000-job-cuts-in-wales/ Back to Top Indigo Partners ties up with Oaktree for Virgin Australia bid Sydney: Indigo Partners is teaming up with Oaktree Capital Management in its offer for Virgin Australia Holdings Ltd and will consider adding an Australian partner as the bidding process progresses, Indigo managing partner Bill Franke said. "In terms of local Australian partners we have been approached by a number of Australian entities and at the end of the day we would like to have an Australian partner," he said in a webinar hosted by CAPA Centre for Aviation on Tuesday. "It is the right thing to do. But it all depends on the details." Indigo, a private equity investor in low-cost airlines globally including Frontier Airlines and Wizz Air Holdings PLC , was one of four parties shortlisted by administrators to buy Virgin Australia, a person with knowledge of the matter said on Monday. The others are BGH Capital, Bain Capital and Cyrus Capital Partners, the person said. Oaktree did not respond immediately for a request for comment on its partnership with Indigo. Binding offers for Australia's second-biggest airline are due on June 12. The company entered voluntary administration last month owing nearly A$7 billion ($4.6 billion), making it the biggest Asia-Pacific casualty of the coronavirus crisis hitting the global aviation industry. The strong interest in Virgin Australia at a time when the world aviation market is largely grounded shows the long-time attractiveness of the Australian domestic market, a duopoly between Qantas Airways Ltd and Virgin Australia. "We think the country needs two airlines and we want to be able to assist Virgin Australia in being one of those two airlines," Franke said. Indigo had not yet decided whether Virgin Australia would keep its international operations or become a low-cost carrier if its proposal was successful. "We have to look at the Australian market in terms of what the consumer wants in the product," Franke said. https://gulfnews.com/business/aviation/indigo-partners-ties-up-with-oaktree-for-virgin-australia-bid-1.1589945881233 Back to Top NASA's human spaceflight leader mysteriously resigns before big SpaceX Crew Dragon launch The leader of NASA's human spaceflight program, Douglas Loverro, has resigned after spending about seven months at the agency. The resignation comes little more than a week before a major event for both NASA and SpaceX. On May 27 astronauts are slated to launch from U.S. soil to the International Space Station for the first time since 2011. Ars Technica reports that Loverro was set to give the final okay for SpaceX's Crew Dragon spacecraft, which will carry astronauts Robert Behnken and Douglas Hurley. That job will now fall to Ken Bowersox, the acting associate administrator for NASA's Human Exploration and Operations. Loverro wrote that he was leaving the agency due to an undisclosed "mistake," according to a letter obtained by Politico. "Throughout my long government career of over four and a half decades I have always found it to be true that we are sometimes, as leaders, called on to take risks," Loverro reportedly wrote. "I took such a risk earlier in the year because I judged it necessary to fulfill our mission. Now, over the balance of time, it is clear that I made a mistake in that choice for which I alone must bear the consequences." Reached by Fast Company, a NASA spokesperson sent over a boilerplate statement confirming Loverro's departure and said the agency is "unable to discuss personnel matters" beyond it. https://www.fastcompany.com/90507129/nasas-human-spaceflight-leader-mysteriously-resigns-before-big-spacex-crew-dragon-launch Curt Lewis