The Servair Blog - Avionics, IFE, Satcoms and IT Consultants

Vertical Aerospace Merges with Broadstone Acquisition Corp., Lists Shares on NYSE as EVTL

Vertical Aerospace has merged with Broadstone Acquisition Corp. and listed shares on the NYSE as EVTL. Vertical also unveiled the design for their VX4 eVTOL last week.

The global aerospace and technology company Vertical Aerospace Group shared news of their merger with Broadstone Acquisition Corp., and Vertical’s ordinary shares begin trading this week (as EVTL) on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE). Prior investors include American Airlines, Honeywell, Rolls-Royce, Avolon, Microsoft’s M12, Rocket, 40North, and Kouros. Pre-orders for Vertical’s aircraft total $5.4 billion, including American Airlines and Virgin Atlantic, among several others.

As CEO and Founder Stephen Fitzpatrick states, zero-emissions aviation is Vertical’s main priority. “We have global leaders in aviation as partners and a world-class team that can make zero emissions flight a reality for millions of people around the world. It is fantastic to reach this milestone and I am so proud of what the team has achieved.”

The VX4 is projected to have a top speed of 200 mph.

Avolon, an international aircraft leasing enterprise and one of Vertical’s PIPE investors, announced an order for 500 of Vertical’s electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft in June 2021. Their eVTOL began as the VA-X1, which was granted flight permission by the U.K.’s Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) in 2018. The second aircraft, the VA-X2, debuted with its first flight in 2019, and the VA-X4 was unveiled in 2020—but was recently rebranded as VX4.

Vertical revealed the full-scale design of the VX4 in a video last week. Commenting on the milestone achievement this week, Dómhnal Slattery, Chief Executive of Avolon, said, “[Vertical has] the right aircraft, deep industry experience, and the financing in place to achieve the highest global safety certification and scale production to meet demand.”

Rolls-Royce’s electrical power system will be integrated into Vertical’s eVTOL.

Projected features of the VX4 include a top speed of 200 mph, noise levels that are 100 times quieter than a helicopter, and a four-passenger capacity at costs similar to a taxi ride. Honeywell will supply its flight deck technologies including its Compact Fly-by-Wire System and advanced avionics featuring Simplified Vehicle Operations technology. Rolls-Royce’s electrical power system, including 100-kW-class lift and push electrical propulsion units, will be integrated into Vertical’s eVTOL, representing Rolls-Royce Electrical’s first entry into the UAM market with a commercial deal.

Warren East, Chief Executive of Rolls-Royce, congratulated Vertical on the merger and remarked, “We have a joint ambition to lead the way in the exciting Urban Air Mobility market and our partnership reinforces our position as the leading supplier of all-electric and hybrid-electric propulsions systems for aviation.”

Vertical Aerospace plans to reach full certification through the European Union Aviation Safety Authority (EASA) by 2024 and initiate high-scale production of the VX4 immediately afterward. Achievements planned for 2022 include VX4’s first test flight, Design Organization Approval (DOA), and finalizing the design phase. Then, according to Vertical’s website, they aim to achieve Production Organization Approval (POA) in 2023 before pursuing Type Certification in 2024.

The post Vertical Aerospace Merges with Broadstone Acquisition Corp., Lists Shares on NYSE as EVTL appeared first on Aviation Today.

—————
Boost Internet Speed–
Free Business Hosting–
Free Email Account–
Dropcatch–
Free Secure Email–
Secure Email–
Cheap VOIP Calls–
Free Hosting–
Boost Inflight Wifi–
Premium Domains–
Free Domains

ZeroAvia Raises $35 Million from United and Alaska Air Group to Provide Hydrogen-Electric Engines for Large Aircraft

ZeroAvia receives $35 million in its latest round of investments for developing its 100% hydrogen-electric engines.

United Airlines announced an investment this week in ZeroAvia’s hydrogen-electric engines. ZeroAvia has secured $35 million in this latest round of investments from both United and Alaska Air Group. The total amount of investments in ZeroAvia is now $115 million and includes previous investors AP Ventures, Horizons Ventures, Shell Ventures, Breakthrough Energy Ventures, Summa Equity, and Amazon’s Climate Pledge Fund.

ZeroAvia’s agreement with United includes the ability to purchase up to 100 of ZeroAvia’s engines. The 100% hydrogen-electric engines may be integrated into United Express aircraft in 2028. United is currently the largest airline to have committed to hydrogen-electric aviation. CEO Scott Kirby stated in a press release, “Hydrogen-electric engines are one of the most promising paths to zero-emission air travel for smaller aircraft, and this investment will keep United out in front on this important emerging technology.”

ZeroAvia’s new raise of $35 million will aid the development of its 2–5MW zero-emission powertrain system and will allow the company to expand its locations across the US, UK, and continental Europe. Val Miftakhov, CEO and founder of ZeroAvia, said, “As we prepare for ground and flight testing of our first commercial intent product in the coming weeks, this backing by our investors will enable us to accelerate delivery of our engine for larger aircraft.”

When the partnership between ZeroAvia and Alaska Air Group was announced just two months ago, Miftakhov commented, “The aviation industry is one of the hardest industries to decarbonize; however, with this collaboration, we are one step closer to achieving our goal of making our skies emission-free.” The engineering team from Alaska Air Group, the parent company of Alaska Airlines, is working with ZeroAvia’s team on the “ZA2000,” a scaled version of their existing hydrogen-electric powertrain, to be retrofitted on a De Havilland Q400 with 76 seats.

ZeroAvia’s powertrain repowers existing airframe models.

In an interview over email with Avionics International, a representative from ZeroAvia explained in greater detail how their powertrain system which will replace conventional propulsion systems. “Fuel cells use hydrogen from the onboard storage tanks and oxygen from the ambient air in a catalytic chemical reaction that produces electricity. The fuel cell system provides power to the electric motors, which propel the aircraft.”

Fuel cells provide 60% or higher efficiency in comparison with internal combustion efficiency, which is up to 30% in small engines and at most 50% in large engines. The company’s main target market is regional commercial travel. ZeroAvia’s representative remarked, “We believe that this market has the most potential to benefit from our zero-emission technology.” However, there may be applications for agricultural use of their engines in the future.

ZeroAvia has achieved recognition for having flown the largest hydrogen-electric aircraft to date—a six-seater aircraft. The team has also performed 35 flight tests and is now preparing for ground and flight testing of the ZA600 powertrain, which will be used in a Dornier 228 19-seat aircraft, according to the representative.

The company is working towards several goals in pursuit of beginning commercial operations in 2024. In the coming weeks, the team will complete the first test flights from the UK as part of the HyFlyer II project, including a 300-mile hydrogen-electric flight in a 19-seat aircraft. After that, said the representative, “We will work towards certification of the powertrain to ensure that it is ready for adoption in 2024.”

In September 2020—during the first iteration of the HyFlyer project in Cranfield, England—ZeroAvia achieved the world’s first hydrogen fuel cell powered flight of a commercial-grade aircraft. The company now aims to launch, in 2024, the first hydrogen-electric commercial route from London to Rotterdam airport using the ZA600 powertrain to enable zero-emission propulsion for a 19-seat aircraft.

The post ZeroAvia Raises $35 Million from United and Alaska Air Group to Provide Hydrogen-Electric Engines for Large Aircraft appeared first on Aviation Today.

Eviation Aircraft’s Executive Cabin Design Features Wider Seats, Panoramic Windows with Zero Carbon Emissions

Alice’s all-electric aircraft now comes in an executive cabin configuration with seats for six passengers.

Eviation Aircraft just revealed its executive cabin design as a new configuration of its all-electric Alice aircraft. The original commuter version, which debuted as a prototype in June 2017 at the Paris Airshow, has a 9-passenger capacity. The new executive cabin configuration seats 6 passengers with wider seats and has 16.5-inch-wide windows. Eviation has also designed a cargo configuration of the Alice, with a temperature-controlled cargo compartment of 450 cubic feet in volume.

The spacious executive cabin is the widest cabin in its class at 6 feet, 4 inches.

Some features highlighted in the press release are the “largest baggage compartment in its class at 100 cubic feet and a total baggage allowance of 850 pounds,” reduced noise levels—“Less noisy by a factor of more than 100 during takeoff and cruise compared to its jet-fueled counterparts,” zero carbon emissions, and a roomy cabin that is “the widest in its class, measuring 6 feet, 4 inches across.” The aircraft’s range is 440 nautical miles, and it also has a payload of 2,500 pounds.

Eviation’s cargo plane configuration has the capacity for nine passengers.

Two magni650 electric propulsion units power the aircraft; magniX’s electric propulsion systems are the only ones that have been flight-proven at this scale. Honeywell’s BendixKing is providing its AeroVue Touch integrated flight deck for Alice’s cockpit. “The single-volume, high-energy-density Alice battery energy system is made from currently available battery cells and technology,” according to the press release.

Eviation CEO Omer Bar-Yohay intends to help shape the future of aviation with the Alice aircraft, and remarks on the executive cabin design as “a glimpse into what business travel can and will look like in the very near-term.” Vice President of Sales, Jessica Pruss, announced in the press release that there has been a lot of interest in the executive cabin configuration of its electric aircraft and that Eviation is currently receiving orders for Alice with the company targeting 2026 for its first deliveries.

“We are shaping the future of travel through electric aviation,” said Eviation’s CEO Omer Bar-Yohay.

In addition to Alice’s executive cabin design, the cargo configuration has also received interest from companies working towards sustainability. DHL for example, announced a purchase order of 12 Alice aircraft for cargo transport in August 2021. John Pearson, CEO of DHL Express, stated, “Our investments always follow the objective of improving our carbon footprint. On our way to clean logistics operations, the electrification of every transport mode plays a crucial role and will significantly contribute to our overall sustainability goal of zero emissions.”

During an interview with ABC News in November, Bar-Yohay—who first established Eviation in 2015—said he expects Alice to begin test flights before the end of the year, however the company has not yet committed to a timeline or date.

The post Eviation Aircraft’s Executive Cabin Design Features Wider Seats, Panoramic Windows with Zero Carbon Emissions appeared first on Aviation Today.

Heart Aerospace Chooses Garmin’s G3000 Integrated Flight Deck for its ES-19 Aircraft

Heart Aerospace’s ES-19 airliner will now feature a fully integrated flight deck: Garmin’s G3000. The all-electric ES-19 could begin serving the regional air transport market in 2026.

Garmin International recently announced a long-term agreement to provide its G3000 integrated flight deck for Heart Aerospace’s 19-seater electric airliner, the ES-19. The G3000 selected by Heart will be customized to meet electric aircraft requirements and will facilitate future system upgrades efficiently. In addition to the agreement with Garmin, Heart has also signed on Aernnova, a Mayor, Spain-based company that engineers and manufactures aerostructures, to design and develop the structure for their new aircraft.

Swedish electric aircraft startup Heart Aerospace made an appearance headlines earlier this year when United Airlines Ventures, Breakthrough Energy Ventures, and Mesa Airlines announced a joint $35 million investment. These funds went towards developing Heart’s ES-19 aircraft. Announcements like these demonstrate that major airlines are interested in contributing to the development of electric-powered aircraft. Heart’s airliner may be ready to achieve type certification by the third quarter of 2026 from both European and U.S. civil aviation authorities. United Airlines also has a purchase agreement for 100 of these aircraft once they meet certain requirements for operation and safety.

Alex Bennett, Garmin’s director of aviation OEM and defense sales, said in emailed statements to Avionics International that the G3000 flight deck “will interface with Heart Aerospace’s battery management system (BMS), motor control units (MCU), and other systems unique to the ES-19’s electric drive train.” To optimize the flight deck for regional operations, Garmin plans to customize the G3000’s engine indication and crew alerting systems along with system synoptics and flight management system (FMS) performance algorithms.

Garmin’s G3000 flight deck is designed to fulfill the unique requirements of electric aircraft.

The partnership between Garmin and Heart Aerospace includes working to define the ideal presentation of key parameters from both the drive train and power systems, which will minimize workload for the crew while delivering crucial data regarding the aircraft’s performance and any potential problems. The flight deck will display relative endurance of the aircraft determined from information provided by the BMS in addition to wind conditions and the FMS calculated route.

Garmin’s vice president of aviation and marketing, Carl Wolf, quoted in the press release, said, “We’re confident in Heart’s practical, market-driven approach to expanding the regional air transport market with the introduction of the first all-electric airliner, whose lower operating costs have the potential to enable more universal access to air travel and a broader network of short-haul flights.”

Other aircraft currently using Garmin’s G3000 are the Phenom 100, Phenom 300, HA-420, M2, CJ3+, Denali, TBM 940, M600, SF50, and the electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft being developed by Joby Aviation.

A representative from Heart Aerospace told Avionics to their current focus is around development of some of the key systems to be featured on the ES-19, they explained, “We are now starting to lay out the onboard systems—avionics, flight controls, probes—into our master CAD model. We’re also routing their interconnecting wire harnesses.” The company is certainly expanding as development continues to ramp up. Heart has hired more than 80 employees in 2021, a tenfold increase from the eight employees that were part of the company at the start of the year.

In the third quarter of 2022, Heart intends to complete a Preliminary Design Review (PDR) as the next major milestone towards achieving certification. Q3 2023 is the goal date for completing a Critical Design Review (CDR), and they hope to perform the first flight by the end of 2024.

With an expected release date of late 2026, the first generation of the ES-19 is geared towards short-range regional transportation, with a maximum range of 250 miles. This distance can increase as improvements are made to battery energy densities. Heart’s long-term goal is for all flights shorter than 1,300 kilometers (just over 800 miles) to utilize electric aircraft by 2050. Flights of this distance currently account for a third of the emissions generated by aviation. The Heart representative commented, “We are nowhere close to the practical physical limits of battery technology, but I don’t think we will be crossing the Atlantic on all-electric planes any time soon.”

The post Heart Aerospace Chooses Garmin’s G3000 Integrated Flight Deck for its ES-19 Aircraft appeared first on Aviation Today.

Airbus Corporate Jets Completes First TwoTwenty Flight in Mirabel

Airbus Corporate Jets completed the first test flight of its new TwoTwenty business jet in Mirabel this week. (Airbus Corporate Jets)

Airbus Corporate Jets (ACJ) completed the first flight of its new TwoTwenty business jet at Mirabel Airport on Dec. 14, a year after the French aircraft manufacturer launched a business aviation variant of the A220-100 commercial airliner.

ACJ’s TwoTwenty features seating for up to 18 passengers with a range of up to 5,650 miles or more than 12 flight hours “at a price point of a ULR bizjet,” according to an Airbus press release. “The ACJ TwoTwenty is the only business jet featuring six wide VIP living areas, of around 12m2/130 ft2 each,” according to Airbus.

The TwoTwenty will also be the first corporate jet model Airbus is manufacturing at its Mirabel, Canada A220 final assembly line that was acquired as part of their purchase of the former Bombardier C Series aircraft that became re-branded as the A220 in 2017.

A cross-section of the TwoTwenty’s interior sections provided by Airbus Corporate Jets

Other details about the TwoTwenty featured in ACJ’s TwoTwenty brochure include a maximum flight level of 41,000 feet, with a max operating speed of Mach 0.82 and a typical cruise speed of Mach 0.78. Airbus also notes that the TwoTwenty’s in-flight internet system is capable of up to 50 megabits per second (Mbps) connectivity speeds. The TwoTwenty will also feature the in-flight entertainment Li-Fi system unveiled by ACJ earlier this year.

Comlux, the Switzerland-based private jet charter management and operations company, signed an agreement with ACJ in October to become the exclusive interiors provider for the TwoTwenty. The company’s Indianapolis-based completions center will provide the completions for these aircraft, according to Airbus.

The production test flight in Mirabel was performed by Christophe Marchand and Adam Mason as test pilots and supported by Romuald Scheling as flight test engineer.

The post Airbus Corporate Jets Completes First TwoTwenty Flight in Mirabel appeared first on Aviation Today.

Japan Airlines Completes Trial of Unconnected In-flight Mobile Device Meal Ordering Software

Japan Airlines is one of two carriers that has now trialed the use of a P2P mobile device software developed by Ditto. (Ditto)

Japan Airlines (JAL) has completed a pilot project testing the use of a real-time database that allows passenger mobile devices to synchronize data in real-time “even without internet connectivity,” according to Ditto, the California-based startup that provides the database.

The pilot involved JAL flight attendants and passengers trialing the use of Ditto’s software for in-flight meal ordering via mobile devices that the company emphasizes can be performed with no internet connectivity. JAL trialed the software on 12 flights involving more than 60 flight attendants using Apple iPads to trace passenger orders in real-time throughout the duration of each flight.

“Ditto offers a software development kit (SDK) that a developer embeds into an application, such as an airline’s passenger app, and then it automatically manages the Wi-Fi and Bluetooth radios to connect to other devices peer-to-peer,” Adam Fish, CEO and co-founder of Ditto, told Avionics International. This means airlines don’t need to install any hardware—Ditto can connect crew devices to other crew and to passengers using Bluetooth and [peer-to-peer] P2P Wi-Fi of the mobile devices onboard. The core technology of Ditto is our replicated database that automatically syncs over any available network.”

According to their website, the SDK that was provided to JAL is Ditto’s “Small Peer,” that comes equipped with an embedded database to ensure that the mobile devices that the SDK is running on will always be able to read and write data, using a series of communication techniques “Bluetooth Low Energy, P2P Wi-Fi and Local Area Network.”

Ditto provides this visual overview of its Big Peer cloud database that helps enable its real-time database for mobile device-to-device communications. (Ditto)

Separately, Ditto also manages a Big Peer, its cloud database, and a series of nodes that host HTTP APIs, webhooks, and other real-time synchronization mechanisms for enabling data sharing between devices.

“For in-flight ordering, Ditto offers pre-built software called SkyService which airlines can use directly or customize as building blocks. JAL’s trial used this. Alternatively, other airlines use SkyService just as a guide on how they can build the ordering into their own apps. SkyService contains a crew application which allows the crew to chat, coordinate tasks, manage the menu and inventory and process orders,” Fish said.

JAL flight attendants using Ditto’s software to track in-flight meal orders.

Etihad Airways has also trialed the use of Ditto’s cross-platform database. In an April 21 press release, the Middle Eastern carrier notes that their flight crew evaluated the use of Ditto to “communicate with each other in real-time in a socially distanced manner and also digitally record guests’ meal orders in Business Class, replacing the current paper-based ordering method.”

According to Etihad, “if successful,” they believe they could eventually replace printed menus and allow passengers to order in-flight meals directly on their mobile devices.

Disney Lo, assistant manager for JAL’s Information Technology Planning Department, told Avionics that the airline is enthusiastic about exploring new technologies “that allow us to do our jobs to the best of our ability.”

JAL flight attendants trialed the use of Ditto’s software on 60 flights. (JAL)

“We see the great potential of Ditto’s technology which helps us elevate our service to the next level by improving the communication quality in the cabin environment. Our crew members are excited to see a seamless working environment, providing better flight experience to our passengers. We are expecting to realize digital mobilization with this technology in the future,” Lo said.

First established in 2018, Fish said that Ditto’s software has also been used in quick-service restaurant point of sales systems, robotics, defense, and education applications.

Fish said that Ditto has other similar trials in the works that will eventually be launched with several European and U.S. airlines next year.

The post Japan Airlines Completes Trial of Unconnected In-flight Mobile Device Meal Ordering Software appeared first on Aviation Today.

European and US Regulators Discuss Latest Efforts to Integrate Unmanned Aircraft into Civilian Airspace

Speakers from the FAA, PANSA, and EASA discussed existing regulations for drones and integrating unmanned aircraft in cities with public safety in mind. (Photo credit: NASA/Joel Kowsky)

A live webcast hosted by the Science and Technology Innovation Program (STIP) this week covered regulatory efforts to integrate commercial drones into the existing European and U.S. airspace systems. Discussion centered around educating members of the public without a background in aviation to ensure safety in recreational drone operations, assessing risks when developing regulations, and prioritizing sustainability to increase community acceptance.

The three featured speakers at the “Sharing the Air: EU and US Efforts to Integrate Commercial Drones into Civilian Airspace” webcast included Sabrina Saunders-Hodge, Acting Deputy Executive Director of the Unmanned Aircraft Systems Integration Office at the FAA; Maria Algar Ruiz, Drone Programme Manager of the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA); and Janusz Janiszewski, CEO of the Polish Air Navigation Services Agency (PANSA).

According to the Wilson Center website, where the live event was featured, the ongoing evolution of commercial drone operations necessitates integrating air traffic management (ATM) with unmanned air traffic management (UTM) as well as considering the existing aviation rules for drones in the development of future regulations.

Saunders-Hodge brought up the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Title 14, part 107 guidelines—commonly known as the “small UAS rule”—which authorizes operation of unmanned aircraft less than 55 pounds within the visual line of sight. She explained that though it is viewed as a commercial rule, those operating drones for recreational purposes can also operate under these guidelines. Part 107, which went into effect in 2016, “did not permit small unmanned aircraft operations at night or over people without a waiver” (FederalRegister.gov). However, the amendment that went into effect in March 2021 “now permits routine operations over people and over moving vehicles, and at night under certain conditions,” according to Saunders-Hodge.

Janusz Janiszewski remarked that a regulatory framework is one of the most important components in the aviation ecosystem. “As the air navigation service provider, as the CEO of PANSA, I have to give airspace users the proper tools and systems to use the drones in a safe manner not only to fulfill the regulations in place but also to describe difficult situations in a very simple way.”

Janiszewski discussed PANSA’s UTM system for coordinating UAV flights, which had recorded 600,000 check-ins from drone users in 2021 as of the end of November. He predicted that there will be an increasing numbers of drones in urban areas in the next five years, and there is much to be done to facilitate the integration process. “We need to have the ground infrastructure which allows us to track every user in the airspace. Then, we need to have the UAV traffic management systems. We need algorithms to manage high-flown drones. With such solutions, with cooperation, with risk mitigation, we will create the whole ecosystem, integrating the drones.” Once all of this is in place, he explained, the drones will become part of our daily lives.

“As excitement and enthusiasm builds around drones, and the regulatory framework continues to take shape, businesses and consumers alike are looking to buy drones for commercial and personal uses. These prospective operators want to fly, and fly safely. But many don’t realize that just because you can easily and quickly buy drones, it doesn’t mean you can fly it anywhere or for any purpose.” (knowbeforeyoufly.org)

“Are these things really safe?” Richard Whittle, the moderator of this webcast, asked for comments on the importance of public acceptance. “There’s a lot of public misunderstanding about how great the risks are. There have been a number of cases of hobby drone flyers getting too close to commercial aircraft. How do you assess the risk, and how are you enforcing those regulations?” asked Whittle. He also brought up a recent incident where about 200 drones performing a light show all fell out of the air; events like that can raise public concerns about the feasibility and safety of integrating unmanned aircraft into a community.

Saunders-Hodge shared her perspective regarding public acceptance, saying that it’s critical to work slowly towards full integration to ensure safety. “The FAA has successfully allowed light shows for huge public events in the U.S., like the Super Bowl. I wouldn’t want people to take [one specific incident] as an indication that drones inherently impose a large safety risk. It’s going to take incremental steps in each community to really start weighing out the benefits for the introduction of drone use in their areas.”

In discussing safe operation of drones, which are increasingly available to the public both online and in stores, Saunders-Hodge said that it was important to consider how to educate those without an aviation background. The FAA organized an educational campaign called “Know Before You Fly” in partnership with the Academy of Model Aeronautics, the Association for Unmanned Vehicle Systems International, and the Consumer Technology Association. The campaign provides resources and guidance for those interested in purchasing and operating drones in order to fly them safely and responsibly.

Maria Algar Ruiz explained the regulatory framework for UAS in the EU. For operating drones beyond the visual line of sight, flying above 150 meters, or operating with a weight exceeding 25 kilograms, authorization by the national aviation authority of the relevant airspace is required in addition to a risk assessment for the specific operating category. “As soon as the risk in the specific category increases,” Ruiz explains, for medium- to high-risk cases, “the local authority may request a design verification—an assessment of certain aspect of the drone such as the flight termination system.” The design verification is performed by EASA, who will issue a design verification report. For scenarios with much higher risk, this report is no longer sufficient, and a type certificate may be required.

Whittle posed the question, “Who is studying the environmental impact of drones on birds? And is anyone evaluating the positive side—[that] using electric drones rather than gas-powered trucks might cut carbon pollution?” The European Commission is working on a Drone Strategy 2.0 “for a smart and sustainable unmanned aircraft eco-system in Europe,” according to EASA’s website. Ruiz stated that ongoing research is being performed to evaluate and establish requirements for noise levels to minimize disturbances. Although there are concerns from the public about the impact to wildlife, there are also many instances “where the use of drones has proved to be extremely beneficial for society,” such as catastrophe management, explained Ruiz. “Those cases have shown to society that drones are there to help them, and [the public is] accepting that.”

The post European and US Regulators Discuss Latest Efforts to Integrate Unmanned Aircraft into Civilian Airspace appeared first on Aviation Today.

American Airlines to Equip A321XLR, 787-9 Fleet with 4K In-flight Entertainment Displays

This is a computer-generated rendering of the American Airlines A321XLR aircraft that will feature the new Optiq 4K IFE screens from Thales. The new seatback IFE screens are expected to make their debut on passenger-carrying A321XLR flights in 2023. (Airbus)

American Airlines will feature a new line of 4K in-flight entertainment (IFE) seat-back screens developed by Samsung and Thales on a fleet of Airbus A321XLR and Boeing 787-9 aircraft that the Texas-based international carrier currently has on order.

American will become the launch customer of the Optiq displays that use Samsung’s proprietary Quantum Dot Light Emitting Diode (QLED) technology, a key next-generation feature of the Thales AVANT IFE system. The 4K displays are expected to make their debut in 2023 on the fleet of 50 Airbus A321XLR aircraft that American ordered in 2019, according to a Dec. 13 announcement from Thales.

The 787-9s to feature the Optiq displays are also expected to enter service in 2023, based on adjustments to American’s Boeing 787 orders that the carrier reported in its first-quarter 2021 results. A total of five Boeing 787-9s will feature the new displays.

“AVANT will be integrated with American’s high-speed connectivity system to provide digital services and real-time health monitoring & reporting,” according to Thales. American is equipping the A321s and 787s it has on order with Viasat in-flight connectivity.

Every Optiq display also features a Bluetooth connection option for passengers with Bluetooth-capable headphones. Thales first announced the new Optiq display technology as the result of a partnership with Harman International—a Stamford, Connecticut-based Samsung subsidiary that makes audio electronics—in June.

Thales first unveiled its new Optiq displays featuring Samsung’s QLED technology in June. (Thales)

Samsung describes its proprietary QLED technology as a “display device that uses quantum dots (QD), semiconductor nano-crystals which can produce pure monochromatic red, green, and blue light. Photo-emissive quantum dot particles are used in RGB filters, replacing traditional colored photoresists with a QD layer.”

In a Sept. 30 article, consumer electronics publication CNET details the fundamental differences between QLED and OLED display technology and notes that Samsung has been using quantum dots to augment its LCD television displays since 2015. The QLED TV display branding was first launched by the company in 2017.

“American Airlines has trusted Thales as an in-flight entertainment supplier for more than a decade and now to equip its new A321XLR and Boeing 787-9 aircraft with the latest AVANT IFE solution,” Yannick Assouad, Executive Vice-President Avionics, Thales said in a statement. “As air travel begins to recover, Thales continues to invest in digital innovations that create value for our customers. We’re truly excited to provide these solutions to American and its customers.”

The post American Airlines to Equip A321XLR, 787-9 Fleet with 4K In-flight Entertainment Displays appeared first on Aviation Today.

Embraer’s Eve Receives New eVTOL Orders for Two Australian Companies

Sydney Seaplanes and Nautilus Aviation have entered into partnership with Eve Urban Air Mobility Solutions (of Embraer) to receive eVTOL aircraft. (Eve Urban Air Mobility Solutions)

Eve Urban Air Mobility Solutions, a subsidiary of Embraer, shared announcements this week about two new partnerships. Both ventures serve to accelerate electric air taxi use in Australia. The first partnership is an agreement to introduce 10 of Eve’s electric vertical take-off and landing aircraft (eVTOL) to Queensland, Australia, for operation by luxury helicopter operator Nautilus Aviation. The second partnership is with Sydney Seaplanes, which has already ordered 50 eVTOLs from Eve.

Nautilus Aviation, a division of Morris Group based in Northern Australia, will employ the new eVTOLs for scenic flights over the Great Barrier Reef and other iconic tourist attractions. Morris Group intends to reach net-zero emissions by the year 2030, and beginning operations of eVTOL aircraft as soon as 2026 will help the company reach this goal, according to the founder and CEO Chris Morris.

“We believe economic success and environmental sustainability go hand-in-hand and aim to strengthen and enrich the environments in which we work. Eve’s eVTOL technology will integrate seamlessly into our operations to deliver a range of exciting zero-emission tourism experiences,” Morris said.

In addition to providing its 100% electric VTOL aircraft, the company also contributes to the air traffic management, safety standards, and training and support with its product suite.

Sydney Seaplanes, founded in 2005, has performed over 80,000 flights to date and intends to operate all-electric aircraft as soon as 2024. (Eve Urban Air Mobility Solutions)

On Australia’s southeastern coast, Sydney Seaplanes has operated its aircraft since 2005 as a tourism service out of Sydney Harbour. The company hopes to commence all-electric flights as early as 2024 and is planning to create Alt Air, a zero-emissions regional airline, sometime in 2022. The order for Eve’s eVTOLs will contribute significantly to the sustainability goals for local tourism and commuter flights in Sydney.

Aaron Shaw, Sydney Seaplanes’ CEO, described the benefits that this partnership will provide for Sydney in a press release, saying that it will create high-tech, zero-carbon jobs that support developing transportation and tourism. “Eve’s eVTOL technology will integrate seamlessly with our electric amphibious fleet to deliver a range of tourism and commuter journeys,” commented Shaw.

Urban air mobility (UAM) operations have potential for growth in the Greater Sydney market. Andre Stein, president and CEO of Eve Urban Air Mobility, is confident that the partnership to provide eVTOLs to Sydney Seaplanes will “improve the efficiency of movement to complement existing transport modes. Eve will support this new partnership with comprehensive solutions for aircraft operations including air traffic management solutions, maintenance, training, and other services.”

While Eve’s eVTOL aircraft were designed with UAM applications in mind, there is a concept of operations study underway in Scandinavia to explore eVTOL use in rural areas for both cargo and passenger transport. Regional Norwegian airline Widerøe’s air mobility business incubator division, Widerøe Zero, is partnering with Eve to complete this study, according to a press release from last month. Andreas Kollbye Aks, CEO of Widerøe Zero, said, “Our partnership with Eve is part of our plan to accelerate the development of sustainable aviation in Norway. We are looking forward to the expanded partnership, unlocking new opportunities to improve regional connectivity.”

The post Embraer’s Eve Receives New eVTOL Orders for Two Australian Companies appeared first on Aviation Today.

Developing eSAF from Power-to-Liquid Technology to Achieve Decarbonization

(CLERMONT FERRAND, FRANCE. NOVEMBER 2021.)
Two experts from Air bp discuss the current state of sustainable fuel use in the aviation industry as well as predictions for its future trajectory.

eSAF, a synthetic fuel derived from renewable energy sources, looks to be an increasingly important aspect of achieving the aviation industry’s decarbonization goals—along with using numerous other pathways to produce sustainable aviation fuel (SAF). Aircraft today can incorporate up to 50% eSAF along with conventional fuel, and eSAF can easily be used as a drop-in fuel.

In their Thought Leadership series published this week, Air bp features sustainability director Andreea Moyes, along with bp’s senior advisor for hydrogen and eFuels, Peter Nowobilski, in a discussion about SAF.

SAF is critical for decarbonization, and although it makes up just 1% of the supply of aviation fuel currently available on the market, its commercial use continues to increase worldwide. A report from the Air Transport Action Group about the challenge of decarbonizing the aviation industry stated: “By 2015, the first regular supply of SAF was being delivered to airports and since then a number of new production facilities have been in development or construction. Despite this progress, it is estimated that by 2025, only around 2% of total jet fuel use will be with sustainable aviation fuels.”

Moyes and Nowobilski make the point that the majority of the current SAF supply comes from limited quantities of feedstocks via a pathway of hydrotreated esters and fatty acids (also known as HEFA). Therefore, producing SAF to achieve the aviation industry’s low-carbon goals must use a variety of different pathways. One of these pathways is eSAF—the synthetic fuel that is created from renewable energy sources.

Electric-powered aircraft is currently limited to short-distance journeys in part because of the substantial weight of the batteries used. Current battery cell technology is also geared towards meeting the requirements of automotive applications rather than those of electric aircraft. eVTOLs require extremely fast charging capabilities and high-power cell discharging, which requires the development of battery technology to meet their unique needs.

To take advantage of renewable electricity in operating large aircraft and traveling long distances, the electricity generated from solar, hydro, and wind power has to be converted into a synthetic fuel such as hydrogen. To efficiently use hydrogen as aviation fuel, however, most commercial aircraft flying today would need to undergo a re-design, particularly to the propulsion system and fuel storage, because hydrogen is one-fourth as dense as traditional jet fuel.

“This is where eSAF derived from power-to-liquid (PtL) technology comes in,” write Moyes and Nowobilksi. “Renewable electricity is used to break water into its components of hydrogen and oxygen via an electrolysis process. Carbon dioxide captured from the air, or from biogenic or industrial sources, together with this hydrogen are then converted to carbon monoxide and water through the reverse water gas shift process.”

Additional hydrogen and carbon monoxide are transformed into a wax (a synthetic crude oil) through the use of Fischer-Tropsch (FT) synthesis technology. This wax is then developed into eSAF or other types of fuel. “Legislation currently allows us to use FT technology to blend eSAF by up to 50% with conventional jet fuel. It can be easily stored, transported, and distributed using existing infrastructure,” according to the article.

“A simplified view of which kinds of energy options might be able to contribute to the reduction in CO2 emissions from air transport in which time period. This generally indicates when the technology may be commercially available, but not widespread use throughout the fleet.” (Credit: Air Transport Action Group)

The main barrier to scaling up SAF and eSAF production is cost. It can be eight times more expensive to produce than traditional jet fuel. Considering that eSAF will play a large role in the future of the aviation industry, it’s even more important to invest in developing sustainable fuels.

Moyes and Nowobilksi state, “The good news is there is already legislation in Europe that places the development of eSAF at the forefront of aviation’s sustainability agenda. Germany, for example, has agreed [on] a roadmap which will come into effect in 2026 for the development and use of eSAF for the aviation sector.”

The post Developing eSAF from Power-to-Liquid Technology to Achieve Decarbonization appeared first on Aviation Today.