September 13, 2021 - No. 71 In This Issue : ASIA-PACIFIC AIRLINES BACK NET-ZERO CARBON EMISSIONS BY 2050 : Chevron Invests in Building and Operating Sustainable Aviation Fuel Processing Facility : FAA awards $100 million to develop next generation of sustainable aircraft technology : Implications Of Cyberattacks Are Significant For Airlines : U.S. Will Give Aircraft Companies $482M for Pandemic : ACI Celebrates World's Best Airports for Customer Experience at Global Summit : World's largest aircraft dubbed 'flying bum' to be ready for passenger transportation in 2025 : Dubai’s Emirates airline offers virtual reality for its First Class : Atlas Air Worldwide and pilots complete contract talks after five years : Inspector gadgets… : Here’s why Russia’s space chief keeps asking Elon Musk to visit him ASIA-PACIFIC AIRLINES BACK NET-ZERO CARBON EMISSIONS BY 2050 The Association of Asia Pacific Airlines has called on governments to support a new push by members to achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2050. The association announced the commitment Monday, moving it ahead of the current global industry goal and of halving carbon emissions by 2050 and putting sustainable aviation fuels at the forefront of its ambitions. Acknowledging that the net-zero goal was challenging, AAPA director-general Subhas Menon told reporters the association was committed to achieving it. Menon said this would require the cooperation of multiple stakeholders, including governments, air navigation services, fuel suppliers, airports, aircraft and engine manufacturers as well as the financial sector. He said the would be based on a combination of technology, operational improvements, sustainable aviation fuels, and that global industry market-based measure, ICAO Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation (CORSIA). Technological improvements would include hydrogen and electric-powered aircraft all those developments were not anticipated until after 2035 and would benefit flights of less than 1500kms. But because 80 percent of Asia-Pacific airline journeys were either medium-range or long-haul international flights above 1500kms, the new power sources were unlikely to be a big benefit to the region’s airlines. He estimated aircraft using the new sources would provide 15 to 20 percent of reductions globally while operational and infrastructure initiatives was expected to provide a reduction of 10 to 12 percent. “The bulk of the efforts for long-haul international airlines is going to come from the promotion and commercialization of sustainable aviation fuels,’’ he said. “This is a very important facet because it is basically replacing fossil fuels on the majority of our flights. “For this to be successful, supply has to be ramped up significantly and also the supply of sustainable aviation fuels has to be done in a cost-effective manner. ”Right now the price for sustainable aviation fuels is several times that for fossil fuels.” The Asia-Pacific region will make up about 40 percent of global SAF demand, expected to be between 450 and 500 million tonnes by 2050, but has been behind countries such as the US and Europe in developing a SAF industry. Menon said government support in the form of subsidies and R&D would be essential in finding the right feedstock and processes to ensure an adequate supply. He said some 2500 local production facilities across the region would be required to provide the amount of SAF needed by Asia-pacific airlines. Feedstock such as municipal solid wasted, agricultural and forest residues as well as used vegetable oils and oil-bearing crops would also be important but there was a lot of it in the Asia-Pacific region “In fact, geographically (the ) Asia-Pacific has the most feedstock for sustainable aviation fuel,’’ he said. “But it’s bringing it all together and putting it together through the facilities to produce adequate sustainable aviation fuels, “And that is where we need the support of the government, the fuel suppliers, the finance industry in order to make this a reality.” Menon said CORSIA had an integral part to play in achieving the net-zero ambition and AAPA wholly supported the International Civil Aviation Organisation-backed system and would encourage states to continue to participate in it. He said investment in emerging sources of energy such as direct carbon capture and carbon sequestration when these become viable, could complement the industry’s net-zero push. But he noted the cost of both technologies was currently punitive and “many, many times the cost of fossil aviation fuels”. Fairness was also an issue given the Asia-Pacific airline traffic was expected to triple by 2050 and the growth in emerging economies should also be allowed to take place. “Sustainability is a global challenge that calls for a global solution,’’ he said. “Together, we need to ensure that distribution of the burden of reducing carbon emissions is fair and equitable while allowing the industry to recover and restart.” https://www.airlineratings.com/news/asia-pacific-airlines-back-net-zero-carbon-emissions-by-2050/ Chevron Invests in Building and Operating Sustainable Aviation Fuel Processing Facility Chevron USA, a subsidiary of Chevron Corporation, and Gevo announced a letter of intent to jointly invest in building and operating one or more new facilities that would process inedible corn to produce sustainable aviation fuel, which can lower the lifecycle carbon intensity of fuels used in the aviation industry. The new facilities would also produce proteins and corn oil. Through the proposed collaboration, Gevo would operate its proprietary technology to produce sustainable aviation fuel and renewable blending components for motor gasoline to lower its lifecycle carbon intensity. In addition to co-investing with Gevo in one or more projects, Chevron would have the right to offtake approximately 150 million gallons per year to market to customers. The proposed investment is subject to the negotiation of definitive agreements with customary closing conditions, including regulatory approval. Earlier this month, Chevron made headlines when it joined Delta Air Lines and Google in announcing a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to track sustainable aviation fuel test batch emissions data using cloud-based technology. The companies hope to create a common, more transparent model for analyzing potential greenhouse gas emissions reductions that could then be adopted by organizations considering SAF programs. Through this project, Chevron plans to produce a test batch of SAF at its El Segundo Refinery and to sell SAF to Delta at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), a major global hub for Delta’s fleet. https://www.environmentalleader.com/2021/09/chevron-invests-in-building-and-operating-sustainable-aviation-fuel-processing-facility/ FAA awards $100 million to develop next generation of sustainable aircraft technology The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has awarded more than $100 million for companies to help develop technologies that reduce fuel use, emissions and noise. The award is part of a series of steps President Biden is taking to coordinate leadership and innovation across the federal government, aircraft manufacturers, airlines, fuel producers and more to position American aviation to soar towards net zero emissions by 2050. This FAA announcement is part of those efforts. “Across the country, communities have been devastated by the effects of climate change – but, if we act now, we can ensure that aviation plays a central role in the solution,” said Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg. “These awards will help America lead the world in sustainable aviation.” The Continuous Lower Energy, Emissions and Noise (CLEEN) Program is a public-private partnership that began in 2010 and is a key part the FAA’s overall strategy to tackle the global challenge of climate change and lower the impact aviation has on communities. The program requires the companies receiving the contracts to match or exceed the FAA’s investment, bringing the total to at least $200 million over a five-year period. The awards are the third phase of the FAA’s CLEEN program. FAA Investment Under CLEEN Phase III, the FAA and six industry partners will focus on reducing aviation emissions and noise, including pursuing goals of reducing carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions by improving fuel efficiency by at least 20 percent below the relevant International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) standard; NOx emissions by 70 percent relative to the most recent ICAO standard; particulate matter emissions below the ICAO standard; and noise by 25 dB cumulative relative to the FAA Stage 5 standard. The FAA also is pursuing agreements with Rolls-Royce Corporation and Safran Nacelles. General Electric Aviation will develop an advanced engine propulsion system and advanced acoustic improvements to reduce noise and fuel consumption; electric and hybrid-electric systems to increase fuel efficiency; and advanced combustion and thermal management systems to reduce emissions and fuel consumption. The company also will support the evaluation of alternative jet fuels that could enable further aircraft performance improvements. Honeywell Aerospace will develop a more efficient engine fan, combustion system, compressor, and turbine to reduce noise, emissions, and fuel consumption. Pratt & Whitney will develop an ultra-quiet engine fan and an advanced combustion system to reduce noise, emissions, and fuel consumption. Boeing will develop technologies to reduce noise from the wings, landing gear, and engine inlets. The company also will support the evaluation of alternative jet fuels that could enable further aircraft performance improvements, and help to develop new algorithms that enable aircraft to fly quieter, more fuel-efficient routes. Delta TechOps, GKN Aerospace, MDS Coating, and America’s Phenix will work together to develop erosion-resistant fan blade coatings to reduce fuel consumption over the life of an engine. Rohr Inc. will develop acoustic technology to reduce the noise from engine exhausts. “Like our quest for safer skies, making flying sustainable requires us to constantly look for ways to improve,” said FAA Administrator Steve Dickson. The CLEEN technologies developed so far are estimated to reduce CO2 emissions equivalent to removing 3 million cars from the road by 2050 and to save the aviation industry 36 billion gallons of fuel. The fuel savings is the equivalent of 11.4 million Boeing 737 flights between New York and Los Angeles. Continuing Success Examples of the accomplishments from the FAA’s $225 million invested in the CLEEN Phase I and Phase II include: The FAA anticipates that technologies developed under CLEEN Phase III could be introduced into commercial aircraft by 2031. Enhanced jet engine combustion systems have entered the aviation fleet, resulting in lower emissions. Advanced aircraft wings made of stronger and lighter-weight materials are supporting innovative development of current and future aircraft. Flight Management System algorithms have been created under CLEEN to enable aircraft to fly more fuel-efficient routes. Several alternative jet fuels have been certified for safe use, due in part to testing and evaluation efforts conducted under CLEEN. https://ajot.com/news/faa-awards-100-million-to-develop-next-generation-of-sustainable-aircraft-technology Implications Of Cyberattacks Are Significant For Airlines Since the tragedy 20 years ago on Saturday, airlines and airports have fortified cockpits, barred sharp objects in carry-on luggage and improved technology to detect explosives. “We are more secure,” said Willie Walsh, director general of the International Air Transport Association. Many of today’s security risks are now viewed as targeting the networks and hardware planes and airlines rely on. From the gradual shift to electronic tickets to the management of jet fuel, even more aspects of aviation go through digital channels now than they did two decades ago. “We must stay ahead of emerging security threats,” Walsh said. “To do this effectively, we need to take a more integrated approach on things like cyber risks, drones, and insider threats.” New entry points Beyond new airline security rules mandated by governments worldwide, security experts say potential hijackers face an additional challenge: other passengers. “Because of 9/11, if you’re sitting in the airplane, and someone jumps up and tries to enter the cockpit, the passengers themselves are going to fight back and prevent that from happening,” said Dan Cutrer, an expert in aviation safety at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. However the embrace of digital technology has created new opportunities for trouble, with hackers able to penetrate systems through suppliers’ software, online services or WiFi offered to passengers. Experts consider the potential for a hacker to take control of the plane itself as unlikely, since flight controls are separate from systems used by customers. Even if plane systems “may exhibit cybersecurity weaknesses, they’re not an attractive target for most actors because of the required access and expertise, plus the risk of loss of life,” said Katelyn Bailey of cybersecurity company FireEye. A realm of potential vulnerability is the communication system between pilots and air traffic controllers, said Pablo Hernandez, a researcher at Innaxis Research Institute. The conversations “are open and they’re not encrypted or confidential,” he said. “Anyone with the right radio can join into this conversation.” However, key flight systems needed to run the plane and air traffic have been well secured, Hernandez said. There have been some notable Cyberattacks of ground or ancillary systems, including a 2020 data breach at British airline EasyJet that exposed the personal data of some nine million customers. There were 1,260 incidents last year against airlines and other aviation bodies, such as airports, according to Eurocontrol, an intergovernmental organization that supports European aviation. “Every week, an aviation actor suffers a ransomware attack somewhere in the world, with big impacts on productivity and business continuity,” Eurocontrol said in a note published in July. Airports use “best practices” to try to mitigate this risk. This includes sending employees fictitious emails with links such as the ones devised by hackers; workers who click on them then receive additional training, said Christopher Bidwell, senior vice president at the Airports Council International, North America. Money and espionage The implications of cyberattacks are significant for airlines. “In the aviation industry, you can’t have downtime,” said Deneen DeFiore, chief information security officer at United Airlines. “Any system outage or disruption would be detrimental to any company.” Most hackers are motivated by money. They use or sell stolen credit card data or financial information and sometimes demand ransom from companies to recover their systems. However Bailey of FireEye said that because they often target the data of passengers, some hackers may be connected to states and engaged in espionage. The airline industry benefited from the 2014 creation of an information sharing body, Aviation ISAC, focused on cybersecurity, said United’s DeFiore. She considers cyberattacks an emerging risk throughout aviation that needs to be taken seriously by everyone from air safety directors to maintenance teams. https://www.technologytimes.pk/2021/09/13/implications-of-cyberattacks-are-significant-for-airlines/ U.S. Will Give Aircraft Companies $482M for Pandemic The Biden administration is making $482 million available to aviation industry manufacturers to help them avert job or pay cuts in the pandemic. The taxpayer-funded relief will cover up to half of the payroll costs at 313 companies, according to the Transportation Department, which said Thursday will help save up to 22,500 jobs. Air travel plummeted due to the spread of COVID-19. The delta variant has led to elevated cancellations and diminished travel in recent months. More than 100,000 aerospace jobs have been lost in an industry that had employed about 2.2 million people, according to the Transportation Department. The largest recipient the fund funds announced Monday is Spirit Aerosystems, a Boeing supplier based in Kansas, which stands to get $75.5 million that the government says will help protect 3,214 jobs. Parker-Hannifin Corp. of Ohio, which makes hydraulic systems for planes, will get $39.7 million. The avionics unit of Japan's Panasonic, based in California, will get $25.8 million, and several U.S. subsidiaries of France's Safran S.A. will get a total of $24.8 million. Money for the aerospace companies is coming from a $1.9 trillion package approved by Congress and signed by President Joe Biden in March. The relief is similar to a much larger aid program for U.S. airlines, which have received $54 billion in the past year and a half. The airlines also agreed not to furlough any workers, but they eliminated tens of thousands of jobs anyway by offering incentives for employees to quit or retire early. Critics labeled the airline aid a bailout that amounted to several hundred thousand dollars for each job that was spared — 75,000 jobs, by some estimates. Defenders such as American Airlines CEO Doug Parker say that without the government's help, airlines would have been forced to shut down when traffic fell to levels not seen since the 1950s. The Federal Aviation Administration, part of the Transportation Department, recently awarded $100 million to aerospace companies including Boeing, General Electric's aviation division and jet engine maker Pratt & Whitney to make planes less polluting and quieter. https://www.mbtmag.com/home/news/21711039/us-will-give-aircraft-companies-482m-for-pandemic ACI Celebrates World's Best Airports for Customer Experience at Global Summit During the Customer Experience Global Summit on Sept. 8, Airports Council International (ACI) World in partnership with Amadeus celebrated the winners of this year’s Airport Service Quality awards, which highlight the world’s best airports as judged by their customers. While the COVID-19 pandemic has had a dramatic impact on global passenger traffic in 2020, it has also affected the expectations customers have for the airport experience. In response, ACI has ensured the ASQ program has evolved with these changing times along with airports that have adapted to better serve their customers. ACI introduced a new award – “Best Hygiene Measures by Region” – based on hygiene-related questions added to the survey questionnaire. This provides airports with a reliable method of gauging customer response to new health measures and recognizes airports’ success in responding to the intense focus on hygiene. The awards celebration – held as a hybrid event comprising virtual and physical elements and sponsored by ACI World’s partner Amadeus – recognized 108 awards, which have been won by 89 individual airports around the world. The winners of the ASQ awards for Best Airport by Size & Region and for Best Hygiene Measures by Region, the inductees to the ACI Director General’s Roll of Excellence, and those receiving the Voice of Customer recognition were celebrated. “Amid the most challenging year in the history of our industry, ACI’s ASQ awards recognize airport members that have prioritized listening and responding to the voice of the customer – this has never been more important,” ACI World Director General Luis Felipe de Oliveira said. “I celebrate and congratulate all our winners and those recognized today as they set an example for the entire industry as we rebuild crucial global connectivity and lead the global economic recovery. ACI continues to adapt the ASQ program to ensure the benchmarking and findings remain the industry standard and reflective and relevant for the changing landscape of air travel. I am very happy that we have also continued our successful partnership with global travel technology company Amadeus to deliver the awards.” Global travel technology company Amadeus and ACI World have entered into a long-term partnership to deliver the ASQ Awards, furthering the support for airports to improve the travel experience for passengers all over the world. “Across the world, airports are adapting the passenger experience to provide a safer and more streamlined airport journey. New technologies like biometrics and contactless self-service will be key to help our industry rebuild air travel so that it’s better for passengers and airport players alike,” said Elena Avila, EVP Airport IT and Airline Operations, Amadeus. “Today we celebrate airports that, despite the difficulties of the current environment, place the passenger at the center of what they do, and encourage business transformation while moving the industry forward. We are delighted to continue supporting the ASQ awards together with ACI and join them in congratulating all the winners.” https://www.aviationpros.com/airports/press-release/21237945/airports-council-international-aciworld-aci-celebrates-worlds-best-airports-for-customer-experience-at-global-summit World's largest aircraft dubbed 'flying bum' to be ready for passenger transportation in 2025 KNOWN AS THE ‘FLYING BUM’ Hybrid air vehicles (HAV) announced that its world’s largest aircraft ‘airlander 10’ will be ready for passenger transportation in four years, offering a low emissions air mobility option. resembling more a ferry than an airplane, the vehicle owns a spacious cabin that provides travelers a comfortable seat with direct access to the aisles. dubbed as the ‘flying bum’ — originating from a tweeted picture of its curvaceous posterior — the aircraft will be available with up to 100 seats in a hybrid-electric configuration, operating with 10% of the emissions of a conventional aircraft. SMOOTHER, BRIGHTER, AND COMFIER Transportation with the airlander 10 attempts to be smoother, more vivid, and comfier, as passengers can relax in a cabin without the buzz, or vibration that may be faced on other flights. furthermore, the aircraft is clad in floor-to-ceiling windows that allow plenty of natural light to enter the interior while providing passengers with panoramic views looking outside. according to hybrid air vehicles (HAV), traveling by a regular plane is faster than with the airlander, but as it seems, comfort wins over speed for the targeted customers. Airlander’s configuration can also host large, powerful sensors, capable systems, and advanced computing and communications equipment, as its design allows to lift huge weights. FROM METAL TUBE TO SPACIOUS CRUISE By 2030, HAV expects to have a fully electric airlander, with the vision of zero-carbon aviation. for many decades flying from A to B has meant sitting in a metal tube with tiny windows – a necessity but not always a pleasure,’ comments george land, HAV’s Commercial business development director. ‘on airlander, the whole experience is pleasant, even enjoyable. and in the hybrid-electric and future all-electric configurations, airlander is fit for our decarbonized future.’ This cabin is ideally suited to inter-city mobility applications like liverpool to belfast and seattle to vancouver, which airlander can service with a tiny fraction of the emissions of current air options. inter-city transport represents 40% of the forecast urban air mobility market by 2050, equivalent to £36bn, according to research performed by roland berger. the cabin design has incorporated many considerations to ensure it is practical, feasible, and ready for the transition into production. https://www.designboom.com/technology/largest-aircraft-flying-bum-passenger-transportation-four-years-hybrid-air-vehicles-09-13-2021/ Dubai’s Emirates airline offers virtual reality for its First Class Dubai: Do you want to fly in an Emirates First Class without leaving your home? That’s what the Dubai airline is letting you do on its various platforms. Emirates is now the first airline to launch a fully-fledged Oculus VR app that will allow users to explore the carrier’s First Class Suites and the signature A380 Onboard Lounge. “Check out the cabin around your own seat in row 77 from the comfort of your home, with the airline’s award-winning and industry-leading virtual reality (VR) experiences,” said Emirates in a statement. The feature is available on emirates.com, the airline’s mobile app, and the Oculus Store for Oculus Rift users. “In 2018, we were the world’s first airline to introduce advanced web VR technology on our digital platforms, offering customers an immersive opportunity to learn about the fantastic Emirates experience that awaited them before they stepped on board,” said Boutros Boutros, Emirates’ Divisional Senior Vice President, Corporate Communications, Marketing and Brand. “It is also particularly relevant right now, as many people have not travelled for a while due to the pandemic, and are seeking inspiration and researching and rediscovering their flight options.” In future developments, Emirates plans to offer customers the ability to explore destinations, select a cabin, and book and pay for their Emirates flight from within the Emirates Oculus VR app. Currently, users can explore the following VR experiences via: Emirates Oculus VR app on the Oculus Store: offering users accurate, life size and interactive cabin interior experiences onboard Emirates’ flagship A380 aircraft and Boeing 777-300ER Gamechanger aircraft. For instance, users can “pick up” items from the Onboard Lounge, “turn on” the Shower in the Shower Spa, or close the private suite doors behind them. They can even explore the cockpit. Emirates.com on PCs, mobile devices or the Emirates app for iOS and Android: An immersive 3D, web VR and 360 degree view of Emirates’ Boeing 777 and Airbus A380 aircraft cabin interiors (all 20 different configurations across the airline’s fleet). Customers can explore their seats before checking in online with the 3D seat map. The tool allows customers to navigate from one seat to another, and even allows would-be customers to book their preferred seats from within the 3D environment. Users can also enjoy hands-free cabin navigation and seat selection by using any VR headset like Google Cardboard. https://gulfnews.com/business/aviation/dubais-emirates-airline-offers-virtual-reality-for-its-first-class-1.82231712 Atlas Air Worldwide and pilots complete contract talks after five years Atlas Air Worldwide and pilots at subsidiary airlines Southern Air and Atlas Air have completed a new joint collective bargaining agreement (JCBA) after more than five years of negotiations. The airline and International Brotherhood of Teamsters (IBT) union have been in talks over merging Atlas Air and Southern Air pilots onto a single contract since the latter was acquired by Atlas in 2016. The agreement was eventually pushed through with the intervention of an arbitrator. “The five-year JCBA is one of the last major steps in completing Atlas Air’s merger with Southern Air, which it acquired in 2016,” Atlas said. Atlas said that pilots at both airlines will receive higher pay and enhanced benefits as part of the overall package. Pay increases will be effective in October, with the remaining terms and conditions to be implemented in the coming months. John Dietrich, president and chief executive, Atlas Air Worldwide, said: “Our company has long prepared for this investment in our pilots and has factored these new terms and conditions into customer contract negotiations. “We continue to see strong demand for our aircraft and services as we expand and extend customer agreements. We are well-positioned to leverage the diversity of our business model to capitalise on very favorable global airfreight market conditions.” https://www.aircargonews.net/airlines/atlas-air-worldwide-and-pilots-complete-contract-talks-after-five-years/ Inspector gadgets… Inspection is a key part of the MRO community’s contribution to aviation safety. Chuck Grieve reviews developments in inspection tools and methods where communication is king. Safety is the watchword for aviation authorities; compliance is non-negotiable but regulators are showing themselves to be open-minded about how MRO operators achieve it. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) reportedly has no bars on which tools MROs can use, provided they can demonstrate compliance. The American regulator goes a step further by encouraging repair stations to share lessons learned on the technologies they’re using. The FAA, itself, has embraced what it calls video communication technology (VCT) to validate and perform its safety-critical activities, and is cataloguing best practices. Others are more cautious. The International Air Transport Association (IATA), for example, apparently sees VCT as an enhancement, rather than replacement, for monitoring repairs – it can’t replace smell or touch. Etihad Engineering thinks along the same lines. It has clients based around the world and, before the pandemic, welcomed them to its hangars in Abu Dhabi to observe work on their aircraft. In recent months, to maintain this level of customer service, the MRO embraced off-the-shelf technology, including GoPro cameras and iPad tablets, to communicate seamlessly with customers in their own locations. Frederic Dupont, vice-president of technical sales and customer service, said the pandemic advanced some of what Etihad Engineering was already doing in communications. “We had to adapt... [beyond] the typical Teams and Zoom meetings, to going through inspections with videos and sharing files live with our customers. “Some of the way we do business and how we support our customers definitely will change.” Communication is built into tools such as 8tree’s dentCHECK, a hand-held 3D optical surface inspection tool, designed for the aerospace industry, that maps surface defects such as dents, bumps, lightning strikes, blend-outs and other deformations. It is approved by all major airframers and counts a major Middle East-based carrier among long-term users. A new feature called panoLite creates a stitched panorama view of large area damage. It is designed to ease the burden on mechanics dealing with multi-dent scenarios, such as hail damage, by seamlessly measuring dents on areas up to 2m wide. The company said users report significant improvements in efficiency. Chief executive, Arun Chhabra, said the tools are “specifically designed for aviation industry workflows” with an intuitive user experience that makes precision 3D results as easy as taking a photo. Additionally, the tools provide “instant actionable answers, and not mountains of complex 3D data”. Lufthansa Technik (LHT) responded to pandemic travel restrictions by developing virtual table inspection and virtual borescope inspection. Both take advantage of the latest 5G technology in LHT’s own private wireless network, which gives high-resolution, low-latency live-streaming and communication. With virtual table inspection, customers can take part in the workshop examination of individual engine modules from their desks, coordinating actions and approving workscope changes, as they would in person. LHT said the use of the tool is “growing strongly” across its global engine network, which includes its base at Dubai South. LHT said an “interplay of technologies” makes it possible for customers to follow the borescope inspection of their engines live from home, discussing the findings and asking questions as necessary. The company plans to add interactive digital documentation to this service. Airbus subsidiary, Testia, says its SmartUE1 tool – a “Swiss army knife” of non-destructive testing (NDT) – has been well accepted by MROs and top airlines in the Middle East, including Gulf Air and Joramco. This light, wireless device offers up to eight inspection modules in a single kit. To its basic ultrasonic and eddy current testing capabilities, users can add modules to detect delaminations, disbondings, fatigue cracks, lack of cladding, as well as measuring thickness, coatings and conductivity. Testia has also extended the capabilities of its thickness tool to measuring remaining thickness in large blended-out areas of aluminium alloy sheet and plate, identifying features such as rivets and edges. Reporting features were enhanced. The resulting tool prompted Gavin McGibney, senior NDT engineer with LHT, to comment: “The thickness tool is a great piece of kit, ready to use with set-up already loaded. The man-hour savings are incredible.” https://www.arabianaerospace.aero/inspector-gadgets-.html Here’s why Russia’s space chief keeps asking Elon Musk to visit him The leader of Russia's space program is desperate to have Elon Musk visit him. On multiple occasions, Dmitry Rogozin has invited the founder of SpaceX to come to Kazakhstan for the October 5 launch of the Soyuz MS-19 spacecraft carrying three Russians to the International Space Station. More recently, during an interview on CNN, Rogozin gained a fair amount of publicity when he invited Musk to visit his home in Russia. "We respect him as an organizer of the space industry and as an inventor who is not afraid to take risks," Rogozin said. Musk was welcomed "to be a guest of my family" and discuss "exploring the universe, extraterrestrial life, and how we can use space to preserve life on Earth." "I already set the teakettle on heat," he added. In response on Twitter, Musk was noncommittal. It is a fool's errand to try to predict the actions of Elon Musk, but given his understandable security concerns, it's difficult to see the billionaire visiting Rogozin in Russia or attending the launch in Kazakhstan. One might even read an ominous intent in Rogozin's invitation. The "teakettle" comment recalls the poisoning of Alexander Litvinenko, a former KGB officer who in 2000 fled to the United Kingdom after becoming critical of Vladimir Putin's rise to power. Six years after leaving Russia, Litvinenko was poisoned by drinking tea laced with polonium. He died three weeks later, and Western intelligence services eventually concluded that the poisoning was conducted by Russian agents acting under the approval of Putin. So Musk is probably not going to Russia. And he is probably not going to drink tea with Dmitry Rogozin. But it's nonetheless worthwhile to try to understand Rogozin's motivations for reaching out to Musk in this way. What Dmitry wants Since becoming head of Roscosmos in 2018, Rogozin has had a passive-aggressive relationship with Musk. Rogozin has responded to SpaceX's success with bravado and bluster much of the time, saying the company's engineers are too gentle, or their rockets and spacecraft are not safe enough for Russian cosmonauts to ride upon. At the same time, Rogozin has seen SpaceX largely destroy important revenue streams for Russia's space industry. Most notably, Crew Dragon has cut off the approximately $400 million NASA paid to Roscosmos every year for crew transport services to the International Space Station. Additionally, SpaceX lobbied for a congressional mandate preventing United Launch Alliance from buying RD-180 rocket engines from Russia. Finally, the low-cost Falcon 9 rocket has eroded the commercial launch business for the Russian Proton rocket, a former workhorse that now launches about once a year. So why play nice with Musk now? There are at least two good reasons. First, if Rogozin were to get Musk to actually visit him in Russia, he and the country's space program could bask in his reflective glory. Musk has a deep appreciation for Soviet rocketry—he recently spent an hour visiting with the grandson of Sergei Korolev at SpaceX's headquarters. Musk undoubtedly would say nice things about Russia's space program during such a visit. By meeting with Musk, Rogozin could project himself as an equal. This would be important propaganda for him and Russia's flagging space program. It's likely equally important to Rogozin, if not more so, to attract Musk to the upcoming Soyuz launch. This is because Rogozin and Roscosmos have staked a lot on this flight, which will be commanded by cosmonaut Anton Shkaplerov and carry two other passengers: Yulia Peresild and film director Klim Shipenko. The actress and director will spend about 10 days on-board the International Space Station shooting a film called The Challenge. A space film This film project has sparked criticism within the cosmonaut corps in Russia, as it has led to a rapid reshuffling of flight schedules, and the budget for the film has come out of the space corporation's budget. However, the movie is a high priority for Rogozin, as he is desperate to have something to show in the 60th year after Yuri Gagarin's historic first spaceflight in April 1961. "The project is needed in order to demonstrate Russian technologies and to draw the attention of the world’s societies to the Jubilee of Yuri Gagarin’s flight," veteran cosmonaut Fyodor Yurchikhin said during an interview earlier this year with Novaya Gazeta. "So it has to be done by April 12, 2022." To Rogozin, making the first "feature film" in space would represent another "historic first" for Russia in space, alongside the lines of Gagarin's flight, that of Valentina Tereshkova in 1963, and other Soviet exploits in the 1960s. But this doesn't satisfy some people, such as Yurchikhin, who see a country reliant on decades-old technology for human spaceflight and promises rather than real projects for the future. "We must deal systematically with our space research plans and crew training without changing the script in the middle of the play," Yurchikhin said, clearly referring to Rogozin's leadership. "If you promise and fail to deliver, have the guts to step aside for someone more worthy, and don’t go unhinged on them. Demonstrating superiority requires real achievements and victories—accomplished in silence. Only then will we give our society the basis in the future to proclaim boldly before the world, 'Space is ours!'" Having Elon Musk at the launch of The Challenge film project would attract the glitz and attention Rogozin so desperately craves as he seeks to craft an image of the Russian space program that is more Hollywood than Potemkin village. https://arstechnica.com/science/2021/09/why-is-dmitry-rogozin-so-thirsty-for-elon-musk-to-visit-russia/ Curt Lewis