December 6, 2023 - No. 050 In This Issue : Rolls-Royce calls off bets on electric planes, says low-carbon fuel is the future : Flying taxi startup soars to new heights with latest design approval : Boeing out of E-4B ‘Doomsday Plane’ replacement competition : FAA Orders 747 Lightning Protection System Inspections : Contrail-chasing Blue Condor makes Airbus’ first full hydrogen-powered flight : At your fingertips: Airbus flies a fully automated helicopter with a tablet : Liquid-hydrogen-powered plane would fly from the UK to the US without refueling : Tamarack-Modified King Air Logs A Pair Of Record Flights : FAA Approves Testing Landmark For Unleaded Avgas Contende : Doroni’s all-electric flying car gets flight certified in the US Rolls-Royce calls off bets on electric planes, says low-carbon fuel is the future Jennifer Mossalgue Nov 29 2023 - 3:16 am PT Just as the wheels touched down on Virgin Atlantic’s historic flight from London to New York yesterday, powered by a low-carbon fuel engine made by Rolls-Royce, the company has announced a new shift. Rolls-Royce CEO Tufan Erginbilgiç says it’s time to sell off its electric jet engine unit and focus on other strategies – namely sustainable aviation fuels, or SAF. Rolls-Royce, a flagship company in Britain, makes jet engines and systems on planes such as the Airbus A350 and Boeing 787. It was, like many companies, hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic when air travel was grounded, and Rolls-Royce cut 9,000 jobs as a result. Earlier this year, the “axeman” Erginbilgiç took the helm, bringing an aggressive rethink to the company to save it while slashing divisions such as R2 Factory, an in-house artificial intelligence software unit, and a direct air carbon capture project. Last month, Rolls-Royce said it would cut 2,500 management and administration jobs. The next head to roll is its electrical business, which develops propulsion systems for flying taxis and other aircraft. In an announcement yesterday, Erginbilgiç said the company needed to make “choices on resource allocation” and that the electric business would offer “better value to a third party.” It is all part of a sweeping effort to raise profits and to shift gears to reach its sustainability goals. Rolls-Royce has raised its target to bring in operating profits of between £2.5 billion and £2.8 billion a year, compared with £837 million in 2022. “Rolls-Royce is at a pivotal point in its history,” Erginbilgiç said on Tuesday. “We are creating a high-performing, competitive, resilient, and growing Rolls-Royce that will have the financial strength to control and shape its own destiny.” The company intends to move away from developing electric engines for air taxis and smaller aircraft to “double down” on its jet-fuel-burning engines for passenger planes to keep the business in good position, reports The Guardian. Hopes of decarbonizing its products will be dependent on sustainable aviation fuels, or SAF. While the company is also working on hydrogen technology with EasyJet, Erginbilgiç says he believes that hydrogen is a long way off from being a viable solution for long-haul flights and that sustainable aviation fuels will be the way forward for aviation to achieve net-zero climate goals. Airbus, however, is working toward having hydrogen-powered planes in service by 2035. Rolls-Royce said it will invest the money it gains from selling the electric unit and other businesses into its next-gen UltraFan engine, an enormous aviation engine technology demonstrator designed to burn less fuel. The company says it is working to become the first jet engine manufacturer to confirm that all of its in-production engines for long-haul aircraft and business jets are compatible with 100% SAF. Rolls-Royce aims to become net zero by 2050. Flying taxi startup soars to new heights with latest design approval Munich-based Lilium obtains EASA Design Organization Approval, establishing itself as an industry leader in urban air mobility. Can Emir Published: Nov 28, 2023 06:23 AM EST Munich-based eVTOL maker Lilium has achieved a significant milestone in the development of its Lilium Jet, securing Design Organization Approval from the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA). This accomplishment positions Lilium as a frontrunner in the electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) industry, granting the company the authority to hold a type certificate for its innovative aircraft, the company announced in a press release. Design Organization Approval: A gateway to innovation Design Organization Approval is a critical step for any commercial aircraft development company, signifying adherence to rigorous safety and regulatory standards. This approval assures stakeholders that Lilium's organization, procedures, and capabilities meet the stringent criteria set forth by EASA for the development of Part-21 commercial aircraft. Klaus Roewe, Lilium CEO, emphasized the significance of this achievement, stating, "Achieving Design Organization Approval reflects EASA's confidence in Lilium and differentiates us against others currently pursuing eVTOL development and regulatory approval." A comprehensive journey to approval The journey to Design Organization Approval began for Lilium in 2017, marking the culmination of an extensive qualification process. Alastair McIntosh, Lilium's Chief Technology Officer and Head of Design Organisation described the approval as "our License to Operate," highlighting the company's capability to design and certify aircraft with the highest safety standards. Bhavesh Mandalia, Lilium's Chief Airworthiness Officer and Deputy CTO, acknowledged the collaborative efforts, stating, "Today's announcement has been more than six years in the making." International implications of EASA approval Lilium's Design Organization Approval not only solidifies its position in the European market but also streamlines its path to certification in the United States. The approval allows Lilium to leverage Bilateral Aviation Safety Agreements, facilitating the validation of technology and aircraft in both regions. Mandalia noted, "EASA's Design Organization Approval brings significant benefits to our FAA certification process in the U.S." Type-certification of the Lilium Jet With Design Organization Approval in hand, Lilium is now qualified to design and hold a type certificate for aircraft developed in accordance with EASA's SC-VTOL rules. These rules, finalized in 2019, represent the highest safety standards globally for eVTOL aircraft. Lilium is concurrently pursuing type-certificate validation for the Lilium Jet with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) in the U.S., marking a significant dual certification basis for Lilium. Luc Tytgat, Acting Executive Director at EASA, acknowledged Lilium's achievement, stating, "I would like to congratulate Lilium on achieving this Design Organization Approval, which advances Europe's electric aviation activity." This accomplishment comes at a crucial juncture for Lilium, distinguishing it as a key player in the race to establish sustainable and efficient urban air mobility solutions. Looking ahead: Commercialization of Lilium Jet As Lilium celebrates this milestone, the focus shifts to the next steps in the commercialization of the Lilium Jet. Roewe expressed gratitude towards the team at Lilium and stakeholders, anticipating further advancements in bringing the innovative eVTOL aircraft to the market. With the FAA's G-1 issuance in June, Lilium stands as the only eVTOL manufacturer with dual certification bases from EASA and FAA for a powered lift eVTOL aircraft. Boeing out of E-4B ‘Doomsday Plane’ replacement competition By Michael Marrow December 01, 2023 at 6:36 PM An E-4B aircraft sits on the tarmac at Travis Air Force Base, Calif., Sep. 11, 2017. (U.S. Air Force photo by Louis Briscese) SIMI VALLEY, Calif. — Boeing is no longer in the running to build the Air Force’s E-4B Nightwatch “Doomsday” plane replacement, leaving Sierra Nevada Corporation (SNC) as the only known remaining competitor. In a statement to Breaking Defense on Friday, a company spokesperson confirmed that the aerospace giant’s bid is no longer under consideration by the Air Force. Reuters first reported Boeing’s elimination. “We are approaching all new contract opportunities with added discipline to ensure we can meet our commitments and support the long-term health of our business. We remain confident our [E-4B replacement] approach is the most comprehensive, technically mature and lowest-risk solution for the customer and Boeing,” the Boeing spokesperson said. “Our proposal is based on 60 years of military commercial derivative aircraft knowledge and experience including the design, development, and sustainment of the E-4B Nightwatch, which currently serves the national security command and control mission,” they added. According to Reuters, Boeing and the Air Force could not reach an agreement on data rights or contract terms. Boeing executives have refused to sign any new fixed-price development contracts after the company has suffered billions of dollars in losses in recent years. In the third quarter of 2023 alone, Boeing logged nearly $1 billion in charges for its defense division. In a statement, an Air Force spokesperson said “We cannot discuss an active source selection and detailed program information is classified in order to protect our investment in this critical capability.” Boeing is the builder of the current E-4B, a modified 747, which serves as the Defense Secretary’s primary mode of transportation but can also act as an airborne command center in the event of a national emergency like a nuclear attack. The aircraft is also known as the Survivable Airborne Operations Center, or SAOC, and four of the jets are currently in the service’s inventory. The Air Force’s fiscal 2024 budget rollout earlier this year showed a massive jump in funding for the SAOC replacement effort, with approximately $889 million for the upcoming fiscal year alone as the service moves toward a contract award. The award is expected in 2024, with SNC now the only public competitor still vying to win it. Boeing isn’t alone in its opposition to fixed-price development contracts. L3Harris Chief Executive Officer Chris Kubasik, for example, has vowed that his company will refuse to sign contracts with such terms. Negotiations between industry and the government on data rights are often sticking points for programs, which the government usually seeks to enable service-led maintenance. Boeing’s sustainment arm that services both commercial and defense contracts, called Boeing Global Services, is typically a bright spot in the company’s earnings, posting a profit of $784 million in Q3 of this year. “We’re having great engagements with our customers. When I say great, yeah, sometimes it’s painful,” Steve Nordlund, the head of Boeing’s Air Dominance division, told Breaking Defense in an interview earlier this year. “And sometimes we don’t have the answer right off the top of our head. But we’re digging in to try to figure out how we can get them what they want, which is being able to operate.” FAA Orders 747 Lightning Protection System Inspections Sean Broderick November 28, 2023 Undetected degradation of key lightning protection system parts prompted Boeing to recommend prompt inspections on all 747s, and the FAA is mandating the work for U.S.-registered aircraft. Boeing uses several layers of protection to ensure feed tubes that run into fuel tanks do not become ignition sources when lightning strikes engine nacelles. Among them is a bonding jumper, or cable, outside the fuel tank and sealant over the fuel tank’s interior wall. These serve as secondary protection beyond the primary electrical path, which are wing spar fittings. Fittings are subject to degradation that can limit their lighnting protection effectiveness, however, making the secondary protection critical. Boeing recently discovered 747 jumpers are failing “at an excessive rate,” an FAA airworthiness directive (AD) set for publication Nov. 30 reveals. Boeing also found another latent failure: “a complete crack around the circumference of the fuel feed fitting encapsulation inside” one 747-8 fuel tank. “This encapsulation is designed to isolate any sparks/arcing generated during a lightning strike because of failed electrical bonds from flammable fuel vapors in the tank,” the agency said. “This is an urgent safety issue, as all fuel feed lightning protection features now have evidence of compromise.” The issue affects all 747 variants, the agency determined. The FAA directive, which was not subject to a pre-publication public comment period due to the issue’s severity, orders 747 operators to conduct inspections within 90 days of its effective date, expected to be Dec. 15. All other variants must be checked within 120 days of that date. Repetitive inspections must be done every 12 months. The directive applies to 211 U.S.-registered aircraft but is likely to be adopted globally. Aviation Week Network Fleet Discovery database shows 402 747s in service globally plus another 56 in storage. Fewer than 100 of the in-service models carry passengers. Boeing issued operators’ messages detailing the issue and recommended inspections in mid-November. The FAA directive is based on Boeing’s instructions. Specific actions include inspecting the jumpers for damage and measuring their electrical bonding resistance. Operators also must report all results to Boeing. “The inspection reports ... will enable the manufacturer to obtain better insight into the nature, cause, and extent of the bonding degradation and failures, and eventually to develop final action to address the unsafe condition,” the FAA said. Contrail-chasing Blue Condor makes Airbus' first full hydrogen-powered flight The modified glider at the centre of Airbus UpNext’s hydrogen contrail-studying experiment, Blue Condor, made its first hydrogen-powered flight over Nevada in the United States on 8 November. The flight was the company’s first ever to use hydrogen as the sole fuel source, and it kicked off a test campaign that will conclude in a contrail-measuring mission in early 2024. Play Video Watch Airbus' Blue Condor first flight Hydrogen offers aviation a path to low-carbon operations, yet its combustion produces contrails just like conventional jet fuel. Hydrogen contrails, however, differ significantly. They don’t contain soot or sulphur oxides, but do hold nitrous oxides and a lot of water vapour: up to 2.5 times more than kerosene contrails. Both are considered climate-impacting emissions, and as such the aviation industry has a duty to address them. Therefore, as part of the ZEROe project, Airbus is committed to studying the composition of these little-understood hydrogen contrails. Using a modified Arcus-J glider, Airbus UpNext’s Blue Condor project will take a small hydrogen-combustion engine as high as 30,000 feet and compare its emissions to a similar-sized kerosene engine, flying alongside onboard a second aircraft. Both gliders are operated by The Perlan Project and the hydrogen engine was assembled by German company Aero Design Works. Blue Condor has now entered its flight test phase. The 8 November flight lasted around 30 minutes and its aim was to increase the hydrogen engine’s thrust at 7,000 feet, while stabilising the aircraft at different speeds. Two further flights have taken place since, performing tests including an engine start at 10,000 feet. The Blue Condor team plans to operate a first contrail-studying operation during Nevada’s cold-weather window early next year. Then, the Arcus-J will be towed to test altitude by a Grob Egrett aircraft instrumented by the German aerospace lab DLR. This ‘chase’ aircraft will then follow behind, using sensors to collect and analyse contrail and atmospheric data. The flight promises to be a big step in furthering understanding of hydrogen’s climate impact, and ultimately in reaching Airbus’ ZEROe target entry into service in 2035. At your fingertips: Airbus flies a fully automated helicopter with a tablet Madrid -Airbus has successfully tested a new simplified human machine interface (HMI) along with advanced autonomous features through a project code-named Vertex. These technologies, developed by Airbus UpNext, are controlled by a touchscreen tablet and aim to simplify mission preparation and management, reduce helicopter pilot workload, and further increase safety. The Airbus Helicopters’ FlightLab flew fully automated from lift-off, taxi, takeoff, cruise, approach and then landing during a one hour test flight by following a predefined route. During this flight, the pilot monitored the system which is able to detect unforeseen obstacles and automatically recalculate a safe flight path. Whenever necessary the pilot can easily override the controls through the tablet and resume the mission afterwards. The flight test period ran from the 27th of October through to the 22nd of November at the Airbus Helicopters’ facility in Marignane, France. “This successful demonstration of a fully autonomous flight from takeoff to landing is a great step towards the reduced pilot workload and simplified HMI that the Airbus Urban Air Mobility team intends to implement on CityAirbus NextGen. It could also have immediate applications for helicopters in low level flights close to obstacles thanks to the information provided by the lidars* on board,” said Michael Augello, CEO of Airbus UpNext. Airbus Helicopters will continue to mature the different technologies that comprise Vertex: vision based sensors and algorithms for situational awareness and obstacle detection; fly-by-wire for enhanced auto-pilot; and an advanced human-machine-interface - in the form of a touchscreen and head worn display for inflight monitoring and control. Liquid-hydrogen-powered plane would fly from the UK to the US without refueling The FlyZero aircraft is capable of flying from San Francisco to London without refueling, bcause it’s powered by hydrogen, it is significantly ‘greener’ than current aircraftIt is (nearly) twice the size of a Boeing 737 Published on Nov 29, 2023 at 7:12PM (UTC+4) by Alessandro Renesis Last updated on Nov 30, 2023 at 5:42PM (UTC+4) Edited by Adam Gray UK government-backed company is working on a revolutionary aircraft that can travel halfway around the world without having to refuel. And it’s capable of doing that thanks to one clever solution. The Aerospace Technology Institute (ATI) is working on a new aircraft called FlyZero. The FlyZero is powered by liquid hydrogen, which is why the range is so massive. The hydrogen-powered jet is fitted with tanks designed to store liquid hydrogen at minutes 250° Celsius (418° Fahrenheit). It has four tanks in total, two at the back – the biggest ones – and two smaller ones at the front. In car terms, this is a bit like having a rear-biased all-wheel drive car. Aerospace Technology Institute ATI The FlyZero is relatively large. t has a wingspan of 54 meters, nearly twice the size of a Boeing 737, and 279 seats. t’s an ambitious project, and an expensive one at that. But, at the moment, it is also slightly underfunded. The ATI has received roughly $2.6 billion in funding in total, but the Institute has allocated a relatively small portion of that to the FlyZero program. So far, they’ve only spent around $20 million, which is more or less peanuts when we’re talking about aircraft. Aerospace Technology Institute ATI There’s no deadline yet, but the goal is have this hydrogen-powered jet ready by the next decade. This is because that’s when major aerospace companies are planning to launch their own hydrogen-powered aircraft. Airbus should lead the pack, with a hydrogen-powered airliner scheduled to debut in 2035. Tamarack-Modified King Air Logs A Pair Of Record Flights By Mark Phelps Published: November 30, 2023 Updated: December 1, 2023 Tamarack founder and CEO Nick Guida served as copilot on a pair of record flights involving a Tamarack-modified King Air 350. Sandpoint, Idaho-based Tamarack Aerospace announced earlier this week it has received recognition from both the U.S. National Aeronautic Association (NAA) and the European Fédération Aéronautique Internationale (FAI) for record flights involving Tamarack’s modified and upgraded Beechcraft King Air 350 twin turboprop. The King Air is equipped with Tamarack’s Smartwing upgrade, which increases wing length and adds winglets. Unique to the Smartwing winglet installation is its autonomous load-alleviating surfaces that react to turbulence. Tamarack founder and CEO Nick Guida was the copilot on both record flights. The first was an Oct. 15, 2022, nonstop flight from Idaho to Orlando, Florida, a 2,032.8-nautical mile leg flown in seven hours, 46 minutes. The second record flight was a westbound trip a week later from Orlando to Henderson, Nevada. Facing strong headwinds, the King Air completed the 1,770.7-NM mission in eight hours, eight minutes’ flying time, with a stop in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Guida said, “There has been significant interest from the military following these record-setting demonstrations last year. You know, the defense community sees a lot of value in our increased range and loiter time for important missions.” Tamarack claims up to a 33 percent boost in range with the technology, with associated improvement in fuel efficiency and reduction in emissions. The reactive aerodynamic surfaces also reduce the effects of turbulence, Tamarack says FAA Approves Testing Landmark For Unleaded Avgas Contender By Mark Phelps Published: November 29, 2023 Screen grab from VP Racing's video on supplying fuel for competitors at the Reno Air Races. (Link to video in article text.) The Eliminate Aviation Gasoline Lead Emissions (EAGLE) team announced today (Nov. 29) that the first high-octane unleaded aviation fuel has reached an FAA milestone. According to an FAA announcement today, the agency “has approved the advancement to full-scale engine and flight testing of unleaded UL100E aviation fuel for piston-engine aircraft developed by LyondellBasell Industries/VP Racing. The UL100E fuel successfully passed a 150-hour engine durability test under the Piston Aviation Fuels Initiative (PAFI), a collaborative industry/government testing program. LyondellBessell/VP Racing UL100E is the first unleaded fuel to pass the PAFI 150-hour durability test phase.” Lyondell/Basell is an international petroleum processing company with refineries in Germany, the Netherlands, and four in Texas. VP Racing specializes in competition racing fuels, including supplying high-octane fuel for competitors in the Unlimited Class at the Reno Air Races. The next phase of PAFI testing involves full-scale engine and airframe testing and is expected to last 12 to 18 months. Controversy throughout the general aviation community swirls around the difference between the PAFI ASTM pathway to fleetwide approval versus the Supplemental Type Certification (STC) route chosen by the General Aviation Modification Inc. (GAMI) for its G100UL product. According to the EAGLE statement, the PAFI process “rigorously tests candidate fuels through various phases including evaluation of toxicology and environmental considerations, material capability, engine durability and detonation, and aircraft performance and operability.” The purpose of the trials is to help develop an industry consensus ASTM international production specification, leading to an FAA-generated fleet authorization for the fuel. “The goal of PAFI is to test, not produce, fuels that can ensure both capability and safety within the piston-engine aircraft fleet as well as commercial viability for deployment,” according to the EAGLE statement. It is noteworthy that EAGLE cites the factor of “commercial viability for deployment” in its statement. Curt Castagna, EAGLE co-chair and president of the National Air Transportation Association (NATA), which represents a wide range of general aviation industry stakeholders, said, “The LyondellBasell/VP Racing achievement marks an important waypoint on the path to a more environmentally friendly future for aviation fuel and demonstrates the progress made through our government and community partnership. EAGLE celebrates this milestone and looks forward to more opportunities to recognize industry ingenuity and innovation.” Castagna’s EAGLE co-chair, FAA Executive Director of Aircraft Certification Service Lirio Liu, added, “This is another important milestone for a safe General Aviation transition to unleaded fuel and for our goal to eliminate lead emissions by the end of 2030.” Doroni’s all-electric flying car gets flight certified in the US Peter Johnson Dec 1 2023 - 2:32 pm PT Flying electric cars are not just for sci-fi movies. Miami-based Doroni Aerospace announced Friday its all-electric flying car, the Doroni H1, received official FAA Airworthiness Certification. And the best part – it’s designed to fit in your garage. Doroni’s all-electric flying car gets FAA-certified Doroni claims to be the first company to test manned flights with a 2-seater flying electric car in the US. The Doroni H1 took flight earlier this year. CEO Doron Merdinger successfully piloted the personal electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft (eVTOL) this summer. Merdinger said receiving the flight certification “is not just a milestone for our company, but a leap forward for the entire field of personal air mobility.” He says the electric flying car “is poised to redefine urban transportation.” Doroni’s aircraft has already received over 370 pre-orders as the startup wraps up funding efforts. Powered by ten independent propulsion systems, the all-electric flying car has a claimed top speed of 140 mph (100 mph cruising speed) and 60 miles range. Its unique design ensures stability during flight. Doroni’s electric flying car (Source: Doroni) It includes four ducts containing two e-motors with patented ducted propellers. Eight are for vertical flight with an additional “two pushes.” The two-seater aircraft is designed to fit inside a two-car garage at 23 ft in length and 14 ft in width. It also features fast charging (20% -80%) in under 20 minutes. Doroni’s electric flying car prototype (Source: Doroni) Electric flying cars coming to a dealership near you Doroni’s all-electric flying car is semi-autonomous, meaning you can guide it to different levels. A controller stick is used to push you forward, backward, or to the side. Doroni H1 interior control stick (source: Doroni) Who would buy one of these? Doroni says one of its customers is a doctor who wants to use the aircraft to skip traffic on their way to work. However, you will need a certification. It requires at least 20 hours of experience, 15 inside the aircraft and another five solo. Merdinger says the biggest use case for eVTOLs will be for air taxis or ride-sharing. Doroni aims for a different market though. Doroni electric flying car concept (Source: Doroni) The company says there is enough space to fly everywhere, especially in suburban areas. Doroni’s all-electric flying car is designed for more than just getting you from point A to point B. It allows you to “enjoy nature,” according to Merdinger. Doroni expects to build about 120 to 125 units by 2025 or 2026. Eventually, the Miami-based startup plans on scaling to produce 2,500 eVTOLs annually. You can learn more about the electric flying car on Doroni’s website. (Source: Alef Aeronautics) The company is the latest to receive the flight certification. Alef’s Model A was the first electric flying car to get certfied in June. Alef said it had 2,500 pre-orders in July. The orders include 2,100 from individuals and 400 from businesses, including a California car dealership. Electrek’s Take Are electric flying cars going to take over road transportation? Not necessarily. At least not anytime soon. Doroni and Alef are both working on niche markets, which makes the most sense for the time being. At the same time, the companies are pushing forward another sustainble means of transport. As Merdinger explained “this is just the beginning,” as the technology advances. Curt Lewis