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Airbus Steps Up Liquid Hydrogen Tank Development Effort – Aviation Week, Jan.

Airbus is establishing a development center in Stade, Germany, for its future zero-emission aircraft that is oriented around composite materials for hydrogen systems, including liquid hydrogen tanks, Aviation Week reports. The company is developing a zero-emission aircraft using liquid hydrogen instead of conventional fuel to enter into service by 2035. The Stade development center will focus on cost-effective lightweight hydrogen systems, expanding on the company’s other development centers focusing on metallic tanks.

The post Airbus Steps Up Liquid Hydrogen Tank Development Effort – Aviation Week, Jan. appeared first on Avionics International.

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Dutch Startup Elysian Pursues Large Battery-Electric Airliner – Aviation Week, Jan. 10

The Dutch startup Elysian says it has found a way to develop a viable large electric aircraft with near-term battery technology, Aviation Week reports. The company envisions a 90-plus seat aircraft that can travel at least 500 miles with batteries in the wings, allowing more decarbonization in the aviation industry.

The post Dutch Startup Elysian Pursues Large Battery-Electric Airliner – Aviation Week, Jan. 10 appeared first on Avionics International.

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Jet Aviation to provide Sustainable Aviation Fuel during the World Economic Forum 2024

Jet Aviation announced today that it has secured a supply of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) for visitors during the World Economic Forum (WEF) 2024. This is the second time Jet Aviation has provided on-site SAF in Zurich for visitors to WEF in partnership with Zurich Airport.

“Since 2020, we have been offering SAF to our customers attending the WEF, either on-site or through Book and Claim,” says Joao Martins, vice president regional FBO operations Europe and General Manager Zurich.  “We have been working closely with the Zurich Airport team and our partners and are delighted to be able to make physical SAF available on-site again this year.”

SAF has the potential to reduce aviation’s greenhouse gas emissions by up to 80% over its lifecycle. It is a fully compliant, drop-in Jet A/A-1 fuel with the same characteristics and specifications as conventional jet fuel.

“Jet Aviation is committed to supporting efforts to reduce the industry’s carbon footprint, and we will continue to partner with airports and suppliers to increase SAF access and availability across our network,” adds Jeremie Caillet, senior vice president regional operations EMEA.

Jet Aviation piloted SAF in Zurich during WEF 2020. It was the first time SAF had been made available for purchase in Switzerland. Since then, the company has continued to provide customers in Zurich with SAF via Book & Claim, while working with partners to secure further physical supply.

“We are proud to support Jet Aviation in offering Sustainable Aviation Fuel at Zurich Airport,” says Emanuel Fleuti, Head Sustainability & Environment at Flughafen Zürich AG. “The increased production and use of SAF is an important piece of the puzzle in the decarbonization of the aviation industry. This requires the commitment and cooperation of all the airport partners involved.”

In 2019, Jet Aviation was the first supplier to offer sustainable fuel via a blended fuel option at Van Nuys Airport, California. In 2020, the company brought a temporary supply of SAF to Switzerland for the World Economic Forum and in 2021 a permanent supply of SAF was introduced in Amsterdam, followed by Singapore in 2022. That same year, Jet Aviation signed the World Economic Forums’ 2030 Ambition Statement, ‘Clean Skies for Tomorrow’.

In 2023, the company added their FBOs in Bozeman and Scottsdale to the locations where physical SAF is available in the United States, followed by Rotterdam, The Netherlands, earlier this month. Since 2021, Jet Aviation has also offered customers the opportunity to access the benefits of SAF in locations where there is currently no physical supply through its global Book and Claim program.

Jet Aviation is a wholly owned subsidiary of General Dynamics (NYSE: GD) with some 4,000 employees and 50 locations worldwide. Jet Aviation’s offerings include aircraft management, aircraft sales, charter, completions, defence, FBO, maintenance and staffing.

The post Jet Aviation to provide Sustainable Aviation Fuel during the World Economic Forum 2024 appeared first on Avionics International.

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UPDATED: Walmart Partners with Wing, Zipline To Launch Expand Drone Delivery Services in Dallas-Fort Worth Area

Walmart, Zipline and Wing have teamed up to provide drone delivery for up to 75% of the Dallas-Fort Worth population, establishing the largest automated unmanned aerial vehicle delivery footprint in the U.S.

“This expansion will bring the ultimate convenience of drone delivery to communities across the DFW area. Customers will have access to a broad assortment of items from Walmart available for delivery to their home in just minutes,” said Prathibha Rajashekhar, senior vice president of innovation and automation at Walmart U.S. “Drone delivery is not just a concept of the future, it’s happening now and will soon be a reality for millions of additional Texans.”   

 The drone delivery expansion includes stores across more than 30 towns and municipalities in the DFW metroplex, marking the first time a U.S. retailer has offered drone delivery to this many households in a single market. The deliveries will be powered by on-demand drone delivery providers, Wing and Zipline. Both are approved by the FAA to fly their drones without a dedicated observer being able to see the drone at all times, known as Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS), which will enable drone delivery to more Texans than ever before.   

Drone delivery gives customers an even faster delivery option, getting items to them in 30 minutes or less and some deliveries can happen as fast as 10 minutes. This is an addition to other speedy delivery methods like Express Delivery in three hours or less, Late-Night Delivery until 10 p.m. and InHome – with an option for delivery directly to a customer’s refrigerator – ensuring customers have what they want, when and how they want it.   

Over the last two years of trialing drone delivery, Wing has completed over 20,000 safe deliveries. Walmart has seen customers use drone service for many reasons. This includes when they need an item in a pinch, like a forgotten ingredient or over-the-counter cold medicine, or simply because it’s convenient. Some of the most popular items ordered include snacks and beverages, satisfying an afternoon sweet tooth or caffeine craving. Drones can also deliver several items at a time, such as supplies for a movie night at home, a last-minute birthday gift or ingredients for baking cookies, including fragile items like eggs.    

Customers can order thousands of items ranging from baby wipes to birthday candles. To place an order, simply visit wing.com/Walmart or visit www.flyzipline.com/get-delivery. The delivery radius for stores offering the service will be up to 10 miles.    

Working closely with drone experts like Wing and Zipline that focus on speed, safety and sustainability, Walmart can do what we do best: serve customers no matter how or when they want to shop and help them live better.   

Wing delivers packages directly from businesses to homes in minutes, providing customers a fast and convenient way to get what they need, when they need it. With four years of commercial residential service in the U.S. and on three continents, and a network approach to scaled drone delivery similar to efficient rideshares, Wing is working to deliver people’s packages more efficiently and safely as part of an automated logistics system that routinely moves packages by the millions.   

“Our first few months delivering to Walmart customers have made it clear: Demand for drone delivery is real,” said Wing CEO Adam Woodworth. “The response has been incredible from customers ordering drone delivery from Walmart every day, and it’s a testament to our partnership that we’re now expanding our footprint to bring this innovative delivery option to millions of Texans. If this milestone is any indication, we believe 2024 is the year of drone delivery.”   

Zipline is the world’s largest autonomous delivery company that helps health systems, restaurants and retailers provide fast, precise and convenient deliveries. With Zipline’s drone delivery network, businesses can offer a magical delivery experience, reach more customers, increase revenue and improve operational efficiency. Since 2016, Zipline has flown more than 60 million commercial autonomous miles and delivered millions of products, including more than 13 million vaccine doses. The company currently completes a commercial delivery every 70 seconds and has operations on four continents.   

“Autonomous delivery is finally ready for national scale in the U.S. Zipline is excited to enable Walmart’s vision of providing customer delivery so fast it feels like teleportation,” said Keller Rinaudo Cliffton, co-founder and CEO of Zipline. “Walmart is leading the U.S. in using robotics and AI to help people save money and live better. We’re excited for folks across Dallas-Fort Worth to experience delivery that is 7x as fast, zero emissions and whisper quiet with our next-generation technology.”  

This groundbreaking move represents Walmart’s ongoing commitment to innovation and to revolutionizing the way customers shop and receive their orders. The future of delivery is here, and we’re reaching new heights with our DFW expansion. With nearly 4,700 stores located within 10 miles of 90% of the U.S. population, we’re uniquely positioned to scale when that time comes.   

The post UPDATED: Walmart Partners with Wing, Zipline To Launch Expand Drone Delivery Services in Dallas-Fort Worth Area appeared first on Avionics International.

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Flight Operation ESafetyTips from AviationManuals’ Team

As much as we would all like to have an aviation safety crystal ball and the ability to predict every possible flight operation safety scenario, the reality is that it still boils down to getting everyone on the same safety page. Nurturing a culture of safety, whether in a large or small flight department, is still fundamentally the best way to identify risks and avoid the possibility of the smallest of safety items slipping through the cracks. Drawing on decades of experience in providing operational guidelines and safety management expertise, AviationManuals offers three useful tips to kickstart your new flight operations year:

  • Setting 1-3 safety goals: Using the analogy of setting weight loss goals, something many of us are doing after a fulfilling holiday season, safety objectives should be crystal clear, easily attainable, and easy to measure. Given the amount of ground to cover, try not to accomplish everything all at once. If you are just getting started, set a single goal that will have the greatest impact. In the future as you become more experienced with SMS you can add to your goals.
  • Establish an inclusive safety culture: Turn informal safety conversations that often take place on the ramp, in the hangar after a flight, or back at your hotel during a layover into a formal safety briefing and establish a structured protocol for reporting and addressing safety concerns. Encourage your team members to actively contribute by sharing their observations and experiences. Implement a reporting system that allows for timely documentation and analysis of potential risks. By fostering a culture of proactive communication, we can collectively identify and address safety issues before they escalate.
  • Keep your operations manual up to date: It is vital that your policies and procedures be formally incorporated in standardized fashion into your operations manual. This not only ensures internal flight operation continuity but also ensures procedural consistency with outside contractors and new additions to the team. Otherwise, the lack of standardization could lead to an inefficiency or, worst-case scenario, a crucial safety shortcoming.

When it comes to maintaining consistent operational safety, regardless of who is in the cockpit or on the ground, the importance of having safety mechanisms in place to help avoid the unexpected is essential. It also helps to mitigate risks from typical challenges like avoiding crew fatigue, assuring contract personnel are properly trained, and fleet management. Like with every flight, it starts with preparation and planning and it ends with successful execution and completion.

The post Flight Operation ESafetyTips from AviationManuals’ Team appeared first on Avionics International.

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OnFlight receives Authorized Service Center approval for Embraer Executive Jets aircraft

OnFlight, Inc. (OnFlight) of Cincinnati, Ohio, announced today the milestone approval and authorization as an Embraer Authorized Service Center by Embraer Executive Jets. In this capacity, OnFlight further expands Embraer’s strategic network of MRO services, becoming an Embraer Authorized Service Center focused on Embraer aircraft.

OnFlight, a Part 135 Charter Operator since 2000, has operated Embraer aircraft since 2011, with exclusive Embraer focus since 2016. With this announcement, OnFlight’s strategy further expands to include Part 145 RepairStation Operations dedicated entirely to Embraer aircraft. Operations are expected to commence early Q1 2024 at the Cincinnati Lunken Airport.

David Crockett, OnFlight’s President, explained, “We have chosen to intentionally focus exclusively on Embraer’s product line, based on extensive knowledge of these aircraft, Embraer’s state-of-the-art technology, and overall quality of design and manufacturing. This singular focus ensures a high level of expertise and efficiency versus other independent alternatives who offer generalized service on numerous aircraft types and models, each presenting complex customer support challenges.”

“We are very pleased to deepen our relationship with OnFlight. This new approval will allow us to meet the high demand across the entire Executive Jets network. Expanding our capacity, capability, and footprint is an important step to continue to bring value to our customers,” said Frank Stevens, vice president of MRO Services at Embraer Services and Support.

The post OnFlight receives Authorized Service Center approval for Embraer Executive Jets aircraft appeared first on Avionics International.

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Redstar Aviation, Turkey’s leading Air Ambulance operator, has selected Centrik software

TrustFlight announced that Redstar Aviation, Turkey’s leading Air Ambulance operator, has selected the company’s Centrik software to streamline its safety and quality management system for real-time operational management of its Challenger 605, Learjet 45 XR, and Leonardo AW139 fleet.

Redstar Aviation, which provides air ambulance, medical escort, offshore oil and gas, and air taxi services, as well as MRO, CAMO, Part-147, and Part-21 services, has a long-standing reputation of excellence in safety and compliance. Redstar Aviation will leverage the full Centrik suite which includes safety, risk, compliance, training, forms, equipment, document, as well as its workflow modules, to enable enterprise-wide automation of critical tasks related to safety and quality management.

“Redstar Aviation deeply values safety and operational excellence,” said Yusuf Cizdan, Compliance Monitoring and SMS Manager, Redstar Aviation. “When evaluating ways to improve our internal processes, Centrik stood out as the ideal platform for us. TrustFlight, as subject matter experts, understand our commitment to scaling operations safely and efficiently—we’re excited to leverage their industry-leading software.”

Centrik provides a complete picture into an organisation’s operational profile. It removes costly, outdated paper-based processes and procedures for fleet operators, MROs, regulators, and airports around the world. Centrik is the world’s only all-in-one safety and quality management system for every element of successful maintenance and flight operations departments.

“We are pleased to see Redstar Aviation commit to TrustFlight’s Centrik for its SMS and QMS requirements,” said Karl Steeves, Director, TrustFlight. “Redstar Aviation is well-regarded as a leader in air medical services, and we look forward to supporting them and their growth in a safe, scalable manner.”

TrustFlight’s suite of solutions enable fully-digital workflows for crew and maintenance personnel by automating vital information to greatly enhanced speed and accuracy while reducing the man-hours required. In addition to TrustFlight’s Centrik SMS and QMS solution, the firm also offers Electronic Tech Log, MEL Manager, and Reliability Analytics software that seamlessly integrate for a unified user experience leading to accurate, actionable decision-making across the enterprise.

The post Redstar Aviation, Turkey’s leading Air Ambulance operator, has selected Centrik software appeared first on Avionics International.

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The Current status of eVTOL Batteries

eVTOL batteries are still in a relatively early stage of development and maturity. “Each OEM has its own design and configuration, including the type of cells used,” Dr. Stefan says. “Standardization is maturing mostly relative to the safety standards, although differences exist between standardization bodies and OEMs, or from one region to another (USA, Europe, Asia). Electric mobility can be costly, but Amprius remains committed to commercializing high-power and energy battery solutions that enhance eVTOL use cases and increase cost-effectiveness.”

eVTOL batteries are in constant development to meet energy density and C rate requirements. Several manufacturers have already started working with the FAA and European Union Aviation Safety Agency to seek certification. “The FAA and other regulators impose strict certification requirements around battery solutions approved for eVTOL use,” Terranova says. “From a regulator’s perspective, eVTOL batteries present a ‘big data’ issue with handling and computational challenges. How is the FAA going to ensure that the right amount of battery data is collected and analyzed after every flight to give the public the assurance that these batteries are safe to fly?

Some FAA standards for testing and installation of batteries in aircraft do exist. These include RTCA DO-311 “Minimum Operational Performance Standards for Rechargeable Lithium Batteries and Battery Design Testing Systems,” SAE AIR6897 “Battery Management Systems for Rechargeable Lithium Batteries Used in Aerospace Standards” and FAA AC 20-184 “Guidance on Testing and Installation of Rechargeable Lithium Battery and Battery Systems on Aircraft.” These regulations will inform new eVTOL-oriented regulations that provide more comprehensive oversight of propulsion batteries; Europe is also in the early stages of regulation.

The post The Current status of eVTOL Batteries appeared first on Avionics International.

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Challenges, considerations and issues for tomorrow’s “flying cars”

To fulfill the emerging need for new aerial vehicles designed for urban air mobility, electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft cannot be ignored. Different from conventional avionic components in many ways, eVTOL battery performance and safety requirements especially need to be considered and examined.

While avionics batteries are used primarily for backup systems and have a comparatively low rate of charge and steady predictable discharge, Manuel Terranova, CEO and president of Peaxy, San Jose, Calif., says eVTOL batteries need to support both high Crates during takeoff and maneuvering, combined with low C-rates during cruising. “Peak power performance needs are much more significant with requirements for operating at 10- 20 C rates. As a result, they have a higher energy density than conventional batteries. eVTOL batteries are also designed for increased thermal stability and to allow for more flexible deployments, with features such as enhanced modularity to suit different types of aircraft and trip distances.”

Battery technology impacts eVTOL development; it affects the range, carrying capacity, charging time, and maintenance costs. An aircraft’s different power requirements in each flight phase are more evident in the eVTOL. A typical eVTOL trip has five stages: takeoff, climb, cruise, descent, and landing, where the power output required by the battery at distinct states of the vehicle’s flight is different. Most eVTOLs use the most power while taking off and landing.

“Compared to many other electric mobility applications, eVTOL batteries typically require a higher level of performance, such as having higher specific energy and power, and the ability to work continuously at a high discharge rate while still having a suitable life span,” says Dr. Ionel Stefan, chief technology officer at Amprius Technologies Inc., Fremont, California. “Plus, in the quest to optimize eVTOL operational efficiency, minimizing charging times assumes paramount importance, particularly during peak demand periods. Conventional avionic batteries are used as backup power for auxiliary systems, while eVTOL batteries are the main energy source. As such, they are of much larger capacity and energy density is a critical metric directly linked to the weight of the battery.”

San Leandro, California-based Cuberg’s batteries enable eVTOLs to take off, coast and land. Cuberg technology uses a lithium metal anode and a proprietary liquid electrolyte to simultaneously solve the interlocking challenges of battery performance and manufacturability. “While incumbent battery technologies, such as lithium-ion, can be too heavy and low-performing to enable the business case for eVTOLs, Cuberg’s battery cells are lightweight and high-performance,” says Richard Wang, founder and CEO of Cuberg. “Our high energy-dense lithium metal cell provides more specific energy and power. Researchers have understood the potential of lithium metal anodes for many years, but we are making unique strides in actually commercializing this technology. Our proprietary liquid electrolyte stabilizes high-energy anode and enable long cycle life. This is key, in particular, to meet safety requirements for aviation.”

The post Challenges, considerations and issues for tomorrow’s “flying cars” appeared first on Avionics International.

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Charge, Discharge and Temperature of eVTOL batteries

This is the second in a series of articles investigating electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft. 

eVTOL operation is characterized by a higher discharge profile, especially during take-off and landing. “Traditionally, batteries are either designed to provide a lot of energy or high power,” Wang says. “For eVTOL batteries, it is important to have a good balance between energy and power. The power is needed to allow take-off and landing, and the energy is needed to have sufficient cruising range.”

In order to sustain the eVTOL use case, with repeated trips where the battery is mostly depleted, eVTOL batteries are designed to charge extremely quickly, often in 5 to 10 minutes. “Prototype batteries can sustain up to a 50-mile trip, with energy density of 270 watt-hours per kilogram,” Terranova says. “They typically can support up to 2,000 fast charging cycles over their lifetime. eVTOL batteries need to support high-power cell discharge, mostly during takeoff and landing. Not only is the level of discharge high, but the length of time where the battery is performing at peak capacity is much longer than in the EV case. While battery size and weight are a consideration with EVs, it’s even a larger factor with aircraft since it has a significant impact on the payload/range capabilities, not to mention making the aircraft too heavy to be flight worthy.”

eVTOL batteries are similar or larger than EV batteries in size, with more demanding usage profiles regarding power during charge and discharge. eVTOL batteries need to sustain a higher power level during takeoff and landing, typically two to four times higher than levels required for EV acceleration. Although high battery energy density is a plus in both EV and eVTOL applications, the energy density is usually traded off for power capability in eVTOLs, which makes high energy density technologies of higher importance for eVTOL.

Temperature can have a major influence on the level of eVTOL battery charge and discharge must be considered. With the high-power at takeoff and landing also comes a high temperature increase of the battery. “High-power operation conditions lead to self-heating, therefore, eVTOL batteries are not as sensitive to lower temperature,” says Dr. Stefan. “Typically, high temperature operation under active control is the norm.” Cuberg manages temperature through both passive and active cooling systems integrated into its aviation-specific battery systems.

“Prototype batteries can be heated to help them discharge their excess energy more quickly, allowing a quicker recharge when its resistance to charge is the lowest,” Terranova said. “Temperature also plays a role in fuel gauging. An eVTOL aircraft regularly executing two takeoffs and two landings on a single charge will impact degradation differently versus one that only executes one takeoff and landing.”

Santa Cruz, Calif.-based Joby Aviation’s pouch cells in its production airplanes are rated at 288 watt-hours per kilogram at the cell level, and the company demonstrated in its lab that they’re capable of more than 10,000 representative flight cycles. The result of assembling those cells into certifiable, aerospace-grade battery packs is a specific energy of 235 watt-hours per kilogram at the pack level.

Dynamic dispatching cycles need to be factored into state-of-health (SoH) and state-of-charge (SoC) computations, including loaded vs. unloaded takeoffs, distance traveled, power output profiles, ambient temperatures, wind conditions, etc. “Determining battery SoH and cell-level degradation becomes a considerable challenge if data is not properly curated and automatically analyzed after every charge/discharge cycle,” Terranova said. “The nature of lithium-ion cells and batteries negates the operating assumptions that pack-level or system-level SoH computations are ‘good enough.’”

 

The post Charge, Discharge and Temperature of eVTOL batteries appeared first on Avionics International.

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