May 27, 2021 - No. 41 In This Issue : Google-backed Merlin Labs reveals autonomous plane technology : Amex GBT, Shell to Collaborate on Sustainable Aviation Fuel : Honda Aircraft Unveils Upgraded HondaJet Elite S : World’s First Blockchain Instant Aviation Fuel Payment Solution Approved for Launch : Alaska Airlines and Airspace Intelligence Announce Partnership to Optimize Air Traffic Flow with Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning : Technology and innovation: Indispensable for the airport of the future : Business Beat: Fisher Space Pen, founder named to hall of fame : Alaska Airlines Saves 480,000 Gallons Of Fuel With AI Assisted Flight Planning : SIA announces net-zero move with more SAF usage : LAX Unveils Expansion: More Gates, New Checked-Bag System : SpaceX sets Falcon 9 fairing reuse mark with Starlink launch Google-backed Merlin Labs reveals autonomous plane technology Meet Merlin Labs, a company that's remained in the shadows until now. On Wednesday, the company emerged from "stealth mode" to introduce itself, thanks to a successful funding round for its autonomous plane technology. Merlin Labs isn't actually building a physical plane, flying car or eVTOL -- but instead is eyeing totally autonomous technology for aircraft to fly itself. You have to click the video above, because it's spooky to see the flight gear move of its own accord. The company named its initial investors, which includes Google Ventures among many: We don't have specific dollar amounts, but we do know this initial round of investments secured $25 million. With this funding, Merlin Labs plans to implement its autonomous technology into a fleet of King Air planes to prove its worth. So far, the startup said it executed numerous "autonomous missions on multiple aircraft types," including twin turboprop aircraft like King Air planes. The technology onboard focuses on total onboard autonomy rather than remote piloting, which helps Merlin Labs stand out. The 55-strong fleet of King Air crafts comes from Dynamic Aviation, which will work with Merlin Labs to test the autonomous technology, likely at the firm's dedicated flight facility at the Mojave Air & Space Port in California. The goal is to bring a certifiable autonomous system to fixed-wing aircraft. If it does, it would be a game changer for air travel. Merlin Labs may be new, but it's now officially one to watch -- especially with backing from a company like Google. https://www.cnet.com/roadshow/news/google-autonomous-plane-technology-merlin-labs/ Amex GBT, Shell to Collaborate on Sustainable Aviation Fuel GBT's corporate clients to buy sustainable aviation fuels for their business travel needs, the companies announced. The companies say the collaboration will allow them to combine the buying power of airlines and GBT's corporate business travel customers "to drive a step change in production and usage of SAFs." SAFs can be made from a variety of feedstocks and using a number of different technology pathways and have the potential to cut lifecycle emissions from aviation by up to 80 percent. GBT chief executive Paul Abbott in a statement said: "Our approach with Shell could provide a turnkey solution for corporations working towards net-zero emissions. We believe aggregating corporate and airline demand is the most efficient way to drive the volume of investment needed to bring change at scale. By working with Shell, we aim to enable corporations and airlines to plot a course towards their own emissions targets, while acting as climate leaders and creating real change." Anna Mascolo, president of Shell Aviation, in a statement said: "We want to help decarbonise the aviation sector and believe this collaboration could deliver new solutions for our customers to reach net-zero emissions. "SAF has incredible potential to drive the decarbonisation of aviation. Even if all publicly announced projects today actually materialise, SAF would still account for just one per cent of the jet fuel market by 2030. If the aviation sector wants more SAF by 2025, significant new investments are needed today. This collaboration with GBT aims to create the environment that supports new investment in SAF production and new technologies." https://www.businesstravelnews.com/Transportation/Air/Amex-GBT-Shell-to-Collaborate-on-Sustainable-Aviation-Fuel Honda Aircraft Unveils Upgraded HondaJet Elite S In a virtual launch ceremony today, Honda Aircraft president and CEO Michimasa Fujino revealed features of the new HondaJet Elite S, including an increase in maximum takeoff weight (mtow), flight deck improvements, a nosewheel steering enhancement, and new paint colors. The Elite S will be available starting in June and has a base price of $5.4 million, up from the Elite’s original base price of $5.25 million when it was introduced in 2018. The Elite S mtow is 200 pounds heavier, which allows carriage of an extra passenger or flying an additional 120 nm with one pilot and five passengers. The additional mtow capability is the result of “various analyses, ground and flight tests, as well as additional certification requirement tests to prove the aircraft and its structural capabilities,” according to Honda Aircraft. On the flight deck, new features include a Com 3 datalink radio and FAA Data Comm and aircraft communications, addressing, and reporting system (ACARS) capabilities added to the Garmin G3000 avionics suite. Data Comm allows pilots to use text-style messaging via the G3000 touchscreen controllers for departure clearances and en route services where available in the U.S. ACARS is for receipt of terminal information and weather, including departure clearances from supported airports, as well as communications with operations centers for flight plan uploading, messaging, weather, and automatic position reporting and out/off/on/in status. The Com 3 radio can also be used as a VHF radio by disabling its datalink. These features, said Fujino, are “all to reduce pilot workload and enhance safety and efficiency.” A new nosewheel advanced steering augmentation system (ASAS) “helps reduces pilot workload during landing, expands operational limits, and enhances safety for missions in specific weather conditions,” according to Honda Aircraft. ASAS embodies new control logic in the nosewheel steering to assist the pilot during landing rollout. This is done by detecting the yaw rate of the HondaJet and "providing directional assistance to the nosewheel steering," according to the company, "to increase stability...to help maintain runway centerline during rollout. This reduces pilot workload during the landing rollout and provides an additional level of safety during the landing." There currently is no upgrade package to bring HondaJet Elite models to the Elite S configuration, but the company is seeking customer input on the desirability of such an option. Three new paint schemes are available with the Elite S: gunmetal, luxe gold, and deep sea blue. The Elite S shown during the virtual unveiling sported a high-tech camouflage-style scheme, what Fujino said is a “unique paint scheme representing the spirit of Honda Aircraft Company as we continue our research and development of leading-edge technology and expand the horizon of the business jet.” Introducing the new model, he said, “We are firm believers that you should never stand still and [we are] always seeking to push the limits and evolve our design. This philosophy of continuous improvement led to the introduction of the HondaJet Elite and now the Elite S, the next iteration of HondaJet to expand operational capability.” https://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/business-aviation/2021-05-26/honda-aircraft-unveils-upgraded-hondajet-elite-s World’s First Blockchain Instant Aviation Fuel Payment Solution Approved for Launch Gazprom Neft’s Smart Fuel, the world’s first blockchain solution for instant aviation ‘into-the-wing’ refuelling payments, has been approved for its full market launch after securing registration from the Russian Federation. The new technology, which cuts the transaction time between a jet fuel supplier and an airline from four to five days to just 15 seconds, has been registered in the Software Register of the Ministry of Digital Development, Communications and Mass Media of the Russian Federation clearing it for wide distribution. Smart Fuel enables refueling requests, payment and the exchange of accounting documents to be carried out via applications installed on tablets held by pilots and refueling operators. Blockchain technology guarantees transaction data is saved in the system and available to all participants fully automating the refueling and data exchange process so that data from the Smart Fuel system is synchronized with an airline's electronic flight bag and the digital aviation fuel accounting system of the fuel trucks. The platform was successfully tested at the Murmansk International Airport and Gazpromneft-Aero, the aircraft refueling operator of Gazprom Neft, has refueled over 100 flights of Smartavia Airlines using the software. By the end of 2021 it is planned to expand the Smart Fuel blockchain platform to other Russian airports with Gazprom Neft refueling facilities and the company is looking to expand internationally. Two banks – VTB and Raiffeisenbank – are partners in the project. Vladimir Yegorov, Gazpromneft-Aero CEO, said: “The successful registration with the Ministry of Digital Development means that our platform is recognized by industry experts and on the federal level. Smart Fuel makes our partners’ work so much easier while increasing the security of financial transactions. This solution allows us to focus on the needs of our clients – the airlines – and has wide potential for the distribution within the global aviation industry. Smart Fuel is a practical tool that we are ready to offer to all market participants.” https://www.aviationpros.com/gse/fueling-equipment-accessories/press-release/21224302/gazprom-neft-worlds-first-blockchain-instant-aviation-fuel-payment-solution-approved-for-launch Alaska Airlines and Airspace Intelligence Announce Partnership to Optimize Air Traffic Flow with Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning On May 25, Alaska Airlines and Airspace Intelligence announced the signing of a multi-year contract for the use of Flyways AI, an industry-changing platform that uses artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning to assist dispatchers in making flight operations more efficient and sustainable by optimizing routes and improving the predictability and flow of airline traffic. Alaska is the first airline worldwide to adopt the technology. The use of an AI-powered flight monitoring and routing platform that aids in critical decisions is a first in the U.S. air transportation industry. It allows the airline and its employees to plan the most efficient routes by giving dispatchers new tools to make informed decisions quickly. Using machine-learning models of the National Airspace System, Flyways predicts future scenarios and manages exceptions network-wide by processing millions of data inputs quickly and with even greater precision. "Flyways AI has transformed how Alaska Airlines approaches route planning and optimization, enabling our highly skilled dispatchers to work even smarter to deliver the safest and most efficient routes to our pilots, saving time and carbon emissions, mitigating congestion and creating a better experience for our guests," said Diana Birkett Rakow, vice president of public affairs and sustainability for Alaska Airlines. "Airspace Intelligence is a true partner in implementing Flyways to deliver results in Alaska's operating environment for innovation, safety and sustainability." "We are so grateful that Alaska is the first airline customer to deploy the Flyways AI platform," said Phillip Buckendorf, CEO of Airspace Intelligence. "Alaska's commitment to innovation and partnership these past two years made the organization a perfect fit as a foundational airline and launch partner." The commitment to a continued partnership comes after an initial six-month trial program, during which Alaska's dispatchers used the new AI-powered flight prediction information to help them plan, monitor, and make recommendations for rerouting flights to avoid issues like congested airspace and bad weather. Flyways found an opportunity to reduce miles and fuel use for 64% of mainline flights, of which dispatchers evaluated and accepted 32 percent of the Flyways recommendations. "Artificial intelligence and machine learning are among the top drivers of technology today and, for the first time, have been applied to the airline flight planning environment," said Pasha Saleh, flight operations strategy and innovation director for Alaska Airlines. "Alaska's use of Flyways in just six months, even with significantly depressed flying due to COVID-19, enabled us to save 480,000 gallons of fuel and avoid 4,600 tons of carbon emissions." The challenge of flight route planning Safely planning the most efficient route for each flight is an operation performed by dispatchers, who work in the airline's Network Operations Center. Dispatchers work with pilots to ensure the safe routing and operation of a flight. When planning a route from origin to destination, dispatchers consider the current and predicted weather, reported air turbulence, aircraft performance, safety policies, air-traffic-control compliance and traffic volume. It is an incredibly complex workflow. Existing airline computer systems don't have the ability to compile all of the various information and evolving conditions into one cohesive source or map. Those systems do not take other flight traffic into account, give limited insights into future conditions, and are without predictive capabilities. About the Flyways AI Platform Flyways AI is a 4D mapping, predictive and recommendation platform for commercial air operations that relies on machine learning and artificial intelligence. The system autonomously evaluates the operational safety, ATC compliance, and efficiency of an airline's planned and active flights. When it finds a better route around turbulence or a more efficient route, it provides actionable recommendations to flight dispatchers. The dispatcher then decides whether to accept and implement the recommended solution. Dispatchers always make the final call, in accordance with existing FAA protocols. The system looks at all scheduled and active flights across the U.S., scanning air traffic systemically rather than focusing on single flights. It treats air traffic more like the way mapping applications look at ground traffic — as a dynamic and constantly changing ecosystem of moving objects. By applying machine learning, Airspace Intelligence created prediction models of the U.S. air space that allow the platform to predict how weather, traffic and other constraints impact flights. This kind of predictive modeling allows Flyways to provide its airline partners with the ability to "look into the future," as far as eight-plus hours ahead. The system helps the operational decision-makers streamline traffic flow, thereby reducing fuel burn and Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Emissions. This supports Alaska's path to reducing carbon emissions and reduces fuel cost. In addition, Flyways offers the user a powerful, streamlined experience, presented as a dynamic and coherent 4D map that is easy to understand. "Our mission is to help our customers improve the predictability of their highly complex and dynamically changing flight operations in the United States National Airspace System (NAS)," said Buckendorf. "We do this by applying the latest advances in artificial intelligence. Our AI platform gives enhanced levels of predictive situational awareness, to augment the quality, speed and precision of human decision-makers." Flying with Purpose Flyways is part of Alaska Airlines' investment in efficient and innovated technologies to reduce its climate impact and meet the airline's goal of net zero carbon emissions by 2040. A foundational step in this journey is using technology to optimize flight routes for emission savings. https://www.aviationpros.com/airports/airport-technology/press-release/21224305/alaska-airlines-alaska-airlines-and-airspace-intelligence-announce-partnership-to-optimize-air-traffic-flow-with-artificial-intelligence-and-machine-learning Technology and innovation: Indispensable for the airport of the future It is a quiet time at Eindhoven Airport due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, with significantly fewer passengers and suitcases. But those who think that little is happening are mistaken. The airport is looking beyond the crisis, sticking to its strategy, and working hard with its partners on new innovations and technological solutions for their baggage handling operations. The Dutch airport in the heart of the Brainport region – a region distinguished by its expertise in technology, design and knowledge – is not about quantity, but about quality. That is why Eindhoven Airport (EIN) is committed to the continuous improvement of the quality of the airport. “There will come a time when people will get back on their feet,” said Mirjam van den Bogaard, Chief Operating Officer (COO) of Eindhoven Airport. “We are ready for this, with an airport that continuously applies smart technology and continues to innovate to make the journey of passengers and the stay of visitors and employees at Eindhoven Airport even more comfortable.” The airport as a testing ground According to Mirjam, innovation is the key to an increasingly sustainable and better airport. Eindhoven Airport is working together with its various partners to make its operations even more efficient, sustainable and customer friendly. “As an airport, we have various roles. One important role is that of an inspirational testing ground. An airport is a unique testing ground because you can test in a controlled environment. We like to invite companies to test their innovations and technological solutions with us, and we have found that more and more companies are interested in doing so,” said Mirjam. For example, Vanderlande and BagsID are conducting a bag recognition pilot trial at the airport, in which artificial intelligence (AI) is being used. A camera located in the baggage system photographs the suitcase and compares this photo with the photo of the suitcase that was previously uploaded into the system. In this way, the suitcase can be better monitored throughout the baggage handling process. According to Mirjam, this offers advantages for loading and unloading aircraft even more efficiently, but also for better streamlining of airport processes. “In the future, passengers will know whether their suitcase is already loaded. It would be nice if this technology could be developed further, to the point where passengers receive a signal on their mobile phone when their suitcase is on the baggage belt,” added Mirjam, who is following the pilot with great interest. “The first results of the pilot show that AI can be applied in the baggage process. There is the potential for this technology to be used everywhere in aviation in the future.” Using autonomous vehicles The collaborative work between Vanderlande and Eindhoven continues in another innovation led trial, where autonomous vehicles on the apron will transport luggage to and from the airport. Previously, Vanderlande conducted live tests with this technology at Rotterdam The Hague Airport (RTM), gaining insights which further contributed to the development of this solution. RTM will again be the testing ground, as will Eindhoven Airport, where the autonomous vehicle trial will begin in April 2021. “Our future strategy is based on the belief that innovations in aviation can be implemented faster if different disciplines work together seamlessly” Mirjam asserted: “Because no driver is needed for transportation, employees can focus on the baggage process itself. Perhaps the process of loading and unloading the aircraft will become more efficient and faster, because individual vehicles will be carrying baggage continuously. Thus, there is no need to wait until the train of baggage carts is fully loaded as there is today.” Increasing flexibility in the loading and unloading process is a key reason for conducting the trial. “Managing passengers waiting in the arrivals hall for their suitcase is a real puzzle. While it will certainly be some time before we can deploy this new technology, we believe that this new method, the use of data and the deployment of experienced staff will produce an even better baggage process,” Mirjam added. Self-service technologies improving passenger flows Technology is also used to improve passenger flow. For example, passengers at Eindhoven will soon be able to print their own baggage labels at bag tag kiosks. Kiosks produced by Flight Solutions are currently being tested. For the time being, baggage labels are still being used in the baggage process. “The use of these kiosks should result in an even faster passenger flow at Drop & Go, because the suitcase is already provided with a self-adhesive label,” detailed Mirjam. “This type of label is easier for passengers to use and prevents ‘unrecognisable’ luggage.” Mirjam is enthusiastic about the use of technology and conducting pilots at the airport together with airport partners. “Aviation is facing numerous challenges. By innovating, we turn these challenges into opportunities.” Additionally, working with Vanderlande is a logical choice for the COO: “We have been working with Vanderlande, the manufacturer of our baggage systems, for many years. Like us, this company strives to use new technologies to improve the airport process even further. Our future strategy is based on the belief that innovations in aviation can be implemented faster if different disciplines work together seamlessly.” Innovation as the key to sustainability Eindhoven is part of the Royal Schiphol Group, which believes that innovation and technology is the key to the most sustainable and best airports in the world. Amsterdam Airport Schiphol (AMS) and the other airports within the Group work closely with each other, as well as with external partners, airlines, universities, start-ups, companies and knowledge institutes, in order to validate new developments for the multimedia hubs of the future. Because Eindhoven Airport and the other regional airports of the Schiphol Group act as testing grounds for technology and innovation, the knowledge gained from these tests are shared within the Group and then scaled up. “The trick is that the use of technology remains at the service of the passenger and the employee, and should never become a barrier” According to Mirjam, qualitative recovery after COVID-19 is now more important than ever. Technology and innovation help the airport to make efficient use of assets. In many cases, this is also more sustainable. In addition, it is essential to prevent errors and delays to avoid unnecessary costs. The use of technology in aviation becoming increasingly important is crystal clear, according to Mirjam. Aviation started with technology and the drive to achieve the impossible: “The trick is that the use of technology remains at the service of the passenger and the employee, and should never become a barrier. In addition, it helps us to make possible what seems impossible to some: the development of sustainable aviation,” she concluded. https://www.internationalairportreview.com/article/153397/technology-and-innovation-indispensable-for-the-airport-of-the-future/ Business Beat: Fisher Space Pen, founder named to hall of fame Fisher Space Pen and its founder, Paul Fisher, will be inducted into the Space Technology Hall of Fame for their innovations developed for space that now improve life on Earth. They will be inducted during the 36th Space Symposium, to be held Aug. 23-26 in Colorado Springs, Colorado. The symposium is sponsored by the Space Foundation, a nonprofit advocate organization founded in 1983 for the global space ecosystem. The Boulder City-based company is being recognized for its pens, which are used by U.S. astronauts while in space. The pen was created by the late Paul Fisher in the mid-1960s to address the unique atmospheric challenges of microgravity. Since making their debut aboard the Apollo 7 mission in October 1968, Fisher Space Pens have flown on every crewed spaceflight. They are now sold worldwide. Also to be inducted at the ceremony is Emisshield Inc., which makes heat-protective coatings used in commercial and industrial settings. “This year’s inductees truly represent the spirit of the Space Technology Hall of Fame. Both produce products that had their beginnings in space exploration and that are now found in homes, businesses and communities around the world,” said Tom Zelibor, CEO of the Space Foundation. “Congratulations to these visionary leaders who had the foresight to develop and market these tools so we can utilize them here on Earth.” The Space Technology Hall of Fame was founded in 1988 and recognizes life-changing technologies emerging from space programs while honoring the scientists, engineers and innovators responsible. To date, more than 80 technologies have been recognized. Papillon wins safety awards from FAA Papillon Grand Canyon Helicopters, which operates out of Boulder City Municipal Airport, recently received two awards from the Federal Aviation Administration for excellence in maintenance and compliance. Founded in 1991, the FAA Diamond Awards are considered the highest industry honors within the William O’Brien Aviation Maintenance Technician Awards program. The first Diamond Award of Excellence was for the 135 Air Carrier and Operation Certificate, which was earned by ensuring 100 percent of the company’s certificated aviation technicians receive William O’Brien Awards for various areas and disciplines. The second award was given for Papillon’s 145 Certified Repair Station, which is a maintenance facility that has an FAA certificate issued under federal regulation and is engaged in the maintenance, preventive maintenance, inspection and alteration of aircraft and aircraft products. Additionally, Papillon achieved the International Standard for Business Aircraft Operations stage three designation. Granted by the International Business Aviation Council, this accolade recognizes Papillon for achieving the highest level of compliance within the council’s standard of best practices for aviation operations. The designation came after a rigorous, multiyear audit of the company’s safety practices, safety reporting, dedication to ongoing improvement and overall safety-oriented company culture. Out of more than 6,000 eligible companies worldwide, only 280 aviation companies have achieved the stage three designation. “It is an honor to continue to receive these industry awards and recognition. We have an incredible team who deserves to be recognized for their extraordinary dedication to our customers’ safety while consistently exceeding industry standards for maintenance and compliance,” said Brenda Halvorson, Papillon’s chief executive officer. https://bouldercityreview.com/news/business-beat-fisher-space-pen-founder-named-to-hall-of-fame-65216/ Alaska Airlines Saves 480,000 Gallons Of Fuel With AI Assisted Flight Planning Artificial intelligence that helps dispatchers make flight operations more efficient and sustainable by optimizing routes and improving the predictability and flow of airline traffic has saved Alaska Airlines 480,000 gallons of fuel in six months. Or, from another perspective, it is 4,600 fewer tons of carbon emissions in our atmosphere. “Artificial intelligence and machine learning is among the top drivers of technology today and, for the first time, have been applied to the airline flight planning environment,” said Pasha Saleh, flight operations strategy and innovation director for Alaska Airlines. Software platform from a Silicon Valley startup cuts fuel costs at Alaska Airlines Fuel is always a big cost for any airline. Alaska Airlines spent US$203 million on fuel in the first three months of 2021. Airlines buy their fuel in advance, using hedging to get the best possible price. Factoring in hedging, alongside fluctuating fuel prices, it is difficult to place a precise dollar value on the 480,000 gallons saved. But Alaska Airlines jets consumed 126 million gallons of fuel in the first quarter of 2021. Using these figures as rough yardsticks, AI saved Alaska Airlines around $300,000 in fuel costs over the last six months. A dollar saved is important for an airline in this cash-strapped era. But Alaska Airlines is choosing to highlight the non-monetary benefits resulting from the AI trial. The airline teamed up with Silicon Valley-based startup Airspace Intelligence. They create software that uses machine learning models of national airspace and prediction services to support traffic flow optimization at scale. “Our AI platform gives enhanced levels of predictive situational awareness, to augment the quality, speed and precision of human decision-makers,” said Phillip Buckendorf, CEO of Airspace Intelligence in a statement. Airspace Intelligence AI makes a big impact at Alaska Airlines The AI platform is called Flyways and Alaska Airlines was the first airline to use it for such an extended period. Alaska’s dispatchers used the software to help them plan, monitor, and make recommendations for rerouting flights, avoiding issues like congested airspace and bad weather. Flyways found an opportunity to reduce miles and fuel use for 64% of jet flights. Dispatchers didn’t accept all the software’s flight recommendations. They incorporated just 32% of recommendations into their decision-making. But that 32% had significant positive implications for Alaska Airlines. “Flyways AI has transformed how Alaska Airlines approaches route planning and optimization, enabling our highly skilled dispatchers to work even smarter to deliver the safest and most efficient routes to our pilots, saving time and carbon emissions, mitigating congestion and creating a better experience for our guests,” said Alaska’s Diana Birkett Rakow. Alaska Airlines is going to keep continuing using Flyways, a significant win for Airspace Intelligence. For Alaska, it is a no-brainer. In addition to offering significant day-to-day cost savings, the AI platform makes flight planning and managing traffic flow easier. It also offers solid green credentials. The airline has an ambitious 2040 net-zero emissions goal, a goal that is unlikely to be met relying solely on sustainable aviation fuels and novel propulsion techniques. Instead, Alaska Airlines is rolling out a portfolio of measures to support its carbon emissions goal. In this context, the Flyways AI platform is one piece of a much bigger picture. https://simpleflying.com/alaska-airlines-artificial-intelligence-fuel-savings/ SIA announces net-zero move with more SAF usage Singapore Airlines (SIA) has announced it will commit to achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2050. The airline that also runs Scoot and SIA Cargo, will invest in new-generation aircraft and adopt low-carbon technology such as sustainable aviation fuels (SAF). SIA Group has pursued multiple projects in support of its sustainability goals even amid the COVID-19 pandemic. “Today, the most effective and direct way for an airline to materially lower carbon emissions is by operating a young fleet of aircraft. The SIA group fleet has an average age of under six years, making it one of the youngest in the world. Over the last year, we have retired 45 older aircraft. We will be gradually replacing them with new-generation aircraft that are up to 30% more fuel efficient, and will substantially lower our emissions in coming years,” a company spokesperson said. SIA has been a member of the Sustainable Aviation Fuel Users Group (SAFUG) since 2011. In 2017, SIA launched a series of green package flights from San Francisco to Singapore that incorporated SAF, fuel-efficient aircraft and optimised air traffic management measures. https://biofuels-news.com/news/sia-announces-net-zero-move-with-more-saf-usage/ LAX Unveils Expansion: More Gates, New Checked-Bag System A $1.7-billion expansion project at Los Angeles International Airport was officially unveiled Monday by local officials who expressed optimism that the facility will soon help serve a resurgence of travel demand after the yearlong pandemic slump. The new facility, named West Gates and billed as an expansion of the Tom Bradley International Terminal, holds 15 gates. Travelers access it from a preexisting part of the Bradley terminal by heading west through a 1,000-foot-long tunnel that burrows under two taxiways. The project broke ground in 2017, when international travel was surging, particularly with big-spending visitors from China. At the time, the airport was the second-busiest in the nation and was considered the West Coast gateway to the United States. The airport served more than 84 million domestic and international travelers that year, according to LAX records. The COVID-19 pandemic and resulting restrictions imposed on international trips pushed demand for air travel into a slump. Last year, LAX served only 29 million travelers. Several airlines began using the new facility about three weeks ago. Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti hosted a grand reopening ceremony Monday to unveil the project to news outlets, city officials and local community leaders. After the ceremony, Garcetti said he is hopeful that travel demand will rebound enough to justify the construction. Domestic travel at the airport recently has been at about 55% of pre-pandemic levels, with international tourism at about 30%, according to airport data. "If the last couple of months are any indicator, we are going to be gangbusters soon," he said. "I think people have saved money, they're stir-crazy from staying at home, and they want to see family and friends and seek new experiences." Justin Erbacci, chief executive of Los Angeles World Airports, noted that domestic travel demand has briefly reached as high as 70% of pre-pandemic levels on recent weekends. The West Gates facility was built to help increase the airport's capacity and reduce the crowding of travelers that was common before the pandemic. Two of the gates will serve the largest commercial aircraft, such as the Boeing 747-8 and the Airbus A380. Garcetti said he has suggested adding three new terminals, two for passengers and one for cargo. The extra terminals and the ongoing modernization effort at LAX, he said, would help serve what he hopes will be an increase in visitors to Los Angeles while easing the airport's notorious traffic and congestion problems. The West Gates facility, part of a multiyear, $15-billion modernization of the airport, was initially expected to be completed in 2019. The modernization effort includes the Bradley terminal's $2.1-billion remodel and expansion completed nearly eight years ago. It also includes plans for a people mover that will connect the airport terminals to the region's rail system and to a centralized rental car facility. The entire effort is expected to be completed by 2023. The 750,000-square foot West Gates facility includes boarding areas that use facial-recognition technology to identify passengers and a new checked-bag storage and processing system. The new gates serve Air Tahiti, Allegiant, El Al, Frontier, Sun Country, Viva and Volaris airlines, with several more carriers expected to be added in June. A nearly three-story-tall glass chandelier hangs from the middle of the new concourse, adorned with LED lights that can be programed to change colors and strobe on and off in various sequences. The $261-million baggage storage and processing system moves luggage between the main part of the Bradley terminal and the West Gates facility through a tunnel. Luggage is placed in yellow bins that have embedded radio frequency transmitters and are sorted by robotic arms and moved along conveyor belts and rollers to help ensure the luggage doesn't get lost. The system can store as many as 2,400 bags for several hours before the luggage needs to be loaded into a departing plane. In the rest of the airport, tags with bar codes are used to keep track of luggage, but such tags can get damaged or come loose. San Francisco International Airport is the only other airport in the country that uses such radio-frequency technology for the luggage process, airport officials said. The West Gates facility also features a ramp tower, where airport employees can monitor and guide airplanes moving from the gates to the runways. The tower will also serve as a backup to the air traffic control tower operated by the Federal Aviation Administration. Philippine Airlines has protested LAX's plan to have the airline's future flights use the new gates, saying the distance between the facility and the preexisting part of the Bradley terminal is too long for many of the airline's elderly passengers. The airline issued an advisory to its passengers, apologizing for the "inconvenience of the airport's decision" and noting that the carrier "appealed urgently to the airport authority to reconsider." LAX officials said that the connecting tunnel features moving walkways, escalators and elevators and that passengers who need assistance can request an electric cart to use in the tunnel. https://www.aviationpros.com/airports/news/21224148/lax-unveils-expansion-more-gates-new-checkedbag-system SpaceX sets Falcon 9 fairing reuse mark with Starlink launch WASHINGTON — A SpaceX Falcon 9 launched another set of Starlink satellites May 26 on a launch that highlighted an often-overlooked aspect of the company’s reusability efforts. The Falcon 9 lifted off from Space Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida at 2:59 p.m. Eastern. The rocket’s upper stage released its payload of 60 Starlink satellites into orbit 64 minutes later. The rocket’s first stage landed on a droneship in the Atlantic eight and a half minutes after liftoff. In contrast to some recent Starlink launches, where the Falcon 9 boosters had launched as many as 10 times, this Falcon 9 first stage was on only its second launch, having previously been used to launch the Sentinel-6 Michael Freilich ocean science satellite in November 2020. SpaceX did set a different kind of reuse milestone on this launch. One of two halves of the payload fairing was on its fifth flight, the first time a payload fairing section had flown five times. The fairing half flew on four previous Starlink launches dating back to 2019. The second fairing half was on its third launch, having been used previously on a Starlink launch and the Transporter-1 rideshare mission in January. The launch was also the 40th Falcon 9 mission to fly at least one reused payload fairing half. The company had quietly made regular use of previously flown payload fairings, which deploy parachutes after separation from the rocket’s upper stage and are recovered in the ocean by boats. SpaceX Chief Executive Elon Musk said several years ago that the company would attempt to recover and reuse payload fairings because of their expense: about $6 million each. “Imagine if you had $6 million in cash in a pallet flying through the air, and it was going to smash into the ocean. Would you try to recover that? Yes, yes you would,” Musk said in 2017, after the company launched its first reused Falcon 9. Unlike the booster landings, which the company broadcasts on its launch webcasts, the fairing recoveries take place out of view. SpaceX would occasionally provide video of attempts to catch the descending fairings in large nets strung above ships, but more recently has moved to simply recovering fairings from the water after splashdown. This launch also marked the 100th consecutive successful Falcon 9 launch, a streak that started after a June 2015 launch failure on a NASA commercial cargo mission. That streak does not include the loss of the Amos-6 satellite when a Falcon 9 exploded during preparations for a static-fire test days before its scheduled launch in September 2016. The launch brings the total number of Starlink satellites in orbit to 1,664. Viasat filed a motion with the Federal Communications Committee May 21 to stay its approval of a modification of SpaceX’s license that allows the company to increase the number of Starlink satellites it can operate in orbits about 550 kilometers high from 1,584 to 4,408. That would effectively block SpaceX from launching additional satellites until the FCC completed an environmental review of the constellation demanded by Viasat. The FCC has not yet acted on the motion, and SpaceX did not mention the dispute in its launch webcast, which instead noted that the company has expanded the beta test of the Starlink service to residents of Belgium and the Netherlands. https://spacenews.com/spacex-sets-falcon-9-fairing-reuse-mark-with-starlink-launch/ Curt Lewis