April 24, 2017 - No. 033 In This Issue Facebook's Aquila Progresses, but New Helicopter Solution Could Precede Aviation industry to create or redesign up to 8,000 new jobs GE aims to make a future in 3-D printing Sikorsky to expand helicopter support services in Asia-Pacific region Hoffmann Group USA Offers Hands-On Demos of Innovative eForm Technology at MRO Americas Malaysia Airlines first to use space-based flight tracking technology Air Canada to operate biofuel flights EDM to launch virtual reality cabin crew training simulators at WATS 2017 Get U.S. air-traffic control out of the 1960s Facebook's Aquila Progresses, but New Helicopter Solution Could Precede Facebook's Mark Zuckerberg told the crowd at the company's annual global developer conference, F8, that a team in Arizona was currently preparing for the second flight of Aquila. Its first flight took place last June, exceeding established goals. Expected to fly for only 30 minutes, the test was going so well that Facebook kept it in the air for 96 minutes. When Yael Maguire, director of Facebook's connectivity program, addressed the F8 crowd April 19, he shared more of the fixed-wing unmanned aircraft system's accomplishments. He said that last year, the connectivity team developed technology for Aquila that achieved a 20 gbps millimeter link over 8 miles. Later, the team achieved 36 gbps over the same link, which Maguire said beat Facebook's own world record. When the team put that solution into a Cessna, it reached 16 gbps over the same 8-mile path. An optical cross-link was also created over the path, and reached 80 gbps. "Imagine streaming up to 4,000 ultra-high-definition videos simultaneously," Maguire said. "That's what we're able to do with the fastest system we have available today." But Aquila - which Maguire said has the wingspan of a Boeing 737, the mass of one-third of a Toyota Prius and runs on the power of three blow dryers - is probably a decade from full operation. While it has reached these achievements, regulatory and technological obstacles will prevent Aquila from its purpose for what could be another 10 years. However, Maguire said Facebook is passionate about Aquila's mission of bringing instantly deployable connectivity to remote areas, specifically in times of crisis. So, his team started to develop something that could be "just a few years out" from service. "Connectivity usually starts, especially in rural contexts, from towers. You have to get up to a certain height to make that brightness spread around," said Maguire. "And we started to think about towers themselves, and [if we] could reduce them to their fundamental essence. We wanted to reduce the tower to something that was as simple as a single cable that could be deployed instantly." Called "Tether-Tenna," Maguire explained that this new solution requires tethering to fiber and power on the ground, winching the cable to a helicopter and flying the helicopter into the air. He described it as a type of "insta-infrastructure." The helicopter, he said, is roughly the size of a Volkswagen Beetle with the mass equal to one of the Beetle's tires. During testing, it has operated for up to 24 hours, continuously. Maguire expects it could eventually be expanded to multiple months. "There's lots of challenges that we have to work out," Maguire said. "It's a high-voltage system that has to support kilovolts of power that go up through the tether; it has to survive very high winds; we have to avoid things like lightening. There's lots of challenges ahead, but we're really excited about the notion of this Tether-Tenna system." http://www.aviationtoday.com/2017/04/20/facebooks-aquila-progressing-new-helicopter-solution- precede/ Back to Top Aviation industry to create or redesign up to 8,000 new jobs SINGAPORE - As Changi Airport maintains its leadership position among international air hubs globally, plans are under way to redesign it into a smart airport. Up to 8,000 new jobs will be created or redesigned to enhance productivity by about 40 per cent over the next eight years, said Minister for Education (Schools) and Second Minister for Transport Ng Chee Meng yesterday. Unveiling the Air Transport Industry Transformation Map at this year's Aviation Community Reception hosted by Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS), Mr Ng assured industry workers that new roles would be created and salaries would be improved. With the help of advanced technology and skills training, the aviation sector aims to grow real value-add from about S$7 billion today by another S$1 billion by 2020. "This is a very challenging target we are setting ourselves, as productivity in the sector has historically grown at lower rates. We need to be ambitious, if we want to stay ahead," said Mr Ng. "We must address every aspect of the airport and airline business, from passenger services, to cargo handling, airside functions, airline operations and air traffic control. Improvements in one area cannot achieve their full potential unless complemented by changes in other areas." Mr Ng highlighted the journey of 70-year-old Rama Kerisna who joined airport services operator Dnata in 1979 at the old Paya Lebar site as a security officer. Through skills upgrading, he is now a ramp trainer, mentoring newcomers and conducting programmes on topics such as human factors and airside safety. Mr Kerisna is also certified to conduct training for dangerous goods regulations, and is pursuing a specialist diploma with the International Air Transport Association. As long as workers are willing to learn, they would have the support to develop a "long and meaningful" career in the aviation sector, pledged Mr Ng. Sats employee Ang Hock Lye, who joined the ground-handling agent and in-flight services provider in 1983 as a cargo hand, started out lifting and sorting mail bags. Undergoing training to operate the automated systems at the AirHub, Mr Ang now combines three roles into one, as an eHub specialist in charge of forklift drivers, cargo handlers and operations assistants. "Companies should ramp up the use of technology such as robotics to ease physically demanding and manual tasks in airport operations. Our workers can then be freed up to focus on more meaningful and value-added tasks," Mr Ng added. For example, remote apron operations can protect workers from harsh weather as they can use automated technology to control operations from the safety of a remote office and minimise time on the ground. Singaporeans can also tap funded schemes for retraining and upskilling, such as the SkillsFuture Study Awards for the air transport sector. The Professional Conversion Programme also prepares mid-career entrants for new jobs and career progression in the aviation sector through structured training. To attract the right talent and build capacity for industry, CAAS is developing a new air transport degree programme at the undergraduate level and exploring options to expand the range of aviation programmes at the Institute of Technical Education. Temasek Polytechnic will start a new part-time diploma in aviation management next week, and opportunities for internships and work- study training will be offered to smooth the transition of students into employment in the aviation sector. http://www.todayonline.com/business/aviation-industry-create-or-redesign-8000-new-jobs Back to Top GE aims to make a future in 3-D printing General Electric Co. shook up the 3-D printer market last year by laying down more than $1 billion on two acquisitions. Turns out that may be just the beginning. The manufacturing giant is weighing additional purchases to expand the fast-growing business, said David Joyce, GE's vice chair in charge of 3-D printing. The burgeoning technology is becoming a new product line as well as a central component of GE's effort to modernize its manufacturing operations, boost productivity and reshape how everything from locomotives to medical scanners to jet engines are made. In that process, GE is racing to beat out competitors such as Siemens and United Technologies, which also are integrating advanced printers into their operations. The moves come as manufacturing is thrust into the spotlight amid the rise of President Donald Trump, who has pledged to revitalize the sector and reverse decades of job losses. While 3-D technology could help bring back factories, it's unlikely to do the same for factory workers. The ability to print complex parts is "one of the most disruptive innovations I've seen in the manufacturing space in my 37 years here," Joyce said in an interview in his Cincinnati-area office. As chief executive officer of GE Aviation, he's helping lead adoption of 3-D technology within the company by incorporating printed parts into jet engines. "Manufacturing is going through a renaissance," he said. Industrial 3-D printing, also known as additive manufacturing, uses lasers and other technology to fuse ultra-thin layers of material such as metal powder or polymers, building parts from the bottom up. In a few hours, a machine can construct complex components that otherwise would be difficult or impossible to make. The process has been used to build quick prototypes, but integration into full-scale manufacturing has been limited by material and cost issues. GE will expand its 3-D printing business through a combination of acquisitions and organic growth, Joyce said without naming potential targets. Several additive manufacturers have gained recently on increased investor interest in the technology. Stratasys Ltd. surged 45 percent this year through Wednesday, while 3D Systems Corp. advanced 15 percent. New applications are emerging, and GE's aggressive push into the market may lead to quicker adoption of the machines across the factory sector. The global market for industrial 3-D printers and materials grew 17 percent last year to $6.06 billion, according to data from Wohlers Associates Inc. The research firm projects the market to balloon to $26.2 billion by 2022. GE is even more optimistic. The technology could take a piece of the roughly $14-trillion market for traditional manufacturing, said Mohammad Ehteshami, GE's vice president of additive integration. "If we do only half a percent, that's still $70 billion," he said. The Boston-based company is in prime position, having spent more than $1 billion late last year to take majority stakes in European printer makers Arcam AB and Concept Laser. GE has aggressively sought out deals. Before striking the Concept Laser pact, the company made an offer for Germany's SLM Solutions Group. GE walked away after failing to receive support from SLM investors including billionaire Paul Singer. GE also approached Germany's EOS but was rebuffed. "I said, why should we become part of a customer when there's a market to develop?" recalled Hans Langer, the founder and CEO of closely held EOS. GE aims to sell 9,000 3-D printers to outside customers over the next decade in industries such as automotive, medical and aerospace. And by the middle of the next decade, the company expects to wring $3 billion to $5 billion from costs by using the machines in its own manufacturing operations, Joyce said. GE had its "Aha!" moment in 2011. After failing eight times to build an intricate part for a new jet turbine, engineers sent the design to a 3-D printing company, Morris Technologies. A few days later, GE had the metal-alloy piece in hand, and Ehteshami rushed to GE's head of manufacturing. "I said, 'Buy 'em. Trust me,'" Ehteshami recalled. GE acquired Morris in 2012, and the part -- a fuel nozzle -- is now used in new jet engines. The stakes are high as major manufacturers try to reap competitive advantage from new technology. GE's aviation division is working on a new turboprop engine, of which about 35 percent will be 3-D printed. United Technologies' Pratt & Whitney division uses printed brackets and other components for a jet engine that competes with one made by GE. At a February shareholder meeting, Siemens CEO Joe Kaeser showed off a 3-D-printed turbine blade that is being tested. "It's really a revolution in how we design, produce, buy and digitally connect parts," said Markus Seibold, the head of additive manufacturing for Siemens Power and Gas, which competes with GE's power-turbine business. Printing could also upend the supply chain as equipment makers rely less on third parties for processes like casting and forging. And over time, machinery like 3-D printers and robots could further displace workers; since peaking in 1979, the number of U.S. manufacturing jobs has fallen 37 percent to about 12.4 million, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Alongside tech giants such as IBM and Amazon, GE has "the deep pockets and they're taking a lead" in modernizing U.S. manufacturing, said Barclays Plc analyst Scott Davis. "They could screw it up, but they could get it right," Davis said. "And if they get it right it could be amazingly valuable." http://www.providencejournal.com/news/20170420/ge-aims-to-make-future-in-3-d-printing Back to Top Sikorsky to expand helicopter support services in Asia-Pacific region Lockheed Martin unit Sikorsky has revealed a plan to expand its S-92 and S-76 helicopter support services in the Asia-Pacific region. The plan includes the addition of a new customer support centre in Thailand, Thai Aviation Services, by the end of this year. Expected to be the first Sikorsky customer support centre in the country, it will offer quick access to Sikorsky logistics and spare parts inventory for operators. It will also provide advanced service capabilities to the S-92 and S-76 operators. Of the 20 Sikorsky support centres located worldwide, the proposed centre will be Sikorsky's seventh facility in the Asia-Pacific region. Sikorsky Asia regional sales executive Christophe Nurit said: "This decision further exemplifies Sikorsky's commitment to the Asia-Pacific region and to our continued focus on customer support excellence. "As the preferred service centre in Thailand, Thai Aviation Services will provide a critical role in offering the highest level of support for Sikorsky helicopters in a strategically important region." Sikorsky's customer support organisation currently maintains various authorised support centres, as well as four forward stocking locations in S-92 and S-76 fleet-concentrated regions. Thai Aviation Services operations deputy managing director Craig Havas said: "Thai Aviation Services has a long-standing partnership with Sikorsky over the past 25 years. "We look forward to expanding this partnership through the designation as a customer support centre and putting our extensive experience operating Sikorsky aircraft to use for the benefit of supporting all Sikorsky aircraft operating in the Asia-Pacific region." The company currently operates a fleet of Sikorsky helicopters and has recently renewed its existing fleet of commercial helicopters with five S-76D medium-lift and two S-92 heavy-lift aircraft. http://www.aerospace-technology.com/news/newssikorsky-to-expand-helicopter-support-services- in-asia-pacific-region-5791829 Back to Top Hoffmann Group USA Offers Hands-On Demos of Innovative eForm Technology at MRO Americas Knoxville, Tenn. - April 20, 2017 - Hoffmann Group USA, a subsidiary of Europe's leading system partner for quality tools, will offer demonstrations of its free eForm technology used for organizing and customizing workstations at MRO Americas (booth #3812), April 25-27 at Orlando's Orange County Convention Center. The event will showcase the latest technology in the aviation industry. Hoffmann Group USA leverages a unique cloud-based technology for its eForm rigid foam inlays. Any engineer can create his or her custom workstation inlay using this technology. The eForm rigid foam inlay offers a specific place for every tool and improves the efficiency of any skilled manufacturing craftsman. Benefits of the technology include: * 100% accuracy of fit for tools * Missing tools are easily spotted * Quick and free virtual design via website * Important component of the 5S method Hoffmann Group USA will also be displaying their hand tools, used by more than 135,000 customers around the world, at the MRO Americas event. About Hoffmann Group USA Based in Knoxville, Tennessee, Hoffmann Group USA is a wholly-owned subsidiary of The Hoffmann Group, Europe's leading system partner for quality tools. The company offers 62,000 quality tools from 500 of the world's leading manufacturers including GARANT, Hoffmann's own premium brand. Hoffmann product lines include hand tools, cutting tools, workstations, and storage options. Hoffmann Group, with an international corporate headquarters in Munich, Germany, combines trading competence with leadership in both manufacturing and service. This combination guarantees reliability in supply, quality, and productivity in the tooling sector to more than 135,000 customers. The company, with its worldwide partners and over 2,500 employees, serves major companies as well as medium-sized and small companies in more than 50 countries. http://www.aviationpros.com/press_release/12327871/hoffmann-group-usa-offers-hands-on- demos-of-innovative-eform-technology-at-mro-americas Back to Top Malaysia Airlines first to use space-based flight tracking technology Malaysia Airlines Berhad (MAB) is determined to shake off its notoriety as the airline that lost a carrier with 239 passengers aboard in March 2014. Flight MH370's disappearance, which prompted worldwide speculation and a few too many bizarre conspiracy theories, remains one of the most baffling aviation mysteries of contemporary history. That history was less than kind to the struggling Malaysian flag carrier, which was already besieged at the time by lackluster financials and impending bankruptcy. Things only got worse when later in 2014, the plane strayed into Ukrainian airspace where it was shot down. Eager to change the narrative, the airline has announced it will be the world's first airline to engage space-based flight tracking technology in order to keep a close eye on its fleet. The deal, made between MAB and Aireon LLC, SITAONAIR and FlightAware LLC, will enable flight path monitoring from anywhere in the world, even in airspace over the polar regions and remote waters. "Real-time global aircraft tracking has long been a goal of the aviation community," MAB chief operating officer Izham Ismail said in a release. The technology will be based off a satellite network launched by Aireon, in partnership with Iridium Communications Inc. Currently, most aircraft transmit their positions using ADS-B technology, which which can be tracked from ground or from space. That said, it is unclear as to whether Aireon's technology would have made a difference to the outcome of the MH370 incident, as the plane's transmitter had not been sending signals, possibly because it was switched off for unknown reasons. Aireon is looking to improve technologies to track missing aircraft, much like Immarsat Plc, a company engaged in the hunt for MH370 in the early days. Immarsat is a competitor of Iridium, and functions off traditional communications systems rather than ADS-B transmissions. Despite a three-year manhunt with partners all across the region, the actual wreck of MH370 was never found, despite debris turning up on various African beaches. The passenger plane took off from the Kuala Lumpur International Airport on March 8, 2014, en route to Beijing, but made an unauthorized turn-back across Malaysia before heading towards the Southern Indian Ocean. In January 2017, the Malaysian government called off official searches for the time being. http://techwireasia.com/2017/04/malaysia-airlines-first-use-space-based-flight-tracking- technology/#X6FIbX0hCTBDRyH6.97 Back to Top Air Canada to operate biofuel flights Air Canada announced today its participation in the Civil Aviation Alternate Fuel Contrail and Emissions Research project (CAAFCER), a research project led by the National Research Council of Canada (NRC) to test the environmental benefits of biofuel use on contrails. This project will use advanced sensing equipment mounted on a research aircraft operated by the NRC to measure the impact of biofuel blends on contrail formation by aircraft on five biofuel flights operated by Air Canada between Montreal and Toronto in the coming days weather permitting. During these flights the National Research Council of Canada will trail the Air Canada aircraft with a modified T-33 research jet to sample and test the contrail biofuel emissions. The sustainable biofuel is produced by AltAir Fuels from used cooking oil and supplied by SkyNRG. "We are pleased to support Canada's research on the additional benefits of aviation biofuel. This project is an important step in furthering the industry's understanding of how biofuel reduces aviation's carbon footprint and overall environmental impact," said Teresa Ehman, Director, Environmental Affairs at Air Canada. "Air Canada recognizes its environmental responsibilities and the importance of understanding and integrating environmental considerations into our business decisions." "The National Research Council of Canada is proud to collaborate with our Canadian partners on this important research that will further reveal the viability of biofuels. By contributing our unique T-33 research aircraft specializing in contrail data collection and our expertise in emissions analysis, we hope to provide key information toward biofuel inclusion in all future flights," said Jerzy Komorowski, General Manager of NRC's Aerospace portfolio. "We significantly improve airplane fuel efficiency through constant technology and operational improvements," said Sheila Remes, vice president of strategy at Boeing Commercial Airplanes. "But additional efforts are required to achieve aviation's ambitious carbon-reduction targets. Sustainable aviation fuels have the single greatest potential to reach those goals. Boeing is committed to supporting projects like this around the world to advance aviation's knowledge and growing use of biofuel." A reduction in the thickness and coverage of contrails produced by the jet engines of aircraft could reduce aviation's impact on the environment, an important beneficial effect of sustainable biofuel usage in aviation. This project involves six stakeholder organizations, with primary funding from the Green Aviation Research and Development Network (GARDN), a non-profit organization funded by the Business- Led Network of Centres of Excellence of the Government of Canada and the Canadian aerospace industry. The project has further financial support from the NRC and the enabling support of Air Canada ground and flight operations. http://www.eturbonews.com/152802/air-canada-operate-biofuel-flights Back to Top EDM to launch virtual reality cabin crew training simulators at WATS 2017 MANCHESTER, England, April 20, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- EDM, a leading global provider of training simulators to the civil aviation and defence sectors, is launching its new range of virtual reality (VR) cabin crew training simulators at the World Aviation Training Symposium (WATS) in Orlando, USA, from 2 - 4 May 2017. EDM has developed its new VR product range to meet the increasing demand from airlines wanting to train their cabin crew utilising the very latest technology. Designed to complement airlines' existing training hardware, EDM's new suite of VR simulators will enable cabin crew to quickly learn safety and emergency procedures (SEPs) in a highly realistic and immersive VR environment. EDM's launch VR range includes a Virtual Slide Trainer developed in collaboration with Immersive Display Solutions and a Virtual Door Trainer. VR training has been proven to improve information retention and recall whilst simplifying complex training scenarios. Suitable for different learning styles and abilities, VR training offers an enjoyable way to learn that allows for higher levels of engagement and understanding. EDM will also be launching its innovative new app at WATS that allows aviation training professionals to easily and quickly design cabin crew training simulators that exactly meet their requirements. The first version of the app enables users to configure Door Trainers and will be followed later in 2017 with an enhanced version to facilitate the design of Cabin Service Trainers and Cabin Emergency Evacuation Trainers. A team from EDM will be present at WATS to demonstrate its new product range as well as discuss the rest of the company's market-leading product portfolio which includes Door Trainers, Cabin Service Trainers, Cabin Emergency Evacuation Trainers and Real Fire Trainers for any aircraft type. WATS is the world's largest annual gathering of aviation training professionals. Now in its 20th year, this 3 day event includes 100 conference presentations and 60 companies showcasing their products and services in the adjacent exhibition. The theme of this year's event is: 'Aviation Simulation and Training: A Critical Safety-Driven Industry Prepares for the Future'. EDM will be exhibiting on booth 305. For more information about WATS 2017 visit: http://halldale.com/wats For more information about EDM visit: www.edm.ltd.uk About EDM EDM is a leading global provider of training simulators to the civil aviation, defence, rail and other industries. Combining the highest engineering standards with leading-edge technologies, EDM provides airlines with Door Trainers, Cabin Service Trainers, Cabin Emergency Evacuation Trainers and Full Size Mockups and defence organisations with Procedure Trainers, Maintenance Trainers, Ejection Seats, Simulators and Full Size Replicas. Serving organisations worldwide from its UK headquarters, EDM is committed to delivering exceptional quality and value to its clients to help them enhance safety and operational efficiency. http://finance.yahoo.com/news/edm-launch-virtual-reality-cabin-124900214.html Back to Top Get U.S. air-traffic control out of the 1960s National Economic Council Director Gary Cohn was recently discussing President Trump's goal of improving America's infrastructure when he said reforming "air-traffic control is probably the single most exciting thing we [the U.S.] can do." The proposal Cohn refers to would modernize the nation's air-traffic-control system, but has generated debate because it would convert the air-traffic system from today's taxpayer-funded organization run by the Federal Aviation Administration into a self-funded nonprofit corporation, where all aviation stakeholders - passengers, airlines, airports, controllers and pilots - would be represented on a board of directors. This air-traffic corporation idea was proposed by the Clinton administration in 1994 and revived after the 2013 federal budget "sequester" imposed spending cutbacks on air-traffic-control operations. Today's proposal has the support of numerous former leaders of the FAA and Department of Transportation, as well as most major airlines, the air traffic controllers' union, business groups, and the White House. Why is this proposal being considered? Air-traffic control is a fast-moving, high-tech service business. It's a poor fit for a slow-moving government regulatory agency whose funding is subject to the political whims of Congress. The U.S. air-traffic system is the world's largest, but technologically it lags other countries that have already implemented digital messaging, GPS flight tracking, and newer alternatives to the 1960s-era systems still found in U.S. air-traffic facilities. The world's second-largest air traffic system, Nav Canada, was "corporatized" 20 years ago. Canada is already using the advanced technology that our controllers can only dream about. Meanwhile, thanks to FAA's cumbersome budgeting system, that technology will eventually be implemented here - in dribs and drabs over the next 15 years. Since 1987, over 60 countries have shifted their air-traffic operations from transportation agencies to corporations supported by charges for their services. This is similar to how airports and other utilities are financed - not by taxes, but by customers paying for the services received. That stream of user payments is more reliable than tax funding. It also enables air-traffic corporations to issue long-term revenue bonds to pay for modernization, which is why countries like Canada and the United Kingdom are far ahead of the U.S. One of the benefits of an air-traffic corporation would be increased air safety. Since 2001, international aviation law has called for arm's length separation between air-safety regulators and the providers of air-traffic services. Nearly all countries have made this change, but we have not. The FAA provides air-traffic services and regulates them. Finding and reporting problems requires the FAA to turn itself in - a built-in conflict of interest. Replacing outdated static-filled voice-radio communications between pilots and controllers with digital messaging, as other countries have, would also improve safety. Additionally, air-traffic control reform would deliver better value for aviation stakeholders. Since 2014 there has been a freeze on new control towers for small airports, due to FAA budget problems. Better technology would decrease the cost of building and operating small airport-control towers. FAA has researched technology that uses an array of cameras and equipment at each airport to provide better all-weather surveillance. Under this proven "remote tower" approach, air- traffic controllers are housed at ground level and, in some cases, a single remote-tower center can control air traffic for several small airports, which would enable tower services to be added at small airports that have little hope of getting them under the FAA status quo. For pilots and passengers, better air traffic-control technology would mean shorter lines for planes waiting to take off, more direct routes between cities, and fewer delays for planes waiting to land. That would result in shorter trip times, less fuel used and fewer emissions. In short, nonprofit air-traffic corporations have a global track record of delivering increased air safety and better value for passengers, airports and aircraft operators. The time for U.S. air traffic control reform has arrived. Robert W. Poole Jr. is Florida-based director of transportation policy at Reason Foundation, where he has advised four presidential administrations on transportation policy. https://www.ajot.com/news/get-u.s.-air-traffic-control-out-of-the-1960s Curt Lewis