August 31, 2017 - No. 069 In This Issue United Technologies nears $30bn deal for Rockwell Collins Drone Aviation and Drone Nerds Partner to Launch FUSE Tether System for Leading DJI Commercial Drone Storm Aeronautics Receives STC (SA01845WI) on the Storm Shield Embry-Riddle Acquires Cray Supercomputer to Advance Research Heydar Aliyev International Airport Automates Its Operations with Amadeus Technology After Sully Effect, birdstrikes decrease as reporting increases FAA survey seeks strategic sourcing ideas £15m state-of-the-art air cadets centre to be built in Nottinghamshire Aeroscan Releases the Next Evolution in its Aircraft Propeller Blade Measuring System CU Boulder, Lockheed Extend Research Partnership Aimed at Developing New Tech United Technologies nears $30bn deal for Rockwell Collins United Technologies Corp is nearing a deal to buy aviation systems and cabin equipment maker Rockwell Collins for close to $30bn including debt as consolidation among the world's biggest aircraft suppliers gathers pace. People close to the discussions said that the precise terms of a takeover had not yet been cemented, but that the two sides were locked in intensive negotiations with a view towards finalising a deal as early as this weekend. One of these people said that the deal was likely to end up valuing Rockwell at around $140 per share. Shares in North Carolina-based Rockwell climbed 2.2 per cent to $130.74 on Tuesday, giving the company a market value of $21.2bn. It has net debt of roughly $7bn. Shares in UTC rose 2.9 per cent. A takeover of Rockwell would make UTC, a $93bn group known for making Carrier air conditioning units, Otis elevators and Pratt & Whitney jet engines, an even more critical supplier of components to aircraft companies such as Boeing and Airbus. It could also give UTC the option of separating its aerospace and aviation business from the rest of the company. An acquisition would mark the third major deal among aircraft suppliers in less than a year. Just a few months ago, Rockwell completed its $8.6bn acquisition of B/E Aerospace, which gave the company - best known for its electronic communication and avionic systems - a presence in cabin interior systems such as seats, galleys and lavatories. Earlier this year, French aero-engine maker Safran agreed to purchase French aerospace equipment maker Zodiac for €8.7bn including debt. Rockwell's stock price has climbed 40 per cent since the start of the year, in part because of reports that UTC, led by Greg Hayes, chief executive, was in pursuit of Rockwell. Rockwell withdrew from an industry conference last week, fuelling speculation that it remained locked in deal negotiations. The Wall Street Journal reported earlier on Tuesday that the two sides were nearing a deal. United Technologies Aerospace Systems, a division of UTC, is one of the world's biggest aerospace suppliers, ranking in the top 20 for both Boeing and Airbus with parts on every major commercial aircraft system. UTC's Pratt & Whitney division has been struggling with severe delays in producing its groundbreaking geared turbofan engine. Airbus has publicly reprimanded it for the delays, which resulted in airlines cancelling orders of the popular single aisle. The engine maker could also face penalty payments. Aerospace executives are closely following the discussions. Airbus in particular is concerned that the company resolve the delays on the new engine that powers the A320neo single-aisle jet. Rainer Ohler, Airbus spokesman said: "We will only comment on the implications of such a deal when it becomes real. Today, our total focus is on delivering planes and we hope that any potential M&A would not distract UTC from their top operational priority." A deal would come some 18 months after UTC's larger rival Honeywell tried to acquire the company. UTC argued forcefully that a deal would not get through competition authorities, while customers Airbus and Bombardier opposed the transaction. https://www.ft.com/content/5b0eddf8-8cdb-11e7-a352-e46f43c5825d Back to Top Drone Aviation and Drone Nerds Partner to Launch FUSE Tether System for Leading DJI Commercial Drones JACKSONVILLE, FL, Aug. 28, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Drone Aviation Holding Corp. (OTCQB:DRNE) ("Drone Aviation" or the "Company"), a manufacturer of tethered drones and lighter-than-air aerostats, and Drone Nerds, Inc. ("Drone Nerds") (www.dronenerds.com), the largest commercial drone sales and service organization in the United States, have partnered to launch the first commercial sales program for the FUSE Tether System designed for the DJI Inspire 2 and new Matrice 200 (M200) professional drones. The new program will focus on commercial end-uses including security and monitoring of facilities such as power plants, ports, and bridges as well as by public safety, law enforcement and newsgathering organizations. Additionally, the program also will highlight the role of tethered drones in critical infrastructure inspection and Enterprise Asset Management (EAM). For these applications, enhanced flight duration along with high quality imaging systems such as the M200's Zenmuse Z30 aerial camera with 30x optical zoom, makes image data collection faster, providing critical, real-time information to users (click here for a video presentation on benefits of tethered drones in EAM). "As the largest DJI-authorized reseller of drone hardware and services in the United States, Drone Nerds is an ideal partner for Drone Aviation, allowing us to expand the market for our tethered aerial solutions beyond the military into the commercial sector," said Jay Nussbaum, Chairman and CEO of Drone Aviation Corp. "Drone Nerds is the latest example of aligning our business with established channel partners to leverage our patented technology and create new revenue opportunities for the Company, in particular, the large and growing commercial marketplace." According to Goldman Sachs' research report, "Drones Reporting for Work", the firm is forecasting a $100 billion market opportunity during the period from 2016 to 2020 for drones helped by growing demand from the commercial and civil government sectors. Commercial/professional drones are currently used in applications, including agriculture, infrastructure inspection, monitoring and security, and land surveying, as well as by news gathering organizations and first responders such as law enforcement and fire departments. "Our commercial drone customers have been seeking a solution to the challenge of limited flight time and with the FUSE Tether System for the DJI Inspire 2 and new M200 drones, we are now able to address an unmet critical need. By partnering with Drone Aviation, we are bringing this unique and compelling solution to this growing market and significantly improving the effectiveness of drone technology for commercial customers," added Jeremy Schneiderman, CEO of Drone Nerds, Inc. The FUSE Tether System is comprised of a customized, patent-pending power pack and an Automated Smart Tension Control Winch Case with 200ft. of tether supporting 110-volt ground power sources including portable generators. With the FUSE tethering system, DJI Inspire 2 and M200 users can now dramatically and cost-effectively increase drone flight time with uninterrupted power from the ground while benefiting from improved safety. Safety is enhanced by FUSE's use of an onboard backup power pack and tether connected to the Company's proprietary automatic tether tension management system. FUSE is based on the same military-grade advanced technology utilized in the Company's tethered products sold to the U.S. Department of Defense. To learn more about the FUSE Tether System or to place an order, please visit Drone Nerd's website here and follow Drone Aviation Corp. on Facebook, Twitter and now on Instagram and YouTube for news and updates! About Drone Aviation Holding Corp. Drone Aviation Holding Corp. (OTCQB:DRNE) develops and manufactures cost-effective, compact and rapidly deployable aerial platforms, including lighter-than-air aerostats and electric-powered drones designed to provide government and commercial customers with enhanced surveillance and communication capabilities. Utilizing a patented tether system, Drone Aviation's products are designed to provide prolonged operational duration capabilities combined with improved reliability, uniquely fulfilling critical requirements in military, law enforcement, commercial, and industrial applications. For more information about Drone Aviation, please visit www.DroneAviationCorp.com or view our reports and filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission at http://www.sec.gov, including the Risk Factors included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2016, as well as information in our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and Current Reports on Form 8-K. About Drone Nerds, Inc. Drone Nerds specializes in the supply of high-end drones for a variety of commercial, private, and recreational needs. A leading DJI-authorized service center, Drone Nerds is able to deliver the highest quality drones at the highest quality service. Whether customers require drones for aerial filming, videography, surveying, or anything else, Drone Nerds has the drones available to suit your needs. With an extensive product range as well as custom drone solutions available, Drone Nerds can help you choose the perfect product or our engineers can design one specifically for you! Drone Nerds is also the largest distributor of drones in the US, boasting the largest inventory of drones in the nation. http://www.nasdaq.com/press-release/drone-aviation-and-drone-nerds-partner-to- launch-fuse-tether-system-for-leading-dji-commercial-20170828-00365 Back to Top Storm Aeronautics Receives STC (SA01845WI) on the Storm Shield ™ from the FAA During the 2015 NAAA convention, I was approached by Brain Rau, an operator from North Dakota, who at that time was the President of (NAAREF) National Agricultural Aviation Research and Education Foundation. He challenged Storm Aeronautics to figure out a way to protect ag pilots from the ever increasing number of drones that would be sharing the airspace with us. The most vulnerable point of the cockpit for a drone/bird strike is the center wind shield, directly in front of the pilot's face and chest. The goal was to bring current glass technology to ag aviation, and that is what we set out to do. After a year of research and design we were ready to test our prototypes at the National Institute for Aviation Research (NIAR) lab in Wichita, KS. We had four pieces of glass tested against an OEM Air Tractor wind shield. The results were tremendous, as the fourth sample (ironically the one we thought would perform the worst) did the best. The Storm Shield ™ withstood 240 in-lb of energy before breaking. The Air Tractor window showed damage at the lowest setting of 30 in-lb. The engineers concluded that the Storm Shield ™ is 8 times stronger than the factory Air Tractor window. Not only is the Storm Shield ™ stronger, it also has greater clarity, which will work better in lower light conditions such as spraying at dawn, dusk, or night. The glass also has better scratch resistance and is chemical resistant. The STC covers all Air Tractor models that have a center wind shield, which would be the 400-800 series. The 504 would not be included since it has a single piece wind shield. All Thrush models will also be included. The Storm Shield ™ has the same dimensions as the factory wind shields and is 3/8 inch thick. Installation procedures for the Storm Shield ™ will be similar to the existing maintenance manuals. The commercial jet industry has long tried to have the latest technology in cockpit protection for their pilots. Ag aviation hasn't kept up the pace and the existing wind shields installed in new ag aircraft are 1970's technology. Now we have the Storm Shield ™, the latest advancement in drone/bird strike protection technology. We are currently taking orders and hope to have a run finished by the 2017 NAAA convention in Savannah. http://www.agairupdate.com/storm-aeronautics-receives-stc-sa01845wi-on-the-storm- shield-from-the-faa/ Back to Top Embry-Riddle Acquires Cray Supercomputer to Advance Research To advance research by faculty members and graduate students institution-wide, Embry- Riddle Aeronautical University has installed a Cray® CS™ cluster supercomputer - dubbed Vega - into the Lehman Engineering and Technology Center on the Daytona Beach, Fla., campus. "The four-cabinet Cray CS400™ will support applied research with industry partners at Embry-Riddle's John Mica Engineering and Aerospace Innovation Complex (MicaPlex) and the related research park that is now under development," said Becky Vasquez, the University's vice president and chief information officer. High-performance computing involves the use of supercomputers and parallel processing to solve complex computational problems such as research analysis, modeling and simulation. At Embry-Riddle, Vega might be used to investigate aerodynamically efficient, low sonic boom supersonic aircraft, advanced propulsion systems, space weather and atmospheric dynamics, as a few examples. Maj Mirmirani, interim senior vice president for academic affairs and research and dean of the College of Engineering on the Daytona Beach Campus, said: "The new high- performance computing capabilities are vitally important to building strong infrastructure to support the university's research agenda. We are pleased that our students and faculty can now apply the power and performance of a Cray supercomputer to their research projects." How powerful is Embry-Riddle's new Cray supercomputer? For perspective, explained Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Professor Bill Engblom, "While a typical desktop has two cores, Vega offers more than 3,000 of the latest-generation of processing cores." Engblom, who chaired a committee that assessed options for increasing Embry-Riddle's high-performance computing power, added: "As a powerful numerical research tool, our new Cray system is a wonderful complement to the new state-of-the-art wind tunnel and other experimental facilities at the MicaPlex." The system "will substantially enhance the University's position to attract and conduct both applied and theoretical, externally funded research," Cray Inc. announced in an official news release. "Vega will play an important role in Embry-Riddle's efforts to build new collaborations between the University and aerospace companies to develop, refine, and bring new products and technological services to market." "Embry-Riddle has a rich, respected history in the aviation and aerospace communities, and we are honored that a Cray supercomputer will support their commitment to pioneering research and educating the next generation of industry professionals," said Fred Kohout, Cray's senior vice president of products and chief marketing officer. "Our Cray CS systems leverage our 40-plus years of designing and building world-class supercomputers, and we are pleased that industry-leading organizations like Embry- Riddle continue to recognize the impact Cray supercomputers can have in achieving breakthrough results." Cray Inc. reported: "The Cray CS cluster supercomputers are industry-standards-based, highly customizable, and expressly designed to handle the most demanding range of simulation, research, analytics, and machine learning problems at scale. Cray CS systems provide flexible node configurations featuring the latest processor and interconnect technologies giving customers the ability to tailor a system to specific needs - from an all- purpose high-performance computing cluster to an accelerated system configured for shared memory, large memory, or accelerator-based tasks." For more information on the Cray CS cluster supercomputers, please visit the Cray website at www.cray.com. https://news.erau.edu/headlines/embry-riddle-acquires-cray-supercomputer-to-advance- research/ Back to Top Heydar Aliyev International Airport Automates Its Operations with Amadeus Technology With tourism numbers to Azerbaijan increasing each year, airports in the country are challenged to meet changing passenger demands and provide them the best airport experience. Heydar Aliyev International Airport served 1.37 million travellers between January and May 2017, a 34 percent increase than the same period last year, and only expects this to continually rise. As part of its ambition to seamlessly scale its operations and ensure a smooth passenger experience, Heydar Aliyev International Airport has rolled out the region's first fully automated cloud-based airport management system. The Baku-based airport will replace some of its existing technology with five automated and scalable Amadeus solutions. The new technology will improve the airport's management of aircraft parking, boarding gates, check-in desks, baggage, and other mission critical terminal services. This long-term agreement will see the implementation of Amadeus' full suite of airport solutions: Amadeus Common Use Service (ACUS), Baggage Reconciliation System (BRS), Airport Operational Database (AODB), Fixed Resource Management Solution (FRMS), and Flight Information Display System (FIDS). Some key benefits of these solutions include: * Flexibility throughout the airport. Passenger processing systems can be accessed and deployed anywhere in the airport. This means passengers can be checked-in and boarding passes can be printed from any location around the airport, resulting in more flexibility and better use of airport space. * Baggage peace-of-mind. Baggage information is collected by many different airport players, such as check-in, gate, ramp and baggage agents. Information is shared with everyone involved in moving a bag and getting it back to the passenger, to make sure flights take off with both the passenger and their baggage on board. * On-time and reliable flight data. Data lies at the heart of the airport. Thousands of pieces of information on flights, baggage and equipment govern airport operations. Heydar Aliyev International Airport can now access to timely, high-quality operational data so the airport can better prepare and proactively manage operations throughout the day, and for future demands. * Automation of key airport resources. The airport will benefit from a fully automated resource management system. The airport can manage and allocate aircraft parking bays, check-in desks, boarding gates, and other key resources that will help meet performance targets more effectively and timely. Jahangir Askerov, President of CJSC Azerbaijan Airlines, commented: "The Amadeus solutions we are implementing are part of a long-term strategy. We want to scale our operations, accommodate increasing demand, and prepare for the future. With Amadeus as a partner, we are certain that we will be able to deliver on our strategy and vision." Yannick Beunardeau, Global Head of Sales and Marketing, Airport IT at Amadeus, said: "Airports around the world are looking at how new technologies can improve operations throughout the airport - behind the scenes and in front of the passenger. We are very pleased to be working with Heydar Aliyev International Airport to power its technology and help provide a smoother, easier and more comfortable experience for passengers." http://www.aviationpros.com/press_release/12364081/heydar-aliyev-international- airport-automates-its-operations-with-amadeus-technology Back to Top After Sully Effect, birdstrikes decrease as reporting increases Bird strikes are never far from the forefront of aviation news, whether it's the "Sully Effect" of awareness thanks to the frequent (and frequently valuable) contributions of Captain Chesley "Sully" Sullenbergerto discussions about aviation policy, or the increasing social media virality of a red smear on the front of a nose radome or engine cowling in a world where airport operations teams are almost as mobile, social and vocal as airline passengers. Runway Girl Network spoke with Philadelphia and Seattle airports - both identified as best practice exemplars in their fields - to learn more about what airports are doing to combat the problem. First off, the basics: "Part 139 certificated airports are required to alleviate wildlife hazards when they are identified," Philadelphia Airport Operations Superintendent John Glass explains to RGN. "PHL has a wildlife hazard management program that consists of over 30 airport employees and 2 full time USDA employees following an FAA approved Wildlife Hazard Management plan." For its part, Seattle Airports' wildlife biologist Steve Osmek tells RGN, "The Port of Seattle begins with habitat management, to create a greater airfield environment that is less attractive to animals that are in size or number in which they can create an aviation safety hazard," noting that it "also leverages advanced technologies to go beyond what is expected by relocating hazardous birds from the airfield, especially birds of prey (raptors). Each year the Port traps and relocates nearly 100 raptors." "All airports are faced with challenges based on geography, habitat and land use practices surrounding the airport, and local wildlife abundance," Philadelphia's Glass says. "PHL has some unique challenges in that it is in the center of the Atlantic flyway for migrating waterfowl. It is also located in close proximity to 2 rivers, a national wildlife refuge, an Army Corps of Engineers dredge disposal site, waste water treatment facility, parks, wetlands, and golf courses - all of which are land uses known to be attractive to various species of wildlife." At Seattle Airport, meanwhile, the airport authority "is expected to hold stormwater for longer periods of time than most airports," wildlife biologist Steve Osmek says. "We need to slowly release the waters over months within each of the 3 watersheds it lies within. In this way, the streams surrounding the airport have a more consistent flow of water which is beneficial for fish especially salmon. Only one threatened species, the Coho (silver) salmon is known to exist on airport property. "The challenge then is twofold: first we must hold water in ponds surrounding the airfield and water is a significant hazardous wildlife attractant. Waterfowl especially are attracted to wetland areas. To resolve this first issue all of our ponds are bottom lined and netted. The liners prevent vegetation (waterfowl food) from growing as easily and the netting physically excludes waterfowl and other wetland birds from flying in and out of these waterbodies. Second, fish are a high protein food source which is attractive to many hazardous birds such as bald eagles, osprey, herons, etc. Because the fish are using the nearby stream areas the Port has planted extra vegetation in the adjacent wetlands and over the streams to create a dense vegetative barrier to help physically exclude these birds from readily accessing the fish and other waterborne resources." In addition to the physical adjustments, working together with the variety of interests in the airport ecosystem is vital, John Glass of Philadelphia Airport notes. "PHL has been working with the USDA since the mid-90's to reduce wildlife hazards on and around the airfield. The USDA has conducted two wildlife hazard assessments and assisted PHL in preparing a wildlife hazard management plan. Currently the USDA is conducting continuous monitoring on and around PHL. The monitoring allows them to identify any new trends or changes in wildlife abundance. The results of the monitoring can be used to adjust wildlife management strategies to further reduce wildlife hazards." "With wildlife hazard management there is no silver bullet," however, Glass says. "The most successful option is to use an integrated management program that utilizes several methods. Wildlife can quickly habituate to any one method so by using all the tools at your disposal you are much more likely to be successful." One such tool is avian radars, developed within the last decade. "In 2006, with the assistance of Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) grant funding, CEAT began validation testing of avian radars to determine how best this technology could be used by airport operators to reduce the likelihood of an aircraft-bird collision," a Seattle Airport spokesperson tells RGN. "The avian radar validation testing program has expanded to several other airports around the country since 2009." In some ways, while the birdstrike problem itself is declining thanks in part to airports' efforts, reporting is growing, Philadelphia's John Glass says. "Over the last 7-8 years we have seen a much higher percentage of wildlife strikes documented in the strike database nationally. This is largely due to increased awareness following flight 1549's 'Miracle on the Hudson'. Strike reporting is a voluntary process so we still do not see a report filed for every strike that occurs. At PHL the number of strikes has been declining the last few years." Seattle, too, "has increased the reporting rate of strikes from the airlines, air traffic control tower and the FOD detection system located only on the center runway. This gives the airport a much better idea of what is being struck so mitigative measures can better be evaluated. Even so, the strike rate had dropped nearly 50% since 2011, the year prior to the implementation of the Threat Viewer, a sense and alert technology driven by the avian radar," Osmek says. This is, in reality, the best of all worlds: a decreasing number of incidents but an increased rate of reporting those that remain is good news for aviation safety. https://runwaygirlnetwork.com/2017/08/29/after-sully-effect-birdstrikes-decrease-as- reporting-increases/ Back to Top FAA survey seeks strategic sourcing ideas The Federal Aviation Administration is planning its path to launch a cost-saving program called Strategic Sourcing for the Acquisition of Various Equipment and Supplies. SAVES' objective is to purchase commodity services for less money while improving purchase quality and service levels. The program may support the FAA as well as the entire Transportation Department. The FAA has yet to decide on its acquisition approach in whether it will be a full-and-open open competition or a small business set-aside. The FAA is surveying the market to determine the types of small or large companies that would be capable to meet SAVES demands. Small business categories of particular interest to the FAA include 8(a) and service-disabled, veteran-owned FAA released its notice about the market survey Aug 23. Responses are due by Oct. 6. https://washingtontechnology.com/articles/2017/08/28/faa-saves-survey.aspx Back to Top £15m state-of-the-art air cadets centre to be built in Nottinghamshire A £15m state-of-the-art Aviation Academy is set to open in Nottinghamshire to help train the fighter pilots of tomorrow. As well as helping more than 40,000 youngsters take to the skies in gliders, the academy, which will be based at RAF Syerston, near Newark, will offer qualifications and training in aviation-related subjects from GCSE up to degree level. As well as training RAF pilots, the scheme's organisers hope the new facility, set to open in 2019, will mean young people will be primed to take up jobs in the aviation industry, ranging from pilots to air traffic controllers to engineers and cabin crew. The scheme is a joint venture between the RAF Air Cadets and the Aviation Skills Partnership, and the first post to mark the boundary of the building has now been officially positioned by the RAF's Air Marshal Stu Atha. It means 55,000 RAF air cadets, aged between 12 and 19, will soon be able to use the facilities as part of their training. It will be next to the Number Two Flying Training School and the Central Gliding School, which delivers gliding for 41,000 air cadets. Air Marshal Atha, the RAF's deputy commander operations, said: "This is a landmark moment for the RAF, the RAF Air Cadets and indeed any young person with an interest in aviation. "This academy, delivered by a partnership we are proud to be part of, will prepare young people to be the next generation driving forward both the RAF and UK aviation." Mr Simon Witts, founder and chief executive officer of the Aviation Skills Partnership, said: "We are so proud to be launching this academy with our partners, the RAF Air Cadets. This academy, part of the Aviation Skills Manifesto, is part of our vision for the future. "We plan to have a number of aerospace academies across the UK and this is just the beginning. "We launched our first international aviation academy in Norwich last month which was officially opened by RAF Air Cadet Ambassador, Honorary Group Captain Carol Vorderman, herself a keen aviator. We are excited to be bringing this to RAF Syerston." Commandant RAF Air Cadets, Air Commodore Dawn McCafferty said: "Our cadets and their supporting staff will benefit massively from the new Aviation Academy and the state- of-the-art facilities on the site. "In addition to this brand new education and training facility, as part of the RAF's centenary plans, we hope to secure funding to build a £2m modular accommodation block at RAF Syerston for visiting youngsters and cadets from across the UK. The latter will learn about cyber technology and aerospace up to A-level. "With the addition of fit-for-purpose accommodation, we would be able to relocate our qualified aerospace instructors' course to the new facility as well as other national cadet training events and competitions." Students using the block will be able to access the facilities, hands-on teaching environment and, perhaps more importantly, the academic content, accreditation and OU- backed syllabi to gain meaningful qualifications to enable them to access employment in the aerospace sector. Air Commodore McCafferty said: "This initiative aligns with the RAF's intent to use its centenary to inspire the next generation and focuses on the delivery of excellent training in key disciplines of value to the RAF, defence and the wider UK economy." The Syerston academy will be named after Second World War Victoria Cross hero Arthur Aaron - a former RAF Air Cadet and RAF pilot. http://www.nottinghampost.com/news/local-news/15m-state-art-air-cadets-399731 Back to Top Aeroscan Releases the Next Evolution in its Aircraft Propeller Blade Measuring System Lantana, FL, August 2017 - Aeroscan, the worldwide leader in automated aircraft propeller blade measurement systems, today announced a major improvement to its Aeroscan M5 blade measurement system. This latest version of the already popular tool is fully automated and uses laser sensor technology. The Aeroscan M5 measures all five dimensions of the propeller airfoil in one 'scan' at each station. "The Aeroscan M5 version 4 is a giant leap in blade measuring technology," said Robert O'Neill, lead developer and designer of the Aeroscan M5 propeller blade measurement system. "This new technology provides far more accuracy and repeatable than previous versions. It allows repair stations the ability to overhaul propeller blades more accurately and in a very timely manner. The development of this newest version," he continued, "was undertaken at the direction of our parent company 'Palm Beach Aircraft Propeller, Inc.' and the resulting design has exceeded our expectations." "Using the Aeroscan M5 blade measuring system has saved our shop many hours," said Gary Jordan, owner of Jordan Propeller Service in San Antonio, Texas. "The time it saves has allowed us to return propellers to service faster and our customers appreciate that." Larry Harris, General Manager of Palm Beach Aircraft Propeller, Inc., said, "We can't imagine not using the Aeroscan M5. With the improvements in design using laser sensors, the results are far better than we anticipated." Aeroscan was acquired by Palm Beach Aircraft Propeller, Inc. in 2009 from Twin Precision Industries. Palm Beach Aircraft Propeller, Inc. was founded in 1982 by Robert O'Neill Sr. and remains a family owned company and is located in Lantana, Florida. Palm Beach Aircraft Propeller operates Aeroscan the same location and is both a McCauley and Hartzell service center. This allows Aeroscan to remain on top of the latest developments of the propeller manufacturers. The Aeroscan M5 blade measurement systems are in operation in quality repair stations in the United States, Canada, Germany, France, Portugal and the Czech Republic including propeller manufacturing facilities. http://www.aviationpros.com/press_release/12363855/aeroscan-releases-the-next- evolution-in-its-aircraft-propeller-blade-measuring-system Back to Top CU Boulder, Lockheed Extend Research Partnership Aimed at Developing New Tech -- And Young Minds Aug. 29--Standing beneath a 26-foot research rocket suspended from the ceiling, officials from the University of Colorado and aerospace giant Lockheed Martin announced Tuesday an extended partnership aimed at building world-renowned technologies and training the next innovators of the future. The agreement, which provides a framework for all future research projects, piggybacks off a $3 million partnership announced in 2016 to fund a research center on radio frequency technologies. Signed by CU Chancellor Phil DiStefano and Lockheed Martin Chief Technology Officer Keoki Jackson in the Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics, the agreement provides structure for future research and academic programs for building large-scale projects and developing young minds at CU in the process. Around $675,000 worth of new research projects already have been identified. The four projects making up that sum will be the first awarded using the new Master Research Agreement, and they will allow graduate students and their advisers to get to work on areas spanning advanced electronics, signals processing and communications, and sensors technology. The projects include: improving spacecraft, aircraft and ship power systems; increasing mission capability; increasing capability of satellites while reducing weight; and improving power management for commercial and national security applications. College of Engineering Dean Bobby Braun called CU's relationship with Lockheed the "single most important" among industry partners. "This university has a lot of young people who want to contribute to the world," Braun said. "We in this college pride ourselves on equipping them with those skills. We could not do our mission without industry partners like Lockheed Martin." Elie Germain Tianang is starting his fourth year as a graduate student at CU. He stood at the back of the room watching his dream employer and university agree to support him further in his education. "I'm kind of dreaming right now," Tianang said. Tianang is going to start work on a Lockheed-sponsored project in satellite communication soon, and he was sure the skills he will gain will be invaluable. "For someone like me, this is an actual opportunity for us to work on a real project," he said. "All my work so far has been directed at getting to this point." Helping cultivate students like Tianang is a big perk for Lockheed. This year, alone, Lockheed Martin has hired 85 CU graduates, including more than 40 interns and almost 40 full-time employees. Around 1,000 CU Boulder graduates work for the well-known space company across all of its departments. "This is the source of our future talent," Jackson said. "This is just the starting point, and the agreement is reflective of our joint commitment long-term." The announcement also featured the promotion of two CU faculty members to endowed positions with Lockheed. Professor Taylor Barton is the inaugural recipient of the Lockheed Martin Junior Faculty Fellowship in the College of Engineering and Applied Science and professor Zoya Popovic has earned the Lockheed Martin Corporation Endowed Chair of Radio Frequency Engineering position. With her new title, Popovic said she will continue to do what she's been doing for nearly 30 years. "My products are people," Popovic said. "I train students, and they need to be experts." With the announced recommitment, Popovic delighted in knowing even more of her students' lives would change for the better. "It's fantastic that a sophomore in electrical engineering instead of working at Home Depot or a restaurant for the summer can work on putting together part of a satellite," Popovic said. "That is incredible, and that is what this partnership allows." http://www.aviationpros.com/news/12364025/cu-boulder-lockheed-extend-research- partnership-aimed-at-developing-new-tech-and-young-minds Curt Lewis