November 13, 2017 - No. 089 In This Issue Pratt & Whitney Unveils New Engineering and Technology Center on its East Hartford Campus Volocopter Certification Expected To Take Five Years NASA Aims For Aviation Renaissance With Fuel Efficient Next-Gen Aircraf Hamburg opens two new aviation research institutes at once EASA proposes new carbon dioxide standard for aircraft Federal DOT Announces a New Pilot Initiative to Expedite Integration of Manned and Unmanned Aircraft Rolls-Royce Opens New Mideast Service Center Satcom Direct Says Cyber Attack Risk Rising MC-21 Flight Testing Accelerates in Zhukovsky Prepare for Takeoff with New Smithsonian Channel Series SURVIVAL IN THE SKIES Pratt & Whitney Unveils New Engineering and Technology Center on its East Hartford Campus EAST HARTFORD, Conn., Nov. 11, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Pratt & Whitney, a global leader in commercial and military jet engines and a division of United Technologies Corp. (NYSE: UTX), today formally opened its new Engineering and Technology Center in the heart of its East Hartford campus. Hundreds of people were on-hand for the massive ribbon cutting and grand opening ceremony, including Pratt & Whitney President Robert Leduc, Connecticut Governor Dannel P. Malloy, U.S. Congressman John B. Larson (1st District), and U.S. Congressman Joe Courtney (2nd District). The new state-of-the-art building, which features 425,000 square feet of space and will accommodate up to 1,750 Pratt & Whitney employees, will serve as the company's world-class engineering facility. It was enabled through a collaboration with the State of Connecticut through the 2014 Connecticut Aerospace Reinvestment Act (CARA). This new cutting edge facility will serve as a global engineering headquarters for the design of Pratt & Whitney's game-changing PurePower® and F135 aircraft engines. "This new facility that we dedicate today becomes the nerve center of Pratt & Whitney's continued excellence and global leadership in the design of the finest commercial and military engines in the world," Pratt & Whitney President Robert Leduc said. "We are attracting top engineering talent who will keep Pratt & Whitney on the leading edge of aviation technology for decades to come, and allow us to continue delivering the highest quality product for our commercial and military customers. "I want to thank Governor Malloy for having the foresight three years ago to partner with UTC in creating the Connecticut Aerospace Reinvestment Act, which allows us to keep these highly skilled, well-paying, critically important engineering and manufacturing jobs in Connecticut - where they belong - for the long-term," Leduc added. The ceremony began with a Veterans Day recognition of the military service by those in attendance, led by Pratt & Whitney's Military Engines President Matthew Bromberg, the executive sponsor of UTC-4-Vets, an employee resource group for former military service members and their families. UTC-4-Vets also held its annual Toys for Tots campaign with the United States Marine Corps to donate toys for children this holiday season. Pratt & Whitney was pleased to work with WFSB-TV and CBS Radio as media partners for this Toys for Tots campaign. "There are more than 1,300 active members in UTC-4-Vets today, at 15 Pratt & Whitney locations across the country, a mix of military and non-military employees. Pratt & Whitney knows the great value that a veteran brings to the workplace," said Bromberg, a former nuclear submarine officer with the U.S. Navy. "Today we honor our veterans, both inside and outside the company, and their family members." The traditional ceremonial ribbon cutting was taken to new lengths, with the ribbon literally encircling the building, held by hundreds of Pratt & Whitney employees and their families, including Maureen LeClair and Robert Gilbert, who recently celebrated their 54th and 55th years with the company, respectively. The Pratt & Whitney Engineering and Technology Center is being considered for LEED Gold Certification with the U.S. Green Building Council. Click here for additional multimedia assets and information on the new facility. About Pratt & Whitney Pratt & Whitney is a world leader in the design, manufacture and service of aircraft engines and auxiliary power units. United Technologies Corp., based in Farmington, Connecticut, provides high- technology systems and services to the building and aerospace industries. To learn more about UTC, visit its website at www.utc.com, or follow the company on Twitter: @UTC. https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/pratt--whitney-unveils-new-engineering-and- technology-center-on-its-east-hartford-campus-300554164.html Back to Top Volocopter Certification Expected To Take Five Years Dubai's wish to put a fully certified and regulated air taxi into operation within the next five years came a step closer recently, when UAE Crown Prince Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed Al Maktoum was a passenger on the first official proof-of-concept flight of one of the world's first autonomous air taxis (AAT) in September. However, progress in Dubai has stalled for now as further agreement is reached on how to progress toward certification. The AAT is expected to be certified by Dubai's Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) and the UAE's General Civil Aviation (GCAA) within five years. "The two-seater AAT, capable of transporting people without human intervention or a pilot, has been supplied by Volocopter, a Germany-based specialist manufacturer of autonomous air vehicles," the RTA stated. Over the next five years, the RTA will collaborate with the GCAA and the Dubai Civil Aviation Authority to ensure that the operational requirements for implementing AAT services are put in place, it said. "The AAT has a variety of unique features that include top security and safety standards and multiple redundancies in all critical components such as propellers, motors, power source, electronics and flight controls," said Mattar Al Tayer, director general and chairman of the board of executive directors of the RTA. "It is also fitted with optional emergency parachutes, nine independent battery systems and a battery quick-charge and plug-in system, which takes two hours to reach full charge in the prototype-a time that will be significantly reduced in the production version." The AAT is understood to have a maximum air speed of 100 km/h and a maximum flight time of approximately 30 minutes. It will operate under the "highest security and safety standards," Volocopter said. Six near equilateral "triangles" with 18 mini-propellers power the AAT, which has a height of 2.15 m and diameter of 7.35 m. The aircraft will also be equipped with a full emergency parachute. The Volocopter 2X flies completely autonomously or can be controlled via joystick. Bruchsal, Germany-based Volocopter in July agreed a finance deal of more than €25 million ($29 million) with Daimler and German technology investor Lukasz Gadowski, among others, to fund further development. However, the RTA faces a huge task in certifying the AAT as there are no FAA or EASA guidelines to rely on. "Our contract with the RTA ended with the demonstration flight for the Crown Prince. We have been very impressed by the RTA staff, their vision, staff, experience and plans to implement an AAT," Mike Rioux-COO at autonomous air-vehicle safety specialist, Bethesda, Maryland-based JDA Aviation Technology Solutions, which assisted the RTA in testing prototypes for the scheme-told AIN. "We have no doubt that they will make it happen-not in one year, but in the foreseeable future, assuming that [areas such as] the design and type certification regulations are developed for an autonomous aircraft, and that operational or flight standards/regulations are [also] developed." Rioux went on to specify a number of other considerations, including safety, air corridor allocation and operator standards. "All of these items are doable and achievable by RTA." Dubai aims to carry out 25 percent of its passenger transportation with the help of autonomous means of transport by 2030, Volocopter said. https://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/general-aviation/2017-11-10/volocopter-certification- expected-take-five-years Back to Top NASA Aims For Aviation Renaissance With Fuel Efficient Next-Gen Aircraft While it doesn't get as much attention as the evolution of vehicles, NASA have been working on the improvement of aircraft travel. They've developed a series of X-planes that tackle various limitations of today's industry. One of the latest concepts is an aircraft that reduces fuel consumption. Called the Single-aisle Turboelectric AiRCraft, the concept plane features a different boundary layer than conventional airplanes. It combines turbofan jets with a boundary-layer ingesting engine. Air that flows along the body of these aircrafts is collected by these giant fans and converted into thrust, which is known as the STARC-ABL concept. These large fans are powered by two separate underwing engines that provide up to three megawatts of energy for the boundary-layer ingesting engine. It's crucial for the engine to have plenty of power as it's responsible for 20 percent takeoff power and 45 percent cruise power. According to NASA, the engine's abilities could save 10 percent of fuel consumption. Development has taken place at NASA's Glenn Research Center in Cleveland, Ohio, and lead by Jim Felder and Jason Welstead. The concept aircraft is similar to a Boeing 737-800. According to their study, they could alter the shape of the body to provide even further thrusting ability and efficiency. NASA's Aviation Horizons initiative will also be looking at other aspects for the next generation, such as a supersonic passenger plane. They've been working on supersonic travel for decades, but it's been banned in the United States since 1973 due to the loud boom it creates. This can obviously cause numerous issues such as breaking glass in buildings and alarming farm animals. Since the loud noise is the biggest issue, NASA has been working on the aptly named Quiet Supersonic Technology (QueSST) aircraft concept. The planning lead of the project, David Richwine, told US News in October that success will lie in how it creates lift with the long, thin shape of the body and higher-placed wings. Instead of a sonic boom, "you get much more like a 'thump' sound." Further testing will need to be done with the STARC-ABL and QueSST concepts, including weight compensation and safety procedures, over the next year. Flight tests for the QueSST could take off as early as 2021. NASA is targeting their next-generation aircraft, either hybrid or turboelectric, with eco-friendly features to be in the air by 2037. "During the 12-month cycle, we'll work with the teams to take a deep dive into their hybrid and turboelectric aircraft concepts," Amy Jankovsky, NASA's Advanced Air Transport Technology subproject manager, told New Atlas. "These concepts will provide in-depth, detailed analyses of the propulsion and electrical systems, and we will recommend technology development paths for their concepts." http://www.greenmatters.com/news/2017/11/10/1lEgzE/nasa-aviation-renaissance-next-gen- aircraft Back to Top Hamburg opens two new aviation research institutes at once Two institutes by the German Aerospace Center DLR are being established in Hamburg, highlighting the Hanseatic city's national and international claim to excellence in the area of aeronautics research. The new research institutes at the Center of Applied Aeronautical Research ZAL in Finkenwerder were launched in the presence of numerous guests of honour, including Hamburg's First Mayor Olaf Scholz. The Institute of System Architectures in Aeronautics is going to focus in particular on digital development of future types of aircraft as well as on transferring innovative production processes ("digital aircraft"). The Institute of Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul is going to concentrate on research regarding aircraft operation, specialising in the development of new maintenance and data processing methods ("digital twin"). Planning provides for the two institutes to have 80 staff members each at the ZAL. The Federal State of Hamburg is going to become an official base of the DLR as a result. Hamburg's Aeronautical Research Center with 600 work places, which is among the most advanced in the world and was opened only two years ago, is now fully let. More than 40,000 highly qualified staff members in more than 300 companies and institutions make Hamburg the third biggest civil aviation hub worldwide. The aeronautical industry is among the region's most important economic factors. Hamburg's decisive advantage is the fact that know-how of global acclaim is pooled in the area, regarding all stages of an aircraft's life cycle - from pre-development through to recycling. Hamburg's First Mayor Olaf Scholz says: "We are pleased that the DLR decided to establish a branch in Hamburg. The close cooperation of science and the business world is going to give rise to innovations that will be trend-setting for the entire industry. The ZAL is a place of innovative ideas that result in new products for the aviation industry." "We are delighted that we are now represented in Hamburg, one of the biggest hubs of civil aviation world-wide, with two newly established DLR institutes and to closely cooperate in the ZAL with our industry partners, in the field of application-oriented research," says Prof. Pascale Ehrenfreund on the occasion of the opening ceremony. In the years ahead, the new institutes are going to receive an annual ten million euros of joint funding from the German federal and state governments. As the institutes' home state, Hamburg is going to contribute around 1.6 million euros per year. Furthermore, the City of Hamburg is going to provide another two million euros for investments during the set-up phase until the end of 2018. Industry-oriented research requires very close cooperation with the relevant industrial and mediumsized companies. This is why the institute is based in the ZAL, where the DLR has the opportunity to perform research in the same building and using shared large-scale testing facilities, with a large number of industrial partners from the aviation industry, including Airbus and Lufthansa Technik as well as suppliers and start-up companies. Close coordination of the required research competence that needs to be established to allow for research results to be used by the industrial partners as effectively as possible, has already begun. In addition to the regional network, the institutes are planning to form research partnerships with various German and international companies. The ZAL - Hamburg's Center of Applied Aeronautical Research - is the technology network for research and development for the civil aviation industry in the metropolitan area of Hamburg. In close coordination with the Hamburg Aviation Cluster, the ZAL is a central facility where the technology competence for the Hanseatic city is concentrated, and it thus allows for synergy effects. For this purpose, the ZAL constitutes a network for science and the business world, establishing an application-oriented culture of innovation and providing its partners with state-of- the-art infrastructure for research and development. https://eturbonews.com/170238/hamburg-opens-two-new-aviation-research-institutes Back to Top EASA proposes new carbon dioxide standard for aircraft The European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) has submitted a proposal to the European Commission for implementing a new carbon dioxide (CO2) emission standard for the newly designed aircraft. In its recently submitted Opinion, EASA has proposed the newly designed aircraft types to meet a CO2 standard from 1 January 2020. The types already in-production are to meet a separate CO2 emission standard starting from 1 January 2023. The Opinion also features a new Particulate Matter emissions standard for aircraft engines that is expected to be effective from the 1 January 2020. With the new proposal, EASA seeks to incentivize the inclusion of new fuel-efficiency technology into aircraft designs and address the predicted increase in CO2 emissions by the aviation sector. The proposals are also expected to help improve local air quality and the overall climate change objectives of the Paris Agreement. EASA executive director Patrick Ky said: "Ensuring that aviation contributes to the goal of mitigating climate change is important for EASA, who led the work on the aeroplane CO2 standard." The New EASA Opinion implements the recommendations suggested on aeroplane CO2standards, which was provided in the International Civil Aviation Organisation's (ICAO) Committee on Aviation Environment Protection (CAEP 10) meeting held in Montreal, Canada, in February last year. According to a European Aviation Environmental Report, the number of European flights and the levels of its CO2 emissions have increased by 80% between 1990 and 2014. The volume is also predicted to continue to grow. http://www.aerospace-technology.com/news/easa-proposes-new-carbon-dioxide-standard-aircraft/ Back to Top Federal DOT Announces a New Pilot Initiative to Expedite Integration of Manned and Unmanned Aircraft On November 2nd, U.S. Secretary of Transportation Elaine L. Chao announced further details to the Department of Transportation (DOT) new Drone Integration Pilot Program. The event took place at the DOT Headquarters where Secretary Chao was meeting with hundreds of drone operators, industry leaders, members of the public, law enforcement/first responders, and local, state, tribal and federal officials. The program follows a directive from President Donald J. Trump to initiate a pilot program to safely test and validate advanced operations through various partnerships across the country. The announced program will assess a series of operational concepts, including night operations, flights over people, flights beyond the pilot's line of sight, package delivery, detect-and-avoid technologies, counter-UAS operations, reliability and security of data links between pilot and aircraft, and local management of UAV operations. The entire package of new and innovative technologies, and their joint integration, will be under the supervision and oversight of the FAA. "The Drone pilot program will accelerate the safe integration of drones into our airspace by creating new partnerships between local governments, the FAA, and private drone operators," said Secretary Chao. "These partnerships will allow local communities to experiment with new technologies like package delivery, emergency drone inspections, and more, on terms that work for them and in ways that support a unified and safe airspace." DOT officials have created a Federal Register notice specifying the timeframe, requirements, and goals of the new program, which is aimed at pairing state, local, and tribal entities together with private sector stakeholders in the drone industry to develop and deploy new operational concepts that are not currently in widespread use. The key first step in the program is for government officials to complete a Notice of Intent, signifying their intention to complete a full program application. Applicants will have 20 days from the date of publication of the Notice in the Federal Register to complete a Notice of Intent, followed by the requirement that they complete an application through the FAA/UAS Portal within 57 days of the publication in the Federal Register. Within 180 days, initial program applicants who receive approval could begin deploying drones under the limitations coordinated and agreed to with the FAA. The program will last for three years. In her address to the multi-jurisdictional group, Sect. Chao emphasized the fact that the program application and eventual deployment process will move swiftly given the high priority for her department to encourage innovation in the drone industry while ensuring safe skies for the communities involved. It's the reason the pilot program is aimed at addressing the most severe challenges around the safe integration of manned and unmanned aircraft on the national airspace while making sure that risks are minimized for the public and security is assured. The program was initially designed to offer greater regulatory certainty and stability to local and state governments. UAV owners/operators who are accepted into the program will also be able to have that same certainty and stability. Brian Wynne, President and CEO of AUVSI (Association for Unmanned Vehicle Systems International), was at the event, and he mentioned: "More and more businesses and public safety providers are embracing UAVs to expand and enhance their service offerings. This growing demand illustrates a new renaissance in aviation and technology, which requires sustained collaboration and support by governments at every level." FAA Administrator Michael P. Huerta who was also present at the event, was enthusiastic that the initiative will help integration and innovation. He said: "This program will put community and industry partnerships at the leading edge of aviation technology. What we learn through testing operational concepts in these communities will be invaluable and give us clarity on rules that ensure safety and continued innovation." After evaluating all the applications, the U.S. DOT will select a minimum of five partnerships and the announcement will be made soon after, following the timelines specified in the Directive. https://www.expouav.com/news/latest/dot-announces-new-drone-pilot-initiative/ Back to Top Rolls-Royce Opens New Mideast Service Center Rolls-Royce (Stand 1028) says that the opening of its new Customer Service Center (CSC) at the iconic Aldar Building in Abu Dhabi is imminent. At the latest it will be fully operational by the end of 2017, said the company, and it will eventually employ 60 staff. The center will serve customers in the region, and these include Emirates, Etihad, Gulf Air and Saudi Arabian Airlines. John Kelly, v-p customers Middle East and Africa, said that with growth continuing, "particularly in the widebody market," it makes sense to be closer to operators that are flying with Rolls-Royce engines. The company has "a long heritage in the Middle East," said Kelly. Some 469 airliners in the region are Rolls-Royce powered, and these aircraft are in service with 36 operators, he added. "We want to ensure the speedy resolution of any problems [and] we also need to make sure decision making and empowerment is in place at the front line. We need an agile and responsive infrastructure that's not anchored in one time zone." Rolls-Royce now has a global network of CSCs, having opened the first one in Singapore in February 2015. "The Middle East CSC will complete the set," said Kelly. "Our new service model was first demonstrated in Singapore for the Asia-Pacific [region]. We found that 80 percent of things can be handled from there, and [average] response time was reduced by 75 percent." One of the advantages of the Abu Dhabi location is that it is a close road trip to the Bibras Technology Park in Al Ain, where Rolls-Royce has an MRO facility in partnership with Mubadala. The activities carried out in the new regional CSC are being transferred out of Derby, where Rolls- Royce's commercial aero engines business has its headquarters. The CSC will be "connected to the Aircraft Availability Centre based at Derby," noted Kelly. Earlier this year Rolls-Royce brought its range of service offerings together under a single banner, CareStore. Its range of CareServices includes TotalCare, SelectCare and LessorCare but CareStore provides a wider range of digital services so it covers not only maintenance, but also, according to the company, "availability, efficiency, asset management, transitions and customer support...it is designed to suit [customer] needs at every stage of the engine lifecycle." https://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/air-transport/2017-11-11/rolls-royce-opens-new- mideast-service-center Back to Top Satcom Direct Says Cyber Attack Risk Rising Cyber attacks on the aviation community, which can damage reputations and finances, "are becoming more frequent," Chris Moore, chief commercial officer at Satcom Direct (Stand 1526), said at the Dubai Airshow 2017. "We are alarmed at the number of colleagues we speak with who have not addressed the potential threats of a cyber security attack on their business aircraft network." The U.S.-based aviation connectivity provider is showcasing its portfolio of cyber security solutions at the show. Though developed for and primarily employed by business aviation users, the security solutions are available to military and even commercial operators, which are also vulnerable to security breaches. Satcom Direct says its Cyber Smart Kit and suite of cyber security solutions combines the benefits of its hardware routers, software services, ground infrastructure and technical expertise to protect business and military data transfer through all phases of flight. The free Cyber Smart Kit summarizes issues related to cyber attacks on aircraft, to help flight departments understand common data security threats in aviation. It includes quick tips, recommended actions and suggested security protocols. A complimentary network evaluation allows flight departments to review a company's existing IT system through a self-assessment. This enables the identification of areas for improvement. An on-site risk assessment establishes vulnerabilities and potential threats using National Institute of Standards and Technology principles and ISO 27001 practices. Satcom Direct's Cyber Security Solutions provide continual threat analysis and active monitoring, which detects and blocks intrusion attempts in real time. Underpinning the scope of services is the Satcom Direct Private Network, which allows satellite and air-to-ground connectivity providers to connect aircraft via the Satcom Direct Data Center and its multiple points of presence worldwide. This enables IT departments to apply current corporate compliance protocols to the aircraft, just as they would with any other company office location. Satcom Direct backs the integrity of its security solutions with an insurance policy that will cover up to $1 million in monetary damages for a security breach affecting customers that combine the Satcom Direct connectivity services, hardware and the Satcom Direct Private Network. Company representative are available at the show to discuss security issues with business as well as military and commercial aviation users. https://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/business-aviation/2017-11-10/satcom-direct-says-cyber- attack-risk-rising Back to Top MC-21 Flight Testing Accelerates in Zhukovsky Flight testing of the first Irkut MC-21 narrowbody airliner continues at the Gromov Research Institute in Zhukovsky, outside Moscow, where since November 2 Irkut has tested stability and controllability characteristics at altitudes ranging from 3,000 to 12,000 m/9,843 to 39,370 feet. According to program leaders, all aircraft systems have operated normally. Flight testing at Zhukovsky follows a direct ferry flight last month from the Irkutsk Aviation Plant (IAP) in Russia's Far East, where the MC-21 had performed 20 test sorties since its maiden mission on May 28. During the six-hour 12-minute ferry flight to Zhukovsky, the airplane traveled more than 4,000 km/2,158 nm and reached an altitude of 10,000 m/32,808 feet. During its initial testing at IAP, program teams recorded and checked flight characteristics in cruise, takeoff and landing configurations, determined corrections to the system for measuring airspeed parameters, assessed stability and control, checked systems performance and measured one- engine-out takeoff and landing characteristics. Now preparing for imminent first flight of the second MC-21, Irkut is preparing the third airplane in the final assembly shop for transfer to the flight test unit in 2018, while suppliers manufacture components and fuselage sections for the fourth airplane. Irkut plans the program to accrue a total of 1,000 flights, followed by Russian certification in mid- 2019 and EASA certification in mid-2020. Powered by Pratt & Whitney PW1400G geared turbofans, the MC-21 features the widest fuselage of any narrowbody on the market, promising cabin comfort for full-service airlines and cost advantages for low-fare carriers, according to Irkut and parent company United Aircraft (UAC). The MC-21's list price of $91 million suggests a 15-percent lower acquisition cost than that of the current A320. Irkut claims that either the PW1400G or a Russian engine alternative-namely, the Aviadvigatel PD- 14 undergoing testing aboard an Ilyushin Il-76 flying testbed-will produce a 15-percent operating cost advantage over the current Airbus A320. Apart from the engines, the MC-21's most radical advance centers on its carbon-fiber wings, which take the airplane's composite content to 30 percent. AeroComposit in Ulyanovsk, Russia, builds the wings using an out-of-autoclave resin transfer infusion process never before tried on a commercial aircraft. Both Airbus and Boeing use a more expensive process that requires an autoclave to cure their composite wings on the A350 and 787, respectively. Both of the MC-21's chief competitors-the Boeing 737 Max and Airbus A320-use metal wings. Bombardier uses an in-autoclave resin transfer infusion process to manufacture CSeries wings. https://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/air-transport/2017-11-13/mc-21-flight-testing- accelerates-zhukovsky Back to Top Prepare for Takeoff with New Smithsonian Channel Series SURVIVAL IN THE SKIES Every day, pilots and astronauts face life-or-death situations when they risk their lives to test the capabilities of physics and science. With limited time, harsh conditions and the pressure of survival, they must do everything they can to make it back on the ground safely. SURVIVAL IN THE SKIES tells the stories behind incredible pieces of space and aviation technology, from the invention of the parachute to the development of space suits. The series features stories of the people who created these amazing breakthroughs and the men and women who relied on them when their survival hung in the balance. The premiere episode, SURVIVAL IN THE SKIES: SPACE SUITS, airs Tuesday, November 28 at 9 p.m. ET/PT on Smithsonian Channel. SURVIVAL IN THE SKIES: SPACE SUITS reveals the technology that allowed Neil Armstrong to walk on the moon in 1969 and which will eventually allow explorers to walk on Mars. Engineers, fashion designers and astronauts tell the story of a "spacecraft you can wear." From the first crude suits that nearly killed early cosmonauts, to the reusable "personal habitats" of the Space Station, discover the evolution of the technology that allows humans to thrive in the most hostile conditions in the universe. Subsequent episodes of SURVIVAL IN THE SKIES are: PARACHUTES Premieres Tuesday, December 5 at 9 PM ET/PT Parachutes have saved more than 100,000 lives since their invention, and using one is now safer than driving a car. But the development of this life-saver required huge leaps of faith by pioneering engineers and courageous test jumpers who risked their lives for innovation. Discover the untold story of parachutes, from the early test-jumps from WWI biplanes to the massive chutes that land vehicles on Mars. EJECTION SEATS Premieres Tuesday, December 12 at 9 PM ET/PT When a fighter jet is spiraling out of control, a rocket-powered ejection seat may be the pilot's only hope of salvation. Originally designed as a spring-loaded chair, today's ejection seats are $100,000 computer-controlled flying machines that have saved the lives of over 10,000 pilots. Discover the stories of the pilots whose lives were saved and the inventors who risked it all to design and test new generations of ejection seats. THE JET RACE Premieres Tuesday, December 19 at 9 PM ET/PT The jet engine changed civilization forever, making global travel cheaper and faster. More than 100,000 commercial jet flights take off and land every day, while super high-tech military jets can blast through the sky at over six times the speed of sound. From the first prototype gas-turbine engine to tomorrow's hypersonic jets, this is the ultimate history of the jet innovation, told by the inventors and PIONEERS who risked their lives to pilot them to new heights and speeds. SURVIVAL IN THE SKIES is produced by Christopher Riley of ARROW International Media Ltd. Executive producers for Smithsonian Channel are Tim Evans and David Royle. Smithsonian Channel™, owned by Smithsonian Networks™, a joint venture between Showtime Networks Inc. and the Smithsonian Institution, is where CURIOSITY lives, inspiration strikes and wonders never cease. This is the place for awe-inspiring stories, powerful documentaries and amazing entertainment across multiple platforms. Smithsonian Channel combines the storytelling prowess of SHOWTIME® with the unmatched resources and rich traditions of the Smithsonian, to create award-winning programming that shines new light on popular genres such as air and space, history, science, nature, and pop culture. Among the network's offerings are series including Aerial America, America in Color, First Ladies Revealed, Polar Bear Town, The Lost Tapes, Amazing Monkeys, America's Secret Space Heroes, Mighty Ships, Mighty Planes and Air Disasters, as well as critically-acclaimed specials that include Titanic's Fatal Fire, The Obama Years: The Power of Words, Nightmare on Everest, Diana and the Paparazzi, Diana: The Day We Said Goodbye and Flying High with Phil Keoghan. Smithsonian Networks also operates Smithsonian Earth™, through SN Digital LLC., a new subscription video streaming service delivering spectacular original nature and wildlife content. To learn more, go to www.smithsonianchannel.com, or connect with us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. https://www.broadwayworld.com/bwwtv/article/Prepare-for-Takeoff-with-New-Smithsonian- Channel-Series-SURVIVAL-IN-THE-SKIES-20171110 Curt Lewis