September 21, 2020 - No. 071 In This Issue Airbus plans zero-emission aircraft by 2035 - here's how SAMAD Aerospace Reveals Its Concept for World's First eVTOL Aviation Innovation Village LA and the World Economic Forum present blueprint for global UAM adoption NCAT Zaria to open additional schools for pilots, aviation security personnel - Rector Jet Aviation Commits to Sustainable Aviation in First Ever Business Aviation Sustainability Summit Industrial park featuring space tech to be built in east China Walmart tests drone delivery amid escalating Amazon battle Flyht Works To Speed Aviation Industry Recovery With New Actionable Intelligence Suite Of Applications New Generation of Airports Starting to Take Off as the Industry Exits Turbulence Propeller innovator Frank W. Caldwell to be inducted into First Flight Shrine SpaceX to test Starlink terminals on ships Airbus plans zero-emission aircraft by 2035 - here's how Airbus has unveiled its plans for bringing the world's first zero-emission commercial aircraft into service by 2035. Boeing's European rival on Monday revealed three concepts that will explore different options for using hydrogen as a primary source of power. "This is a historic moment for the commercial aviation sector as a whole and we intend to play a leading role in the most important transition this industry has ever seen," Airbus CEO Guillaume Faury said in a statement. Airlines and planemakers are facing growing pressure to tackle carbon emissions, with some governments tying climate crisis goals to coronavirus bailout packages. The pandemic has plunged aviation into its worst ever slump and is expected to accelerate the shift towards renewable forms of energy, as governments use the opportunity to promote a green recovery. In order to significantly decrease emissions, the aviation sector will need to reduce its reliance on crude oil-based jet fuel and turn increasingly to sustainable aviation fuels. But these are as yet largely untapped. Faury said that hydrogen, both in synthetic fuels and as a primary power source for commercial aircraft, has the potential to "significantly reduce aviation's climate impact." The three ZEROe concepts unveiled by Airbus include a turbofan, a turboprop and blended-wing body design. The turbofan design would carry 120 to 200 passengers with a range of over 2,000 nautical miles. It will be powered by a modified gas-turbine engine running on hydrogen, rather than jet fuel, through combustion. The turboprop design would carry up to 100 passengers and would be capable of traveling more than 1,000 nautical miles, making it suitable for short-haul trips. A blended-wing body design would carry up to 200 passengers. The wings would merge with the main body of the aircraft, which has a range similar to that of the turbofan. The transition to hydrogen will require "decisive action from the entire aviation ecosystem," Faury added. For example, airports will require significant hydrogen transport and refueling infrastructure. Government support will also be needed, including increased funding for research and technology, as well as mechanisms that encourage the use of sustainable aviation fuels and prompt airlines to replace less environmentally friendly planes earlier. https://www.wraltechwire.com/2020/09/21/airbus-plans-zero-emission-aircraft-by-2035-heres-how/ Back to Top SAMAD Aerospace Reveals Its Concept for World's First eVTOL Aviation Innovation Village SAMAD aerospace, the UK hybrid electric VTOL aviation company, announces its vision for the first eVTOL aviation innovation village in the world. The aviation innovation village will connect professionals working in eVTOL technology and research. Commercial aviation facilities will include an airport, industrial assembly plant and an aerospace business innovation hub. SAMAD aerospace plans to have its own manufacturing facilities in the village where it will manufacture its low emission VTOL aircraft fleet. Residential and recreational facilities will include shopping malls, hospital, schools, food courts and coffee shops, bus terminals, villas in two types and size, flats in seven different sizes, sport center, game center, museum and cultural space, green spaces, car park spaces, cinema, hotel, library and health center. At the core of the aviation village will be education. With pilot training, schools, R&D facilities for regional universities with engineering and aerospace faculties. The SAMAD aerospace team plan to build a several aviation village hubs around the world to bring aviation communities together. Initial plans include villages in the European continent, China, India, Malaysia, Russia, South Africa, Brazil, Canada and the Middle East. Speaking from his UK Head Office at Cranfield Technology Park, Dr. Seyed Mohseni, CEO of SAMAD aerospace, said: SAMAD aerospace is leading the way in the development of a hybrid electric aircraft fleet. Their intention is to make flying as common practice as driving with the ability to move directly from point-to-point. An interactive visual "walk through" guide of the SAMAD aerospace village can be viewed here: https://samadaerospace.co.uk/samad-aviation-village/ https://www.aviationpros.com/engines-components/aircraft-engines/electric-green-engine-technology/press-release/21155036/samad-aerospace-samad-aerospace-reveals-its-concept-for-worlds-first-evtol-aviation-innovation-village Back to Top LA and the World Economic Forum present blueprint for global UAM adoption The City of Los Angeles and the World Economic Forum have released a pioneering report that presents a roadmap for Urban Air Mobility (UAM). Principles of the Urban Sky advocates a principles-based policy-making framework for the rollout of UAM that protects the public interest to benefit the many rather than just the few. UAM is an emerging mode of next generation aviation technology that is better suited for urban transport. With vertical takeoff and landing configurations, improvements in energy sources, and improved connectivity, it looks towards piloted or autonomous flights of people and the movement of goods in city centres, suburban and edge of town conurbations. The report identifies seven principles critical for a scalable UAM policy framework. These include safety, sustainability, equity of access for disadvantaged communities, low-noise, multi-modal connectivity for seamless travel, local workforce development for new air and ground level jobs, and purpose-driven data sharing to respond to the needs of the market. These precepts have been developed over the last nine months by a working group of over 50 manufacturers, service providers, infrastructure developers, academics, community organisations and government planners. They will be used to deliver UAM in Los Angeles and are seen as fundamental to the adoption and long-term success of UAM globally. With a view to share this roadmap with cities worldwide, the collaboration between the Los Angeles Mayor's Office and the World Economic Forum has been coordinated with technical and operational efforts led by Los Angeles Department of Transportation in conjunction with national authorities. What's clear is that parallel strategic and operational planning are necessary for any city preparing for the roll-out of UAM and that this preparation must start well ahead of the first commercial deployments. "The current pandemic has created new challenges for transport networks and infrastructure around the world," said Christoph Wolff, Head of Shaping the Future of Mobility at the World Economic Forum. "As we build back better, these principles provide an ethical framework for planning new modes of aerial transport at the same time as we reinvest in current forms of transit." "Our city's strength stems from our creativity, our innovative spirit and our willingness to test new ideas on our streets - and in our skies - that will inspire and change the world for the better," said Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti. "Even in the face of COVID-19 today, our eyes are fixed on the horizon of a reimagined tomorrow, where Urban Air Mobility is a central part of a safe, sustainable, equitable future." "In releasing the Principles of the Urban Sky and sharing them with the global community, the World Economic Forum and City of Los Angeles are demonstrating the leadership society needs to address current and future mobility challenges," said Pam Cohn, Chief Operating Officer, Urban Air Mobility Division of Hyundai Motor Group. "How people move around in 10 years will be different from how people move around today. We look forward to working with the World Economic Forum, the City of Los Angeles and other partners to ensure UAM planning and development efforts worldwide are inclusive, safe, sustainable and people-centred." Urban aerial mobility will also be featured at the World Economic Forum's upcoming 2020 Sustainability Development Summit that focuses on innovation, sustainability and entrepreneurship. https://www.smartcitiesworld.net/news/la-and-the-world-economic-forum-present-blueprint-for-global-uam-adoption--5689 Back to Top NCAT Zaria to open additional schools for pilots, aviation security personnel - Rector Zaria (Kaduna State) Sept. 20, 2020 The Nigerian College of Aviation Technology (NCAT) Zaria, says it will open Airport Emergency Training School and another school for training of aviation security personnel. This it said would enhance its training capacity and assert its position as regional center of excellence. Capt. AbdulSalam Mohammed, the Rector of the College, disclosed this in an interview with News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Sunday in Zaria. Mohammed said as part of the requirements to be certified as regional center of excellence, the college was required to developed standard training packages by International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO). He said the college had developed ICAO standard training packages in 2017 for the certification, and since then, had increased the number of standardised training packages from three to seven. "We are in the process of opening a new school called the airport emergency training school that is where we will be training airport rescue and firefighting personnel. "That is where we are installing fully automatic fire simulator. We are also in the process of establishing the school for training aviation security personnel,'' he said. According to the rector, the college is in the process of developing ICAO training packages for online delivery of courses, instead of in the classrooms. He noted that COVID-19 had changed the way of doing business in the world which had greatly affected NCAT training, adding that throughout the COVID-19 lockdown the college introduced virtual classrooms for its students. The rector said the college also introduced new courses in the flying school such as the Airline Transport Pilot License, which was like a masters degree for the pilots. He added that the college also introduced Multi Crew Coordination Course (MCC) for pilots and Jet Orientation for pilots. "These two courses were aimed at preparing the newly graduated pilots from flying school to prepare them for work in the commercial airline industries,'' he said. Mohammed said the college embarked on re-fleeting of its training aircrafts to upgrade the equipment, so that the training aircrafts would be fleeted with modern electronic flight instrument systems which came in a modern aircraft. He added that the college had purchased seven Diamond Aircrafts out of the 20 aircrafts which it planned to buy, stressing that the re-fleeting would enable the college train more pilots. He said: "the Diamond Aircrafts use Jet A1 which is the fuel the big commercial passenger jets use and it is readily available and it costs one quarter of what we paid for the Avgas.'' Mohammed the said the amendment of the College Establishment Act had commenced, adding that the exercise would enable it to access Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFUND) grants. "To that effect, the bill was sent by the President to the National Assembly earlier this year and it has already passed the first and second readings, it is now waiting for public hearing. "Unfortunately, COVID-19 restrictions has caused delay for the public hearing, but I understand that the national assembly is making arrangement to have the public hearing very soon. "Once the bill is passed into law,, the college will be recognised as a tertiary institution,'' he said. https://naija247news.com/2020/09/20/ncat-zaria-to-open-additional-schools-for-pilots-aviation-security-personnel-rector/#.X2kLrujYrrc Back to Top Jet Aviation Commits to Sustainable Aviation in First Ever Business Aviation Sustainability Summit Jet Aviation confirms its ongoing commitment to sustainable aviation in the industry's first ever (virtual) sustainability summit hosted earlier this week by the Business Aviation Coalition for Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF Coalition).The company was the first, exclusive provider of SAF in Switzerland through its pilot program during WEF 2020.It continues to invest in sustainable solutions, recently delivering industry-leading weight values in its quietest ever VIP cabin interior. Jet Aviation President and GAMA Chairman David Paddock joined a panel of industry and OEM leaders and U.S. government officials earlier this week in the first-of-its-kind Virtual 2020 Business Aviation Sustainability Summit on the importance of sustainability to the industry, and the significance of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF)in particular. Addressing questions to the panel on sustainability, technology, operations, infrastructure and alternative fuels, Paddock emphasized the need to invest in solutions for owners and operators and the importance of public-private partnerships in driving awareness, understanding, research and development. "We intend to make SAF available when and wherever possible throughout the Jet Aviation global network," said Paddock. "Further to our initiatives in Zurich during WEF, we offer a SAF blend to customers on an ongoing basis at our Van Nuys location and we continue to work with government officials, industry bodies and partners to help increase production and availability of SAF for our customers. "We are always looking for ways to adopt new technologies and develop innovative solutions. In our Completions business, we have invested considerably in research and development to improve our designs, including reducing fuel consumption through lighter weight cabins and lower power consumption, and are also exploring the use of sustainable materials. Similarly, we are constructing new buildings and adding new equipment to existing facilities with sustainability in mind, including incorporating solar panels, electric vehicles and recycling systems." Recent sustainable efforts introduced at Jet Aviation include new fume pipes and skylights(Basel), facilities built to LEED standards (Boston-Bedford, Burbank, Van Nuys and Palm Beach),as well as low flow water fixtures, a white roof and a heat-reducing tarmac (Palm Beach). https://www.aviationpros.com/aircraft/business-general-aviation/press-release/21155030/jet-aviation-jet-aviation-commits-to-sustainable-aviation-in-first-ever-business-aviation-sustainability-summit Back to Top Industrial park featuring space tech to be built in east China NANJING, Sept. 19 (Xinhua) -- An industrial park focusing on space science and technology will be built in Nanjing, capital city of east China's Jiangsu Province, local authorities announced. With an investment of 18 billion yuan (about 2.7 billion U.S. dollars), the space-themed park will be constructed in Luhe District and is scheduled to open to the public in 2022, according to the authorities. As the first of its kind in Jiangsu, the park will feature a science and technology innovation center for the aerospace industry, a national science education base and an international innovation zone. It will integrate advanced elements of lunar exploration and aviation technologies into amusement projects, making the mysterious charm of space more attractive to the public, said Xu Xingli, general manager of the Beijing-based Chang'e aerospace technology company, investor of the project. "Nanjing enjoys advantages in terms of scientific and technological talents, along with industrial foundation, and we will popularize the cutting-edge technologies among children," Xu said. Enditem http://www.xinhuanet.com/english/2020-09/19/c_139381657.htm Back to Top Walmart tests drone delivery amid escalating Amazon battle Walmart Inc. is entering the drone delivery wars, its latest move to counter Amazon.com Inc.'s dominance in e-commerce as more Americans choose to shop from home. The world's largest retailer said it has started piloting drone delivery of grocery and household items from its stores in Fayetteville, N.C. The automated drones are from Israeli startup Flytrex Aviation Ltd., and can fly about 6.2 miles carrying packages up to 6.6 pounds, according to the company's website. They take off from a landing pad near the store. The move follows Walmart's attempt to counter Amazon's popular Prime service with its own membership program, dubbed Walmart+, which debuts Sept. 15. The two rivals have both acquired millions of customers during the pandemic thanks to their low prices and convenient shopping options, and the key now is to hold onto them by making it even easier to purchase the millions of everyday items they carry. Drones can reduce contact between customers and couriers, making them an increasingly popular option for businesses as the coronavirus continues to spread. Amazon has a head start with drones, as last month it became one of only a handful of companies certified by the U.S. government to operate as a drone airline. That allows Amazon to begin its first commercial deliveries in the U.S. under a trial program, using the high-tech devices it unveiled for that purpose last year. Flytrex's drones are part of the Federal Aviation Administration's Unmanned Aircraft System Integration Pilot Program (IPP), which aims to bring together private-sector companies and state and local governments to test drone operations. "We know that it will be some time before we see millions of packages delivered via drone," Tom Ward, Walmart's senior vice president of customer products, said in a blog post. "That still feels like a bit of science fiction, but we're at a point where we're learning more and more about the technology that is available and how we can use it to make our customers' lives easier." Walmart first mentioned that it was testing drones at an investor meeting in October 2017, and in February said that it had drones "flying around" in some of its Sam's Club warehouse locations to help manage inventory. It has also filed patents for systems that would help ensure safe drone drop-offs into customers' backyards, including one for a floating blimp-style warehouse. https://www.gmtoday.com/technology/walmart-tests-drone-delivery-amid-escalating-amazon-battle/article_edbd6016-fb3c-11ea-bf1d-27cff35bd482.html Back to Top Flyht Works To Speed Aviation Industry Recovery With New Actionable Intelligence Suite Of Applications FLYHT Aerospace Solutions Ltd. announced that the Company has developed and is delivering phase one of the Actionable Intelligence suite of SaaS applications. These developments will enable Flyht to combine its proven history of collecting, analysing and reporting aircraft operational data with IBM Watson Knowledge Catalog and IBM Cloud Pak for Data to enhance efficiency, cost and the goal of on time operations for clients like China Express Airlines, Swoop Airlines and its other global customers. Flyht currently has more than 2,800 aircraft equipped with the patented AFIRSTM system, and provides data analytics and reporting to more than 80 aircraft operators around the globe. The operation supports airlines 24/7 as they face challenges presented by weather, technical or air traffic delays, safety and regulatory changes, economic swings, and even the current pandemic. For over 20 years Flyht has helped its customers manage operations and control costs with both airborne and ground solutions. The new solution, Actionable Intelligence, uses real time data capabilities to create profit-driving actions rather than simply recording history and showing where money was lost. The solution assists airlines with analyzing and optimizing flight planning operations to improve efficiency, cost, and the goal of on time operations for its customers. Combined with the power of AFIRS, the solution incorporates real time alerting on events that might cause delays if not actioned in a timely manner. Flyht's customers currently project that the investment of $5 million in airborne hardware will deliver $40 million in annual profit enhancement, producing a one-year return on investment of 800 percent. Actionable Intelligence runs on IBM Cloud Pak for Data, an integrated set of data and AI capabilities built on Red Hat OpenShift, that enables the solution to request immediate action to reduce time and costs associated with turnaround of an aircraft. Using IBM Watson Knowledge Catalog enables Flyht to use machine learning to expand these capabilities over time to become faster and more accurate in providing the profit enhancing opportunities. Bill Tempany, Interim CEO of Flyht, says that "the solutions that are being delivered in conjunction with our launch technology partner airlines will revolutionize the way the airlines manage their businesses, satisfy their customers and adjust to the new reality that will evolve as the industry recovers from the pandemic. We are proud to be doing work to help the aviation industry recover from the unprecedented events of 2020." Charles Duncan, President of Swoop stated that "the power of the Watson tools along with real time data from our aircraft integrated with our existing ground based applications give Swoop the opportunity to be the industry leader in Actionable Intelligence. We are confident that our partnership with Flyht and IBM will have long lasting positive effects on our profits and how we operate our business." China Express Airlines stated that "Flyht is a valued technology partner. We already have AFIRS installed on our CRJ and A320 fleets and look forward to the ability to have Actionable Intelligence delivered on our enabled aircraft." Flyht announced a refreshed group of products and services at their AGM on June 23, 2020 that included the use of state of the art technologies as an IBM Business Partner that will help Flyht's customers lead the recovery of the industry. https://aithority.com/representation-reasoning/scientific-discovery/flyht-works-to-speed-aviation-industry-recovery-with-new-actionable-intelligence-suite-of-applications/ Back to Top New Generation of Airports Starting to Take Off as the Industry Exits Turbulence In 2018 and 2019, airports across the country and the globe were fast-tracking major upgrades to their terminals to increase capacity and satisfy the growing number of passengers, marking an aviation development and construction boom not seen in nearly 30 years. Fast forward to 2020, and the impact of Covid-19 on air traffic and the dramatic overnight decline in passengers has forced the deferral or outright cancellation of many of these scheduled construction programs. While this could be seen as a negative result of the pandemic, the current climate offers project owners and stakeholders the opportunity to revisit and revamp their aviation capital programs in a way that benefits all involved parties while improving the airport experience to meet new needs and standards. Back in April, domestic passengers were barely 4 percent of the same-day numbers in 2019, and, today, that has picked up to approximately 30 percent of what it was one year ago. While domestic travel has picked up and the U.S. air travel industry is starting to see some relief, international travel has been hit the hardest and is bouncing back at a slower pace. International passengers totaled less than 3 percent of their same-day numbers in April, although that number has improved to 10 percent today. While the lack of a quick and immediate recovery has made it nearly impossible for the originally scheduled airport expansion projects around the world to kick off, the international aviation industry is using this time to proactively plan its route to come back stronger and safer than ever for eager travelers and employees. There is still a lot of uncertainty over when U.S. airport traffic will completely recover, but most forecasters are currently predicting a two- to three-year lag in growth. This extended recovery time is allowing project decision-makers to push beyond typical renovation and upgrade work, such as improvements to air quality and passenger circulation, and really dive into what airports of the future should look like and what changes can be made now to provide a safer and more efficient travel experience. It is also providing an opportunity to potentially engage in larger-scale construction projects, which can inconvenience operations, at a time with less traffic and therefore less impact on travelers. In what has been a welcome surprise to many, the TSA has been using this time to completely reevaluate the security process, potentially resulting in changes that would make the current experience unrecognizable. The main goal for TSA security checkpoints is to make them as integrated and frictionless as possible by reducing physical contact and providing a less stressful screening process. This revised approach means the deployment of new state-of-the-art computed tomography scanners that utilize 3D baggage imagery, thus allowing passengers to leave laptops and other electronic devices in their carry-on bags. The TSA is also looking at introducing self-service checkpoints. Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport is currently hosting a pilot program for these self-standing security consoles, which utilize touchless face recognition technology to replace face-to-face interactions with TSA agents. The new automated technology initiative automatically authenticates a traveler's ID, matches the live photo with the image on their ID, and confirms their flight information in near real-time. Taking health safety one step further, the TSA also debuted antimicrobial bins at security checkpoints across 30 major 30 U.S. airports earlier this summer, while airport leadership has been applying antimicrobial coatings on high-touch surfaces throughout their airports, such as faucets, handles and seating, to protect both staff and travelers. "As we saw post-9/11 and are once again experiencing due to COVID-19, changes to safety-related protocols will have a tremendous impact on how our industry designs and builds airports in the future," said Gavin Middleton, chief operating officer of project management firm Lehrer Cumming, which is leading many of the revamped construction plans at nearby airports. "Not only do functioning terminals need to be flexible enough to adapt to the unexpected, but aviation industry designers, construction teams, terminal operators, airlines, and government agencies must collaborate now to chart a course for planning, designing and building the airport of the future in a rapidly changing and unpredictable environment." Leaders in the aviation design and construction community are also exploring new gate designs that could allow self-boarding. Potential solutions include automated smart gates, which would provide a faster and more efficient boarding process while minimizing contact with boarding agents. "The challenge of predicting future needs and building airports accordingly is something that will continue to require planning, foresight and creativity by those of us in this industry," adds James Sumwalt, Senior Vice President with Lehrer Cumming. During all of this uncertainty, one thing is for sure: Those involved in the aviation construction and design industries are not sitting back and waiting for things to return to normal. The travel experience will be forever changed, and passengers will benefit the most from this revitalization. https://commercialobserver.com/2020/09/new-generation-of-airports-starting-to-take-off-as-the-industry-exits-turbulence/ Back to Top Propeller innovator Frank W. Caldwell to be inducted into First Flight Shrine The First Flight Society announced Monday that Frank W. Caldwell has been named the 2020 Honoree to be inducted into the Dr. Paul E. Garber First Flight Shrine at the Wright Brothers National Memorial. Caldwell's many contributions to aviation in propeller technology is highlighted by his winning with Hamilton Standard the 1933 Collier Trophy for design of the controllable-pitch propeller. His design innovations led to the Hydromatic constant-speed propeller used by virtually every frontline U.S. aircraft in World War II, and his pioneering whirl test procedures were indispensable to the development of all modern high-performance propellers during the 20th Century. "Frank Caldwell's achievements in aviation and aviation education - and a 'first' in many areas of aviation is extraordinary and outstanding. The First Flight Society is honored to have Frank Caldwell as the 2020 Dr. Paul E. Garber Shrine Inductee," said First Flight Society President Mike Fonseca. This honor is selected annually by a high-level panel appointed by the First Flight Society, from among numerous nominations submitted from around the world as well as compiled lists of qualified candidates. The shrine is located within the visitors center at the Wright Brothers National Memorial. The induction ceremony will be held on the 117th anniversary of man's first power flight on December 17, 2020, with a celebration banquet held on December 16 in Kitty Hawk. A portrait of Frank Caldwell will be unveiled and presented at the ceremony. William Douglas, Chairman of the First Flight Society's National Advisory Committee, served as Chair of the Dr. Paul E. Garber Shrine Selection Panel and managed the selection process. FFS also welcomes Colonel Gail Halverson, aka "The Candy Bomber", and Brigadier General Charles McGee as honorary members. Colonel Halvorsen was inducted in 2019 and General McGee as a Tuskegee Airman in 2004. Without the First Flight Society there would not be a Wright Brothers National Memorial in Kill Devil Hills. Originally known as The Kill Devil Hills Memorial Association, the society began as a group of local businessmen who successfully petitioned the US Congress to fund and build a monument to the Wright Brothers' 1903 achievement. The First Flight Society plans an annual celebration at the Wright Brothers National Memorial on December 17, mandated by their bylaws to memorialize the work of the Wright Brothers. They created the Paul E Garber Shrine in 1966 to honor individuals and groups for achieving significant "firsts" in aviation development since 1903. Charles Lindbergh, Tuskegee Airmen, Mary Feik, John Glenn, and Katherine Johnson among others First Flight Society promotes aviation education through an Aviation Education Committee to expand the knowledge of the Wright Brothers' legacy by bringing aviation education programs to students in Dare County. They also offer an annual FFS Scholarship through Outer Banks Community Foundation for students pursuing aviation education in North Carolina. More information about the First Flight Society can be found at https://firstflight.org https://www.obxtoday.com/top-stories/propeller-innovator-frank-w-caldwell-to-be-inducted-into-first-flight-shrine/ Back to Top SpaceX to test Starlink terminals on ships Elon Musk's SpaceX has applied to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) for permission to erect up to 10 Starlink broadband receive terminals on up to 10 of its vessels, for test purposes. These nautical beta-user terminals will connect to SpaceX's Starlink satellites which will be in contact with the company's satellite-based broadband network. "In order to expand its assessment of the end-to-end capabilities of its satellite system, SpaceX seeks authority to test these user terminals on seagoing platforms for a period of up to two years. Specifically, SpaceX proposes to deploy a total of ten earth stations across up to ten vessels, including two autonomous spaceport drone ships used to land rocket boosters at sea," SpaceX said it its FCC filing. SpaceX has a fleet of vessels which includes a pair of 'drone vessels' used to provide a floating landing stage for its returning rockets after launch. They also have a pair of recovery vessels used to capture and collect the rocket nosecone fairings that fall towards the ocean after launch. SpaceX is known to have started testing its broadband system under a 'friends and family' beta-test and these claim content transfer latencies as low as an impressive 20 milliseconds. SpaceX also says that it is enjoying "extraordinary" demand from would-be users to its broadband system, and almost 700,000 US potential users enquiring about the company's upcoming service. SpaceX has promised a commercial start to its service in the northern US and Canada before the end of this year, and a "near-global" service in 2021. https://advanced-television.com/2020/09/21/spacex-to-test-starlink-terminals-on-its-ships/ Curt Lewis