Press Release: Air France chooses Safran’s ECOS bins for A320 fleet
Boeing-Embraer Strategic Partnership Taking Shape
SABCA is ready for medical drone flights over cities
press release
https://www.sabca.be/pages/0141/News.508.en.php
SABCA is part of an ecosystem in which leading companies from different sectors collaborate intensively with innovative hospital groups. This cooperation is demonstrated in various projects at European level (SAFIR), Belgian level (Medrona) and Flemish-Brussels regional level (HAI-SCS) and implicates the following companies: skeyes, SABCA, Baloise Insurance, NSX, Unifly, Proximus, Orange, imec, VIL and Helicus, the hospital groups GZA-ZNA, Helix and Jessa, as well as research groups from UAntwerp and KU Leuven.
Each partner excels in its field of expertise, which means that a robust total solution can be offered to hospitals and laboratories. It may be said that only by combining all this expertise the drone flights within the hospital network will become a success in good time. SABCA developed an eco-system that meets aviation standards and acts as fleet manager or support to operators. The company’s objective is to perform safety critical missions like flights over densely populated areas, offshore windmill inspection, surveillance over see and flights over remote areas.
To this end, SABCA offers its partners a range of services such as drone design, payload integration, ground and flight testing, drone qualification and certification, inspection, maintenance and repair activities.
After an intensive cooperation, the first medical flight between GZA Ziekenhuizen Campus Sint-Augustinus and the University Hospital of Antwerp (UZA) would have taken place on 25 September 2019. Due to weather conditions the flight is unfortunately delayed. This flights however, are unique in several aspects.
Innovation: Combining unrivalled innovative expertise to make medical transport by drone possible. The flights are fully automatic so that human errors are reduced to a minimum. In addition, the command & control system continuously monitors the drone flight. This means that the central system continuously measures the parameters of the drone and compares them with expected values. In case of deviations, the operator-pilot in the Command and Control Centre will be alerted. The operator-pilot can then (possibly) take over the control of the drone in the event of an exceptional situation.
Aviation: On behalf of Europe, the partners have worked together to help shape the air traffic organisation of the future. It means that other airspace users, such as manned aviation or other future unmanned public service flights (e.g. fire brigade inspection flight) are taken into account at an operational level.
Society: The medical transport by drones will eventually ensure that doctors and consequently patients receive results on time, regardless of possible traffic jams on the road. In line with the hospital reforms of Federal Minister for Health Maggie De Block, hospitals are increasingly working together in networks. This evolution is necessary to ensure the current high quality of healthcare in the future. The network organisation naturally leads to an increasing demand for efficient urgent transport, which risks further aggravating the current ground-based traffic problems. Drones do not run into delays due to traffic jams or traffic lights and thus avoid the growing transport problems on the road. Moreover, the distance to be covered is shorter and the road network is less burdened, so that we contribute to a greener society.
The drones and their freight fly from roof to roof, at a cruising altitude between 90 and 50 metres and with an average ground speed of 60 km/h. This means that the drones remain within the limits of the so-called Low Airspace. A number of flights will be scheduled in the coming months with the aim of organising a weekly flight day.
Air France to proactively offset 100% of CO2 emissions on its domestic flights as of 1 January 2020
FlyersRights.org Scores Exclusive 'Interview' With EASA about the future of the Boeing 737 MAX.
EXCLUSIVE: Interview With EU Aviation Safety Agency
FlyersRights.org recently interviewed representatives at the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) about the future of the Boeing 737 MAX.
The timing is noteworthy, as it comes just as the FAA is expected to decide on whether to let the aircraft fly again.
Below is our Q&A with EASA:
https://flyersrights.org/boeing/exclusive-interview-with-eu-aviation-safety-agency/
Hyundai Motor Group Appoints Leader For New Urban Air Mobility Division
Hyundadai's press release
- Diversification effort will allow Hyundai Motor Group to develop smart air mobility solutions
- World-renowned aeronautics expert previously led aviation research and development at NASA
- Urban Air Mobility expected to significantly alleviate long-term ground traffic congestion problems caused by mega-urbanization
Career highlights
2008 ~ 2019: Associate Administrator for the Aeronautics Research Mission Directorate, NASA
2008 ~ 2014: Co-chair of the White House National Science & Technology Council's Aeronautics Science & Technology Subcommittee
2008 ~ 2016: Co-chair of the USAF/NASA Executive Research Committee
2014 ~ 2015: Chair of the International Forum for Aviation Research (IFAR)
2012 ~ 2013: Vice Chair of the International Forum for Aviation Research (IFAR)
1986 ~ 1989: Doctorate in mechanical engineering, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, Virginia, US
1982 ~ 1985: Master's degree in mechanical engineering, California State University, US
1978 ~ 1982: Bachelor's degree is in mechanical engineering, Yonsei University, Korea
Career accolades
2019 NASA Distinguished Service Medal
2017 Aviation Week Laureate Award for Innovation
2016 Presidential Rank Award for Meritorious Senior Executive (US)
2008 Presidential Rank Award for Meritorious Senior Executive (US)
* Other recognitions from NASA include NASA Outstanding Leadership Medal and NASA Exceptional Service Medal
UAVs: FAA Certification of UPS Flight Forward as an Air Carrier
FAA's press release
U.S. Department of Transportation Secretary Elaine L. Chao today announced the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) awarded air carrier and operator certification to an unmanned aircraft system (UAS, or drone) delivery company, UPS Flight Forward.
“This is a big step forward in safely integrating unmanned aircraft systems into our airspace, expanding access to healthcare in North Carolina and building on the success of the national UAS Integration Pilot Program to maintain American leadership in unmanned aviation,” said U.S. Secretary of Transportation Elaine L. Chao.
Through the Department’s Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) Integration Pilot Program (IPP), the FAA has now approved a Part 135 operating certificate for UPS Flight Forward. This allows the company to perform revenue-generating package delivery activities within federal regulations. UPS Flight Forward may now operate multiple drones under one certificate. Under Part 135, the company can deliver vital healthcare supplies including by flying beyond visual line of sight.
As a participant in the U.S. Transportation Department’s Unmanned Aircraft Systems Integration Pilot Program, the North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) partnered with UPS Flight Forward. As the operator, they have been engaged in delivery of healthcare supplies around a major hospital campus in Raleigh, North Carolina. The flights have focused on the delivery of blood for potentially life-saving transfusions, as well as other medical samples for lab work.
The company demonstrated that its operations met the FAA’s rigorous safety requirements to qualify for an air carrier certificate. This is based on extensive data and documentation, as well as test flights. Visit FAA website for more information about the UAS IPP.
China's first airport shuts its doors in Beijing after 109 years
http://edition.cnn.com/travel/article/nanyuan-daxing-airport-beijing-intl-hnk/index.html
Bombardier Celebrates Entry-into-service of the Global 6500 Jet
- Transport Canada awarded certification to Global 5500 and Global 6500 on September 24
- The latest members of the Global family offer unmatched passenger comfort, greater range, a larger cabin and a smoother ride than competitor aircraft in the same class
- With a newly optimized wing and the all-new Rolls-Royce Pearl 15 engine, these aircraft fly farther, faster and deliver unmatched total performance
- Both offer superior safety due to built-in systems redundancy and robustness for which all Bombardier Global aircraft are renowned
Embraer Praetor 500 receives EASA and FAA approval, achieving triple-certification and becoming the best midsize jet on the market
press release
Melbourne, Florida, September 30, 2019 – Embraer announces that the company’s new Praetor 500 midsize business jet was granted its Type Certificate by EASA (European Union Aviation Safety Agency) and by the FAA (Federal Aviation Administration). The Praetor 500 received regulatory approval from Brazil’s Civil Aviation Authority (ANAC—Agência Nacional de Aviação Civil) in August, less than a year after having been announced in October 2018 at NBAA-BACE. Learn more https://daflwcl3bnxyt.cloudfront.net/m/30db68ae695ec5fd/original/Praetor-500-Triple-Certification-1.pdf Read more...