October 7, 2021 - No. 78 In This Issue : Flapper and Skyportz Choose Electra's Low-Carbon Electric Aircraft for Flight Services in Latin America and Australia : SAE International Partners with Blockchain Startups to Shape Global Aviation Industry's Digital Future : Ryanair Doesn’t See Electric Aircraft Serving Airlines Any Time Soon : India Creating Effective Drone Aviation To Enable the Greater Good : Garmin achieves significant milestone in its G5000 retrofit program for Cessna Citation Excel and Citation XLS aircraft : GKN and KTH Developing Fan Technology for Electric Aircraft : Can Batteries Power Urban Air Mobility Flights? : Purdue Global Addresses Pilot Shortage : ATAG Calls on Governments to Support Net Zero Goal : Leonardo Selected to Upgrade Logistics at 10 Spanish Airports : NASA reassigns 2 astronauts from Boeing's Starliner to SpaceX's Crew Dragon Flapper and Skyportz Choose Electra's Low-Carbon Electric Aircraft for Flight Services in Latin America and Australia Electra.aero, Inc. (Electra), a next-gen clean aviation technology company, has secured purchase commitments for 180 of the company's hybrid-electric ultra-short takeoff and landing (eSTOL) aircraft, totaling more than $500 million in value. The deals are part of cooperative agreements with air service providers and infrastructure developers in multiple countries, and reflect global demand for low-emissions transportation as countries strive to meet carbon reduction targets. Electra has signed agreements with Flapper, an on-demand private aviation platform in Latin America, and with Skyportz, an Australian advanced air mobility infrastructure developer. Electra previously announced an agreement with the global vertical flight operator Bristow Group. Combined, the three partnerships give Electra an inside track on the design, operation, ground support, and marketing of its innovative aircraft. With less fuel burn and emissions per passenger than a personal car, Electra's hybrid-electric aircraft supports global emissions reduction targets. The fixed-wing aircraft will initially carry up to seven passengers and a pilot or 1,800 pounds of cargo up to 500 miles in all weather conditions. Its ability to take off and land in just 100 feet, with in-flight battery recharging, enables flight operations from places previously inaccessible by flight, including urban rooftops and corporate parking lots. Electra's technology delivers 2.5x the payload and 10X longer range with 70% lower operating costs than vertical takeoff alternatives, proving that climate-friendly technology can also be cost-effective. "These strategic agreements go beyond the technological development and manufacturing of the aircraft," said John S. Langford, founder and CEO of Electra.aero. "They chart the entire ecosystem needed for its successful operation, ground support, and customer use that together validate the commercial viability and market confidence in our eSTOL aircraft." The global urban and regional advanced air mobility market that Electra serves is forecast by Morgan Stanley at $1 trillion. Flapper On-Demand Private Aviation Platform Flapper is a charter flight reservation platform, offering near real-time online booking for passenger and freight cargo services for a fleet of over 730 aircraft. Its on-demand service saves hours of travel time between congested cities and airports in a region considered the most urbanized on the planet, with over 80% of its population in cities. Under a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), Electra will be Flapper's preferred aircraft provider for 5-plus seat regional air services. As Electra's preferred service provider in Brazil, Flapper commits to purchase 15 Electra eSTOL aircraft with an option for 15 more planes. The two companies will jointly pursue new route networks including for heliport operators and real estate developers and investors. "Our transition to sustainable electric aircraft is expected to achieve 40% savings in our operational costs, and open our service to new destinations," said Paul Malicki, CEO of Flapper. "With Electra's eSTOL plane, we look forward to offering our customers unparalleled urban and regional air mobility in cities such as São Paulo, Bogotá, Santiago de Chile or Ciudad de Mexico – all at a fraction of the cost of a helicopter ride." "Latin America is a key urban air mobility market, and the city of São Paulo, Brazil, operates the largest passenger helicopter fleet in the world," noted Langford. "Together with Flapper we'll deliver a quieter, more economical aircraft to this market that slashes fuel burn by 70% versus helicopters, helping to preserve Brazil's natural beauty and unique biodiversity through a low carbon footprint." Skyportz Air Mobility Infrastructure Network Skyportz is developing a comprehensive infrastructure network in Australia to attract and support future urban and regional air mobility services. Electra and Skyportz will be preferred partners under an MOU that includes a Purchase Agreement for up to 100 Electra eSTOL aircraft, enabling Skyportz and its operating partners to directly connect city centers or dispersed logistics facilities, and deliver cargo to remote regions. The companies are exploring opportunities in Australia for early trials leveraging Electra's full-scale technology demonstrator, which enters flight testing in the U.S. in 2022. "Australia exemplifies the type of market that will greatly benefit from Electra's eSTOL aircraft, with our greater payload capabilities, lower emissions, longer range, and reduced operating costs," Langford said. "Electra is excited to collaborate with Skyportz, in anticipation of our eSTOL aircraft flying missions in Australia ranging from on-demand intracity passenger flights to medical transport, cargo logistics, remote area missions and more. "At Skyportz we are assembling the infrastructure backbone to make Australia even more attractive for innovative aircraft builders looking for a place to trial real world use cases," noted former Deputy Lord Mayor of Melbourne Clem Newton-Brown, founder and CEO of Skyportz. "We look forward to introducing Electra to our property, freight and logistics partners and developing some viable applications for their aircraft." Bristow Group Aerial Flight Solutions Previously on August 26, 2021, Electra and Bristow Group signed an MOU under which the two firms will cooperate on the technical development and certification as well as marketing of Electra's eSTOL aircraft, with an expected delivery of 50 eSTOL planes. The companies will explore new markets for Bristow operations using the aircraft focused on middle mile logistics for retail distribution and passenger service. https://www.aviationpros.com/aircraft/press-release/21241289/flapper-flapper-and-skyportz-choose-electras-lowcarbon-electric-aircraft-for-flight-services-in-latin-america-and-australia SAE International Partners with Blockchain Startups to Shape Global Aviation Industry's Digital Future WARRENDALE, Pa., Oct. 7, 2021 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- SAE International announced today a cooperative partnership with SkyThread, a Delaware-based startup leveraging blockchain as an enabling technology to track the journey of aviation assets from entry into service to sale, modification, conversion, transfer, redelivery and final decommissioning. As part of the partnership with SkyThread, SAE will launch new initiatives and services aimed at improving Safety and reliability while also unlocking billions of dollars per year in currently unrealized global industry values, beyond pre-pandemic levels of performance. "We are excited to partner with SkyThread to collaboratively support the aerospace industry's digital transformation and help uncover new opportunities for Safety and efficiencies," said Raman Venkatesh, chief operating officer of SAE International and chairman of SAE Global LLC. "In pursuit of its mission, SAE is uniquely positioned to merge more than a century of consensus building with aviation's accelerating shift towards a global digital ecosystem, where fair distribution of value is central." The aerospace industry currently uses manual processes and highly fragmented legacy information systems, which can affect the quality and timeliness of data flow, even for information that pertains to the same aircraft part or airplane. This creates inefficiencies across many aircraft events, MRO and aftermarket transactions. It is also affected by the perceived risks in data sharing as well as a lack of fair monetization and distribution of value created in and across the ecosystem. "SkyThread's blockchain-enabled data network, combined with industry-leading validation, makes records and documentation data permanent and unchangeable," said Mark Roboff, chief executive officer of SkyThread. "Confidence that parts are genuine, and that maintenance and operating records are authentic cannot be overemphasized. Trust in aircraft safety is everything in this industry." For more information on SAE International, visit: http://www.sae.org. To learn more about SkyThread, visit: http://www.skythread.aero. About SAE International SAE International is a global organization committed to advancing mobility knowledge and solutions for the benefit of humanity. By engaging nearly 200,000 engineers, technical experts and volunteers, we connect and educate mobility professionals to enable safe, clean, and accessible mobility solutions. We act on two priorities: encouraging a lifetime of learning for mobility engineering professionals and setting the standards for industry engineering. We strive for a better world through the work of our philanthropic SAE Foundation, including award-winning programs like A World In Motion® and the Collegiate Design Series™. More at http://www.sae.org. About SkyThread SkyThread is a blockchain-enabled data network provider focused on empowering commercial aviation stakeholders to unleash billions in value by rapidly accelerating error-free data exchange among participants. The company has developed a trustworthy, federated system of record coupled with industry-leading validation logic that makes data permanent and unchangeable. We call this authenticating "Data for the Life of the Aircraft." The system is compatible with existing legacy IT systems and requires no capital investment from aviation stakeholders such as airlines, lessors, airplane manufacturers, regulators, and suppliers. The data exchange rules are governed by the Independent Data Consortium for Aviation, an industry, consensus-driven, neutral consortium comprised of diverse industry stakeholders, of which SkyThread is a member. https://finance.yahoo.com/news/sae-international-partners-blockchain-startups-130000589.html Ryanair Doesn’t See Electric Aircraft Serving Airlines Any Time Soon Ryanair may have linked up with Trinity College in Dublin to research more sustainable fuel options. However, when it comes to electric planes, the airline’s management believes the technology is still too underdeveloped to be of benefit to the carrier for the next 15 years. Meanwhile, LCC competitor easyJet has partnered to introduce a 186-seater all-electric plane by 2030. Longer-term solution Much of the aviation industry is basing its hopes on achieving net-zero emissions by 2050 on the arrival of new propulsion technologies, such as electric and hydrogen, along with the proliferation of sustainable fuels. Carriers such as United Airlines have already declared interest in as many as 100 of Swedish startup Heart Aerospace’s 19-seater electric aircraft. However, low-cost giant Ryanair is less optimistic about electric planes for the airline’s fleet in the near future. Speaking at the Aviation Investor Forum last week, the carrier’s Director of Sustainability and Finance, Thomas Fowler, said he doesn’t believe electric planes will be a viable alternative within the next 15 years. “I think electric planes will come in the longer term. In the medium-term, I don’t see something like that helping us,” Mr Fowler was quoted by Irish news outlet the Business Post. Waiting for more breakthroughs While millions of dollars are going into R&D into electric flight technology, the planes in the pipeline are all shorter range and, thus far, cannot carry that many passengers. This is, not surprisingly, hardly something that goes hand in hand with Ryanair’s business model. “That makes it a little bit more challenging in how it would work in our operation. I don’t think there have been enough big wins with the engine technology advancement, yet I think electric planes have a role to play, but not in the next 15 years. We need a little bit more advancement and will take a lot more breakthroughs to get it over the line,” Mr Fowler continued. Wright 1 in service by 2030 Meanwhile, one of Ryanair’s foremost competitors, easyJet, has partnered with US firm Wright Electric to develop a 186-seater aircraft, known as Wright 1. The company is developing a new powerplant which will be based on a 1.5MW electric motor and a 3kV inverter. Flight testing of the engine is meant to take place in 2023. The aircraft will undergo aerodynamics testing parallel to engine development. Both parties are confident that the aircraft could enter service as soon as 2030 and travel as far as 300NM. This means it could operate routes such as Oslo to Stockholm, Madrid to Barcelona, London to Amsterdam, or Rome to Palermo. Spirit of Innovation At the same time, battery technology is moving forward. Just last month, Rolls-Royce’s electric airplane – the Spirit of Innovation – took to the skies for the very first time. It features the most power-dense battery pack developed for an aircraft thus far. Rolls-Royce and airframer Tecnam are also working with Nordic regional airline Widerøe to develop an aircraft particularly suited to its commuter market. The intention is for the plane to enter revenue service by 2026 – at the same time as Heat Aerospace’s ES-19. Healthy competition is never more encouraging than when it is applied to environmental solutions. https://simpleflying.com/ryanair-electric-aircraft-at-least-15-years/ India Creating Effective Drone Aviation To Enable the Greater Good Addressing the session on “Drones for Public Good – Mass Awareness Program,” jointly organized by the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) and development finance institutions (DFI) in collaboration with the World Economic Forum, Mr. Scindia said technology promotion is crucial and drone technology will bring those living at the margins to the center of development. “Drones play a crucial role in connecting the people from the length and breadth of the country,” he said. India as a country, said Mr. Scindia, has generally been a follower in the evolution of innovation or technology. This is the first time we are looking at being leaders, said the Civil Aviation Minister. The new drone rules, accompanied at a very short period with the production-linked incentive (PLI) scheme for drones, gives the nascent industry of domestic manufacturing a huge boost. “A 40 percent value addition threshold for the sector gives a unique advantage to get off to a flying start,” said Mr. Scindia. He further mentioned that for any technology to succeed it requires 3 steps – policy structure, funding incentive, and demand structure. The Indian Government, he further stated, under the Survey of Villages and Mapping with Improvised Technology in Village Areas (SVAMITVA) scheme plans to use drones to map thousands of villages which will give India’s drone industry a massive boost. India has some very hard-to-reach territories, and drones would be effective in providing vaccines, resulting in an increase of the vaccination drive, added the minister. “The government is already working as an anchor customer by the usage of vaccines and mapping and creating the demand structure for the drone technology in India,” said Mr. Scindia. The government approved PLI Scheme for the drone industry will bring fresh investments and boost employment in India, said the minister. He said that drone technology is on the runaway and urged the industry bodies to help the technology take off. Mr. Rajan Luthra, Chair of the FICCI Committee on Drones and Chairman’s Office – Head of Special Projects, Reliance Industries, Ltd., said that agriculture is one of the most important sectors in India with huge market potential and the usage of drones for agriculture will deliver significant benefits to the farmers and common man. Mr. Vignesh Santhanam, Aerospace and Drones, World Economic Forum, said drones should bolster the agri research system to support the sector through increased produce and upskilling of rural populations for secure livelihoods while being a lighthouse for fourth IR tech. Mr. Smit Shah, Director of Partnerships, DFI, said, “We welcome the efforts of the Minister as a partner of this industry.” https://eturbonews.com/3004928/india-creating-effective-drone-aviation-to-enable-the-greater-good/ Garmin achieves significant milestone in its G5000 retrofit program for Cessna Citation Excel and Citation XLS aircraft Garmin ® International, Inc., a unit of Garmin Ltd. (NASDAQ: GRMN), today announced that 10% of the ever-popular Cessna Citation Excel and XLS business jet fleet has now been retrofitted with Garmin’s G5000 ® integrated flight deck upgrade. The G5000 integrated avionics suite modernizes the cockpit with additional capabilities, significantly reduces operational costs, increases situational awareness of the flight crew and solves long-term concerns related to legacy avionics parts obsolescence. Ten percent of the eligible Citation Excel/XLS business jet fleet have been retrofitted with a Garmin G5000 integrated flight deck upgrade. (Photo: Business Wire) “We are thrilled that so many owners and operators have chosen to upgrade their Citation Excel/XLS with the G5000 since we announced program certification just two years ago,” said Carl Wolf, Garmin vice president of aviation sales and marketing. “Offering an unprecedented level of situational awareness, the G5000 also yields a significantly lower cost of operation and delivers an exceptional in-flight experience making it an attractive upgrade in these popular aircraft. We look forward to growing the success of this program further so even more owners and operators can continue to experience the benefits of the G5000 integrated flight deck in the cockpit.” A complete retrofit solution The G5000 integrated flight deck for the Citation Excel and Citation XLS features three landscape-oriented flight displays with split-screen capability, allowing pilots to simultaneously view maps, charts, checklists, TAWS, TCAS, flight plan information, weather and more. Electronic charts and Garmin SafeTaxi ® airport diagrams are geo-referenced and can be viewed across all three displays. Intuitive touchscreen controllers serve as the pilot interface to the flight deck and contribute to the ease of operation and seamless transition between various pages. Installation of the G5000 on the Citation Excel/XLS includes a fully digital Automatic Flight Control System (AFCS), offering precise performance throughout the aircraft’s flight envelope. The G5000 retrofit for the Citation Excel also includes Emergency Descent Mode (EDM) as a standard feature that can be enabled by the autopilot in the event of a loss in aircraft pressurization. Underspeed protection (USP) is an optional feature that allows the autopilot to assist with airspeed management, while also enabling fully coupled go-arounds, greatly reducing pilot workload. The G5000 upgrade for the Citation Excel/XLS comes with a fully integrated Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B) Out solution that’s Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) rule-compliant. Additionally, operators gain access to more airports and lower approach minimums throughout the world as the G5000 has PBN/RNP 0.3 with LPV/APV approach capability. With the G5000, pilots can receive departure clearances faster using FAA Data Comm. Controller Pilot Data Link Communication-Departure Clearance (CPDLC-DCL) automates Clearance Delivery operations at over 60 of the busiest airports in the U.S. and enables wireless receipt and automatic loading of the departure clearance into the G5000. Additionally, the G5000 supports En Route CPDLC capability, which allows the exchange of data link messages with Air Route Traffic Control Centers (ARTCCs) in domestic airspace. European operators can also meet Link 2000+ requirements using this same technology. FAA Data Comm and Link 2000+ require optional equipment and services. Versatile customization The G5000 for the Citation Excel/XLS also supports additional options, including: SVT ™ synthetic vision technology, which presents a 3D virtual depiction of terrain, obstacles, traffic and the runway environment SurfaceWatch ™, which supports visual and aural cues to help prevent pilots from taking off and landing on a taxiway, on a runway that is too short or on the wrong runway based on performance data entered during preflight Datalink weather, including access to global weather products and text/voice communication through the Iridium satellite network Advanced Doppler weather radar features, including ground clutter suppression and turbulence detection FANS-1/A+ and ACARS support, meeting requirements to fly the North Atlantic Track System (NATS) As an additional option for this upgrade, Connext ® wireless cockpit connectivity via the Flight Stream 510 enables wireless flight plan transfer and more between compatible mobile devices, including Garmin Pilot ™, FltPlan Go and ForeFlight Mobile. Owners and operators can more easily manage flight plans with the Flight Stream 510, while also receiving additional benefits such as the sharing of traffic, weather, GPS and more across multiple mobile devices in the cockpit. Flight Stream 510 also enables Database Concierge, the wireless transfer of aviation databases from the Garmin Pilot app on a mobile device to the G5000. For additional information regarding the G5000 integrated flight deck upgrade for the Citation Excel and Citation XLS, visit the Garmin exhibit (#2971) at the National Business Aviation Association Convention & Exhibition (NBAA-BACE) in Las Vegas, Nevada, Oct. 12-14, 2021, or contact Dave Brown at (913) 440-1714 or dave.brown@garmin.com. To learn more about Garmin’s robust lineup of business aircraft solutions, visit garmin.com/businessaviation. https://www.kulr8.com/news/money/garmin-achieves-significant-milestone-in-its-g5000-retrofit-program-for-cessna-citation-excel-and-citation/article_c2133aab-1d9a-56c9-86dc-5d909be1b5fe.html GKN and KTH Developing Fan Technology for Electric Aircraft (06 Oct 2021) GKN Aerospace and KTH (the Swedish Royal Institute of Technology) are jointly developing fan technology for small regional electric aircraft. Under the EleFanT project, as it has been called, GKN and KTH will study aerodynamic design, performance, noise and manufacturing technology for a nested fan powered by electricity, either from batteries, hydrogen fuel cells or even more conventional hybrid propulsion solutions. The proposed propulsion solution with a nested fan instead of a conventional propeller offers significant advantages in three main areas: safety, noise level and engine installation. By rapidly demonstrating fan technology for electric aviation, the EleFanT project hopes to accelerate the pace of electric aviation development and position the participants for international aero-engine and aircraft development projects. Europe's aviation industry has set clear targets and adopted an ambitious roadmap to achieve net zero emissions by 2050. Parallel development of different types of propulsion solutions for aircraft engines is one of the important steps to take. "We are very positive about this initiative, which helps us to become part of the solution to aviation's climate challenge," said Henrik Runnemalm, Vice President GKN Aerospace Global Technology Centre in Trollhättan, Sweden. "We will benefit greatly from GKN Aerospace and KTH's long experience in turbomachines, lightweight construction and advanced manufacturing technology. From an electrification and sustainability perspective the project is strongly aligned with our recently announced H2GEAR and H2JET programmes." http://www.travelnewsasia.com/news21/610-ElectricAviation.shtml Can Batteries Power Urban Air Mobility Flights? The key to achieving a future of urban air mobility (UAM) lies in the development of a power source, compact enough to not take up too much room or add too much weight to an aircraft, yet powerful enough to deliver the energy needed to power vertical takeoffs and landings, and sustained flight capabilities. The Federal Aviation Administration defines UAM as “a safe and efficient aviation transportation system that will use highly automated aircraft that will operate and transport passengers or cargo at lower altitudes within urban and suburban areas.” NASA envisions UAM to include small drones, electric aircraft and automated air traffic management. While researchers have been making great progress in developing batteries to power everything from passenger cars to segments of the electric grid, employing batteries to power aircraft capable of carrying people has remained a major challenge. An ad hoc group of experts in the field of energy storage, representing U.S. government agencies and private industry groups has been working for more than a year and a half to look into creating the next generation of batteries and other innovative fuel sources to power the aerial vehicles needed to achieve UAM, as well as those larger aircraft used in commercial aviation. According to the group’s recent report, prepared through a collaboration of the U.S. Department of Energy and NASA, electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) and short-range consumer aircraft are the two segments of aviation most likely to benefit from the development of next-generation batteries in the near future. This aviation industry segment is expected to profit from the current research and development and commercial deployment of batteries being used to power electric vehicle (EVs). Within the next five to 10 years, eVTOL aircraft will be enabling urban air mobility, “providing intracity passenger, cargo and emergency services operated by electric-powered aircraft, either remotely piloted or under autonomous control,” the study states. It estimates that the market for urban air mobility could grow to $9 billion by 2030 and $80 billion by 2041. “As we look forward, batteries are going to be incredibly important at decarbonizing every part of our economy,” study author and DOE energy storage expert Venkat Srinivasan said in an interview. “We have to think deeply about decarbonizing the aviation sector,” said Srinivasan, director of the Argonne Collaborative Center for Energy Storage Science (ACCESS) and deputy director of the Joint Center for Energy Storage Research (JCESR). “Urban air mobility is the first application we looked at.” With energy densities of approximately 150-to-170 watt hours per kilogram when combined in a pack, today’s lithium-ion batteries could power initial demonstration flights and are close to having enough energy density to enable near-term eVTOL flights of nine- to 20–passenger aerial vehicles with a limited range capability, the study found. The researchers found that batteries needed to power the kind of unmanned eVTOL vehicles needed to achieve urban air mobility would need to have an energy density that is just 10% to 15% higher than the current generation of lithium-ion batteries used in electric vehicles. Given the current state of research, such a step change in energy density should prove to be relatively easy to achieve, Srinivasan said. The bigger challenge comes from developing more powerful batteries capable of handling the challenges of VTOL flight. “When you take off you need a lot of power and when you land you need a lot of power, because you’re defying gravity” he said. Normally a user would employ a fully charged battery at takeoff, but would want to have that battery be nearly depleted by the end of a flight so that he or she could properly recharge it. “But for an eVTOL application, you absolutely have to have the power when you land,” Srinivasan said. The researchers studied the potential for developing new battery chemistries that could overcome the limitations of the types of lithium-ion batteries currently being used in electric vehicles. At the first meeting of the public-private partnership, held in December 2019, participants “examined the feasibility of very high-energy-density primary batteries (such as lithium-sulfuryl-chloride or lithium-metal-fluoride) with the aim of establishing their ability to be recharged” the report states. Members of the group also discussed the possible use in aviation applications of lithium-oxygen and lithium-sulfur batteries, which currently are being studied for use in EVs, “assuming fundamental limitations could be solved.” In addition to studying improvements to current battery technology, participants in the group also are looking into alternative sources of power for the aviation sector, such as fuel-cell technology in which “the fuel can either be electrochemically or chemically reserved using hydrogen, ammonia or other synthetic molecules,” the report states. “How far can we push batteries? There’s going to be a limit. That means we’re not going to be doing batteries for some of these applications,” Srinivasan said. “As a battery person. I want to push the battery as far as we can, but there’s going to be a point at we can no longer compete with hydrolyzed resources,” he said. Want to read more about urban air mobility? Check out what FAA Chief Administrator Steve Dickson says, investment in UAM vehicles, UAM infrastructure, and the first aerial sightseeing operations. Need more information on battery and engine technologies for drones? See more about charging technologies here and here, and hybrid hydrogen engines for passenger drones here. https://dronelife.com/2021/10/07/can-batteries-power-urban-air-mobility-flights/ Purdue Global Addresses Pilot Shortage INDIANAPOLIS - Purdue University Global and Cincinnati-based Lunken Flight Training Center have formed a partnership to address demand for aviation professionals over the next 20 years. Students accepted into the program will complete their Bachelor of Science degree courses online through Purdue Global but get their hands-on training through Lunken. Students will be able to pursue certificates and ratings in commercial, instrument, multi-engine planes, and certified flight instruction. Purdue Global says many U.S. airline pilots took an early retirement during the COVID-19 pandemic, creating an industry shortage. The school says this program is designed to get students flying immediately, shortening the timeline to becoming a professional pilot to meet the growing demand. “Lunken Flight Training Center is excited to announce its affiliation with Purdue University Global,” said Jay Schmalfuss, owner of Lunken Flight Training Center. “Cincinnati is located within 600 miles of over half the population of the U.S., which makes Purdue Global and Lunken Flight Training Center the perfect choice to launch an aviation career.” He says Cincinnati is home to numerous corporate flight departments, including Procter & Gamble, Kroger, and General Electric, so the need for professional pilots is there. In 2019, Purdue Global and Purdue University’s School of Aviation and Transportation Technology announced a collaboration between the programs. https://www.insideindianabusiness.com/story/44906406/purdue-global-addresses-pilot-shortage ATAG Calls on Governments to Support Net Zero Goal (07 Oct 2021) The Air Transport Action Group has adopted a long-term climate goal of net-zero carbon emissions by 2050, confirming the commitment of the world’s airlines, airports, air traffic management and the makers of aircraft and engines to reduce CO2 emissions in support of the Paris Agreement 1.5ºC goal. This updates an earlier industry-wide goal set in 2009 and comes after IATA’s resolution earlier this week to adopt a net-zero goal. Haldane Dodd, Acting Executive Director of the Air Transport Action Group, said, “Aviation has increased its ambition in line with the need for all sectors of the economy to pursue rigorous climate action. Despite having endured the greatest crisis in aviation history, this new agreement shows that our sector has placed climate action as one of its highest priorities. It will be a significant challenge to meet net-zero carbon emissions by 2050, but the evidence shows that with the right support from governments and efforts across the value chain, especially the energy industry, it is achievable.” The industry says that a mix of new technology – including potentially shifting to electricity and hydrogen for some short-haul services; improvements in operations and infrastructure; and a transition to sustainable aviation fuel by mid-century would provide a majority of the carbon reductions. Remaining emissions would be captured using carbon removals measures. “It is also vital for governments to show their support,” Dodd added. “National policy measures focused on innovation and energy transition are vital. We also urge the member states of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) to support adoption of a long-term aspirational climate goal at the 41st ICAO Assembly in 2022, in line with industry commitments.” In a statement issued on Wednesday, the Association of Asia Pacific Airlines (AAPA), which also recently passed its own commitment to be net-zero by 2050, said, “AAPA reaffirms its strong support for ATAG and ICAO as well as its Member States in forging a global consensus on a collaborative pathway to address aviation emissions in the longer term. A comprehensive approach involving multiple stakeholders to deliver emissions reductions is critical to achieving a fully sustainable aviation industry by 2050.” http://www.travelnewsasia.com/news21/710-AirTransport.shtml Leonardo Selected to Upgrade Logistics at 10 Spanish Airports Following a public tender, Leonardo has been selected to upgrade the baggage-handling systems at 10 Spanish airports, ensuring the systems meet the latest security standards. The company was awarded all three lots covering airports across mainland Spain and the Canary Islands: La Palma, Santiago-Rosalía de Castro, Valencia, Asturias, Bilbao, Jerez, Reus, Lanzarote, Internacional Región de Murcia and Sevilla, with the combined contracts worth in excess of 35 million euros. Leonardo will deliver the upgrades in consortium with the Spanish construction company Cemosa. The tenders were issued by state-owned Spanish airport operator Aena, which manages 46 airports and two heliports in Spain and has shares in 23 additional airports in Europe and the Americas. Aena is the world's number one operator in this sector in terms of passenger traffic, with over 275 million travelers passing through Spanish airports in 2019. The project includes the replacement of baggage transport components, electromechanical, control, supervision and management equipment for baggage sorting. Baggage handling systems will also be equipped with European Civil Aviation Conference (ECAC) Standard 3-approved security technology, including X-ray and Computed Tomography (CT) scanners. Leonardo’s partner Cemosa will take responsibility for civil works and updates to auxiliary systems. The 10 airports will be upgraded simultaneously and work will last for less than two years. Leonardo is guaranteeing the continued operation of baggage management services throughout the duration of the upgrade work and has carried out complex planning and coordination activities with its supply chain to ensure continuity. The selection of Leonardo reinforces the company’s position as a market leader in baggage handling, having worked on European airports including Rome Fiumicino, Milan Malpensa and Bergamo, Zurich, Frankfurt, Geneva, Paris Orly as well as airports in the Middle East and Asia Pacific including Kuwait International Airport and Hong Kong International Airport. https://www.aviationpros.com/gse/baggage-cargo/airport-baggage-handling-systems/press-release/21241381/leonardo-leonardo-selected-to-upgrade-logistics-at-10-spanish-airports NASA reassigns 2 astronauts from Boeing's Starliner to SpaceX's Crew Dragon Two astronauts expected to fly on early missions of Boeing's crew capsule will instead ride to orbit with SpaceX, NASA announced today (Oct. 6). The agency has reassigned astronauts Nicole Mann and Josh Cassada to SpaceX's Crew-5 mission, which is expected to launch toward the International Space Station no earlier than the fall of 2022. Mann and Cassada had both been training on Boeing's CST-100 Starliner capsule, Mann in preparation for the spacecraft's first crewed test flight to the orbiting lab and Cassada for Starliner's first operational mission. It's unclear when either of those Boeing flights will get off the ground, however; Starliner must ace an uncrewed test mission to the space station before it can carry people. The capsule took a first crack at that trial flight in December 2019 but suffered several glitches that prevented a planned meetup with the orbiting lab. Boeing had planned to launch a second try, called Orbital Flight Test 2 (OFT-2), in late July of this year but discovered a problem with some valves in Starliner's propulsion system. The valve issue remains unresolved, and OFT-2 may end up being delayed until 2022, NASA officials have said. Meanwhile, SpaceX has already launched one crewed test mission and two operational flights to the orbiting lab with its Falcon 9 rocket and Crew Dragon capsule, and the company is gearing up for the liftoff of its third contracted flight, Crew-3, later this month. (Both Boeing and SpaceX hold multibillion-dollar contracts with NASA's Commercial Crew Program, which were signed in 2014.) "NASA decided it was important to make these reassignments to allow Boeing time to complete the development of Starliner while continuing plans for astronauts to gain spaceflight experience for the future needs of the agency’s missions," NASA officials said in a statement today. The other astronauts flying on Crew-5 will be announced later, they added. Crew-5 will be the first spaceflight for both Mann and Cassada. "It has been the opportunity of a lifetime to train on a brand-new spacecraft, the Boeing Starliner, and it has been fantastic to work with the Boeing team," Mann said in the same statement. "I am thrilled to have the opportunity to train on another new spacecraft — the SpaceX Crew Dragon — and appreciate the teams at NASA who have made that possible. I am ready to fly and serve on the International Space Station." Cassada voiced similar sentiments. "Cross training on both programs is a unique opportunity to learn, but also to provide valuable insight to future astronauts flying these spacecraft," he said in the same statement. "And, of course, Nicole and I are incredibly excited to get to work aboard the International Space Station, executing current operations and also contributing to future exploration beyond low Earth orbit." https://www.space.com/nasa-reassigns-astronauts-boeing-spacex Curt Lewis