January 28, 2021 - No. 08 In This Issue : FAA awards Northeast State certificate for aviation tech program : £84 million boost for technology to power a green aviation revolution : Raytheon: Job cuts deeper at Pratt & Whitney and Collins Aerospace than first announced as COVID-19 slammed aviation : GKN Aerospace leads development of ground-breaking hydrogen propulsion system for aircraft : Boeing Doesn’t Think Hydrogen Will Power Its Next Aircraft : PIT Becomes First U.S. Airport to Deploy Honeywell’s Air Quality Technology : EASA gives approval to resume operations of modified Boeing 737 MAX : NASA and Federal Aviation Administration Sign Collaboration Agreements : FAA ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS FOR AVIATION WORKFORCE GRANTS : Inmarsat joins Project HEART with connectivity for single-pilot ops : Meet the Axiom Space crew who are paying $55 million each to fly on a SpaceX rocket to the International Space Station FAA awards Northeast State certificate for aviation tech program BLOUNTVILLE — Northeast State Community College has received an Air Agency certificate and Airframe rating for the college’s aviation technology program from the Federal Aviation Administration. The FAA performed an in-depth inspection and evaluation of the college’s aviation program in December and awarded the Air Agency certificate on Jan. 15. The assessment was performed to ensure the curriculum, training equipment, instructor qualifications, procedures, and documentation meet federal aviation regulations. “With the airframe rating, we are the only community college in the state of Tennessee that offers an associate degree with an FAA certification,” said Richard Blevins, assistant professor and director of the college’s Aviation Technology Department. “The FAA Part 147 Airframe rating is a tremendous milestone for the aviation technology program and the region.” Next on the college’s agenda is the accompanying powerplant rating for aviation instruction programs. The powerplant rating addresses the engine and mechanical operations of an aircraft. “The airframe category covers every part of the aircraft except for the engine itself,” said Blevins. “Also, we have a lot of subcomponents for every sub-assembly of an aircraft and training that replicates every part of an aircraft.” The airframe and powerplant license is generally known as an “A&P” because most aviation mechanic candidates opt to complete both. To perform maintenance, repairs, or tests on an aircraft, these certifications must be earned at an FAA-certified institution, on the job, or through military experience. A&P licensed mechanics perform maintenance, repairs, and alteration tasks on aircraft, including the engines, airframes, landing gear, avionics, fire suppression, brakes, and air-conditioning system. Northeast State offers an associate of applied science degree (A.A.S.) in aviation technology and a technical certificate in aviation maintenance technology. The two-year program requires students to complete 63 credit hours of core curriculum courses and aviation-specific courses. A student earning an A.A.S. in aviation technology qualifies to earn an aviation mechanic’s certificate/license. “We are the only college in the United States that offers this program free to Tennessee residents,” said Blevins. “Through Tennessee Promise, qualifying students will be able to get an A&P mechanic’s license at no cost.” Students entering the A.A.S. degree program learn skills associated with the repair and installation of aviation electronics, aircraft structures, and aircraft mechanical systems. Students also develop core skills in fuselage and sheet metal repair, electrical systems, hydraulics, and aircraft repair. The program currently operates classroom and laboratory space at the college’s campus in Gray. The college expects to relocate the program’s entire instructional operation to a refurbished 13,000-square-foot hangar on the Tri-Cities Airport property this year. The new teaching site opens the door to achieve the powerplant rating. Per FAA standards for aviation technology institutions, the powerplant rating requires the new hangar’s space and teaching capacity. The hangar’s renovation is expected to begin in February. Blevins said the targeted completion date for the renovation is July 31. He anticipated the college could acquire the powerplant certification within 60 days after moving into the new hangar this summer. “We are going to coordinate with the FAA, and they will be working with us during the renovation,” he said. “We are working to ensure it is exactly what we need as a college and that it meets all FAA requirements.” When up and running, the aviation technology department expects to move a cohort of 24 students through every training cycle to the A.A.S. degree. Blevins said the program had a waiting list for students seeking to apply. The remodeled hangar design features two classrooms to accommodate 30 students. The laboratory space includes work stations for the turbine jet engines. Other laboratory testing tools include a PT6A test engine – commonly used in helicopters and fixed-wing aircraft – and a Lycoming 0-320 gasoline reciprocating engine. A team of up to six students work together taking those various engines apart and rebuilding them. “We are going have a huge community outreach program,” Blevins added. “We plan to hold events for STEM teachers, girl scouts, boy scouts, civil air patrol cadets, and K-12 students to inspire and encourage aerospace and aviation.” https://www.timesnews.net/news/faa-awards-northeast-state-certificate-for-aviation-tech-program/article_ae15d10a-60ae-11eb-aa57-df5075d28a8e.html £84 million boost for technology to power a green aviation revolution Nearly 5,000 jobs could be secured in making the UK’s aviation sector greener, thanks to a multi-million-pound boost for 3 pioneering research and development projects announced today (Thursday 28 January) by Business Minister Paul Scully. The winning projects represent a total investment of £84.6 million – half from the government, delivered through the ATI Programme, and matched by industry. Each of the 3 projects will use British innovation and expertise in green technology to power zero-emissions flights, using alternative energy sources of hydrogen or electricity to reduce the industry’s reliance on polluting fossil fuels. From Bristol to Coventry and Cranfield to Orkney, these projects could help secure up to 4,750 design, engineering and manufacturing jobs. Not only could this technology enable passengers to travel abroad in a greener fashion, in future it could enable the skies to be used for travelling much shorter journeys, similar to a local taxi service, reducing congestion on road networks, and allowing passengers to travel more quickly and locally. Innovative aerospace technology is rapidly developing, meaning that there is the potential for zero-emissions flights to be a reality as early as the end of 2023. Minister for Business, Paul Scully, said: These trailblazing projects are broadening the horizons of future air travel, towards a greener future where we may be able to hail taxis from the sky rather than on our streets. This multi-million-pound boost will help to secure up to 4,750 jobs in these projects spanning the UK, and could pave the way to technological advances that will allow the industry to build back better and greener following the COVID-19 pandemic – and help tackle climate change. The following three projects are receiving funding: GKN Aerospace-led project H2GEAR will receive a £27.2 million government grant to develop an innovative liquid hydrogen propulsion system (a component that propels the aircraft forward) for regional air travel, which could be scaled up for larger aircraft and longer journeys ZeroAvia’s HyFlyer II will receive a £12.3 million government grant to scale up its zero-emissions engines for demonstration on a 19-seater aircraft, showcasing its significant technological advances, meaning that customers can expect to fly on zero-emissions aircraft as early as the end of 2023 InCEPTion, led by Blue Bear Systems Research, is receiving a £2.8 million government grant to develop a fully-electrified zero-emissions propulsion system for aircraft, that is powerful, quiet and efficient and could be used for smaller aircraft travelling short distances – even within the same city The government is committed to helping advance the UK’s future transport system through its extensive R&D Roadmap and to increase R&D public spending to £22 billion per year by 2024 / 2025. This investment comes ahead of our consultation on the Aviation Decarbonisation Strategy this year, set out as part of the Prime Minister’s Ten Point Plan for a green industrial revolution, with jet zero and low carbon aviation as a key pillar to building back greener. The announcement of today’s grant winners is the latest in government support for the aerospace sector. It forms part of a wider £3.9 billion government-industry investment in aerospace research and development projects from 2013 to 2026 through the Aerospace Growth Partnership and delivered through the ATI Programme. During the pandemic, aerospace companies have been able to benefit from the government’s extensive business support measures including furlough, CBILs, and Bounce Back loans. The aerospace sector and its aviation customers are being supported with almost £11 billion made available through loan guarantees, support for exporters, the Bank of England’s COVID Corporate Financing Facility and grants for research and development. Notes to editors 1.The ATI Programme’s grant winners have been chosen by the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, Innovate UK, and the Aerospace Technology Institute. The total investment in the 3 projects will be £84.6 million, with £42.3 million government funding matched by industry. 2. The government also awards aerospace funding through the Future Flight Challenge, which in total will award £125 million of government grants, matched by industry, to companies investing in future aviation systems and vehicle technologies, enabling new classes of electric or autonomous air vehicles. 3. Aviation has a crucial role to play in achieving the government’s net zero commitment. To this end, in addition to funding, the government has established the Jet Zero Council, a partnership between industry and government to bring together ministers and industry stakeholders to drive the ambitious delivery of new technologies and innovative ways to cut aviation emissions. 4. This year, the UK will host the UN climate change conference, COP26, in Glasgow with partners, Italy. This will provide an opportunity for the world to come together and commit to urgent action. As hosts of COP26, the UK will lead by example during this unprecedented time. Guided by science, the UK will invest in a green recovery which creates sustainable jobs and addresses the urgent and linked challenges of public health, climate change, and biodiversity loss. The UK is committed to working with all countries and joining forces with civil society, companies and people on the frontline of climate change to inspire action ahead of COP26. Details of today’s winning projects GKN Aerospace-led H2GEAR (Hybrid Hydrogen & Electric Architecture), Bristol £54.4 million over 5 years - £27.2 million government grant, matched by industry. H2GEAR will be delivered in collaboration with partners from GKN Aerospace’s Global Technology Centre in Filton, Bristol. The project aims to develop a liquid hydrogen propulsion system for regional aircraft that could be scaled up to larger aircraft. This could create a new generation of clean air travel, eliminating harmful CO2 emissions and leaving water as the only by-product of flight. If successful, the project could help secure up to 3120 high value engineering and manufacturing jobs by 2032 / 2033 in Bristol, Coventry and Loughborough. ZeroAvia-led HyFlyer II, Cranfield, Bedfordshire £24.6 million over 2 years - £12.3 million government grant, matched by industry. In 2019, the project was awarded an ATI Programme grant to produce a zero-carbon engine which was recently demonstrated on a successful test flight for a 6-seater aircraft – the largest hydrogen-electric aircraft worldwide. This latest round of funding will enable the consortium to scale up its hydrogen technology for use on a 19-seater aircraft, another stepping stone on the path towards the government’s Jet Zero ambitions. The company will showcase the technology in various test flights, including a world-first long-distance zero-emissions demonstration flight of this size and power level in January 2023. It will also enable ZeroAvia to enter the formal certification process at the end of the project, so that customers can expect to fly on zero emissions aircraft as early as the end of 2023. If successful, the UK-based consortium, including Aeristech and the European Marine Energy Centre, could help to secure 300 design jobs and 400 manufacturing jobs in Cranfield, Warwick and Orkney. Blue Bear Systems Research-led InCEPTion (Integrated Flight Control, Energy Storage and Propulsion Technologies for Electric Aircraft), Bedford £5.6 million over 2 years – £2.8 million government grant, matched with industry. The consortium aims to develop a zero-emissions fully-electrified propulsion system for aircraft, which if scaled up, would be capable of powering a range of aircraft including unmanned drones and passenger aircraft. This will enable a broad range of new mobility services across the UK, from large cargo delivery to regional commuting. If successful, the project could help secure up to 30 new engineer jobs during the early certification and pre-production phases in Bedfordshire and Derby, and a further 600-900 manufacturing jobs during production in the UK. Further quotes Gary Elliott, Chief Executive of the Aerospace Technology Institute, said: Today’s announcement shows how the Aerospace Technology Institute (ATI) through its long-term funding is stimulating research in technologies to deliver future zero-emission flight. The ATI Programme is focused on innovation and sustainability: keeping the UK aerospace sector at the forefront of next-generation technology. And we are delivering vital support for companies both large and small – securing thousands of jobs across the country and generating strong economic return to the UK. Simon Edmonds, Innovate UK’s Deputy Executive Chair, said: The need to change how we fly has never been more pressing, moving towards zero-carbon powered aircraft is one way we can cut greenhouse gas emissions. By investing in innovative UK companies and technologies we can ensure momentum is maintained and the country is well positioned in the markets that will emerge. Each of these projects are extremely exciting and we look forward to working with the partners to ensure their success. Russ Dunn, Chief Technology Officer for GKN Aerospace, said: Hydrogen-powered aircraft offer a clear route to keep the world connected, with dramatically cleaner skies. The UK is at the forefront of this technology, and the H2GEAR project is an example of industry, academia and government collaboration at its best. Working with our partners, and made possible by UK government investment, GKN Aerospace will develop and industrialise the breakthrough technology that will enable aircraft to fly with zero CO2 emissions from the mid-2020s. This will not only create thousands of jobs, but it will keep the UK at the forefront of the next generation of cleaner air travel for decades to come. Val Miftakhov, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of ZeroAvia, said: The government’s backing for our 19-seat hydrogen-electric powertrain development programme will deliver a market-ready hydrogen powered solution for 2023 that makes passenger-ready zero carbon aviation a reality. The UK is at the forefront of sustainable flight and we are proud that the government has put its faith in us again to deliver another milestone towards the Jet Zero ambition. Dr. Yoge Patel, Chief Executive Officer of Blue Bear Systems Research, said: Inception is an exciting, fast paced project that builds upon remarkable UK innovation and specialist engineering within our consortium. We are combining the best from aerospace and automotive sectors to create a next generation product using ‘more digital’ systems engineering practices. I look forward to engagement with aircraft manufacturers for our next steps.” https://www.gov.uk/government/news/84-million-boost-for-technology-to-power-a-green-aviation-revolution Raytheon: Job cuts deeper at Pratt & Whitney and Collins Aerospace than first announced as COVID-19 slammed aviation Raytheon Technologies Corp., the parent company of jet engine maker Pratt & Whitney, said Tuesday it made deeper cuts in commercial aviation jobs than the 15,000 it announced in September as the aviation and defense giant responded to the coronavirus pandemic that left airline fleets grounded. At East Hartford-based Pratt & Whitney and at components manufacturer Collins Aerospace there was a 20% reduction in jobs, trimming the worldwide workforce by 16,500 positions. The new numbers came as the company reported its fourth quarter financial results Tuesday. Contractor “roles,” as Raytheon called the positions, were cut even more deeply, with a reduction of 4,500, down 55%. “We were aggressive in 2020 in terms of taking costs out,” Chief Executive Officer Gregory Hayes told investors on a conference call. “We’re going to continue to invest where we need to and we’re going to have a very lean cost structure, really to support this business going forward.” In addition to Connecticut, Pratt & Whitney operates plants or overhaul and repair and other work sites in Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Maine, Michigan and Texas. The manufacturer also operates overseas plants in China, Greece, New Zealand, Singapore and Turkey. Collins Aerospace has about 150 sites in 25 countries, with half outside the United States. Cost-cutters also reached into research and development -- long seen as seed money to drive innovation in aviation and aerospace technology -- partly by pushing off some programs. “I think that was all appropriate,” Hayes said. “I don’t think that we have stopped investing in anything that is key to the long term.” “We cut deep, we cut where we had to, but I don’t think we have sacrificed the future in any way,” he said. Some production jobs will be added as airline business strengthens this year and beyond, he said. Raytheon’s two commercial aviation businesses took a big financial hit from the coronavirus pandemic. Adjusted revenue at Pratt & Whitney last year was $17.2 billion, down nearly $3.7 billion from 2019, a drop of 18%. Profit fell 78%. At Collins, adjusted sales were $19.4 billion, down $6.6 billion, a drop of one-fourth from 2019. Profit dropped by 70%. Raytheon said it expects airline travel to begin picking up as vaccines are rolled out. It repeated its previously stated expectation that commercial airline travel will not return to 2019 levels until at least 2023. Military spending, even if it remains flat in the U.S., will grow due to Raytheon’s strength with international customers and other factors, said Chief Financial Officer Anthony F. “Toby” O’Brien. Raytheon is flush with cash, reporting $8.8 billion on its balance sheet, with about $3 billion from divestitures from its portfolio of businesses. Hayes said the company will boost the dividend and plans a share repurchase. “We don’t think we need $9 billion on the balance sheet,” he said. That will be reduced to about $6 billion, which will give Raytheon flexibility to pursue small mergers or acquisitions or more share buybacks, Hayes said. Shares closed at $67.20, up 1.4%, pulling back from a nearly 5% rise early in the day. For the quarter that ended Dec. 31, Raytheon posted adjusted net income of $1.1 billion, or 74 cents per share. The results beat analysts’ estimates of 71 cents, according to Zacks Investment Research. Sales of $16.6 billion also exceeded Wall Street estimates of $16.3 billion. https://www.courant.com/business/hc-biz-raytheon-4th-quarter-20210126-3pfq7lviqfca5aqphgnmehfciy-story.html GKN Aerospace leads development of ground-breaking hydrogen propulsion system for aircraft GKN Aerospace will lead a ground-breaking UK collaboration programme, called H2GEAR, to develop the company’s first hydrogen propulsion system for sub-regional aircraft. Hydrogen is expected to play a key role in the de carbonisation strategy of aviation as it can power aircraft efficiently, leaving water as the only by-product. H2GEAR puts GKN Aerospace at the heart of the technology developments needed for the future of more sustainable aviation. The technology will first focus on significantly improving sub-regional aircraft hydrogen-powered performance, in turn enabling applications on larger aircraft and longer journeys. The programme is supported by £27M of ATI funding, matched by GKN Aerospace and its industrial partners. H2GEAR aims to develop a liquid hydrogen propulsion system for sub-regional aircraft that could be scaled up to larger aircraft. Liquid hydrogen is being converted to electricity within a fuel cell system. This electricity efficiently powers the aircraft, eliminating CO2 emissions. This would create a new generation of clean air travel, eliminating harmful CO2 emissions. H2GEAR will reinforce the UK’s position at the forefront of aerospace technology research and development. GKN Aerospace will collaborate with Intelligent Energy, Aeristech, Newcastle University, The University of Manchester and University of Birmingham, throughout the programme, aiming to create more than 3,000 jobs in the next decade. The programme will be delivered from GKN Aerospace’s Global Technology Centre in Bristol, the company’s £32M brand-new collaborative space for research and development. Russ Dunn, Chief Technology Officer for GKN Aerospace, said: “Hydrogen-powered aircraft offer a clear route to keep the world connected, with dramatically cleaner skies. The UK is at the forefront of this technology, and the H2GEAR project is an example of industry, academia and Government collaboration at its best. Working with our partners, and made possible by Government investment, GKN Aerospace will develop and industrialise the breakthrough technology to fly aircraft with zero CO2 emissions by the mid-2020s. This will not only create thousands of jobs, but it will keep the UK at the forefront of the next generation of cleaner air travel for decades to come.” GKN Aerospace will use its long term experience and in-depth knowledge of electrical power systems and propulsion technology to accelerate the development of technology. The entry-into- service of the first hydrogen-powered aircraft could be as early as 2026. https://www.suasnews.com/2021/01/gkn-aerospace-leads-development-of-ground-breaking-hydrogen-propulsion-system-for-aircraft/ Boeing Doesn’t Think Hydrogen Will Power Its Next Aircraft There has been plenty of buzz surrounding hydrogen aircraft when it comes to the future of aviation. However, Boeing remains pragmatic when it comes to this technology. For the manufacturer’s next aircraft, it will be looking at other initiatives in regards to its sustainability goals. A careful approach Rivals in the industry have been eager to introduce aircraft relying on hydrogen as part of their sustainable initiatives. For instance, Airbus has been keen to offer the world’s first zero-emission commercial plane by the middle of the next decade. The European outfit has been experimenting with its ZEROe concept aircraft to enable it to evaluate a variety of setups and hydrogen innovations. Despite the excitement, Boeing is taking a more realistic approach when it comes to hydrogen-powered aircraft. The US-based company’s president and CEO, David David Calhoun, spoke about the prospects in a Q4 2020 earnings call today. Overall, the businessman feels that the industry is still a long way off to really cultivate this technology. “I have a fair amount of experience with hydrogen, our company has an incredible amount of experience with hydrogen. At least in the size of airframe that we are all talking about. We experiment at the low end, but that’s not going to be a meaningful market here,” Calhoun said in the call. “And the advent of sustainable fuel already, already we’re capable of living with that sustainable fuel. I believe that’s going to be the 15-year answer to 2050 guidelines and approaches because we have all worked with it, experimented with it, we know it works, and now we to develop a supply line for it. But I believe it’s the only answer between now and 2050.” Crucial years ahead The next aircraft to arrive at airlines will be the 777X. The first of these planes will be delivered in late 2023. Boeing shares that this schedule, and the associated financial impact, reflects a number of factors, such as an updated assessment of global certification requirements, and the outcome of the pandemic. Therefore, the commercial introduction of this type will remain a key focus over the next few years. So, by the time the aviation industry recovers from the global health crisis and the 777X is entered into service, the entire climate of the market may be different. Therefore, Boeing may not be in any rush when it comes to producing new models. Regardless, the company is always looking ahead and researching potential developments. Focus on fuels One point is clear, however, which is that sustainable fuel will be the predominant aspect when it comes to Boeing’s production plans this decade. Last week, the firm shared that it is committed to building commercial aircraft that are capable and certified to fly on 100% sustainable fuels by 2030. Boeing previously performed successful test flights replacing petroleum jet fuel with 100% sustainable fuels. These breakthroughs play a part in the business’ mission of achieving the long-term sustainability of commercial aviation in response to concerns surrounding climate change. https://simpleflying.com/boeing-no-hydrogen-aircraft/ PIT Becomes First U.S. Airport to Deploy Honeywell’s Air Quality Technology On Jan. 26, Pittsburgh International Airport announced a partnership with Honeywell to test air quality improvement technology at the airport’s newly opened innovation center, xBridge. Pittsburgh International Airport is the first U.S. airport to deploy Honeywell’s Healthy Buildings dashboard and air quality sensing technology, and will use Honeywell Forge enterprise performance management software, to increase public health efforts and improve staff and passenger confidence in travel. The Honeywell Healthy Buildings dashboard at xBridge measures key indoor air quality (IAQ) parameters such as temperature, humidity, carbon dioxide, particulate matter and volatile organic compounds (VOC). A network of IAQ sensors connected to the Healthy Buildings dashboard provides real-time updates on the airport’s air quality performance to help the facilities staff quickly identify and correct critical building controls issues. The dashboard seamlessly integrates into existing systems within the airport. Honeywell Forge software will be used to monitor and address maintenance issues with the airport’s air filters. Launched in 2020, xBridge is a 10,000 square foot innovation center at Pittsburgh International Airport custom-built to nurture the evolution of the aviation industry and inspire creative solutions to challenges. Based on the success of xBridge pilot systems, PIT may expand the technology throughout the airport. Working in tandem with companies on initiatives will be a key part of xBridge’s success. As the airport itself has become a testing ground for new technology, including robotics and AI, this innovation center will focus those efforts into a space custom-built for ideation, experimentation and collaboration. “Public health, safety and security are always the top priorities at Pittsburgh International Airport. Working with companies like Honeywell through our xBridge innovation center allows us to not only test new technologies but also look for ways to solve bigger challenges that will improve the experience for our airline partners, staff and passengers,” said April Gasparri, senior vice president of Public Safety, Operations, and Maintenance for Pittsburgh International Airport. “The emphasis on air quality has greatly increased due to COVID-19, and airports must look to adjust our facilities for the long term to create safer environments for travelers and the people who make travel happen every day.” The Honeywell Healthy Buildings dashboard can provide operational and passenger benefits to an airport. From an operational perspective, it can visualize information via a single screen to allow the Pittsburgh facilities staff to make real-time decisions based on air quality fluctuations. For example, if increased occupancy creates higher carbon dioxide levels, the airport can immediately respond to improve social distancing or increase airflow to the HVAC system in a specific zone. In the future, travelers will be able to benefit by visually seeing the building health information in a user-friendly dashboard. Additionally, the airport plans to use Honeywell Forge to conduct condition-based maintenance focused on MERV 13 filters in its air-handling units. By monitoring particulate matter and volatile organic compounds using Honeywell’s dashboard, airport personnel will be able to identify filters that require changing based on need versus a maintenance schedule to avoid costly, unnecessary filter changes. Honeywell Forge proactively analyzes building controllers and mechanical assets and provides near real-time insights via intuitive dashboards that can reduce unplanned reactive work on building systems. Based on a recent survey fielded by Honeywell, 61 percent of surveyed airport workers were particularly concerned about potential COVID-19 transmission through the air and 40 percent of surveyed airport workers identified outdated ventilation systems as a bigger safety threat than co-workers not following safety guidelines. “Airports face challenges managing indoor air quality such as outdoor pollutants from airside operations, varying occupancy density and numerous zones with different heating and cooling demands. The team at Pittsburgh International Airport has an innovative mindset and is looking to identify ways to further improve its indoor air quality to solve these problems,” said Keith Fisher, vice president and general manager of services for Honeywell Building Technologies. “We’ve been able to deploy new solutions at Pittsburgh International Airport to keep it current with the latest technology and create a safer and healthier space without any downtime.” Honeywell’s Healthy Buildings solutions are part of a comprehensive effort to quickly develop innovative solutions that help critical sectors, like aviation, of the global economy recover, without the need to replace existing infrastructure. Honeywell’s Healthy Buildings solutions provide a holistic view of a building’s health based on key factors such as indoor air quality, occupant flow, PPE analytics, thermal screening, body temperature monitoring, social distancing and sanitation efficacy. https://www.aviationpros.com/airports/press-release/21207602/pittsburgh-international-airport-pit-becomes-first-us-airport-to-deploy-honeywells-air-quality-technology EASA gives approval to resume operations of modified Boeing 737 MAX The European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) has granted formal approval to resume operations for the modified version of the Boeing 737 MAX. The Boeing 737 MAX has been temporarily grounded since March 2019, following two fatal crashes in Indonesia and Ethiopia. The approval mandates changes made on the aircraft’s software and electrical wiring system, as well as maintenance checks, operations manual updates and crew training. This news comes two months after the EASA started its preparations to return the aircraft to service. The EASA will closely monitor 737 MAX operations after it resumes service. EASA executive director Patrick Ky said: “We have reached a significant milestone on a long road. Following extensive analysis by EASA, we have determined that the 737 MAX can safely return to service. “This assessment was carried out in full independence of Boeing or the Federal Aviation Administration and without any economic or political pressure – we asked difficult questions until we got answers and pushed for solutions, which satisfied our exacting safety requirements. We carried out our own flight tests and simulator sessions and did not rely on others to do this for us.” In addition to the EASA, the UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) gave its approval for the UK airlines to resume passenger flights operation with the Boeing 737 MAX aircraft. The regulator removed the ban on the aircraft operating in UK airspace, joining other regulators such as Transport Canada, the FAA and EASA. In a separate development, Canada’s ultra-low-cost carrier (ULCC) Flair Airlines will lease 13 new Boeing 737 Max 8s from Miami-based private equity company 777 Partners. Earlier this month, Canada’s aviation authority officially cleared 737 MAX 8 aircraft to resume operations. Meanwhile, Boeing approved Burloak to additively develop aluminium AlSi10Mg components to the aircraft manufacturer’s BAC 5673 specification. https://www.aerospace-technology.com/news/easa-caa-737-max/ NASA and Federal Aviation Administration Sign Collaboration Agreements Nearly a century of collaboration between aeronautical innovators who now work for NASA and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) will continue under a new interagency agreement that offers broad guidelines to follow in conducting the cooperative work. “With this agreement NASA will continue to lead in conducting research that will aid the FAA in meeting its regulatory obligations to manage a safe and efficient public air transportation system,” said Robert Pearce, NASA’s associate administrator for aeronautics. The “Nonreimbursable Umbrella Interagency Agreement Between the National Aeronautics and Space Administration and the Federal Aviation Administration for Demonstration of Promising Aviation Concepts and Technology” was signed by NASA on Dec. 16, 2020 and the FAA on Jan. 4, 2021. Essentially the five-year agreement provides a mechanism for any NASA aeronautics related organization to work with any FAA organization, and vice versa. The agreement suggests collaborative efforts might include research, design, development, and demonstration of promising aviation concepts and technologies that address the nation’s aviation needs. The agreement stipulates that no transfer of funds between NASA and the FAA will take place and that each agency must fund its own participation in any collaborative effort. Other details regarding liability, intellectual property rights, and disputes also are included. Annexes to the agreement will spell out details of specific collaborations. A first annex to this new agreement is already included and lays out the scope of how NASA and the FAA will partner in conducting a major activity related to Advanced Air Mobility (AAM). The activity, known as the AAM National Campaign, is designed to promote public confidence and accelerate the realization of emerging aviation markets for passenger and cargo transportation in urban, suburban, rural, and regional environments. NASA will host a series of demonstrations under the National Campaign that will collect data to help inform the FAA for development of appropriate policies and procedures to enable integration of AAM concepts into the National Airspace System. “The National Campaign is a perfect example of how the relationship between NASA and the FAA, as spelled out in this agreement that formally extends our partnership, is supposed to work,” Pearce said. Other examples from past collaborations abound. In 2018, for instance, NASA-developed technology called Flight Deck Interval Management was transferred to the FAA. The tool helps air traffic controllers and pilots more precisely manage and safely shorten the time, or interval, between airplanes landing on a runway. A few years earlier, two NASA-developed technologies known as Traffic Management Advisor with Terminal Metering and Controller Managed Spacing were delivered to the FAA in 2014 as a single tool known as Terminal Sequencing and Spacing. Altogether, the research was aimed at helping airplanes spend less time in the air, save money on fuel, and reduce engine emissions – all while improving schedule efficiency to help passengers arrive at their destination on time and avoid missing connecting flights. Another set of NASA tools are currently being evaluated with the FAA and others at major airports in North Carolina and Texas under the Airspace Technology Demonstration-2 project. The big idea: more reliably predict and schedule the time when aircraft are pushed back from their gates so they can get to the runway and take off without pausing to sit on an airport taxiway, waiting their turn to fly while burning fuel and passengers’ patience. Century of Cooperation The relationship between NASA and the FAA began with each agency’s predecessor organizations and dates back to 1926. Following the end of World War I in 1918, the economic possibilities of a national aviation industry became increasingly apparent. A vast wartime effort had produced 13,844 aircraft and 41,953 engines in 19 months. For the industry to survive in peacetime, the federal government had to decide where to invest its financial resources. The choice: either sustain a wartime level of military aviation effort or concentrate on fostering civilian commercial aviation. A key question included who would regulate aviation to make it safe, reliable, and economically sound? The debate about how to best do that instigated a political saga that took more than seven years before a consensus was reached. Initial attention turned toward the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics (NACA) – NASA’s predecessor organization created in 1915 – which had become the focus of the government’s activities related to aviation research and working with the young aviation industry. With the Air Commerce Act of 1926, it was decided the NACA should remain attentive to its research and not have any kind of regulatory role. Instead, that duty would fall to the new Aeronautics Branch of the Department of Commerce. Its charter was to foster air commerce, issue and enforce air traffic rules, license pilots, certify aircraft as flightworthy, establish airways, and operate and maintain aids to air navigation. Today, the roles of the NACA and the Aeronautics Branch are part of NASA and the FAA, respectively. https://www.nasa.gov/aeroresearch/nasa-and-faa-sign-collaborative-agreements FAA ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS FOR AVIATION WORKFORCE GRANTS On January 19, the FAA announced it is accepting electronic applications for its two Aviation Workforce Development Grant programs—a critical step to inspire and recruit the next generation of aviation professionals and maintenance technicians. AOPA has long championed this effort. Despite the industry downturn associated with the coronavirus pandemic, many experts continue to predict a shortage of aviation workers in coming years. As part of a resolution in the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2018, the grant programs were introduced to ease the projected shortages of aircraft pilots and aviation maintenance technical workers within the industry. Each program was awarded full funding of $5 million in fiscal year 2020. Only projects that involve creating and delivering a curriculum for high school students with a reliance on aviation education or supporting the professional development of teachers using the curriculum are eligible for the grant. Recipients will be selected from the pool of qualified organizations defined by Congress, making individual applicants ineligible. Additionally, the grants may not be used to pay for flight training expenses or aircraft rental fees, and they do not reimburse expenses incurred by the student. The Aircraft Pilots workforce development grant is intended to provide students with aviation education, preparing them for careers as aircraft pilots, aerospace engineers, or unmanned aircraft system operators. Air carriers, flight schools, higher education institutions or high schools, state or local government entities, and organizations such as AOPA, which represent aircraft owners, users, or pilots, are welcome to apply. The development of an aviation-based science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) curriculum for high school students has been one of AOPA’s top priorities. The AOPA High School Initiative, a component of the You Can Fly program, was created to support and grow the pilot population. In the current school year approximately 8,000 students in more than 200 schools are using the AOPA High School Aviation STEM Curriculum. Of those students 20 percent are female and 51 percent are people of color. AOPA provides the curriculum to schools at no cost, and also conducts in-person and online training for teachers and administrators using the curriculum. “STEM based aviation education programs are very important to introducing students to aviation and all that it offers. This grant program will help ensure aviation STEM curriculum is made accessible to our youth across the country,” said AOPA Senior Vice President of Government Affairs Jim Coon. “Thanks to broad bipartisan support from members of Congress, the industry, teachers, and schools, we can now continue to invest in programs crucial to enabling the next generation of aviators.” In addition to the Aircraft Pilots workforce development grant, the FAA will also be establishing a grant program aimed at aviation maintenance technical workers. According to the FAA, eligible applicants will include holders of a certificate issued under 14 CFR Parts 21, 121, 135, or 145; labor organizations representing aviation maintenance workers; accredited higher education institutions and high schools; and state or local governmental entities. According to the FAA, eligible applicants from academia and the aviation community can submit applications online through March 22. Grant awards range from $25,000 to $500,000 for any single grant per fiscal year. The You Can Fly program is funded by charitable donations to the AOPA Foundation, a 501(c)(3) organization. To be a part of the solution, visit www.aopafoundation.org/donate. https://www.aopa.org/news-and-media/all-news/2021/january/26/faa-accepting-applications-for-aviation-workforce-grants Inmarsat joins Project HEART with connectivity for single-pilot ops Inmarsat‘s European Aviation Network could soon be part of a hydrogen-powered regional flying scheme in the United Kingdom. The effort, driven by the UK government, will also explore the option of single-pilot operations for commercial flights, using the data network to offer support for that pilot while in the sky. Project HEART represents a greener, smarter and more efficient future for aviation. We are proud to support this important project of the UK Government, utilising our 30 years of experience in satellite communication, navigation and surveillance for both commercial and private aviation, as well as expertise in unmanned vehicle traffic management. – Philip Balaam, President of Inmarsat Aviation Project HEART (Hydrogen Electric and Automated Regional Transportation) will develop hydrogen powered, automated and remote piloting solutions for small aircraft carrying between 9 and 19 passengers, travelling ‘short hops’ of fewer than 500 nautical miles. The EAN data network expects to support the operation’s automation connectivity needs. Inmarsat will also contribute its expertise in navigation and position tracking for the effort. The EAN solution is particularly well suited to the effort given its high bandwidth terrestrial links and tiny on-board hardware requirements. The company presented the offering to the business aviation community in 2018 and has demonstrated the technology successfully in that segment. Inmarsat Aviation President Philip Balaam notes the company is “particularly excited about enabling remote operations for aviation networks of the future.” Getting to a scenario where consumers and regulators are comfortable with single-pilot or fully remote operations for passenger traffic could prove challenging. But project HEART represents a concerted effort by a combination of companies – and the government – to bring that sort of operation to life. Inmarsat expects its hybrid connectivity solution that enables “remote ‘digital’ co-piloting and journey critical communications.” The remote, digital co-pilot solution, designed by Blue Bear Systems Research, is designed to integrate with the human pilot while adding effective remote management options. The technology initially is expected to be evaluated on Britten-Norman aircraft. Project HEART is led by the Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy (BEIS) and is funded by the Industrial Strategy Challenge Fund (ISCF) Future Flight Challenge (FFC). The consortium comprises of leading UK technology companies that will contribute resources in the areas of technology, operations, infrastructure and think tank experience. https://paxex.aero/inmarsat-ean-heart-single-pilot/ Meet the Axiom Space crew who are paying $55 million each to fly on a SpaceX rocket to the International Space Station Axiom Space on Tuesday announced the lineup for the first-ever private crew to fly to the International Space Station (ISS). The four men will pay $55 million each to fly on a SpaceX rocket to the ISS in early 2022. It will take the four-man crew about two days to travel on SpaceX's Crew Dragon from Cape Canaveral in Florida to the ISS, Axiom Space said in a statement. Once they arrive, they will carry out research and philanthropic projects for eight days. Retired NASA astronaut and Axiom vice president Michael López-Alegría, who flew to space four times during his 20-year career at the space agency, will be the commander. He'll be the first person to command a civil and commercial human mission into space, Axiom said. López-Alegría will be joined by US entrepreneur and non-profit activist investor Larry Connor as mission pilot, and both Canadian investor Mark Pathy and Israeli businessman Eytan Stibbe as mission specialists. According to NASA's 2019 price list, it should cost $11,250 per crew member per day to use the life support systems and toilet on the ISS, $22,500 per day for all necessary supplies such as food, air, and medical supplies, and $42 per kilowatt-hour for power. For the four crew members on the Ax-1 mission, this adds up to $1.1 million for an eight-day stay. NASA told The Verge that those costs are included in the $55 million each person will pay. Michael Suffredini, Axiom Space CEO and president, said in the statement: "This is just the first of several Axiom Space crews whose private missions to the International Space Station will truly inaugurate an expansive future for humans in space – and make a meaningful difference in the world when they return home." López-Alegría told Insider in December: "I really want this crew — who's setting the bar for commercial human spaceflight forever, if you really think about it — to be as good as we possibly can." "It's important to me for our crew to be respected. I don't want to give anybody any excuses to not like us." https://www.businessinsider.com/spacex-iss-axiom-first-private-space-crew-nasa-rocket-2021-1 Curt Lewis