May 18, 2020 - No. 035 In This Issue How can the aviation industry come out of the Covid 19 crisis successfully? Lufthansa Begins Collaboration to Develop Fuel From Sunlight Mojave Air & Space Port Firms Move Towards Space Goals Federal Program Would Keep Aerospace Workers on Payrolls The biggest threat to aviation is the one least expected Embry-Riddle Fine-Tunes Safety, Enhances Teaching in Preparation for Summer B Nuctech X-ray Security Inspection System CX7555D passed two standard tests of the European Civil Aviation Conference ECAC GKN Aerospace and Eviation sign collaboration agreement on wing, empennage and EWIS for Alice all-electric aircraft Pilot Program Takes Flight at Southeast India opens its space industry to private companies Who's flying in the SpaceX Crew Dragon? Meet astronauts Bob Behnken and Doug Hurley How can the aviation industry come out of the Covid 19 crisis successfully? By Manoj Srivastava, Director - Aviation Technology, Lorhan IT We should not forget that Airlines are selling only services and not a product. Indian aviation industry has been running since last three decades but unfortunately, it is still not matured enough to survive even few days without flying. You take any past example whether it was dot-com bubble burst or 911 or SARS, in any such natural calamity situation, airlines industry get affected 1st and revived in the last, simply because the airlines industry works in very low profit margin, which can't afford even small jerk to hit the business - COVID may go in next couple of weeks' times but fear factor of COVID will take few years to go or until everyone got vaccinated, Today, most of airlines are on ventilator, some of them already filed chapter 11 for bankruptcy i.e. Air Mauritius, Virgin Australia, JetSuite and no surprises if any Indian carrier may also declare for the bankruptcy, but the positive side is if Airlines can survived on a ventilator for some time, will be deserve for the winner to enjoy rest of the passenger traffic. Social Distancing Social distancing is one of the best way to avoid spreading-out coronavirus, especially in public place. DGCA already prepared a blueprint and advised to all Airlines, Airports operators to strictly follow the procures to handle the passengers, sanitizer machine installed in airports at various touchpoints, Airports, Ground Handling Agency's staff, Security staff, immigration staff may be wear disposable PPE Kit, special Pandemic Disaster Unit may be open with doctors, specialist, corona testing facility for testing and handling corona suspected passengers, medicated face-mask and glove may be distributed while issuing a boarding pass. Thermal gate to be installed for frisking at security checks, check-in baggage to be sanitised, baggage trolley to be sanitised after each use, UV sanitizer machine will be installed at the entry, security, and boarding gates, as far as Aircraft is concern, full sanitizing is recommended and deep cleaning needed after every landing/takes-off. As per new guidelines middle seat will be blocked but it is not viable simply because keep middle seat blocked neither maintain the recommended distance between aisle and window seat nor good for airlines load factor. Industry need to travel digital journey COVID has press the pause button, which is not good sign for any industry but I think this pause force us to think differently and stay away from doing conventional way of the business, revamp complete business process, use technology as much as possible and integrate all application, infrastructure across Airlines, Airports and Service providers systems. In other words entire customer journey should be paperless, all associated business functions could be digitally processed using ML/AI and RPA across Airlines systems to Airports check-in, frisking and boarding etc. system can be integrated and process passenger's information/data across the network in real-time mode. I strongly recommend that Airlines, Airports, service providers and concern regulatory agencies - DGCA, MoCA, MHA, AAI, ATC, BCAS, DOT, MeitY and others should jointly discussion and developed clear IT roadmap and prepare detail blueprint to integrate each services across all touchpoints without compromising national and passenger safety and security. In this context Ministry of Civil Aviation already taken an initiative and have planned to launch 'DigiYatra' app which will process passenger's information based on facial recognition, 'DigiYatra' will stored passenger information and kept in centralise database/NIC systems :- Departure Gate: Face reading device will retrieve DigiYatra data from central server and validate passenger booking. Check-in: Face reading device (fixed / portable) will read and retrieve valid booking and issued a boarding pass, self-check kiosk may also have face reading and validating features. Security Check: UV gate scanner will scan and read passenger face/thumb impression and security check status will updated in DigiYatra records. Check-in Baggage: RFID enabled baggage tag to be tagged with check-in baggage. So that check-in baggage can monitor across the journey from departure to arrivals. Boarding Gate: Auto boarding feature could be enabled, e-gate will read and revalidate passenger data/status etc. e-Passport: e-passport will enable self-immigration processes. Digital transformation is not new normal only 'acceptation' to be accepted. There are plenty of technology and application available globally and successfully implemented and running in various international airlines and airports, we should also follow the same route, and get it implemented in all Indian airports as early as possible so that we could resolve social distancing issue easily. WFH - fasten your belt WFH - 'Necessity is the mother of invention', today technically we are fully equipped to work from home and most of IT MNCs already following such practice since very long time, WFH may not fully applicable for every industry but partially can be implement in all industry. WFH may increase the airlines productivity as Airlines operates in 24 x 7 x 365 days, officially WFH culture may be adopted in aviation industry specially in Airlines, except flight operations, aircraft maintenance or any other department where physical presence required, however management, employees and service provider may occasionally can WFH concepts subject to technical feasibility and cybersecurity. Way forward strategy for survival and revival? Indian civil aviation industry is the fastest growing industry and expected to be the world's 3rd largest by 2024. As per DGCA Indian domestic passenger traffic increases by 3.74% in 2019 in compare to 2018 traffic, the Indian Aviation sector currently contributes $72 bn to GDP, but due to COVID lockdown effect Indian aviation industry could be facing 24-25K revenue loss, we can't predict what figure and what things to be changed in new normal but expected to take 18-20 months to recover. Corona pandemic wrote a new normal book which will change our lifestyle in coming age, probably WFH may not encourage to travel, but once vaccine invented and easily available in the market than people may start traveling for business trip initially, followed by tourism, personal trip, whatsoever situation maybe but once lockdown open and the government announced to fly, Airlines will start flying initially metro/business sectors only i.e. Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai, Hyderabad, Pune, Ahmedabad, etc. and keep monitoring current load factor and additional demand to connect other cities, likewise, Airlines gradually open and start flying other cities subject to demand and frequencies, airfare will be increased in many folds, possibly once again a common man can't afford to fly. Today, all airlines are in ventilator, some of them already filed chapter 11 for bankruptcy i.e. Air Mauritius, Virgin Australia, JetSuite and no surprises if any Indian carrier may also declare for the bankruptcy, but the positive side is if Airlines can survived on a ventilator for some time, will be the winner of rest of the time. What are the key lessons that have been learned? We should know the airline industry is very highly regulated and closely monitored by government agency DGCA, Airlines can't run the business in isolation, every step they need to follow certain rules and regulations laid down by DGCA, IATA/ICAO/FAA guidelines. If airlines wish to change something in the aircraft, could be a small change in nature still airlines must take airworthiness certification before flying. Airlines business is license-based business, even some of the position hold license issued by DGCA i.e. caption, commander, crew member, dispatchers, AMEs, flight instructor and auditors, generally, start-up airlines may take minimum 12-15 months to launch, before planning to start airlines business, following business Mantra should be remembered:- * Passion towards running the airline business. * Airlines business is a cash-intensive and low-profit margin business. * Do not expect immediate or short-terms Return-of-Investment * Once launched make sure Aircraft should be in Air (maximum utilization). Holding of the above mantra in the mind start preparing the following ingredient to start the operation: - * Prepare a strong and realistic 5-year business plan with projected revenue. * Professionally evaluated business plan * Appropriate selection of equipment / Aircrafts * Optimal Network Planning and strategy * Best and economical MRO strategy * Deploy adequate and minimum resource to start the operation * And cash reserve for unforeseen contingency events. Apart from the above 7 basic ingredients, 7 major Key performance indicators should be adopted to sustain the operation in the longer run: - * Optimum Utilization of Aircraft/s * Security and Safety of the travelers, now add 'Hygiene' * On-time performance - OTP * Passenger load Factor - PLF * Better Revenue Management and Optimization - RSPKM / CSPKM * Continuously reduce operating cost * Outsourced non-core functions and operations, only focus to run the Airlines. Mostly, Airlines landed-up with huge loss or closure situation due to wrong planning or missing of above 7 ingredients with 7 KPIs. Today, you can see, as corona pandemic start spreading out, airlines couldn't wait a single day and start laying-off employees, cutting salary, can't afford to survive even for a week or so, because of wrong planning, no contingency fund created to deal with the situation. In the last but not least, I am optimistic and expecting very soon we will come out from the current situation and one more time will fly and touch the sky with our maximum. https://www.expresscomputer.in/guest-blogs/how-can-the-aviation-industry-come-out-of-the-covid-19-crisis-successfully/55927/ Back to Top Lufthansa Begins Collaboration to Develop Fuel From Sunlight The Lufthansa Group has initiated a partnership with the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zurich (ETH Zurich) and the Institute's spin-offs, Climeworks and Synhelion, to develop cost-effective carbon-neutral fuels which are entirely compatible with the current global fuel infrastructure, according to a press release. The partnership, featuring Lufthansa Group subsidiaries Swiss International Air Lines and Edelweiss Air, covers a joint effort in technology and economic efficiency to create sustainable aviation fuels. Last June, it was announced that scientists and engineers from ETH Zurich developed a novel technology capable of producing liquid hydrocarbon fuels exclusively from sunlight and air, which can also be used for jet fuel production. This innovative technology encompasses three thermochemical processes that enable the extraction of carbon dioxide and water from the air, the solar-thermochemical splitting of carbon dioxide and water and liquefaction into hydrocarbons. The fuels produced with this technology release only as much carbon dioxide as previously extracted from the air for production. "In contrast to other modes of transport, air transport will depend on sustainable liquid fuels in the foreseeable future. Their market launch requires a joint effort by fuel manufacturers and airlines," Dr. Aldo Steinfeld, Professor for Renewable Energy Carriers at ETH Zurich, said. "With the planned cooperation, we are once again underlining the importance of Sustainable Aviation Fuels [SAF] for the goal of achieving aviation with a balanced CO2 sheet. The Lufthansa Group has been working hard for years to make flying ever more sustainable. Thanks to the forward-looking technologies and the cooperation with innovative partners in already two of our home markets, we are on the right track," Lufthansa Group Executive Board Member Christina Foerster said. SAF and Aviation Sustainability The aviation industry accounts for 2.4% of global greenhouse gas emissions, contributing to climate change and global dimming. Therefore, the development of alternative sustainable aviation fuels is crucial for the future of the aviation industry and climate. The International Civil Aviation Organization adopted the Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation (CORSIA), an emission mitigation plan to achieve the global aspirational goal of carbon-neutral growth from 2020 onwards. CORSIA scheme encourages the development of innovative technologies by aeronautical manufacturers to reduce aircraft consumption and the development of alternative sustainable fuels. According to the European Aviation Safety Agency, the use of SAF is currently minimal and it is likely to remain limited in the short term. But, they have great potential to mitigate the impacts of the current and expected future environmental impacts of aviation. The COVID-19 pandemic has again shown that the survival of the aviation industry relies on demand. Some airlines had to announce large layoffs and still some others have begun to file for bankruptcy. Because of the environmental impacts of air transport, some groups have called for the public to decrease its use of air travel and opt for alternative means of transport that emit less or no carbon. In the long run, this individual awareness regarding the dangers of climate change and global warming poses a huge risk against the demand for air travel. And because of that, SAFs will play a significant role in the sustainability of aviation, and the Lufthansa Group's initiative presents a significant step forward within this context. https://airlinegeeks.com/2020/05/17/lufthansa-collaborates-with-eth-zurich-to-develop-carbon-neutral-fuel-from-sunlight/ Back to Top Mojave Air & Space Port Firms Move Towards Space Goals Mojave Air & Space Port aerospace companies are working towards the future of new developments in cutting edge technologies and focusing their goals space. In addition, some are jumping in with the spirit of innovation and a shared mission to develop the solutions needed to protect healthcare workers and save lives during the COVID-19 global pandemic. "We couldn't be more proud of our customers' accomplishments," said Karina Drees, CEO and General Manager of Mojave Air & Space Port. Virgin Galactic/The Spaceship Company Virgin Galactic Holdings, Inc. and its wholly owned subsidiary, The Spaceship Company, announced on May 5, the signing of a Space Act Agreement with NASA to facilitate the development of high speed technologies. The Space Act Agreement is set to enable and foster collaboration between NASA, Virgin Galactic and The Spaceship Company in order to advance the United States' efforts to produce technically feasible, high Mach vehicles for potential civil point to point applications. Virgin Galactic believes that it is able to leverage its robust platform of advanced technologies, significant vertically integrated design, engineering and manufacturing capabilities, and thousands of hours of flight testing to develop additional aerospace applications. Together with its industry partners, Virgin Galactic is seeking to develop a vehicle for the next-generation of safe and efficient high speed air travel, with a focus on customer experience and environmental responsibility. George Whitesides, CEO of Virgin Galactic Holdings said, "This is the beginning of an important partnership for Virgin Galactic and The Spaceship Company that will support the future development of aviation technology. Virgin Galactic's unique experience and innovative technology platform will, in partnership with the historic capabilities of NASA and other government agencies, enable the progression of new technical steps that will improve U.S. competitiveness. We see this as an area with tremendous growth potential that we will continue to invest in, alongside our commercial spaceflight operations." Fighting COVID-19 Whitesides recently wrote an article and he gave me permission to share some of it with Aerotech News. "During the current global crisis, we believe that the space industry has a responsibility to share expertise, knowledge, resources, and ingenuity to aid in the fight against COVID-19, wrote Whitesides. "That's why, today, we are proud to share that Virgin Galactic is meeting this responsibility head-on through a Space Act Agreement with NASA." Employees at Virgin Galactic and The Spaceship Company developed and tested the PPB Hood - a device designed to support patients admitted to hospitals with COVID-19 with portable oxygen-rich pressure chambers, reducing the subsequent need for ventilator intubation," Whitesides said. "This Space Act Agreement outlines Virgin Galactic's commitment to developing innovative solutions to the problems facing healthcare workers on the frontlines. This is our way of ensuring that the best and brightest at Virgin Galactic can support their local communities during this challenging time and provide life-saving solutions for those suffering from COVID-19." Check out a video on Facebook showing the building of the PPB Hood. "The work NASA employees are doing in California is one of several examples of how the agency is contributing to the whole-of-government response to coronavirus," said NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine. "By channeling the unique skillset of our workforce and engaging private and public partners, we can make a difference in communities such as the Antelope Valley and nationwide." A TSC and NASA team are producing 400 PPB Hoods at a specially constructed assembly line at the Final Assembly, Integration and Test Hangar (FAITH) in Mojave. These hoods are being made available to the Antelope Valley Hospital in Lancaster, California. Special pressure testing was conducted on five prototype hoods, and secured initial authorization for production of the full batch of 400 units of the model approved by doctors. Separately, TSC and NASA are also working on conducting a further test program with Bartlett Community Hospital in Juneau, Alaska. "I am enormously proud of the contributions of our team, whose dedication in the face of adversity inspires me greatly. With this Space Act Agreement, we chart our next steps forward as a company and as proud members of a global community, committed to doing our best when times are at their hardest. I am confident that we will emerge from this global health crisis stronger and better prepared than ever to set our sights on new horizons and continue in the fulfillment of Virgin Galactic's mission - overcoming challenges, exploring the unknown, and using space for good," Whitesides said. Virgin Orbit - Virgin Orbit's first launch coming soon Soon, Virgin Orbit will attempt its first orbital test launch over the Pacific Ocean southwest of Los Angeles, capping a development program for an air-launched small satellite carrier that began in earnest eight years ago. The small satellite launch company is part of Richard Branson's Virgin Group. The headquarters and rocket factory are in Long Beach, Calif. Virgin Orbit was founded in 2017 as a spinoff to Virgin Galactic, Branson's suborbital space tourism company. Virgin Galactic managed the early years of LauncherOne's development. Virgin Orbit completed a cryogenic captive carry test of the LauncherOne rocket April 12, demonstrating the performance of the launch vehicle, its Boeing 747 carrier jet, telemetry and tracking systems, and ground teams. During the April 12 captive carry flight, Virgin Orbit's Boeing 747 carrier jet took off from Mojave Air and Space Port in California's High Desert and flew off the coast. With pilot Kelly Latimer and three other crewmembers, including launch support engineers, the jumbo jet flew a race track pattern over the Pacific Ocean before lining up for a simulated launch run west of San Nicolas Island, which is owned by the U.S. Navy. On a real launch, the nearly 30-ton LauncherOne rocket will be released from a pylon under the 747's left wing during the pull-up maneuver at an altitude of around 35,000 feet. Four seconds after release, the rocket's kerosene-fueled NewtonThree engine will ignite with 73,500 pounds of thrust to begin climbing into orbit. Stratolaunch Stratolaunch has some really exciting plans for the huge, six engine carrier aircraft. The company is not only providing launch services, but is now interested in supporting hypersonic vehicles that reach speeds of Mach 5 to Mach 10. There were questions about the future of the company after the death of the company's founder and principal funder, Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen. However, in October Stratolaunch announced that Vulcan Inc., Allen's holding company, had sold the company to an unidentified owner. That new owner was later identified in regulatory filings as Cerebus, a private equity fund, as first reported by GeekWire. New employees have been recruited to fill positions in this aerospace firm that has a mission statement "to be the world's leading provider of high-speed flight test services." A year ago, the high-altitude launch company Stratolaunch flew the world's largest aircraft. Now, Stratolaunch has revealed the designs of two hypersonic aircraft plus a reusable space plane that will be launched from its giant Carrier Aircraft launch plane. The company hopes to begin test flights of these vehicles by 2022. "Our hypersonic testbeds will serve as a catalyst in sparking a renaissance in hypersonic technologies for our government, the commercial sector, and academia," said W. Jean Floyd, Stratolaunch's CEO, on the company's website. The two new hypersonic planes are called Talon-A and Talon-Z, while the space plane is dubbed Black Ice. Talon-A is a flexible, high-speed testbed built for hypersonic research, experiments, and enabling operational missions. The vehicle will be 8.5 meters long with a wingspan of 3.4 meters and a total mass of approximately 2.7 tons at launch. It will be dropped aloft by its mothership, the giant carrier aircraft. "We believe that innovative flight research and testing programs are key to enabling our nation to develop emerging hypersonic technologies into operational systems. Stratolaunch designs, manufactures, and launches aerospace vehicles and technologies to fulfill several important national needs, including the need for reliable, routine access to space and the need to significantly advance the nation's ability to design and operate hypersonic vehicles. Developing hypersonic technologies is one of our country's most important national priority programs," said Stephen Corda, chief technology officer on the company's website. National Test Pilot School On Feb. 26, 2020, the National Test Pilot School made flight test education history by becoming the first and only test pilot school in the world to achieve Institutional Accreditation. In addition to ABET Accreditation for their Master of Science in Flight Test Engineering Degree, NTPS is now accredited as a Graduate School by the WASC Senior College and University Commission; a U.S. Department of Education recognized accreditation agency. "We are an innovative leader in total flight test training and research. The National Test Pilot School has been serving the worldwide flight test community since 1981 and has trained thousands of Test Pilots and Flight Test Engineers through its diverse course offerings," said Dr. Allen Peterson, NTPS President and CEO. Masten Space Systems NASA has chosen a new lunar surface delivery partner from its list of Commercial Lunar Payload Services vendors to actually transport materials on its behalf - Mojave's Masten Space Systems, which is being tapped by the agency to take eight payloads, including non-science and tech instruments, to the Moon's South Pole in 2022. Masten's contract is a $75.9 million award that specifies end-to-end delivery of the payloads, as well as their integration with the company's XL-1 lander. They're also required to land on the Moon and operate for at least 12 days post-landing. "Masten is thrilled to have NASA as our anchor customer on this mission," said CEO Sean Mahoney. "As we, like the rest of the world, work to keep our employees and families safe in these trying times, we're glad to see America's return to the Moon and space commerce moving forward." "Masten's XL-1 lunar lander is built on over a decade of experience in vertical takeoff and vertical landing technology with a focus on reusability," explained Founder and CTO David Masten. "We're grateful for all the partners and customers who have worked with our team to perform hundreds of successful rocket landings. This experience has helped us develop the enabling technology of entry, descent and landing that will ensure precise and safe landings on other celestial bodies." https://www.aerotechnews.com/blog/2020/05/16/mojave-air-space-port-firms-move-towards-space-goals/ Back to Top Federal Program Would Keep Aerospace Workers on Payrolls The leaders of the Senate's aerospace caucus introduced legislation this week that would fund a portion of aviation manufacturers' payrolls in an effort to prevent layoffs. The proposal, introduced by Sens. Jerry Moran, R-Kan., and Mark Warner, D-Va., would establish a temporary public-private partnership between the federal government and manufacturers certified by the FAA. In return for the companies agreeing to keep vulnerable workers on the job, the government would fund up to 50% of those workers' total compensation. The bill would limit the share of employees that could qualify as "at-risk" for layoffs to 25% of a company's overall workforce. Proponents said the measure would ensure workers are fully compensated and in place as the industry recovers from the coronavirus pandemic, which all but shut down the aviation manufacturing sector amid stay-home orders, government travel restrictions and passengers staying put. Moran and Warner also highlighted the industry's vital role in national defense. "Temporary and targeted assistance is needed to help save these jobs," Aerospace Industries Association President and CEO Eric Fanning said in a statement. The measure follows a more than $2 trillion economic rescue package passed in late March that included $58 billion for the aviation industry. https://www.mbtmag.com/home/news/21133568/federal-program-would-keep-aerospace-workers-on-payrolls Back to Top The biggest threat to aviation is the one least expected As these unprecedented times have emphasised, aviation cannot prepare for all threats that have a potential to leave a mark on the industry. However, some can be predicted and considered. By doing so sufficiently, disruption can be minimised. Ilias Maragakis, COO at Fraport Greece, believes multi-layered security measures and collaboration - including with non-aviation organisations - can significantly help protect the industry. What do you see to be the biggest threat to aviation security? The biggest threat is the one we least expect. As security threats continue to morph, we have to remain vigilant, addressing known threats as well as new and undefined ones. To this end, we will continue to implement multi-layered security measures; discouraging, minimising and eliminating potential security threats. The biggest threat in aviation security is not to take action when immediate action is needed. What is a considerable threat to Fraport Greece's airports? For Fraport Greece the biggest concern is to accommodate the highly-seasonal traffic at our 14 airports while security measures and passenger travel processes continue to evolve due to new requirements, including those stemming from COVID-19. Changes in travel habits and social behaviour will have an impact on security processes, but it is difficult to determine within 2020 which of these measures (or new needs) will be with us in the long term and which will be negated in the years to come. In any case, we have a continuous improvement team looking towards harnessing the best performance out of existing technologies, but also looking into the future for needs and solutions. In order to safeguard our airports we should not spend our efforts on trying to make security something it is not Considering the extent to which aviation has been impacted by COVID-19 - how would you suggest airports develop their crisis management procedures? The crisis of COVID-19 has shown that coordination is key to resolving any crisis. Lack of coordination will not only delay crisis resolution, but potentially create a crisis in itself. One of the advantages we had in Fraport Greece, as a relatively young airport operator in the country, was that we started anew without the burden of legacy procedures. From the start of drafting our procedures we engaged with stakeholders outside the 'known aviation circle', with agencies such as civil protection or local authorities and policy makers. What emerging technology do you think will be instrumental in developing aviation security? I believe it will be an emerging fusion of existing technologies rather than a technology in itself. Just to give you an example, I strongly believe in a future self-check process in security. In this future, airport security moves more towards a self-check process, whereby a passenger can check himself through security in a similar way he can now do with his boarding pass and to drop off luggage. Just like with the self-service boarding pass and baggage check-in process, so too we will move into a procedure through which the passenger will divest, pass through the metal detector and pass their items through x-ray on their own, remotely supervised by CCTV and AI. An array of technologies enabling this automated process exist already, for example, AI, image and movement recognition, gesture control and passenger identification. If the associated technologies become cost effective there are several benefits, especially in the post-COVID-19 era where social contact should be minimum and remote security checks preferable. Collaboration and knowledge-sharing are key for the security sector to improve. What do you think airport leaders should be more willing to discuss and share? Although the security regulations are common worldwide, and especially through regions like Europe are the same, there is a lot of scope in collaboration between airports. The way compliance is achieved or solutions are implemented may differ. If we want to improve our security processes through trial and experimentation, we have to be willing to learn, implementing these lessons in our day-to-day operations. This requires both sharing experience but also being willing to adopt other organisations' lessons. One of the things we have learned operating 14 airports in Greece is that solutions can come from anywhere, we should not be dismissive of smaller airports or organisations. In your opinion, how does aviation security need to evolve to safeguard airports for the future? Airport security and passenger screening will never be an enjoyable process, no matter how much 'fun' we try to make it. A person you don't know searches your personal belongings and searches your body to see if you are carrying prohibited items: How fun can this be? In order to safeguard our airports we should not spend our efforts on trying to make security something it is not. We should minimise its footprint during the passenger journey, by keeping it at the level required by the authorities, focusing on effectiveness rather than raw numbers. Biography Ilias Maragakis joined Fraport Greece at the start of the project in 2016 and was one of the first members of the senior management team. As Head of Safety and Performance, he oversaw the implementation of the highest international standards, procedures and best practices at all 14 regional airports. Maragakis has more than 20 years' aviation experience, having worked at the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) for nine and before that as a consultant for the expansion of regional airports in the UK. He has an MSc in Airport Planning and Management. https://www.internationalairportreview.com/article/116881/aviation-threat-fraport-greece-maragakis/ Back to Top Embry-Riddle Fine-Tunes Safety, Enhances Teaching in Preparation for Summer B Across the university, faculty and staff are fine-tuning safety precautions and developing nimble instructional strategies as Embry-Riddle prepares to resume low-density instruction on both residential campuses this summer. Further details on Embry-Riddle's "crawl, walk, run" phased reopening plan will be provided on Monday, but continuous refinement of health precautions and academic delivery methods have been key. For example, all classrooms and workspaces are being systematically audited and reconfigured for low-density use, to maintain six feet of separation at all times. Faculty members - working with Provost Lon Moeller, academic deans, department chairs and the Centers for Teaching & Learning Excellence - are being offered special training on how best to deliver content in a variety of modes while keeping students fully engaged. Students also stepped up to the plate to complete their courses online, and many Eagles got busy producing face coverings, shields and other personal protective equipment. Embry-Riddle's Covid-19 response has included these and many other efforts: Technology 347 laptops have been loaned to students and employees. 1,356 Tutor.com sessions have been completed so far. We launched three new websites: Keep Teaching, Keep Learning and Keep Working. Health An estimated 60,000 wellness checks have been completed on both campuses to date. Some 160 gallons of hand sanitizer has been purchased for both campuses so far - and we will need at least that much every two to three months. We bought enough Virex to make more than 71,000 spray bottles. Approximately 70 no-touch thermometers have been procured as of this writing. Thermal scanners were purchased for both campuses. Materials are on hand to install nearly 50 Plexiglass barriers. Hundreds of face coverings were engineered by an army of Embry-Riddle volunteers. Students on both campuses engineered more than 5,000 face shields for area hospitals. Our researchers are working on new ventilator technology. Aviation On the Prescott Campus, 222 FAA Safety Teams WINGS knowledge credits have been earned by staff members. On the Daytona Beach Campus, Flight Operations completed 1,600 activities within one week of reopening and the FAA Testing Center was relocated to the Advanced Simulation Center. Instructors on the Daytona Beach Campus have completed 2,000+ hours of training on advanced teaching methods and new technical systems, and instructors and training managers have developed 600+ pages of new content for the instructor guide. New enrollments in the free online Aviation101 course increased by 6,000. Deans with all three of our Colleges of Aviation, including the Worldwide Campus, collaborated to organize a free "Aviation Outlook" webinar featuring alumnus and Airbus Americas, Inc. Chairman and CEO C. Jeffrey (Jeff) Knittel. Student Services ERNIE Central now offers virtual access to the Registrar, Financial Aid, Financial Services, and International Student & Scholar Services. Virtual career solutions have included virtual internships, webinars, a competition for prizes for students who take part in Eagle Elevate, Instagram videos with career tips, and much more. Wellness counselors are now available via telehealth, and Counseling staff are posting self-care tutorials to YouTube, Facebook and Instagram. A Teladoc service allows students to access board-certified physicians online. Online options for employees are also available. Communication The new Covid-19 informational webpage currently features some 60 different updates. More than 7,500 window clings, signs, flyers, lanyard cards and other health-related informational materials have been created since late January. Videos such as the flight check-in and aircraft sanitation procedures segments, a PowerPoint presentation on our phased reopening plan, and other materials have been deployed. Embry-Riddle's list of activities and services launched in response to Covid-19 is far too long to include here in its entirety. Additional information on the university's phased reopening plan will be shared on Monday, May 18. Watch the Covid-19 webpage for updates. https://news.erau.edu/headlines/embry-riddle-fine-tunes-safety-enhances-teaching-in-preparation-for-summer-b Back to Top Nuctech X-ray Security Inspection System CX7555D passed two standard tests of the European Civil Aviation Conference ECAC PARIS, May 16, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- The European Civil Aviation Conference (ECAC) recently announced that the Nuctech X-ray Security Inspection System CX7555D passed the Liquid Explosive Detection System (LEDS type C Standard 2) and Explosive Detection System for Cabin Baggage (EDSCB C1) standard tests. Nuctech X-ray Security Inspection System CX7555D comes from the best proven CX products platform, which features the perfect image performance, ergonomic user interface and advanced dual-view design. With dual-view technology, vertical and horizontal scan images of the inspected package can be obtained at the same time, which improves the identification rate of dangerous contraband. Based on dual-energy X-ray imaging technology, high-precision effective atomic number signature of the test object can be obtained, thereby achieving excellent material discrimination and coloring, and possessing a high level of automatic auxiliary detection capabilities for explosives and narcotics. The product has been put into use in airports, customs, postal logistics, cruise terminals and other industries in more than 10 countries including Germany, Sweden, Russia, China, and Japan. ECAC has set a strict test protocol. After passing the test, the CX7555D further perfected the combination of Nuctech's civil aviation equipment. As of now, Nuctech has already passed more than 50 ECAC standard tests on 19 types of equipment, covering almost all aviation security inspection product lines, including like luggage inspection, human security inspection, trace explosive detection, liquid inspection, metal detection, etc., Official website link for the European Civil Aviation Conference: https://www.ecac-ceac.org/cep https://finance.yahoo.com/news/nuctech-x-ray-security-inspection-015400412.html Back to Top GKN Aerospace and Eviation sign collaboration agreement on wing, empennage and EWIS for Alice all-electric aircraft The collaboration agreement covers the design and manufacture of wings, empennage and electrical wiring interconnection systems (EWIS) for Alice, the ground-breaking regional electric aircraft recently launched by Eviation. The aircraft is aiming to change the way people travel, by making journeys of distances up to 650 miles more sustainable. GKN Aerospace is the world's multi-technology leader in design and manufacturing of lightweight aerostructures and EWIS systems, as well as being a key partner in the Airbus 'Wing of Tomorrow' programme and market leader in lightweight business jet empennages. As part of GKN Aerospace's collaboration agreement with Eviation, design and manufacturing activities are already ongoing on-site at Eviation (Israel) and in several GKN Aerospace engineering centres across Europe. GKN Aerospace is using its world-leading capability in the design and manufacture of advanced lightweight aerostructures and EWIS - as proven on the Airbus A220, A320, A330, A400M, A350 XWB, Boeing 767 and 787, Dassault F6X, F7X, F8X Gulfstream G550, G650, G700 and the Lockheed Martin F-35 - to mature the design of the empennage, wing and EWIS of Alice. John Pritchard, President, Civil Airframes GKN Aerospace said, "We are excited to collaborate with Eviation and to support the development of this all-new electric aircraft. The development of all-electric aircraft is ground-breaking; it's a step change in aviation and we are delighted to contribute. As technology leaders in wing, empennage and EWIS design, we can bring unrivalled knowledge and expertise to the project." Matteo Borghini Lilli, Director, Wing Product Group at GKN Aerospace said, "In the quest for more sustainable and environmentally friendly aviation, we are excited to be part of the Eviation programme, which is at the forefront in taking electric flight from a future aspiration into today's reality. GKN Aerospace is proud to bring its wealth of experience in design and certification, in conjunction with key technological innovations, to achieve this aspiration." "GKN Aerospace brings tremendous expertise to the program, allowing us to think again about what could be achieved with advanced aerostructures," says Omer Bar Yohay, Eviation's CEO and Co-Founder. "I trust that we'll see GKN Aerospace take on a growing part of our development and manufacturing effort as the program matures and the Alice nears production." https://www.suasnews.com/2020/05/gkn-aerospace-and-eviation-sign-collaboration-agreement-on-wing-empennage-and-ewis-for-alice-all-electric-aircraft/ Back to Top Pilot Program Takes Flight at Southeast The Southeast Missouri State University Board of Regents today approved a new Professional Pilot Bachelor of Science. The program now goes to the Missouri Department of Higher Education and Workforce Development for review. Southeast hopes to begin implementing the program and admitting students in August with the program expected to launch in fall 2021. "This is an outstanding opportunity for the University to stay on the leading edge of academic program innovation and to grow our enrollment," said Dr. Carlos Vargas, president of Southeast Missouri State University. Vargas said that shortly after arriving in Cape Girardeau in 2015 he began talking to people, including the manager of the Cape Girardeau Regional Airport and visited the Cape Girardeau Career and Technology Center about a professional pilot program. At about the same time, he was approached by Ken Jackson of Dexter, Missouri, who had a very similar idea. Jackson, state supervisor of instruction with the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) and former superintendent of Dexter Schools, expressed to Vargas his keen interest in the development of a professional pilot program. Vargas and Jackson met to discuss their shared vision, and the program began to take shape. "He had done a lot of research into a program and had already gathered a lot of information," Vargas said. "When we talked, we both realized we had the same goal, and we were both really excited about the program. He was a champion from the very beginning." Jackson's been interested in aviation for years and in May 2017 earned his Private Pilot License. He is a member of the Stoddard County Flyers, a local flying club based in Dexter, and of the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA). "I was aware of the fact that Ozark Technical College (OTC) in Springfield, Missouri, began a new aviation program in August 2017. When I reviewed their program, curriculum and facilities, it became apparent to me that Southeast Missouri State University and the Cape Girardeau Regional Airport, could offer everything that OTC provided," Jackson said. "Knowing there was going to be tremendous opportunities in aviation, and learning of Dr. Vargas' background and development of the Unmanned Aircraft Systems (drone) Program at SEMO, Dr. Vargas graciously agreed to discuss this with me," he said. In addition to these conversations, University leaders, City of Cape Girardeau officials and other local proponents of a pilot program traveled to Minnesota State University, Mankato, last fall to tour and learn about their pilot program. Dennis Vollink of Cape Girardeau, vice president of engineering and flight operations with Drury Southwest, participated in that tour. He's a commercial pilot with 10,000 hours of flying time and a retired military pilot. "What we saw at Mankato State was impressive," he said. "I am very supportive both from an economic viewpoint and as it concerns the growth of the University," Vollink said. "This is a much-needed career field" and dovetails nicely with other high-tech programs Southeast has developed, including its Unmanned Aircraft Systems program. "It's a good, natural fit," Vollink added. He said the Cape Girardeau Regional Airport is undergoing significant change, and this program could trigger growth at the facility. Following the visit to Mankato State, Southeast officials continued refining plans for the program and, following action by the Board today, they are confident it will soon take flight. Cape Girardeau City Manager Scott Meyer said, "Aviation is a great career path for students and a great industry for our local economy. We are excited to connect University students with the hands-on learning opportunities at our airport." Cape Girardeau Regional Airport Manager Katrina Amos, said "the City of Cape and the Cape Girardeau Regional Airport are very supportive of this program and eager to partner with the University to make it a reality. "Programs, such as the Professional Pilot program, have been successful in other communities, and we have no doubt it would be a success in our community as well," she said. Amos says the Cape Girardeau Regional Airport "has a unique setup, in that we own all facets of the airport including the air traffic control tower, making the airport the perfect training ground for student pilots. We also have a large hangar facility with office space available that could be reconfigured as classrooms, allowing students the opportunity to be onsite to see how airports operate in real time. "This program will certainly be an added benefit to the airport where "a lot of great things are happening," she added. Jackson said he believes students in the Southeast Missouri State University service area should have the same opportunity to experience aviation as students at other schools with such programs. "While COVID-19 has created significant challenges in the aviation community, I do believe, in the long-term, there will be a demand for all things aviation - engineers, A&P mechanics, pilots, air-traffic control, flight instructors, security, airport managers, teachers, military, law enforcement," he said. "Currently, Missouri has more than 100 aviation-related businesses." Regional, national and international demand for professional pilots continues to grow as the number of commercial pilots steadily declines, the result of many reaching mandatory retirement age thresholds. Southeast can play an important role in reversing this trend, he said. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, expected growth for pilots nationally is approximately 4.6% through 2028. In this area, in particular, many pilots on average are at least 55 years old. Data from Economic Modeling Specialists Intl. (EMSI) shows that in 2018, just 63 candidates graduated from pilot programs in this region while there were 1,218 pilot job openings. Amos said with the nationwide pilot shortage, the more people can be exposed to the aviation industry at an early age the better. "We have intelligent, capable students in the Southeast Missouri area who may want to explore this career path with learning opportunities close to home," she said. Jackson says Boeing's 20-Year Pilot and Technician Outlook has forecast huge opportunities for pilots and other aviation professionals. "The Cape Girardeau Regional Airport now has direct flights to Chicago and has experienced increased passenger travel, until COVID-19," he said. "Over the next three years there will be many pilot retirements and with fewer pilots transitioning from the military, the need for new pilots will be increasing. "I believe that students will demonstrate interest in the program," Jackson said. "In fact, Cape Girardeau Public School's Career & Technology Center provides students from sending school districts the opportunity to participate in a course called 'Basic Flight'. These students will complete their ground school instruction and pass the FAA exam, but will not accumulate enough flight hours to complete the check-ride." The Professional Pilot Bachelor of Science program will require a minimum of 121 credit hours of instruction, including 42 hours of general education coursework. Southeast plans to launch the program with minimal expense by structuring it similarly to other professional pilot programs. Under the program, Southeast will contract with a flight company that will own the aircraft and be responsible for maintaining them per contractual guidelines and FAA standards. Vollink said this joint partnership with a flight company will be very beneficial and is a good way to grow the program with little cost at a time when state funding is limited. Southeast has had initial discussions with the City of Cape Girardeau on partnering with the Cape Girardeau Regional Airport as a primary facility for the program. "Offering the professional pilot program at Southeast Missouri State University would allow our students to meet all of their degree requirements - class instruction, ground school, accumulation of flight hours, FAA Private Pilot Certificate testing and FAA check-ride with a designated pilot examiner - locally," Jackson said, resulting in increased job opportunities at Southeast and in the Cape Girardeau area. He said he believes that students earning this degree will be more inclined to remain in the area and contribute to the local economy. "We are extremely pleased to work collaboratively on developing this program and boosting the workforce with qualified pilots," Vargas said. "We look forward to launching this new academic offering and making this new career path available to our students." Jackson added, "I have enjoyed and appreciated the opportunity to work with Dr. Vargas and his staff at SEMO and was impressed with their efforts to thoroughly investigate other aviation programs. Those of us in aviation like to say, 'a mile of highway will take you one mile, but a mile of runway can take you anywhere.'" https://news.semo.edu/pilot-program-takes-flight-at-southeast/ Back to Top India opens its space industry to private companies India has decided to open its space industry to private companies. India has a thriving space program, with the Mars Orbiter Mission that's circled the red planet for over five years and the Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System GPS alternative among its most prominent achievements. But to date all space activity in India has been conducted by the government. On Sunday that changed with liberalisation announced as part of a massive post-pandemic economic stimulus plan. Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman's speech announcing the new economic plan said the "Indian private sector will be a co-traveller in India's space journey" and added that the nation "Will provide level playing field for private companies in satellites, launches and space-based services." The minister also said the private sector will be able to use the facilities of India's space agency. And that's were things get interesting, because India's two launch sites are at eight and thirteen degrees north, which matters because launches from closer to the equator get a "slingshot effect" due to Earth's rotational speed being faster at the Equator. Launches on or close to the equator can therefore carry larger payloads while also requiring less fuel to reach some orbits - which is why Sea Launch sends rockets up from a ship a big reason for placing the Korou spaceport in Guiana, just five degrees north of the Equator. India's new policy will not go unnoticed in the global space industry. Which is just what India wants as it seeks to revive and build its post-COVID economy. Other measures floated over the weekend include incubating nuclear technology startups for medical and energy applications, liberalising aviation and building a commercial aviation maintenance industry, ending the government's coal mining monopoly and becoming self-sufficient in defence supplies. https://www.theregister.co.uk/2020/05/18/india_opens_space_to_private_players/ Back to Top Who's flying in the SpaceX Crew Dragon? Meet astronauts Bob Behnken and Doug Hurley. It's not every day that you get to see your husband fly to space. And it's even more unusual when you can relate to that experience, as well. But that's what's in store for NASA astronauts Megan McArthur and Karen Nyberg when their spouses, Bob Behnken and Doug Hurley, break the nine-year drought on crewed flights from Kennedy Space Center on May 27. From the safe confines of KSC, McArthur and Nyberg, along with their sons, will watch as Behnken, 49, and Hurley, 53, blast off from pad 39A on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket and Dragon capsule for a historic mission to the International Space Station that will place them in the Astronaut Hall of Fame. They will know the excitement running through Behnken's and Hurley's veins as they become the first astronauts to fly to space from U.S. soil since the shuttle program ended in 2011 and the first to command an entirely new spacecraft since the debut of the shuttle in 1981. And yes, McArthur and Nyberg will know the dangers that come along with human spaceflight, too. For Behnken and Hurley, the flight is a career-capping opportunity that's even more special because of their long-time friendship, which began when they joined the astronaut class in 2000. In the past two decades, Behnken, who is from New York and Hurley, who is from Missouri, have developed a close bond. Not only were they military test pilots before becoming astronauts, they also met their future spouses in the same astronaut class and even attended each other's weddings. Hurley was Behnken's best man. "A man named Duane Ross was the lead for the astronaut selection process. In some sense, he picked my spouse for me; he picked my friends for me," Behnken told The Atlantic in 2019. The close-knit astronaut couples, who currently reside in Houston, have learned to balance work and family while simultaneously dealing with the occasional spaceflight. "That's one of the things that is unique in our relationships: We have spouses that have the same job. If you even just look at our wedding planning, my wife and I were balancing space flights and a lot of stuff going on back here in Houston. Her flight got delayed a little bit and we found a window where we could get out to San Diego and have our wedding," Behnken told the magazine. "Doug and Karen have to work their personal life around their space flights. And same thing for us. I know what he's going through. We both have sons in elementary school; we're balancing the same challenges. That lets us predict how to best support each other as we work through pulling off our next space flight." They are not the only astronaut couples. Others like Rhea Seddon and Hoot Gibson, Bill and Anna Fisher, and Steve Hawley and Sally Ride, who were all part of the first shuttle astronaut class to include women, also got together when they were in the space program, according to Air & Space Magazine. Even the first woman in space, Russian Valentina Tereshkova, married fellow cosmonaut Andriyan Nikolayev, who became the third Russian to fly to space. They later divorced in 1980. "It makes it easier to get along (with other astronauts) because you come from similar backgrounds ... and when you arrive as a brand new astronaut, you know a little bit about the astronauts who are already there," former space shuttle astronaut Winston Scott told FLORIDA TODAY. This will be Behnken and Hurley's first spaceflight together, and it will be unlike past trips. They'll be in a capsule rather than a shuttle. They won't be wearing the traditional orange shuttle suits. And they won't head to the launch pad in the famous silver astronaut transfer van, or "Astrovan." Instead, on the day of launch, they'll don SpaceX's white-and-gray futuristic spacesuits and ride in Teslas - SpaceX CEO Elon Musk's other company - to the pad where they will pave the way for a new type of spaceflight: one where astronauts fly on commercial vehicles. Under NASA's Commercial Crew Program, SpaceX beat Boeing to be the first contender to fly astronauts to the station. This mission, dubbed Demonstration Mission 2 or Demo-2, is a historic milestone aimed at proving SpaceX can send humans safely to space. Behnken and Hurley say it helps that both are seasoned astronauts familiar with launching from KSC. Behnken's last flight was in 2010 aboard Space Shuttle Endeavour. Hurley's was more recent: he piloted the final shuttle mission on Atlantis, taking off from pad 39A on July 8, 2011. "I think for both Doug and I, with our careers with the shuttles launching off the Florida coast, that's probably the thing that's very different from a mission perspective," Behnken told reporters during a video teleconference from Houston. "When we launched on our first flight, it was kind of repeated to fly from the Florida coast, that was the normal thing, that's what we grew up with." "I think we have a different perspective of the importance of coming to Florida, launching again on an American rocket from the Florida coast and generations of people who maybe didn't get a chance to see a space shuttle launch, getting a chance again to see human spaceflight in our own backyard is pretty exciting to be a part of," he said. The Dragon spacecraft is a capsule, more like the Russian Soyuz spacecraft and NASA's Mercury, Gemini and Apollo capsules from the '60s and '70s. And when they maneuver the capsule, the astronauts won't be pulling a lever - they'll be working with a touchscreen. That's a first for Behnken and Hurley who are used to using a stick to fly a vehicle. "Growing up as a pilot my whole career, having a certain way to control the vehicles, this is currently different, but you know we went into it with a very open mind," Hurley said during the teleconference. "The difference is that you've got to be very deliberate when you're putting an input with a touchscreen relative to what you would do with a stick because when you're flying an airplane, for example, by pushing (the stick) forward, it's going to go down, (but now) I actually have to make a concerted effort to do that with a touchscreen." The prospect of putting Dragon through its paces as its first occupants is, in some ways, an astronaut's dream. "If you told us when we were students at test pilot school that we would get an opportunity not only to fly a new developmental aircraft, which we both were able to do while we were test pilots but then get to fly the first flight of a spaceship, I think we would have told you you were crazy," Hurley said. Scott, who was a naval aviator before joining the astronaut class in 1992, admitted he wouldn't mind flying on SpaceX's vehicle if the opportunity arose. "So as pilots, as test pilots, you always like to do something new. So these guys are going to be the first ones that pilot a brand new spaceship into space and dock with the International Space Station so I know they're very excited about that," he said. In typical astronaut fashion, neither Hurley nor Behnken got too personal during NASA's meet the crew virtual news conference. Their astronaut spouses didn't come up. But you don't have to look far to see excitement is building among those who know them best. Hurley's wife, Nyberg, retweeted her husband's tweet of a drawing their young son Jack did of the capsule that will take his father to space. It included a fiery tail propelling the Dragon onward and a brightly colored Earth. When the date for the Demo-2 launch was announced, Nyberg wrote on Twitter, "It is fantastic to see a launch date for Crew Dragon Demo-2! Jack and I are so proud of (Doug) and are excited to support him through this historic mission." Nyberg flew to space twice, including a long stay on the ISS in 2013 while Behnken's wife, McArthur, flew on the final Hubble servicing mission in 2009. Once Behnken and Hurley arrive at the space station, which is scheduled to occur within 24 hours after liftoff, they will be greeted by NASA astronaut Chris Cassidy, who flew to the space station last month and is currently the only American on board. "I'll be excited to see Bob and Doug," Cassidy told reporters last month. "I've known them for many years, we've worked together, they're friends and with their families as well, so it'll be really special to have such a historic moment for our nation and such a cool personal event for me greeting them at the hatch." Cassidy flew with Hurley on STS-127 in 2009 and then flew with Nyberg on their long-duration mission in 2013. As Nyberg said via Twitter, "Flying with Chris is a family affair for us." This historic launch doesn't come without a caveat, however. Previously, the expectation had been nearly half a million people descending into Brevard County to watch this special occasion, but the coronavirus pandemic has changed plans. "Personally, the disappointing aspect of all of this pandemic is the fact that we don't have the luxury of our family and friends being there at Kennedy to watch the launch. But obviously, it's the right thing to do in the current environment," Hurley said. "I guess I would also say that the last five years for Bob and I working on commercial crew and then the last two specifically with SpaceX, it's been a long road to get here and I don't think either one of us would have predicted that when we were ready to go fly this mission that we would be dealing with this as well." NASA has urged people to stay and watch the launch from home and will not provide the public access to KSC in an attempt to reduce crowds. But officials say they'll do everything else to ensure Americans recognize the importance of the moment of returning crewed spaceflight to U.S. soil. "I certainly didn't expect to fly again (and) I certainly didn't necessarily have a plan to fly again," Hurley said. "Once again, I think Bob and I are very humbled to be in this position." https://www.floridatoday.com/story/tech/science/space/2020/05/15/whos-flying-spacex-crew-dragon-meet-astronauts-bob-behnken-and-doug-hurley/3077954001/ Curt Lewis