October 15, 2021 - No. 80 In This Issue : The JetBlue Foundation Opens its Fall Granting Application Cycle to Eligible STEM & Aviation Educational Programs : Reliable Robotics Raises $100 Million to Expand Access to More Places With Remotely Piloted Cargo Operations : Governor Abbott Appoints Eight to Aerospace and Aviation Advisory Committee : Green Cubes Technology’s IoT Solution for eGSE : Eni Launches Sustainable Aviation Fuel Production : Critical insights on the path to a net-zero aviation sector : AINsight: Bizav Is Back and Thriving : Air cargo to lead aviation in carbon reduction : Embraer to install state-of-the-art emergency detectors in its E2s : How Is A Composite Commercial Jet Aircraft Built? : SpaceX CEO Elon Musk Tweets He Is in Talks With Airlines to Install Starlink Broadband The JetBlue Foundation Opens its Fall Granting Application Cycle to Eligible STEM & Aviation Educational Programs NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--JetBlue (NASDAQ:JBLU) today announced the next granting cycle from the JetBlue Foundation, a 501(c)(3) charity entity focused on increasing diversity within the aviation industry’s talent pipeline. Educational programs with an emphasis on science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) and aviation may apply here through November 1, 2021 for grants up to $50,000 each, based on criteria, need and project scope. (a) “Emerging from the COVID-19 pandemic is a renewed global spotlight on the importance of science and technology,” said Ursula Hurley, president of the JetBlue Foundation. “Despite the ongoing uncertainty of the pandemic, the JetBlue Foundation has continued to offer non-stop support to future aviators, including virtual programming, mentorship and resources. This support has directly helped several budding STEM educational programs keep their doors open. We’re focused on empowering students, providing access, and helping to remove barriers to entry into careers in aviation. This, in turn, creates opportunities for a more diverse future for our industry.” The JetBlue Foundation is the first airline foundation focused solely on supporting aviation and STEM education, and seeks out programs that offer programming geared toward communities traditionally underrepresented in these areas, including women and girls, racial/ethnic minority groups and veterans. The JetBlue Foundation is independent from JetBlue and has a separate Board of Directors and an Advisory Committee, both comprised of JetBlue crewmembers from across the airline. Grants are provided directly from the JetBlue Foundation. Although the JetBlue Foundation is separate from JetBlue, both are aligned in efforts to help diversify the STEM fields that fuel the airline. The Foundation is company-sponsored, with supplemental support coming from select JetBlue business partners, and tax-deductible donations directly from JetBlue crewmembers who are interested in nurturing students’ STEM interests and inspiring the next generation of aviation professionals. Granting criteria Applications will be accepted from qualified educational organizations to sponsor STEM and/or certification programs in one or more of the following areas of study: Aviation technology Aviation engineering Aviation operations Aviation maintenance Sustainable and environmental programs in aviation These programs must serve one or more communities that are underrepresented in aviation, including: Women and girls Underrepresented groups including but not limited to Black, Hispanic/Latinx, or Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI) communities Veterans Supporting STEM education throughout the pandemic As the COVID-19 pandemic affected funding for non-profits and educational programs, last year, the JetBlue Foundation issued a round of emergency grants to 12 aviation and STEM partners in need of financial support to help them continue their critical work. In 2020, the JetBlue Foundation provided funding to organizations including America on Tech (AOT) and the Lower East Side Girls Club. “America On Tech is a proud partner of the JetBlue Foundation. For the past two years, the JetBlue foundation has been a critical partner in AOT's work,” Jessica Santana, chief executive officer, America on Tech. “Outside of providing financial resources that help support the students in our programs learning in-demand technology skills, they have also played a pivotal role in helping us deploy laptops to our young people who did not have the appropriate machines to learn in the virtual environment. AOT is grateful for this partnership and looks forward to continuing working with the JetBlue Foundation in the future." "We are so grateful for the continued generous support of the JetBlue Foundation,” Jenny Dembrow and Ebonie Simpson, co-executive directors, Lower Eastside Girls Club. “They have been a longstanding STEM funder and now a partner in our broader COVID response efforts to address food insecurity. We are grateful for their ongoing partnership and dedication to our community." With support from JetBlue, the Foundation also helped education partners with the switch to online learning. Beyond just grants, JetBlue crewmembers volunteered in virtual classrooms and programming, and the airline donated refurbished laptops to ensure students passionate about STEM could continue their education from home. In additional to grants, the JetBlue Foundation also provided mentorship and in-kind support to grantees. For more information on the JetBlue Foundation, visit www.jetbluefoundation.org or JetBlue’s 2020 Social Impact Report, which can be found here. About the JetBlue Foundation Since 2013, the JetBlue Foundation has built lasting relationships with nearly 100 science, technology, engineering and math (STEM), aviation-focused programs, provided grants, and in-kind support to help these programs take off. The JetBlue Foundation furthers JetBlue’s work to place aviation top of mind as a future career choice for students. The JetBlue Foundation provides financial, in-kind and mentorship support to education and pipeline initiatives focused on STEM to ensure that even more women and traditionally underrepresented groups are present in the hangars, boardrooms, airports and airline corporate offices of the future. To learn more visit jetbluefoundation.org. About JetBlue Airways JetBlue is New York's Hometown Airline®, and a leading carrier in Boston, Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood, Los Angeles, Orlando and San Juan. JetBlue carries customers across the U.S., Caribbean and Latin America, and between New York and London. For more information, visit jetblue.com. The JetBlue Foundation will award grants up to $50,000 each to qualifying educational organizations (i.e. schools, educational institutions, or educational alliances), as described under the grant proposal criteria. Once the JetBlue Foundation has received an organization’s completed application, the organization will receive a confirmation email. Due to the volume of grant requests received, the JetBlue Foundation is not able to individually reach out or award grants to every applicant. Should an organization be selected to receive a grant, a representative of the JetBlue Foundation will reach out directly. https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211014005923/en/The-JetBlue-Foundation-Opens-its-Fall-Granting-Application-Cycle-to-Eligible-STEM-Aviation-Educational-Programs Reliable Robotics Raises $100 Million to Expand Access to More Places With Remotely Piloted Cargo Operations MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct 14, 2021-- Reliable Robotics, a leader in automated aircraft systems, announced today a $100 million Series C funding round led by Coatue Management. Coatue joins past investors Lightspeed Venture Partners, Eclipse Ventures, Teamworthy Ventures and Pathbreaker Ventures to bring total fundraising over $133 million. With its innovative airframe independent technology, Reliable’s Remotely Operated Aircraft System is designed to expand safe, flexible and efficient air transportation service to more locations. The capital raised enables the company to scale its team to support its first aircraft certification program and expedite the launch of commercial cargo operations. “We believe Reliable Robotics is a leader in aircraft automation for commercial aviation,” said Jaimin Rangwalla, a Senior Managing Director at Coatue. “We were impressed by the team's clear vision, measured certification progress and track record of industry achievement. We are proud and excited to support Reliable’s goal to be the first to deliver FAA-certified, remotely piloted systems to market.” Reliable Robotics is positioned to unlock access to thousands of underutilized regional and municipal airports in all corners of the country, greatly expanding air transportation options for cargo and eventually passengers. The company’s technology handles all phases of flight including taxi, takeoff, landing and parking, while licensed pilots remotely supervise each flight from a control center. The system has the capability to autoland on smaller airstrips in rural or remote areas without requiring expensive infrastructure to be installed and maintained. “Automated aircraft present a massive opportunity to transform the cargo industry over the next several years,” said Jeff Drees, former Co-owner and Chief Commercial Officer of Ameriflight, the largest regional air cargo carrier in the world. “Remotely piloted cargo delivery provides a huge advantage with low cost, anytime, anywhere flights that increase aircraft utilization and availability.” Drees recently joined Reliable Robotics to build its airline subsidiary and deliver cargo services while preparing for the adoption and scaling of remotely operated aircraft. Reliable Robotics has made substantial progress in key development areas throughout its phased approach to certification, deepening its regulatory experience with ongoing engagement with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). As part of this work, the company has received key authorizations from the FAA for the flight of experimental unmanned aircraft. In 2019, Reliable demonstrated remote operation of a large commercial aircraft over a metropolitan area, marking an aviation first for a private company in the United States. Additionally, the company announced a partnership with NASA as part of the Advanced Air Mobility National Campaign to further real-world flight testing of its system. “We appreciate our public-private partnership with the FAA and NASA as we work to integrate our Remotely Operated Aircraft System into the airspace. We intend to bring unprecedented safety and reliability to today’s commercial aircraft,” said Robert Rose, Co-founder and CEO of Reliable Robotics. “Close collaboration with our public institutions, strong backing from visionary investors and keen interest within the cargo industry further accelerates our mission to expand everyone’s access to air transportation.” Planned expansion of the company’s aircraft program to additional, larger airframes will further demonstrate the versatility of its system. The company also intends to support emerging electric and hybrid electric platforms and eventually passenger aircraft. Since emerging from stealth last year, Reliable Robotics has grown substantially. The company has more than doubled in size, attracting a diverse group of engineers with expertise in aviation, autonomy and other mission and safety-critical domains. To learn more about how the team built its system, watch Reliable Robotics: Automated Aviation. About Reliable Robotics Reliable Robotics launched in 2017 to bring certified autonomous vehicles to commercial aviation as soon as possible. The company’s automation system enables remote operation of any aircraft type and expands access to more locations. Reliable’s vision is to transform the way we move goods and people around the planet with safer, more convenient and more affordable air transportation. The company is headquartered in Mountain View, CA and has a distributed global workforce. Learn more and see job openings at https://reliable.co About Coatue Management Coatue is one of the largest technology investment platforms in the world with more than $45 billion in assets under management. Our dedicated team of engineers and data scientists work closely with investment professionals to add value to founders and executive teams in our portfolio. With venture, growth and public funds, we back entrepreneurs from around the globe and at every stage of growth. Some of our private investments have included Airtable, Ant Financial, Anaplan, ByteDance, Chime, Databricks, DoorDash, Instacart, Meituan, Snap, Snowflake and Spotify. Reliable Robotics Corporation and its respective logos are trademarks, registered trademarks, or service marks of the company. Other products and company names mentioned are the trademarks of their respective owners. https://www.valdostadailytimes.com/news/business/reliable-robotics-raises-100-million-to-expand-access-to-more-places-with-remotely-piloted-cargo/article_b0a1ddcc-fcb1-5d77-b2b1-b0e021917d78.html Governor Abbott Appoints Eight to Aerospace and Aviation Advisory Committee Governor Greg Abbott has appointed Tony Curry, John D. Guevara, and John Mulholland to the Aerospace and Aviation Advisory Committee for terms set to expire on September 1, 2023. Additionally, the Governor appointed Jim Allmon and Shelly Lesikar deZevallos, Ed.D. and reappointed Aimee Burnett, Lauren Dreyer, and Jennifer Williamson for terms set to expire September 1, 2025. The committee assists in the state’s economic development efforts to recruit and retain aerospace and aviation jobs and investments in Texas. Tony Curry of Dallas is General Manager of Bombardier Aerospace. He is a member of the Dallas Regional Chamber and the Texas Association of Manufactures and a board member of the North Texas Workforce Solutions. Additionally, he is a former member of the MBA Association of Ireland. Curry received a Higher National Certificate in Aeronautical Engineering from the Belfast Institute of Technology, a Post Graduate Diploma in Operational Management and a Master of Business Administration in International Business from the University of Ulster, Belfast, Ireland. John D. Guevara of Harlingen is Managing Partner of Linebarger Goggan Blair & Sampson, LLP in Brownsville. He is a member of the State Bar of Texas and the Cameron and Hidalgo County Bar Association, and a director of Texas Regional Bank. Additionally, he is a board member of the Rio Grande Council Boys Scouts of America and a former committee member of the Wesley United Methodist Church. Guevara received a Bachelor of Business Administration from The University of Texas at Brownsville and a Juris Doctor degree from Texas Southern University. John Mulholland of Missouri City is the Vice President and Program Manager for the International Space Station for Boeing, where he has worked for almost 20 years. Prior to working for Boeing, he was an engineer and manager at NASA’s Johnson Space Center. He serves as a member of the Bay Area Houston Economic Partnership Board of Directors and Executive Committee, Space Center Houston Board of Directors, and the NASA Johnson Space Center Joint Leadership Team. Additionally, he is an executive sponsor for the Boeing Black Employees Association Houston Chapter. Mulholland received a Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering and a Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering from New Mexico State University. Jim Allmon of Waco is President and CEO of Blackhawk Aerospace. He is a member of Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association and the General Aviation Manufactures Association Board of Directors and former president of the Waco Aviation Alliance. Additionally, he is a member of the Waco Freedom Ball and former pilot for Veterans Airlift Command. Allmon served in the United States Air Force, attended the University of Maryland, and received his pilot training from Spartan School of Avionics in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Shelly Lesikar deZevallos, Ed.D. of Houston is the President of West Houston Airport and a licensed pilot. She is a member of the National Business Aviation Association Board of Directors and the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association Board of Advisors. She is part of the Girl Scouts of America Women’s Leadership Network and a volunteer for Texas Southern University Aviation Advisory Board. In the fall of 2019, she was appointed to the United States Department of Transportation Safety Oversight and Certification Advisory Committee (SOCAC). Lesikar deZevallos received a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from The University of Texas at Austin, a Master of Business Administration from Texas A&M University, and a Doctor of Education in Aviation and Space from Oklahoma State University. Most recently, she was recognized as one of the “Top 30 Influential Women of Houston”. Aimee Burnett of Southlake is Vice President, F-16 Production Programs, for Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Company. She previously held the role of Vice President, F-35 Domestic Business Development, and has worked for the company for over 20 years in various positions in Engineering, Operations, and Business Development. She is a member of Women in Aerospace, a sustainer of The Junior League of Fort Worth, and a volunteer for Make A Wish of North Texas. Burnett received a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering and a Master of Science in Systems Engineering from Southern Methodist University. She currently serves as chair of the Aerospace and Aviation Advisory Committee. Lauren Dreyer of McGregor is senior director of Starlink business operations for Space Exploration Technologies Corp (SpaceX) and has worked for the company for nearly 15 years in various positions in Business Development, Finance, Human Resources and Operations. She is a member of the Baylor University School of Engineering and Computer Science Board of Advocates, the Mayborn Museum Board of Advocates, and the Waco Business League. Dreyer received a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from Baylor University and a Master of Business Administration from Texas A&M University. Jennifer Kurth Williamson of Southlake is General Counsel at Textron Systems. She is a member of the Colorado Bar Association and a volunteer for George W. Bush Presidential Center Military Service Initiative and North Texas Nadadores. Additionally, she served in the U.S. Army and was honorably discharged. Williamson received a Bachelor of Arts in English from the University of Michigan, a Juris Doctor degree from the University of Denver College of Law, and a Master of Business Administration from Auburn University-Montgomery. https://gov.texas.gov/news/post/governor-abbott-appoints-eight-to-aerospace-and-aviation-advisory-committee Green Cubes Technology’s IoT Solution for eGSE In a connected, digital world, using relevant data is key to success. Green Cubes Technology has more than 5,000 lithium batteries deployed with customers and those users were looking for data on the usage of the batteries in their fleet. “This data is very important for small and enterprise fleet managers alike. When eGSE started to gain popularity, a demo or power study helped fleet managers make decisions about what size battery to deploy in their operation,” says Jerry Crump, director of business development – GSE at Green Cubes Technology. “This became the norm.” That demand for data prompted Green Cubes Technology to create Maestro IoT, an Internet of Things (IoT) technology solution for the GSE market. “We have developed a cloud-based telematic system, Maestro IoT, for our batteries that allows our customers to review their battery fleet’s performance from a high level all the way down to the individual battery,” Crump explains. “This includes data on battery location, enterprise wide, battery status, current and voltage, throughput, charge and discharge cycles, battery runtime and many other metrics. “The data reporting can be customized for specific needs,” he adds. “This system is now in use with multiple customers that review and track their batteries daily.” Using a cloud-based system allowed Green Cubes Technology officials to overcome the project’s biggest challenge – how to receive the data. Green Cubes Technology representatives solicited helpful feedback about connectivity issues brought on by firewalls and determined alternative connectivity methods for customers. “With internet security a concern, it can be challenging to access the ports in a firewall to put a system online. With a cloud-based system, strong and safe internet connectivity is required to display the collected data,” Crump says. “Green Cubes Technology offers alternative set-up methods of data transmission by using cellular modems to provide alternative Wi-Fi transmission, or sim cards to transmit independent of a Wi-Fi network.” A system with telematics allows fleet managers to see data on how their equipment is performing. This information allows for making informed purchasing decisions for battery sizing, fleet sizing and common infrastructure issues, such as proper charging capabilities. “Our IoT technology gives fleet managers the ability to capture months of operational data that is housed on a cloud server, and can be exported to evaluate trends, and operational changes based on time of year, or peak seasons,” Crump says. This same technology could be rolled out to other platforms down the road, or even integrated with fleet management software through exports if the company's customer base saw value in this type of integration, according to Crump. In the meantime, Green Cubes Technology officials continue to fine tune the solution to best suit specific customer needs. “In our experience, we’ve found it’s important to always keep in mind operational constraints at each individual customer location,” Crump says. “A one-size-fits-all solution approach to capturing data at our very diverse customer locations will not work.” https://www.aviationpros.com/gse/gse-technology/article/21242166/green-cubes-technologys-iot-solution-for-egse Eni Launches Sustainable Aviation Fuel Production Eni said Friday it has launched the production of alternative sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) that will significantly contribute to the decarbonization of aviation in the short to medium term. Eni SAFs are produced exclusively from waste and residues, in line with the company’s strategic decision not to use palm oil from 2023. Eni said it plans to double its current bio-refining capacity of 1.1 million tonnes/year within the four-year period and increase it to 5/6 million tonnes/year by 2050. The so-called biojet will play a significant role in the product mix, in line with industry scenarios and market trends, and the aim is to reach a production capacity of at least 500 thousand tonnes/year of biojet by 2030. Claudio Descalzi, CEO of Eni, said. “This is a very important milestone in our journey to decarbonize and fully reflects our pragmatic approach to the energy transition. This approach involves using technology to cut emissions in sectors such as aviation, which are high emitters but at the same time need to be nurtured because they are crucial to growth and development. We are committed to being a technological leader in the energy transition, leveraging existing skills and assets, and this is a further step in that direction, as well as an important contribution at system level”. Initially, SAF is being produced at the Eni refinery in Taranto, with a 0.5% share of UCO (used cooking oils), contributing to the 2% share of bio component proposed as part of the EU “Fit For 55” package. This is a first step and part of Eni’s commitment to the decarbonization of all its products and processes by 2050 for all sectors, including some of the most challenging such as the aviation, heavy vehicles and marine sectors. SAF from the Taranto refinery is currently produced through a 0.5% UCO co-feeding process for conventional plants. According to the Renewable Energy Directive II, the bio share in the product typically allows for a more than 90% reduction in GHG emissions compared to standard fossil mix feedstock. This product, already available in Taranto refinery tanks, will be sold to major airlines, firstly ITA, thanks to the support of leading operators in the sector such as Aeroporti di Roma. Eni’s SAF production will continue to grow with the start of production of over 10 thousand tonnes/year of SAF at Eni’s Livorno refinery in early 2022, through the distillation of bio-components produced in Eni’s bio-refineries in Gela and Porto Marghera (Venice) using Eni’s proprietary Ecofining™ technology. The raw materials used will be exclusively waste products such as UCO or fats. This product, called “Eni Biojet”, contains 100% biogenic component and can be combined with conventional jet fuel in an up to 50% mix. Growth will continue with the launch, in 2024, of “Eni Biojet” production at the Gela biorefinery, where a project is already underway for the introduction of a further 150 thousand tonnes/year of SAF from 100% renewable raw materials, capable of meeting the Italian market’s potential obligation by 2025. https://www.eurasiareview.com/15102021-eni-launches-sustainable-aviation-fuel-production/ Critical insights on the path to a net-zero aviation sector October 14, 2021Countries have set ambitious net zero emissions targets by 2050, and working with industries like aviation is a key step in achieving that goal. The Mission Possible Partnership (MPP) is an alliance of climate leaders focused on decarbonizing seven industrial and transportation sectors—including aviation. MPP and McKinsey & Company recently developed a sector transition strategy outlining how the aviation can phase out fossil fuels by 2050. That strategy is based on MPP modeling that yielded several key insights. The goal of net-zero aviation by 2050 is possible—provided industry makes the right investments The MPP methodology charted two potential pathways for aviation through 2050—business as usual and a more ambitious approach. The ambitious approach is one potential pathway for the industry, that sets a bold ambition given the urgency of climate change. In the business-as-usual (or BAU) pathway, the aviation industry seeks the lowest total cost of ownership (TCO) for flights, implementing new technologies only if they offer an economic advantage or there is a favorable regulatory environment. The BAU pathway does not achieve net zero in 2050 and generates 40 Gt of carbon dioxide equivalents (CO2e) of cumulative emissions between 2022 and 2050 (10 percent of the remaining global carbon budget for 1.5°C, up from the industry’s current contribution of approximately 2.5 percent of CO2 emissions). In the climate ambition pathway, evolving technology and a willingness to pay a TCO premium of 20 percent to 50 percent for emissions-reducing technologies eliminate approximately 25 Gt of CO2e emissions between 2022 and 2050, phasing out fossil jet fuel entirely by 2050. Achieving that goal will require an additional average investment of approximately $300 billion each year in excess of BAU. Of that total, disruptive aircraft technologies represents only $15 billion per year. A far bigger share will be required to finance the production of renewable energy capacity and related infrastructure. Sustainable aviation fuels (SAFs) are the most viable short-term solution, though battery-electric and hydrogen propulsion will play a role in the medium- and long-term SAFs are the only viable near-term option to decrease emissions in the aviation sector, as they are compatible with current aircraft engines and fueling infrastructure and can power flights with no distance limits. In the climate ambition pathway, 25 to 30 percent of the sector’s energy demand in 2030 could be met by SAFs. In the medium and long term, more novel propulsion solutions will be needed. Battery-electric propulsion could, under optimistic projections, become an option to reduce CO2e emissions on short-haul flights starting in 2025. Hydrogen propulsion technologies, including fuel-cell and combustion powered aircraft, will be crucial for reducing CO2e emissions for mid-to-long-haul flights. Overall, hydrogen could cover up to 25 percent of the total energy demand in 2050. Industries will compete for renewable energy Decarbonizing aviation—including power-to-liquids and hydrogen—could require an additional 10,000 TWh of renewable electricity, comprising about 10 percent of global electricity production in 2050. This surge in demand will likely coincide with the electrification of other sectors like road transport, an increased demand for hydrogen or hydrogen-derived fuels, and the overall transition of the power sector from fossils to renewables. In the face of competing demand, it will take collaboration across the major players and institutions to support the transition to net-zero aviation. Objectives of this collaboration could include ensuring feedstock sustainability, supporting R&D for new pathways to market, de-risking private investments for infrastructure, and stimulating demand through measures that appropriately factor in the cost of jet fuels’ CO2e emissions. https://www.mckinsey.com/industries/aerospace-and-defense/our-insights/future-air-mobility-blog/critical-insights-on-the-path-to-a-net-zero-aviation-sector AINsight: Bizav Is Back and Thriving Optimistic. Innovative. Inspirational. These are just some of the words I’d use to describe the momentous week that thousands of us enjoyed at the just-concluded NBAA-BACE 2021 in Las Vegas. Following are a few notable highlights. Advanced air mobility (AAM). This is a hot, hot, hot topic. It’s all about emerging technology designed to move people and products in a more community-friendly, cost-effective aircraft that takes off and lands vertically. Case in point: BACE attendees could book a $99 seat on a Blade helicopter shuttle, operated by Maverick Helicopters, to get to and from the Las Vegas Convention Center and the static display at Henderson Executive Airport. It cut travel time nearly in half. The key to AAM is to create greener, noise-reductive, electric and hybrid aircraft. And to incorporate learning among engineers and production people to bring products to market more quickly. Sustainability. The business aviation industry is rallying around its commitment to achieving net-zero carbon emissions by 2050. The quickest way to reach this green goal is through the use of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) and other emerging technologies, such as AAM electric aircraft. And speaking of aircraft, manufacturers are finding ways to lower carbon emissions by incorporating more recycled materials. I was pleased to see that so many BACE exhibitors signed the “Green Pledge” to reduce their environmental impact as it relates to procurement, shipping, waste management, marketing, and recycling. Attraction and retention. As many of you know, I’ve been sharing my concerns about the aviation talent shortage since 2011. And the topic continues to be front and center, as many companies evidently are finding it difficult to attract the right level of talent needed to make a “cultural add” for their growing teams. (A cultural add means hiring someone with new, fresh, and different ideas and experiences.) While the hiring demand is strong in Part 135, corporate operators are still holding back on filling open pilot and maintenance positions. Moving forward, it’s important to consider what your organization needs to create a “sticky workplace.” Most candidates are looking for attractive compensation and benefits coupled with some sort of predictable schedule that contributes to quality of life. It is clear that we need to continue to hone our skills as to how to compete with not only the airlines but other business aviation employers as the competition for talent continues to heat up. Future leaders. One of the more memorable events of the convention was attending the 40 Under 40 awards luncheon. I loved soaking up the energy and contagious enthusiasm from our industry’s young professionals—or “YoPros” as we call them. More than 300 nominations were submitted this past year, and I very much enjoyed being seated alongside several award recipients from 2020 and 2021, including Kim Kissh, a captain at AbbVie; Julia Harrington, an aerobatic pilot and lead captain/base manager for Axis Jet; Jamie Santiago Munoz, general manager at Galaxy FBO; and Jared Hasty, director of sales for Ogarajets. I’m especially grateful that my nomination was accepted for the highly talented Elliot Taub, who is the assistant manager of aviation at Addison Airport in Texas. Our industry is in great hands with these emerging leaders! Giving back. Always a highlight of BACE is the Fund an Angel reception supporting Corporate Angel Network. I am always so moved by the generosity of our operators in sharing space on their airplanes with cancer patients traveling to life-saving treatments. This event always makes me so very proud to be part of this industry, and it is amazing that nearly $500,000 was raised. In closing, I just want to reiterate that it was wonderful to be back in person for our industry’s biggest event. It was absolutely what I needed to reconnect with the people that make this industry so special—and I’m looking forward to finishing out 2021 strong to ensure that we’re all poised for a successful 2022! https://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/blogs/ainsight-bizav-back-and-thriving Air cargo to lead aviation in carbon reduction Air cargo is set to lead the aviation world in the adoption of green initiatives, with sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) proving to be the best way for the industry to reduce its carbon emissions. Speaking at the IATA World Cargo Symposium, the airline group’s director general Willie Walsh said that shippers had been driving carbon reduction across the supply chain. “There has been a significant focus from shippers on the industry,” Walsh said. “We are probably seeing more pressure from the cargo side of the business to accelerate the decarbonisation, whether that is through offsetting or SAF, than we have seen on the passenger side. “Cargo is leading the way when it comes to sustainability, which is probably not the image people outside the air cargo business have so it has been interesting to see that.” IATA’s head of cargo Brendan Sullivan also said that shippers were driving change. “Sustainability is our license to grow,” Sullivan said. “Shippers are becoming more environmentally conscious and held accountable for their emissions by their customers. “Many are now reporting how much their supply chains produce in emissions, and they are looking for carbon-neutral transportation options. We all need to meet customer expectations for the highest standards of sustainability.” At IATA’s AGM earlier this month, airlines committed to achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2050. The strategy is to abate as much CO2 as possible from in-sector solutions such as SAF, new aircraft technology, more efficient operations and infrastructure, and the development of new zero-emissions energy sources such as electric and hydrogen power. Sebastian Mikosz, IATA senior vice president environment and sustainability, said that SAF will contribute around 65% of the emissions reductions needed in 2050. This will require SAF production increasing from 100m litres today to at least 449bn litres in 2050. New aircraft technologies, such as electric, hybrid and hydrogen powered aircraft, are expected to contribute around 13% of the reduction needed by 2050. Operations and infrastructure will contribute around 3% of the reduction, Mikosz said. This includes technologies such as retro-fitted winglets, light-weight seating, fuel efficiency systems, reduced engine taxiing and air traffic management programmes. The remaining 19% reduction is expected to come from offsetting and carbon capture. However, Walsh said these needed to be credible schemes. “Credible offsetting is the key,” said Walsh. “Without question offsetting has developed a bad name in some area because the credibility of some of the offsets could and should be challenged.” He added: “If you are going to spend money offsetting CO2 is there must be a genuine environmental benefit because some of the general offsetting schemes that some people have put forward, it is questionable if they would achieve the goal.” He added that the schemes adopted by the aviation industry tend to be of a higher quality than many because of the governance of the International Civil Aviation Organization through its Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme. Dorothea von Boxberg, Lufthansa Cargo chief executive, later outlined how the airline was already taking steps to reduce its emissions. These included four key areas: SAF, fuel efficiency, compensation and fleet modernisation. She said that its modern B777F fleet would offer a 52% reduction in C02 emissions compared with its fleet 25 years ago. Elsewhere the carrier was applying “sharkskin” film to aircraft to reduce drag, using lightweight containers and implementing flight optimisation procedures. The airline is also ramping up its use of SAF, von Boxberg said, even looking to utilise Power-to-Liquid fuel technology. https://www.aircargonews.net/policy/environment/air-cargo-to-lead-aviation-in-carbon-reduction/ Embraer to install state-of-the-art emergency detectors in its E2s ACR Group has signed an agreement with Embraer to supply new Autonomous Distress Tracking (ADT) and Emergency Locator Transmitter with Distress Tracking (ELT-DT) technology to meet European operational requirements and ICAO’s Global Aviation Safety and Distress System (GADSS) recommendations, which become effective in January 2023. These recommendations, in response to the loss of Malaysia Airlines Flight 370 and Air France Flight 447, now provide the airlines’ Rescue Coordination Centers (RCCs) and Operational Control Centers (OCCs) with early warning, as well as the precise location of the aircraft if a hazard scenario is detected. Embraer will install the system on existing and new E2 aircraft prior to delivery to the airlines. Embraer will use technology from both SKYTRAC and ACR Electronics, part of the ACR Group, which will track and locate aircraft in danger, ensuring adherence to the GADSS recommendations set forth by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO). SKYTRAC’s ADT 5000 captures aircraft parameters, such as position, altitude and other critical system data, and runs them through the Danger Detection Logic. The system detects a threat condition and connects with a variety of Emergency Locator Transmitters (ELTs) to initiate a real-time hazard tracking transmission. Triggered by a potentially dangerous condition from the aircraft’s independent surveillance, the system intelligently activates and begins transmitting 406 MHz distress messages automatically with the current real-time location while the aircraft is in flight. Emergency tracking, which also complies with FAA TSO-C126C and EASA ETSO-C126C standards for aircraft emergency location transmitters, provides the accurate location of the aircraft to help relevant control agencies respond to the alert quickly and efficiently using the COSPAS-SARSAT satellite network. Pilots can also activate the ELT manually from the cockpit if necessary. As reported by our partner site AEROIN, the solution alerts airline stakeholders and authorities for search and rescue or accident investigation in case of danger through an emergency report sending the positions to the ICAO aircraft emergency location repository (LADR). With this solution, aircraft manufacturers will address three of the key objectives of the GADSS Concept of Operations (CONOP). Such objectives include late notification to search and rescue (SAR) services when aircraft is in distress, identification of their location, ensuring efficient and effective SAR operations, and assisting in the timely recovery of flight data by providing an accurate report of the aircraft’s final position. The technology will enable Embraer to meet the January 1, 2023 deadline for Autonomous Emergency Tracking, complying with ICAO Annex 6 (Part 1), section 6.18, and Eurocae ED-237 Minimum Aviation System Performance (MASP) specifications. https://www.aviacionline.com/2021/10/embraer-to-install-state-of-the-art-emergency-detectors-in-its-e2s/ How Is A Composite Commercial Jet Aircraft Built? Aircraft using composite materials have shaken up the commercial aviation industry. The prime examples of this technology are the Boeing 787 and Airbus A350, both of which have been huge successes for their companies. But how are composite aircraft built? How does the process differ from previous aircraft? Let’s find out. What is a composite? Before digging in, it’s important to understand what a composite material is. While the term composite means a mixture of any two or more materials, in aviation it has come to define a specific mixture. In the case of 787 and A350, it usually involves a fiber-reinforced plastic, such as carbon fiber or kevlar, mixed with plastic resins. This composite is then stacked in several layers and frozen to become a solid foundation. The biggest gain from using composites is weight reduction. The composite materials have allowed manufacturers to shed thousands of kilograms of excess weight from planes, making them far more aerodynamically efficient. Simply put, the more the use of composites, the more efficient an aircraft can be. Composites themselves aren’t a new concept and were used over three decades before the 787. For instance, the 777 featured 12% composite materials, while the A380 used 25% composites. While this achieved some weight savings, aluminum was the single largest component in use for the 777 at 50%, still leaving it heavy by today’s standards. Break it down Commercial composite jets are built like any other plane, built in separate parts around the globe and put together on an assembly line. For the 787, much of the fuselage, wings, sections of the tail, and more are made of composites, comprising 50% of the total weight of the aircraft. This brings about a weight saving of 20% over aluminum, according to Boeing – a significant improvement. The use of 50% composites in the 787 fuels the aircraft’s dominance among carriers globally and allows it to fly very long-haul missions. Moreover, they are the reason behind the plane’s distinct wing flex during takeoff. Airbus may have been second to introduce a majority-composite aircraft, but exceeds Boeing in how much it uses. The A350 is made of 53% carbon fiber composites, making up much of the wings and fuselage. Making the fibers itself is a delicate and crucial task, one which requires years of development. Once the threads are woven, they are braided together, put onto the aircraft component, and locked in with plastic resin to create the strong material needed to survive thousands of flight cycles. The shape and amount of composite required changes by component and design, with no two parts being the same. Every part we see on the outside is made of millions of composite braids joined together meticulously. Once designed, however, the process is quick, allowing manufacturers to make dozens of planes a month if needed. Leaps The coming decades will see new clean-sheet aircraft use even more composites to lighten the weight. As the technology advances, aircraft will become more efficient and environmentally friendly. For now, commercial composite jets have changed the market and will continue to do so for years to come. https://simpleflying.com/how-is-a-composite-comercial-jet-aircraft-built/ SpaceX CEO Elon Musk Tweets He Is in Talks With Airlines to Install Starlink Broadband Elon Musk said in a tweet on Thursday he was in talks with airlines about installing Starlink, a satellite-based broadband service owned by his rocket company SpaceX. Musk, who is known for his Twitter banter, announcements and lively interactions with followers, did not provide any details about the talks in his tweet. It was not immediately clear which airlines were approached or when installation would occur. Shares of in-flight Internet provider Gogo fell to an intraday low of 5.7 percent before recouping some of the losses in afternoon trading. Starlink, the satellite Internet unit of SpaceX, plans to deploy 12,000 satellites. SpaceX has said the Starlink constellation will cost it roughly $10 billion (roughly Rs. 74,980 crores). It is one of a growing number of companies making small satellites that also includes Amazon's Kuiper, Britain's OneWeb, venture capital-backed Planet, and Raytheon's Blue Canyon Technologies. Musk currently helms companies including electric-car maker Tesla, rocket startup SpaceX and Neuralink, a startup that is developing ultra-high bandwidth brain-machine interfaces to connect the human brain to computers. https://gadgets.ndtv.com/internet/news/elon-musk-starlink-spacex-airlines-talks-twitter-tweet-2576145 Curt Lewis