February 11, 2021 - No. 12 In This Issue : British Airways Fuels its Future with Second Sustainable Aviation Fuel Partnership : United to Work with Archer Aviation to Accelerate Production of Advanced, Short-Haul Electric Aircraft : Mohawk College opens new Centre for Aviation Technology : Joby Aviation Selects Garmin G3000 for eVTOL Aircraft : Taking a 360-Degree Approach to Helicopter Safety : Development of dry fiber preforms and other technologies for Smart Rotors : Aviation Safety Master’s Degree Earns ‘Graduate Safety Practitioner’ Status : Clean Sky 2 study emphasizes need for hydrogen-powered aviation development : Aerlytix secures partnership for roll-out of fleet monitoring solution : Aerion, NASA To Jointly Explore High-Mach Speeds : NASA picks SpaceX Falcon Heavy to launch 1st Gateway station pieces to the moon British Airways Fuels its Future with Second Sustainable Aviation Fuel Partnership British Airways is to power future flights with sustainable aviation fuel produced from sustainably sourced ethanol, as part of a new partnership with sustainable jet fuel company LanzaJet. The partnership, which reflects the importance the airline is placing on sustainability and its continued investment in sustainable aviation fuel, will see British Airways invest in LanzaJet’s first commercial scale Freedom Pines Fuels facility in Georgia, USA and acquire cleaner burning sustainable aviation fuel from the plant. It expects the fuel to be available to power a number of its flights by the end of 2022. In addition, the partnership will involve LanzaJet implementing early-stage planning and design for a potential commercial facility for British Airways in the UK. The plant in Georgia is due to begin construction this year. It will convert sustainable ethanol (a chemical compound widely blended with petrol to reduce its carbon intensity) into sustainable aviation fuel using a patented chemical process. The fuel produced at the plant will deliver a reduction of more than 70 percent in greenhouse gas emissions compared to conventional fossil jet fuel, equivalent to taking almost 27,000 petrol or diesel cars off the road each year. The sustainable aviation fuel produced by LanzaJet is made via the LanzaJet Alcohol to Jet (AtJ) Process, which can use any source of sustainable ethanol, including, but not limited to, ethanol made from non-edible agricultural residues such as wheat straw and recycled pollution. Commercialization of AtJ has been years in the making, starting with the partnership between LanzaTech (which launched LanzaJet in June 2020) and the U.S Department of Energy’s Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL). The development and use of sustainable aviation fuels is a major focus for British Airways and forms part of the airline’s commitment to achieving net-zero carbon emissions by 2050 through a series of short, medium and long-term initiatives. The airline has an existing partnership with sustainable fuels technology company Velocys, with the goal of building a facility to convert household and commercial waste into renewable sustainable jet fuel in the UK. Fuel could be produced by 2025. British Airways’ parent company, International Airlines Group, will be investing $400 million in sustainable aviation fuel in the next 20 years. Sean Doyle, British Airways’ CEO, said, “Despite the crisis in global aviation, it is vital for our future that we continue to address climate change and we remain focused on playing our part to reduce the impact we have on the planet. For the last 100 years we have connected Britain with the world and the world with Britain, and to ensure our success for the next 100, we must do this sustainably. “Progressing the development and commercial deployment of sustainable aviation fuel is crucial to decarbonising the aviation industry and this partnership with LanzaJet shows the progress British Airways is making as we continue on our journey to net zero. “Following the successful start-up of the Georgia plant, we hope to then deploy the technology and SAF production capacity in the UK. The UK has the experience and resources needed to become a global leader in the deployment of such sustainable aviation fuel production facilities, and we need Government support to drive decarbonisation and accelerate the realisation of this vision.” Jimmy Samartzis, LanzaJet CEO, said, “Our world is at a crossroads on climate change and our industry is at inflection point, prepared to accelerate the energy transition that is needed. We are delighted to welcome British Airways to the LanzaJet family. Low-cost, sustainable fuel options are critical for the future of the aviation sector and the LanzaJet process offers the most flexible feedstock solution at scale, recycling wastes and residues into SAF that allows us to keep fossil jet fuel in the ground. British Airways has long been a champion of waste to fuels pathways especially with the UK Government. With the right support for waste-based fuels, the UK would be an ideal location for commercial-scale LanzaJet plants. We look forward to continuing the dialogue with BA and the UK Government in making this a reality, and to continuing our support of bringing the Prime Minister’s Jet Zero vision to life.” British Airways has a clear roadmap to meet its net zero 2050 target. In the short-term, the airline is improving its operational efficiency, flying more fuel-efficient aircraft and introducing carbon offset and removal projects. The airline currently offsets emissions on all flights within the UK and offers customers the option to voluntarily offset their emissions if traveling further afield. In the medium- to long-term, in addition to the airline’s investment in the development of sustainable aviation fuel, it is also looking at technological solutions such as zero-emissions hydrogen aircraft and carbon capture technology. LanzaJet was launched in June and is a spin-off from leading biotech company LanzaTech. British Airways will be joining LanzaTech, Mitsui and Suncor Energy as investors in LanzaJet. With the addition of British Airways, LanzaJet now plans to develop a further four larger-scale plants operating from 2025, producing a pipeline of sustainable aviation fuel and renewable diesel made from sustainable feedstocks, to support and enable the global decarbonization of the aviation sector. It’s hoped that some or all of these plants will be built in the UK subject to improved Government policy support for waste-based sustainable aviation fuels. British Airways and LanzaTech are also part of the Jet Zero Council, a partnership between government and industry to drive forward the UK Government’s net zero-emission ambitions for the aviation and aerospace sector, with a focus on sustainable aviation fuels. https://www.aviationpros.com/airlines/press-release/21209480/british-airways-british-airways-fuels-its-future-with-second-sustainable-aviation-fuel-partnership United to Work with Archer Aviation to Accelerate Production of Advanced, Short-Haul Electric Aircraft CHICAGO, Feb. 10, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- United Airlines today announced that it has completed an agreement to work with air mobility company Archer as part of the airline's broader effort to invest in emerging technologies that decarbonize air travel. Rather than relying on traditional combustion engines, Archer's electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft are designed to use electric motors and have the potential for future use as an 'air taxi' in urban markets. Under the terms of the agreement, United will contribute its expertise in airspace management to assist Archer with the development of battery-powered, short-haul aircraft. Once the aircraft are in operation and have met United's operating and business requirements, United, together with Mesa Airlines, would acquire a fleet of up to 200 of these electric aircraft that would be operated by a partner and are expected to give customers a quick, economical and low-carbon way to get to United's hub airports and commute in dense urban environments within the next five years. Working with Archer is another example of United's commitment to identifying and investing in innovative technology that can reduce carbon emissions while also improving the customer experience and earning a strong financial return. The airline was an early stage investor in Fulcrum BioEnergy and recently partnered with 1PointFive, a joint venture between Oxy Low Carbon Ventures and Rusheen Capital, to jumpstart the establishment of direct air capture and sequestration technology. "Part of how United will combat global warming is by embracing emerging technologies that decarbonize air travel . By working with Archer, United is showing the aviation industry that now is the time to embrace cleaner, more efficient modes of transportation. With the right technology, we can curb the impact aircraft have on the planet, but we have to identify the next generation of companies who will make this a reality early and find ways to help them get off the ground," said United CEO Scott Kirby. "Archer's eVTOL design, manufacturing model and engineering expertise has the clear potential to change how people commute within major metropolitan cities all over the world." With today's technology, Archer's aircraft are designed to travel distances of up to 60 miles at speeds of up to 150 miles per hour and future models will be designed to travel faster and further. Not only are Archer's aircraft capable of saving individuals time on their commute, United estimates that using Archer's eVTOL aircraft could reduce CO2 emissions by 47% per passenger on a trip between Hollywood and Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), one of the initial cities where Archer plans to launch its fleet. Led by co-founders and co-CEOs Brett Adcock and Adam Goldstein, Archer's mission is to advance the benefits of sustainable air mobility at scale. Archer plans to unveil its full scale eVTOL aircraft in 2021, begin aircraft production in 2023, and launch consumer flights in 2024. To drive this fourth transportation revolution and transform how people approach everyday life, work and adventure, Archer has built a highly accomplished team of top engineering and design talent, with a collective 200+ years of eVTOL experience. "We couldn't be happier to be working with an established global player like United," said Brett Adcock, co-CEO and co-Founder of Archer. "This deal represents so much more than just a commercial agreement for our aircraft, but rather the start of a relationship that we believe will accelerate our timeline to market as a result of United's strategic guidance around FAA certification, operations and maintenance." Adam Goldstein, co-CEO and co-Founder of Archer added "the team at United share our vision of a more sustainable future. We're working closely with their test pilots and environmental teams to make sustainable urban air mobility a reality far sooner than people could ever imagine." United's Commitment to the Environment At United, we believe the airline industry needs to be bolder when it comes to making decisions that confront the climate crisis. That's why we are making aggressive and tangible commitments to help reduce our carbon emission footprint before our customers even take their seats. Here are some of the ways we're making a difference: In 2020, we pledged to become 100% green by reducing our greenhouse gas emissions by 100% by 2050—without relying on traditional carbon offsets—and became the first airline to announce a commitment to invest in Direct Air Capture technology by partnering with 1PointFive, a joint venture between Oxy Low Carbon Ventures and Rusheen Capital. In 2019, we committed $40 million toward an investment initiative focused on accelerating the development of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) and other decarbonization technologies. That same year, we operated the Flight for the Planet, which represented the most-eco-friendly commercial flight of its kind in the history of commercial aviation. In 2018, we became the first U.S. airline to establish a climate goal, reducing our emissions 50% by 2050 versus our 2005 baseline. In 2016, we became the first airline globally to use sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) in regular operations on a continuous basis and has purchased and will use more SAF than any other U.S. airline. In 2015, we invested $30 million in Fulcrum BioEnergy, a SAF producer that converts trash to low-carbon jet fuel. United's Award-Winning Eco-Skies Program United's award-winning Eco-Skies program represents the company's commitment to the environment and the actions taken every day to create a more sustainable future. The Carbon Disclosure Project named United as the only airline globally to its 2020 'A List' for the airline's actions to cut emissions, mitigate climate risks and develop the low-carbon economy, marking the seventh consecutive year that United had the highest CDP score among U.S. airlines. In 2017, Air Transport World magazine named United its Eco-Airline of the Year for the second time since the airline launched the Eco-Skies program. Additionally, United ranked No. 1 among global carriers in Newsweek's 2017 Global 500 Green Rankings, one of the most recognized environmental performance assessments of the world's largest publicly traded companies. For more information on United's commitment to environmental sustainability, visit united.com/ecoskies. About United United's shared purpose is "Connecting People. Uniting the World." For more information, visit united.com, follow @United on Twitter and Instagram or connect on Facebook. The common stock of United's parent, United Airlines Holdings, Inc., is traded on the Nasdaq under the symbol "UAL". About Archer Archer's mission is to advance the benefits of sustainable air mobility. Archer is creating the world's first electric airline that moves people throughout the world's cities in a quick, safe, sustainable, and cost-effective manner. As the world's only vertically integrated airline company, Archer's business includes the design, manufacture, and operation of a fully electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft that can carry passengers for up to 60 miles at speeds of up to 150 miles per hour while producing minimal noise. Archer's team is based in Palo Alto, CA. To learn more, visit www.archer.com https://finance.yahoo.com/news/united-archer-aviation-accelerate-production-120000804.html?guccounter=1&guce_referrer=aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZ29vZ2xlLmNvbS8&guce_referrer_sig=AQAAADOqYTEqavpQCkyhJUMpPSfFnzD2FQTO3c85ld50JNKFapuks5KwlZJSzzcLGFOc6HRr_46ZwPVVnJsLoiz194-TVRY0NQv5QwTTC3Ccgo-Z3Rbxqv41Dg_W6bFHxDFbQ__18tcWPf27XoZRNFb2R-DmarKuWPTCb0HDmsSxr9K0 Mohawk College opens new Centre for Aviation Technology Mohawk College’s aviation training programs have been brought together in one location at Hamilton International Airport. The college has provided a virtual tour of its newly opened Centre for Aviation Technology, a 75,000 square foot complex featuring labs and classrooms, and built in cooperation with KF Aerospace. The training centre features a 25,000 square foot maintenance hangar with 16 aircraft. Grant Stevens of KF Aerospace says the hands-on training is critical to industry partners, since “we expect those students to be able to come into our facilities, and be able to interpret blueprints and technical drawings, technical instructions and then be able to execute their job.” Stevens adds that “you just can’t do that with theoretical learning.” Mohawk College President Ron McKerlie says their aviation programs, previously capped at 175 students and offered through four different locations, can now double their capacity to 350 students. McKerlie notes that they had reached their enrollment capacity “based on available space, and students were spread across the city.” He describes their new facility as “the newest and most innovative aviation training facility in the country.” While passenger traffic has plummeted during the COVID-19 pandemic, Hamilton International Airport President Cathie Puckering says the amount of cargo moving through Hamilton’s airport surged last year by 24 per cent. Puckering says Mohawk College’s Centre for Aviation Technology will support the city’s post-pandemic recovery by “further strengthening of the strategic advantages that Hamilton has, and will continue to create jobs in this region.” https://globalnews.ca/news/7630252/mohawk-college-centre-for-aviation-technology/ Joby Aviation Selects Garmin G3000 for eVTOL Aircraft Joby Aviation has selected the Garmin G3000 integrated flight deck—which first debuted in 2009—for its eVTOL aircraft, bringing proven avionics into the program to develop commercial operations—which it expects to launch by 2024. The G3000 avionics suite was selected in part for its lightweight, adaptable architecture and high-resolution displays. Garmin anticipates future development in the urban air mobility space, and the Joby platform will allow the company to proceed with further work in creating communications, navigation, and flight sensor solutions as UAM progresses into more advanced phases. The piloted Joby eVTOL aircraft is powered by six electric motors—aiming for zero emissions—at a cruise speed of up to 200 mph. The company projects that it will carry the pilot plus up to four passengers to a 150-nm range on a single charge. Joby has been at work on the development of vertical-takeoff-and-landing aircraft for more than a decade. “Garmin has a remarkable track record of developing innovative and reliable products,” said Joby Aviation founder and CEO JoeBen Bevirt. “They are market leaders in this space and we’re proud to have their advanced technology onboard.” “We are excited and proud of this strategic relationship with Joby Aviation to provide the advanced G3000 integrated flight deck for their revolutionary eVTOL aircraft,” said Phil Straub, Garmin’s executive vice president and managing director, aviation. “To be selected and trusted by Joby, an industry leader in this new market, is truly an honor. Garmin looks forward to continuing our extensive history of proven success in introducing innovative avionics technologies aligned with our vision for urban air mobility and the broader aviation industry. We are confident the G3000 will ultimately help Joby provide advanced, efficient, and scalable air taxi services for years to come.” https://www.flyingmag.com/story/avionics/joby-aviation-evtol-garmin-g3000/ Taking a 360-Degree Approach to Helicopter Safety Helicopter Association International (HAI) began over 70 years ago as a group to promote and advocate for the helicopter industry. While HAI maintains that role today, the association also makes significant and robust contributions to safety programs for the industry. HAI’s vision is an industry with zero accidents, and in pursuit of that goal, its initiatives address safety across the continuum of helicopter aviation, including airframes, technology, and the people who use them. “Over the past six months, with key stakeholders, HAI has completed a top-to-bottom review of our safety programs,” said James Viola, president and CEO of HAI. “We’ve strengthened our collaboration with industry partners and refocused our safety efforts on providing tangible resources for the helicopter community, including those targeted at helping pilots avoid or recover from IIMC, one of the leading causes of the accident discussed in the Feb. 9 National Transportation Safety Board hearing. As a result of this review, we’re ready to present several new elements in HAI’s safety program today.” With human performance issues as a causal factor in the majority of aviation accidents, HAI believes that the best way to improve safety in our industry is by helping people to become safer pilots, maintenance technicians, operators, and aviation professionals. “We believe that we can lower the industry accident rate significantly by addressing human factors,” said Viola. “HAI continues to promote a 360-degree approach to reducing accidents, one that addresses culture, processes and training, and the appropriate use of technology to reduce aviation risk. According to the US Helicopter Safety Team (USHST), unintended entry into instrument meteorological conditions (UIMC), also referred to as inadvertent entry into IMC (IIMC), consistently ranks as one of the top causes of US fatal helicopter accidents. In 2019 alone, UIMC accounted for 33 percent of fatal helicopter accidents and 21 fatalities, accentuating the urgency of addressing this problem. HAI is proud to support the Feb. 10 release of 56 Seconds to Live. This UHST-produced video portrays a pilot’s rapid loss of control over the aircraft after attempting to continue VFR flight into IMC. Helicopter safety experts say the film does not exaggerate the dangers of UIMC. “US accident statistics reveal that a helicopter pilot operating under VFR who unintentionally continues flight into IMC will very likely lose control of their aircraft and be dead within an average of 56 seconds,” said Nick Mayhew, industry co-chair for the USHST. “We must join industry stakeholders to do everything we can to reverse this alarming and unacceptable trend.” Mayhew hopes the film will spur pilots and operators to strengthen their training and procedures aimed at UIMC prevention and recovery. HAI also has several other new programs under development, with rollouts scheduled for the spring. They include: Flight and Maintenance Risk Assessment Tool (FRAT). HAI has partnered with a commercial provider, NGFT Solutions, to expand the scope and accessibility of its legacy FRAT program into an expansive suite of free, customizable safety tools optimized for mobile and offline use. A transition to the new application is planned for the second quarter of 2021. Aviation Safety Action Program (ASAP). A robust hazard reporting program is considered essential to improving safety, and small helicopter operators with limited resources sometimes struggle to field these programs. HAI has partnered with the Air Charter Safety Foundation (ACSF) to provide HAI members with an Aviation Safety Action Program (ASAP) that provides third-party support for the reporting of aviation hazards and events. This program will be introduced to members by March of 2021. Because most accidents have human error as a causal factor, improving safety in the helicopter industry often focuses on training. “We must continue to address safety training through every opportunity, including recurrent training,” Viola says. “That training must address every aspect of a pilot’s performance, from training for specific aircraft and procedures to learning better aeronautical decision-making processes. “For pilots, the development of a personal safety culture must begin on the first day of flight school and then never stop. Each flight is another test of our commitment to fly safely, which is our highest duty,” continues Viola. “Aviation operations must also build a robust safety culture, where each person is empowered and encouraged by management to take a personal responsibility in improving operational safety by following policies and procedures and reporting identified hazards.” HAI strongly recommends that all aviation operations adopt a safety management system (SMS), which is endorsed by aviation regulators and safety organizations around the world as the best way to systematically manage aviation risk. SMS addresses safety culture and also incorporates an ongoing process to address identified hazards, manage risk, and improve the organization’s safety performance. HAI supports the establishment of a proactive flight-data monitoring (FDM) program by helicopter operators conducting paying-passenger aviation activities, as that data can be utilized to reduce accidents and improve safety across that industry sector. HAI supports performance-based solutions and does not recommend mandating specific equipment across all missions and platforms. “Anyone who wants to know more about improving operational safety should visit the Safety section on rotor.org, our website,” says Viola. “They’ll find a wealth of information, resources, and tools, from information on SMS to flight risk assessment tools, and much, much more. We’re also working on new safety products, such as training aids targeted to help pilots avoid IIMC accidents.” HAI leadership and staff are active members of the US Helicopter Safety Team, the Unmanned Aircraft Safety Team, and the Vertical Aviation Safety Team, and work with the FAA and other civil aviation regulators around the world on operational and safety issues. HAI regularly provides FAA-approved credits in safety education for pilots, maintenance technicians, operators, and other safety professionals, and offers safety accreditation for helicopter operations. https://www.aviationpros.com/aircraft/rotorcraft/press-release/21209767/helicopter-association-international-hai-taking-a-360degree-approach-to-helicopter-safety Development of dry fiber preforms and other technologies for Smart Rotors An important step towards more sustainable aviation, as well as parcel and passenger transport via drones, was taken with the €1.44 million grant awarded to the Smart Rotors project by the European Fund for Regional Development (EFRO). With the cooperation of InnovationQuarter, the grant enables the Dutch partners Airborne, KVE Composites, RHIA (Rotterdam The Hague Innovation Airport), Royal NLR and TU Delft to advance development of ultra-efficient propeller and rotor blades, specifically for hybrid and electric aircraft, urban air mobility (UAM) and drones. Smart Rotors: Why? The development of ‘smart rotors’ is an important step towards more sustainable aviation, less emissions and less noise pollution, as well as parcel delivery via drones and will also support the further development of UAM. Rotors can be either the blades of a propeller intended for the propulsion of aircraft or the blades of a rotor intended for the propulsion of helicopters and drones. The project aims to design the rotors for hybrid and electric aircraft and for drones so that they operate more efficiently, perform better and produce less noise. “In addition, smarter production methods are being looked into, so that future aircraft and drones can be equipped with suitable propeller and rotor blades faster and on a larger scale,” says Ruben Nahuis, technical project leader at Royal NLR. The project is part of the Next Aviation Fieldlab, which focuses on developing, testing and implementing sustainable aviation technology in a real airport environment at Rotterdam The Hague Airport (RTHA). Propellers: More efficient, less noise Densely populated areas around airports experience nuisance from flight activities, such as local climate and noise pollution. The project contributes to a reduction of local climate effects in the form of fewer emissions and less noise pollution in and around the airport, with a positive effect on the immediate living environment. Tomas Sinnige, Assistant Professor at TU Delft, explains how smart propellers contribute to the emission reduction that can be achieved: “Propellers are more energy-efficient than jet engines. The savings on fuel and thus emissions can be as much as 25% depending on the type of aircraft and the circumstances. And if you combine propellers with electric motors, you can also greatly reduce noise emissions, up to 8 to 20 decibals for regional aircraft, for example. But then you have to design the rotors in such a way that their noise emissions are minimal with the highest possible propulsion efficiency and that is exactly what we are going to investigate in this project.” More efficient production In addition, smarter production methods are being explored, so that future aircraft and drones can be equipped with suitable propeller and rotor blades with less lead time and on a larger scale. The switch to electric propulsion, perhaps even supplied with energy by hydrogen in the future, is an important step in the development of aviation. In practical terms, this often means that a device no longer has one motor with one propeller, but that a larger number of smaller electric motors are installed, each with its own propeller. “Where we used to have to make one set of rotor blades for a device, now we have to make eighteen sets of blades for a new device,” says Maarten Labordus, responsible for R&D at KVE. “The market expectation of this specific device is that hundreds of them will have to be produced per year, which also includes several thousand blades. With our current production processes, we are not automatically able to achieve these numbers.” Sarah De Smet, program manager for Smart Rotors at automation and composites production specialist Airborne agrees. “The potential market for these electric aircraft and drones is very large and therefore the production will be at a much larger scale compared to the current aviation industry numbers,” she explains. “The current production methods can support a reasonable growth but even increasing the amount of automation with the current processes will not be sufficient to support this. During this project, we will revisit the production process, develop a concept production line and work on new technologies that are required to realize this production line of the future.” Airborne’s scope includes: Concept design of a line for the manufacturing of the blades and identify the technology required to achieve this Development of technologies such as automated preforming with dry fibers Proof of concept (POC)/pilot line. The South Holland region is the aviation region “It is precisely in the region around RTHA that it is possible to develop innovations in the aviation sector,” says Miranda Janse, director RHIA. “For example, South Holland is a hotspot for aerospace activities. More than 150 companies are already working on the future of aviation. Both the surrounding area and the airport itself form the ultimate location for the realization of a testing ground and, in the longer term, the creation of an Aviation District. With this we want to strengthen the position of Dutch aviation. ” Ruben Nahuis at NLR wants to connect many facets with this project, from research to industry: “We have a very nice consortium of partners from both the research world and the industry. By making this project a success, we can assume a leading and international position in the market.” https://www.compositesworld.com/news/development-of-dry-fiber-preforms-and-other-technologies-for-smart-rotors Aviation Safety Master’s Degree Earns ‘Graduate Safety Practitioner’ Status MELBOURNE, FLA. — Florida Tech’s Online Master of Science in Aviation, Aviation Safety degree program has been approved as a Graduate Safety Practitioner (GSP) Qualified Academic Program after a review by the Board of Certified Safety Professionals. The approval means graduates may now apply to the Board for the GSP designation. “We welcome Florida Institute of Technology’s exceptional safety program and those who graduate from it,” said Christy Uden, CAE, IOM, interim CEO of the Board of Certified Safety Professionals. “Those who graduate from GSP Qualified Academic Programs have a strong foundation of knowledge that deserves recognition, and BCSP looks forward to supporting them in the development of their careers.” Debbie Carstens, graduate program chair and professor, aviation human factors, said the designation adds even more value to the program for Florida Tech students. “The GSP puts students on the fast track to becoming a Certified Safety Professional (CSP), which is recognized as being the gold standard in professional safety certification.” The GSP meets the credential requirement for the Certified Safety Professional certification, allowing those who hold the designation to waive the Associate Safety Professional (ASP) certification examination. It demonstrates accomplishment and commitment to professional development. To receive the GSP Qualified Academic Program designation, Florida Tech’s program was reviewed by BCSP and demonstrated a substantial match to the ASP exam blueprint. Any person having graduated from Florida Tech with a Master of Science in Aviation, Aviation Safety may now apply for the GSP designation within the program’s applicable dates as it appears on the QAP list. Learn more about Florida Tech’s Aviation Safety program here and find additional details on the GSP at www.bcsp.org/gsp. https://news.fit.edu/aeronautics-aviation/aviation-safety-masters-degree-earns-graduate-safety-practitioner-status/ Clean Sky 2 study emphasizes need for hydrogen-powered aviation development Hydrogen as an energy source will play a key role in transforming aviation into a zero-carbon/climate-neutral system over the next few decades. Novel and disruptive aircraft, aeroengine and systems innovations in combination with hydrogen technologies can help to reduce the global warming effect of flying by 50 to 90%. Moreover, these innovations can help to meet the drastic reduction targets for aviation emissions set out in the EU Green Deal. A new independent study, commissioned by Clean Sky 2 and Fuel Cells & Hydrogen 2 Joint Undertakings on hydrogen’s potential for use in aviation, was presented at an event on June 22, 2020 which featured Adina-Ioana Vălean, the European commissioner for Transport, and Patrick Child, deputy director-general of the Directorate-General for Research and Innovation at the European Commission, as keynote speakers, in addition to leading industry representatives Stéphane Cueille (CTO, Safran, Paris France); Glen Llewellyn (vice president of Zero Emissions Technology, Airbus, Toulouse, France); David Burns (vice president of Global Business Development, Linde, Dublin, Ireland); Per Ekdunge (executive vice president of PowerCell, Sweden); and Rolf Henke (member of the Executive Board, German Aerospace Centre - DLR). The study found that hydrogen — as a primary energy source for propulsion, either for fuel cells, direct burn in thermal (gas turbine) engines or as a building block for synthetic liquid fuels — could feasibly power aircraft with entry into service by 2035 for short-range aircraft. Indicating that it would cost less than €18 ($20) extra per person on a short-range flight, and reduce climate impact by 50-90%, the study concluded that hydrogen could play a central role in the future mix of aircraft and propulsion technologies. According to Clean Sky 2 and Fuel Cells & Hydrogen 2 Joint Undertakings, such disruptive innovation will require significant aircraft research and development, further development of fuel cell technology and liquid hydrogen tanks, as well as investment into fleet and hydrogen infrastructure and accompanying regulations and certification standards to ensure safe, reliable and economic hydrogen-powered aircraft can take to the skies. Industry experts anticipate that it will take 10 to 15 years to make these important advancements, and that as consequence, the research needs to start now. The study estimated that the first short-range hydrogen-powered demonstrator could be developed by 2028 if sufficient investments into research and innovation (R&I) are made. “Hydrogen in aviation offers many opportunities for the transformation of our aviation sector. From production, to distribution, to new aircraft designs and large-scale use, it provides numerous opportunities for European companies to be at the forefront of our industrial revolution in the years to come,” says Commissioner Adina-Ioana Vălean. The technical challenges and unique characteristics of hydrogen as an on-board energy source make it best suited to commuter, regional, short-range and medium-range aircraft. For the next decades, long-haul air travel is likely to be based on liquid hydrocarbon fuels; but increasingly these too will need to be sustainable and these ‘drop-in’ fuels will also rely on hydrogen for their production. According to the report, the following policy actions are needed: An aviation roadmap to guide the transition. This needs to set clear ambitions, align standards, coordinate infrastructure build-up, overcome market failures and encourage first movers. A strong increase in long-term R&I activities and funding. This would lead to legal and financial certainty for technology development. A long-term policy framework should lay out the rail guards for the sector, including how climate impact will be measured and how the roadmap will be implemented. “Our ultimate goal is to achieve climate-neutral aviation by 2050. Turning this ambition into reality requires the seamless integration of a range of important new technological advancements, one of which is hydrogen-powered aircraft,” says Axel Krein, executive director of Clean Sky 2 Joint Undertaking. “This comes hand in hand with priorities such as hybrid engines, more electric aircraft, ultra-efficient short- and medium-range aircraft and lighter airframes. The mix of these various game-changing technologies will help us to reach our final destination.” Emphasizing the need to turn these innovations into reality, Clean Sky 2 has outlined its roadmap to climate-neutral aviation as part of the EU’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation program in the infograph below, which indicates its ambitious environmental targets, wide ecosystem of participants and key demonstrators for greener aviation. “The cost of producing clean hydrogen came down in recent years thanks to cheaper renewable electricity and bigger and cheaper production technology,” says Bart Biebuyck, executive director of Fuel Cells & Hydrogen 2 Joint Undertaking. “At the same time, fuel cell performance in terms of durability, capacity and cost has made big steps forward. This combination has now made it possible to look to such solutions for decarbonization of the aviation industry and the results of the study are clear on the huge potential of hydrogen in aviation. The hydrogen and fuel cell sector is ready to work hand in hand with the aviation industry to design, test and produce the required components and make zero-emission aviation an everyday reality.” https://www.compositesworld.com/news/clean-sky-2-study-emphasizes-need-for-hydrogen-powered-aviation-development- Aerlytix secures partnership for roll-out of fleet monitoring solution DUBLIN, Feb. 10, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Aerlytix, the aviation finance technology specialist, has announced a partnership with FlightAware, the global provider of flight information and insights, that delivers an innovative automated fleet monitoring solution – Aerlytix Alert Tracker. The Aerlytix solution was developed by the company in Dublin for the global aviation financing industry using FlightAware's AeroAPI, a query-based engine for accessing real-time, historical and predictive aviation information. By offering access to detailed flight information, the Aerlytix Alert Tracker drives sounder metrics-based decision-making. As part of its cutting-edge technology platform, which provides industry-leading analytics, the Aerlytix Alert Tracker enables clients to gain an understanding of the performance of any aircraft where the client has an interest. Alan Doyle, CEO, Aerlytix, said: "Working with FlightAware data gives us the confidence that our clients are getting the best flight data on the market. We are delighted to collaborate with FlightAware on technology solutions that drive simplification by providing quality analytics, processes and controls to clients. Aerlytix is transforming aviation financing with disruptive technology, and this partnership is central to that." Daniel Baker, CEO, FlightAware, said: "Aerlytix's use of FlightAware's AeroAPI™ data to power-decisions made by the aviation financing industry is in lock-step with our goal of providing actionable insights through the data we synthesize. By putting the right information in the hands of decision-makers, the tool created through our partnership with Aerlytix offers a unique strategic advantage to users." Using an 'exception-based' methodology, the solution enables Aerlytix clients to maintain processes and controls when monitoring fleets, whether they are managed/owned, part of an Asset Backed Security or specific fund. The solution automatically distributes current fleet information to risk, compliance and commercial professionals without the need for creating manual reports. Aerlytix Alert Tracker automatically alerts clients when their aircraft have not flown for a specified period, when aircraft are flying again or when aircraft have flown into a jurisdiction of interest. The Aerlytix Alert Tracker simplifies processes through automation whilst delivering productivity wins by freeing resources to work on other value-added activities, and provides near-live outputs and analytics. Customer Jackson Square Aviation's Chief Technical Officer, Aidan Reynolds, has stated that "this new fleet monitoring solution works really well for us, the implementation was quick and simple." Working with FlightAware, Aerlytix looks forward to delivering additional transformative technology to ensure its clients are benefitting from the transparency this software and data provides. https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/aerlytix-secures-partnership-for-roll-out-of-fleet-monitoring-solution-301225990.html Aerion, NASA To Jointly Explore High-Mach Speeds Aerion Supersonic, which has indicated plans to explore hypersonic aircraft possibilities, is taking a step in that direction under an agreement with NASA to jointly study “high-Mach” aircraft, the company announced today. The Space Act Agreement, the third between Aerion Supersonic and NASA, will involve researching propulsion and thermal management technologies for a future generation of commercial aircraft that could operate near hypersonic speeds—between Mach 3 and Mach 5. The latest agreement expands a collaboration between Aerion and NASA that dates back to 2012. “This is a continuation of a long-standing relationship between Aerion Supersonic and NASA,” said Aerion chairman, president, and CEO Tom Vice. “At Aerion our vision is to build a future where humanity can travel between any two points on our planet within three hours. This partnership will enable the development of technologies that will help realize ultra-high-speed point-to-point global mobility solutions in the Mach 3 to 5 range.” Aerion has been developing the Mach 1.4 AS2 business jet with plans to bring the aircraft to market later this decade. But Vice told the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics Aviation Forum in June that the AS2 is just the beginning for Aerion. He detailed a vision that includes moving on to a much larger AS3 airliner and venturing into hybrid, all-electric power, and—eventually—hypersonic possibilities. “We have made significant progress on the design of our AS2 supersonic business jet, which will begin production in 2023, and this agreement with NASA will significantly add to the work our company is doing on our next-generation AS3 passenger jet.” Using Aerion’s in-house aerodynamic optimization tools, the company and NASA will explore the suitability of parameters for propulsion and thermal management technologies, as well as possibilities for enabling technologies surrounding integrated power generation and cabin systems. These optimization tools already have been used to facilitate the design of the AS2. “NASA Langley seeks to enable the next generation of commercial air transport by generating innovative concepts, capabilities, and technologies for revolutionary advances to improve efficiency and reduce environmental impact,” said Shelly Ferlemann, associate project manager for NASA’s Hypersonic Technology Project. “NASA’s Hypersonic Technology Project is looking forward to working with Aerion in the pursuit of developing these hypersonic technologies to advance future civilian transportation.” https://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/business-aviation/2021-02-09/aerion-nasa-jointly-explore-high-mach-speeds NASA picks SpaceX Falcon Heavy to launch 1st Gateway station pieces to the moon CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. — NASA has selected SpaceX to deliver the first two segments of the moon-orbiting Gateway space station for its upcoming Artemis program, which aims to put astronauts back on the moon. The elements will launch atop a Falcon Heavy rocket, sometime in 2024. The flight, which is the second to be awarded to SpaceX this week (the first was a contract worth $98.8 million to launch NASA's SPHEREx astrophysics mission) will carry the Gateway's power and habitation modules. Launching from Pad 39A at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida, the mission will cost NASA $331.8 million and is scheduled to blast off no earlier than May 2024. Once deposited in lunar orbit, the Gateway will serve as an outpost for astronauts and equipment heading to the moon as part of NASA's Artemis program. Roughly one-sixth the size of the International Space Station, the Gateway will support research investigations, crew, and expeditions to the lunar surface. The outpost will serve as a docking station for visiting spacecraft, such as NASA's Orion spacecraft and will orbit the moon, tens of thousands of miles away. It will be a pit stop on the way to the lunar surface. NASA recently paused its search for a human landing system, which will transport astronauts from the gateway down to the surface of the moon. The agency is expected to resume reviewing those bids soon. The pair of modules SpaceX will ferry into space are the power and propulsion element (PPE) and the habitation and logistics outpost (HALO), which are being built by Maxar Technologies and Northrop Grumman Space Systems, respectively. The PPE will provide the Gateway with power, enabling communications as well as helping the station move to various lunar orbits, while HALO will give astronauts a place to stay on their way to the moon. Astronauts traveling to the moon will launch aboard crew-toting capsules, like Orion, and HALO will provide docking support for those vehicles. The European Space Agency will be providing the service module for the Gateway, which includes key life support elements, including consumables like oxygen and water, as well as electricity and temperature controls. That hardware is scheduled to launch on NASA's second planned flight of its new megarocket, the Space Launch System (SLS). That mission, called Artemis 2, will be the first crewed mission of the Artemis program. It is scheduled to launch four astronauts on a loop around the moon in 2023, in preparation for a 2024 moon landing with the Artemis 3 mission. The first SLS flight, scheduled to launch in late 2021, will be an uncrewed test flight around the moon. Officials at ESA have said that the life support systems on the Gateway will be able to host visiting astronauts for up to 90 days at a time. NASA's Johnson Space Center in Texas will manage the Gateway program, while the agency's Launch Services Program (LSP) at Kennedy Space Center will manage the launch. https://www.space.com/spacex-falcon-heavy-to-launch-nasa-lunar-gateway-modules Curt Lewis