May 21, 2021 - No. 39 In This Issue : Delta Airlines partners with TPS to create aviation mechanics pipeline : Keystone Aviation Private Jet Charter, Aircraft Management and Aircraft Maintenance Expands to Scottsdale : Portside raises $17M for its business aviation management platform : TAT Technologies Reports a Partnership with Lufthansa Technik Shenzhen : Spartan College of Aeronautics and Technology and The International Brotherhood of Teamsters Form Historic Partnership : Sri Lankan Airlines eyes Boeing aircraft maintenance : JMC Group and Exeter Aerospace Announce Exclusive Supplier Agreement : Aer Lingus to close Shannon base amid restructuring plan : Collins Aerospace Helps Maximize Performance for Northrop Grumman E-2D Advanced Hawkeye With NP2000 Propeller : Monarch Air Group: How Does Technology Translate to Aviation? : Firefly selects SpaceX to launch its lunar lander Delta Airlines partners with TPS to create aviation mechanics pipeline TOLEDO, Ohio (WTVG) - TPS’ Aerospace and Natural Science Academy of Toledo (ANSAT) announced a partnership with Delta Airlines/ DeltaTechOps. This partnership is only the second of its kind in the United States; the first exists in New York. Delta TechOps (DTO) is the largest airline maintenance, repair and overhaul provider in North America. In addition to supplying maintenance and engineering support for Delta Air Lines’ large fleet of aircraft, Delta TechOps provides high-quality service to more than 150 other aviation and airline customers around the world. DTO specializes in high-skill work such as engines, components, hangar and line maintenance, employing thousands of aviation maintenance professionals. DTO is one of the world’s most-experienced providers with more than 90 years of aviation experience. This partnership will allow TPS Students the opportunity to receive specific aviation training while providing professional development for ANSAT’s staff for continuous learning from industry experts. In addition, ANSAT’s top students will be provided interviewing opportunities. Delta will provide equipment and materials for training to immerse students in state-of-the-art training and innovation. Delta’s mechanics will visit ANSAT to work with students and provide hands-on training. Students will become part of a pipeline that will help solve a workforce gap- the need for aviation mechanics. It will also help students learn from the industry experts of one of the most recognized and respected airlines in the world. https://www.13abc.com/2021/05/20/delta-airlines-partners-with-tps-to-create-aviation-mechanics-pipeline/ Keystone Aviation Private Jet Charter, Aircraft Management and Aircraft Maintenance Expands to Scottsdale Keystone Aviation announced the expansion of aircraft management, private air charter and aircraft maintenance services at Scottsdale Airport (KSDL), establishing the market as a secondary hub in the western desert to mountain corridor for aircraft management, charter and maintenance. A division of The Arnold Companies (TAC), Keystone Aviation will be based at the newly formed TAC Private Hangars facility at Scottsdale Airport, which at the same time acquired the assets of the 24-year-old Scottsdale aviation company, Gemini Air Group. Sharing his excitement of the acquisition through TAC Private Hangars, TAC Chairman and CEO, Greg Arnold said, “The TAC family is proud to be adding a new airport hub to the Keystone Aviation network as we expand the TAC brand to include KSDL. We welcome the newest team members to our aviation family and look forward to sharing our passion for aviation with Scottsdale and the greater Phoenix area.” On May 1, TAC picked up the former Gemini Air Group operations in Scottsdale and will continue to provide great service to tenants and charter customers who utilize Keystone Aviation from the same address on the west side of Scottsdale Airport. Keystone Aviation is establishing a second hub for its fleet based in Scottsdale, AZ. Offering a large collection of on-demand charter aircraft from single engine PC 12’s to large cabin Gulfstream jets, the SDL base establishes an additional point of service to existing Keystone Aviation customers and pilots as we expand into the robust SDL charter and management market. Keystone Aviation is factory authorized for Twin Commander, Cirrus aircraft and Garmin, Airtext and Aspen Avionics. Keystone Aviation is a certified Part 145 maintenance repair station with authorizations for Cirrus SR 22 & SF50, Twin Commander, Hawker, Beechjet, King Air, Citation / Citation Jet and Cessna 441 / Caravan. “Since Keystone Aviation was founded over 25 years ago, we have prided ourselves on the focus, training and attention to detail for all parts of the aircraft management, private jet charter and maintenance businesses,” stated Keystone Aviation Chief Operating Officer, Aaron Fish. “By establishing a second hub in Arizona our regional footprint connects the desert to mountain corridor with a fleet based at both ends to better serve the private flying customers living in the region. With the addition of the KSDL location, we now offer a greater selection of aircraft to get customers where they want, when they want.” “As the number of customers traveling for leisure continues to rise and business travel returns over the next year, we look forward to the possibilities of being in Scottsdale and the surrounding Phoenix area,” said Fish. https://www.aviationpros.com/fbos-tenants/press-release/21223426/keystone-aviation-keystone-aviation-private-jet-charter-aircraft-management-and-aircraft-maintenance-expands-to-scottsdale Portside raises $17M for its business aviation management platform Portside, an aviation startup that is building a platform for managing the backend of a corporate flight department, charter operation, government fleet and fractional ownership operation, today announced that it has raised a $17 million funding round led by Tiger Global Management, with participation from existing investors I2BF Global Ventures and SOMA Capital. The idea behind Portside, which was founded in 2018, is that it lets business aviation companies and flight departments manage everything from flight operations to maintenance, crew and staff scheduling, expense management for crew members and staff, and financial data to help them operate more efficiently. It’s basically everything you need to run your flight department in a single solution, but it also integrates with virtually all of the existing scheduling, accounting, expense management and maintenance tools a flight department or fractional ownership operation is likely using today. While the COVID pandemic put a halt to most forms of private aviation early on, that market saw a quick rebound. Portside says it saw its revenue grow almost 300% in 2020 and that it added more than 50 aircraft operators in multiple countries to its user base. “This infusion of new capital will be used to accelerate investment in product innovation, support further engagement with large enterprise customers and grow our global engineering and customer success teams,” said Alek Vernitsky, co-founder and CEO of Portside. “We appreciate the strong support we have received from both our existing and new investors in this round. They have collectively demonstrated their confidence in our strategy and intentional approach to cloud-based digital transformation of the global business aviation industry.” Portside is not alone in this market. Companies like Fl3xx, for example, offer similar solutions for flight departments and at the lower end, tools like Flight Circle offer a subset of these features for general aviation clubs and partnerships. “Portside has progressed rapidly since inception and is entering the next stage of fulfilling its vision of becoming the undisputed leader in cloud-based solutions for business aviation,” stated John Curtius, partner at Tiger Global Management. “In our view, Portside represents the future of the industry, and we are pleased to partner with a company we believe will continue to create significant value for many years to come.” https://techcrunch.com/2021/05/20/portside-raises-17m-for-its-business-aviation-management-platform/ TAT Technologies Reports a Partnership with Lufthansa Technik Shenzhen GEDERA, Israel, May 19, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- TAT Technologies Ltd. (NASDAQ: TATT) is pleased to announce a partnership with Lufthansa Technik Shenzhen to establish a leading repair facility in China for Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) of aircraft heat transfer components. The facility will support operators in the Asia Pacific region. In the interim, the companies have begun supporting operators in China through TAT Technologies. TAT Technologies is one of the industry's largest and leading players in thermal components MRO. Lufthansa Technik is the industry largest maintenance organization. With the partnership, the companies aim to establish a leading position in China and are looking forward to starting the new venture. Igal Zamir, CEO and President of TAT Technologies, stated, "We are pleased to partner with a leading MRO supplier in this fast-growing region. This cooperation is part of our strategy to increase our global presence, improve customer service and grow revenues." Benjamin Scheidel, President and CEO of Lufthansa Technik Shenzhen, highlighted "the importance of this partnership is to provide customers with world class quality and cost efficient solutions in the Asia Pacific growth region." About TAT Technologies LTD TAT Technologies Ltd. is a leading provider of services and products to the commercial and military aerospace and ground defense industries. TAT operates under four segments: (i) Original equipment manufacturing ("OEM") of heat transfer solutions and aviation accessories through its Gedera facility; (ii) MRO services for heat transfer components and OEM of heat transfer solutions through its Limco subsidiary; (iii) MRO services for aviation components through its Piedmont subsidiary; and (iv) Overhaul and coating of jet engine components through its Turbochrome subsidiary. TAT controlling shareholders is the FIMI Private Equity Fund. TAT's activities in the area of OEM of heat transfer solutions and aviation accessories primarily include the design, development and manufacture of (i) broad range of heat transfer solutions, such as pre-coolers heat exchangers and oil/fuel hydraulic heat exchangers, used in mechanical and electronic systems on board commercial, military and business aircraft; (ii) environmental control and power electronics cooling systems installed on board aircraft in and ground applications; and (iii) a variety of other mechanical aircraft accessories and systems such as pumps, valves, and turbine power units. TAT's activities in the area of MRO Services for heat transfer components and OEM of heat transfer solutions primarily include the MRO of heat transfer components and to a lesser extent, the manufacturing of certain heat transfer solutions. TAT's Limco subsidiary operates an FAA-certified repair station, which provides heat transfer MRO services for airlines, air cargo carriers, maintenance service centers and the military. TAT's activities in the area of MRO services for aviation components include the MRO of APUs, landing gears and other aircraft components. TAT's Piedmont subsidiary operates an FAA-certified repair station, which provides aircraft component MRO services for airlines, air cargo carriers, maintenance service centers and the military. TAT's activities in the area of overhaul and coating of jet engine components includes the overhaul and coating of jet engine components, including turbine vanes and blades, fan blades, variable inlet guide vanes and afterburner flaps. For more information of TAT Technologies Ltd., please visit our web-site: www.tat-technologies.com https://www.prnewswire.com/il/news-releases/tat-technologies-reports-a-partnership-with-lufthansa-technik-shenzhen-301294798.html Spartan College of Aeronautics and Technology and The International Brotherhood of Teamsters Form Historic Partnership TULSA, Okla.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 20, 2021-- Officials from Spartan College of Aeronautics and Technology and the International Brotherhood of Teamsters announced today the formation of an exclusive educational partnership between them. Spartan College and the Teamsters Union will host a signing day in August. For more than a century, the Teamsters Union has served as a voice for the rights of workers. With 1.4 million members located in the US and Canada, Teamsters serve as the backbone of growth for leading industries such as aviation, freight, and transportation. More specifically, its Airline Division has over 90,000 members across trades such as aircraft maintenance, piloting and customer service. Established in 1928, Spartan College has trained over 100,000 pilots and aviation technicians and currently offers diploma and associate degree programs in Aviation Maintenance Technology, Aviation Electronics Technology, Nondestructive Testing Technology/Quality Control Management and Aviation Flight. Additionally, Spartan College has developed a hybrid AMT option that maximizes student flexibility while minimizing time away from home, along with an online Bachelor of Science degree program in Technology Management. To serve the educational goals of Teamsters and their families, Spartan College offers special scholarships to those who qualify at all four campus locations – Tulsa, Oklahoma; Broomfield, Colorado; Riverside and Inglewood, California. Through this partnership, Teamsters and Spartan are committed to co-developing custom training to ensure their students are at the forefront of emerging aviation industry needs. “We are thrilled about this monumental partnership,” said Rob Polston, Chief Executive Officer at Spartan. “We know this partnership will allow us to match our expertise of delivering career-oriented aviation training to the Teamsters who have set the standards for labor benefits that have positively impacted our economy. Furthermore, we’re excited to co-develop training products that anticipate the future needs of the aviation industry. Both Spartan and Teamsters will benefit greatly from this partnership.” “This partnership is a perfect alliance,” said Capt. David Bourne, Director of the Teamsters Airline Division. “Spartan is a well-recognized educational aviation institution that continues to invest in their student experience and innovative programs. We are excited to offer incredible educational opportunities to Teamsters and their families to support their careers today and into the future.” https://www.valdostadailytimes.com/news/business/spartan-college-of-aeronautics-and-technology-and-the-international-brotherhood-of-teamsters-form-historic-partnership/article_ca2a7f26-8011-5520-851d-5f1147ba814a.html Sri Lankan Airlines eyes Boeing aircraft maintenance ECONOMYNEXT – State-run SriLankan Airlines said it had inked a deal with aircraft maker Boeing which would lead to maintenance work on aircraft made by the American company. “The new agreement would enable both parties to explore airframe maintenance, component maintenance, training, and other commercial opportunities,” SriLankan Airlines said. SriLankan Airlines has a fleet of Airbus aircraft. SriLankan Engineering is certified to perform third party checks and maintenance of Airbus aircraft. Earlier this month it started converting passenger aircraft to freighters in collaboration with UK based Avensis Aviation. SriLankan has operated Boeing aircraft in the past including Boeing 737 and 747 aircraft. (Colombo/May20/2021) https://economynext.com/sri-lankan-airlines-eyes-boeing-aircraft-maintenance-82166/#modal-one JMC Group and Exeter Aerospace Announce Exclusive Supplier Agreement Trusted provider of aviation manpower and engineering services, JMC Group, announced the signing of a long-term exclusive agreement with leading MRO, Exeter Aerospace. The agreement will support Exeter Aerospace bolster its contract and permanent workforce, helping to ensure they keep up with rising demand for their maintenance services. JMC experts bring significant experience in the management of recruitment processes for both contract and permanent clients; these processes incorporate the management of risk in relation to legislative changes through considered investment, including IR35. JMC is managed by highly experienced professionals from the civil and military aviation and manpower industries. Every week, JMC supplies personnel to airline, MRO and component manufacturing clients across the world. Their unrivaled expertise and industry experience make them an ideal partner for Exeter Aerospace, with the business expanding its base maintenance operations and servicing ATR, De Havilland DHC 8, and Embraer ERJ 170 & 190. Exeter Aerospace, sister company of Dublin Aerospace, a leading MRO based in Ireland and part of the Dublin Aerospace Group, established its operations at Exeter Airport last September. Exeter Aerospace immediately looked to hire aircraft mechanics, engineers and aviation professionals at their new facility, with this number to grow in line with the business as airlines and aircraft return to the skies over the coming months and years. The availability of the hangars and workshops combined with a phenomenal pool of local aviation and engineering talent, made this a hugely attractive location for Exeter Aerospace. Exeter Aerospace’s Employment Model is unique and includes flexible "annualized hours" working to match the high degree of seasonality in aircraft overhaul. The maintenance specialists are also applying their unique Profit Sharing approach for their team which pays out a percentage of profits to team members every quarter enabling all the team to benefit from their hard work and flexibility. Hollie Prendergast, managing director of the JMC Group, commented: “This is a very exciting partnership, and another fantastic achievement for JMC, ever reinforcing our team’s technical expertise, dedication and flexibility to support our high-profile clients. We’re thrilled to be working closely with such a forward-thinking MRO. We’re confident our candidates will provide Exeter Aerospace with more than just manpower, but additional skills, knowledge and experience that will help to deliver the highest standard of service to their expanding client base.” Commenting on the exclusive agreement, Will Campbell, general manager of Exeter Aerospace Group said: “We’re delighted to be working alongside JMC who will support us moving forward with our ambitious growth plans. In time, we plan to have up to six aircraft overhaul bays in addition to a range of support shops and test facilities. And over the next three-four years, our overall aim is to have over 250 aviation professionals working at Exeter Aerospace with an apprenticeship scheme planned to start in September 2022.” https://www.aviationpros.com/aircraft/maintenance-providers/mro/press-release/21223751/jmc-group-jmc-group-and-exeter-aerospace-announce-exclusive-supplier-agreement Aer Lingus to close Shannon base amid restructuring plan As feared, Aer Lingus (EI, Dublin Int'l) outlined in a statement on May 18 plans to close its base at Shannon Airport, among other cost cuts and layoffs, as part of a company-wide restructuring programme. It will also temporarily shut down its base at Cork from September until late November to coincide with construction work on the runway, and it will review its groundhandling operations at both locations, it said. At Shannon, 81 cabin crew who work from the base will be offered enhanced severance or to transfer to the airline's Dublin Int'l hub, while a further 45 ground staff in Shannon will be laid off. At Cork, Aer Lingus employs about 60 ground staff and 98 cabin crew. In its statement, the IAG International Airlines Group-owned flag carrier said it had “confirmed to staff that the airline will emerge smaller from the pandemic, and there will be a requirement for redundancies.” It added that “structural change will also be required across the business” and “the required structural changes will be specific to each business area but will focus primarily on the areas where there is off-market pay, terms, conditions, and work practices.” Explaining that the measures were necessary after it posted a EUR103 million euro (USD126 million) loss for the first quarter of 2021, which compounded a EUR563 million (USD689 million) loss for 2020, Aer Lingus said: “The cumulative impact of the crisis over the last 15 months means immediate actions and structural changes are required” to generate the cash needed to rebuild its financial health. Aer Lingus has blamed its strife on the Irish government’s tough Covid-19 travel restrictions. Responding to appeals in the parliament for the government to intervene, Prime Minister Micheál Martin said that the layoffs were “very sad news” and promised “to respond to the aviation issue,” the national broadcaster RTÉ reported. The government is currently considering proposals for a gradual reopening of international travel. In a brief statement, Shannon Airport said that “restoring regional connectivity and international travel will be pivotal to economic recovery as we emerge from the effects of the pandemic. Critical to this will be the urgent implementation of a clear road map and timelines for the restart of aviation.” The Irish Airline Pilots Association, which represents more than 1,200 pilots at carriers such as Aer Lingus and Ryanair (FR, Dublin Int'l), said the layoffs were a direct result of government policy “and its continued inaction on aviation,” describing Ireland as an “outlier” in the European Union with “the most restrictive travel regime” yet all the while ignoring the plight of aviation and its workers. https://www.ch-aviation.com/portal/news/103830-aer-lingus-to-close-shannon-base-amid-restructuring-plan Collins Aerospace Helps Maximize Performance for Northrop Grumman E-2D Advanced Hawkeye With NP2000 Propeller With its advanced NP2000 propeller and digital Electronic Propeller Control System, Collins Aerospace continues to provide E-2D Advanced Hawkeye operators with reduced maintenance time and cost, and enhanced crew comfort and safety. The company, a unit of Raytheon Technologies Corp., announced that it has begun shipping parts following a second multi-year contract it received in November to supply Northrop Grumman with NP2000 propeller systems for 39 E-2D aircraft. NP2000 offers operators the ability to replace individual blades on-wing for reduced maintenance time and increased aircraft availability. By improving speed holding and blade synchronization, NP2000’s digital Electronic Propeller Control System also enhances crew comfort and safety by reducing vibration and noise inside the cockpit. “The E-2D plays a critical part in battle management command and control,” said Quinlan Lyte, senior director, Propeller Systems for Collins Aerospace. “Through the multiple benefits it provides, our intelligent, innovative NP2000 helps support the E-2D mission by increasing operational efficiency, maximizing performance and boosting readiness.” NP2000 has been in service with the U.S. Navy and international customers on the Northrop Grumman E-2 and C-2 since 2004, and with the U.S. Navy and U.S. Air Force on Lockheed Martin C-130 variants since 2008. Over that time, the NP2000 has accumulated more than 1 million flight hours. https://www.aviationpros.com/aircraft/maintenance-providers/press-release/21223594/collins-aerospace-collins-aerospace-helps-maximize-performance-for-northrop-grumman-e2d-advanced-hawkeye-with-np2000-propeller Monarch Air Group: How Does Technology Translate to Aviation? Fort Lauderdale private jet provider Monarch Air Group examines how technology is helping aviation as a whole go above and beyond, the same way as other industries have relied on technology to provide added value to the end clients as well as a competitive advantage from other competing sectors. Technologies applied in the aviation industry A vast amount of technologies drive and enhance digital transformation both in companies and organizations and in people’s daily lives. Blockchain, Cloud, IoT, AI and Cybersecurity. But what relationship do they have with the aviation sector? Smart Airport is a concept that has been gaining strength for years, using the latest technologies that allow efficient use of all kinds of resources, provide the best security for customers, passengers, and employees, and maximize the experience of each of them, users, and all stakeholders. For instance, one of the leaders in energy matters is the Oslo airport, capital of Norway, which uses ecological materials with an architectural design that takes advantage of sunlight, performing efficient waste management and providing energy solutions with low CO2 emissions that contribute to the overall sustainability. Norway, and particularly Oslo, stand out for their commitment to caring for the environment. In terms of innovation, the Beijing Daxing International Airport, one of the largest in the world, leads the way in the degree of intelligence it has achieved with the implementation of new technological systems. Robots, 5G technology, facial recognition and real-time luggage tracking with a smartphone are just some of the innovations implemented at this airport. How technology is changing aviation One of the most striking changes that is coming in the short or medium term is the end of the control towers. This model is already being tested in the United Kingdom and Sweden, performing this service remotely, being able to manage the air traffic control of several airports in the same center, considerably reducing construction and maintenance costs, as well as an equitable and traceable distribution of workload between operators. Airbus is another great example of digital transformation. The company is using artificial intelligence to better understand customers by analyzing past behaviors to make predictions and recommendations; virtual reality to integrate digital models in production environments reducing testing time from three weeks to three days; digital platforms to have real-time flight test information; monitoring of more than 24,000 parameters to perform predictive maintenance; they also reorganized the entire supply chain, being able to locate component packages in real time, which include temperature, shock and vibration sensors. How does private aviation maximize the use of technology? Companies like Monarch Air Group, which since 2017 allows clients to pay for a flight using cryptocurrencies and offers a state-of-the-art online quoting system with thousands of active aircraft worldwide, has taken a step forward to delivering its clients a safe and reliable flight experience, from booking to landing. The previous is the main added value for a client looking to charter a private jet, who seeks a specific aircraft for a precise route, on an exact day and time. The passenger wants to operate the process digitally, swiftly and without setbacks, and arrive 15 minutes prior to his flight with a waiting aircraft just steps away from the private jet terminal. Other key technological advances come from manufacturers, with top-notch advances in private aircraft, from operational capability, cost-efficiency to the highest safety standards in the business. Manufacturers like Gulfstream, Cessna and Dassault raise the bar for the entire industry, making it more efficient, reliable, safer and, more recently, cleaner. All these companies are thoroughly working towards better aerodynamic efficiency for a smaller carbon footprint, technology at its finest. https://www.globaltrademag.com/monarch-air-group-how-does-technology-translate-to-aviation/ Firefly selects SpaceX to launch its lunar lander WASHINGTON — Firefly Aerospace announced May 20 it selected SpaceX to launch its first lunar lander mission for NASA, the latest in a series of contract wins by SpaceX for lunar missions. Firefly said that a SpaceX Falcon 9 will launch its Blue Ghost lunar lander in 2023 on a mission to land in Mare Crisium on the near side of the moon. The lander will be carrying 10 payloads for NASA’s Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) program under a contract it won in February, along with additional commercial payloads. Firefly is developing its own launch vehicle, Alpha, with a first launch expected in the coming weeks. However, that rocket is not powerful enough to take Blue Ghost to the moon, requiring Firefly to purchase a launch from another launch provider. “The high performance of SpaceX’s Falcon 9 launch vehicle permits a lunar transit using minimal Blue Ghost propulsion resources, thereby allowing the lander to deliver more than 150 kilograms of payload to the lunar surface,” Shea Ferring, senior vice president of spacecraft at Firefly, said in a statement. The company has started work on the lander, including ordering long-lead items and testing the vision navigation system for the lander on a one-acre simulated lunar landscape at its Briggs, Texas, test site. The lander is part of an effort by the company to develop spacecraft and orbital tugs for an overall space transportation system. “The lunar lander is really the first contract that validated our end-to-end space transportation paradigm that we’re trying to put forward at Firefly,” Tom Markusic, chief executive of Firefly, said in a recent interview. “Blue Ghost, the lunar lander, has really energized the spacecraft side of the business.” With this contract, SpaceX is now launching five of the six CLPS missions awarded by NASA to date. Intuitive Machines is using SpaceX’s Falcon 9 to launch its two lunar lander missions, the first of which is now scheduled for early 2022. Masten Space Systems selected SpaceX for its Masten Mission One lander scheduled for late 2022. Astrobotic announced April 13 that its Griffin lander, carrying the NASA VIPER rover, will launch on a Falcon Heavy. The exception is Astrobotic’s Peregrine lander. It will launch on the inaugural flight of United Launch Alliance’s Vulcan rocket, currently scheduled for no earlier than late this year. In addition to its CLPS awards, SpaceX also has NASA contracts to launch the first two elements of the lunar Gateway on a single Falcon Heavy in 2024, and to provide cargo delivery to the Gateway under a 2020 contract. SpaceX won a Human Landing System contract April 16, valued at $2.9 billion, to develop a lunar lander version of its Starship vehicle and perform one crewed mission to the lunar surface. Work on the HLS contract remains suspended while the Government Accountability Office reviews protests filed by two losing bidders, Blue Origin and Dynetics. https://spacenews.com/firefly-selects-spacex-to-launch-its-lunar-lander/ Curt Lewis