jueves, 29 de agosto de 2019

Luxembourg's Bold Plan to Mine Asteroids for Rare Minerals

In 2016 the tiny European country of Luxembourg announced an ambitious initiative to mine asteroids and other near-Earth objects (NEOs) for rare minerals. It wasn't the country's first foray into space—in the 1980s it launched some of the first European satellites—but the NEO mining plan …

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Drone disruption? Climate activists to target London's Heathrow airport | Article [AMP] | Reuters

LONDON (Reuters) - British climate change activists said they would disrupt London's Heathrow airport with toy drones from Sept. 13, a step they hope will ground flights and put pressure on the government to take tougher steps to reduce carbon emissions. 


https://uk.mobile.reuters.com/article/amp/idUKKCN1VJ0EZ

CIMON is back on Earth after 14 months on the ISS

press release
  • A successor to the technology experiment will have additional functionality, and is currently being built and tested by Airbus on behalf of the German Aerospace Center (DLR) Space Administration.
  • Second version of CIMON will also use Watson AI technology from IBM
  • Scientific elements of the project are supervised by the Ludwig-Maximilian University Hospital in Munich (Klinikum der Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München).
 
 
 
Friedrichshafen – CIMON has returned to Earth: the Crew Interactive Mobile CompanioN (CIMON), the astronaut assistant featuring artificial intelligence, arrived back on its home planet on board a Dragon spacecraft from US company SpaceX. The SpaceX-18 undocked from the International Space Station (ISS) on 27 August 2019 at 16:59 Central European Summer Time (CEST). The capsule then touched down in the Pacific Ocean around 480 kilometres southwest of Los Angeles and was recovered at 22:21h CEST.
 
“We expect to have the first CIMON back in Germany by the end of October,” says Dr Christian Karrasch, CIMON Project Manager at the DLR Space Administration. “The CIMON technology experiment has lived up to all our expectations,” Karrasch continues, summarising the past few months. “During its first mission in space – a 90-minute session with German ESA astronaut Alexander Gerst on the ISS in November 2018 – CIMON demonstrated its ability to work well in microgravity conditions and to successfully interact with astronauts. We are still incredibly happy with the only artificial intelligence mission to take place on the space station to date, and have been working on a new, enhanced model for several months. The first CIMON has allowed us to lay the foundations for using social assistance systems in space – systems that support astronauts with their tasks and that at some point may even take some work off their hands.”
 
Just like its predecessor, the second CIMON is being built by Airbus in Friedrichshafen and Bremen on behalf of the DLR Space Administration and is being funded by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy (Bundesministerium für Wirtschaft und Energie; BMWi). Airbus in Friedrichshafen has assembled and tested the hardware for the new CIMON, while Airbus in Bremen is working to improve the software for flight and attitude control. IBM is implementing new AI features. “All in all there are several upgrades, including better microphones, a more robust computer, improved flight and attitude control, and new software features for conversation – for example in the areas of voice recognition, conversational skills and understanding intentions,” explains Till Eisenberg, CIMON Project Manager at Airbus.
 
Matthias Biniok, Project Manager at IBM, adds: “CIMON represents a unique application scenario in an extreme working environment. And we’ve seen that by using AI technology – in our case IBM Watson – we can support astronauts in their work. Our primary objective for CIMON’s next stage of development is to improve the comprehension of speech in specific contexts and the analysis of emotion in language.”
 
Ethical questions around the future use of CIMON are being examined and evaluated by medical experts at Ludwig-Maximilian University (LMU) in Munich. Privacy rights are affected by the interaction between humans and machines, as CIMON records, processes and interprets images and audio of astronauts. There needs to be high technical standards in data security while recognising that trust in such systems is an important factor for teamwork between humans and machines. Basically, this means deciding what CIMON is permitted to do, know and say. “The new CIMON has an in-built switch that allows the flow of data from all cameras and microphones to be interrupted from the ISS. This means that the astronaut is in control of CIMON at all times, which we thought was particularly important,” says LMU scientist Dr Judith Buchheim.
 
DLR Space Administration, which is responsible for German contributions to the European Space Agency (ESA), is working with ESA to send the new version of CIMON to the ISS in December 2019 so that it can benefit from crew time with astronauts.
 
The first CIMON arrived on the ISS as a technology experiment on 2 July 2018. On 15 November 2018, the robotic assistant with a smart ‘face’ received global attention when it was deployed for the first time: it successfully ‘worked’ together with German ESA astronaut Alexander Gerst for 90 minutes. CIMON demonstrated its basic functions, such as its ability to fly in microgravity conditions using autonomous navigation, performing several turns and movements in every direction, and was able to search for Gerst’s face, recognise it, make eye contact and speak to him. It then showed the instructions for an experiment on its ‘face’ – a display in the centre of the sphere – and played music. It also used its cameras to record a video and take a photo of Gerst.
 
In 2018, the CIMON project won the US ‘Popular Science Award’ in the category ‘Best of What’s New in 2018’ in aerospace. Airbus was also awarded the ‘2019 German Innovation Prize’ (Deutsche Innovationspreis) in the large companies category (#dip19).
 
 
 
•CIMON – the idea
 
Developed and built in Germany, CIMON is a technology experiment to support astronauts and increase the efficiency of their work. CIMON is able to show and explain information and instructions for scientific experiments and repairs. The voice-controlled access to documents and media is an advantage, as the astronauts can keep both hands free. It can also be used as a mobile camera to save astronaut crew time. In particular, CIMON could be used to perform routine tasks, such as documenting experiments, searching for objects and taking inventory. CIMON can also see, hear, understand and speak. CIMON can orientate itself using its ‘eyes’ – a stereo camera and a high-resolution camera that it uses for facial recognition – as well as two other cameras fitted to its sides that it uses for photos and video documentation. Ultrasound sensors measure distances to recognise potential collisions. Its ‘ears’ consist of eight microphones to identify directions, and an additional directional microphone to improve voice recognition. Its ‘mouth’ is a loudspeaker that it can use to speak or play music. At the heart of the AI for language understanding is the IBM Watson AI technology from the IBM Cloud. CIMON has not been equipped with self-learning capabilities and requires active human instruction. The AI used for autonomous navigation was provided by Airbus and is designed for movement planning and object recognition. Twelve internal rotors allow CIMON to move and rotate freely in all directions. This means it can turn towards the astronaut when addressed, nod and shake its head, and follow the astronaut – either autonomously or on command.
 
 
 
The partners:
 
The interactive astronaut assistant was developed and built by Airbus in Friedrichshafen and Bremen on behalf of the German Aerospace Center (Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt; DLR) Space Administration and funded by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy (Bundesministerium für Wirtschaft und Energie). Watson AI technology from the IBM Cloud provides voice-controlled artificial intelligence. Scientists from the Ludwig-Maximilian University Hospital in Munich (Klinikum der Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, LMU) helped develop and oversee the human aspects of the assistance system. An approximately 50-strong project team from DLR, Airbus, IBM and LMU have been working on the implementation of CIMON since August 2016. CIMON has been on board the ISS since 2 July 2018. It is no coincidence that its name is reminiscent of ‘Professor Simon Wright’, the robotic assistant – or the ‘flying brain’ – from the Japanese science fiction series ‘Captain Future’.

Airbus built ExoMars rover leaves UK for testing ahead of launch



press release




The European Space Agency’s ExoMars rover is leaving the UK for Airbus in Toulouse where it will undergo crucial testing ahead of delivery to Thales Alenia Space.

The ExoMars rover “Rosalind Franklin” will be Europe’s first planetary rover and is being assembled at Airbus in Stevenage. It will search for signs of past or present life on Mars and is equipped with a 2m drill to take samples from below the surface where they will have been protected from the harsh radiation environment.

The rover features nine instruments which will help scientists conduct a step-by-step exploration of Mars, from a panoramic scale and progressively converging to smaller (sub-millimetre) studies, concluding with the molecular identification of organic compounds. The rover is equipped with an autonomous navigation system developed by Airbus which will enable it to travel between sites of interest much more quickly than by being driven remotely in real time from Earth.

Rosalind Franklin is being installed in its special protective container in Stevenage for the journey to Toulouse for environmental testing to prepare it for launch. It is due to leave the Airbus site in UK on 28 August. Launch of the rover to the Red Planet is scheduled for July 2020.



About ExoMars

ExoMars is a European Space Agency programme executed in cooperation with Russian Space Agency Roscosmos with contribution of NASA.

On the 2020 mission, Thales Alenia Space in Italy, is the mission Prime in charge of the design, development and verification of the entire system, the development of the Carrier Module navigation and guidance system and perform EDL/GNC development, the Rover System, including the Analytical Laboratory Drawer (ALD) as well as supplying basic parts of the DM, including the Radar Altimeter. In addition, Thales Alenia Space in Italy implements a deep technical partnership with Lavochkin (RUS) with European contributions for the development Descent Module (DM) Kazachok. OHB is in charge of developing the Carrier Module (CM) as well as some ALD subsystems (SPDS Mechanisms, Structure and Harness). The Rover Vehicle itself is provided by Airbus Defence and Space in UK. Leonardo is developing the ExoMars drill, which will dig into the Mars subsoil at a depth of two meters plus the Drill and ALD mechanisms control unit and software. ALTEC – Aerospace Logistics Technology Engineering, a Thales Alenia Space in Italy (63.75%) and ASI (36.25%) company – will also be responsible for the design, development and maintenance of the ROCC (Rover Operation Control Center) and for controlling the Rover on the Martian surface.

@ESA_ExoMars @esaspaceflight @spacegovuk #ExoMars

Second five-bladed H145 helicopter prototype performs maiden flight





Early August, the second prototype of the new five-bladed H145 took off for its maiden flight at the Airbus Helicopters site in Donauwörth. The helicopter will be used for additional flight tests to achieve EASA certification of the new five-bladed H145 in early 2020. The first prototype is currently performing a high altitude test campaign in South America. The second prototype will be mainly used for autopilot testing, performance and airframe structural validation.

The new H145, that was unveiled at Heli-Expo this year in Atlanta, offers 150 kg of additional useful load, while also raising the bar for in-flight comfort, simplicity, and connectivity.

About Airbus
Airbus is a global leader in aeronautics, space and related services. In 2018, it generated revenues of €64 billion and employed a workforce of around 134,000. Airbus offers the most comprehensive range of passenger airliners. Airbus is also a European leader providing tanker, combat, transport and mission aircraft, as well as one of the world’s leading space companies. In helicopters, Airbus provides the most efficient civil and military rotorcraft solutions worldwide.

Learn more about the H145

Russian company sues Boeing to cancel MAX order

Less than a month ago, Boeing CEO thanked customers for their understanding during the MAX grounding crisis, stating that there were “no order cancellations”. Now, the situation is changing as Russian company is reportedly seeking to not only cancel MAX order, but also to get a lengthy compensation


continue reading:


https://www.aerotime.aero/aerotime.team/23868-russian-company-sues-boeing-to-cancel-max-order?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email

ANALYSIS: De Havilland eyes Dash 8 resurgence

North American airlines operate about 870 aircraft in the 50-seat category, the vast majority being aging CRJs and Embraer ERJs, according to Cirium fleets data.  Those types are long out of production and few replacement options exist…

continue reading

Volocopter Reveals Design For New Urban Air Mobility Aircraft

Features include:

  • Payload to accommodate 2 people including hand luggage
  • Increased flight efficiency through aerodynamically shaped rotor beams, a newly introduced stabilizer to create increased stability in flight and additional lift
  • Iconic design with fluid lines is a seamless continuation of architectural language of the future VoloPort all the while combining unprecedented technological achievements and user comfort
continue reading:




Press release:

Volocopter reveals design for new Urban Air Mobility aircraft

VoloCity to become first commercial Volocopter aircraft

  • Designed according to the SC-VTOL category enhanced specifications of EASA
  • Incorporates learnings of over 1,000 test flights of previous Volocopter generations
  • Revolutionary aerodynamic lift-creating design of rotor beams
  • Pre-Series 2X model continues to serve as testing and developing platform for the Urban Air Mobility ecosystem;

Bruchsal, 21 August 2019 – Today, Volocopter, the pioneer in Urban Air Mobility, presented the design for its newest air taxi model: VoloCity. This will be the fourth-generation electrical take-off and landing aircraft (eVTOL) by the German Urban Air Mobility developer. The VoloCity has been designed to meet the safety standards specified by the European Aviation Safety Agency (SC-VTOL category enhanced) and incorporates user feedback as well as test data from all previous Volocopter generations. With a calculated range of 35 km and airspeed of 110 km/h, the VoloCity is designed to serve as an on-demand inner-city air taxi.

The learnings of over 1,000 test flights on previous Volocopter generations and market research with several hundred potential customers have informed the design and technical specifications of the VoloCity.  The result is an aircraft with visible improvements that still stays true to the well-known Volocopter technical and safety features: 18 rotors, redundancy in all critical systems, a low noise signature and a rigid commitment to the inner-city mission. Features include:

  • Payload to accommodate 2 people including hand luggage 
  • Increased flight efficiency through aerodynamically shaped rotor beams, a newly introduced stabilizer to create increased stability in flight and additional lift
  • Iconic design with fluid lines is a seamless continuation of architectural language of the future VoloPort all the while combining unprecedented technological achievements and user comfort 

"The VoloCity is our most powerful Volocopter yet. It is rigorously designed to meet the demands of Urban Air Mobility and incorporates all requirements of the SC-VTOL certification standard established by EASA in July 2019. It is a result of all insights we have gathered from our extensive testing programmes over the past years." says Florian Reuter, CEO of Volocopter. "With the VoloCity we will open the first commercial routes and bring Urban Air Mobility to life."

Volocopter wrote aviation history with the first manned flight of an electrically powered vertical take-off and landing aircraft in 2011. Since then, the German company has developed three generations of aircraft and performed public flights most notably in Dubai in 2017 and during CES in Las Vegas in 2018. 

The company is now focusing on establishing the necessary ecosystem around the aircraft to bring on-demand Urban Air Mobility services to life. This entails building up the operational environment such as the physical take-off and landing infrastructure and integrating into air traffic management systems of interested cities. Volocopter is working with global players like Fraport, the operator of Frankfurt International Airport (FRA) to optimize passenger and ground procedures and align regulations with the relevant authorities. 

Until the commissioning of VoloCity, Volocopter will continue to test, improve, and demonstrate their Urban Air Mobility vision with the current 2X pre-series model. A public test flight is scheduled for Q4 this year in Singapore, where Volocopter will also display the first VoloPort Urban Air Mobility infrastructure prototype together with its partner Skyports. 

 

About Volocopter GmbH

The pioneer in the development of electrical air taxis that take off and land vertically (eVTOLs), Volocopter builds aircrafts that are based on drone technology and carry up to two people. The company will establish Urban Air Mobility (UAM) in addition to current transportation options in megacities globally. Their aim is to offer affordable on-demand air taxi services and save people time by flying them safely to their destination. Volocopter cooperates with leading partners in infrastructure, operations and air traffic management to build the ecosystem necessary to bring Urban Air Mobility to life. In 2011 Volocopter performed the first ever manned flight of a purely electrical multicopter and has since showcased numerous public flights of its full-scale two-seater aircrafts, most notably the autonomous flight in Dubai in cooperation with the local Road and Transport Administration (RTA) in 2017. Founded by Stephan Wolf and Alexander Zosel, Volocopter has more than 150 employees in offices in Bruchsal, Munich and Singapore and is managed by CEO Florian Reuter, CTO Jan-Hendrik Boelens, and CFO Rene Griemens. The company has raised a total of €35 million, Daimler and Intel are among the investors.

1 From market research conducted over the course of one year together with Fraunhofer institute and Hochschule für Technik Stuttgart with over 500 potential customers.

2 This has recently been explained in CTO Jan-Hendrik Boelens: https://press.volocopter.com/index.php/volocopter-publishes-white-paper-on-urban-air-mobility



AOPA Asks FAA To Weigh Supersonic Limits Below FL180

The AOPA is concerned that pilots operating under VFR above 10,000 msl might not have the ability to see and avoid supersonic aircraft flying at supersonic speeds. 



https://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/business-aviation/2019-08-21/aopa-asks-faa-weigh-supersonic-limits-below-fl180?amp

Did Boeing, aviation industry heed lessons of 2009 Air France crash?

"The global aviation industry has not effectively applied what we have learned from the crash of Air France 447,"  Capt. Sully Sullenberger told the Chronicle. "Had they done so, the 737 Max crashes might have been avoided." 


https://www.houstonchronicle.com/business/amp/Did-Boeing-aviation-industry-heed-lessons-of-14369021.php



US Air Force Selects Boeing for A-10 Thunderbolt II Re-Winging Contract



PLANO, Texas, Aug. 21, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Boeing (NYSE: BA) will continue its legacy of A-10 Thunderbolt II sustainment work under an Indefinite Delivery/Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) contract award from the U.S. Air Force (USAF), with a maximum ceiling value of $999 million.

Under the contract, which was competitively awarded, Boeing will be responsible for managing the production of a maximum of 112 wing sets and spare kits. The USAF ordered 27 wing sets immediately at contract award.

"Boeing is honored to be selected to continue as the A-10 Thunderbolt II wing kit contractor," said Pam Valdez, vice president of Air Force Services for Boeing Global Services. "Our established supply base, experience with the A-10 structures, and our in-depth knowledge of the U.S. Air Force's requirements will help us deliver high-quality wings to meet the customer's critical need."

Boeing will team with Korean Aerospace Industries and other key suppliers to deliver the first wing sets to Hill Air Force Base in Ogden, Utah.

Under a previous contract, Boeing delivered 173 enhanced wing assemblies.

Boeing is the world's largest aerospace company and leading provider of commercial airplanes, defense, space and security systems, and global services. As the top U.S. exporter, the company supports commercial and government customers in more than 150 countries. Boeing employs more than 150,000 people worldwide and leverages the talents of a global supplier base. Building on a legacy of aerospace leadership, Boeing continues to lead in technology and innovation, deliver for its customers and invest in its people and future growth

martes, 20 de agosto de 2019

China’s civil aviation industry booming with four new planes in pipeline

China picks up pace in civil aircraft development


China has committed to developing two trunk airliner models and two ... year, according to the Commercial Aircraft Corp. of China (COMAC).
Imagen de la noticia para comac airliner de Buzz.travel | eTurboNews | Travel News

China's civil aviation industry booming with four new planes in pipeline

Buzz.travel | eTurboNews | Travel News-
China has committed to developing two trunk airliner models and two ... The COMAC has received 815 orders for the C919 planes from 28 ...


Russia's aircraft industry is endeavouring to preserve its key ...

The new wide-body airliner project dubbed CR929, which is being jointly developed by plane-makers Russia's UAC and China's COMAC, has ...

COMAC pushes back C919 certification to 2021

ATWOnline-7 ago. 2019
The Commercial Aircraft Corp. of China (COMAC) has pushed back its target for certification of the C919 airliner from 2020 to 2021, following ...

737MAX: Norwegian to end transatlantic flights between Ireland and North America from 15 September 2019





press release
https://media.uk.norwegian.com/pressreleases/norwegian-to-end-transatlantic-flights-between-ireland-and-north-america-from-15-september-2019-2905744






“As the airline moves from growth to profitability, we have conducted a comprehensive review of our transatlantic operations between Ireland and North America and considering the grounding of the Boeing 737 MAX aircraft, we have concluded that these routes are no longer commercially viable.

“We take a strict approach to route management and constantly evaluate route performance to ensure we meet customer demand. Compounded by the global grounding of the 737 MAX and the continued uncertainty of its return to service, this has led us to make the difficult decision to discontinue all six routes from Dublin, Cork and Shannon to the US and Canada from 15 September 2019.

“Since March, we have tirelessly sought to minimise the impact on our customers by hiring (wetleasing) replacement aircraft to operate services between Ireland and North America. However, as the return to service date for the 737 MAX remains uncertain, this solution is unsustainable.

“We are assisting customers by ensuring they can still get to their destination by rerouting them onto other Norwegian services. Customers will also be offered a full refund if they no longer wish to travel. We will continue to offer scheduled services from Dublin to Oslo, Stockholm and Copenhagen as normal.

“We are proactively engaging with our pilots and cabin crew at our Dublin base, including their respective unions, to ensure that redundancies remain a last resort.

“Our 80 Dublin-based administrative staff at Norwegian Air International and Norwegian Group’s asset company, Arctic Aviation Assets, will not be affected by the route closures.

“We would like to thank Dublin, Cork and Shannon airports in addition to New York Stewart, Providence and Hamilton airports, tourism partners and our colleagues and customers for supporting Norwegian’s transatlantic expansion from Ireland since 2017.”

Desaer ATL-100 Aims To Replace Bandeirante with 19 seater twin turbo prop civil/militar "air jeep"

https://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/air-transport/2019-08-12/desaer-atl-100-aims-replace-bandeirante


http://desaer.com.br/






Technical specifications

SPECIFICATIONS
ModelATL-100
CertificationANAC - 23.3(d) - Commuter
Powerplant2x 1000SHP class
PropellersTBD
PressurizationNon-pressurized
Wing TypeHigh-wing
Landing gearFixed Tricycle
AFT cargo RampYes
Internal Configuration1/2 trip + 19 pax / 12 paratroopers + 2 / cargo / ambulance
PERFORMANCE
Maximum Reach Speed (h/kts)~205
Speed of LRC (h/kts)~231
MTOW reach - Maximum payload (nm)~755
Reach - Max Fuel/LRC/10000ft/ISA~2000
Maximum Altitude7620-25000
DIMENSION
Length:16 m (52 ft 49 in)
Heigh:6 m (19 ft 68 in)
Wingspan:20 m (65 ft 61 in)

USAF Research Laboratory successfully conducts first flight of ROBOpilot Unmanned Air Platform





This flight test is a testament to AFRL's ability to rapidly innovate technology from concept to application in a safe build up approach while still maintaining low cost and short timelines," said Maj. Gen. William Cooley, AFRL Commander.

"Imagine being able to rapidly and affordably convert a general aviation aircraft, like a Cessna or Piper, into an unmanned aerial vehicle, having it fly a mission autonomously, and then returning it back to its original manned configuration," said Dr. Alok Das, Senior Scientist with AFRL's Center for Rapid Innovation. "All of this is achieved without making permanent modifications to the aircraft."




continue readinghttps://www.robins.af.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/1935577/air-force-research-laboratory-successfully-conducts-first-flight-of-robopilot-u/


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dQxacTMu7XU&feature=youtu.be

Sikorsky S-92A™ Helicopter Certified for Expanded Brazil Operations


press release

Brazil's National Civil Aviation Agency-Brazil (ANAC) approved the Search and Rescue (SAR) configuration for the Sikorsky S-92A™ helicopter. The certification now enables the operation of S-92® helicopters in Brazil in all production configurations, including offshore oil and gas transportation, search and rescue, as well as regional airline passenger service and VIP transportation. Sikorsky is a Lockheed Martin company (NYSE: LMT).

ANAC-Brazil certified the S-92A aircraft for SAR missions on March 28, following previous verification to 27,700 lbs. Maximum Gross Weight (MGW) load allowance in Dec. 2018, as well as certification of Sikorsky's Rig Approach™ software auto-pilot feature in Oct. 2014, expanding the full range of capabilities of the S-92A helicopter manufactured by Sikorsky to Brazil.

"For more than 47 years, Sikorsky helicopters have been the workhorses of the Brazilian offshore oil transport market, first with the S-58T in 1972, the S-76® and S-61 since 1979, and over the last 10 years with the larger, further-reaching S-92 heavy aircraft. These new certifications along with the announcement of the forthcoming S-92 A+/B™, help ensure that that the S-92 will continue to be the aircraft of choice in Brazil and around the world for safe, reliable, deep water offshore oil exploration," said Adam Schierholz, Sikorsky Regional Executive for Latin America.

The S-92 was certified in Colombia in Nov. 2016 and in Mexico in Nov. 2017. In 2018, Sikorsky added an S-92 blade repair capability in Brazil and relocated and expanded its Brazil-based Forward Stocking Location, near Brazilian operators, including Lider Aviation, Omni Helicopters International and CHC Helicopter. Eight Brazilian commercial operators currently fly a total of 90 Sikorsky aircraft throughout the country.

Sikorsky has delivered nearly 300 S-92 helicopters since 2004. With a best-in-class safety record and industry-leading dispatch availability, the multi-mission S-92 aircraft is the preferred aircraft of its size class for offshore oil worker transportation. These helicopters also perform search and rescue missions, head of state missions, and a variety of transportation missions for utility and airline passengers.

For more information, visit Sikorsky Commercial Systems & Services

About Lockheed Martin

Headquartered in Bethesda, Maryland, Lockheed Martin is a global security and aerospace company that employs approximately 105,000 people worldwide and is principally engaged in the research, design, development, manufacture, integration and sustainment of advanced technology systems, products and services.

Tecnam P2012 Traveller Achieves FAA Certification

press releqse





CAPUA – Tecnam announced last 16th that the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has awarded full Type Certificate to the P2012 Traveller with the number A00076CE for Part 23 of the FAA Regulations.

Tecnam is now on track to commence deliveries to aviation companies across the globe, beginning with the first 20 of the one hundred P2012 Travellers eagerly awaited by Cape Air in Massachusetts, US.

The first few P2012 Travellers, already produced and ready to go, will fly from Capua to the Cape Air base in Hyannis, MA in the upcoming weeks.

Powered by two 375 HP turbo-charged Lycoming engines, the Tecnam P2012 Traveller features a modern design and state-of-the-art equipment, allowing single-pilot operations, depending on individual country regulations. The aircraft’s simple and easily accessed airframe and systems, fixed landing gear, robust interiors and easy-to-replace parts, result in high efficiency and low maintenance costs. These attributes, and many more, make it the ideal aircraft for regional airlines.

The arrival into service of the next-generation 11-seat, twin-engine P2012 Traveller is much anticipated by a large number of airlines, who have been demanding a replacement for the many hundreds of ‘heritage’ aeroplanes in the FAR23/CS23 category currently in service around the world. This aircraft is set to open many profitable opportunities in Short Haul transportation and is revolutionising the Piston Engines sector.

Already established as a leader in both the Flight Training and Private General Aviation sectors, the entry into service of the P2012 Traveller will undoubtedly herald very similar success for Tecnam in the very competitive commuter airline market.

This key certification milestone will add and ensure new and significant profitable revenue streams for Tecnam, which have been built on a foundation of over 70 years’ aircraft manufacturing.

The Tecnam board is particularly proud to have met all schedules announced at the time of the application for the certification program: the first P2012 prototype made its maiden flight in July 2016, the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) awarded full Type Certification in December 2018, and now the FAA validation is also in place.
Tecnam’s Managing Director, Giovanni Pascale says: 
“The FAA certification of the P2012 Traveller marks a significant milestone for the Tecnam team, our very first commuter airline aircraft. We have embraced new challenges and developed new skills. I am very proud, together with my father Paolo, to lead one of the most innovative and growing global aviation companies. We dedicate this important achievement to Luigi and Giovanni Pascale, the two brothers, my grandfather and my great-uncle, who started all this in 1948.”

viernes, 9 de agosto de 2019

Polish-based flight school Bartolini Air, and Ryanair, have formed a new partnership to deliver a comprehensive Mentored Pilot Training Program with Tecnam Aircraft

press release

Polish-based international flight school Bartolini Air, and Europe's top airline, Ryanair, have formed a new partnership to deliver a comprehensive Mentored Pilot Training Program.

This new training partnership is a wonderful achievement for Bartolini Air, according to another of their partners, Italian aircraft manufacturer Tecnam, whose diverse range of models make up Bartolini Air's fleet.  There are currently thirteen Tecnams, including three P2002JF low-wing single-engine aircraft, six P2008JC single-engine high-wing aircraft, three P2006T twin-engine aircraft and one P2010 single-engine, high-wing. All are fitted with Garmin glass cockpits and the latest technology avionics. The high quality and low operational costs of the Tecnam fleet have most likely been a contributing factor to Bartolini Air's success.

Paolo Pascale, Tecnam CEO, believes that Bartolini Air is the perfect choice for this program. "Not only do they have an impressive track record in training top-class pilots to the highest standards," he says, "but they also have the ideal fleet of aircraft to ensure their future pilots are trained on the best possible aircraft. Our own partnership with Bartolini Air has been very successful from the beginning and we are confident that it will continue to grow in the future. We at Tecnam congratulate them on this great achievement."

Walter Da Costa, Tecnam Global Sales and Marketing Director, said: "The professionalism shown by Bartolini Air, as well as their commitment towards providing an outstanding level of service, has caused them to be recognised by Ryanair, Europe's leading airline. That is an honour indeed."

Bartłomiej Walas, Founder and President of Bartolini Air, said: "We've trained over 1500 pilots from 56 countries and many of them are already working at Ryanair, Europe's largest airline group. Under the Ryanair Mentored Programme, our trainee pilots will be instructed by Bartolini's instructors using Ryanair SOPS. Participants of the program will train on a fleet of modern single- and twin-engine Tecnam aircraft, simulators and in a professional environment which will ready them for an exciting and fulfilling career with our partner airline, Ryanair. We look forward to working with both Ryanair and Tecnam for many years to come."

 

The online application for the Ryanair – Bartolini Air Training Programme is now open. For more information and to apply, visit: https://training.bartoliniair.com/en/home

 

About Ryanair

Ryanair Holdings plc, Europe's largest airline group, is the parent company of Ryanair DAC, Lauda, Buzz, Malta Air and Ryanair UK. Carrying over 153m guests p.a. on more than 2,400 daily flights from 86 bases, the group connects over 200 destinations in 38 states on a fleet of over 475 aircraft, with a further 210 Boeing 737's on order, which will enable Ryanair Holdings to lower fares and grow traffic to 200m p.a. by FY24. Ryanair Holdings has a team of more than 19,000 highly skilled aviation professionals delivering Europe's No.1 on-time performance, and extending an industry leading 34-year safety record.

https://www.ryanair.com


About Bartolini Air

Bartolini Air is one of the largest EASA-certified pilot training centres in Central Europe. It operates a modern fleet of 13 single and multi-engine Tecnams (equipped with state-of-the-art, EFIS-based avionics) and three FNPTII simulators. Our aircraft carry out 25 000 flight operations a year out of the school's home base in Lodz, Poland. In addition to the training centre, Bartolini Air group includes an executive charter operator (a certified air carrier) and a maintenance facility for piston and jet aircraft. Over 1500 professional pilots from 56 countries trained by Bartolini Air and many of them are already working at Ryanair, Europe's largest airline group.

https://training.bartoliniair.com/en/home

Airbus begins U.S. production of A220 aircraft

press release

Airbus has today officially begun manufacturing the A220 in the U.S. The first team of A220 production workers began work at Airbus' Mobile, Alabama-based production facility following their recent return from on-the-job training in Mirabel, Quebec, Canada, where the A220 programme and primary final assembly line are located.

"The expansion of our commercial aircraft production in Mobile to a second product line – with 400 additional jobs to support it – further solidifies Airbus' standing as a truly global aircraft manufacturer, and confirms without a doubt that Airbus is an important part of America's manufacturing landscape," said Airbus Americas Chairman & CEO C. Jeffrey Knittel. "With Mobile, and our production network in Asia, Canada and Europe, we have strategically created a worldwide industrial base to better serve our customers."

Airbus announced plans for the addition of A220 manufacturing in Mobile in October 2017. Construction on the main A220 flowline hangar and other support buildings for the new A220 began at the Mobile Aeroplex at Brookley at the beginning of this year. Airbus is producing the first few aircraft within some current A320 Family buildings and newly-built support hangars. The first U.S.-made A220 – an A220-300 destined for Delta Air Lines – is scheduled for delivery in the third quarter of 2020. By the middle of the next decade, the facility will produce between 40 and 50 A220 aircraft per year. 

The A220 is the only aircraft purpose-built for the 100-150 seat market; it delivers unbeatable fuel efficiency and wide-body passenger comfort in a single-aisle aircraft. The A220 brings together state-of-the-art aerodynamics, advanced materials and Pratt & Whitney's latest-generation PW1500G geared turbofan engines to offer at least 20% lower fuel burn per seat compared to previous generation aircraft. The A220 offers the performance of larger single-aisle aircraft. With an order book of 551 aircraft as of end of June 2019, the A220 has all the credentials to win the lion's share of the 100-to-150-seat aircraft market, estimated to represent 7,000 aircraft over the next 20 years.

Airbus has strong and longstanding ties to the United States, with Airbus aircraft being operated by the largest airlines in America. Additionally, Airbus is a major partner of U.S. aerospace companies and workers. The company has purchased $48 billion of components and materials from American suppliers in the last three years alone, and supports more than 275,000 American jobs. Among its facilities in the U.S. Airbus has: engineering centers in Kansas and Alabama; training facilities in Florida and Colorado; materials support and headquarters in Virginia; an innovative think tank (A3) in California; a drone data analysis business (Airbus Aerial) in Atlanta, Georgia; helicopter manufacturing and assembly facilities in Texas and Mississippi; and a satellite manufacturing facility (OneWeb) in Florida.

@Airbus @AirbusintheUS #A220 

B-roll video of the start of production may be found at http://a320mobile.com.

For more information about A220 family, please click here.



Related:

Air France-KLM signs commitment for 60 A220 aircraft