February 18, 2021 - No. 13 In This Issue : UAE Clears Boeing Max Jet : Martin UAV’s newly upgraded V-BAT aircraft to participate in AEWE : Avidrone Aerospace Exhibits Flagship 210TL Tandem Drone Integrated with Iris Automation's Casia Onboard Detect and Avoid Technology at IDEX 2021 : Airbus Space Technology Reaches Mars : NASA and JAXA to Work Together on Testing X-59 Model : Op-Ed: Sustainable Aviation Will Only Become a Reality Through Collaboration : Heathrow launches zero carbon aviation research project : UPS Receives First Upgraded Airbus A300 That Swaps Floppy Disks for Wireless Gateways : Increasing Demand For Last-Mile Drone Delivery Is Boosting The Autonomous BVLOS Drones Market : Vanderlande Commits to Amazon and Global Optimism’s Climate Pledge : USF student-built satellites launched into orbit by SpaceX UAE Clears Boeing Max Jet DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — The United Arab Emirates, a key international travel hub, announced on Wednesday it has lifted its ban on Boeing’s 737 Max, allowing the plane to return to its skies after being grounded for nearly two years following a pair of deadly crashes. Saif al-Suwaidi, director general of the UAE’s General Civil Aviation Authority, said the country gave clearance to the planes “as a result of intensive efforts by the authority’s technical committees,” according to the state-run WAM news agency. The government ensured all safety conditions had been met after the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration ended the grounding last fall, al-Suwaidi added, without specifying when flights would resume. The planes were grounded worldwide in March 2019 following the crashes of a Lion Air flight near Jakarta on Oct. 29, 2018, and an Ethiopian Airlines flight on March 10, 2019, which killed a total of 346 people. Investigators have attributed the crashes to a range of problems, including a faulty computer system that pushed the planes’ noses downward in flight until the jets plummeted. Dubai’s budget carrier flydubai is one of the biggest customers of the 737 Max and stopped flying its Boeing 737 Max 8 and 9s over a government order following the crashes. The Boeing 737 is a workhorse for the airline, which along with long-haul carrier Emirates is owned by the government’s Investment Corporation of Dubai. The airline later reached an undisclosed financial settlement with Boeing Co. for certain compensation for the grounding of the planes. Boeing lists flydubai as still having 237 unfilled orders for Boeing 737 Max aircraft. The airline’s total fleet is over 50 aircraft. Al-Suwaidi said the UAE’s approval included “corrective measures” applied by airlines operating the planes, particularly “modernization” of software known as MCAS, the flight control system, which was designed to push the plane’s nose down in certain circumstances. The UAE also will mandate an upgrade of pilot training procedures and readiness tests for all aircraft being returned to service. The 737 Max returned to American skies last December, after the Federal Aviation Administration approved changes that Boeing made to the automated flight control system. It has also been allowed by the European aviation safety agency to resume flights, in addition to Brazil and Transport Canada. https://www.mbtmag.com/global/news/21283708/uae-clears-boeing-max-jet Martin UAV’s newly upgraded V-BAT aircraft to participate in AEWE US-based advanced aviation technology manufacturer Martin UAV is set to demonstrate its newly upgraded version of the V-BAT vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) unmanned aircraft system (UAS). Named V-BAT 128, the aircraft will take part in the US Army Expeditionary Warrior Experiment (AEWE) 2021. Demonstrations will be conducted on 19, 23 and 26 February, and 2 March. During the AEWE, the V-BAT 128 UAS will display its enhanced engine horsepower, interchangeable payloads of 25lb excluding fuel weight and 11 hours of endurance. According to the company, further improvements delivered to the aircraft include a higher ceiling (20,000ft). Martin UAV chief development officer Heath Niemi said: “We are honoured to be a part of AEWE, being among some of the best organisations in the industry, to support their efforts to explore increased innovation. “We have listened to our customers and are excited to deploy our upgraded V- BAT, displaying how Martin UAV is increasing mission capability, security and mitigating operational risk. “The V-BAT’s versatility and agile nature of its competencies lend itself well for the varied needs of the army and we could not be more excited about the upcoming demo days.” The company’s V-BAT aircraft supports various operations for the US Army, US Marine Corps and the US Southern Command (SOUTHCOM). AEWE started on 5 February at Fort Benning in Georgia, US. It will conclude on 5 March. As a primary venue for Small Unit modernisation, AEWE evaluates Cross Domain Manoeuvre (CDM) concepts and capabilities. It aids US Army modernisation efforts. Last month, the US Army evaluated Rafael SPIKE Short Range (SR) missile at AEWE. https://www.army-technology.com/news/martin-uavs-newly-upgraded-v-bat- aircraft-to-participate-in-aewe/ Avidrone Aerospace Exhibits Flagship 210TL Tandem Drone Integrated with Iris Automation's Casia Onboard Detect and Avoid Technology at IDEX 2021 ABU DHABI, UAE, Feb. 18, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Center, Canada Pavilion stand 11-C11 - Iris Automation is showcasing its innovative Detect-and-Avoid (DAA) Casia system with partner and unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) technologies leader Avidrone Aerospace at this week's IDEX exhibition. Avidrone Aerospace manufactures the world's only commercialized tandem rotor, electric powered, fully automated helicopter UAV system. Specializing in fully automated, heavy payload drones for cargo delivery, medical resupply, and airborne sensors, the Avidrone 210TL tandem rotor lifts payloads and performs cargo deliveries up to 35lbs (16kg). The acoustically quiet VTOL aircraft is capable of complete Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) operations without a human pilot required. Iris Automation is a computer vision technology company pioneering the development of advanced detection systems used to help provide DAA capabilities that enable safe drone operations including scalable Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) missions. Casia technology combines software and hardware onboard the UAS which detects other aircraft, classifies them, makes intelligent decisions about the threat they pose, and then triggers an alert to the remote pilot while automating maneuvers to safely avoid collisions. IDEX (www.idexuae.ae) is the only international defense exhibition and conference in the MENA region demonstrating the latest technology across land, sea and air sectors of defense. IDEX takes place biennially at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (ADNEC), which is centrally located in Abu Dhabi, the capital of the United Arab Emirates. About Iris Automation Iris Automation is a safety avionics technology company pioneering Detect- and-Avoid (DAA) systems and aviation policy services that enable customers to build scalable Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) operations for commercial drones; operations unlocking the potential of countless industries. Iris' DAA system runs entirely onboard Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS), allowing them to fly safely at long distances and without human intervention. We work closely with civil aviation authorities globally as they implement regulatory frameworks ensuring BVLOS is conducted safely, partnering on multiple FAA BEYOND UAS Integration Programs and Transport Canada's BVLOS Technology Demonstration Program. Iris is recognized by AUVSI as the number one Technology and Innovation Leader for 2020. Visit www.irisonboard.com. About Avidrone Aerospace Since 2007, Avidrone Aerospace has been developing and manufacturing unmanned rotorcraft and autopilot control systems for government, defense, and commercial applications. As specialists in unmanned cargo delivery, proprietary flight control technologies, and sensor payload integration, Avidrone brings cost-saving, innovative solutions to new aerial applications across the globe. Created and led by world-renowned aviation experts and technology innovators, Avidrone develops and manufactures end-to-end, automated unmanned aircraft systems and products ranging from small multi- rotors to large rotorcraft over 500kg. Visit www.avidrone.com https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/avidrone-aerospace-exhibits- flagship-210tl-tandem-drone-integrated-with-iris-automations-casia-onboard- detect-and-avoid-technology-at-idex-2021-301230814.html Airbus Space Technology Reaches Mars Madrid, 16 February 2021 – When NASA's Perseverance rover lands on the surface of the Red Planet next Thursday, key Airbus technology will be on board: the MEDA meteorological station will provide scientists with valuable Mars weather data and the High Gain Antenna System will ensure a high- speed comms link with Earth for the duration of the MARS2020 mission. Perseverance will use seven scientific instruments to study the Martian biological and geological environment, including the MEDA (Mars Environmental Dynamics Analyser) meteorological station, designed and built by Airbus. The MEDA instrument will measure many environmental parameters using sensors distributed across the rover: wind speed and direction, relative humidity, atmospheric pressure, soil and air temperatures, solar radiation and also properties of suspended dust. These parameters will also be key when making the autonomous decision to release the Ingenuity helicopter on board the rover. MEDA is the third Martian environmental station led by Airbus demonstrating its expertise in this field. The first was on board the Curiosity rover in 2012, known as REMS (Rover Environmental Monitoring Station), and the second on InSight in 2018, called TWINS (Temperature and Wind for InSight). Both were successful NASA / JPL missions. All data from Perseverance’s discoveries will be sent to Earth through the high gain antenna system (HGAS) also designed and built by Airbus, based on an X-band transmitting and receiving antenna that will allow high speed data communications. The antenna is based on microstrip technology, developed in-house. It is protected from dust, to maintain clean conditions and thermal stability. The antenna will directly send scientific data generated by the different instruments and information on the health status of the rover, without the need for intermediate links (e.g. orbiters). In addition, the vehicle will receive daily instructions from Earth with the tasks of the day. As the antenna is steerable, it can send a “beam” of information pointing directly at the Earth without moving the vehicle, which contributes to energy savings. The extreme thermal excursions on Mars required qualification of the antenna system at temperatures ranging from -135ºC to + 90ºC with exhaustive thermal fatigue tests. This will be Airbus' second HGAS antenna system on Mars, with the first still operating flawlessly on board Curiosity eight years later. Mars2020 is the most ambitious mission ever sent to Mars as it will examine Martian rock and soil in greater detail than ever before in search of evidence of past life on the planet and store, for their subsequent return to Earth, signs or traces of past life (bio-signatures). Likewise, it will characterize the geological processes that make up the surface, and will measure the daily and seasonal evolution of the processes occurring in the Martian atmosphere, including the characterisation of suspended dust. Perseverance will also test technologies to help pave the way for future human exploration of Mars, such as generating oxygen from carbon dioxide in the atmosphere or the first flight of a small helicopter on another planet. https://www.aviationpros.com/aircraft/press-release/21210379/airbus-airbus- space-technology-reaches-mars NASA and JAXA to Work Together on Testing X-59 Model In the world of aviation research, new knowledge and tools can come from working with friends on a big project. That’s the idea with NASA’s experimental X-59 Quiet SuperSonic Technology aircraft, which is the centerpiece of NASA’s mission to gather information intended to help enable a new era of commercial faster-than-sound air travel over land. The friends in this case are aeronautical innovators representing NASA and the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, also known as JAXA. Under an agreement reached in December 2020, during the next three years the two parties will take independent wind-tunnel measurements of the same small-scale model of the X-59, and the results will be compared afterward. “We have a long and rewarding history of working with JAXA’s experts in the area of supersonic research, as well as other technologies, and I know this collaboration will prove mutually beneficial,” said Robert Pearce, NASA’s associate administrator for aeronautics research. Not only will the partnership help expand knowledge of the X-59, new techniques for running tests in wind tunnels and using computer simulations that may result from the collaboration can help create future designs of supersonic aircraft. During the past 20 years JAXA has tested several small supersonic research models in wind tunnels as well as computer simulations. JAXA’s current supersonic research is focused within its Sky Frontier Program, which seeks in part to realize a quiet, faster-than-sound aircraft that can carry up to 50 people. In approving the terms of the agreement with NASA, Masatoshi Harigae, Director General of JAXA’s Aeronautical Technology Directorate, said he was optimistic about the joint research opportunity. “I am looking forward to the fruitfulness of cooperative activities hereof and hope it strengthens our partnership in the field of aeronautical technology,” Harigae said. Here are some details about the collaboration: The shape of the X-59 is designed so that, when it is flying supersonic, the resulting shock waves coming off the airplane – measured as changes in air pressure, which we perceive as sound – reach the ground in a way that can barely be heard. One way to make sure the X-59 will work as intended is to “fly” a smaller version of the real thing in a wind tunnel and take measurements of the pressure waves as the supersonic airflow passes over the scale model to sure they are behaving as expected. But even in the 21st century, with all our technical know-how, measuring supersonic airflow over an airplane model in a wind tunnel is an uncertain process. Even running the same test with the same model can produce different results on different days. Put the model in another wind tunnel and you’ll get a slightly different version of the data. “But that’s a good thing. By using the same model in both wind tunnels we can improve our certainty in the data obtained and increase our understanding of the X-59’s design,” said Melissa Carter, a senior researcher with NASA’s Commercial Supersonic Technology project. The JAXA team is well-regarded for its experiments during the past decade to improve wind tunnel test techniques with supersonic aircraft and use that data to verify its computer simulation tools. “Not only do we expect to verify our modeling of the shockwaves from the X-59 in flight, we’re also confident the collaboration will help both agencies gain further insights into conducting supersonic testing in wind tunnels,” Carter said. The initial schedule would see the first round of wind tunnel tests taking place at NASA’s Glenn Research Center in Cleveland late this summer. However, the schedule could change due to technical reasons and the continuing impact of the global pandemic. Early in 2022 the scale model X-59, which is about 19 inches long, will be shipped to Japan and installed in a JAXA wind tunnel. Tests will begin about three months or so after its arrival. Joint data crunching, analysis, comparison of results and report writing for presentation at workshops and other meetings would follow into the third year. https://www.nasa.gov/aeroresearch/nasa-and-jaxa-to-work-together-on-testing- x-59-model Op-Ed: Sustainable Aviation Will Only Become a Reality Through Collaboration In this instalment of APEX Media’s Op-Ed series, Expert Opinions, Andrea Häussermann, Sustainability Manager at Recaro Aircraft Seating, outlines the four components she believes are central to ensuring air travel’s recovery from COVID-19 is as “green” as possible. The aviation industry is at a crossroads. We’re still reeling from the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, with many industry players struggling to find their footing. Bloomberg projects that the industry won’t return to pre-pandemic levels until 2024, while Forbes believes that over two decades of growth in air travel has been wiped out. This seems like a bleak outlook, but the industry should see it as a time to “refresh” and refocus on better serving passengers in the future. And despite it taking a backseat during 2020 due to the pandemic, investment in sustainable resources is still central to many strategic plans. It’s inspiring to see how many organizations have pledged to prioritize energy-efficient programs, but we still have a long way to go. The important thing to remember is that we can’t rely solely on market leaders to invest in “green” initiatives. Sustainable aviation will only work effectively if we collaborate. All parties, from aircraft manufacturers and suppliers to airlines and airports, have to play their part: We must all actively pursue solutions that demonstrate our commitment to the longevity of flying and the future wellbeing of our planet. The four main objectives we must focus on as an industry are: Shifting towards more clean fuel sources OEMs have recently made big announcements in this regard. Both Boeing and Airbus have made pledges to develop aircraft that use 100% sustainable fuel. In late 2020, Embraer teamed up with global energy corporation EDP to increase energy efficiency through electric aircraft research. Evaluating the process of extending the lifecycle of aircraft, cabin features, seats and technology systems Were heavily invested in this. As part of a larger initiative by the Airbus Cabin Supplier Council to assess the impact of the aircraft lifecycle on CO2 emissions, Recaro Aircraft Seating has been tasked with measuring the eco- efficiency of its aircraft seats by investing in new tools and methods. Reducing operational waste on the ground and in the air Alaska, KLM and Singapore Airlines have all made important changes, from investing in uniform recycling programs to cutting back on the amount of single-use plastic in-flight and incentivizing passengers to bring reusable water bottles. Educating passengers on technologies making flying more “green” Consumer-facing social media campaigns, environmental partnerships and educational marketing materials have been promoted by countless airlines and airports, including Frontier, O’Hare International and London Heathrow. Moving the needle is much easier when we join forces. We can’t let this opportunity to realign our priorities pass us by, especially with a topic as important as sustainability. A cohesive strategy, in tandem with the drive to innovate, will revolutionize the industry’s sustainability practices from gate to gate. Commercial aviation will return to growth, we just need to make sure its sustainable growth. https://apex.aero/articles/2021-02-18-op-ed-sustainable-aviation-will-only- become-a-reality-through-collaboration/ Heathrow launches zero carbon aviation research project Heathrow has started research for two projects that aim to reduce emissions, cut costs and make the airport more efficient. The projects can get off the ground thanks to funding from the government’s Future Flight Challenge, which is investing up to £125 million to develop greener ways to fly – such as all-electric aircraft and deliveries by drone. The investment is matched by £175 million from industry. The two successful projects being researched by Heathrow are Fly2Plan – looking at how technology can use the airport’s data more efficiently – and Project NAPKIN, which will develop a ‘blueprint’ for zero carbon aviation across the UK. Fly2Plan looks at technology such as cloud infrastructure and blockchain which could cut costs and allow autonomous drone operators to maximise their use of UK airspace. Project NAPKIN stands for New Aviation Propulsion Knowledge and Innovation Network, which looks to boost domestic connectivity and position the UK as a “world leader in sustainable aviation”. John Holland-Kaye, Heathrow chief executive, said: “Heathrow has always served as a testbed for ground-breaking green technologies. These concepts go further than ever before, with the potential to transform the role that aviation plays in Britain’s economy.” Business minister Paul Scully added: “We’re investing in ambitious projects, like Heathrow’s development of a blueprint for zero-carbon regional air travel, to ensure the aviation industry is championing the latest cutting-edge technology. “Pioneering research supported by government funding will help the UK build back greener from the pandemic, remain at the forefront of aerospace research and development, and demonstrate global leadership in the next aviation revolution.” https://travelweekly.co.uk/news/air/heathrow-launches-zero-carbon-aviation- research-project UPS Receives First Upgraded Airbus A300 That Swaps Floppy Disks for Wireless Gateways UPS received the first of 52 Airbus A300-600s operated by the international air cargo carrier scheduled to receive advanced new communications, navigation, and surveillance systems with the Honeywell Primus Epic integrated avionics flight deck upgrade. Airbus delivered the first upgraded A300 to UPS, MSN868, on Feb. 3 at its Mobile, Alabama facility. The avionics overhaul program was first publicly announced by Airbus, Honeywell, and UPS during a May 2017 press conference. Replacing the previous analog A300 technology will give UPS pilots large new high definition displays, a new vertical situation display, the RDR 4000 weather radar system, and a satellite-based augmentation system-capable GPS that can fly LPV and RNP AR approaches, routes and landings. "The prior A300-600 had Honeywell’s Flight Management Computer (FMC)," Allen Fenske, senior business director at Honeywell Aerospace, told Avionics International. "It was the limitations of this 30-year-old system that precipitated the original discussions between UPS and Honeywell regarding the upgrade. The FMC navigation databases are loaded via floppy disks, which takes 45 minutes and due to limited storage space is limited to a regional set of routes." Fenske, who is responsible for managing avionics supplied to all Airbus aircraft models by Honeywell, said that the key to replacing the use of floppy disks as a storage medium for UPS is their Aircraft Data Gateway (AD300) technology. "Now these databases are installed wirelessly via the Honeywell Aircraft Data Gateway ADG300 system and completes in two minutes," he said. "Furthermore, the navigation database now includes all the worldwide routes and does not require changing databases based upon the region of operation." Upgrading software on the A300s has also become easier with Primus Epic — the latest version of which now hosts cockpit functionality such as primary flight display applications or central maintenance computer functions — on multiple processor cards. Whereas each of these separate functions needed to be individually physically modified to upgrade the aircraft's software in the past, each function is now updated through the ADG-300’s wireless interface. A300 operating manuals are also now hosted on the new data gateway, where they can be wirelessly downloaded to the iPads used by UPS pilots. There are also plans to further upgrade the capabilities of the ADG-300 that can be used by UPS, which still needs to clear regulatory approvals, according to Fenske. "The ADG-300, (along with the Honeywell GoDirect Router) enables the ability to “print-to-file” flight plans and other documents (in .pdf and .rpt formats). The information flows from the CMC, thru the ADG-300 to the [electronic flight bag] EFB. This functionality is not certified yet with UPS, it is planned for mid- 2022," Fenske said. Primus Epic’s new central maintenance computer gives the A300 a fault history database capable of storing up to 16 flight legs per day and a maximum storage capacity of 6 megabytes. That can accommodate for data generated by more than six months of typical flying with an A300 before its data needs to be offloaded to a ground storage system, according to Fenske. During a Feb. 8 Airbus-UPS Zoom press call, Ed Walton, director of engineering for UPS, told reporters that they're currently in the process of finalizing agreements with two aircraft modification providers tasked with completing the upgrade for the remaining A300s that need it. UPS expects to have the entire A300 fleet upgraded by late next year and Walton believes the avionics refresh could extend the service life through the late 2030s. "We have no concerns at all about the airframes being able to go to 2035 and beyond," Walton said. UPS first started taking delivery of the A300s from Airbus between 2000 and 2006. Since then, Walton said, the growth in the number of unique new departure and arrival sequences at airports in the U.S. had become a challenge for the 200-kilobyte storage capacity size of the original flight management computer's navigation database. “That worked ok for the first decade,” Walton said. “Even though we only fly the airplane in North America, we were pretty much having to be very stingy with the navigation database that we put into the airplane and had to eliminate a lot of airports." Walton expects upgrades for the remaining A300s to begin in May. https://www.aviationtoday.com/2021/02/16/ups-receives-first-upgraded-airbus- a300-that-swaps-floppy-disks-for-wireless-gateways/ Increasing Demand For Last-Mile Drone Delivery Is Boosting The Autonomous BVLOS Drones Market PALM BEACH, Fla., Feb. 17, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- In the past few years, drones have exploded int a wide number of markets, both military and civil consumer & commercial use... and for a wide number of reasons, but it's the delivery markets that seems to be the segment that will see the most usage and therefor revenue growth… and the newest sector could outpace them all… the BVLOS segment… the beyond Visual Line Of Sight. In the beginning, drones had to be seen… in the line of sight… of its operator. New BVLOS technological developments now can allow the drone to significantly expand its field of operation. Uses across the all the segments can all be impacted by this enhancement. BVLOS has applications that can be intrinsic to the military and civilian markets, such as Critical Infrastructure Inspection, Precision Agriculture, Package Delivery, Mapping, Mining, Construction, Insurance, Conversation Management, Border Patrol, Search & Rescue, Firefighting and Police Work, Medical, Emergency medical Devices Delivery and Commercial Delivery Market for all types of consumer goods, foods, beverages and pharmaceuticals. According to Research And Markets said that, in the civil front, pharmaceutical and medical device companies (will) account for the largest revenue share. This is attributable to the growing demand for safer transport of drugs and life-saving medical devices during outbreaks and emergencies. On the other hand, the blood bank segment is anticipated to be the fastest-growing segment owing to the increasing need to ensure the safe and timely delivery of blood and blood components. The report said that the autonomous BVLOS drone industry analysis projects the market to grow at a significant CAGR of 25.91% on the basis of volume during the forecast period from 2019 to 2029. Active stocks in the markets this week include Amazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ: AMZN), Plymouth Rock Technologies Inc. (OTCQB: PLRTF) (CSE: PRT), Alphabet Inc (NASDAQ: GOOG) (NASDAQ: GOOGL), Kratos Defense & Security Solutions, Inc. (NASDAQ: KTOS), Boeing (NYSE: BA). Another report from BIS Research added that : "The autonomous BVLOS drone market is expected to witness a high growth rate during the forecast period 2019-2029 owing to the emergence of new commercial applications that specifically require BVLOS, increase in safety in commercial and military application, and considerable reduction in time and cost. However, stringent regulatory framework and inadequate supporting infrastructure and technologies act as the major challenges for the market. The growing need for enabling real-time intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) information about the remote areas has become an essential need for military operations." Plymouth Rock Technologies Inc. (CSE: PRT.CNQ) (OTCQB: PLRTF) BREAKING NEWS: PLYMOUTH ROCK'S DRONE BREAKS WORLD RECORD FOR DRONE DELIVERY DURING UN MISSION AND SEEKS OFFICIAL RECOGNITION FOR A NEW RECORD - Plymouth Rock Technologies ("Plymouth Rock", "PRT", or the "Company"), a leader in developing threat detection and unmanned technologies, is pleased to announce that the United Nations (UN) mission in Somalia, using a PRT drone on a routine return delivery, broke the existing beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS) drone delivery record. Plymouth Rock believes that this flight has set an additional new record for complete 'round trip' autonomous delivery capability. On February 10, 2021, between 09.00 and 09.30 ZULU, a PRT delivery drone, in service with the UN, delivered a 6.5kg agricultural load in a 22.20km round trip flight in Somalia. The mission was completed in 30 minutes, with the drone flying outbound into a 35km headwind, at an average flying height of 400ft. The drone took off, reached its destination, dispatched its cargo precisely, and returned to its launch area with no pilot intervention or requirement to stop and change a battery. The flight and mission have been repeated multiple times since the above date. The existing official world record was set at 34 minutes in China on September 12, 2019 when a DJI M600 drone flew a 2.25kg bedding quilt, packed within an aerodynamic box was flown 16.597km in Shanghai. The average flight height was 85ft (25m). This record included a stop and land halfway to swap batteries. https://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/world-records/421372- longest-delivery-drone-journey UN observers and aviation officials that monitor scheduled UN flights have agreed to supply the recorded flight data and witness statements required for the official recognition by Guinness adjudicators. "The flight data and mission particulars by any measure put the performance capabilities of our most basic UAV platform far beyond the commercial deliverables of the prior record holder's drone," stated Carl Cagliarini, Co- Founder and Chief Strategy Officer. "At PRT, we don't exist to break records. We are here to apply our ingenuity to deliver outcomes that make PRT the obvious choice for professional entities that need successful, immediate results. Prior to this operational development, PRT have been in communication with large internet-based enterprises and military & space aircraft companies. They both require a ubiquitous sub-25Kg drone that can perform autonomous tasks over distance and deliver. This UN mission achievement now demonstrates a capability that removes a great deal of risk to assist their decisions," concluded Cagliarini. "As a CEO, I am deeply proud of this achievement," stated Dana Wheeler, Co- Founder & CEO of PRT. "This mission deliverable in Somalia will resonate throughout the UN and the many organizations and programs that will require precise unmanned delivery and mission critical autonomous utility aircraft. The news that Plymouth Rock Technologies has technically outperformed the capabilities and endurance of the largest Chinese commercial drone vendor is not only a huge accomplishment for PRT, but a significant advance for the U.S. aviation sector as a whole". Read this and more news for PRT at: https://www.plyrotech.com/news/ Other recent developments in the tech industry include: Amazon (NASDAQ: AMZN) Amazon customers in the U.S. could soon have their deliveries completed by an unmanned drone. The Federal Aviation Administration has recently approved Amazon's Prime Air service, which will use drones to deliver packages. The FAA issued a "Part 135 air carrier certificate using unmanned aircraft systems" to Amazon on Saturday, the agency confirmed in a statement to USA TODAY. Similar certificates have been issued to Wing Aviation, a subsidiary of Google parent company Alphabet, and UPS Flight Forward. In a statement, David Carbon, vice president of Prime Air said the company will continue working on their technology to integrate delivery drones into the airspace. "This certification is an important step forward for Prime Air and indicates the FAA's confidence in Amazon's operating and safety procedures for an autonomous drone delivery service that will one day deliver packages to our customers around the world," said Carbon. Google is seeking authorization to explore enlisting drones to help fight wildfires as part of parent company Alphabet Inc (NASDAQ: GOOG) (NASDAQ: GOOGL) recently continued exploration of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) for a variety of commercial and government purposes. January/February 2021, the company filed an application with the Federal Aviation Administration to conduct tests of drones at a private property in Firebaugh, California. Google's Research Climate and Energy Group intends to use crop-spraying drones designed by Homeland Surveillance & Electronics, LLC Kratos Defense & Security Solutions, Inc. (NASDAQ: KTOS), a leading National Security Solutions provider and industry-leading provider of high- performance, jet-powered unmanned aerial systems, recently announced that Kratos has received an additional order from a long-term international customer for 20 high-performance jet drones and support equipment to satisfy their continuing current and future missions and operations. Steve Fendley, President of Kratos' Unmanned Systems Division, said, "Over the last three years, in anticipation of future drone orders, Kratos ramped up production line rates on several of our drone systems so that we would have a constant rate of aircraft coming off the production line to meet not only contracted but also future demand. In most cases, our orders are now exceeding our initial production rates as a result of our increase in orders. This is great news for our company and our personnel as we have established such a substantial backlog of production orders and are now increasing our production rates even further. We appreciate our customers' confidence in our systems and our ability to deliver within the often-tight schedules. Importantly, these international orders help our production economies-of-scale enabling us to retain our low-cost benchmarks for all our customers including international and across the U.S. Government." Boeing (NYSE: BA) is setting an ambitious target to advance the long-term sustainability of commercial aviation, committing that its commercial airplanes are capable and certified to fly on 100% sustainable aviation fuels by 2030. Boeing has previously conducted successful test flights replacing petroleum jet fuel with 100% sustainable fuels to address the urgent challenge of climate change. According to the Air Transport Action Group, U.S. Department of Energy and several other scientific studies, sustainable aviation fuels reduce CO2 emissions by up to 80% over the fuel's life cycle with the potential to reach 100% in the future. Today, sustainable aviation fuels are mixed directly with conventional jet fuel up to a 50/50 blend — the maximum allowed under current fuel specifications. In order to meet aviation's commitment for reducing carbon emissions by 50% from 2005 levels by 2050, airplanes need the capability to fly on 100% sustainable aviation fuels well before 2050. https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/increasing-demand-for-last-mile- drone-delivery-is-boosting-the-autonomous-bvlos-drones-market- 301229586.html Vanderlande Commits to Amazon and Global Optimism’s Climate Pledge Vanderlande is delighted to be joining Amazon and Global Optimism in signing The Climate Pledge, showcasing its ambition on sustainability and commitment to achieving a net-zero carbon footprint by 2040 – ten years ahead of The Paris Agreement. With this in mind, Vanderlande will routinely report on its greenhouse gas emissions, implement decarbonization strategies, and act to offset any remaining emissions. Vanderlande is committed to a vision of becoming the worldwide leader in sustainable automated logistic solutions and has made great strides towards this commitment. In terms of the solutions it delivers to customers, the company has been a pioneer of circular economy principles and energy- efficient technology since 2010. More recently, it has been exploring new business models that help to reduce the carbon footprints of its customers. One such example is FLEET, a flexible solution for handling baggage at airports and based on autonomous vehicle technology. Through this solution, Vanderlande takes full responsibility for the operational and sustainable performance of the vehicles, as well as closing the materials loop. In 2018, Vanderlande joined the Capital Equipment Coalition of the Platform for Accelerating the Circular Economy (PACE). By actively defining an action agenda with concrete steps for the capital equipment industry to implement circular practices, Vanderlande is expanding its impact beyond its own organization. Through the Global Forest Programme, Vanderlande is engaging with local forestry companies to plant trees to offset its carbon emissions. Furthermore, many of the company’s international offices comply to the highest sustainability assessment standards. For example, Vanderlande’s buildings at its HQ in The Netherlands will be home to 2,600 solar panels by mid-2021 (with the capacity to generate 871,760 kWh annually). “Through our commitment to sustainability, we intend to reduce the carbon footprint of our operations, those of our customers and suppliers, and of society as a whole,” says Vanderlande’s CEO Remo Brunschwiler. “As a signatory of The Climate Pledge, Vanderlande is excited to be joining a community that will share knowledge, ideas, and best practices to address the most critical climate challenges. We look forward to cooperating closely with Amazon, Global Optimism, and the other signatories on this important mission.” https://www.aviationpros.com/gse/gse-technology/green-alternative-energy- gse/press-release/21210784/vanderlande-industries-inc-vanderlande-commits- to-amazon-and-global-optimisms-climate-pledge USF student-built satellites launched into orbit by SpaceX TAMPA, Fla. - A recent SpaceX launch took three satellites built by University of South Florida students to space on a communications mission. A group of 24 students spent about three years making three small satellites onboard a SpaceX rocket, joining 140 other satellites from different countries. Each USF satellite is about the size of a sandwich, and they are currently orbiting in space. "The bulk of the design work was done by students, and students were also the ones who did the hands-on prototyping and testing of all of our flight hardware," said Peter Jorgensen, a USF Ph.D. candidate and senior research engineer at the Institute of Applied Engineering. The small satellites went into orbit on January 24 and Jorgensen said he watched the live stream with his family. "That was special for me. It was a culmination of a lot of hard work," said Jorgensen. USF’s College of Engineering dean Robert Bishop said the work was more than just an educational experience. "We now have a whole group of students who can go out into the community, into the industry and contribute in a way that they really couldn’t do 10 years ago," said Bishop. The satellites they helped build will act like the internet in space. So one day, people can easily reach less-connected places. "Disaster relief, disaster recovery for areas that are impacted. For example, if power goes out or internet connectivity backbones are disrupted somehow, these satellites would be able to provide a backup link," said Jorgensen. The technology will stay in space for about 10 years but only work for about one year. After the testing is done, USF said the research won’t stop there. "This is just the beginning of our foray into space. We’re already considering and planning next steps and next stages," said Bishop. Jorgensen said they will spend the next nine to 12 months testing the satellites in the next phases of the research project. https://www.fox13news.com/news/usf-student-built-satellites-launched-into- orbit-by-spacex Curt Lewis