November 29, 2021 - No. 91 In This Issue : Skyports to develop Europe’s first test eVTOL vertiport in France : Former Bombardier President Fred Cromer joins Xwing : Wildlife Sentinel app aims to combat aviation wildlife smuggling : Promising first study on in-flight use of pure sustainable aviation fuel in a passenger jet : Bio-jet fuel technology approved for use on IAF military aircraft : EHang 216 Autonomous Aerial Vehicle Completes Debut Flight Demo in Bali, Indonesia : NASA’s new technology will roll out to airports, save time for passengers : Walmart and DroneUp Announce First Multi-Site Commercial Drone Delivery Operations : Wizz Air’s Model Could Reduce European Emissions By A Third : Swissport Partners with Speedcargo in Digital Push to Increase Utilization of Cargo Space : NASA and SpaceX Fire Earth Defending Rocket to Shield from Giant Asteroids in the Future Skyports to develop Europe’s first test eVTOL vertiport in France Skyports, the world-leading designer, developer, and operator of vertiports (landing sites for eVTOL aircraft) is developing Europe’s first test vertiport in France, as a significant step towards launching commercial Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) services in time for the 2024 Paris Olympics. The programme is part of the Re.Invent Air Mobility initiative led by French airport operator Groupe ADP, global mobility company RATP Group and Choose Paris Region, a French agency for business and innovation. This is the first development of its kind in Europe and is being supported by the French Civil Aviation Authority (DGAC) and the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA). The vertiport will be designed, built, and operated by Skyports at Groupe ADP’s Cergy-Pontoise Airfield in Paris, initially serving as a technology testbed to provide a safe and realistic environment for Skyports and members of the initiative to integrate and test the critical technologies required to enable AAM in Europe. The integration of a vertiport within an existing airport site is challenging and complex. Skyports’ expertise in ground infrastructure and Groupe ADP’s remit in infrastructure planning, provision and permitting are an ideal partnership to implement the solution that will successfully address this challenge. Augustin de Romanet, Aéroports de Paris SA – Groupe ADP Chairman and CEO said: “Our Pontoise airfield brings together a unique ecosystem around new air mobility and the trial platform we are launching is unprecedented in Europe. It will function as a concrete experiment to explore the field of possibilities of a decarbonised and innovative aviation, and to develop the low altitude aviation market (below 300m), which has been largely unexplored until now. In Pontoise, we will test all the components of Urban Air Mobility. Groupe ADP will fully play its role as an aggregator of activities to facilitate the surge of new uses that reconcile a smaller environmental footprint, innovation and common utility.” The test vertiport will be equipped with a suite of technologies including biometric identity management, re-charging equipment, situational awareness capabilities, and weather stations. The data collected during the testing phase will be essential for the development of AAM regulatory frameworks. Ankit Dass, Chief Technology Officer at Skyports commented: “Technology will play a critical role in ensuring the safety and operational efficiency of vertiports. The integration of technology is at the core of our vertiport design, development, and operation. At Skyports we are developing our systems in collaboration with vehicle manufacturers, operators and leading aviation tech companies.” The operational testbed will be used by leading eVTOL vehicle manufacturers such as: Volocopter, Vertical Aerospace, Airbus, Pipistrel, eHang and others to conduct test flights and demonstrations over the next three years in the run-up to the 2024 Olympics. The Skyports vertiport will be constructed using modular technology so that it can easily be relocated to a new location at the end of the programme, serving as the first commercial vertiport in France. https://www.internationalairportreview.com/news/172066/skyports-to-develop-europes-first-test-evtol-vertiport-in-france/ Former Bombardier President Fred Cromer joins Xwing California-based startup Xwing has announced the addition of Fred Cromer to its executive team as chief financial officer. Cromer brings more than two decades of executive experience to the fast-growing disruptor, serving previously in president roles at Bombardier and International Lease Finance Corp. and CFO at ExpressJet Holdings and Continental Express. The company hopes to lean on Cromer’s experience as it looks to deploy its autonomous aviation technology and position Xwing to gain a larger share in the fast-growing air cargo market. “At Xwing, I have the opportunity to be a part of a team that will revolutionize regional air mobility by developing and implementing innovative and transformative technology to dramatically lower the cost of transporting cargo and eventually passengers,” Cromer said in a statement. Xwing’s Plans Led by founder and CEO Marc Piette, Xwing says it is on a mission to build the world’s smartest, cleanest, and most advanced air mobility system. The company hopes to gain public confidence first by flying cargo. The pandemic has shifted consumer demands, and the e-commerce industry has seen accelerated growth, stretching sales to $26.7 trillion, according to one report. Air cargo carriers have been unable to meet the demand, and Xwing wants in. How It’s Going The company has been testing its technology on a Cessna 208B Grand Caravan, successfully demonstrating its autonomous gate to gate concept, with a supervising pilot on board. An operator on the ground handled the radios and relayed commands to the aircraft. XWing also said it completed a proof-of-concept flight, including a four-hour delivery of PPE and other essentials from Concord, California, to a Navajo reservation in Winslow, Arizona, in 2020, as well as delivering COVID-19 vaccines in the remote areas of Holbrook, Arizona, in 2020. Strategic Partnerships and Recognition Xwing’s Autoflight System retrofits existing aircraft to convert airplanes into optionally piloted vehicles. Its onboard flight control systems allow the aircraft to navigate, take off and land autonomously, and avoid other aircraft. In October, Xwing announced it had entered a joint partnership with Textron Aviation to develop autonomous flight capability for its current and future aircraft. Xwing will share its autonomous technology with Textron in exchange for engineering and certification support. Separately, it announced a $40 million funding round, a $400 million valuation, and another key partnership with Inmarsat. Time Magazine included the company in its “TIME’s Best Inventions of 2021” list. Cromer Joins a Stellar Suite “We’re excited to have Fred on our side as we develop new financial models through this significant period of growth,” Piette said. Cromer joins other leading industry executives and key advisors such as: Greg Hall, former CEO of Global Air Operations at FedEx Jeff Martin, former COO at WestAir Allan McArtor, chairman and CEO of Airbus Americas https://www.flyingmag.com/former-bombardier-president-fred-cromer-joins-xwing/ Wildlife Sentinel app aims to combat aviation wildlife smuggling International criminal gangs have been exploiting the aviation industry to illegally traffic wildlife products, flora, and fauna. The worldwide illegal wildlife trade is estimated to be worth at least $19bn annually. The gangs involved with this criminal activity use the aviation network to smuggle these illegal products by providing false permits, compromising security checks and bribing corrupt officials. TRAFFIC, Crime Stoppers, and Reducing Opportunities for unlawful Transport of Endangered Species (ROUTES) have developed a Wildlife Sentinel, a mobile reporting app to provide staff at airports, airlines and in the aviation environment with a platform to report suspected wildlife trafficking and corruption. Speaking on the launch of the app Shane Britten, CEO of Crime Stoppers International (CSI) said: “Wildlife Sentinel is already proving to be a valuable tool in the fight against wildlife crime. By providing aviation sector employees with a simple-to-use, anonymous reporting method, we are giving them the ability to quickly report potential illegal activity and help put an end to this heinous crime.” Katrina Mole, TRAFFIC project manager, explains how people working in the industry can become involved with the app and what the steps are to report suspicious activity. Frankie Youd (FY): How did the concept for the app come about? Katrina Mole (KM): The International Air Transport Association (IATA) carries out annual surveys of airline members that have signed the Buckingham Palace Declaration [an agreement committing to taking steps to shut down the routes exploited by wildlife traffickers]. For several years, airlines have been calling for a system that allows anonymous reporting of suspected illegal wildlife trade activity. Part of ROUTES’ mission is to strengthen the communication between transport staff and law enforcement. By teaming up with CSI, who are experts in guaranteed anonymity, they came up with this technological solution. Through its anonymity, Wildlife Sentinel also provides the opportunity to reduce corruption in the aviation sector. Is the app available now if so when was it launched? Wildlife Sentinel went fully operational in September 2021 and is available in English, Portuguese and Spanish. It is free of charge through the Apple and Android app stores – search term “Wildlife Reporting” and look for the tiger icon to find it. The fact that aviation officials have already installed and are using Wildlife Sentinel has verified the need for this vital tool. How do individuals within the industry become involved with the app? Download the app then click the ‘submit a tip button to proceed to the first information reporting screen. The app contains a simple form to share information such as what aroused suspicion, the location, details of the person or persons involved and flight details. This report is then reviewed by CSI and passed onto the relevant law enforcement authorities. Could you give an example of when the app may be used? Corrupt officials could potentially facilitate the exploitation of the aviation industry by wildlife traffickers, for example, by blocking due diligence, providing false permits, and compromising security checks. Wildlife Sentinel offers the opportunity to report suspicions of wildlife trafficking or corrupt officials without fear of retribution. Once reported, who receives this information, what are the next steps? All incoming tips go to Crime Stoppers International first. They then review and prioritise the information to report to law enforcement agencies. The intelligence is collated and analysed to build an evidence base to direct long-term strategic responses. What do both organisations hope to achieve by the launch of this app? ROUTES and CSI jointly developed Wildlife Sentinel, to empower air transport staff to anonymously report suspicions of wildlife trafficking to law enforcement. We hope that through the launch of this app, air transport staff will be made aware of this innovative tool. Ultimately, it will contribute to ending wildlife trafficking in air transport. We hope that the app will be widely used and adopted by the aviation sector to help fight illegal wildlife trade. https://www.airport-technology.com/features/wildlife-sentinel-app-aims-to-combat-aviation-wildlife-smuggling/ Promising first study on in-flight use of pure sustainable aviation fuel in a passenger jet The ECLIF3 study (‘Emission and Climate Impact of Alternative Fuels’), involving Airbus, Rolls-Royce, German research centre DLR and SAF producer Neste, marks the first time 100% SAF has been measured simultaneously on both engines of a commercial passenger aircraft – an Airbus A350 aircraft powered by Rolls-Royce Trent XWB engines. In-flight emissions tests and associated ground testing on the ECLIF3 programme began earlier this year and have recently resumed. The interdisciplinary team, which also includes researchers from the National Research Council of Canada and The University of Manchester, plans to publish its results in academic journals towards the end of next year and in 2023. Findings from the study will support efforts currently underway at Airbus and Rolls-Royce to ensure the aviation sector is ready for the large-scale use of SAF as part of the wider initiative to decarbonise the industry. Aircraft are currently only allowed to operate on a 50% blend of SAF and conventional jet fuel, but both companies support the drive to certify 100% SAF use. In April 2021, the A350 flew three flights over the Mediterranean Sea pursued by a DLR Falcon chaser plane to compare in-flight emissions of both kerosene and Neste’s hydro-processed esters and fatty acids (HEFA) sustainable fuel. The team also carried out compliance tests using 100% SAF and no operational issues were experienced during these initial test flights. In-flight emission tests using 100% SAF and a HEFA/Jet A-1 fuel blend resumed this month, while ground-based emissions testing to quantify the benefits of SAF on local air quality were also performed. The research team found SAF releases fewer particulates than conventional kerosene at all engine operating conditions, which points to the potential for improvement in air quality around airports and reduced climate impact. In addition, SAF has lower density but higher energy content per kilogram of fuel compared to conventional kerosene, which brings some aircraft fuel-efficiency advantages due to lower fuel burn and less fuel mass to board to achieve the same mission. Detailed analysis by the team is on-going. “Sustainable aviation fuel is widely recognized as a crucial solution to mitigating the climate impact of the aviation sector, both in the short term as well as the longer term,” said Jonathan Wood, Neste’s Vice President Europe, Renewable Aviation. “This project to measure the extensive benefits of SAF compared with fossil jet fuel will provide the data to support the use of SAF at higher concentrations than 50% and clarify the additional benefits from the use of SAF.” “Engines and fuel systems can be tested on the ground but the only way to gather the full set of emissions data necessary for this programme to be successful is to fly an aircraft in real conditions,” said Steven Le Moing, New Energy Programme Manager at Airbus. “In-flight testing of the A350 offers the advantage of characterising direct and indirect engine emissions, including particulates from behind an aircraft at high altitude.” Simon Burr, Rolls-Royce Director of Product Development and Technology, Civil Aerospace, said: “This research adds to tests we’ve already carried out on our engines both on the ground and in the air which have found no engineering obstacle to our engines running on 100% SAF. If we are to truly decarbonise long-haul air travel, then 100% SAF is a critical element and we are committed to supporting its certification for service.” The DLR Falcon chaser aircraft is equipped with multiple probes to measure emissions at cruise level down to a distance of only 100 metres of the A350 and feed them into scientific instrumentation for analysis. “SAF has been shown to have a significantly lower carbon footprint over its life cycle compared to conventional jet fuel and now we are seeing it is advantageous in reducing non-CO2 effects too,” said Markus Fischer, DLR’s Divisional Board Member for Aeronautics. “Tests such as these are continuing to develop our understanding of 100% SAF and its use in flight, and we are seeing positive signs for its potential in climate mitigation. We look forward to studying the data from the second series of ECLIF3 flights, which restarted with a first chase flight above the Mediterranean earlier this month." In 2015, DLR performed the ECLIF1 campaign, investigating alternative fuels with its Falcon and A320 ATRA research aircraft. These investigations continued in 2018 with the ECLIF2 campaign which saw the A320 ATRA flying with a mixture of standard jet fuel and up to 50% HEFA. This research showed the advantageous emission performance of fuel mixtures up to 50% SAF and paved the way for the 100% SAF test flights for ECLIF3. https://waste-management-world.com/a/promising-first-study-on-in-flight-use-of-pure-sustainable-aviation-fuel-in-a-passenger-jet Bio-jet fuel technology approved for use on IAF military aircraft CSIR-IIP Dehradun's home-grown technology to produce bio-jet fuel has been formally approved for use on military aircraft of the Indian Air Force (IAF). The provisional clearance (PC) certificate was handed over by Shri R.Kamalakannan, Group Director(AT&FOL), Centre for Military Airworthiness and Certification (CEMILAC) to Mr Saleem Akhtar Farooqui, Principal Scientist from CSIR-IIP in the presence of Group Captain Asheesh Shrivastava and Wing Commander A Sachan of the IAF and Mr R Shanumgavel of CEMILAC. This certification represents India's growing confidence in aviation biofuel sector and another step towards 'Atmanirbhar Bharat'. The technology, developed by the Indian Institute of Petroleum (CSIR-IIP), a constituent laboratory of the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, has undergone evaluation tests and trials overthe last three years. The testing of airborne items is a complex and meticulous process involving intricate checks while ensuring the highest levels of flight safety. International aviation standards define the scope of these rigorous assessments. Fuel being the lifeline of aircraft requires thorough analysis before being filled into manned flying machines. The certification received by the lab today is an acknowledgment of the satisfactory results obtained from various ground and inflight tests performed on the indigenous bio-jet fuel by various test agencies supported by the IAF. Earlier on 26 Jan 19, an AN-32 aircraft, filled with blended bio-jet fuel, had flown over Raj Path at New Delhi during the Republic Day celebrations. Thereafter, the performance and reliability of the Indian technology were also tested when the Russian military aircraft safely landed and took off from Leh airport on 30 Jan 20 at high altitudes under severe winter conditions. The fuel was also used on a civil, commercial demonstration flight operated by SpiceJet on 27 Aug 18 from Dehradun to Delhi. These test flights with green fuel underscored the capabilities and commitment of Indian scientists and airmanship of IAF to serve a national cause. Today's approval by CEMILAC is a culmination of many years of intensive research and active support of many agencies, including the test facilities of Indian Oil Corporation (IOCL) Panipat Refinery and Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd. (HAL). This clearance will enable Indian armed forces to use bio-jet fuel produced using indigenous technology across all its operational aircraft. This will also enable early commercialization of the technology and its mass production. Indian bio-jet fuel can be produced from used cooking oil, tree-borne oils, short gestation oilseed crops grown off-season by farmers, and waste extracts from edible oil processing units. It will reduce air pollution by virtue of its ultralow sulphur content compared with conventional jet fuel and contribute to India's Net-Zero greenhouse gas emissions targets. It will also enhance the livelihoods of farmers and tribals engaged in producing, collecting, and extracting non-edible oils. AN-32 aircraft powered with a 10% blend of Indian bio-jet fuel developed by CSIR-IIP took-off from KushokBakulaRimpochee Airport, Leh. This is the first time that both engines of the aircraft were powered by bio-jet indigenous fuel. https://www.devdiscourse.com/article/science-environment/1826827-feature-as-floods-worsen-uganda-moves-to-protect-its-vanishing-wetlands EHang 216 Autonomous Aerial Vehicle Completes Debut Flight Demo in Bali, Indonesia GUANGZHOU, China, Nov. 29, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The world's leading autonomous aerial vehicle (“AAV”) EHang 216 completed its debut flight demonstration for aerial sightseeing in the world-famous tourism hotspot of Bali, Indonesia. This demonstration flight was conducted under EHang’s cooperation with an Indonesian local partner Prestige Aviation, a subsidiary of Prestige Corp. The EHang 216 demonstrated a five-minute autonomous flight at the scenic Villa Blackstone Beach, Bali. VIP guests who witnessed the flight demo include Bambang Soesatyo, Chairman of the Indonesian People's Consultative Assembly, Putu Astawa, Head of the Bali Tourism Office and Rudy Salim, CEO and Founder of Prestige Corp. Prior to the flight demo, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation of the Republic of Indonesia issued the Special Certificate of Airworthiness for the EHang 216 AAV, enabling it to be the Indonesia’s first passenger-grade AAV approved for a public unmanned flight demo. Bambang Soesatyo, Chairman of the Indonesian People’s Consultative Assembly, said, “We are entering a new chapter of transportation. As a modern transportation solution, EHang 216 will change our lifestyle in the future.” Rudy Salim, CEO and Founder of Prestige Corp, said, “Prestige Aviation aspires to be the pioneer to provide smart city innovations with digital-based transport implementation. As an AAV, EHang 216 can become an effective, affordable mobility and efficient solution for Indonesian air mobility.” Hu Huazhi, Founder, Chairman and CEO of EHang, said, “The successful flight demo fully showcased EHang 216’s potential for efficient island hopping and air transportation. We are pleased to join hands with Indonesian local partners to bring our leading AAVs and UAM solutions to Indonesia, one of the most promising UAM markets in Southeast Asia. Our global network of renowned and reliable partners continues to expand, and we believe this is a significant step for our sustainable, consistent success. We look forward to long-term business development prospects in Indonesia.” About EHang EHang (Nasdaq: EH) is the world's leading autonomous aerial vehicle (AAV) technology platform company. Our mission is to make safe, autonomous, and eco-friendly air mobility accessible to everyone. EHang provides customers in various industries with AAV products and commercial solutions: air mobility (including passenger transportation and logistics), smart city management, and aerial media solutions. As the forerunner of cutting-edge AAV technologies and commercial solutions in the global Urban Air Mobility (UAM) industry, EHang continues to explore the boundaries of the sky to make flying technologies benefit our life in smart cities. For more information, please visit www.ehang.com. https://finance.yahoo.com/news/ehang-216-autonomous-aerial-vehicle-190000039.html NASA’s new technology will roll out to airports, save time for passengers (NASA) – Bill Nelson, NASA’s Administrator, visited Orlando International Airport in Florida Wednesday and met with aviation leaders to discuss implementing aircraft flight scheduling technology developed by the agency that will soon improve dependability for passengers – which is especially important during peak travel times like the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays. In September, the technology that was tested during NASA’s Airspace Technology Demonstration 2 (ATD-2) was transferred to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). Large airports across the country – including Orlando International – will soon implement the technology. Nelson discussed the technology transfer with Greater Orlando Aviation Authority CEO Phil Brown. “NASA’s partnership with the FAA is constantly delivering for the American people, improving the efficiency of the commercial airline industry for the environment and passengers across the country,” Nelson said. “Our flight scheduling technology, which makes it possible for personnel to better coordinate the movements of aircraft while they’re at the airport, will soon help ensure more passengers get off the ground and home for the holidays faster and more efficiently than ever before.” NASA and the FAA completed nearly four years of surface operations research and testing to calculate gate pushbacks through time-based metering at busy hub airports, so that planes can roll directly to the runway to take off and avoid excessive taxi and hold times, reducing fuel use, emissions, and passenger delays. “As we deploy this software, the travel experience gets better for passengers all the while aviation’s emissions decrease. It’s a win-win,” said FAA Administrator Steve Dickson. “NASA remains a critical partner in the FAA’s efforts to build a sustainable aviation system.” The FAA plans to deploy NASA’s surface metering technology initially to 27 airports, including Orlando International, as part of a larger investment in airport surface management technology called the Terminal Flight Data Manager (TFDM) program. Improved efficiency and shifting departure wait time from the taxiway to the gate saves fuel, reduces emissions, and gives airlines and passengers more flexibility in the period prior to leaving the gate. “The anticipated rollout of the updated TFDM in 2023 aligns with our projections for returning to pre-pandemic passenger traffic the same year,” Brown said. “These updates should result in a smoother experience for the traveling public and enhance ‘The Orlando Experience’ we strive to offer every day at our world-class airport.” NASA’s ATD-2 team first put their aircraft scheduling technology to the test with real-world users in September 2017 at Charlotte-Douglas International Airport. By September 2021, the integrated arrival and departure system (IADS) tools had saved more than 1 million gallons of jet fuel. Those savings were made possible by reducing jet engine run time, which also decreases maintenance costs and saved airlines an estimated nearly $1.4 million in flight crew costs. Overall, passengers were spared 933 hours in flight delays and saved an estimated $4.5 million in value of time. NASA released a video for media highlighting the successful tests at Charlotte Douglas International Airport and a video on reduced carbon dioxide emissions. NASA has also previously released field demo and concept animation to showcase the full scope of improving travel for airports across the country which you can learn more about on NASA’s ATD-2 page. NASA’s Airspace Technology Demonstration portfolio included two other field demonstrations. ATD-1 featured new ground-based and flight deck technologies that enable use of fuel-efficient procedures throughout the entire arrival phase of flight. These technologies are now in the final stages of implementation by the FAA and industry. ATD-3 focused on providing pilots and air traffic managers with options for adjusting aircraft flight paths based on real-time input including wind and weather conditions and other air traffic. https://toysmatrix.com/nasas-new-technology-will-roll-out-to-airports-save-time-for-passengers/ Walmart and DroneUp Announce First Multi-Site Commercial Drone Delivery Operations DroneUp, LLC, a leading global provider of drone technology and services, and Walmart announced the first multi-site commercial drone delivery operations. The three locations, which will be located at Walmart stores in Northwest Arkansas, will operate from 8:00 a.m. ¬– 8:00 p.m., seven days per week, to deliver items to eligible Walmart customers by air in as little as 30 minutes. "When we invested in DroneUp earlier this year, we envisioned a drone delivery operation that could be quickly executed and replicated across multiple stores," said Tom Ward, senior vice president of last mile at Walmart U.S. "Opening our first hub within months of our initial concept showcases DroneUp's ability to safely execute drone delivery operations with speed. We're already hearing great customer feedback at our first site in Farmington, Arkansas, and look forward to opening additional locations." DroneUp's delivery operation provides Walmart customers a safe, convenient, fast, and sustainable delivery option on thousands of items – even the most fragile – powered by a crew of skilled operators. Enjoying the benefits of drone delivery is as easy as: Verify: Customer enters their address to verify eligibility. Shop: Customer selects from thousands of items for delivery. Secure: Operators pack the order and secure the box to the drone using a patented delivery release mechanism. Deliver: The flight engineer manages a controlled and guided delivery, placing the order gently at the customer's home. Eligible customers in Farmington, AR can begin placing orders today at droneupdelivery.com. The additional locations at Walmart Neighborhood Market #5837 in Rogers, AR and Walmart Supercenter #100 in Bentonville, AR, are planned to open in the coming months. "Teaming up with Walmart to launch three delivery Hubs marks a significant leap forward in the broader use of UAS to provide last-mile consumer delivery services and supply chain efficiency options," said Tom Walker, CEO, DroneUp. "Walmart and DroneUp provide an unrivaled ability to pick, pack, and deliver via drones directly from the store to consumers offering efficiencies no other retailer can match. We are proud of our team's ability to deliver the technology helping Walmart launch a new era of commercial drone operations." Walmart is well-positioned to be the drone delivery leader as it already has significant infrastructure in place to serve the public – more than 4,700 stores stocked with 120,000 of the most purchased items, located within 10 miles of over 90 percent of the U.S. population. Similarly, DroneUp's airport "Hubs" house convenient on-site operations where FAA certified flight engineers can conduct multiple and simultaneous deliveries. Drones are uniquely valuable due to their flexibility, speed, and low cost. Drones also require fewer fossil fuel-powered vehicles for short delivery trips. DroneUp has worked closely and continuously with the FAA to ensure the safe operation of drones in the National Airspace and has more than 190 active waivers and authorizations with the FAA to support DroneUp flights across the U.S. https://www.aviationpros.com/aircraft/unmanned/press-release/21248209/droneup-walmart-and-droneup-announce-first-multisite-commercial-drone-delivery-operations Wizz Air’s Model Could Reduce European Emissions By A Third At least, that is what the Hungarian budget carrier’s founder and CEO, József Váradi says. The brightly liveried low-cost airline’s boss sings the praises of the A320neo family’s sustainability credentials while slamming the legacy carriers – along with the system that supports them – for their inefficiency and inability to innovate with the technology that is already existing. During a fireside chat at the EUROCONTROL Sustainability Summit last week, Váradi arrived fresh from an order for close 200 A320neo family aircraft. The order, which includes options for 95 planes, was placed during the Dubai Air Show and is valued at $33 billion list price. It is key to Wizz’s goal of reaching a 500+ size aircraft fleet – and, its CEO says, essential for progress on the path of emission reductions. Flag carriers inefficient and un-innovative While questioned how these expansion plans correspond to requests to lower emissions by curbing demand, Váradi defended Wizz’s growth strategy from a sustainability perspective with that the LCCs are the ones who are moving innovation forward, rather than the older, national airlines with aging fleets. “If Europe were to operate on the basis of the Wizz business model, operating Wizz aircraft, emissions would come down 34% overnight. (…) The real question is not why Wizz and other low-cost carriers are growing. The real question is why the system still supports the legacy carriers that are inherently inefficient, inadaptive, and un-innovative.” How do fleets compare? The average age of Wizz’s fleet across the group is 5.6 years – and only set to grow lower as new planes begin to arrive. To make a comparison to some of Europe’s leading legacy carriers, KLM operates a fleet that is 12 years old on average – with only five new widebody aircraft on order. Its oldest Boeing 737s are 22 years old. Air France’s planes have 14.7 years on average. While the carrier has 84 jets on order, these are A220s and A350s, leaving its narrowbody fleet hovering between 12 (for the A320-200s) and 27 years (for the A321-100s) on average. Iberia does a little better with an average age of 9.2 and an order for 20 A320neo family aircraft, as well as 11 more A350-900s. Lufthansa has a big order for 127 new aircraft, including 70 more of the A320neo family. British Airways is also in the process of renewing its fleet and is expecting an additional eight A320neo aircraft to add to a fleet of 27. Fuel-savings with the neo Airbus says that the options of the CFM’s LEAP-1A and Pratt & Whitney’s PurePower PW1100G-JM engines, coupled with the Sharklet wingtips, bring per-seat fuel improvements of 20%. However, when operated to its fullest potential, statistics show it can increase efficiency even more. According to Air Insight Group, in 2018, the A321neo delivered close to 30% improvement in fuel burn per seat over the A321ceo for carriers such as Alaska Airlines. Meanwhile, if all airlines were to increase their fleet numbers and routes, overall emissions would rise to the point where less fuel consumption per plane no longer entails an overall reduction. There is a risk that before decarbonizing technologies become truly available in 2035 and beyond, aviation’s CO2 emissions will actually grow as the sector begins to recover from the COVID-19 crisis. https://simpleflying.com/wizz-air-model-emissions-reductionwizz-airs-model-could-reduce-european-emissions-by-a-third/ Swissport Partners with Speedcargo in Digital Push to Increase Utilization of Cargo Space Swissport will launch proof of concept trials of the Cargo Eye sizing system and the AI-powered Cargo Mind software solution at its Johannesburg and Tel Aviv air cargo warehouses. The Speedcargo solutions enable full 3D scanning at the time of acceptance of a shipment and ensure immediate and optimized planning and utilization of the available cargo space, while considering applicable regulations and other constraints. Dirk Goovaerts, head of Middle East and Africa and global cargo chair commented: "I am confident that the implementation of Cargo Eye and Cargo Mind will support the digital transformation of our cargo operations. With this technology, we expect to optimize cargo loads on our customers' flights and ULD containers by 5 percent, representing a significant increase in revenue for both the airline and the handler." Using Microsoft's 3D technology, Cargo Eye digitizes incoming goods by scanning them and calculating exact dimensions in real time, while seamlessly integrating the data into existing warehouse management systems. The information is then fed into Cargo Mind, where the AI solution optimizes process efficiency and loading capacity in loading plans. The digitally supported warehouse logistics also promote compliance, visibility and traceability, paving the way for further process improvements and data-driven decision making. The software also identifies damaged goods earlier in the process which in turn will help reduce potential claims. If the proof of concept confirms that these digital solutions can increase process efficiency, productivity and revenue, Swissport plans to integrate this way of working in its warehouses across the globe. https://www.aviationpros.com/ground-handling/ground-handlers-service-providers/press-release/21248183/swissport-international-ltd-swissport-partners-with-speedcargo-in-digital-push-to-increase-utilization-of-cargo-space NASA and SpaceX Fire Earth Defending Rocket to Shield from Giant Asteroids in the Future NASA just launched its Double Asteroid Redirection Test or DART on the SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket taking off from California's Vandenberg Space Base. To explain further, DART is the world's very first full-scale mission with the intent of testing out technology that aims to defend the Earth against comet or asteroid hazards. NASA DART Aims to Autonomously Navigate to an Asteroid According to the story by GoodNewsNetwork.org, DART aims to show that a spacecraft is capable of autonomously navigating to an asteroid and intentionally crashing into it. This method of deflection is known as kinetic impact. The test aims to provide important data to help scientists better prepare for any futuristic asteroids that could pose an impact hazard to Earth should they discover one in the future. LICIACube rode with DART and was released before DART's impact in order to capture images of the impact as well as the resulting cloud of ejected matter. To explain, LICIACube is a CubeSat that can be used to take pictures and footage. Andy Cheng Shares Proces of Paper to Launch One of the DART investigations leads, Andy Cheng, at the Johns Hopkins APL, stated that it is an indescribable feeling to be able to see something that they are involved with ever since it started out with just "words on paper" until it became real and finally launched into space. Andy Cheng was responsible for coming up with the idea of DART. Cheng then explained that the teams have a lot of work to do over the next year in order to prepare for the main event which is DART's kinetic impact on Dimorphos. The spacecraft was able to complete the successful unfurling of its roll-out solar arrays. With that, the solar arrays are expected to power both the spacecraft as well as NASA's very own Evolutionary Xenon Thruster. Dimorphos and Moonlet Orbiting Didymos Measurements The Evolutionary Xenon Thruster is a commercial ion engine that is one of the different technologies that are being tested on DART to prepare for future applications on different space missions. DART is expected to make a one-way trip directly into the Didymos asteroid system which as the name suggests, comprises a pair of asteroids. In detail, DART's main target is the moonlet Dimorphos which measures about 160 meters in diameter, while the moonlet that is orbiting Didymos is 780 meters. The NASA DART's Mission Due to Dimorphos orbiting Didymos at a significantly slower relative speed compared to the pair orbiting the Sun, the main results in DART's kinetic impact directly within the binary system can then be easily measured compared to a change in the orbit of a single asteroid floating around the Sun. According to the article by BBC, NASA's DART mission is trying to see just how difficult it could be to stop a massive space rock from hitting Earth. https://www.techtimes.com/articles/268630/20211128/nasa-and-spacex-fire-earth-defending-rocket-to-shield-from-giant-asteroids-in-the-future.htm Curt Lewis