November 12, 2021 - No. 87 In This Issue : Air Canada and Southwest Airlines partner with green tech companies : COP26 climate event highlights cargo airlines’ shift to cleaner jet fuel : Honeywell technology enables first jet flights with sustainable aviation fuel : Envision Digital and SITA Join Forces to Develop Net Zero Technology and Help ecarbonize Airports : Etihad Airways Partners with Microsoft to Turn Sustainability Goals into Reality : Electric Aircraft Pioneer Calls For Carbon Tax On Aircraft Fuel : Rolls-Royce To Ground Test Its Biggest Engine Yet In 2022 : DGCA starts eGCA portal for pilots, engineers, trainers, in tie-up with TCS : Collins Aerospace’s multi-mode receiver now on Airbus planes : Historic Lockheed JetStar Returns Home after 55 years : SpaceX delivers new crew of 4 to station, 'glorious sight' Air Canada and Southwest Airlines partner with green tech companies Southwest Airlines has signed a 15-year agreement with a sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) producer, and Air Canada is working with a decarbonization technology firm that could also spur more production of SAF, the carriers announced separately on Wednesday. In Southwest's agreement with Velocys Renewables, the carrier will receive 219 million gallons of SAF, which can blend with conventional jet fuel to produce as much as 575 million gallons of fuel with net-zero carbon emissions, according to the carrier. Over the period of the agreement, it could potentially lower carbon emissions by 6.5 million metric tons. Velocys CEO Henrik Wareborn claimed the company's fuel is "the lowest carbon intensity sustainable aviation fuel announced to date." "The SAF produced at the Bayou Fuels facility plans to utilize a sustainable feedstock -- forestry residues from plantation forests -- and renewable power from a neighboring solar facility, as well as contract for carbon capture that will sequester more than 500,000 tons of carbon dioxide per year," according to Wareborn. "It also is expected to have a greater than 99% reduction in sulfur as compared to conventional jet fuel, reducing the emissions of this conventional pollutant." Southwest plans to begin buying the fuel from Velocys' facility in Natchez, Miss., in 2026 at the earliest, and the agreement also includes rights to buy "significant volumes" of the fuel from future Velocys facilities, according to Southwest. The carrier aims to replace 10% of its jet fuel consumption with SAF by 2030, according to Southwest Airlines senior director of fuel supply chain management Michael AuBuchon. Southwest in recent weeks announced a SAF fuel purchasing program with corporate clients, in which the companies pay the premium cost of the fuel via cash or UATP funds to receive carbon credits for their emissions, but the amount of fuel currently available limits participation opportunities. Deloitte, Siemens and Zurich North America are initial partners in the program. Air Canada, meanwhile, announced a memorandum of understanding with Canadian energy firm Carbon Engineering, which aims to deploy technology capable of large-scale carbon capture, removing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. The carrier will work with the firm "to advance new, transformational technologies toward the commercial viability of SAFs and carbon removal," according to Air Canada executive vice president and CFO Amos Kazzaz. Besides permanently storing captured carbon dioxide deep underground, captured carbon potentially could be used to develop ultra-low carbon fuels, including SAF, when combined with clean hydrogen, according to Air Canada. Carbon Engineering has been operating a pilot plant in British Colombia capturing carbon dioxide since 2015, and it is working to deploy megaton-scale facilities. One such large-scale facility is under development in the United States by 1PointFive, in which Air Canada partner United Airlines announced a multimillion-dollar investment last year, and it is targeting 2024 to begin operations. https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Airline-News/Air-Canada-and-Southwest-Airlines-partner-with-green-tech-companies COP26 climate event highlights cargo airlines’ shift to cleaner jet fuel The move toward sustainable aviation fuels gained momentum this week as cargo and passenger airline interests, in conjunction with the U.N. climate change conference in Glasgow, Scotland, took more steps to meet the new goal of net-zero carbon emissions by 2050. The aviation sector accounts for 2.5% of global CO2 emissions, which are expected to rise rapidly with the Department of Energy projecting jet fuel use will double in 30 years. Airlines increasingly realize that their long-term survival depends on seriously tackling climate change, just as safety is a prerequisite to operate. On Wednesday, Amazon Air (NASDAQ: AMZN), the retail and logistics giant’s in-house cargo airline, along with Alaska Airlines (NYSE: ALK), JetBlue (NYSE: JBLU) and United Airlines (NASDAQ: UAL) became the first to join the Sustainable Aviation Buyers Alliance (SABA), which was created to drive investment in jet fuel made from waste and biomass, and accelerate the transition to net-zero emissions air transport. DHL Express, part of Deutsche Post DHL Group, announced a new partnership with Neste to supply sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) at the carrier’s hub at East Midlands Airport in the U.K. Kuehne + Nagel, the world’s largest airfreight forwarder, said it will offer customers the option to purchase SAF for each shipment if they want to minimize the environmental impact. Other logistics companies have limited SAF substitution programs on specific routes, but Kuehne + Nagel’s product is comprehensive. And Air Canada (OTCUS: ACDVF) said it will work with Carbon Engineering Ltd. to identify potential opportunities for direct capture of carbon from jet engines and how it can be removed from the atmosphere or turned into SAF. On Thursday, The International Air Cargo Association released a sustainability road map that identifies concrete actions industry should take to contribute to international targets on sustainable development and climate change. Decarbonization is one of eight priority areas for airfreight. Meanwhile, officials from 23 governments at the COP26 conference, including the U.S., pledged to work with the International Civil Aviation Organization and others to reduce emissions in line with the Paris Agreement goal for global warming not to exceed 1.5 degrees Celsius. The industry views SAF as the best near-term solution to achieving new targets, along with operational improvements and infrastructure, as it develops electric and hydrogen propulsion technology for clean aircraft of the future. SAF can be produced from waste oil and fats, green and municipal waste, nonfood crops, or carbon capture. Jet engines today can take a 50/50 blend of SAF, which reduces CO2 emissions by up to 80%. Boeing and Airbus are working to get certification for engines that operate 100% on SAF, which industry officials expect by the end of the decade. Last month, the International Air Transport Association, which represents airlines, set a new target for carbon-neutral flying by the middle of the century but said achieving it requires a collective effort by all stakeholders. The net-zero commitment implies that a cumulative total of 21.2 gigatons of carbon will need to be abated between now and 2050. IATA’s baseline scenario calls for 65% of emissions to be abated through SAF. An additional 13% will be erased through new propulsion technology, with efficiency improvements accounting for 3% of the total goal. The remainder could be dealt with through carbon capture and storage and offsets. The aviation sector is counting on a supportive government policy framework to enable its energy transition. The trade association favors incentives over mandates requiring certain quantities of SAF be used, saying they reduce project risk, create competition and keep prices down. Under President Joe Biden, the U.S. government is targeting 3 billion gallons of SAF production by 2030, representing more than 10% of estimated jet fuel consumption. By 2050 it wants 35 billion gallons of SAF, enough to power the entire U.S. aviation sector. The administration also announced an investment of more than $200 million, including matching private funds, for advanced aviation technologies that will reduce fuel use, emissions and noise. And it is working with Congress to pass a tax credit for SAFs to bring down the cost and stimulate production. “Our view is that just like vehicles on the ground, the future of aviation is a sustainable one and we are so eager to capture the economic benefits and the jobs that that innovation will generate for our citizens. But we also welcome global competition because we believe U.S. innovators will thrive more under that kind of healthy pressure, and because a race for climate technology means a better chance of reducing emissions before it’s too late to prevent the worst outcomes of climate change,” Transportation Secretary Pete Buttegieg said at the COP26 International Aviation Climate Coalition meeting. Scaling up SAF supply A complete shift away from fossil fuels for air transport by 2050 is possible with SAF made from waste feedstock and rotational cover crops gradually transitioning toward fuels generated from low-carbon electricity, according to a September report from the Air Transport Action Group. It envisions new technology options such as electric and hydrogen aircraft for short-haul flights, with SAF supporting all medium- and long-haul operations. Airbus says it is confident it can produce a hydrogen-powered aircraft by 2035. The desire to reduce the carbon intensity of flying is hampered by supply and cost challenges. SAF currently represents less than 0.1% of global aviation fuel due to diffuse demand costs four times as much as conventional jet fuel. Achieving pollution targets will require commercial SAF production at scale, proponents say. The (SABA) was launched in April by the Environmental Defense Fund and green-energy nonprofit RMI to signal to suppliers that there is strong airline demand for greater SAF production. “We are excited to partner with the Sustainable Aviation Buyers Alliance to launch a new Aviators Group to promote the development of sustainable aviation fuel solutions,” said Sarah Rhoads, vice president of Amazon Global Air, in a statement. “We’re already reducing carbon across our air network, from our ground operations — where we were the first to use electric main deck loaders in North America — to our fleet and network design. By working together with other companies, we are demonstrating there is strong and growing demand for the rapid deployment of cost-effective sustainable aviation fuels, which will help Amazon meet our commitment to reach net-zero carbon by 2040.” Alaska Air has also set a goal of net-zero carbon by 2040. Last month it formed an investment arm to advance emerging technology that will accelerate the airline’s progress toward net zero carbon emissions. In addition to inaugurating the Aviators Group, SABA announced the addition of Meta (formerly the Facebook company) into its founding customers group, which includes Bank of America, Boeing (NYSE: BA), Boston Consulting Group, Deloitte, JPMorgan Chase, McKinsey & Co., Microsoft, Netflix and Salesforce. Airline customers that can’t buy SAF directly buy SAF certificates representing emission reductions for use toward their climate goals, increasing the demand signal and incentive to produce more SAF. The program builds on recent SAF purchase partnerships between airlines and corporate customers by providing a standardized, scalable approach and a system for tracking and verifying credible SAF purchases. The cost of an SAF certificate represents the price premium of SAF compared to jet kerosene from fossil fuels, minus any government incentives. SABA says it is striving to make SAF certificates available by the end of next year, adding that the process is taking more time because of a lack of transparency in the jet fuel market. SABA is developing an SAF Sustainability Framework designed to ensure SAF contributes to credible emissions reductions and doesn’t degrade the environment or compete with food and water. Cargo airlines, freight forwarders and shippers need to contribute by demonstrating an interest in flying on SAF, TIACA said in its sustainability report. Air cargo companies should also transition to cleaner ground vehicles used at airports and for road distribution, it said. DHL’s cargo airline said it will do its part with the purchase of more than 60 million euros ($70.6 million) worth of SAF by mid-2022 at East Midlands, eliminating about 70,000 tons of CO2. The company has a 2030 target of meeting at least 30% of its fuel needs in aviation through sustainable fuel. Neste will be DHL’s main SAF supplier at the U.K. airport, which supports about 200 flights per week. The fuel is produced from used cooking oil. The U.K. government is studying policy proposals to encourage increased use of SAF. DHL has already introduced SAF in San Francisco and Amsterdam and said it plans to equip more airports with SAF this year. Kuehne+Nagel said the new SAF option for shippers is available on all air freight quoting platforms and channels. The price is instantly calculated based on weight, rather than per liter or CO2 ton avoided, and presented as a selectable choice. Lufthansa Cargo and German logistics giant DB Schenker recently extended their weekly carbon-free freighter flights between Frankfurt and Shanghai, China, until March 22. Under the program, the trip’s fuel requirements are covered by SAF, amortized over time through other flights that use a mix of biofuel and jet fuel. The companies purchase SAF, which is fed into the refueling system at Frankfurt Airport so that each aircraft subsequently refueled has a small blend of SAF, enabling them to claim credit for a carbon-neutral flight. Telecommunications network provider Nokia has signed up for DB Schenker’s fuel option. Over the next five months, Nokia will ship 10 tons of communications network equipment each week from a production facility in Shanghai to its European hub in Tilburg in the Netherlands. The shipment is entirely covered by SAF to reduce 100% of carbon emissions during the life cycle, avoiding any offsetting. Land transport elements will be covered utilizing another advanced type of biofuel, hydrogenated vegetable oil. The alternative fuel flights save around 174 tons of conventional kerosene every week, according to Lufthansa Cargo. During the summer flight schedule, the initiative achieved a net reduction of 20,250 tons of greenhouse gases. In the upcoming winter flight schedule, from the end of October to the end of March, another 14,175 tons are expected to be diverted from the atmosphere. All-cargo operator Cargolux last month announced the start of a SAF program, but provided no details about how it works. British Airways earlier this week demonstrated the capabilities of SAF, powering the airline’s first flight back to the U.S. since border restrictions were lifted, with a 35% blend of SAF. That is the highest level for a commercial trans-Atlantic flight ever, according to London Heathrow Airport. It is urging the U.K. government to introduce a price stability mechanism to foster investment in production, as well as mandate 10% usage by 2030 and at least 50% by 2050. Air Canada is following the lead of United and FedEx Express (NYSE: FDX), which are investing heavily in carbon capture and sequestration in geologic formations. The carrier said it will work with Carbon Engineering to commercialize its carbon capture technology. The carbon can be stored underground or used to produce ultra-low carbon SAF by combining the CO2 with clean hydrogen, the companies said. Ahead of COP26, Air Canada, Lufthansa, and United became founding members of the Aviation Climate Taskforce. The non-profit organization, made up of 10 global airlines and the Boston Consulting Group, was established to accelerate research and advance innovation related to emerging decarbonization technologies, including SAF. Also, AirFlo and Tiger Freight joined Air France KLM Martinair Cargo’s SAF program to reduce the carbon emissions they produce when shipping flowers and perishables from Kenya and Zimbabwe. Their fixed annual investment will help procure SAF by covering the price difference between conventional jet fuel and SAF, the airline said. Borrowing from bike racers On Tuesday, Airbus conducted the first long-haul demonstration of formation flight in commercial airspace with two A350 aircraft flying 3 kilometers apart from Toulouse, France, to Montreal. The concept is similar to how bicycle or auto racers tuck close behind another racer to take advantage of a low pressure pocket and expend less energy. The aircraft manufacturer said more than six tons of CO2 emissions were saved on the trip, confirming the potential for more than a 5% fuel saving on long-haul flights. The ability for the second plane to closely follow the leader was made possible with new flight control systems developed by Airbus. The systems position the follower aircraft safely in the wake updraft of the leader, allowing it to reduce engine thrust and fuel consumption. The principle can be observed with large migrating birds, such as geese, which fly together in a distinct V-shaped formation. Airbus officials said they are optimistic that the technology will be deployed for passenger aircraft around the middle of this decade. The operational concept needs to be certified by aviation authorities before airlines can adopt it. Getting approval in Europe will bear watching. Regulators there have yet to adopt the Single European Sky concept, which IATA says would shorten flight patterns and immediately reduce emissions by 6%. The inefficiency in the current air traffic control system in Europe contributes 10% to 12% in excess fuel use and CO2 emissions, according to the group. New operational efficiencies were also at the heart of an Etihad Airways flight from London to Abu Dhabi last month. Using a combination of SAF and improved flight management the flight reduced CO2 emissions by 85,980 pounds and fuel burn by 3,968 pounds. Etihad’s fleet is being used by Boeing as a testbed for sustainability improvements. Etihad said the Boeing 787 flight was the first commercial flight to explore contrail avoidance. Working with U.K-based data analytics firm Satavia, engineers identified areas of ice super-saturated regions in the atmosphere where harmful contrails are likely to form, and adjusted the flight route to avoid these areas. The strategy avoided the production of approximately 70.5 tons of CO2e, with a fuel penalty of only 220 pounds. https://www.freightwaves.com/news/cop26-climate-event-highlights-airlines-move-toward-cleaner-jet-fuel Honeywell technology enables first jet flights with sustainable aviation fuel Honeywell has announced that its UOP EcofiningTM technology supported the world’s first jet flights using sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) produced from algal oil. Two commercial flights, which were recently completed in Japan, used a blend containing renewable jet fuel created from microalgae feedstock using the Ecofining process. The commercial flights were the first use of the new ASTM D7566 Annex 7 standard for fuel used in commercial jet engines, and were carried out by Japan Airlines on an Airbus A350-900, and All Nippon Airways on a Boeing 787-8. The microalgae oil feed was produced by the Japanese-based IHI Corporation, which approached UOP with the novel algal oil for production of renewable jet fuel through the use of UOP Ecofining, the first technology used for commercial production of SAF. Honeywell helped pioneer SAF production with its UOP Ecofining process, which has been used to produce SAF commercially since 2016. Following a rigorous testing process , the SAF produced by the UOP’s Ecofining technology from the algal oil received regulatory approval from ASTM to meet jet fuel standard D7566 Annex 7. Fuel that conforms to the ASTM D7566 Annex 7 standard has the same material properties as existing jet fuel (kerosene), and even if it is mixed with existing fuel, it does not require modification of existing infrastructure or aircraft materials such as engines or fuel supply facilities. As a drop in-fuel, it can be used in the operation of commercial aircraft around the world as well as in Japan. “We began working on this next-generation technology to reduce carbon dioxide emissions related to air transportation, and chose to work with Honeywell UOP with its proven track record with Ecofining technology,” said Tomoo Mizuno, Associated Director and Head of Algae based Bio-fuel Group, of IHI Corporation. “After the successful large-scale culturing of microalgae to produce the algal oil and testing in Thailand, we worked with UOP to develop batches of the fuel in the US.” The UOP Ecofining process remains the only commercially demonstrated process for 100% production of SAF in the world. Honeywell Green Jet FuelTM produced by this process is blended seamlessly with petroleum-based jet fuel at commercial scale. When used in up to a 50% blend with petroleum-based jet fuel, Honeywell Green Jet Fuel requires no changes to aircraft technology and meets all critical specifications for flight. “Expanding the feedstock base into algal-based fuels is an important step in producing SAF,” added Ben Owens, Vice President and General Manager, Honeywell Sustainable Technology Solutions. “The UOP Ecofining process has proven to be suitable for many types of renewable feeds including algal oil. We look forward to working with IHI on expanding algal fuels to the entire industry.” The UOP Ecofining process, jointly developed with Eni SpA, converts non-edible natural oils, animal fats and other waste feedstocks to Honeywell Green DieselTM and Honeywell Green Jet Fuel, which is materially chemically identical to petroleum-based counterparts. Both products offer improved performance over commercial petroleum-based diesel and jet fuels, and can be used as a drop-in replacement for up to a 10% blend with petroleum aviation fuel in aircraft with no equipment modifications. https://www.hydrocarbonengineering.com/clean-fuels/11112021/honeywell-technology-enables-first-jet-flights-with-sustainable-aviation-fuel/ Envision Digital and SITA Join Forces to Develop Net Zero Technology and Help ecarbonize Airports SINGAPORE, Nov. 12. 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Envision Digital International Pte Ltd ("Envision Digital"), a Singapore-headquartered global net zero partner and Artificial Intelligence of Things (AIoT) technology leader, and SITA, the world's leading IT provider for the air transport industry, have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to jointly build end-to-end net zero carbon solutions for airports worldwide. The collaboration will harness Envision Digital's strengths in digitalization, data management, and artificial intelligence applied to energy and smart building solutions, and SITA's strengths in air transport technology and operations to support airports in their journey towards net zero carbon emissions. The MOU forms part of SITA's strategy to help the air transport industry reduce its carbon footprint through greater operational efficiencies. Michael Ding, Global Executive Director at Envision Digital, said: "Airports have been progressive in their ambition to reach net zero, and this partnership combining our AIoT leadership with SITA's technology capabilities, will create the the end-to-end net zero carbon aviation solution needed by the industry to reach their goal." David Lavorel, CEO of SITA AT AIRPORTS AND BORDERS, said: "This collaboration with Envision Digital will enable airports to act and operationalize their net zero pledges. With our best-in-class technologies, we are creating the world's first fully integrated net zero carbon solutions for the air transport industry to help them gain actionable insights and achieve their sustainability targets." Sergio Colella, SITA President for Europe, said: "According to ACI, 235 airports across Europe have committed to net zero by 2050, and more than 90 airports are now set to achieve net zero carbon emissions by 2030. With Envision Digital and SITA working together, we can help these airports in their journey towards meeting their sustainability commitments, combining solutions that optimize airport operations to reduce local emissions while optimizing infrastructure-related energy consumption." Both companies will work together to build a carbon reduction solution that connects and facilitates real-time data flows in an airport to monitor their real-time carbon footprint, gain data-driven insights, and manage emissions. Airports will be able to harmonize energy silos, drive efficiencies, and reduce energy consumption while maintaining high traveler comfort levels and enabling more efficient operations as the aviation industry rebounds. About Envision Digital Envision Digital is committed to becoming the world's leading net zero technology partner for enterprises, governments, and cities alike. Its world-class AIoT technology helps governments and companies across the world accelerate progress toward a net zero future and improve their citizens' quality of life. Having established itself as a leading solutions provider for intelligent renewable energy generation, consumption efficiency and smart and flexible storage, Envision Digital has extended its capabilities beyond energy to enable and optimise applications – notably in smart renewables, city infrastructure and carbon management solutions. EnOS™, Envision Digital's proprietary AIoT operating system, connects and manages more than 110 million smart devices and 360 gigawatts of energy assets globally and with Envision Ark, it has earned Envision Group a place on Fortune's 2021 Change The World list. Envision Digital's growing ecosystem of more than 360 customers and partners spans 10 industries and includes Accenture, Amazon Web Services, GovTech Singapore, Keppel Corporation, Microsoft, Nissan, PTT, Solarvest, Total and ST Engineering. The company has close to 800 employees and 12 offices across China, France, Japan, Germany, Norway, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, and the United States, with headquarters in Singapore. For more information, please visit www.envision-digital.com/. About SITA SITA is the air transport industry's IT provider, delivering solutions for airlines, airports, aircraft and governments. Our technology powers more seamless, safe and sustainable air travel. With around 2,500 customers, SITA's solutions drive operational efficiencies at more than 1,000 airports while delivering the promise of the connected aircraft to customers of 18,000 aircraft globally. SITA also provides technology solutions that help more than 60 governments strike the balance of secure borders and seamless travel. Our communications network connects every corner of the globe and bridges 60% of the air transport community's data exchange. SITA is committed to being a carbon neutral company by 2022 through our UN recognized Planet+ program, while also developing solutions to help the aviation industry meet its carbon reduction objectives, including reduced fuel burn and greater operational efficiencies at the airport. SITA is 100% owned by the industry and driven by its needs. It is one of the most internationally diverse companies, providing services in over 200 countries and territories. For further information, go to www.sita.aero https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/envision-digital-and-sita-join-forces-to-develop-net-zero-technology-and-help-ecarbonize-airports-301422983.html Etihad Airways Partners with Microsoft to Turn Sustainability Goals into Reality Etihad Airways, the national carrier of the United Arab Emirates, announced a new partnership with Microsoft, leveraging its latest tools and technologies to advance its sustainability goals. Under the agreement, the companies will be working together to use advanced analytics and AI to measure and benchmark Etihad’s environmental footprint, allowing the business to implement and assess carbon efficiency savings across its business operations. “Innovation and sustainability are at the core of our business, and our continued partnership with Microsoft will support us in meeting our sustainability goals to reduce carbon emissions both in the air through operational efficiencies, and on the ground, through improvements in our back office processes and technology infrastructure,” said Tony Douglas, Group CEO, Etihad Aviation Group. “Etihad is aligned with the UAE’s mission to conserve and preserve our environment for generations to come and we have made significant progress over the last two years towards our ‘net-zero carbon emissions by 2050’ goal with our sustainability portfolio. We look forward to working closely with Microsoft to enhance these developments.” The innovative collaboration will focus on the implementation of cutting-edge tools and technologies which will turn data into actionable insights and unlock scenarios and use cases that will help Etihad reduce its carbon footprint. Etihad and Microsoft have also committed to jointly identifying opportunities for collaboration to achieve both organizations’ sustainability goals while building thought-leadership and further partnerships with organizations in the UAE and the region. This will further drive the national sustainability agenda and build a supportive technology ecosystem which will allow organizations of all sizes to take carbon reduction measures based on data-driven insights. “We are aligned with the UAE’s long-term sustainability goals and practices to accelerate growth responsibly, while fulfilling the nation’s ambitious objectives,” said Sayed Hashish, general manager, Microsoft UAE. “For more than a decade, Microsoft has been investing to reduce environmental impact while supporting the digital transformation of organizations around the world through cloud services. The commitments and investments we make are important steps in reducing our own environmental impact, but we recognize that the opportunity for positive change is greatest by empowering customers and partners to achieve their own sustainability goals. Therefore, this partnership with Etihad is incredibly exciting: by empowering more and more organizations with the right insights, we will be able to reach critical mass to reduce carbon emissions on a significant scale.” https://www.aviationpros.com/airlines/press-release/21246058/etihad-airways-etihad-airways-partners-with-microsoft-to-turn-sustainability-goals-into-reality Electric Aircraft Pioneer Calls For Carbon Tax On Aircraft Fuel The aviation industry will need to up its game to achieve the key objective of reaching net-zero carbon emissions by 2050, according to speakers at a conference organized last month by GKN Aerospace to mark the official opening of its new Global Technology Centre (GTC) in the UK. Stephen Fitzpatrick, founder, and CEO of eVTOL aircraft developer Vertical Aerospace, went so far as to call for governments to introduce carbon taxes on commercial aviation fuel to encourage the industry to move away from its dependence on fossil fuels. “The government needs to put a price on carbon, put a price on the problem,” he said. “It can start low, but it will get us to the right price [for Jet-A fuel] which should be around $50 or $60 per tonne. A simple carbon tax is the best way to support that.” While that demand might seem sacrilegious to many in the air transport sector, Fitzpatrick, who owns one of the UK’s largest domestic energy supply companies, argued that the absence of fuel taxes in commercial aviation distorts operating costs and undermines efforts to persuade aircraft operators to renew their fleets with new electric and hydrogen propulsion systems. While shying away from endorsing the call for a fuel tax, other speakers shared the sense of urgency. “To get to net zero in 2050, we’ve got to supercharge what’s been done already,” said Emma Gilthorpe, CEO of the UK’s Jet Zero Council. “Initially, we talked about a goal of cutting emissions [from aviation] by 10 percent by 2030, and, at the time, that seemed ambitious but now it seems as if we have to at least achieve that,” Gilthorpe said. GKN uses the new GTC facility as an innovation hub for technology aimed at reducing aerospace’s carbon footprint. Work includes the Airbus “Wing of Tomorrow” program and the H2Gear project to develop a new hydrogen-electric powertrain. Both Airbus (Stand 1050) and Rolls-Royce (Chalet A16) have large factories close to the site at Filton near Bristol. Trevor Higgs, vice president of engineering and general manager of Airbus UK, said that the scope for partnership presented by facilities like the GTC will be critical to the aerospace group achieving its objective of bringing a zero-emission, hydrogen-powered airliner into commercial service by 2035. “Obviously, Airbus cannot achieve this ambitious challenge on its own; the aerospace ecosystem around Filton is vital to achieving our goals,” he said. Rolls-Royce’s chief technology officer Paul Stein said that cutting carbon emissions from commercial flying will heavily depend on the availability of sustainable aviation fuels (SAFs). He said that oil companies face a collective $4 trillion price tag to make a switch from a business model based entirely on fossil fuels. “This really is like a moonshot and it may get done through a novel approach to chemistry to create e-fuels, rather than beautiful new aircraft,” Stein told the GKN conference. “About 14 percent of net-zero will come from disruptive technologies, including electric aircraft, but SAF will have a bigger impact and will be the lion’s share [of progress] by 2050, along with more efficient engines.” The switch to SAF won’t come cheap, Stein acknowledged, saying that Rolls-Royce agrees with Shell’s assessment that the new fuels could cost two to five times more than Jet-A. He supported the efforts of carriers such as the International Airlines Group to establish binding mandates for the percentage of SAF in blended fuel supplies. “In the process, we’ll find ways of driving down the price [of SAF], but the market has to be stimulated by regulation, blend mandates or subsidies at source,” he said while stopping short of endorsing Fitzpatrick’s call for a new carbon tax. The new GTC facility at Filton represents an initial investment of £32 million ($44 million), almost half of which the UK government covered through its Aerospace Technology Institute. In July, the facility delivered the first full set of wings, empennage, and wiring for Eviation’s all-electric Alice aircraft, which the company expects to make its first flight in December. GKN also partnered with eVTOL aircraft developers Vertical Aerospace and Joby Aviation. John Pritchard, president of GKN’s civil aerospace business, said that his company supplied the aerostructures and components supplied to Eviation within 12 months of the customer's specifications. He said the accelerated development path had been possible due to the high degree of focus in the GTC, which completed the work in around a third of the time he estimated it would have taken in one of GKN’s existing production sites. “We’re entirely focused on future technologies and decarbonization of aviation, and we can’t do that alone, we have to work closely with our partners, and recruiting the right skills is also very important to us,” he told reporters. Part of the decarbonization effort involves making the production process more sustainable. According to Pritchard, the Airbus “Wing of Tomorrow” will require at least 60 percent less energy to produce and will involve a 20 percent reduction in waste materials. The new GTC, which complements similar facilities that GKN already operates in Sweden and the Netherlands, will house around 300 people from the company and its partners. It will receive an annual investment for research and development work of approximately £30 million. “The challenge that we as an industry face is: how can we continue to deliver the huge benefits of flight, but in a truly sustainable way?” asked GKN Aerospace chief executive David Paja. “That is why GKN Aerospace has set itself the target to become a net-zero business by 2050, with ambitious five-year targets along the way.” At the 2021 Dubai Airshow, trade organization ADS (Stand 440/530) represents the UK's aerospace, defense, space, and security industries. https://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/air-transport/2021-11-12/electric-aircraft-pioneer-calls-carbon-tax-aircraft-fuel Rolls-Royce To Ground Test Its Biggest Engine Yet In 2022 The Rolls-Royce UltraFan is set to be the biggest engine aviation has ever seen. Having started work on the first demonstrator earlier this year, Rolls-Royce is fast approaching the first ground tests of this high technology, low emissions powerplant. Chief Engineer of the UltraFan development, Andrew Geer, outlined progress so far, noting that ground testing would begin early next year. Progress on the UltraFan Rolls-Royce announced earlier this year that it had begun building the world’s biggest aircraft engine – the UltraFan. Weeks later, it similarly announced the official opening of its huge engine testbed plant in Derby, UK. Speaking at this week’s Future Flying Forum, Andrew Geer, Chief Engineer of UltraFan product development, caught us up with how progress has been for this year so far. He said, “In 2021, in Derby, we’ve got a real focus on production of the first Ultra fan demonstrator engine. The first vehicle is a whole new engine type that brings together a wide range of new technologies … it’s been a really important year for the whole team as the engine moves into its build phase.” The UltraFan combines a number of challenging new technologies. For example, a power gearbox that produces 64 megawatts of transformed power, working with two carbon composite fan blade systems. It also has a super high energy intensity core system within the engine. These technologies are set to be proven with ground testing next year, as Geer noted, “Early in 2022, the engine will move to test. The engine will prove the technologies alone and in combination are capable of producing an engine that burns 25% less fuel than our first-generation Trent engines – engines which are still in service today. It’ll also show that we can produce far lower emissions from the same thrust class of engine that is in service today. All in all, a really important step forward on improvement of the gas turbine.” The improvements being brought to market by the UltraFan is one theme being addressed by Rolls-Royce to tackle climate change. The engine will run on 100% sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) from the outset, and has been engineered to produce fewer emissions in all respects, not just CO2 but also NOx, particulates and noise as well. Testing next year The UltraFan is set to undergo ground testing in 2022, a key milestone in the development of this exciting product. To bring it to this stage, Rolls-Royce created a facility it calls Demo Works. This purpose-built facility brings together all the team, tools and equipment required to create something as complex as the UltraFan. It’s the first time Rolls-Royce has had all the component parts for a new engine assembled under one roof. Geer noted that things have been progressing well, saying, “So far, so good. We’re making good progress on the build of the engine, and really looking forward to having it ready for test next year.” With an engine as huge as the UltraFan, a huge testing area is required. It is capable of moving an enormous amount of air at a time, and needs a significant intake area to deal with that air movement. As such, Rolls-Royce has built Testbed 80, which Geer says is the largest and smartest aerospace testbed in the world. UltraFan will undergo its first test using 100% SAF, something Rolls-Royce considers crucial for tackling CO2 reduction. Indeed, the firm is committed to undertaking 100% SAF demonstrations on all its current engine types before the end of 2023. The Trent 1000, in service on the Boeing 787 Dreamliner, has already undergone 100% SAF fuel operations on Rolls-Royce’s flying testbed. UltraFan is not just a gigantic engine in itself, however. The technologies demonstrated on this groundbreaking new engine may well end up as components of other, smaller Rolls-Royce engines, such as the Trent 1000. The work being done on the UltraFan project could pave the way to cleaner, lower emissions engine technology not just for new aircraft but for many of the aircraft already flying today. https://simpleflying.com/rolls-royce-ultrafan-test-2022/ DGCA starts eGCA portal for pilots, engineers, trainers, in tie-up with TCS The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), in collaboration with TCS, launched the eGCA, a portal that provides end-to-end digital solutions for all its stakeholders, including pilots, aircraft engineers, operators and flying training organizations. With this portal DGCA and TCS will help eGCA to deliver anytime-anywhere regulatory approval. TCS had won the mandate from DGCA in 2019 to digitize it’s daily operations, Over the last 2.5 years TCS has streamlined 300 services, with the first set of services being made live on 30th December 2019. The platform, an e-governance tool for Civil Aviation, will provide a new service mechanism for all the stakeholders, keeping customers at its forefront. Tej Bhatla, Business Unit Head, TCS, said, “We are proud to have partnered with DGCA to bring the best use of technology in building eGCA - a future-ready platform that enhances efficiency and strengthens governance. For us, this is another memorable #tcspartofyourstory for #digitalindia, built on the belief and faith that DGCA had in us.” DGCA is the safety regulator for India’s expansive civil aviation sector and is responsible for safe and efficient air transportation through a regulatory framework, services to stakeholders, and proactive safety oversight. Before its switch to digital governance, the regulatory body functioned predominately on a paper-based model. This led to longer processing times for applications and stakeholders were not able to track the status of their application on a real-time basis. The portal has digitised 11 key organizational functions. With the eGCA platform, one can register, apply, track and obtain licenses and approvals digitally, which will improve efficiency, transparency and ensure better governance. It will ensure single-window applications for all concerned directorates and digital application processes can be accessed anytime, anywhere. eGCA also offers Akash, a ChatBot that will address queries and concerns in real time. https://www.business-standard.com/article/economy-policy/dgca-starts-egca-portal-for-pilots-engineers-trainers-in-tie-up-with-tcs-121111101369_1.html Collins Aerospace’s multi-mode receiver now on Airbus planes The Collins Aerospace GLU-2100 multi-mode receiver (MMR) has received approval by Airbus, making it available as line-fit and retrofit on Airbus A320, A330 and A350 aircraft. This a major step toward Collins offering next-generation GNSS to the commercial aviation marketplace. An MMR assists pilots in positioning, navigating and landing an aircraft. Building on the GNSS capabilities of previous MMRs, the GLU-2100 provides a satellite-based augmentation system (SBAS) and ground-based augmentation system (GBAS). This supports the integrity of the aircraft position, as well as the accuracy and availability of demanding aircraft operations such as landing in low visibility conditions. The GLU-2100 MMR ensures that commercial aircraft can meet flight zone global mandates, while also proofing the technology by providing a solid foundation for future growth. It includes the flexible hardware baseline necessary to implement future GNSS capabilities, such as multi-frequency and multi-constellation (MFMC), and GBAS Category II/III via software-only update. Acquisition of FlightAware tracking platform In August, Collins Aerospace signed a definitive agreement to acquire privately held FlightAware, a digital aviation company providing global flight-tracking solutions, predictive technology, analytics and decision-making tools. Closure of the acquisition is subject to the completion of customary conditions and regulatory approvals. Following closing, FlightAware will join Collins’ Information Management Services portfolio within the company’s Avionics strategic business unit. Financial terms of the agreement were not disclosed. Based in Houston, Texas, with approximately 130 employees, FlightAware was founded in 2005 and is a provider of real-time and historical flight information and insights to the global aviation community. FlightAware serves all segments of the aviation marketplace through applications and data services that provide comprehensive information about the current and predicted movement of aircraft. Through the collection, interpretation and enrichment of hundreds of sources of data, FlightAware transforms millions of raw flight data elements and delivers them as coherent, easy-to-consume flight stories. The company has a proprietary terrestrial ADS-B network with tens of thousands of receivers spanning seven continents in 200 countries and territories. https://www.gpsworld.com/collins-aerospaces-multi-mode-receiver-now-on-airbus-planes/ Historic Lockheed JetStar Returns Home after 55 years Nov. 11—A historic Lockheed aircraft was returned home this week, finding its final resting place at Marietta's Aviation History and Technology Center. The JetStar plane was hauled through the streets of Cobb County during Monday's early hours — in the dead of night, so as to ensure a clear path for its 54-foot wingspan. Over 200 of the aircraft were built at Lockheed's Marietta plant, and it served as one of the first business jets when it debuted in the 1960s. The plane was first designed for U.S. Air Force purposes, but that contract was dropped due to budget cuts, according to the Canada Aviation and Space Museum. Lockheed nevertheless continued with production of the model and outfitted it with four Pratt & Whitney engines. The plane, which returned to Marietta, was built in 1966 and first delivered to the R.J. Reynolds Company (the tobacco giant), according to Brad Hawkins of the Aviation History and Technology Center. It was also once in use by the Saudi royal family, and is believed to have been one of the last JetStars still flying when it was retired. Other JetStars were used by dignitaries including Air Force heads and President Lyndon Johnson. The plane first arrived back in Cobb County in 2019, flying into Kennesaw's McCollum Field on its final voyage. The plane was donated by a Florida family who used the aircraft for some three decades. "We were able to preserve a piece of art," pilot John Poffenbarger, the family's chauffeur in the sky for 21 years, told the MDJ at the time. "This aircraft probably has more photos snapped of it than any other aircraft in the world." "She's a crotchety old lady, she's 53 years old, but she flew up here today just fine," he added. The museum had originally planned to have the plane transported over and on display within a matter of months, but that was delayed by the COVID-19 pandemic. The latest addition to the museum's collection will join another JetStar it already owns, which was the 48th to come off Lockheed's assembly line and was once owned by the late musician, Kenny Rogers. https://www.aviationpros.com/aircraft/business-general-aviation/news/21246298/historic-lockheed-jetstar-returns-home-after-55-years SpaceX delivers new crew of 4 to station, 'glorious sight' CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. — (AP) — A SpaceX capsule carrying four astronauts pulled up Thursday at the International Space Station, their new home until spring. It took 21 hours for the flight from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center to the glittering outpost. The one German and three U.S. astronauts said it was an emotional moment when they first spotted the space station 20 miles (30 kilometers) distant — “a pretty glorious sight,” according to Raja Chari, commander of the Dragon capsule. “Floating in space and shining like a diamond," noted German astronaut Matthias Maurer. “We're all very thrilled, very excited.” The Dragon's entire flight was automated, with Chari and pilot Tom Marshburn monitoring the capsule systems, ready to take control if necessary. At one point, they reported what looked like a “gnarled knob” or possibly a small mechanical nut floating past their camera's field of view, but SpaceX Mission Control said it posed no concern. The docking occurred 263 miles (423 kilometers) above the eastern Caribbean. The station’s welcoming committee consisted of three astronauts instead of the originally planned seven. That’s because SpaceX returned four of the station residents on Monday, after the new arrivals' launch kept getting delayed. “I can’t tell you how happy I am to see these smiling faces,” NASA astronaut Mark Vande Hei said after embracing each of the newcomers. “Every one of us, all seven of us, are friends, and we're going to become even better friends as time goes on.” Vande Hei and one of the two Russians on board are midway through a one-year mission that won’t end until March. While Chari, Marshburn, Maurer and NASA astronaut Kayla Barron were adapting to weightlessness — all but Marshburn are space rookies — the previous crew was adjusting to life back on Earth. “Gravity sucks, but getting used to it slowly,” Japanese astronaut Akihoki Hoshide tweeted. The new crew will spend the next six months at the space station and, during that time, host two groups of visiting tourists. Russia will launch the first bunch in December and SpaceX the second in February. https://www.wokv.com/news/science/spacex-delivers-new/VUW4LBBOMMU4GOMYWWVPGXLSBA/ Curt Lewis