May 6, 2021 - No. 35 In This Issue : Electric Vs Hydrogen – Which Is Best For The Future Of Aviation? : Australia leading digital revolution in aviation : APJeT Brings Air Plasma COVID-19 Disinfection Technology to Aviation Industry : Airlines must reduce emissions instead of offsetting, say experts : Luminar-Airbus venture targeting autonomous aviation : Flexjet parent company acquires Halo Aviation : ZeroAvia Selected As Finalist In Transportation Category Of Fast Company's 2021 World Changing Ideas Awards : FlightSafety, Flight Research Team on Upset Training : Alia eVTOL receives US Air Force airworthiness approval : Nigerian regulator lifts safety ban on Azman Air operations : SPACEX’S STARSHIP SN15 LANDS SUCCESSFULLY! Electric Vs Hydrogen – Which Is Best For The Future Of Aviation? That commercial aviation needs to do everything it can to mitigate its contribution to greenhouse gas emissions is no longer up for debate. Airlines are investing in everything from carbon capture to sustainable aviation fuels, along with hydrogen-powered and electric aircraft. But which of the latter two is the better option? Innovation in the midst of crisis It has become increasingly clear over the past few years that with our current energy consumption only expected to grow along with the Earth’s population, we are on a trajectory set to change life on the planet as we know it forever. Aviation is also predicted to grow substantially over the next couple of decades, despite the hiccup caused by the fallout from the ongoing global crisis. With aircraft emissions forecasted to triple during the first half of the century, it must do its part in mitigating transport-related climate impact. The past twelve months have been like no other, bringing much of commercial aviation to its knees. However, the year has also been full of innovation and promise when it comes to shifting towards a more sustainable way of traversing the skies. While still some way from becoming commercially viable, electric and hydrogen-powered aircraft are no longer mere ideas in some futuristic sci-fi-fi novel. Rather, they are on the brink of generating a seismic shift in aviation technology. And it is not necessarily a question of one over the other, but rather how the technologies can be put to the very best use across various segments – and when. Different segments To put things into relative perspective, Sweden’s Heart Aerospace says it will deliver its first ES-19 electric airliner by 2026. The plane will have 19 seats and be able to operate at a range of about 216 nautical miles. Close-by, Norwegian authorities aim for all domestic flights to be electric by 2040, and regional airline Widerøe has partnered with Rolls-Royce to develop an all-electric passenger aircraft. Based on the Tecnam P2012 Traveller, the concept plane will seat 11 passengers and is also intended to enter service in 2026. Meanwhile, Airbus’ hydrogen concept planes, which could enter service in 2035, are meant for between 100 and 200 passengers and will have a range of 2,000 nautical miles. Hydrogen, while containing almost as much as three times the energy pound for pound as fossil fuels, also takes up about four times the volume due to a lower energy density. However, there are also smaller aircraft hydrogen projects that could enter the airspace much sooner. In the UK, the HEART (do not confuse with Heart Aerospace, it is a popular acronym that stands for Hydrogen Electric and Automated Regional Transportation) project is hoping to make hydrogen-powered flights for between nine and 19 passengers a reality by 2025. Electric infrastructure requires less investment When it comes to infrastructure, adapting to electric flight will be easier – which also means less costly – a win in aviation, as in any business. Charging poles will need to be installed at airports, but other than that, the electrical grid is already in place. Meanwhile, transporting, storing, and refueling hydrogen requires investments on a much larger scale. A specific challenge is how to store hydrogen onboard the aircraft. Liquid hydrogen is the more promising option, whereas hydrogen as compressed gas would require more weight and volume. Liquifying hydrogen is another step that must be dealt with. The process involves cooling gaseous hydrogen to below −253°C (−423°F) and requires about 30% of the energy content of the hydrogen itself. Moreover, it is expensive. Will the public embrace hydrogen? Public perception of the safety of hydrogen is also an issue. According to a survey reported by the World Economic Forum, only about half the respondents considered hydrogen to be ‘generally safe,’ while 30% even believed it to be ‘generally dangerous’. Last year, British Airways partner ZeroAvia successfully completed the first hydrogen fuel-cell powered flight with its Piper Malibu Meridian aircraft. The aircraft was damaged during an off-airport landing during a test flight last week. However, as the plane did not erupt in flames, some say it was proof that hydrogen planes are safe, and will not necessarily lead to Hindenburg-style spectacular disasters. Electrical aircraft could also be deemed preferable when it comes to noise pollution. Anyone who has ever been surprised by an electric scooter or car knows how silent they can be. Actively reducing noise around airports will benefit both wildlife and the people living close by. Batteries not progressing fast enough The main problem with electric flight is that batteries are not improving at the desired rate. For instance, when Airbus unveiled its three sustainable aircraft concepts in September 2020, it chose hydrogen as a primary propulsion source specifically because electric battery technology was deemed to lag behind the planemaker’s target for a zero-emissions commercial aircraft. Actual zero emissions is a difficult target However, the real question is – what is best for the environment? As always, when it comes to energy sources and their sustainability, it is not only a matter of what happens when they are being utilized – but how they are produced. If electricity is generated by a powerplant burning coal, it is not very green at all and still contributes to the use of fossil fuels and pollution. Whereas if a hydropower plant converts kinetic energy from falling water to mechanical energy and on to electricity, it comes from a renewable source. Meanwhile, the same is even more true for hydrogen. Hydrogen in and of itself is a clean fuel. However, the production of hydrogen is still incredibly polluting. For a shift towards hydrogen to support the true decarbonization of aviation, the production of so-called ‘green’ hydrogen must ramp up significantly. Regardless of the exact environmental applications, most likely electric and hybrid aircraft will complement each other. After all, as previously stated, commercial electric flight will not require massive infrastructure investments, and it will most likely be available before hydrogen aircraft make it to market. Thus, the two can complement each other. Electric aircraft will probably become prominent in urban mobility and commuter markets, while hydrogen will power airplanes designed for medium-haul routes. https://simpleflying.com/electric-vs-hydrogen-winner/ Australia leading digital revolution in aviation The Australian Government is laying the foundations for new jobs in the new frontier of aviation services with the release of the National Emerging Aviation Technologies (NEAT) Policy Statement. As part of the Government’s new Digital Economy Strategy, the statement sets out how the Government will support individuals and businesses to harness the opportunities offered by digital aviation technologies such as drones, advanced air mobility (AAM) and electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) vehicles. Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development Michael McCormack said the Government was committed to maintaining Australia’s status as a world leader in the development and adoption of emerging aviation technologies, as part of its ongoing support to ensure the sector recovers and thrives. “Growth in the use of drones and eVTOL in Australia is estimated to support more than 5,000 jobs and a $14.5 billion increase in GDP over the next 20 years – of which $4.4 billion would be in regional areas across New South Wales, Queensland and Victoria,” the Deputy Prime Minister said. “The NEAT Policy Statement sets out how we will make the most of these opportunities. “The Government is working closely with industry and communities to build a first-class aviation technology sector that is innovative, safe and considerate of local environments and needs. “As part of the NEAT Policy Statement, the Government is investing $35.7 million to establish the Emerging Aviation Technology Partnerships program, including a Drone Rule Management System and Drone Detection Network. “The program will establish strategic partnerships with industry to support aviation manufacturing jobs and encourage adoption of emerging aviation technologies to address community needs, particularly in regional Australia. “These partnerships will trial new service delivery models, such as using AAM to create regional passenger and cargo links, providing benefit for regional communities and their economies while also increasing business efficiency, and reducing carbon emissions through new technology. “Other initiatives under the NEAT policy statement include developing frameworks for the Drone Rules Management System to coordinate operating rules on drones across all levels of government and the National Drone Detection Network. “This will detect drone activity to address security risks and support enforcement of other rules such as safety and airspace regulations.” The Deputy Prime Minister said drones have significant potential to boost the nation’s economy while creating thousands of jobs, as shown by a comprehensive report released by the Australian Government in November last year. “The jobs, the economic stimulus and other social benefits drones could have for industries such as agriculture, as well as regional communities, are transformational,” he said. “There are many incredible drone opportunities already being explored or trialled that proves exactly that, such as using drones to deliver medical items in regional Australia, tracking sharks around our beaches or mapping bushfire movements to support our valiant firefighting efforts. “In agriculture, the 2020 report found using drones could support more efficient decision making to improve profitability for our farmers by decreasing planting costs by up to 85 per cent, just one of many examples of how supporting the use of drone innovation and technology can continue to assist hard-working Australians. “To unlock the potential economic development and job growth identified by this research, we need to support innovative applications for drones across Australian industries, while ensuring drone use is safe, secure and considerate of the community and the environment. “We are in a unique position as a nation to grasp the benefits of drones with both hands, to further bolster our economy, create jobs, support service delivery and back stronger communities.” The Deputy Prime Minister said the announcement was just the latest example of the Government’s commitment to ensuring Australia’s aviation remains strong into the future. “The Liberal and Nationals Government has supported the sector through the worst of the pandemic by guaranteeing minimum connectivity, particularly to regional communities, through our Domestic and Regional Network Support programs, RANS and DANS. “In March, the Government also announced the Tourism Aviation Network Support program, which is proving enormously successful in driving tourism demand for interstate travel, supporting jobs and having an economic multiplier effect, as travellers spend money on accommodation, food and activities in nominated regions under the program. “These programs complement the new initiatives in the NEAT Policy Statement and together will form key components of the Government’s Five Year Plan for Aviation, which will chart a course for aviation from response, through recovery, to repositioning the sector for the long term.” https://www.miragenews.com/australia-leading-digital-revolution-in-aviation-555339/ APJeT Brings Air Plasma COVID-19 Disinfection Technology to Aviation Industry Morrisville, NC — As the pandemic surges, APJeT, Inc., an advanced technology company, announces that the aviation industry is the first customer for its groundbreaking air plasma disinfection technology, the COVIDINATOR. The standalone system has demonstrated a 100-percent ‘kill’ rate in laboratory testing and is designed to completely disinfect aircraft in less than two hours between flights, a rate that is twice as fast as existing on-ground disinfection technology. New Jersey-based Corporate Jet Support, which provides Gulfstream jet parts and corporate jet service, has placed the first orders for APJeT’s COVIDINATOR and will be the exclusive distributor to the corporate aviation industry. “This is a big step in restoring business travelers’ confidence and getting corporate and charter fleets back in the air,” says Chris Breitweiser, CEO and co-founder of Corporate Jet Support. “Ground crews simply plug in this lightweight, cost-effective air disinfection unit on board an aircraft between flights and achieve a 100-percent kill of any viruses in 90 minutes.” APJeT’s plasma air disinfection system, the COVIDINATOR, was tested in independent labs and certified results confirm a complete elimination, or ‘total kill’, in one pass of room-circulated air. Testing also show that that air plasma technology disinfects an enclosed space twice as fast as ionization. APJeT’s plasma disinfection systems use a patent-pending cold plasma technology that breaks down the oxygen (O2) and nitrogen (N2) molecules in air into individual atoms. When these atoms recombine with the moisture in air, they create what are known as ‘reactive species’, that destroy viruses, bacteria and fungi. The company’s team of scientists and engineers were the first to develop the capability to stabilize atmospheric plasma in a very dense, high-powered form. The company has now developed proprietary technology for the application of atmospheric plasma as an air and surface disinfectant to reduce the spread of COVID-19 and prevent future pandemics. APJeT has developed four COVIDINATOR systems for the application of its technology: an air disinfection device for the integration into existing and new HVAC systems, a stand-alone air disinfection system, a ‘wand’ for treating surfaces and a ‘kill box’ for article disinfection. APJeT systems not only achieve higher kill rates, but also work much faster, are safer, use less energy and produce less ozone. APJeT CEO, Bentley Park, expects that the company’s proprietary air and surface disinfection technology will be widely used in hospitals, offices, schools and in the airline, cruise and hotel industries, which have been among the hardest hit by the current pandemic. “Achieving a complete ‘kill’, the 100-percent elimination of the coronavirus, in enclosed spaces is a big step forward for human safety and returning life to normal for travelers, office-workers, and movie-goers,” says Park. https://www.aviationpros.com/gse/catering-cleaning-equipment/press-release/21221609/apjet-inc-apjet-brings-air-plasma-covid19-disinfection-technology-to-aviation-industry Airlines must reduce emissions instead of offsetting, say experts Airlines should focus on reducing emissions from flights instead of using carbon offsets for climate commitments, experts and environmental campaigners have warned. British Airways and easyJet are among several leading carriers that use carbon offsets to back up claims of “carbon-neutral flying” and net zero pledges by buying credits on behalf of passengers or offering customers that opportunity to buy them when booking tickets. On Tuesday, an investigation by the Guardian and Unearthed, Greenpeace’s investigative arm into the forest protection carbon offsetting market used by airlines found it had a significant credibility problem, with experts warning the system is flawed and can produce credits with no climate benefit. Environmental campaigners said the airline industry must focus on reducing emissions from aviation and the use of offsets distracts from rising emissions from flights. In response to the investigation, several leading airlines said the use of offsets was an intermediary measure while new technologies were developed. Stephen Smith, executive director of the Oxford Net Zero Initiative, said there had been progress on developing standards of what counts as a high quality climate target, including Race to Zero and Science Based Targets (SBTi), but cautioned the area was still a “wild west”. “I think there can be a role for offsetting,” Smith said. “But I think the first priority for any organisation has to be that they address their own carbon footprint directly. So for airlines, that means reducing emissions from their operations and fossil fuel use, and for passengers to think carefully about their flying habits. “Avoided emissions credits are not going to get us to net zero in the long run.” Under schemes like the SBTi, companies follow a step-by-step process to make a climate commitment that is in line with the goals of the Paris agreement, ensuring their operations help limit global warning well below 2 degrees. Companies that follow the initiative must track and disclose their progress every year and are not allowed to use offsets to contribute to their goals. Carbon credits are only considered an option for organisations that want to make additional reductions. In response to the findings of the investigation, airlines said they trusted the quality of Redd+ (reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation in developing countries) credits they used for climate commitments, which were often sourced through a third party. British Airways said it was committed to net zero emissions by 2050 and offsetting remained a key part of its near-term plan while alternatives to fossil fuels were developed. It added: “In the medium to longer term we’re investing in the development of sustainable aviation fuel and looking at how we can help accelerate the growth of new technologies such as zero emissions hydrogen-powered aircraft and carbon capture technology.” EasyJet, which offsets fuel emissions on behalf of all customers for “carbon-neutral flying”, said it was an interim measure while zero-emission technology was developed and the airline was confident the projects it supported were in effect preventing forest loss. They are also applying a number of techniques in order to reduce current carbon emissions, such as single-engine taxi, using advanced weather information to optimise routing, and reducing the use of aircraft flaps on approach to landing. “Alongside this we’re already supporting the development of radical new technologies to achieve zero-emission flying in the future which we are committed to transitioning to as soon as they are available and viable.” Cait Hewitt, deputy director of the UK NGO Aviation Environment Federation, said offsetting using avoided emission credits, such as those from forestry protection, cannot be the solution because emissions in the atmosphere still increase. “Even if you did correctly manage to invest in a project and therefore avoid some carbon, that doesn’t solve the problem of the emissions from your flight,” Hewitt explained. “I think a lot of these projects probably do really good things. But we shouldn’t kid ourselves that this somehow delivers carbon neutral flying. That’s that’s just not the case. “Almost all other sectors are now getting on to the path of cutting emissions and aviation has a real problem. One of the dangers with offsetting is that it risks creating the impression that airlines are taking real action on this issue.” Leo Murray, an environmental campaigner that co-founded Plane Stupid and now runs the NGO Possible, said carbon offsetting was an alternative to reducing emissions from air travel and was stopping people from confronting difficult truths about the climate crisis. “A carbon neutral flight is just a comforting fiction,” he said. “It doesn’t exist in technological terms: you can’t get on a flight that doesn’t emit carbon. But also, the idea that you can emit loads of carbon on a flight and pay to mop it up elsewhere is just not true.” https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/may/05/reducing-emissions-should-be-airlines-first-priority-not-buying-carbon-offsets Luminar-Airbus venture targeting autonomous aviation Luminar Technologies, a developer of automotive lidar hardware and software technology, has announced a partnership with Airbus UpNext, a subsidiary of Airbus SE, which is a European aeronautic defense and space company. Luminar is an autonomous vehicle sensor and software company that has gained over 50 industry partners, including eight of the top 10 global automakers. In 2020, the firm signed the industry’s first production deal for autonomous consumer vehicles with Volvo Cars, while also recently striking deals with Daimler Truck AG and Intel’s Mobileye. The new partnership with Airbus UpNext is intended to give future flight technologies a “development fast-track by building, evaluating, maturing and validating new products and services that encompass radical technological breakthroughs,” the partners state. Ultimate aim: enabling safe, autonomous flight The collaboration with Luminar will see teams of experts from both companies working closely to enhance sensing, perception, and system-level capabilities to ultimately enable safe, autonomous flight. The effort is part of the new Airbus Flightlab ecosystem launched in January 2021 that spans across the scope of Airbus’ business lines. It uses flight testing as the principal means of proving out a variety of future technologies. Austin Russell, CEO and Founder of Luminar, commented, “As the world’s largest aircraft manufacturer, Airbus has a history of setting a new bar for the future of the aerospace industry. We’re able to directly re-apply what we’ve accomplished for the automotive industry into aviation, an established nearly $1 trillion industry.” The primary goal of the platform is to increase aircraft safety and ultimately enable autonomous operation with automatic obstacle detection. Luminar’s technology is based on its lidar sensors, which emit laser pulses to accurately detect where objects are by scanning the environment in 3D. It is key in enabling future aviation technologies including autonomous urban air mobility (UAM) transport modes because it serves as a central basis for safe takeoff, landing, and in-flight decision making. It also has the potential to substantially improve the safety of existing aircraft applications. “Partnering with Luminar, an industry leader in safe autonomous technologies, will help us define and explore the next step towards more autonomous flight vehicles,” said Dr. Sandra Bour Schaeffer, CEO of Airbus UpNext and Head of Airbus Group Demonstrators. https://optics.org/news/12/4/47 Flexjet parent company acquires Halo Aviation Fractional jet provider Flexjet has acquired UK-based helicopter operator Halo Aviation. “My vision is to strategically position each of our flight providers to become a leader in its market,” said Kenn C. Ricci, founder of Flexjet’s parent company, Directional Aviation. Flexjet offers global fractional ownership, Sentient Jet offers the jet card and FXAIR and PrivateFly provide on-demand charter. Ricci added: “Now, with the acquisition of Halo and Associated Aircraft Group [AAG], we can add another market to that list: Vertical lift.” Directional acquired AAG and its fleet of executive Sikorsky helicopters in the United States earlier this year. According to Ricci, the addition of Halo gives the company access to urban mobility operations. It also allows the group to offer “a complete aircraft travel solution”. Halo Aviation has bases in the south of England, around London, in the Midlands and in the Channel Islands. Andrew Collins, CEO, Sentient Jet said the acquisition helps “provide a platform for the entry into service of electric vertical take-off and landing [VTOL] technology”. Halo Aviation founder Will Fanshawe told Helicopter Investor: “As a helicopter company, we want to be in a position to fly and operate eVTOLs as and when they become certified. It’s certainly the future.” Halo will support Flexjet and Sentient’s clients as they land in the UK. “It’s about tying that seamless service across the Atlantic,” said Fanshawe. Pre-Covid, 50% of Halo Aviation’s flight hours were spent on airport shuttle missions to and from central London. Fanshawe said flight hours were somewhat picking up again, with the operator anticipating a surge in bookings for the Silverstone Formula One Grand Prix and the Royal Ascot 2021 later this year. Halo operates a fleet of 10 six- and eight-seat Agusta/Leonardo helicopters, including the Agusta AW109 and AW169 models, while AAG operates the Sikorsky S-76. AAG offers charter services, the AAG Excalibur Card (sold in 10-hour increments), Sikorsky Shares and New York-area airport transfer services. https://www.helicopterinvestor.com/articles/flexjet-parent-company-acquires-halo-aviation-999/ ZeroAvia Selected As Finalist In Transportation Category Of Fast Company's 2021 World Changing Ideas Awards NEW YORK, May 5, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The winners of Fast Company's 2021 World Changing Ideas Awards were announced today, honoring the businesses, policies, projects, and concepts that are actively engaged and deeply committed to pursuing innovation when it comes to solving health and climate crises, social injustice, or economic inequality. ZeroAvia offers the first practical solution for decarbonizing the aviation industry and utilizes hydrogen-fueled powertrain technology to replace conventional engines in commercial aircraft. Adoption of this technology results not only in true zero-emission flight but also in lower fuel and maintenance costs. The company previously completed its first electric flight in the US in 2019, then built the second flying prototype in the UK, and conducted its first electric flight in June of 2020. In September 2020, it achieved the world's first hydrogen-electric flight of a commercial-grade aircraft. Now in its fifth year, the World Changing Ideas Awards showcase 33 winners, more than 400 finalists, and more than 800 honorable mentions—with Health and Wellness, AI & Data among the most popular categories. A panel of eminent Fast Company editors and reporters selected winners and finalists from a pool of more than 4,000 entries across transportation, education, food, politics, technology, and more. Plus, several new categories were added, including Pandemic Response, Urban Design, and Architecture. The 2021 awards feature entries from across the globe, from Brazil to Denmark to Vietnam. Showcasing some of the world's most inventive entrepreneurs and companies tackling exigent global challenges, Fast Company's Summer 2021 issue (on newsstands May 10) highlights, among others, a lifesaving bassinet; the world's largest carbon sink, thanks to carbon-eating concrete; 3D-printed schools; an at-home COVID-19 testing kit; a mobile voting app; and the world's cleanest milk. "We are honored to be a finalist as it further reinforces the importance of our work of making sustainable flight a reality," said Val Miftakhov, CEO and founder of ZeroAvia. "We believe that hydrogen is the only meaningful path towards zero-emission aircraft, and we are excited to see so many beginning to recognize the potential of this energy source within the aviation industry." "There is no question our society and planet are facing deeply troubling times. So, it's important to recognize organizations that are using their ingenuity, impact, design, scalability, and passion to solve these problems," says Stephanie Mehta, editor-in-chief of Fast Company. "Our journalists, under the leadership of senior editor Morgan Clendaniel, have discovered some of the most groundbreaking projects that have launched since the start of 2020." About the World Changing Ideas Awards: World Changing Ideas is one of Fast Company's major annual awards programs and is focused on social good, seeking to elevate finished products and brave concepts that make the world better. A panel of judges from across sectors choose winners, finalists, and honorable mentions based on feasibility and the potential for impact. With the goals of awarding ingenuity and fostering innovation, Fast Company draws attention to ideas with great potential and helps them expand their reach to inspire more people to start working on solving the problems that affect us all. About ZeroAvia: ZeroAvia is a leader in zero-emission aviation, focused on hydrogen-electric aviation solutions to address a variety of markets, initially targeting 500 mile range in 10-20 seat aircraft used for commercial passenger transport, cargo, agriculture, and more. Based in the UK and USA, ZeroAvia has already secured experimental certificates for its two prototype aircraft from the CAA and FAA, passed significant flight test milestones, and is on track for commercial operations in 2024. The company's expanding UK operations are supported by grants from UK's Aerospace Technology Institute and Innovate UK, and ZeroAvia is part of the UK Government's Jet Zero Council. For more, please visit ZeroAvia.com, follow @ZeroAvia on Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn. https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/zeroavia-selected-as-finalist-in-transportation-category-of-fast-companys-2021-world-changing-ideas-awards-301284766.html FlightSafety, Flight Research Team on Upset Training FlightSafety International and Flight Research have partnered to provide upset recognition and recovery training, the companies announced yesterday. The program fuses FlightSafety’s type-specific simulator training with Flight Research’s in-aircraft instruction, with the aim to reduce loss of control in flight (LOC-I) accidents. According to FlightSafety, the in-aircraft portion allows pilots to experience in-flight upset with real gravitational forces, vestibular excitation, and mental stress. Meanwhile, FSI’s simulation programs replicate scenarios that can’t be safely accomplished in an aircraft such as low-level stalls. “Using technology and the aircraft provides the most thorough training possible against loss of in-flight control, the single greatest cause of fatal aviation accidents for more than a decade,” FlightSafety said. FSI president and CEO Brad Thress noted that the two companies share a “mutual safety obsession…so working with [Flight Research] to develop this enhanced upset recovery training makes perfect sense.” Mojave, California-based Flight Research uses Sabreliners, Aermacchi MB-326 Impalas, and Slingsby T-67 Fireflys for its jet upset prevention and recovery training program. https://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/business-aviation/2021-05-05/flightsafety-flight-research-team-upset-training Alia eVTOL receives US Air Force airworthiness approval Testing of Beta Technologies Alia eVTOL aircraft by the US Air Force is to begin after the first airworthiness approval for a manned electric aircraft was awarded to the company. The Alia is an eVTOL aircraft that can carry six people up to 290 miles (460km) and has a cruise speed of 170mph (270km/h). The aircraft has been in development since 2017 and has first customer deliveries scheduled for 2024. The airworthiness award from the IS Air Force is the latest milestone in Beta’s test program after it entered its next phase of flight testing. The next step will see a contract signed in June which will give the US Air Force access to the Alia and eVTOL flight simulators located in Washington, D.C. and Springfield, Ohio. The US Air Force’s approval involved its personnel and experts evaluating the aircraft’s design and maintenance requirements along with the company’s operations and flight test plans. Beta Technologies test pilot Camron Guthrie said, “US Air Force engineers spent more than a year examining the Alia aircraft, evaluating its design and flight capabilities against the demanding MIL-HDBK-516C standard,” The US Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) will test the Alia eVTOL under its Agility Prime “flying car” technology program. AFRL engineers will first use their equipment and facilities to conduct structural testing of the Alia aircraft. During March an Alia test aircraft completed an interstate flight Beta’s test facility at an airport in Plattsburgh, New York to the company’s headquarters near Burlington International Airport, Vermont. The same month, Beta’s flight test program set a new record for range and altitude for Alia, of 150 miles (240km) and 8,000ft. Kyle Clark, Beta’s founder and CEO said, “Electric aviation is a National Security priority and fortunately this was recognized early by the Air Force. The speed and efficiency of the Air Force Agility Prime program to support sustainable electric aviation has been remarkable. “The people and expertise that the Air Force has brought to the electric aviation industry and specifically our Alia program is accelerating the development of incredibly capable, safe and reliable aircraft.” Beta’s simulation and training facilities will enable Air Force pilots and engineers to rehearse and test the Alia aircraft in a variety of potential mission sets and scenarios. The advanced urban air mobility technology simulators are physics based and include weather, emergency handling, and mission scenarios with multiple aircraft. Beta has recently added to its customer list agreements with urban air mobility provider Blade and delivery firm UPS for Alia and charging stations. https://www.aerospacetestinginternational.com/news/electric-hybrid/alia-evtol-receives-us-air-force-airworthiness-approval.html Nigerian regulator lifts safety ban on Azman Air operations The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has lifted its suspension of Azman Air's B737 operations after greenlighting corrective measures implemented by the carrier following a safety audit. Among the violations the NCAA listed in its March post-grounding audit included an unsettled debt of NGN1.545 billion naira (USD3.782 million) owed as at December 2020. Other shortcomings included the "incompetence" of both Azman's maintenance director as well as chief pilot, both of whom were blamed for a poor culture of safety at the airline and who have since been replaced. In a statement on May 1, 2021, the NCAA confirmed it had reviewed “the corrective action plans that were developed and implemented to address the non-compliance and non-conformances identified by the audit (Level 1 findings) and found them satisfactory. In view of the above, the authority hereby lifts the suspension of Parts A3 and D43 of the operations specifications issued to Azman Air with regards to the operations of the B737 aircraft type.” The duration of the suspension was not without scandal after Azman Air was forced to publically apologize to the NCAA's director-general, Musa Nuhu, after airline staff, in an official airline press release, levelled allegations of "unprofessionalism and extortion" against him. Azman management subsequently repudiated the statement and expressed its regret to Nuhu and the NCAA. Azman Air, in a separate statement, confirmed the lifting of the suspension, adding it would resume operations soon. It remained “committed to raising the standard when it comes to the safety of crew, equipment, and passengers,” the airline said. The NCAA on March 15, 2021, had suspended the operation of Asman's fleet of two B737-300s and four B737-500s. As previously reported, this followed an incident involving Azman's B737-500 5N-SYS (msn 28565) leased from GECAS, which had experienced a burst tyre on landing at Lagos in February. Although no one was injured, the Accident Investigation Bureau (AIB) Nigeria had rated the incident as serious. Azman partly owns and partly leases its B737 fleet. One B737-300 as well as the B737-500 are leased from GECAS, with another B737-500 leased from Standard Chartered Aviation Finance. The carrier serves domestic routes including to Abuja, Kano, Lagos, and Maiduguri, according to the ch-aviation schedules module. https://www.ch-aviation.com/portal/news/103156-nigerian-regulator-lifts-safety-ban-on-azman-air-operations SPACEX’S STARSHIP SN15 LANDS SUCCESSFULLY! SpaceX’s Starship SN15 landed safely after its high-altitude test flight, successfully performing a landing-flip maneuver to softly touch down on a nearby pad. The experimental test vehicle successfully launched at about 6:24 p.m. EDT (22:24 UTC) May 5, 2021, from SpaceX’s Boca Chica launch facility in South Texas. This came a week after the company secured a rare triple Federal Aviation Administration approval for three Starship flights. “Starship landing nominal!” SpaceX CEO Elon Musk tweeted soon after the landing. The whole flight from launch to landing lasted just over six minutes, and this time the vehicle remained intact, marking the first 100% success of a 6.2-mile (10-kilometer) Starship high-altitude test flight. The last Starship prototype to come this close to full success was Starship SN10, which landed slightly too hard due to a helium ingestion issue in the engines (reducing thrust), and the vehicle exploded on the pad from the damage around 10 minutes later. There was some minor concern after Starship SN15 landed when a small fire began spreading underneath the vehicle, something that also happened during the SN10 landing two months ago. However, SpaceX was able to extinguish the flames and safe the test article. While it wasn’t launched in fog like Starship SN11 in late March, the conditions were still overcast for those viewing in the South Texas area. As with previous 6.2-mile (10-kilometer) flight tests, the vehicle slowly ascended to its target altitude, shutting down each Raptor engine in sequence as apogee was approached. Then Starship SN15 flipped horizontal for the signature belly-flop maneuver back to Earth. During the final moments of flight, all three Raptor engines re-ignited (as is now standard, from SN10 onward), with the least desirably performing one downselected and the other two remaining powered until landing. It’s unclear if Starship SN15 will fly again, however, back at the build facility, Starship SN16’s body and nosecone were recently rolled out of the Mid Bay and over to the High Bay for stacking. Additionally, a new Raptor engine titled “INSERT MEME HERE” was also spotted being delivered to the production hangars, continuing the company’s running gag of hiding internet humor Easter eggs on the engines and blisteringly fast pace of iteration in general. This was also the first test to occur after SpaceX was awarded a $2.9 billion contract to build a lunar variant of Starship to land NASA astronauts on the Moon under the agency’s Artemis program. As of right now, however, the contract is on hold while a protest filed by Blue Origin and Dynetics (the other two contenders for the Human Landing System contract) is resolved by the Government Accountability Office. https://www.spaceflightinsider.com/missions/starship/spacexs-starship-sn15-lands-successfully/ Curt Lewis