August 10, 2020 - No. 059 In This Issue Tabletop tragedy: Kozhikode accident should lead to a more stringent approach to aviation safety. Metrojet Keeps Busy with Engine Swaps, Disinfections IAF men, meteorologists, psychologists to probe Air India Express mishap Cathay Pacific strips seats from 777 aircraft for cargo Bell Unveils New Manufacturing Technology Center Pakistan's aviation regulator sends show cause notice to 193 pilots over 'dubious' licences A digital revolution is changing the airline industry FlightSmart Selected to Participate in the AFWERX 2020 Challenge Gogo Pursues Sale of Commercial Aviation Business MagniX Sees Regional Operators as Electric Aviation Pioneers SpaceX Starlink Tracker: Every Satellite Launched and How to See Them in the Sky Tabletop tragedy: Kozhikode accident should lead to a more stringent approach to aviation safety The tragic aviation accident on Friday evening at Kozhikode airport which claimed 18 lives has once again foreground the issue of aviation safety in India. An Air India Express Boeing 737 flying in from Dubai overshot the runway while trying to land in rainy weather. What we know is that the aircraft's commander, an Air Force veteran, was a seasoned pilot. It was his second try at landing that evening and the plane landed beyond the touchdown point. Consequently, it overshot and given that Kozhikode has a tabletop airport, the aircraft plunged 35 feet. The flight data recorder and cockpit voice recorder have been recovered, which should help the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau identify the cause of the accident. The last such major mishap in India took place at Mangalore, another tabletop airport on the west coast, in 2010. The Court of Inquiry, headed by an Air Force veteran, found that the Mangalore accident was on account of the pilot's mistake. Over the last couple of days, civil aviation minister Hardeep Puri has asked people to refrain from speculating on the cause of the Kozhikode crash. What will help - given that citizens' anxieties are understandable - is ensuring that the unedited investigation report is placed in public domain. The investigation may take time but there should be no delay in turning the spotlight on the overall approach to aviation safety. An investigation two years ago by The Economic Times, using RTI, unearthed that 98% of the airports did not even calibrate the critical Instrument Landing Systems in a timely manner. It's a pointer to a casual approach. The investigation also found that Shimla's tabletop airport did not have service roads to allow fire engines quick access in the event of an emergency. The government showcases the vibrancy of India's aviation market. It has made increasing the density of India's aviation network by using dormant regional airports a key policy plank. Yet, given the existing approach to safety, there are legitimate questions here for the aviation regulator DGCA and the ministry. Separately, there have been reports of near misses at different airports. And amidst the Covid-induced aviation slowdown, there are concerns whether maintenance has also slowed down. Safety culture really has to change for the better. One way to ensure this is greater accountability and another is to be transparent about safety audit reports. This will create pressure from stakeholders to improve standards. https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/blogs/toi-editorials/tabletop-tragedy-kozhikode-accident-should-lead-to-a-more-stringent-approach-to-aviation-safety/ Back to Top Metrojet Keeps Busy with Engine Swaps, Disinfections Hong Kong-based Metrojet's MRO station has been keeping busy with engine changes and aircraft disinfections in the first half of the year, the company said. Specifically, from January to July its certified Rolls-Royce MRO has performed multiple engine changes on various types of Gulfstream twinjets equipped with BR725/710 and Tay 611-8C engines, in addition to scheduled maintenance inspections. Also, the Covid-19 pandemic has made aircraft disinfections a priority concern for its customers, prompting an increase in demand for that type of work. Metrojet's disinfection work is performed in accordance with Gulfstream MOL-20-0005 or Bombardier AW000-25-001 REV2 guidelines. "Our professional and priority response to clients' maintenance and operational requests earns our MRO an exceptional reputation," said Metrojet CEO Gary Dolski. "We have been taking great care of our clients' valuable assets and we remain very appreciative of the support provided by our business partners and customers throughout China and the Asia-Pacific region during these most challenging times." https://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/business-aviation/2020-08-10/metrojet-keeps-busy-engine-swaps-disinfections Back to Top IAF men, meteorologists, psychologists to probe Air India Express mishap Retired officials of the Indian Air Force (IAF) are likely to be roped in to investigate the Air India Express plane crash in Kozhikode - one of the worst air disasters in India in a decade. Air India Express AIX1344 was a repatriation flight under the Vande Bharat programme for Indians stranded overseas amid travel restrictions brought on by the Covid-19 pandemic. Senior government officials said while the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) will be the regulatory body in charge of the investigation, the government wants external experts to be part of the committee to reinstate public confidence. Sources aware of the process said the government has zeroed in on four retired and serving officials of the IAF and sought their consent. The Ministry of Civil Aviation has also written to the defence ministry to relieve the officials of their fixed duties during the course of enquiry. Business Standard has learnt that among the officials approached are Air Marshall B Suresh, who recently retired as Chief of Western Command, Air Marshall Rajeev Sachdeva, Deputy Chief of Integrated Defence Staff and some officials from the Aviation Research Centre - the air intelligence wing of the government. The government will prefer someone who has experience flying the Boeing 737. The IAF has a few Being 737s in its fleet for ferrying VIPs, including the President of India. "This is the worst air crash in a decade. While AAIB officials have been investigating accidents since 2017, there were no fatalities in those cases. Simultaneously, there is a need to restore public confidence in the investigation, as the aviation industry passes through its worst phase due to Covid-19," said a government official. Along with IAF officials, the AAIB will also reach out to experienced private sector executives, meteorologists, and aviation psychologists to be part of the probe. The regulations of International Civil Aviation Organization mandate that accident investigators have a practical background in aviation as a foundation on which to develop investigation skills. "These can be by working as a professional pilot, an aeronautical engineer or aircraft maintenance engineer. Other specialised areas of aviation that could provide useful experience include management, operations, airworthiness, air traffic services, meteorology, and human factors," stated the manual on aircraft accident investigation. Several people who have been part of serious aircraft accidents in India said looking at the experience of pilots, it is necessary to focus on human factors to determine whether or not there was an error by the pilots. Aircraft Commander Deepak Sathe, a former fighter pilot with the IAF, had 10,000 hours of flying experience on the Boeing 737. Of those, he flew 6,662 hours as commander. Sathe had landed at the challenging airport 27 times, including more than 10 times this year. His co-pilot, 32-year-old Akhilesh Kumar, had experience of 1,728 hours of flying the aircraft. https://www.business-standard.com/article/current-affairs/iaf-men-meteorologists-psychologists-to-probe-air-india-express-mishap-120081001282_1.html Back to Top Cathay Pacific strips seats from 777 aircraft for cargo After operating thousands of cargo-only passenger flights since late March, Cathay Pacific has deployed two widebody aircraft with seats removed to maximize floor loading of cargo in the passenger cabin. The Hong Kong-based airline removed the economy and premium economy seats from two Boeing 777 passenger planes to create more space for personal protection equipment and high-value products, it said in a cargo-oriented newsletter published Friday. Cathay Pacific began flying the modified aircraft at the end of July to Australia, which has suffered from limited air shipping supply. It is participating in Australia's International Freight Assistance Mechanism, which the government created to help agricultural exporters get products to market after airlines closed passenger networks because of the coronavirus pandemic. The emergency program, which has been extended until year's end, coordinates and subsidizes shipments through a select group of freight forwarders and airlines. The seatless aircraft, which were reconfigured by HAECO in Xiamen, China, can carry 12 extra tons of cargo, according to Cathay Pacific. The overhaul and maintenance company also modified the seat track and marked lashing points for securing cargo to the floor The Hong Kong Civil Aviation Department requires the airline to place cargo in customized bags made from a fire-retardant material that helps keep the cargo intact. Other airlines are using "seat bags" to protect aircraft interiors from boxes placed in seats, but this is the first known example of an airline receiving an operating exemption for floor loading with bagged cargo. Each bag is secured to the floor with a net. Safety requirements include keeping the front and rear seat rows in place to protect the doors and bulkheads from cargo that might shift during turbulence. Two or three airline employees accompany the cargo in the cabin to periodically check on the cargo and respond to any potential fire. All aviation authorities that allow airlines to operate with cabin cargo require cargo marshals because cabins aren't equipped with fire-suppression systems. Dangerous goods are never allowed in the upper deck. Redeploying idle aicraft for dedicated cargo service has been lucrative for passenger airlines. Cathay Pacific is late to the game of removing seats from passenger planes to create more space for cargo. Air Canada and Lufthansa did so in April. The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration last month granted U.S. carriers the authority to strip cabins of seats for cargo purposes. But Cathay Pacific is a combination carrier with a fleet of 20 Boeing 747 freighters at its disposal and likely didn't feel the urgency of pure passenger airlines to increase cargo capacity. Cathay Pacific, which has been carrying medical supplies and other goods in seats and overhead baggage compartments since May, developed special procedures for loading cargo on cabin floors. Warehouse workers put the cargo bags in half-sized containers in the order they will be positioned in the plane. The containers are towed to the aircraft and unloaded one box at a time into hydraulic catering service trucks that are lifted to the rear doors of the aircraft. Ground handlers then wheel boxes into the cabin, position them according to the load plan and zip and secure the bags. Cabin loading takes much more time and manpower than loading a pure freighter with containers and pallets. Cathay Pacific estimates the load time at about three hours, but says it hopes to get faster as it refines the handling process. Alex Leung, the cargo products manager, said Cathay could convert more planes to seat-less freighters if demand persists, especially as the need for pandemic supplies collides with the peak shipping season this fall. Cathay is only operating about 10% of its normal passenger schedule this month and has warned it expects to record a $1.3 billion loss for the first half of 2020. https://www.freightwaves.com/news/cathay-pacific-strips-seats-from-777-aircraft-for-cargo Back to Top Bell Unveils New Manufacturing Technology Center FORT WORTH, Texas - Bell Textron Inc. unveiled on Aug. 10 its new 140,000-square-foot Manufacturing Technology Center (MTC) in Fort Worth, Texas, the company said in a release. The MTC is a proving ground where Bell will test and refine technologies and processes - demonstrating manufacturing readiness and ability to successfully build and support Future Vertical Lift (FVL) aircraft. The facility provides capabilities that span all of Bell's core manufacturing of rotor and drive systems, critical infrastructure and final assembly. Since establishing a footprint in North Texas in 1951, Bell's facilities have been a hub for new technology in aviation. Many milestones, including first flight of the XV-15, V-22, 609 and 407, took place in the DFW metroplex. Building FVL aircraft will require the right blend of investment in manufacturing technology and a quality workforce, as well as strong partnerships with the state and community, to deliver an affordable, capable and reliable aircraft for the warfighter. "The MTC is the next step in successfully deploying new manufacturing technologies and processes into Bell's future factories," said Glenn Isbell, vice president of rapid prototyping and manufacturing innovation for Bell Textron. "These future factories working together with our teammates and suppliers, will be designed to enable high-quality, high-rate production of the Bell V-280 Valor, Bell 360 Invictus and other future aircraft." Digital connectivity and integration form the backbone of the MTC. The facility will be monitored and controlled by a network of IT, Internet of Things (IoT) and cybersecurity systems that manage the inflow and outflow of materials, as well as the movement of activity throughout the factory. By deploying a networked software infrastructure, the MTC will produce a digital twin of itself that gives everyone a common operating picture of the building, the equipment and the processes. https://seapowermagazine.org/bell-unveils-new-manufacturing-technology-center/ Back to Top Pakistan's aviation regulator sends show cause notice to 193 pilots over 'dubious' licences Islamabad: Pakistan's aviation regulator has issued show-cause notices to 193 pilots suspected of having "dubious" flying licence after completing the scrutiny process of 262 pilots in the wake of a major scandal, according to a media report on Monday. The scandal over pilot licences in Pakistan emerged from an investigation into the crash of a Pakistan International Airlines plane on May 22 in Karachi that killed 97 people. The inquiry determined that nearly one-third of Pakistan's pilots cheated on exams but still received licences from the country's Civil Aviation Authority (CAA). The CAA was tasked by the Supreme Court on July 21 to immediately complete an inquiry against pilots of the national carrier, Pakistan International Airlines (PIA), following revelation by the aviation minister about fake documents of scores of pilots. The CAA after completing the scrutiny process of the record of 262 pilots issued show-cause notices to 193 of them, the Dawn News reported. The CAA inquiry board found 850 pilots with suspected credentials out of which 262 licences were found "dubious". The board had grounded all the 262 pilots, while the federal Cabinet had approved cancellation of the licences of 28 pilots out of these 262, the report said, quoting sources. Of the 193 pilots, who were issued show-cause notices, 140 have submitted their replies and they are being called in batches by the inquiry committee to explain their positions. A senior official said notices to the remaining pilots could not be sent because there were "technical mistakes" in the names of some pilots and their registration or reference numbers, which are being resolved. A five-member committee constituted by the Aviation Division to investigate the pilots' cases has been scrutinising the credentials of pilots. The Aviation Division has referred to the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) the cases against five CAA officials, who had been suspended for their alleged involvement in issuing dubious licences. It has also sought FIA's help against the CAA's information technology experts involved in the examination scam. The scandal prompted the US in July to downgrade the safety rating of Pakistan's aviation system and block the country's airlines from launching air services to America. The US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) said it put Pakistan in category-2 rating, which means airlines from Pakistan can't start new flights to the US. Also, US airlines can't sell seats on Pakistani flights, a practice called code-sharing that is common among other international airlines. Currently there are no regular scheduled flights between the US and Pakistan. The European Union last month also banned PIA from flying to Europe for at least six months. https://theprint.in/world/pakistans-aviation-regulator-sends-show-cause-notice-to-193-pilots-over-dubious-licences/478680/ Back to Top A digital revolution is changing the airline industry Aviation is at an unprecedented crossroads. The global shutdown required to halt the spread of coronavirus largely grounded the airline industry, and it faces a long road to full recovery. As the industry examines the options to aid its route forward, digital solutions are expected to come to the fore.1 In 2017, a flight from London Gatwick to Barbados was delayed by more than five hours because the plane didn't have enough toilet paper. The incident also delayed the return flight by six hours, with a potential cost to the airline of up to £290,000 in compensation for passengers.2 That's far from the only incident. Other flights have been held up by malfunctioning coffee makers, blocked toilets and faulty baggage loaders. Delays of this sort are expensive: according to surveys conducted with airlines, every extra minute a plane stays on the ground between flights can lead to up to $40 in additional costs. And, in such an interconnected industry, one late flight can have a serious knock-on effect. Research from Boston Consulting Group has found that one late aircraft in the early morning can cause as many as 70 delayed flights by the end of the day.3 Small technical problems and delays are estimated to cost airlines $8.3 billion a year in the US alone, according to a report commissioned by the Federal Aviation Administration - but digital technology can help. Airline passengers have experienced huge changes in recent years, from quick and easy online ticket purchases, through to mobile boarding passes that let them sail through to the departure gate with just their smartphone. But behind the scenes, the airline industry has been much slower to adopt digital innovations, in part due to safety concerns and the investment required. According to Shell Aviation's head of operations Thomas de Boer, the aviation industry still relies on "antiquated processes and technology" - an observation that is even more noticeable in the current environment. "More than ever, the industry needs efficiency. It seems counterintuitive that, in a touchscreen world, aspects of a process as essential to air travel as refuelling still involve a pen and paper," he says. That's finally changing, however, and new digital technologies can help more flights run on time, improving efficiency and creating a better experience for flyers. Shell invested $962m in research and development in 20194 and is one of the few energy companies with a dedicated R&D centre for aviation. This can help it keep ahead of the curve when it comes to technological developments in ground operations for aviation. Clipboards and paper are being replaced by cloud-based computer systems and tablets for a paperless future where important information can be transferred instantly and securely, minimising unnecessary journeys and saving time for airport staff - and for passengers. These remote, contactless processes also cater to the greater social distancing measures that will be required in the new reality of airport operations. For example, staff on the "apron" - the area of the airport where planes are refuelled, parked and boarded - are being equipped with tablets such as Shell's SkyPad, which replaces paper-based systems with real-time cloud computing to eliminate human error and wasted time during refuelling. The technology is being used by refuelling operators at 141 airports in 23 countries. Instead of receiving paper instructions about how much fuel to supply to a particular flight, and having to manually get approval or follow up on any discrepancies, teams on the ground can now get accurate, up to date and secure information from a tablet. "By harnessing technology at the most pivotal point of refuelling and replacing manual, paper-based systems and processes, this helps us to tap into the unlocked potential to maximise efficiency and accuracy across all aspects, from refuelling to billing," says de Boer. Switching refuelling from being paper-based to the cloud also allows data about the process to be collected, analysed and improved. Shell Aviation's OTP Analytics (OTP stands for "On Time Performance") collects data on airline arrival, refuelling and departure times, and compares them to the schedule, combining external flight databases with information about refuelling performance. By analysing the data, Shell Aviation - which manages refuelling on thousands of flights a day - can better allocate its resources on the apron, and work with other organisations to make sure that more flights are refuelled on time. "This advanced data analytics tool enables us to track every single flight versus schedule and to understand and improve our refuelling performance, and adjust where necessary," explains de Boer. In an industry where every second counts, this can have a huge impact on performance. Digital technologies such as OTP Analytics can also help airlines by mitigating the knock-on effect of delays. This is referred to by airlines as their "catch-up rate" - the percentage of the time they're able to turn around a late-arriving aircraft in time for the next flight to depart as scheduled. As aircraft return to the skies, this measurement will become more important than ever for airlines. Ultimately, making flying more efficient is going to be vital to the industry's recovery. "Digital technologies can play a key role in the path to greater efficiency for the industry," says de Boer. "As we continue to respond to the unprecedented challenges that the industry faces, this will be enabled by both digitalisation and collaboration." https://www.wired.co.uk/article/digital-revolution-airline-industry-shell Back to Top FlightSmart Selected to Participate in the AFWERX 2020 Challenge FlightSafety International announces that AFWERX has selected FlightSmart to participate in the Accelerating Pilots to Combat-Ready Aviators Challenge 2020. FlightSmart was chosen from among more than 200 entrants. FlightSmart leverages AI and Machine Learning, harnessing the data-rich training environment from classroom to full motion simulators. The objectives of the Accelerating Pilots to Combat-Ready Aviators Challenge include improving the efficiency and effectiveness of combat-ready aviators, creating a more effective Air Force for the good of national security, and improving communication and collaboration across pilot training programs. FlightSmart technology delivers objective and intelligent assessments of pilot performance throughout the training environment, directly aligned with AFWERX goals. FlightSafety developed FlightSmart in conjunction with IBM, a world leader in advanced analytics and AI. "FlightSmart collects and analyzes pilot performance data using advanced analytics that are presented on a real-time web-based dashboard," said Bert Sawyer, Director, Strategic Management. "It employs Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning technology to capture insights using evidence-based training methodologies, and then predicts the best training approach to learning by providing instructors with a comprehensive understanding of a pilot's strengths and weaknesses." FlightSmart algorithms incorporate rapid prototyping that are easily tailored to meet customer demands and promote individualized training. FlightSmart is adaptable to a wide variety of organizations seeking objective analysis of individual or overall performance in live, virtual, synthetic and constructive training environments. If chosen as the challenge winner, FlightSafety will work with Air Combat Command (ACC), Air Education and Training Command (AETC) and Global Strike Command (AFGSC) to develop a solution that leverages existing and new data for content development, and proves the efficacy of military aviation training and development. https://www.aviationpros.com/education-training/flight-training/press-release/21149530/flightsafety-international-flightsmart-flightsafetys-integrated-pilot-performance-evaluation-and-training-tool-selected-to-participate-in-the-afwerx-2020-challenge Back to Top Gogo Pursues Sale of Commercial Aviation Business Reporting its quarterly results this morning, Gogo revealed losses of $86 million. The in-flight connectivity provider sees a recovery on the horizon, though the company expects to look very different by the time that arrives. Gogo is aggressively pursuing options to sell its commercial aviation operations. During a conference call to report its second quarter earnings today, the company confirmed that it "launched a formal process this summer to evaluate the strategic options" for this division of its business. According to Oakleigh Thorne, Gogo's president and CEO, the company received multiple inbound requests and talks are advancing. "It was an extraordinary quarter for all the wrong reasons. If you sell internet on airplanes and no one's on the plane it is tough to make a living," Thorne said. He also pointed out that over the past two years, several internal structural changes were implemented to ease the split when the right deal is struck. There is no firm timeline for a deal and this is not the first time such conversations have progressed, but it looks far more likely to come to fruition this time around. Revenue was down 55% overall at the company in the second quarter of this year, compared to Q2 2019. The split between the company's commercial (~-70%) and business (~-20%) sectors shows just how different the recovery pace will be for each. Business aviation saw a 90% drop in connected flights by mid-April but recovered to down just 15% by the end of June. Thorne noted that roughly 40% of business aviation customers either suspended or reduced service levels earlier this year. Now 90% of those have returned, choosing either their original or a higher priced plan. For commercial airlines, the recovery process is much slower and the return of revenues will match that pace. The bulk of Gogo's revenue in the commercial aviation segment comes from in-air purchases but there aren't enough people flying today to make the numbers work out in Gogo's favor. The company reported that the North American portion of its commercial aviation segment is producing roughly 30% of its historical daily revenue, similar to TSA's passenger count numbers, which are tracking at around 25% of 2019 numbers. Internationally the focus is also on domestic markets, with Brazil (GOL Linhas Aéreas Inteligentes), Japan (Japan Airlines), and Australia (Virgin Australia) driving the recovery as long-haul operations remain largely absent. Looking to the future, Gogo's 5G network remains on track, even though the company is trimming some spending today. The bulk of the current investment is going toward the development of the technology and working with partners to test the necessary hardware. Those efforts are mostly continuing unabated. The major capital expense - roughly $50 million - will hit in 2021 as new hardware must be deployed to the towers. This expense can be further delayed if necessary, but Thorne expects that it will happen as expected, with the upgraded system online to support the business aviation segment as previously announced. https://apex.aero/2020/08/10/gogo-considers-selling-commerical-aviation-business Back to Top MagniX Sees Regional Operators as Electric Aviation Pioneers MagniX has reported further progress with flight testing of its proposed electric versions of the Cessna Caravan and DHC-2 Beaver utility aircraft. The company told AIN it is on track to achieve FAA Part 33 certification for the battery-powered propulsion systems by late 2021 or early 2022 and that supplemental type certificates (STCs) could be in place for both programs in time for aircraft to enter commercial service by the end of 2022. At the same time, MagniX is continuing to work with its sister company Eviation Aircraft to provide the electric motors for the new Alice fixed-wing aircraft. Following a fire during ground testing and delays due to Covid-19 pandemic restrictions, the first prototype of the aircraft is now expected to make an initial flight in early 2021, according to MagniX CEO Roei Ganzarski. U.S.-based MagniX is focusing its efforts on providing electric propulsion for new and existing fixed-wing aircraft that could fly sectors of between 50 and 1,000 miles. For now, Ganzarski explained, it is not seeking to provide propulsion for new eVTOL aircraft because it doesn't see the strong commercial case for scaling down its Magni250 and -500 motors, which currently offer continuous power of 280 and 560 kW, respectively. Many eVTOL aircraft designs require multiple electric motors, each with power of around 40 or 50 kW. On May 28, MagniX and its partner AeroTec achieved a first flight with the eCaravan prototype, which is a modified version of the Cessna 208B Grand Caravan powered by the Magni500. Flight testing has continued at Grant County International Airport in Moses Lake, Washington, and Ganzarski said that it has since become the first electric aircraft of its type to fly at an altitude of 8,000 feet. This has allowed engineers to evaluate how the electrical components perform in an unpressurized environment. Each flight test has lasted a minimum of 30 minutes, with distances flown gradually being increased by unspecified amounts. The development team has been experimenting with various rates of climb and descent and also with varying power levels. https://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/air-transport/2020-08-10/magnix-sees-regional-operators-electric-aviation-pioneers Back to Top SpaceX Starlink Tracker: Every Satellite Launched and How to See Them in the Sky After weeks of delay and multiple canceled attempts, SpaceX finally launched its latest batch of Starlink satellites early Friday morning from the Kennedy Space Center, adding another 57 satellites to the rocket company's growing internet-beaming constellation. SpaceX's Friday launch sent up the 10th batch of Starlink satellites, a number that does not include two "Tintin" test satellites launched in February 2018. To date, the Elon Musk-owned space company has deployed 595 Starlink satellites into Earth orbit. About 500 of them are functioning, making the constellation large enough to provide internet service to some locations on Earth. Select users in the U.S. and Canada will be able to test the service as soon as this summer, SpaceX recently said. The company plans to provide basic internet access in North America by the end of this year and achieve global coverage, which would require about 14 more launches, by 2021. SpaceX has planned two more launches in August and a third mission in September. Here's what they've done so far: Past Starlink Missions and Payload Mission Tintin on February 22, 2018: two test Starlink satellites, Tintin A and Tintin B Mission v0.9 on May 24, 2019: 60 Starlink satellites Mission v1.0 L1 on November 11, 2019: 60 Starlink satellites Mission v1.0 L2 on January 7, 2020: 60 Starlink satellites Mission v1.0 L3 on January 29, 2020: 60 Starlink satellites Mission v1.0 L4 on February 17, 2020: 60 Starlink satellites Mission v1.0 L5 on March 18, 2020: 60 Starlink satellites Mission v1.0 L6 on April 22, 2020: 60 Starlink satellites Mission v1.0 L7 on June 4, 2020: 60 Starlink satellites (including a test "VisorSat" that wears a sunshade to reduce brightness.) Mission v1.0 L8 on June 13, 2020: 58 Starlink satellites plus three Planet Labs, SkySats 16-18 Earth-observation satellites as part of SpaceX's new rideshare program. Mission v1.0 L9 on August 7, 2020: 57 Starlink satellites plus two geospatial intelligence satellites (BlackSky Global 7 and 8) made by Spaceflight Industries, Inc. How to See Starlink Satellites in the Sky Early in the Starlink mission, the brightness of those satellites caused concern for astronomers because they would sometimes block scientific observation. To address that problem, SpaceX added a sunlight-blocking visor on top of all satellites starting June 13. That first batch of "VisorSat" are still reaching their operational orbit. The 57 satellites in Friday's payload are also equipped with visors. That means only satellites launched before June 13 have a chance of being seen with the naked eye. As with most stargazing activities, your best chance to see Starlink is about 30 minutes before sunrise or 30 minutes after sunset. They should appear as a string of pearls moving across the night sky. There are multiple Starlink tracking apps and sites, including Star Walk's Satellite Tracker, Heavens-Above.com, and CalSky, that will tell you when and where to look depending on your location. https://observer.com/2020/08/spacex-starlink-satellite-launch-tracker-how-to-see-in-sky/ Curt Lewis