April 26, 2021 - No. 32 In This Issue : Luminar Takes to the Skies in Partnership With World’s Largest Aviation Company : JetBlue Technology Ventures Invests in Universal Hydrogen to Support the Airline’s Ambitious Sustainability Strategy : Urban Air Mobility and eVTOLs are getting ready for takeoff : SEAS professor receives grant from NASA to develop safety system for pilotless planes : NAS and Colossal Africa to Acquire South Africa’s Largest Ground Handler – BidAir Services : Full-Scale Operation of AI Volcanic Ash Detection System for Aviation Market Begins : Airbus Set To Launch New Narrowbody A320 Replacement By Early 2030s : This New 8-Seat Electric Airplane Costs 80% Less to Fly Than Conventional Aircraft : Embry-Riddle Business Competition Gives Student-Run Startups a Boost : Oklahoma aerospace company developing solar-powered drone that could fly for months without landing : Mars helicopter Ingenuity goes long distance in 3rd flight on Red Planet Luminar Takes to the Skies in Partnership With World’s Largest Aviation Company ORLANDO, Fla.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Today, Luminar Technologies, Inc. (NASDAQ; LAZR), the global leader in automotive lidar hardware and software technology unveiled its partnership with Airbus UpNext, Airbus SE’s subsidiary created to give future flight technologies a development fast-track by building, evaluating, maturing and validating new products and services that encompass radical technological breakthroughs. The effort is part of the new Airbus Flightlab ecosystem launched in January 2021 that spans across the entire scope of Airbus’ business lines, and uses flight testing as the principal means of proving out a variety of future technologies. The collaboration with Luminar will see teams of experts from both companies working closely to enhance sensing, perception, and system-level capabilities to ultimately enable safe, autonomous flight. “As the world’s largest aircraft manufacturer, Airbus has a long history of actively setting a new bar for the future of the aerospace industry, and the Luminar partnership with Airbus UpNext only furthers that trend,” said Austin Russell, CEO and Founder of Luminar Technologies. “We’re able to directly re-apply what we’ve accomplished for the automotive industry into aviation, an established nearly $1 trillion industry. We believe that automation and safety enhancements will transform how we move across all modes of transport as we take our technology from roads to the skies. We look forward to accelerating our shared vision to define the future of flying.” The primary goal of the platform is to increase aircraft safety and ultimately enable autonomous operation with automatic obstacle detection. Luminar’s technology is based on its high performance lidar sensors, which emit millions of pulses of laser light to accurately detect where objects are by scanning the environment in 3D. It is key in enabling future aviation technologies including autonomous urban air mobility (UAM) transport modes because it serves as a central basis for safe takeoff, landing, and in-flight decision making. It also has the potential to substantially improve the safety of existing aircraft applications. “Partnering with Luminar, an industry leader in safe autonomous technologies, will help us define and explore the next step towards more autonomous flight vehicles,” said Dr. Sandra Bour Schaeffer, CEO of Airbus UpNext and Head of Airbus Group Demonstrators. About Luminar Luminar is an autonomous vehicle sensor and software company with the vision to make autonomy safe and ubiquitous by delivering the only lidar and associated software that meets the industry’s stringent performance, safety, and economic requirements. Luminar has rapidly gained over 50 industry partners, including 8 of the top 10 global automakers. Last year, Luminar signed the industry’s first production deal for autonomous consumer vehicles with Volvo Cars, while also recently striking deals with Daimler Truck AG and Intel’s Mobileye. Luminar has also received minority investments from the world’s largest commercial vehicle manufacturer, Daimler Truck AG, and Volvo Cars, a global leader in automotive safety, to accelerate the introduction of autonomous trucks and cars at highway speed. Founded in 2012, Luminar is a nearly 400-person team with offices in Palo Alto, Orlando, Colorado Springs, Detroit, and Munich. For more information please visit www.luminartech.com. https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210426005553/en/Luminar-Takes-to-the-Skies-in-Partnership-With-World%E2%80%99s-Largest-Aviation-Company JetBlue Technology Ventures Invests in Universal Hydrogen to Support the Airline’s Ambitious Sustainability Strategy JetBlue Technology Ventures (JTV), the venture capital subsidiary of JetBlue Airways, today announced its investment in Universal Hydrogen, the company fueling carbon-free flight, as part of its $20.5M Series A funding round. The financing allows Universal Hydrogen to accelerate the development of its hydrogen logistics network and regional aircraft conversion kits, and bolsters its burgeoning commercial activities. JTV’s primary goal is to better position JetBlue with startup-led innovation set to disrupt the travel industry, ultimately helping JetBlue chart a path toward net zero emissions. JTV supports JetBlue’s ambitious sustainability strategy and targets by investing in technology focusing on advanced methods of measuring and reducing emissions, improved environmental protections, and game-changing transportation. In 2020 JetBlue became the first U.S. airline to achieve carbon neutrality for all domestic flying, today primarily through carbon offsets while the industry builds up lower-carbon technologies to reduce direct emissions. Universal Hydrogen is building a fuel distribution network that connects hydrogen production directly to the airplane using modular capsules that are transported using the existing freight network, avoiding the need for costly new pipelines, storage facilities, and fuel trucks. The company is also developing conversion kits to retrofit existing 40-60 passenger regional airplanes with a hydrogen fuel cell powertrain. “Our investment in Universal Hydrogen is highly aligned with JetBlue’s environmental objectives, and this partnership allows the airline a seat at the table in the fast-developing hydrogen for aviation sector and provides valuable insight into the options, progress, and viability of hydrogen to help decarbonize aircraft operations,” said Jim Lockheed, Investment Principal at JTV. Universal Hydrogen was founded in 2020 by aviation industry veterans Paul Eremenko, John-Paul Clarke, Jason Chua, and Jon Gordon. First commercial flights are planned no later than 2025, with operating costs equivalent to those of conventional hydrocarbon-burning airplanes and decreasing rapidly thereafter. “We see the near-term decarbonization of regional aviation as a first step and catalyst, setting the whole industry on a path to meeting Paris Agreement emissions targets. Hydrogen is today the only viable fuel for getting to true zero emissions in commercial aviation, and our goal is to de-risk the decision for Airbus, Boeing, and COMAC to make their next new airplane in the 2030s a hydrogen-powered one,” said Paul Eremenko, Universal Hydrogen co-founder and CEO. The financing was led by Playground Global, and other investors include Fortescue Future Industries, Coatue, Global Founders Capital, Plug Power, Airbus Ventures, Toyota AI Ventures, Sojitz Corporation, and Future Shape. About JetBlue Technology Ventures JetBlue Technology Ventures invests in and partners with early stage startups innovating in the travel, transportation, and hospitality industries. The company prioritizes investments that advance the seamless customer-centric journey; technology powered customer service; the future of operations and maintenance; distribution, loyalty, and revenue management; and evolving regional travel. Founded in 2016, JetBlue Technology Ventures is a wholly-owned subsidiary of JetBlue and is located in Silicon Valley, California. For more information, visit www.JetBlueVentures.com. About Universal Hydrogen Universal Hydrogen is making hydrogen-powered commercial flight a near-term reality. The company takes a flexible, scalable, and capital-light approach to hydrogen logistics by transporting it in modular capsules over the existing freight network from green production sites to airports around the world. To accelerate market adoption, Universal Hydrogen is also developing a conversion kit to retrofit existing regional airplanes with a hydrogen-electric powertrain compatible with its modular capsule technology. https://metroairportnews.com/jetblue-technology-ventures-invests-in-universal-hydrogen-to-support-the-airlines-ambitious-sustainability-strategy/ Urban Air Mobility and eVTOLs are getting ready for takeoff NASHUA, N.H. - Companies large and small are betting big on electronic vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft. eVTOL efforts are being led by traditional avionics and aerospace companies like Honeywell and Airbus with significant interest expressed by companies that are not traditionally in the air travel sector. eVTOL aircraft utilize electric motors to achieve lift with rotors to move one or more passengers across relatively short distance, like to and from airports or across cities in what the industry refers to as Urban Air Mobility (UAM). eVTOL aircraft are generally designed to fly autonomously or remotely piloted. China's EHang is credited by the Vertical Flight Society (VFS) with fielding the first functional UAM air taxi service at the end of 2019. In the span of approximately five years, the VFS has cataloged more than 200 eVTOL designs. To get significant buy-in from would-be passengers, UAM design partners need to assure people that flying in an autonomous electric aircraft in urban skies is safe. Thankfully, simulation software has gotten sophisticated enough that designers can run their aircraft through an incredible number of scenarios and flight conditions and have a very strong degree of surety before a real motor is even attached to an aircraft. Of course, even if the UAM aircraft has demonstrated safety in tests and simulations, regulators like the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) or the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) will still need to keep a close eye on this young sector as it comes into fruition. Speaking to Intelligent Aerospace in the fall of 2019, Paolo Colombo, who is the Aerospace and Defense Global Industry Director at ANSYS, explained that software helps tackle flight in a unique arena. "This is bringing us the capability to analyze functional safety in a unique environment," ANSYS' Colombo said. "We acquired a number of companies recently in order to create the UAM-specific platform that will be very important for urban air development. We are creating more robustness with full automation. On average, our customers saw a 55% decrease in effort and time to perform functional safety analysis." Colombo continued, "The industry doesn't have 50 years or more of experience using this technology - automated systems and sensors. We now have more than 30 antennas on a fuselage. You have to find a way to test them, to verify it and certify it. That’s a huge, huge challenge. Nobody has a clear idea of how to do that. There are new ways everyone is exploring. Given that there isn't a single workflow for certification, the FAA and EASA are asking companies for more functional safety analysis and to prove that they have done failure analysis and mitigated that risk as much as possible. They decide if this company can move on or not. This is where we are with this new technology." Colombo explained that aerospace companies are in discussion with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) as UAM technology comes to the fore, and that it should be changing the way companies think. "We have a huge number of new technologies that are coming so fast,” Colombo told Intelligent Aerospace in 2019. “This is really changing the way the industry should think. If you aren't using these technologies, even if you are one of the leading companies in the industry, you risk falling behind." In the past two years, companies outside the normal aerospace industry have heeded Colombo’s advice to get onboard with UAM, and have gotten significant buy-in from automotive giants like Toyota and Hyundai and even sports car specialists like Porsche and luxury automaker Mercedes-Benz. Porsche Consulting forecasted that the urban air mobility market will pick up speed after 2025. The study also indicates that urban air mobility (UAM) solutions will transport passengers more quickly and efficiently than current conventional means of terrestrial transport, at a lower cost and with greater flexibility. In 2019, Porsche announced that it was partnering with Boeing to get its foot in the door with UAM. It appears we are nearing the moment where UAM and eVTOL passenger craft becomes ready for takeoff. Will the massive effort by numerous companies pay off with a disruptive new way to traverse cities? We’ll soon find out. https://www.intelligent-aerospace.com/unmanned/article/14202048/urban-air-mobility-and-evtols-are-getting-ready-for-takeoff SEAS professor receives grant from NASA to develop safety system for pilotless planes An engineering professor received a $2.5 million grant from NASA to develop the first-ever safety system for small self-flying airplanes last month. Peng Wei, an assistant professor of mechanical and aerospace engineering, received the three-year NASA System-Wide Safety grant to develop a safety system for air mobility vehicles – small pilotless passenger airplanes that people will be able to use as an “air taxi” for transportation in the sky. Wei said he is creating a system that will make urban air mobility, the use of autonomous planes in the sky, safe and effective at alleviating traffic congestion on the ground in cities. “The first part is basically we will build a system and the second part is the application or the problem, which is how do we ensure all those advanced air mobility airplanes or new airplanes safely fly in an urban environment,” he said. Wei said he will work with a team of 13 researchers from Vanderbilt University, the University of Texas-Austin and MIT’s Lincoln Lab who will study weather airspace safety risks and use statistical methods to judge changes to the system’s performance over time. He said they will work with NASA’s Aeronautics Research Mission Directorate, which focuses on developing more innovative and safer aviation technology. Wei said the system he’s developing will support planes that are electrically powered, pilotless and much smaller than traditional airplanes, which, like an Uber, can carry passengers from one location in the city to another. He said these characteristics make the planes much more susceptible to dangers, like adverse weather and battery degradation, than traditional airline industry planes. “Because they are not as heavy and not as powerful as our traditional airplanes, they are very vulnerable to adverse weather, so that’s why we want to focus on the first hazard, which is adverse weather,” Wei said. “And number two, because these vehicles are powered by electricity and not traditionally gas-powered, that’s why we are focused on the electrical components’ faults or degradation like battery degradation or propeller faults.” Wei said he hopes the safety system can mitigate an operational risk in which the autonomous planes could become “non-cooperative” and invade other planes’ corridors – the “highway lanes” in the sky. Wei said GW’s share of the NASA grant will fund expenses for equipment like small unmanned aerial vehicles, weather sensors that could help avoid aircraft collisions, tuition and monthly stipend costs for his team of three doctoral students and a month of his summer salary. He said his team and the other researchers plan to integrate the pieces of the system that they build with the pieces from NASA to complete the first model of this safety system in about two and a half years. He said the project will help establish GW’s name in the aviation safety industry and the innovation of Artificial Intelligence machine learning autonomy technologies. He said being stationed in the District can enhance new technology development because lawmakers in Congress and regulators with agencies like the Federal Aviation Administration can recognize the value of these new technologies and eventually implement them. “We are in the right location, right time and are working with the right teams in developing AI machine learning autonomy, so we are very excited to be working on this project,” he said. Experts in engineering said this research on the safety of advanced air mobility vehicles in urban environments can contribute to the evolution of safe and innovative future air technologies. Gautam Biswas, a professor of computer science and computer engineering at Vanderbilt University who serves on the research team, said researchers will use a simulation that can model urban landscapes and a simulation of an unmanned aerial vehicle drone to test the vehicle’s safety system’s software. He said the team will need to transition their virtual work to the physical parts of the safety system carefully because not all components of the physical system will work the same virtually. Biswas said creating a safety system for advanced air mobility vehicles can help to alleviate traffic congestion on the ground to make cities less congested. Americans lose an average of 99 hours a year to traffic, according to the U.S. News and World Report. “Why it would be very useful to have these unmanned aerial vehicles is getting people around you to significantly reduce the congestion in cities, and that has many advantages as you’re saving time because these are all electric,” Biswas said. Daniel DeLaurentis, a professor of aeronautics and astronautics in engineering at Purdue University, said Wei’s research is “extremely important and beneficial” because it will guide the safe implementation of pilotless passenger planes. He said the team will have to rely heavily on simulation and assumptions that might fail as the first group to design this kind of safety aviation system for autonomous planes. “No one has a crystal ball, so some of the assumptions may not be accurate, and that is a real challenge,” he said. https://www.gwhatchet.com/2021/04/26/seas-professor-receives-grant-from-nasa-to-develop-safety-system-for-pilotless-planes/ NAS and Colossal Africa to Acquire South Africa’s Largest Ground Handler – BidAir Services South Africa’s largest ground handling company, BidAir Services will be changing hands. National Aviation Services (NAS), Colossal Africa and a consortium comprised of the current executive management team have signed an agreement to acquire BidAir Services from the Bidvest Group. The closing of the acquisition is subject to fulfilling final requirements from the Airports Company of South Africa (ACSA) that manages South African airports as well as other regulatory approvals. BidAir Services provides quality-handling services including passenger and ramp handling, load control and operations, cleaning, toilet and water services, amongst others at nine South African airports. The airports include three main international gateways - O.R. Tambo International in Johannesburg, Cape Town International and King Shaka International in Durban. BidAir’s clientele of more than 28 major airlines includes international carriers such as Emirates, Etihad Airways, British Airways, Qatar Airways, Singapore Airlines, Air France, Ethiopian Airlines and RwandAir. Once the transaction is complete and regulatory approvals are obtained, BidAir Services will join the largest airport services network in Africa – NAS. Discussing the acquisition, Hassan El-Houry, group CEO of NAS said: “NAS prides itself on its global expertise and local knowledge. We believe that the success of the aviation industry in Africa is tied to its economic prosperity and have made significant investments into the industry across the continent. We look forward to adding BidAir Services, the largest South African ground handling company to our expanding network.” NAS and Colossal Africa are committed to investing into the development of facilities and infrastructure, latest equipment, technology, recruitment and training. Green technology and paperless digital platforms will also be an important part of the operational landscape. The inclusion of the executive management team as part of the acquiring group will also ensure that there is a smooth transition to the new owners with no disruption to the excellent services that BidAir’s clients have become accustomed. El-Houry emphasized: “BidAir Services is known for its excellent customer service. With its experienced management team and dedicated workforce, we can add value by reinforcing its capabilities, training and investment into the company to further enhance its position in the local market. With NAS, Colossal Africa and BidAir Services joining hands, we will ensure the highest level of airport handling services in South Africa. ”Following the acquisition, NAS will also focus on training to develop the knowledge and skills of local South African youth while offering more employment opportunities and career options with an emphasis on employment equity. One of the key offerings will also include the integration of IT and healthcare to support civil aviation and government authorities during emergencies such as the current COVID-19 pandemic. Established in 2003, NAS is one of the leading aviation service providers in 20 countries across Africa, South Asia and the Middle East. El-Houry added: “NAS is the largest ground handler in Africa and this acquisition will further cement our position in the continent’s largest market. We will be growing our footprint with a presence in over 55 airports, managing more than 50 lounges with over 8,000 employees of 65 different nationalities at the core of our worldwide network.” Cingashe Motale, director of Colossal Africa highlighted: “As a 100% black-women owned (BWO) Investment Holdings company - managed and operating in the South African market - our strategy focuses on the development of local capabilities while building a globally competitive company through strategic acquisitions and partnerships in our chosen sectors. This transaction involves all the elements that form part of that strategy and working with a partner of such caliber as NAS puts us on a path that fits all the pieces together.” Colossal Africa is a Level-1 B-BBEE company that focuses on identifying and investing in economically viable business opportunities in various and very strategic sectors that range from - but are not limited to - aviation, infrastructure and logistics. This acquisition in particular will allow Colossal Africa to contribute towards the sustainability of the air transport system on the African continent. https://www.aviationpros.com/ground-handling/ground-handlers-service-providers/press-release/21220043/national-aviation-services-nas-nas-and-colossal-africa-to-acquire-south-africas-largest-ground-handler-bidair-services Full-Scale Operation of AI Volcanic Ash Detection System for Aviation Market Begins Weathernews Inc. has commenced operation of a "AI volcanic ash detection system" that detects volcanic eruptions using proprietary AI image analysis technology. This system is the first in the world that uses satellite imagery to detect eruptions and track volcanic ash cloud movements in real-time using AI. By introducing it into the volcanic ash diffusion prediction methods employed by the Weathernews Terrestrial Center for airlines, it will be possible to detect small-scale eruptions that were previously difficult to detect. Weathernews Inc. will contribute further to the safety of the aviation industry by providing real-time eruption information to airlines operating near volcanoes. World's First AI Technology to Automatically Recognize Volcanic Ash Clouds Many experts, including the Terrestrial Center in our company, are currently using satellite imagery to detect and monitor volcanic ash clouds from active volcanoes around the world. However, in the case of small-scale eruptions, volcanic ash clouds are often overshadowed by clouds from the viewpoint of satellites, and it does not erupt frequently, making it difficult to notice eruptions in areas that are not monitored. For this reason, our company has developed a AI volcanic ash detection system that uses its own AI image analysis technology to recognize images of volcanic eruptions and volcanic ash clouds. This system has been put into full operation at our Terrestrial Center. This system is the first in the world to be capable of real-time image recognition of volcanic ash clouds from gaps in clouds using AI, using satellite images that overlook the entire earth. AI image analysis technology uses modeling to distinguish subtle differences between clouds and volcanic ash clouds, such as shape and texture. By using this system, even small eruptions that were previously difficult to detect can be detected more quickly and accurately from between clouds, and volcanic ash diffusion can be predicted more quickly. In the future, we will further evaluate and improve the accuracy of smoke detection in small to large-scale eruptions. In addition to satellite images, the system will also detect images from our company's own live cameras installed near the volcano, and will also provide predictions on the spread of volcanic smoke in real time. ACOS service monitors volcanoes around the world and helps aircraft operate safely Smoke from volcanic eruptions can endanger aircraft flight, causing poor visibility and damage to aircraft and engines. In 2010, Iceland's Eyjafjallajokull glacier erupted, forcing the closure of airports in about 30 countries and forcing the cancellation of many flights. NEWS RELEASE Real-Time Detection of Volcanic Eruptions Using AI Image Analysis Technology Full-Scale Operation of AI Volcanic Ash Detection System for Aviation Market Begins Recognition of volcanic smoke through satellite imagery immediately following volcanic eruptionTaking this opportunity, our company has started to provide its own volcanic ash detection and diffusion prediction service (ACOS) for the aviation market. This service is a unique service of our company that monitors volcanoes all over the world and quickly provides its own diffusion prediction when an eruption occurs. They are quick to announce where the volcano erupted, how the volcanic ash cloud flows, its scale and the arrival time. Currently, it is offered mainly to airlines operating in Japan and Southeast Asia where there are many active volcanoes. Airlines make their flight decisions based on information released by public agencies, but this service can also be used as reference information, and it will be possible to consider measures such as changing flight plans and notifying aircraft on the route more quickly. https://www.aviationpros.com/aircraft/commercial-airline/press-release/21220077/fullscale-operation-of-ai-volcanic-ash-detection-system-for-aviation-market-begins Airbus Set To Launch New Narrowbody A320 Replacement By Early 2030s The A320 family has been a great success for Airbus. In service since 1988, it has overtaken the 737 in narrowbody orders (but not deliveries). There have been many upgrades and developments, most notably, of course, the A320neo. The next version could be a new clean-sheet design, according to Airbus. And possibly in service in the early 2030s. Changes to narrowbodies The Airbus A320 and Boeing 737 dominate narrowbody fleets today. The 737 has been in service since 1968 and the A320 since 1988. Both have moved through several variants but have never had a full redesign. This has advantages in development cost, certification, and commonality for airline fleets. But there comes a time when a clean-sheet design makes sense to build in new improvements. Both Airbus and Boeing may do this over the coming decade. There has been plenty of discussion about a New Midsize Airplane (NMA) from Boeing, dubbed the 797. This was expected to be larger than the 757, but most likely a widebody. As of 2020, these plans have been put on hold. There have also been proposals from Boeing for a potential Future Small Airplane (FSA), building on the 737 MAX with a new design allowing additional fuel storage. A return to the 787-3 variant with a new 787X is also a possibility. Development of any proposal has been held up by the pandemic and the 737 MAX grounding, but we are likely to see some plans firmed up as the industry recovers post-COVID. An A320 replacement by 2035 There has been less discussion about a replacement for the A320 from Airbus. With the A321LR entering service and the A321XLR promising a lot when it starts flying, the A320 family still has plenty left to offer. But there are already plans at Airbus for a replacement. Speaking at the Dubai Air Show in 2019, Airbus chief executive Guillaume Faury explained his thoughts about a new aircraft. As reported by FlightGlobal, he said: “I would consider the launch of a [single-aisle] programme in the second half of the next decade and entry into service in the early 2030s. We are at a point of time where we see a number of major changes impacting aviation, and they will probably impact the single-aisle business first.” The development of a new aircraft will, according to Faury, be driven by improvements in both aircraft and production technology. He sees advances and more digitalization in production as critical to the launch of a new aircraft. New aircraft technology and engines Of course, a big focus of the coming decades will be new fuel and aircraft propulsion systems. The A320neo series already made significant improvements in fuel efficiency over the A320ceo. The next generation will look to take this further with new engine technology. Work is underway across the aviation industry on both electric and hydrogen-powered aircraft. For large commercial aircraft, hybrid-electric or hydrogen power are the most likely initial options. There is still much progress needed in battery technology before this becomes realistic. Airbus is exploring hybrid and hydrogen possibilities through its ZEROe aircraft program. This program looks at three new aircraft designs based on hydrogen power. Airbus hopes to have the first of these in service by 2035 and will select the aircraft type to be developed in 2024-2025. It seems likely that any new engine options for an A320 replacement will line up with this zero-emission project. But we are very unlikely to see a full hydrogen-powered replacement for the A320 as early as 2035. A hybrid-electric propulsion system, however, is a likely option. Airbus has already looked at this with the E-Fan X hybrid project, but this was dropped in 2020. Rolls-Royce, however, has continued its work on electric engines that came out of the project. France is supportive France, where the main office of Airbus is held, also shares that it plans to have an Airbus A320 successor by 2030. The French government is set to invest significantly in developing the aircraft as it hopes to achieve a zero-carbon vehicle. Notably, €15bn ($17bn) will be injected into the country’s aerospace sector over the next few years. Ultimately, the backing of France has been ramped up amid support due to the pandemic. While the country’s airline industry is also receiving assistance from authorities, aircraft manufacturing will also receive a considerable slice of the pie. The nation has ambitions to hydrogen fuel by 2035. So, Airbus’ concepts in this field could turn into reality with strong backing. Could we see single-pilot operation? Another interesting idea that has been raised for an A320 replacement is a single-pilot narrowbody. FlightGlobal discussed this with Airbus’s innovation arm, Acubed, in August 2020. Its chief executive, Mark Cousin, told FlightGlobal how he saw this as part of the future for single-aisle aircraft and how the company had started early tests with a Beechcraft aircraft. He said: “We certainly believe that the next generation of single-aisle aircraft will be single-pilot capable. This is really long-term preparation for… this technology to be mature enough to be integrated into the development of the next-generation of single-aisle aircraft.” Such an aircraft will require a system capable of flying and landing without a pilot. This will use autonomous neural network technology that learns from image data to make decisions as a human pilot would. Work is underway, but it is early stages. This is not something we are going to see in full use by 2035. Cousin explains his view that a future A320 narrowbody, whilst being dual-pilot as airlines and regulators are used to, may incorporate the technology for single-pilot operation. Efficiency is key Altogether, fuel efficiency has always been a driving factor in the introduction of new aircraft over the decades. Airlines are continually looking for ways to cut emissions and save costs. However, with the global health crisis highlighting how rapidly business models can be shaken up, even the smallest percentage in change can make all the difference. Moreover, the aviation industry is unanimously striving to cut down on emissions by the 2030s, which is contributing even more to the race for better fuel efficiency. Airbus has a strong track record of improving efficiency with its new introductions. So, it wouldn’t be a surprise to find out that the company launches a model with significant savings for airlines operating next decade. https://simpleflying.com/airbus-a320-replacement/ This New 8-Seat Electric Airplane Costs 80% Less to Fly Than Conventional Aircraft Bye Aerospace’s eFlyer 800 is a clean-sheet design that will carry eight people, including one or two pilots. The 800 will have two motors, powered by a grid of electric cells across the airframe. This is the third model in a lineup of electric planes from the Denver-based aerospace firm, but the first with two motors. The eFlyer 2 is a two-seater for professional flight training that was developed when the company launched in 2014, and the eFlyer 4, a four-seater for air taxi and advanced training, came later. Both models have more than 360 orders each. “The eFlyer 800 is the first all-electric propulsion technology airplane that achieves twin-turboprop performance and safety with no CO2 and extremely low operating costs,” said CEO George E. Bye in a statement. The eFlyer 800 is Bye’s response to the growing demand for all-electric aircraft that can deliver local and regional flights, but with greater capacity and capabilities, at a substantially lower operating cost than traditional fossil fuel aircraft. The eFlyer 800 is expected to have a range of up to 575 miles, with 45 minutes of reserve battery charge for its motors, and an operational ceiling of 35,000 feet. The plane is projected to have a speedy ascent of up to 3,400 feet per minute, cruise at 322 mph, and reach 368 mph. Bye said that puts it among the top five fastest twin-engine turboprops. More importantly, it will be flown at only one fifth the cost of a comparable aircraft running on fossil fuel, with little noise and zero CO2 emissions. The company is counting on high motor and aerodynamic efficiencies, which it believes will be twice as high as a traditional turboprop, or smaller aircraft. This level of performance is expected to translate into 80 percent savings in operational costs, based on evidence produced by its own eFlyer2, which has $23 of hourly operating costs compared to $110 by a comparable turboprop plane. “This type of remarkable economy and performance is made possible by the electric propulsion system and advanced battery cell technology that results in significantly higher energy densities,” says Bye. The aircraft’s ENGINeUS motors and the GENeUSGRID electric distribution and network protection system are being designed by Safran, whose collaboration with Bye Aerospace started about seven years ago with the development of its first two electric models. Both companies are still evaluating which electric powertrain will be most efficient, considering Safran’s portfolio includes motors that deliver power ranging from 50kW to 500kW, and even 1MW. Standard safety features include a full airplane parachute and two wing-mounted motors—as opposed to only one mounted on the nose—and dual redundant motor windings. Uninterrupted power supply will be delivered by quad-redundant battery packs. Additional features, depending on development and certification, could include supplemental power solar cells, an emergency auto-landing system, terrain avoidance, and an option for in-wheel electric taxi to conserve power. The eFlyer 800’s cabin is comparable to its peers in the twin-engine turboprop class, exceeding some competitors and close to others. With two motors and a high operational ceiling to take it above inclement weather, the plane will not only be welcomed for private use but could be used for air taxi and charter services. No price was announced. https://robbreport.com/motors/aviation/bye-aerospace-eflyer-800-electric-airplane-1234609755/ Embry-Riddle Business Competition Gives Student-Run Startups a Boost For the fifth consecutive year, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University’s Research Park and Center for Entrepreneurship hosted the Launch Your Venture competition, sponsored by Boeing HorizonX, offering student-CEOs from across Florida and their teams the opportunity to pitch business ideas to industry experts for a chance to win a portion of $18,000 in seed funding. The first-place winner, Swally, a budgeting app company from Stetson University, took home $10,000. Make-Print, a decentralized 3D-printing firm from the Florida Institute of Technology, won second place and $5,000. And BrainForce, a company from the University of Florida that is designing a hands-free computer mouse platform, won $3,000 for its third-place finish. For Dr. Mike Bowers, director of the Center of Entrepreneurship, though, the competition is about much more than funding. “The prize money is helpful, it’s useful, but the advice and counsel … can bring as much value, and sometimes more value, than the dollars,” he said, following the last of six presentations delivered virtually at this year’s Launch Your Venture. In-kind services awarded include mentorship, business plan and account help, networking opportunities and more. The judges panel — comprised of Beckett Jackson, investing director for Boeing HorizonX Ventures; Brian Degenarro, vice president of sales and marketing for Unison Industries; Tony Mann, chairman and CEO of Signet LLC; Joe Hepburn, director of aftermarket products for Texton Aviation; and Sean Cummings, founder/vice president of Mokavia Aerospace — also conducted question-and-answer sessions following each presentation, offering advice on what aspects of each business plan could be improved. “Embry-Riddle hosts this competition to shine a spotlight on the emerging aviation, aerospace, and engineering companies in Florida,” said Dr. Stephanie Miller, executive director of Technology Transfer and Research Park Initiatives. “Beyond the prizes, many of our competitors connect with our judges afterwards for feedback, mentorship and investment opportunities. And some of the teams end up in our MicaPlex Technology Business Incubator where we can help them grow and succeed in the long-term.” Since the start of Launch Your Venture, $90,000 in prize money and over 120 hours of in-kind consultation services have been awarded. The first winner of Launch Your Venture, Sensatek Propulsion Technology, manufactures wireless, high-temperature sensors for harsh environments, such as the blades of a jet engine. Sensatek joined the MicaPlex incubator in 2017 and has since raised over $4.5 million in grant and equity-based funding, as well as established partnerships with major engine manufacturers across the world. Another competitor from Embry-Riddle, GRD Biomechanics, won first place in 2018. Their patented 3D-printed knee brace is manufactured and distributed from their headquarters in Daytona Beach, Florida. https://news.erau.edu/headlines/embry-riddle-business-competition-gives-student-run-startups-a-boost Oklahoma aerospace company developing solar-powered drone that could fly for months without landing Imagine an aircraft that can remain in the sky for months without having to land and refuel. That's the dream envisioned by Robert Miller, CEO of Skydweller Aero, an Oklahoma-based company developing an autonomous airplane powered by the sun. It's an ambitious and potentially lucrative idea that could be used for weather monitoring, surveillance or even communication networks. For the company's successful first test flight last week in Spain, Skydweller Aero used the Solar Impulse 2, an aircraft already notable for its around-the-world flight using only solar power. Before they can run with an autonomous drone, they must first walk with a test pilot on board. It's like testing a self-driving car for the first time, Miller said. How is autonomous software tested? "We're kind of doing the same thing except for an aircraft. In this case, it's fly straight and level, speed up, speed down and turn left, turn right, circle, all that kind of stuff," he said. "We're on track by this fall to have a fully autonomous aircraft." Some of the software is being developed in Oklahoma by a small team of engineers. By 2024, the company plans to employ 120 engineers and technicians in the state. Skydweller Aero's Oklahoma contingent also works on structural design and systems engineering. In a news conference with Gov. Kevin Stitt last year, Miller announced he would establish his headquarters in Ardmore. There's a possibility that some flight tests could occur in the United States, he said. "The eventual goal is that, for our U.S. government customers, we will be doing at least final assembly, some manufacturing, in Ardmore and doing the modifications of the aircraft for the U.S. government in Ardmore," he said. That will require some test flights there, Miller added. Clay Pearce, director of structural engineering and manufacturing, said these early flight tests involve significant contributions from the human on board. That will change over the next few months, though, as humans on the ground build autonomous software. "The pilot is going to have a smaller and smaller role of actually flying the aircraft and become more just monitoring, if you will, until the aircraft is able to take off, do fairly complex maneuvers and land all on its own," Pearce said. Need for aerospace engineers in Oklahoma Skydweller Aero is one of several burgeoning aerospace companies looking for aerospace engineers. The industry has enough potential in Oklahoma that a trio of colleges are offering a program to help engineers who don't have an aerospace background bridge the gap into a new career. As part of the new Aerospace and Cybersecurity Center of Workforce Excellence, Rose State College, Tulsa Community College and Oklahoma State University Institute of Technology will offer non-credit certification courses later this spring. “The Aerospace and Cybersecurity Center of Workforce Excellence is meant to be a collaborative effort between educators and industry partners to advance this vital sector of the Oklahoma economy, and we are well-positioned to make an immediate impact as we launch our efforts,” said Rose State Vice President of External Affairs Tamara Pratt. Much like how Oklahoma oil and gas industry manufacturers are seeking new customers in aerospace and aviation, engineers with experience in the oil field could make the same transition. "I think engineering basics are the same," Pearce said. "In any field, there's difficulty in transitional fields and in aerospace, there are definitely some nuances that would make it more difficult. That also depends, as always, on the mentoring and training." Miller said despite a proactive congressional delegation and state leadership pushing the aerospace industry, there's still work that needs to be done. Most of Oklahoma's aerospace output in recent years has been on maintenance, repair and overhaul. Both the commercial and defense sectors have a large MRO presence here with Tinker Air Force Base in Midwest City and the American Airlines Base Maintenance Center in Tulsa. "What we need to build is more of the higher-tech development, cutting edge technology in aviation and space," Miller said. "Do we need more? Absolutely. Are we heading in the right direction? I believe the current leadership is doing an excellent job of transitioning Oklahoma into where we can move the economic engine of aerospace and defense." https://www.oklahoman.com/story/business/2021/04/24/solar-powered-drone-developed-oklahoma-aerospace-test-flight/7304711002/ Mars helicopter Ingenuity goes long distance in 3rd flight on Red Planet Make it a hat trick on the Red Planet for NASA's Mars helicopter Ingenuity. The 4-lb. (1.8 kilograms) chopper aced its third-ever Martian flight early this morning (April 25), adding to its already impressive resume. "Third flight in the history books." officials at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Southern California wrote on Twitter. "Our #MarsHelicopter continues to set records, flying faster and farther. The space chopper is demonstrating critical capabilities that could enable the addition of an aerial dimension to future missions to Mars & beyond." And today's sortie was significantly more complex than Ingenuity's previous two flights, which took place on Monday (April 19) and Thursday (April 22), respectively. On its historic, 39-second debut hop — the first powered, controlled flight for an aircraft on a world beyond Earth — the solar-powered helicopter went straight up and down and reached a maximum altitude of about 16.5 feet (5 meters). Ingenuity went about that high on flight number two but stayed up for nearly 52 seconds and moved side-to-side a total of 13 feet (4 m). "For the third flight, we're targeting the same altitude, but we are going to open things up a bit, too, increasing our max airspeed from 0.5 meters per second to 2 meters per second (about 4.5 mph) as we head 50 meters (164 feet) north and return to land at Wright Brothers Field," Ingenuity chief pilot Håvard Grip, of NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) in Southern California, wrote in a blog post Friday (April 23). (The Ingenuity team named the chopper's flight zone after aviation pioneers Wilbur and Orville Wright.) "We're planning for a total flight time of about 80 seconds and a total distance of 100 meters (330 feet)," he added. At around 10:15 a.m. EDT (1415 GMT) today, data began streaming in to mission control at JPL confirming that Ingenuity had executed those commands successfully. Communications to and from Ingenuity are relayed via NASA's Perseverance rover, which is serving a key support and observation role for the helicopter. The two robots landed together inside Mars' 28-mile-wide (45 kilometers) Jezero Crater on Feb. 18, and Ingenuity deployed from the car-sized rover's belly on April 3, kicking off the current month-long flight campaign. That campaign is designed to show that aerial exploration is possible on Mars, which has an atmosphere just 1% as dense as that of Earth at sea level. Ingenuity's success could pave the way for the extensive use of rotorcraft on future Red Planet missions, with Mars helicopters serving as scouts for rovers and also gathering data themselves, NASA officials have said. Ingenuity is not doing any science work; it's a technology demonstration, after all. But the helicopter does have a 13-megapixel color camera, which has snapped epic, unprecedented photos of Perseverance's tracks from above. The Ingenuity team hopes to fly two more times before the flight window closes in early May. And these last two sorties will likely be "really adventurous," Ingenuity project manager MiMi Aung, also of JPL, said during a news conference earlier this month, stressing that she and her colleagues want to push the little aircraft's limits. That will be it for Ingenuity. There's no negotiating a longer flight window, because Perseverance needs to start focusing on its own science mission soon. That mission has two main tasks: hunting for signs of ancient Mars life inside Jezero, which hosted a lake and river delta long ago, and collecting samples for future return to Earth. https://www.space.com/mars-helicopter-ingenuity-third-flight-success Curt Lewis