August 20, 2020 - No. 062 In This Issue SiriusXM Aviation Weather & Audio Available with Purchase of Bell Aircraft Gevo, Praj to commercialize sustainable aviation fuel in India Airports Push for New Contactless Tech and Automation as Budgets Shrink Is greener aviation set for take-off? PlaneEnglish aviation communication simulator provides new way to help pilots Space Florida Invests in New Home of Aerion Supersonic Garmin Announces Certification of the G1000 NXI Upgrade in the Piper Meridian Agencies Release Advisory on "Counter-Drone" Technology Regulations FAA Continues Drone Integration Initiatives SpaceX Sets Rocket-Reuse Milestone With Satellite Launch SiriusXM Aviation Weather & Audio Available with Purchase of Bell Aircraft NEW YORK, Aug. 18, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- SiriusXM® and Bell, a leading manufacturer of helicopters and a pioneer in the advancement of aviation technology, announced today that Bell will become the first helicopter OEM to provide its customers with a three-month subscription to SiriusXM's satellite-delivered aviation weather, information, and audio programming services with the purchase of a new rotor wing aircraft. A three-month subscription to SiriusXM's satellite-delivered aviation weather, information, and audio programming services are available on the following popular Bell models - Bell 407GX, Bell 429, and the Bell 525. Bell customers will receive three months of SiriusXM's top tier of Aviation Weather and Information service, plus the SiriusXM All Access programming package, which offers the full spectrum of SiriusXM audio entertainment. SiriusXM Aviation Weather and audio services are available in the continental United States and Canada. "We are very pleased to expand the SiriusXM Aviation Weather and Information trial program to Bell, an innovative and highly-respected leader in the industry, as the first participating helicopter manufacturer," said Dave Wasby, VP, Aviation, Marine and Music for Business for SiriusXM. "With SiriusXM Aviation, Bell will provide their pilots the ability to receive valuable weather features and information that are not always available via ground based networks, and updated data at a faster refresh rate. Plus with SiriusXM's All Access package, pilots can enjoy the best in audio entertainment in the cockpit for the duration of their flights, as well as outside the aircraft with the SiriusXM app." Bell helicopters come optionally equipped with Garmin GDL69 avionics to deliver SiriusXM Aviation Weather features including: High-Resolution Composite Radar updating every 2.5 minutes Surface Visibility NEXRAD Storm Cell Attributes 2.5 minute updates for Lightning strike locations: cloud-to-cloud and cloud-to-ground Base Reflectivity Radar Plus other capabilities that ADS-B (Automatic Dependent Surveillance - Broadcast) weather doesn't offer including: No line-of-sight restrictions No altitude limitations No gaps in coverage coast-to-coast Weather & Info from taxi to landing SiriusXM All Access is SiriusXM's most extensive offering, featuring Howard Stern, SiriusXM's wide variety of commercial-free music, plus live sports, talk programming, comedy and more. All Access subscribers get satellite-delivered channels in their aircraft, plus streaming access to SiriusXM programming outside their aircraft on the SiriusXM app, online at player.siriusxm.com, and on a wide variety of connected devices and speakers. The SiriusXM app also delivers multiple additional streaming-only features like SiriusXM's Personalized Stations Powered by Pandora, SiriusXM video, and more than 100 Xtra Music Channels that deliver the right music for your mood or moment. About Bell Thinking above and beyond is what we do. For more than 80 years, we've been reimagining the experience of flight - and where it can take us. We are pioneers. We were the first to break the sound barrier and to certify a commercial helicopter. We were a part of NASA's first lunar mission and brought advanced tiltrotor systems to market. Today, we're defining the future of on-demand mobility. Headquartered in Fort Worth, Texas - as a wholly-owned subsidiary of Textron Inc., - we have strategic locations around the globe. And with nearly one quarter of our workforce having served, helping our military achieve their missions is a passion of ours. Above all, our breakthrough innovations deliver exceptional experiences to our customers. Efficiently. Reliably. And always, with safety at the forefront. About SiriusXM Sirius XM Holdings Inc. (NASDAQ: SIRI) is the leading audio entertainment company in the U.S., and the premier programmer and platform for subscription and digital advertising-supported audio products. Pandora, a subsidiary of SiriusXM, is the largest ad-supported audio entertainment streaming service in the U.S. SiriusXM and Pandora together reach more than 100 million people each month with their audio products. SiriusXM, through Sirius XM Canada Holdings, Inc., also offers satellite radio and audio entertainment in Canada. In addition to its audio entertainment businesses, SiriusXM offers connected vehicle services to automakers. For more about SiriusXM, please go to: www.siriusxm.com. https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/siriusxm-aviation-weather--audio-available-with-purchase-of-bell-aircraft-301113479.html Back to Top Gevo, Praj to commercialize sustainable aviation fuel in India Gevo Inc. and Praj Industries Ltd. have announced that they have signed a binding, definitive master framework agreement (MFA) to collaborate on providing renewable, low carbon, low particulate, sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) and renewable premium gasoline in India and neighboring countries. This follows an earlier announcement in April 2019 between both parties regarding the commercialization of renewable isobutanol, SAF and renewable premium gasoline. Gevo will license its technology and Praj will provide technology, plant equipment and EPC services to sugar mills and ethanol plants to produce renewable isobutanol from 1G feedstock (cane juice, cane molasses, sugar syrup, etc.) and 2G feedstock (cellulosic biomass like straws, bagasse, etc.) The renewable isobutanol will be aggregated and transferred to various refineries. Gevo will also license its technology and Praj will provide technology, plant equipment and EPC services to refineries for converting renewable isobutanol into Sustainable Aviation Fuel and premium gasoline through the ASTM-approved pathway of Alcohol-to-Jet (ATJ). According to Apte Research Group, University of California, Berkley, particle air pollution in South Asia ranks among the most severe in the world. In India alone, hundreds of millions of people are exposed to PM2.5 concentrations, an order of magnitude greater than World Health Organization guidelines. The use of SAF, blended with aviation turbine fuel, can contribute significantly to mitigating the risk associated with particulate air pollution. SAF should find applications in commercial aviation as well as in the defense sector in India. Praj and Gevo supplied the sample of SAF produced by Gevo to the Indian Air Force (IAF). The Indian Air Force tested the sample and found it to be meeting the desired specifications as per relevant ASTM standards. Further tests are underway at IAF. "Jet fuel and gasoline made with our technology are made from renewable resources, reduce greenhouse gasses, and eliminates particulates," said Patrick Gruber, CEO of Gevo. "We are pleased to be working with Praj, moving down the commercialization path and that the Indian Air Force has the vision to see that the domestic supply of jet fuel makes sense. We also recognize that products like ours have the potential to reduce air pollution." Speaking on the occasion, Pramod Chaudhari, Executive Chairman, Praj Industries, said, "We are happy to partner with Gevo, a leading renewable chemicals and advanced biofuels company to expand the commercial-scale use of SAF in India. Praj's enfinityTM technology under Bio-MobilityTM platform, combined with Gevo's ATJ, will create a winning solution to address the growing need of sustainable decarbonization. This will also help India in achieving energy security, reducing import bill and meeting climate change goals." Pursuant to the terms of the MFA, Gevo is providing a license to Praj, which will allow the latter to carry out basic engineering and design package services, supply equipment, build plants and use jointly developed process design package to produce renewable isobutanol for plant operators who are licensed by Gevo. In addition, Gevo is also providing a license to Praj, which will allow the latter to carry out basic engineering and design package services, supply equipment and build plants to convert renewable isobutanol into renewable gasoline and SAF for plant operators who are licensed by Gevo. A copy of the MFA has been filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission on Form 8-K. http://www.biomassmagazine.com/articles/17285/gevo-praj-to-commercialize-sustainable-aviation-fuel-in-india Back to Top Airports Push for New Contactless Tech and Automation as Budgets Shrink As airports become resigned to more months of depressed demand, they balance competing impulses. Many want to invest in technology to spur demand. But they face shrunken budgets alongside swollen costs for masks, health screening, and extra cleaning. To help airports spend wisely, the sector last week launched the Airport Health Accreditation program. The effort aims to harmonize global protocols and ensure measurable progress by airports for the health and welfare of travelers and staff. On Monday, the United Nations' aviation agency International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) threw its support behind the accreditation program. Some airports are prioritizing or ring-fencing tech spending to automate the compliance with health guidelines. "The pandemic forces a review of priorities to ensure available funds were being spent on what's needed most right now," said Ian Law, chief information officer of San Francisco International airport (SFO). "SFO chose to defer some more routine planned expenditures, like upgrading some applications, in favor of concepts that have a more immediate need," Law said. "Also, there are new concepts that need evaluation now, like tech for temperature screening and virtual queueing." Executives prefer tech that will lay the groundwork for an eventual rebound in passenger traffic. "I'm expecting to see an advance in the expenditure on certain technology as a way to bring the passengers back and improve long-term costs by reducing capex [capital expenditure]," said Luis Felipe de Oliveira, director general of Airport Council International (ACI World). COSTS OF CONTACTLESS TECH Making every step in the process as contactless as possible is a shared priority. Yet the costs can add up. At a large airport, automation may cost as much as $75 million, estimated ACI World. Factors in the cost include whether an airport can upgrade its existing equipment, whether it needs bespoke software, and whether it has adequate staff to install and support the tools. Airports generally have fatter financial reserves than airlines do. Large airports have tended to drive their earnings more on the volume of leisure travel than corporate travel, so they can invest with more confidence than some large airlines might in the next year. For a small airport, the cost for automation and a move to touchless processing might be between $1 million and $20 million, estimated ACI World - which defined "small" as meaning having an airport with less than 10 million passengers a year in ordinary times. Prices depend on the size of the project, the sophistication of the solutions, and if an airport already has some automation in place. "You have to do your homework," said Pittsburgh International Airport CEO Christina Cassotis. "We rejected one commercial product that studied used AI [artificial intelligence] to look at crowd congestion because it only provided updates within three to five minutes, often had display problems for us, and cost about $1 million just to cover one or two checkpoints." The airport eventually found a predictive solution that was faster, more accurate, and cheaper. "In Pittsburgh we're lucky because of a technology ecosystem that's been created around Carnegie University has let us implemented some solutions at little to no cost," Cassotis said. FRANCE'S SAFE TRAVEL CHALLENGE To respond to the pandemic, large French travel companies held a competition for vendors to pitch their best solutions. Groupe ADP, operator of Paris Charles de Gaulle and many other airports worldwide, Air France, the national railway operator SNCF, Accor Group, and others selected a handful of winners out of more than 300 entries. Between now and September, Paris's Charles de Gaulle airport will try a proof-of-concept of the solution of one of the winners, Caspr, which adds a solution to heating and air ventilation systems that promises to reduce air and surface pathogens during the workday. Groupe ADP is testing this system at the arrivals area at Terminal 2e and a baggage processing area at Charles de Gaulle. "The pandemic has obliged us to adopt a new long-term focus on monitoring the well-being of our passengers, not only from a flow management perspective but also in terms of their quality of their comfort and mood," said Sébastien Couturier, head of innovation and corporate venture at Groupe ADP. "Data shows if people walk into a retail store and feel it's too hot, they're less likely to buy. So there's a practical aspect to this, too." AIRPORT AUTOMATION SPEEDS UP At larger, private-run airports, look for more touchless kiosks, including for health screening, such as answering questions about one's medical condition. United Airlines said it has been rolling out touchless kiosks that print baggage tags after you scan a boarding pass code. Some airports are speeding up their spending on "touchless" check-in and bag drop. Indian airports have in recent months adopted a contactless process for handling checked baggage that exceeds weight restrictions. Paris's Charles de Gaulle is testing voice-activated elevators to reduce the need for people to touch surfaces. Cleaning tech has seen an obvious surge in investment. Using robots that shine ultraviolet (UV) light to disinfect is becoming popular. Pittsburgh International added earlier this year autonomous robots with UV light technology for cleaning floors, developed by Carnegie Robotics. Less obvious and behind the scenes, some airports are creating data hubs that use artificial intelligence and predictive analysis to prevent crowding. Groupe ADP, for example, is repurposing its tech systems that use computer vision and sensor-based systems to track passenger flows to make sure that passengers aren't bunching into crowds. It will use "3D semantic cameras" from Outsight which can help the airport identify elevated body temperatures in passengers and staff and make sure people are complying with face mask usage and social distancing rules. Digital identity management solutions are a hot topic, too. Some airports are now required to not only handle passport data but also, in some cases, passengers' coronavirus test results. "There are some question marks regarding whether governments will be fast enough on approving the implementation of new technologies for border control and biometrics like facial recognition," said Felipe of ACI World. SPEEDING UP SOME TECH SPENDING The pandemic has accelerated tech spending plans that airports had already planned. San Francisco International closed one of its international concourses in April due to decreased passenger and flight activity and used the opportunity to improve the Wi-Fi coverage in that area without disrupting operations due to lower passenger volumes. That concourse will reopen on September 1. "In general, technologies that can enable a more touch-free airport experience were underway pre-pandemic, but the pandemic has accelerated them," Law said. Some travel executives see the coronavirus pandemic as a once-in-a-century meteor strike. But others believe that epidemics are like cyber-security attacks in that they occur periodically but may become a fixture of global life. "One of our values as an airport is to help the world test responses," said Couturier. "An airport can be a territory of expression for new technologies. It's like a city, but it lets you experiment with new solutions in a controlled way." Tags: airport technology, airports, airports council international, contactless, coronavirus recovery https://skift.com/2020/08/19/airports-push-for-new-contactless-tech-and-automation-as-budgets-shrink/ Back to Top Is greener aviation set for take-off? The aviation industry is synonymous with producing high volumes of carbon emissions. In 2019, flights produced 915 million tonnes of carbon dioxide (CO2) according to the Air Transport Action Group (ATAG). As such, making air transport 'green' has become a top political priority, with the UK Government recently announcing funding to support these efforts. Here, Matthew Stone, chairman of Renovare Fuels, a specialist in carbon-neutral liquid fuels, explores how aviation can go green. 08/19/20, 02:12 PM | Other Energy Topics The volume of CO2 produced by air travel in 2019 accounted for approximately two per cent of the total 43 billion tonnes produced globally. This may seem like a comparatively low percentage, but when we consider the overall volume of emissions and the rate of climate change linked to it, it's still two per cent too much. Unfortunately, the number of flights conducted every year has increased consistently in the past few years. In fact, it's increased so much that a 2019 study by the International Council on Clean Transportation (ICCT) highlighted that aviation carbon emissions grew between 2013 and 2018 at a rate that was 70 per cent faster than was predicted. Although the COVID-19 response limited the amount of air journeys and thus curbed the emissions for 2020, it's time to find ways of improving the sustainability of aviation long-term. The aviation sector will have many issues to address due to the difficulties presented by COVID-19 and, in reality, we cannot expect sustainability to be the immediate priority of many in the sector. However, improved sustainability should continue to be a mid- and long-term goal. Even with these challenges, the need for this long-term change continues to be an industry talking point. It's reported that, following the first meeting of the UK's Department for Transport's (DfT) net zero board, international aviation and shipping will be included in the UK Government's net zero target in the coming years, driving a need for greener aviation. Each of these was likely an influencing factor behind the UK Government's Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy (BEIS) recently announcing £400 million funding for green aerospace research and technology. However, it's not only aerospace design engineers that can make aviation greener: end users can too. A few years ago, many airlines and users elected to follow the UN's Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation (CORSIA). There are several ways that aviation businesses can offset emissions, but perhaps one of the most impactful is to blend a portion of biofuels into their traditional fuel stock. Biofuels derived from waste offer significant value to airlines and aviation fuel users. Because the feedstock for the fuel can come from biodegradable waste products of other sectors including agriculture, it removes carbon from the environment during its growth, requires no additional energy input and does not compete with existing produce or crops. For second generation biofuels for aviation, such as those being developed by Renovare Fuels, this can provide an objectively carbon neutral source of fuel for end users. The best part is that using these fuels is as simple as partnering with the biofuel producer, easily creating sustainable fuel supply chains that significantly offsets emissions. This is one option for making aviation greener. While the BEIS is certainly right to address the need for continued research into technologies that can support better fuel economies, end users using biofuels for aviation to offset emissions is unquestionably beneficial. If we are to see green aviation take off in the near future, aviation fuel users can take key actions today to make overall emission levels decline. https://www.altenergymag.com/news/2020/08/19/is-greener-aviation-set-for-take-off/33658 Back to Top PlaneEnglish aviation communication simulator provides new way to help pilots WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - PlaneEnglish, a popular app-based aviation radio simulator that helps pilots become more proficient in communication, now has a co-pilot: a new companion manual that provides even more in-depth content so pilots can master the mic even faster. PlaneEnglish, a simulator created by three Purdue University alumni, is an app-based aviation radio simulator to help new pilots acquire radio communication proficiency by developing advanced skills in more realistic environments. The new training manual provides a detailed breakdown of aviation radio communications for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) and can be used as a guide so users can get the most out of the app. The manual offers greater detail, helpful illustrations, a glossary of phrases and aviation terms, standard radio procedures, and examples of common communication exchanges between pilots and air traffic control. "Aviation communication is one of the biggest sources of anxiety for pilots, especially those who train at smaller airports," said Muharrem Mane, one of the co-founders. "What our PlaneEnglish simulator has demonstrated is that learning effective radio communication is easy and actually fun if you break the process up into small steps and provide scenarios for practicing. Coupled with our new manual, PlaneEnglish not only builds up pilots' confidence in radio communication, it helps keep our aviation community safe." Mane, an alumnus of the School of Aeronautics and Astronautics; Eren Hadimioglu, an alumnus of the School of Aviation and Transportation Technology; and Sam Dickson, an alumnus of the Department of Computer Science, created and developed PlaneEnglish. The technology's simulator is used in dozens of airports across the U.S., and the team developed a version of the technology for civilian pilots. PlaneEnglish lessons guide users through simple and complicated interactions with air traffic control on every phase of flight from taxi out, to takeoff, to airspace entrance, to approaches, to taxi in. The PlaneEnglish team works out of the Purdue Research Park in West Lafayette, and the creators work closely with the Purdue Research Foundation as they develop their technology. About Purdue Research Foundation The Purdue Research Foundation is a private, nonprofit foundation created to advance the mission of Purdue University. Established in 1930, the foundation accepts gifts; administers trusts; funds scholarships and grants; acquires property; protects Purdue's intellectual property; and promotes entrepreneurial activities on behalf of Purdue. The foundation manages the Purdue Foundry, Purdue Office of Technology Commercialization, Purdue Research Park, Purdue Technology Centers and University Development Office. In 2020, the IPWatchdog Institute ranked Purdue third nationally in startup creation and in the top 20 for patents. The foundation received the 2019 Innovation and Economic Prosperity Universities Award for Place from the Association of Public and Land-grant Universities. For more information on licensing a Purdue innovation, contact the Purdue Office of Technology Commercialization at otcip@prf.org. For more information about involvement and investment opportunities in startups based on a Purdue innovation, contact the Purdue Foundry at foundry@prf.org. For more information about setting up a presence at Purdue, possibly in the Purdue Research Park or Discovery Park District, contact the PRF Economic Development Office at parksinfo@prf.org. https://www.purdue.edu/newsroom/releases/2020/Q3/planeenglish-aviation-communication-simulator-provides-new-way-to-help-pilots.html Back to Top Space Florida Invests in New Home of Aerion Supersonic EXPLORATION PARK and MELBOURNE, Fla., Aug. 20, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Space Florida is pleased to announce it has finalized a multi-million-dollar investment in Aerion Supersonic to accelerate the hiring of employees and development of the company's new state-of-the-art campus - Aerion Park - in Melbourne, Florida. A new development which will be powered by clean energy, Aerion Park will incorporate a new global headquarters and integrated campus for research, design, production and support of the company's supersonic aircraft. The new project represents a multi-year investment that is expected to generate at least 675 jobs in Florida by 2026. "This is a truly transformational project for Florida that changes the game both for high speed air transportation as well for advanced aerospace manufacturing in the state," said Frank DiBello, President and CEO of Space Florida. "Florida has a rich history in the aviation industry from the first commercial air passenger service and it will now host production of the world's first commercial supersonic business jet. The decision to locate design, engineering and manufacturing of this technologically advanced supersonic flight vehicle here in Florida is a testament to the growing strength and global recognition of the importance of Florida as a world-leading aerospace state. Space Florida is pleased to have provided financing, structure and development assistance to this project." Aerion will break ground on the new campus later this year and once complete, Aerion Park is expected to attract key aerospace suppliers within the supersonic technology ecosystem to bring business to Florida, creating additional roles for scientists, designers, engineers and aircraft builders. "We are excited to partner with the State of Florida, Space Florida, Brevard County and the local Melbourne community to create a sustainable supersonic future," said Aerion Chairman, President & CEO, Tom Vice. "As well as an incredible aerospace legacy, the Space Coast is now home to a unique cluster of innovative technology companies in aviation and space. Backed by an excellent education system, a significant engineering and manufacturing talent pool, the right business climate with global access and the unique attributes of Orlando Melbourne International Airport, this is the ideal location for Aerion to continue our mission to build the global transportation networks of the future." The AS2 supersonic business jet will be the first aircraft to be designed, built, and tested at Aerion Park. Designed to be inherently environmentally responsible from first flight, the AS2 is the first supersonic aircraft designed to be powered by 100% synthetic fuel and reach supersonic speeds without the need for an afterburner. Manufacturing is scheduled to commence in 2023. About Space Florida: Space Florida was created to strengthen Florida's position as the global leader in aerospace research, investment, exploration and commerce. As Florida's aerospace and spaceport development authority, we are committed to attracting and expanding the next generation of space industry businesses. With its highly trained workforce, proven infrastructure and unparalleled record of achievement, Florida is the ideal location for aerospace businesses to thrive - and Space Florida is the perfect partner to help them succeed. www.spaceflorida.gov About Aerion: Aerion is founded on a core belief of bringing humanity closer. The company's vision is a future where humanity can travel between any two points on our planet within three hours using new transportation networks - powered by clean energy solutions and enabling a world where distance is no longer a barrier. The starting point is sustainable supersonic flight, led by the world's first supersonic business jet - the AS2. More information can be found at www.aerionsupersonic.com https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/space-florida-invests-in-new-home-of-aerion-supersonic-301115416.html Back to Top Garmin Announces Certification of the G1000 NXI Upgrade in the Piper Meridian Garmin International Inc., a unit of Garmin Ltd., announced Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) certification and availability of the G1000 NXi upgrade for G1000-equipped Piper Meridian aircraft. The G1000 NXi integrated flight deck upgrade is available immediately for these aircraft through select Garmin dealers and features several new enhancements such as SurfaceWatch, visual approaches, geographical map overlay within the HSI and more "G1000 NXi-equipped aircraft are recognized for their advanced capabilities and significant performance upgrades and today we're excited to add another aircraft to the eligibility list," said Carl Wolf, vice president of aviation sales and marketing. "When pilots fly behind this modern integrated flight deck, they'll immediately notice its smooth and responsive display and appreciate the latest, innovative features - they'll wonder how they ever flew without the G1000 NXi." State-of-the-art processors support faster map rendering and smoother panning throughout the G1000 NXi displays. The flight displays also initialize in seconds so pilots have immediate access to frequencies, flight plan data and more, saving valuable time in the cockpit. The G1000 NXi integrated flight deck also incorporates contemporary animations and LED back-lighting, offering increased display brightness and clarity, reduced power consumption and improved dimming performance. The G1000 NXi integrated flight deck boasts a comprehensive feature set with new and advanced capabilities. Unique features included as part of the G1000 NXi upgrade for the Piper Meridian include: SurfaceWatch runway monitoring technology, which provides visual and aural cues to help prevent pilots from taking off or landing on a taxiway, on a runway that is too short or on the wrong runway based on performance data entered during preflight. Visual approaches offer pilots enhanced guidance in visual flight conditions based on a three-degree glideslope from the threshold of the runway. Pilots can set customized minimums, select vectors or straight-in for the final approach intercept and fly a visual approach coupled with the autopilot. Geographical map overlay within the HSI supports the display of NEXRAD, Flight Information Service-Broadcast (FIS-B) weather, weather radar, SafeTaxi airport diagrams, traffic, terrain and more. Flight Stream 510 and Connext technology enables Database Concierge, the wireless transfer of aviation databases from the Garmin Pilot™ app on a mobile device to the G1000 NXi integrated flight deck. Flight Stream 510 also supports two-way flight plan transfer, the sharing of traffic, weather, GPS information and back-up attitude information. The G1000 NXi system supports the display of various Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B) In benefits via the GTX 345R transponder. Pilots can optionally overlay European Visual Reporting Points (VRPs) on the moving map, as VRPs are standard within the navigation database. Display of sectional charts, as well as IFR low/high enroute charts are available on the MFD. Smart Airspace highlights the airspace nearest the aircraft's current altitude and de-emphasizes non-pertinent airspace. COM frequencies are decoded and displayed on the PFD for easier interpretation. Decoded Terminal Aerodrome Forecasts (TAFs) can be viewed on the MFD. Split-screen functionality allows pilots to view flight plans, charts and more simultaneously. An optional audio panel upgrade offers advanced features such as 3D Audio, auto squelch and Bluetooth connectivity. The G1000 NXi integrated flight deck upgrade for existing G1000-equipped Piper Meridian aircraft is available immediately through select Garmin dealers. Meridian owners and operators can easily upgrade to the G1000 NXi with minimal aircraft down time and disruption of the panel as the displays preserve the same footprint and connectors, so panel modifications are not required. The upgraded components of the G1000 NXi also come with a two-year warranty, which is supported by Garmin's award-winning avionics product support team. For additional information regarding the G1000 NXi upgrade for the Piper Meridian, contact Scott Frye at scott.frye@garmin.com. For additional details, visit www.garmin.com/g1000nxiupgrade. https://www.aviationpros.com/engines-components/aircraft-airframe-accessories/avionics/press-release/21151097/garmin-international-garmin-announces-certification-of-the-g1000-nxi-upgrade-in-the-piper-meridian Back to Top Agencies Release Advisory on "Counter-Drone" Technology Regulations The Department of Justice (DOJ), the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), and the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) announced on Monday that they were issuing advisory guidance documentation to help non- federal government, public, and private entities have a better understanding of laws and regulations that could apply to technology capabilities for detecting and mitigating threats posed by Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS), such as drones. "As the number of drones in our airspace continue to rise, it is unsurprising that the availability of counter-drone technologies has likewise increased," Deputy Attorney General Jeffrey A. Rosen said. "Because these technologies may be presented for sale without a full discussion of important legal requirements, this Advisory steps forward to provide an outline of the relevant legal landscape. By encouraging a common understanding of potentially applicable laws, the Advisory can help foster responsible industry growth and promote public safety." The agencies stated that the advisory comes when the demand for detection and mitigation is high, but the authority to use said technology is unclear. The advisory "provides a brief overview of various provisions of the U.S. criminal code enforced by the DOJ, as well as federal laws and regulations related to aviation safety and efficiency, transportation and airport security, and the radiofrequency spectrum administered respectively by the FAA, DHS, and FCC." Specifically, the DOJ, DHS, the Department of Energy, and the Department of Defense have been given limited authority to potentially detect and mitigate UAS activity, in spite of some otherwise potentially applicable federal criminal laws. However, these Departments and Agencies "do not have the authority to approve non-federal public and private use of UAS detection or mitigation capabilities, nor do they conduct legal reviews of commercially available products' compliance with those laws." The advisory encourages non-federal entities to follow specific practices, such as consulting with counsel and thinking carefully about the functionality of the detection or mitigation systems and how they will be operated and used. The document noted that to ensure the UAS detection or mitigation systems are employed and used "effectively, responsibly, and legally," entities must have "[a] thorough understanding of how a system functions and the applicable law." This includes considering federal, state, and local laws, and the potential implications the detection or mitigation technology could have on privacy as well as civil liberties and rights. https://lawstreetmedia.com/tech/agencies-release-advisory-on-counter-drone-technology-regulations/ Back to Top FAA Continues Drone Integration Initiatives The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announced 26 schools have been selected so far to participate in the Unmanned Aircraft Systems Collegiate Training Initiative (UAS-CTI). The FAA's Collegiate Training Initiative (CTI) program allows educational institutions to collaborate with the FAA to help students pursue their aviation career goals. The UAS-CTI program recognizes institutions that prepare students for careers in UAS, commonly referred to as drones. The following schools meet the eligibility guidelines and have been selected to participate in the program: Blue Mountain Community College, Pendleton, Oregon Central Oregon Community College, Bend, Oregon Dakota College, Bottineau, North Dakota Embry Riddle Aeronautical University, Daytona Beach, FL and Prescott, AZ Green River College, Auburn, Washington Gulf Coast Community College, Panama City, Florida Hazard Community and Technical College, Hazard, Kentucky Hinds Community College, Bolton, Mississippi Idaho State University, Poncatello, Idaho Indiana State University, Terra Haute, Indiana MiraCosta College, Carlsbad, California Mountain Empire Community College, Big Stone Gap, Virginia Mountwest Community and Technical College, Huntington, West Virginia Niagara Community College, Sanborn, New York North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina Northeastern Technical College, Cheraw, South Carolina Northland Community and Technical College, Thief River Falls, Minnesota Northwestern Michigan College, Traverse, Michigan Oklahoma City Community College, Stillwater, Oklahoma Palomar College District, San Marcos, California Santa Rosa Junior College, Windsor, California Southwestern College, Chula Vista, California Tallahassee Community College, Tallahassee, Florida University of Maine at Augusta, August, Maine University of North Dakota, Grand Forks, North Dakota WSU Tech, Wichita, Kansas The FAA launched the UAS-CTI program in April. Participating institutions will engage with the FAA, other participants, general industry, local governments, law enforcement, and regional economic development entities to address labor force needs. This collaboration will ensure that UAS-CTI school graduates have the knowledge and skills needed to pursue a successful career in a UAS-related field. Post-secondary institutions with UAS curriculums seeking recognition as UAS-CTI partners may still apply for this distinction. Program guidelines are posted on our website. The FAA Reauthorization Act of 2018 (Public Law 115-254) required the FAA to establish a collegiate training initiative program relating to unmanned aircraft and to establish a process to designate consortia of public, two-year institutions of higher education as Community and Technical College Centers of Excellence in Small Unmanned Aircraft System Technology Training. https://www.aviationpros.com/aircraft/unmanned/press-release/21150788/federal-aviation-administration-faa-faa-continues-drone-integration-initiatives Back to Top SpaceX Sets Rocket-Reuse Milestone With Satellite Launch HAWTHORNE, CA - Hawthorne-based SpaceX set a record Tuesday for the reuse of its workhorse Falcon 9 rockets when it launched another batch of internet satellites into orbit. The Falcon 9 rocket that was used in Tuesday morning's launch from Cape Canaveral in Florida has been used in five previous missions. It is intended to become the first to ever be successfully launched and recovered six times. Tuesday's mission launched at 7:31 a.m. California time and propelled 58 Starlink satellites into orbit, continuing to build SpaceX founder Elon Musk's planned worldwide internet array offering low-cost broadband access to traditionally under-served areas. Roughly 600 Starlink satellites are already in orbit. Tuesday's launch also deployed three Earth-imaging satellites for a private company known as Planet. Those three satellites will be deployed into orbit first-about 12 and a half minutes after liftoff-followed by the Starlink satellites 46 minutes after liftoff, according to SpaceX. After launch and second-stage separation, the first stage of the Falcon 9 rocket was maneuvered back to Earth. One "fairing half" of the rocket was caught by the recovery vessel Ms. Tree, and the second fairing half made a "soft water-landing" in the Atlantic Ocean, according to SpaceX. The Falcon 9 first stage was first used in a satellite launch in September 2018. It was used again in a January 2019 launch, then again in three more Starlink satellite launches, in May 2019, January 2020 and June 2020, according to SpaceX. Several Falcon 9 rockets have flown five missions for SpaceX, but this will be the first to fly six times. "Falcon 9 is a reusable, two-stage rocket designed and manufactured by SpaceX for the reliable and safe transport of people and payloads into Earth orbit and beyond," the company explains on its website. "Falcon 9 is the world's first orbital class reusable rocket. Reusability allows SpaceX to refly the most expensive parts of the rocket, which in turn drives down the cost of space access." Recovering rockets has become a hallmark of SpaceX flights, designed to slash the cost of missions by reusing the equipment in future launches. https://patch.com/california/redondobeach/spacex-sets-rocket-reuse-milestone-satellite-launch Curt Lewis