March 11, 2021 - No. 19 In This Issue : AerCap to Acquire GE Capital Aviation Services : Northvolt acquires lithium-metal battery start-up Cuberg : Wideroe and Rolls-Royce pursue all-electric aircraft based on Tecnam design : Georgia Tech study assesses virus particulate levels in the cabin : FAA Taps Choctaw Nation for Groundbreaking Drone Program : Airlines Using Sustainable Fuels Have A Competitive Disadvantage : American Airlines Builds on Commitment to Sustainable Fuels With Kuehne+Nagel : A ‘Swiss Army Knife’ in the Sky: This Fort Worth Company Develops Next-Gen Equipment for Aerial Firefighting : Reliable Robotics completes first remote flight of aircraft from a private control center : Boca Raton Airport to be First Airport to Install New FAA Approved LED Rotating Beacon : SpaceX launches 60 new Starlink satellites to orbit, nails rocket landing at sea AerCap to Acquire GE Capital Aviation Services DUBLIN, March 10, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- AerCap Holdings N.V. ("AerCap" or the "Company") (NYSE: AER), the global leader in aircraft leasing, announced today that it has entered into a definitive agreement with General Electric (NYSE:GE) under which AerCap will acquire 100% of GE Capital Aviation Services ("GECAS"), a GE business. The combined company will be an industry leader across all areas of aviation leasing, with over 2,000 owned and managed aircraft, over 900 owned and managed engines, over 300 owned helicopters and approximately 300 customers around the world. Aengus Kelly, Chief Executive Officer of AerCap, said, "We are excited about this opportunity to bring together two leaders in aviation leasing. AerCap and GECAS both have industry-leading teams, attractive portfolios, diversified customer bases and order books of the most in-demand new technology assets. This combination will enhance our ability to provide innovative and attractive solutions for our customers and will strengthen our cash flows, earnings and profitability. "GECAS is a highly attractive business and this transaction continues our strong track record of capital allocation. As the recovery in air travel gathers pace, this transaction represents a unique opportunity that we believe will create long-term value for our investors," added Mr. Kelly. "This business combination will also strengthen our longstanding partnership with GE Aviation, which we look forward to working with closely in the future." GE Chairman and CEO, H. Lawrence Culp, Jr., said, "AerCap is the right partner for our exceptional GECAS team. Combining these complementary franchises will deliver strategic and financial value for both companies and their stakeholders. Together we're creating an industry-leading aviation lessor with expertise, scale and reach to better serve customers around the world, while GE gains both cash and upside in the stronger combined company as the aviation industry recovers." Transaction Highlights Under the terms of the agreement, which has been unanimously approved by the boards of directors of AerCap and GE, GE will receive 111.5 million newly issued AerCap shares, $24 billion of cash and $1 billion of AerCap notes and/or cash. Upon completion of the transaction, GE is expected to own approximately 46% of the combined company and will be entitled to nominate two directors to the AerCap Board of Directors. Citi and Goldman Sachs have provided AerCap with $24 billion of committed financing for the transaction. AerCap expects to maintain its current investment grade credit ratings with S&P, Moody's and Fitch. The transaction will enhance many of AerCap's key credit metrics, as the combined company will have stronger cash flows and a more diversified revenue and customer base. The adjusted debt-to-equity ratio of the combined company is expected to be 3.0x at closing of the transaction. AerCap will maintain its target adjusted debt-to-equity ratio of 2.7x and expects to return to this level rapidly. Key Strategic Benefits The transaction provides the following key strategic benefits: Leading aircraft leasing platform with expanded customer breadth and reach, given AerCap and GECAS's complementary customer bases with limited overlap. Best-in-class trading platform with deep market insight and relationships: over the past four years AerCap and GECAS have sold on average over $5 billion of assets per year. Narrowbody aircraft will represent approximately 60% of the combined aircraft fleet. New technology aircraft will represent approximately 56% of the combined in-service fleet, expected to grow to approximately 75% in 2024. Attractive order book of 493 new technology aircraft, more than 90% of which are narrowbodies. Premier engine leasing business adds revenue diversification and greater ability to provide innovative solutions to our airline customers. Closing Conditions and Advisors The transaction is subject to approval by AerCap shareholders, receipt of necessary regulatory approvals and satisfaction of other customary closing conditions. The transaction is expected to close in the fourth quarter of 2021. The combined company will retain the name AerCap, and GECAS will become a business of AerCap. Citi and Morgan Stanley acted as financial advisors to AerCap. Cravath, Swaine & Moore LLP, NautaDutilh NV and McCann Fitzgerald acted as legal advisors to AerCap. Conference Call and Investor Information In connection with this announcement, management will host a conference call with members of the investment community, Wednesday, March 10, 2021, at 8:30 a.m. Eastern Standard Time. The call can be accessed live via webcast by AerCap's website at www.aercap.com under "Investors," or by dialing (U.S./Canada) +1 929 477 0402 or (International) +353 1 246 5638 and referencing code 1198955 at least 5 minutes before start time. The webcast replay will be archived in the "Investors" section of the company's website for one year. For further information, please contact Joseph McGinley: +353 1 418 0428 (jmcginley@aercap.com). About AerCap AerCap is the global leader in aircraft leasing. AerCap serves approximately 200 customers in approximately 80 countries with comprehensive fleet solutions. AerCap is listed on the New York Stock Exchange (AER) and has its headquarters in Dublin with offices in Shannon, Los Angeles, Singapore, Amsterdam, Shanghai, Abu Dhabi, Seattle and Toulouse. About GE GE (NYSE:GE) rises to the challenge of building a world that works. For more than 125 years, GE has invented the future of industry, and today the company's dedicated team, leading technology, and global reach and capabilities help the world work more efficiently, reliably, and safely. GE's people are diverse and dedicated, operating with the highest level of integrity and focus to fulfill GE's mission and deliver for its customers. www.ge.com About GECAS GE Capital Aviation Services (GECAS) is a world-leading aviation lessor and financier. For over five decades, we have partnered with our customers to find solutions to their challenges and helped their businesses to thrive. Whether your need is for narrow or widebody aircraft, regional jets, turboprops, freighters, engines, helicopters or materials, our name has become synonymous with trusted relationships, domain expertise and an ability to execute. GECAS offers a broad array of financing products and services on these assets including operating leases, purchase/leasebacks, capital markets, and airframe parts management. GECAS owns, services or has on order approximately 1,700 aircraft. GECAS serves over 200 customers in ~75 countries from a network of 15 offices around the world. gecas.aero https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/aercap-to-acquire-ge-capital-aviation-services-301244404.html Northvolt acquires lithium-metal battery start-up Cuberg Swedish battery manufacturer Northvolt is continuing to expand–this time outside Europe. The company has acquired U.S. lithium-metal battery start-up Cuberg and plans to open an R&D center in Silicon Valley. With the acquisition, Northvolt can integrate the start-up's electrolyte technology into its battery systems for considerably improved energy density. Until now, Northvolt has operated in Sweden, Germany, and Poland. Cuberg – which currently looks to supply the electric aviation sector – claims its batteries deliver 70% more range and capacity than other lithium-ion devices developed for electric aviation. The startup aims to work with Northvolt to mature its technology sufficiently to offer cells with an energy density exceeding 1 kWh/l by 2025. In June, the start-up had its technology tested by Idaho National Laboratory on behalf of the U.S. Department of Energy. The laboratory tested the 5-ampere-hour cells of Cuberg and found they had specific energy of 369 Wh/kg and specific power of 2,000 W/kg. Lithium-metal batteries substitute heavy graphite in the anode with a lighter metal to cut down on weight, and thus improve gravimetric energy density. Swapping graphite from the anode renders conventional electrolytes unusable, however. A problem that Cuberg claims to have solved with its electrolyte technology that provides stability comparable to that offered by solid-state batteries in its devices. The start-up was spun out of Stanford University in 2015 and has already attracted high-level customers and investors. The client list includes aviation companies Boeing, BETA Technologies, Ampaire, and VoltAero and Cuberg's backers include Boeing venture capital arm HorizonX Ventures, Activiate.org, the California Energy Commission, the U.S. Department of Energy, and the TomKat Center for Sustainable Energy at Stanford. “The Cuberg team has shown exceptional ability to develop world-class technology, proven results and an outstanding customer base in a lean and efficient organization,” said Northvolt CEO and co-founder Peter Carlsson. “Combining these strengths with the capabilities and technology of Northvolt allows us to make significant improvements in both performance and safety while driving down cost even further for next-generation battery cells. This is critical for accelerating the shift to fully electric vehicles and responding to the needs of the leading automotive companies within a relevant time frame.”Northvolt says it can scale the Cuberg technology using its lithium-ion battery manufacturing lines and the partners plan to ship their first batteries to the electric aviation industry within three years. The Silicon Valley research center aims to develop lithium-metal cells further and bring together research from Europe and North America. “We are very excited to join forces with Northvolt to build the future of clean energy together,” said Cuberg CEO and co-founder Richard Wang. “Northvolt brings incredible technology and manufacturing capabilities that will accelerate the commercialization and adoption of our lithium metal technology. Their deep engineering experience and bold spirit perfectly complement Cuberg's own culture of rapid innovation.” Northvolt recently announced a $200 million expansion of its production site in Gdansk, Poland, to raise annual production capacity from 5 to 12 GWh. With that step, the factory is on track to become Europe's largest. https://www.pv-magazine.com/2021/03/10/northvolt-acquires-lithium-metal-battery-start-up-cuberg/ Wideroe and Rolls-Royce pursue all-electric aircraft based on Tecnam design Norwegian regional carrier Wideroe has linked up with Rolls-Royce and aeronautics firm Tecnam to develop an all-electric passenger aircraft within the next five years. The aircraft would be suited to the commuter air transport market and enter service in 2026. Wideroe has previously expressed interest in electric regional aircraft projects such as a 19-seat model proposal from Heart Aerospace. Norwegian authorities have been active in pushing forward electric aircraft programmes with the country’s air navigation service and civil aviation administration seeking domestic operations with such aircraft by 2030 – and a complete domestic transition to electric air travel by 2040. Rolls-Royce says its tie-up with Wideroe will expand on its prior research with the airline on sustainable aviation, while it already has a partnership with Tecnam on an all-electric programme called the P-Volt. The P-Volt is a twin-engined high-wing aircraft based on the Tecnam P2012 Traveller, which will be capable of carrying nine passengers and serve commercial, cargo or medical evacuation roles. Wideroe chief executive Stein Nilsen says the short take-off and landing airports in Norway are an “ideal” setting for zero-emission technology. “This aircraft shows how quickly new technology can and will be developed, and that we are on track with our ambition of flying with zero emissions around 2025,” he says. Chief strategy officer Andreas Aks adds that the airline is “humble” regarding the obstacles to putting such an aircraft into service. “Our mission is to have all new capabilities, processes and procedures required for a zero-emissions operator, designed and approved in parallel with the aircraft being developed and certified,” he says. The interest in the P-Volt, notably from regional airlines, has been “incredible”, says Tecnam product development chief Fabio Russo, adding that the aircraft will “perfectly fit” the scope of the programme. Rolls-Royce Electrical director Rob Watson says the tie-up will reinforce its partnerships with both Wideroe and Tecnam, respectively focusing on airline requirements and the design and manufacturing aspects. https://www.flightglobal.com/wideroe-and-rolls-royce-pursue-all-electric-aircraft-based-on-tecnam-design/142845.article Georgia Tech study assesses virus particulate levels in the cabin A study has been released by the Georgia Institute of Technology (Georgia Tech) in Atlanta, USA, which found that the aircraft cabin environment has lower levels of aerosol particles than those found in other enclosed spaces such as shops, restaurants and offices. The study suggests that this low level of particle matter makes the cabin relatively safe in terms of the transmission of viruses such as SARS-CoV-2 between passengers. In July 2020 Georgia Tech researchers examined the air quality in a range of restaurants, stores, offices, homes in the Atlanta area, as well as vehicles including buses, trains and private automobiles. The team used hand-held scientific instruments to measure the total number of fine particles in each environment, and their mass. They then trained staff at Delta Air Lines (a research partner in the study) to conduct the same type of measurements in passenger terminals, boarding areas, and a variety of aircraft through all phases of flight. For the aviation measurements, samples were taken during the travel process of 19 commercial flights, including short- and medium-haul routes, on aircraft types including the CRJ-200, A220, A321, B757, and B737, throughout all phases of flight. Samples were collected throughout departure and arrival at the terminals, and on board the aircraft (with passenger loads of approximately 50%), including the boarding process, taxiing, climbing, cruising, descent and deplaning. The monitoring could not identify the types of the particles recorded by the devices (which could have included both biological and non-biological sources) and therefore does not provide a direct measure of coronavirus exposure risk, according to Georgia Tech. The aircraft cabin measurements were compared with air samples collected in the other indoor spaces, and according to Georgia Tech the data showed that the cabin air during a flight is “many times” cleaner than the air sampled in other indoor locations (though with the coronavirus caveat). The study is not fully independent, as the research was supported by Delta Air Lines, through measures such as granting access to cabins for inflight measurements on the 19 flights. Georgia Tech believes the study is the first to measure both ‘size-resolved’ particle mass and number in commercial flights from terminal to terminal, and a broad range of indoor spaces that people typically visit. “We wanted to highlight how important it is to have a high ventilation rate and clean air supply to lower the concentration of particles in indoor spaces,” said Nga Lee (Sally) Ng, associate professor at the Georgia Institute of Technology. “The in-flight cabin had the lowest particle mass and particle number concentration.” Delta has implemented several cabin air cleanliness measures, including replacing its industrial-grade cabin HEPA filters twice as often as recommended by their manufacturers. “We are always working to better understand the travel environment and confirm that the measures we are implementing are working,” said Jonathan Litzenberger, managing director of global cleanliness strategy at Delta. “Regardless of whether you are in an office or an aircraft, having a higher ventilation rate and good particle filtration are the keys to reducing the total particle concentration,” added Ng. “That should also reduce the concentration of any viral particles that may be present.” https://www.aircraftinteriorsinternational.com/news/industry-news/georgia-tech-study-assesses-virus-particulate-levels-in-the-cabin.html FAA Taps Choctaw Nation for Groundbreaking Drone Program The FAA today announced a groundbreaking partnership with the Choctaw Nation to determine how drones can best transport cargo—including parcels—at lower altitudes. The agency’s Mike Monroney Aeronautical Center (MMAC) signed a three-year agreement with the Oklahoma-based Native tribe that will enable the center to study human factors, supply chain management and air-traffic control as they each relate to drone tech. “The parties will use virtual simulated urban environments for their research,” an FAA statement noted. “One goal of the [agreement] is to promote interest in science, technology, engineering and mathematics programs for students seeking possible careers in aerospace.” “The FAA and the Choctaw Nation share an interest in safety,” said Michelle Coppedge, Director of the MMAC. “Our goal is to advance the development and integration of UAS into what is already a complex National Airspace System.” ”The MMAC plays a critical role in ensuring the safety of aviation operations in our nation, and we are excited to establish formal ties between our organizations to jointly support the development and safe integration of emerging aviation technologies into our national airspace system,” said James L Grimsley, Executive Director of Advanced Technology Initiatives with the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma. According to the FAA, the Choctaw Nation is the only tribal government selected by the U.S. transportation department to participate in the Unmanned Aerial System Integration Pilot Program—one of nine active pilot sites selected to work in collaboration with the FAA and industry to conduct advanced drone operations. A first for the Choctaw Nation The Choctaw Nation is the first tribal government to be recognized by the FAA as a Public Aircraft Operator and the only lead participant to work with the Volpe National Transportation Systems Center on acoustics testing for drones for use in agriculture, remote infrastructure inspections and public safety. The FAA noted: “More than 6,300 employees, contractors and students work at the FAA’s aeronautical center, which is located on the west side of Will Rogers World Airport in Oklahoma City. The center touches every aspect of the nation’s airspace by providing training, supply chain management, medical/educational human factors research and the national registration database of all U.S.-registered aircraft and pilots. It also offers financial management and acquisition services for a wide array of federal agencies.” FAA and drones The announcement comes just days after the FAA announced the selection of five American airports to evaluate technologies that could detect and mitigate potential safety risks posed by rogue drones. In February, the agency announced an open application period for the role of test administrators the federal agency’s Recreational UAS Safety Test (TRUST). “The FAA will designate qualified third parties to administer the test and make it accessible to all recreational drone flyers,” an agency release stated. “Entities involved with recreational pilots such as educational institutions, manufacturers and aeromodelling organizations are encouraged to apply.” https://dronelife.com/2021/03/10/faa-taps-choctaw-nation-for-groundbreaking-drone-program/ Airlines Using Sustainable Fuels Have A Competitive Disadvantage In a CAPA Live interview on Wednesday, leading Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) producer Neste’s Executive Vice President Thorsten Lange said that it is imperative to level out the playing field for airlines using SAF. As production costs are expected to remain much the same for the foreseeable future, until passengers begin choosing carriers solely based on sustainability, airlines incorporating it will be at a competitive disadvantage against those who do not. Costs will remain high for the foreseeable future Many airlines are now using Sustainable Aviation Fuel in earnest, as opposed to the occasional publicity gimmick. However, one of the issues facing a broader rollout of SAFs, or biofuels, is that of supply. Neste, one of the leaders in the industry, currently produces about 100,000 tonnes annually. Through investment into its Singapore facilities, it is looking to scale up to one million tonnes by 2023. Meanwhile, given that global consumption of jet fuel pre-COVID was around 330 million tonnes per annum, that is still just a drop in the fossil fuel ocean. While Mr Lange is optimistic about the combined potential of SAF – he says that with the four technologies currently approved, it could, in theory, cover all jet fuel demands by 2030 – he does not believe the production costs will lower significantly. This means that without regulation or increasingly conscious corporate customers and passengers, airlines that want to use SAFs to any greater extent will end up spending more on fuel than their less eco-aware competitors. Collecting cooking oil is a cumbersome business While SAFs can go straight into existing infrastructure (as opposed to, say, hydrogen), the collection of raw materials is a cumbersome, complicated, and costly process. All the waste and residue that goes into creating biofuel has to come from somewhere. For the hydroprocessed esters and fatty acids (HEFA) technology that, for instance, Neste uses, this involves the gathering of used cooking oil. “In the Netherlands, we have a cooperation with one of the used cooking oil collectors called HAVI. And they’re running from McDonald’s to McDonald’s, to select the used cooking oil from the French fries that we in our refinery in Rotterdam then turn into fuel. And just think about doing that every month, around the globe, and across the planet. It is costly, not only to collect it but also to treat,” Mr Lange said in Wednesday’s interview. Not prohibitively expensive when shared among passengers The price for SAFs is generally between three and five times higher than that of conventional jet fuel. For passengers, the cost per ticket would not vary all that greatly when shared. On an intra-European flight, the cost for 10% SAFs in the tanks is about $5 to $10 per ticket. For a long-haul service, it adds about $40. But they still have to be willing to pay for it and make airlines aware that they are. Otherwise, without regulatory mandates, demand will remain low. The investment needed to sufficiently scale the production of SAFs will not materialize, and the supply will not be enough to make a dent in aviation’s greenhouse gas emissions. https://simpleflying.com/airline-sustainable-fuel-disadvantage/ American Airlines Builds on Commitment to Sustainable Fuels With Kuehne+Nagel FORT WORTH, Texas, March 10, 2021 /CSRwire/― American Airlines has reached an agreement in principle with Kuehne+Nagel to allocate a portion of the carbon reduction benefit the airline generates through its use of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) to the logistics company, one of American’s leading cargo customers. The agreement in principle is believed to be the largest SAF collaboration between a freight logistics company and an airline, based on the 3 million gallons of fuel it covers. This volume equates to a reduction in lifecycle carbon emissions from air travel of nearly 26,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide (CO2) over three years, the equivalent of a Boeing 787-9 passenger aircraft flying carbon neutral around the world 25 times. Importantly, the reductions in carbon emissions are accounted for within the aviation sector. “Partnering with Kuehne+Nagel as part of our effort to reduce the impact of aviation on our planet has been an incredible example of the kind of collaboration that will drive real change,” said Jessica Tyler, President of American Airlines Cargo and Vice President of Operations Innovation & Delivery. “This strategic, market-based solution will help create a cleaner supply chain and is aimed at accelerating our transition to a low-carbon future.” The agreement in principle with Kuehne+Nagel follows a similar agreement between American and Deloitte. Each such agreement is a model the airline hopes can be adopted more widely as a way to reflect demand for sustainable aviation fuel, build the market and quicken the industry’s transition from fossil-based jet fuels to more sustainable alternatives. “The demand for environmentally friendly air logistics services is certainly on the rise,” said Yngve Ruud, member of the Management Board of Kuehne+Nagel, responsible for air logistics. “Through the innovative collaboration with American Airlines, we are pleased to support our customers’ sustainability ambitions and contribute to the development and widespread use of alternative aviation fuels. We encourage all the industry stakeholders to join us in bringing carbon-neutral flying one step closer.” American has been taking delivery of SAF at San Francisco International Airport since last summer and has committed to using 9 million gallons of SAF over the coming three years. The SAF American is using in its operation is produced from waste fats and reduces lifecycle CO2emissions by 75% compared to traditional jet fuel. Since SAF meets stringent ASTM aviation fuel specifications, all aircraft and engine manufacturer operational procedures and limitations are identical to those for regular aviation fuel. American’s Commitment to Sustainability In response to the pressing global challenge of climate change, American Airlines set a goal to reach net-zero carbon emissions by 2050 and developed a clear pathway to achieve it. Reducing consumption of traditional jet fuel is a core focus of that strategy, which is why the airline has undertaken the most extensive fleet replacement initiative in the history of commercial aviation. Over the longer term, American expects to embrace innovations including sustainable aviation fuel, new engine technology and new aircraft. The airline will take delivery of 9 million gallons of sustainable aviation fuel over the coming three years, while working to facilitate broader advancements in policy, markets, infrastructure and technology that will enable the transition to low-carbon aviation. Additionally, American offers carbon offsetting options to its customers. More information on American’s sustainability strategy is available here. About Kuehne+Nagel With over 78,000 employees at 1,400 locations in over 100 countries, the Kuehne+Nagel Group is one of the world's leading logistics companies. Its strong market position lies in sea logistics, air logistics, road logistics and contract logistics, with a clear focus on integrated logistics solutions. About American Airlines Group American’s purpose is to care for people on life’s journey. Shares of American Airlines Group Inc. trade on Nasdaq under the ticker symbol AAL and the company’s stock is included in the S&P 500. Learn more about what’s happening at American by visiting news.aa.com and connect with American on Twitter @AmericanAir and at Facebook.com/AmericanAirlines. https://www.csrwire.com/press_releases/719491-american-airlines-builds-commitment-sustainable-fuels-kuehnenagel A ‘Swiss Army Knife’ in the Sky: This Fort Worth Company Develops Next-Gen Equipment for Aerial Firefighting Victor Trotter and his team at Haltom City-based Trotter Controls develop onboard technology that’s been called “the gold standard” in aerial firefighting. In 2020, they received a patent and FAA approval for the world’s first all-electric fire gate system. “Think bomb doors,” says Trotter. The company’s FRDS GEN III was selected as a fire gate for Air Tractor (based in Olney, 100 miles northwest of Fort Worth) and its latest version of the AT802F firefighting plane. The new system replaces the hard-to-maintain hydraulics and pumps with a simpler electric motor that’s 40 percent lighter. That means the plane can carry more liquid fire retardant. Plus, the design automatically compensates when the tank is not level to deliver consistent coverage on the ground. “Trotter Controls has developed and certified groundbreaking new technology that represents disruptive improvements in the state of the art,” Trotter says. The leader in aerial firefighting control systems The “disruptive improvements” that Trotter Controls is developing are not just controls for SEATs (single-engine air tankers). Earlier in 2020, the company developed an all-electric fire gate for the Blackhawk helicopter and created new tank design controls for Sacramento-based Helimax Aviation’s CH47 heavy helicopter. The tank offers “an unprecedented degree of controllability in the drop pattern and density,” according to a 2020 report in Air Attack, an aerial firefighting publication. “We went with Trotter Controls and I couldn’t think of a better vendor to work with in that field. Trotter has so much experience with the SEATs and understanding slipstream, drop patterns, door actuation, controllers and the interface between dropping water and the pilot,” Patrick Pilolla, Helimax vice president of Business Development, told Air Attack. “He knew the pilot interface and how to make it really easy, and he virtually had all of this solved by the time we’d finished asking if he’d work with us.” Before founding Trotter Controls in 2004, Trotter worked with UT Arlington professor Robert L. Woods in the early 1990s to develop controls and hydraulic designs for the first computerized fire gate for Air Tractor. A “Swiss army knife” in the sky After creating his own company, Trotter began to use microprocessors to address aerial firefighting challenges. In addition to improving gate designs, Trotter Controls started to use telemetry controllers in what they call their DataVault. The system reads the sensors and control valves while interacting with the pilot and communicating via satellite, if necessary. DataVault assists in precision applications and fire-fighting performance analysis. Industry publication Aerial Fire calls it “the telemetry and control equivalent of a ‘Swiss Army Knife.'” DataVault has been used on both fixed-wing and rotary aircraft of all sizes. With DC-10 tanker airplanes, the system helped modernize an aging fleet, which dramatically enhanced the aircraft’s performance while fighting fires in the United States, Australia, and Chile, according to Aerial Fire. Trotter Controls is currently working on the next-gen Datavault, Trotter says, which adds cellular communication to the satellite capability for monitoring and controlling aircraft equipment. The company also plans to deploy an all-electric gate for agricultural aircraft. On their first-of-its-kind invention: We developed and received a patent and FAA STC for the world’s first all-electric fire gate system (think bomb doors) for a fixed wing aircraft that automatically compensates for tank level. This system is called the FRDS GEN III “all-electric” fire gate system and has been selected to be the OEM firegate for the new Air Tractor AT802F aircraft. The all-electric system replaces bulky and hard-to-maintain hydraulics and pumps with a light-weight electric motor similar to the technology used in electric vehicles. The new lightweight design is over 40 percent lighter than its hydraulic predecessor and eliminates the maintenance associated with hydraulic systems. On Trotter Controls’ game-changing tech: The all-electric technology results in lighter and much easier to maintain aircraft. The reduction in system weight allows the aircraft to carry more liquid retardant to the fire site and the state-of-the-art constant flow control algorithms insure that the retardant covers the maximum amount of area possible since aircraft speed, acceleration, and the quantity of retardant in the tank are automatically compensated for to deliver consistent coverage on the ground. On how the company dealt with the pandemic: We developed very clear COVID-19 processes and had 1-2 meetings per week until our people had clear direction on how to handle various challenges seen during day-to-day operations. We segregated the company into three physically separated business segments. Our mechanical production staff occupied half of the building, admin and electrical production occupied the other half of the building, and engineering worked from home. We have mandatory temperature checks upon entry to the building, hand sanitizer available throughout the facility, and masks are required when working in the vicinity of other employees. Common areas were sanitized twice daily. After roughly three months, we relaxed the policy so that all personnel are working on-site but are required to wear masks when within 10 feet of other workers and must sanitize their hands when crossing “business segment” boundaries. Mandatory temperature testing, etc. is required upon entry to the building. On building resilient teams: First off, we hire high-caliber individuals with good moral character and a high work ethic. We treat our people fairly and make them responsible for our success. We have weekly team meetings where we discuss the importance of various projects and the positive role each member plays. We encourage people to continually strive to improve our processes and do our best to foster a “family” environment where we take care of each other on a daily basis. A member of our management team meets with each employee weekly or bi-weekly to keep abreast of items that may need attention or improvement and to keep lines of communication open. In terms of COVID-19, we pay our people if they are off due to COVID-related quarantine or illness. On what’s next: We are working on various “all-electric” firefighting systems for a variety of helicopters, an “all-electric” agricultural gate for aircraft use, and are close to releasing our next generation DataVault system that will provide both Satellite and Cellular communications for monitoring and controlling aircraft-mounted equipment. Two new patents have been filed this year for inventions related to the aerial firefighting industry. https://dallasinnovates.com/a-swiss-army-knife-in-the-sky-this-fort-worth-company-develops-next-gen-equipment-for-aerial-firefighting/ Reliable Robotics completes first remote flight of aircraft from a private control center Reliable Robotics has completed the first flight of a remotely piloted aircraft from a private control center. The plane was piloted from its Mountain View, California-based headquarters over 50 miles away from the upgraded and retrofitted Cessna 208 Caravan. The test flight didn’t last too long as the Cessna 208 was instructed to taxi, take off, maneuver over a populated region, and land while communicating with nearby air traffic through the aircraft’s onboard radios. This test flight is a major milestone for the company as it shows that its systems and technology work perfectly for commercial operations. The company hopes to bring these converted planes to market to allow cargo companies like DHL to fly more frequently for less as no pilots are on board. Charles Graham, former CEO for Aviation, DHL Express, shared: “Automating a large aircraft with remote piloting infrastructure is an impressive technical achievement for commercial aviation, coming years before many in the industry expected. Operating from a control center increases safety margins, reduces workload and enables pilots to focus on communications and complex decision making.” Unlike today’s commercial autopilots, Reliable Robotics envisioned and built a system capable of remote operation from a control center staffed with professional pilots: Pilots-in-the-loop: Control center workstations enable remote command of aircraft during all phases of flight. Remote pilots maintain situation awareness and manage the flight plan similar to an onboard pilot. Upgraded aircraft: A proprietary sensing and computing platform handles fault management in conjunction with added mechanical redundancy designed for continuous safe operation. Detailed insight into each aircraft’s condition is made available to operators through a secure network. Seamless operation: The modified aircraft operates in a manner indistinguishable from others sharing the airspace, with no changes to existing infrastructure or procedures. Remote pilots verbally communicate with ground and air traffic controllers as well as other aircraft. Secure systems: Command and control, voice, and data links implement end-to-end encryption with authenticity- and integrity-checking methods developed for safety and mission-critical applications. This ensures all data relayed between the remote pilot and the aircraft can be cryptographically verified as original and unaltered. Casey Klebba, director of remote piloting at Reliable Robotics, added: “Routine flight testing from our control center is essential for validating our design and developing human factors guidelines for commercial remote piloting. Equally important is our work to support and advance the certification basis for autonomous aircraft systems so they can be operated at scale.” Reliable Robotics Based in Mountain View, California, Reliable Robotics‘ company slogan is, “We believe aircraft should fly themselves.” Reliable Robotics was founded in July 2017 by Robert W. Rose, who previously led teams at Space-X, Tesla, and Google’s X division. Cofounder Juerg Frefel previously worked at SpaceX and was responsible for the Falcon 9 and Dragon spacecraft computing platforms. Later that year, in December, the company took its first Cessna 172 and began taking it apart and figuring out how to implement the autonomous flight tech. In February 2018, the plane was ready and completed its first gate-to-gate, remotely operated flight in December of that year. All that takes us to the Cessna 172 fully autonomous flight making history with no pilot on board in the case of an emergency. While this was happening, the company was also working on the Cessna 208 first landing. https://dronedj.com/2021/03/10/reliable-robotics-completes-first-remote-flight-of-aircraft-from-a-private-control-center/ Boca Raton Airport to be First Airport to Install New FAA Approved LED Rotating Beacon On March 10, 2021, the Boca Raton Airport will become the first airport in the United States to install the new Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) certified, Hali-Brite LED Rotating Beacon. A rotating beacon is a visual navigation aid that projects a beam of light used by pilots to visually locate a lighted airport at night. For civil airports, like Boca Raton Airport, the beacon rotates to produce alternate clear and green flashes of light visible to pilots from the air. The new LED Rotating Beacon being installed at Boca Raton Airport is the first of its kind to be approved by the FAA for use in public airports. “Upgrading the rotating beacon to LED offers numerous benefits and is in keeping with the Boca Raton Airport Authority’s goal to enhance safety and implement cost-efficient energy saving measures,” said Clara Bennett, executive director of the Boca Raton Airport Authority. Compared with metal halide lamps used in traditional beacons, the LED rotating beacon offers significant energy savings, reduces light pollution, and reduces long-term maintenance. Specific benefits include: Energy savings: The new L-802A(L) LED rotating beacon has a higher light output than the huge 36” traditional rotating beacons you see at many airports and uses a quarter of the power over traditional Beacon technology. The LED beacon uses the power equivalent of about (2) 100watt incandescent light bulbs. So, the same power we used to use to light a small garage we now use to light up the sky for pilots. Light pollution: The LED technology in the beacon allows us to have a much more “defined” light beam. The light “wash” up to the sky and down on neighborhoods if far less with the new LED beacon. Long-term maintenance: Traditional Rotating beacons required bulb replacement. The new LED beacon typical lamp life is 12 years. Designed and hand-built in United States of America. https://www.aviationpros.com/airports/press-release/21213752/boca-raton-airport-authority-boca-raton-airport-to-be-first-airport-to-install-new-faa-approved-led-rotating-beacon SpaceX launches 60 new Starlink satellites to orbit, nails rocket landing at sea CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. — A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket lit up the predawn sky early this morning (March 11) as it carried a new batch of 60 Starlink internet satellites into orbit, before nailing its landing on a floating platform at sea. The two-stage Falcon 9 booster lifted off from Space Launch Complex 40 here at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station at 3:13 a.m. EST (0813 GMT). About 8.5 minutes later, the rocket's reusable first stage returned to Earth for its sixth landing, touching down on one of SpaceX's drone ships. The floating platform, called "Just Read the Instructions," was stationed out in the Atlantic Ocean, about 400 miles (630 kilometers) downrange. It was a clear night in Florida for the mission's second attempt. The launch was originally planned to occur on Monday night (March 9) but was pushed back so SpaceX could conduct more prelaunch checkouts. Weather forecasters at the U.S. Space Force's 45th Weather Squadron predicted a 90% chance of favorable conditions for launch this morning, and Mother Nature delivered. This latest liftoff marked SpaceX's seventh mission of 2021 and the company's 21st 60-satellite Starlink launch overall. It starred one of the better known Falcon 9 first stages in the fleet — B1058. Emblazoned with a now-sooty NASA worm logo, B1058 is the booster that delivered two NASA astronauts to the International Space Station (ISS) in May of last year, returning orbital human spaceflight to U.S. soil with SpaceX's Demo-2 mission. The veteran launcher also delivered a cargo Dragon spacecraft to the ISS, a communications satellite for South Korea's military and the most satellites ever launched on a single mission (Transporter-1). Today, B1058 carried its second stack of Starlink satellites. The predawn spectacle marked the 110th overall flight of a Falcon 9 rocket and the 56th reflight of a Falcon 9 first stage. It was the sixth mission for this particular booster, and SpaceX set a new record for fastest turnaround time for a rocket with this many flights under its belt. B1058 last flew on Jan. 24, and it blasted off again from the same launch pad this morning, just 45 days later; the previous record for such a veteran booster was 59 days. SpaceX relies heavily on its fleet of veteran rockets, which have enabled the company to keep up with its launch ambitions. However, SpaceX has always stressed that, while booster recovery is beneficial, the main goal of each mission is to successfully deliver the payload to space. The company recovered a first stage for the first time in 2015, when a Falcon 9 booster touched down on terra firma at one of the company's Florida landing pads. Ever since, SpaceX has been striving to better understand the recovery process and how much wear and tear each launch puts on the rocket. With each recovery attempt, the company has been able to refine its process and reduce times between flights. SpaceX founder and CEO Elon Musk has said that his long-term vision involves rockets that resemble airplanes, in the sense that they lift off, land, refuel and lift off again in short order. Musk has said, for example, that a goal of SpaceX is to launch, land, and then launch and land the same rocket again within 24 hours — a milestone that has not yet been reached. While SpaceX makes landing rockets look easy, a recent anomaly shows that it's not always a slam dunk. On Feb. 15, the company broke a 24-booster recovery streak when a Falcon 9 first stage, designated B1059, failed to land on a drone ship in the Atlantic Ocean after launching a different batch of Starlink satellites into orbit. The mishap was attributed to "heat damage," with company officials elaborating on that during a recent teleconference. Benji Reed, SpaceX's senior director for human spaceflight, said that one of the booster's protective engine covers failed, allowing hot gases from the engine to leak into places it wasn't supposed to, causing an engine to shut down during flight. This shutdown ultimately caused the rocket to miss its mark on the drone ship. SpaceX upgraded its Falcon 9 rocket back in 2018, giving the vehicle a series of enhancements, including a more robust thermal protection system, titanium grid fins and a more durable interstage, to facilitate reuse. The upgrades enabled the rocket to refly multiple times with few refurbishments in between. The company said that the Falcon 9 we see today could be capable of flying a minimum of 10 times with little to no refurbishment between flights and as many as 100 times overall before retirement. But such numbers may not be set in stone. Instead, those targets could be more of a guideline that changes as the company refines its refurbishment process. SpaceX has two boosters that are close to the 10-mission milestone, having flown a record eight times, and it's possible we could see one or both of those hit double digits this year. The company has big ambitions for 2021, with a goal of launching a total of 40 missions from its California and Florida launch pads. This morning's mission marked the 76th SpaceX booster landing to date, and the 19th for "Just Read the Instructions." To recover its returning boosters, SpaceX uses two massive floating landing platforms — "Of Course I Still Love You" and "Just Read the Instructions" — in addition to its landing pads, which allow the company to launch and land more rockets. Typically, the drone ships see most of the action, as it takes more fuel reserves to make it all the way back to land than it does to come down at sea. "Just Read the Instructions" is the newer of the two ships. Originally stationed out in California, the ship was moved to the East Coast in 2020, to help with the increased launch cadence. SpaceX has been planning a third drone ship for some time now, and it's possible that ship would service the West Coast as the company aims to increase launches from its facilities at Vandenberg Air Force Base in California. There is no expected completion date on the third ship, but a recent company job opening for a drone ship recovery engineer suggests it could be sometime in the near future. Expanding the megaconstellation With this morning's successful liftoff, SpaceX has now launched more than 1,200 Starlink satellites into orbit, including some that are no longer operational. The company has planned for its initial Starlink constellation to be 1,440 strong but has sought approval for tens of thousands more. There are many more launches coming as SpaceX fills out this growing megaconstellation. Advertisement The company launched its Starlink program with one major goal: to connect the globe. To that end, SpaceX designed a fleet of flat-paneled broadband satellites that fly over Earth, providing internet coverage to users around the world. SpaceX recently started taking preorders for its public rollout. Potential users could sign up for the service via a website, pay a deposit and then be notified when coverage is offered in their area. The rollout is on a first-come, first-serve basis while the company is conducting an extensive international and domestic beta-testing phase. In advance of this launch, SpaceX rolled out service to Germany and New Zealand and is working to expand its existing service in the United Kingdom. But that's not all. Recent filings indicate that the company is seeking permission to expand its services to moving vehicles, including planes, boats and RVs. According to Musk, the current Starlink user terminals, which facilitate access to the satellites overhead, are too large to put in cars, so for now, it's targeting bigger vehicles. Falling fairings SpaceX’s dynamic fairing-catching boat duo, GO Ms Tree and GO Ms Chief, are still sidelined, undergoing maintenance in Florida's Port Canaveral. As such, SpaceX deployed two of its Dragon recovery vessels, GO Searcher and GO Navigator, to the planned recovery site. The two boats received upgrades that allow them to scoop fairing pieces out of the water. The payload fairing is a clamshell-like piece of hardware designed to protect satellites as their rocket travels through the atmosphere. SpaceX fairings are composed of two halves. At a designated point after launch, the two pieces jettison and fall back to Earth. Historically, the payload fairing has been a one-and-done piece of hardware, discarded in the ocean after each mission. But SpaceX has been working to expand its reusability efforts and has had success recovering and reflying fairing pieces. Advertisement For this mission, the active fairing (the half that has the motors that jettison it from the rocket) has flown once before, and the passive (or other half) has flown twice before. Once recovered from the ocean, SpaceX inspects and refurbishes each fairing piece. Up next for SpaceX is another Starlink mission, which could launch as soon as this weekend. The company is also preparing for its next astronaut mission, Crew-2, which is scheduled to launch from NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida no earlier than April 22. https://www.space.com/spacex-starlink-launch-success-rocket-landing Curt Lewis