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Altaport Builds Vertiport Automation System to Support eVTOL Aircraft

Altaport recently announced that it has built the world’s first vertiport automation system to facilitate air taxi operations. (Photo: Altaport)

Altaport Inc. recently announced that it has built a vertiport automation system to facilitate air taxi operations. Altaport claims that this is the world’s first vertiport automation system. Vertiports are essentially heliports or helipads that will be used by electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft.

Altaport’s platform enables resource management, passenger management, and scheduling for eVTOL operations as well as safety monitoring of vehicles on the ground and collecting fees. Those managing vertiport infrastructure can take advantage of the system to make operations more efficient and optimize revenue. The vertiport automation system has the potential to increase safety and to reduce the workload for staff.

The system that Altaport has developed is already being utilized at multiple heliports in Brazil. Early use of the platform, and feedback from infrastructure managers, will help to prepare for the commercial launch of eVTOL operations. These advanced types of aircraft could be operating as early as 2024.

“We’ve spent more than a decade building and launching operations that are highly reflective of what future AAM operations will look like, giving us unique insight into the challenges and opportunities that such operations present,” commented Cory Cozzens, co-founder of Altaport.

“Future vertiports will need a robust and efficient operating system to manage high-volume throughput and autonomous ground operations. The Altaport platform provides tools to both vertiport managers and aircraft fleet operators, connecting the two parties to enable a safe and efficient operational environment.” (Photo and caption: Altaport)

Altaport has partnered with Volatus Infrastructure, a company that designs eVTOL infrastructure including vertiports and charging stations. Grant Fisk, co-founder of Volatus, remarked, “Altaport’s VAS [vertiport automation system] platform will play a critical role in establishing and growing a safe and efficient eVTOL ecosystem. We believe their VAS is a key piece in the Volatus vertiport package.”

Volatus is also collaborating with Eve Air Mobility, an eVTOL developer, to supply a vertiport automation solution to support eVTOL aircraft. The two companies signed a Letter of Intent in early December 2022. The vertiports designed by Volatus will utilize Eve’s air traffic management software solution to enable efficient operations.

The post Altaport Builds Vertiport Automation System to Support eVTOL Aircraft appeared first on Avionics International.

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DroneUp and Walmart Launch Drone Delivery Services in Florida

Walmart’s drone delivery service, offered in partnership with DroneUp, is now available for some customers in the Tampa and Orlando areas, including the store pictured above in Winter Haven, east of Tampa and south of Orlando.

Some Walmart customers in Florida can now take advantage of drone delivery services through Walmart’s partnership with DroneUp. Seven stores in Tampa and Orlanda offer deliveries via drone, for a $3.99 delivery fee, to customers within a 1-mile radius.

DroneUp and Walmart started drone deliveries in November of 2021 in the state of Arkansas. In addition to Arkansas and Florida, other key areas of expansion for the companies include Arizona, Texas, Utah, and Virginia. As of December 15, 2022, DroneUp’s delivery network had expanded to include same-day delivery from some Walmart stores in the Phoenix and Dallas areas.

(Photo: DroneUp)

More than 10,000 items from Walmart are eligible for drone delivery directly to the customer’s home. Certified pilots operate the drones within FAA guidelines and drop off deliveries either to the customer’s driveway or yard. Tom Walker, CEO of DroneUp, commented in the press release, “Our mission is to set the gold standard for drone delivery and by partnering with Walmart, bring the incredible benefits that drones offer to local communities, organizations, and businesses.”

Vik Gopalakrishnan, Vice President of Innovation and Automation for Walmart U.S., remarked that their team is proud to be on the forefront of innovation for drone delivery services. “Drone delivery makes it possible for our customers to shop those last-minute or forgotten items with ease,” Gopalakrishnan stated. “It may seem like a futuristic option, but it’s giving our customers what they’ve always wanted.”

The post DroneUp and Walmart Launch Drone Delivery Services in Florida appeared first on Avionics International.

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NASA Conducts eVTOL Crash Test

NASA researchers conducted a crash test of an electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft at the Langley Research Center in Virginia. (Photo: NASA)

Just before the holidays, NASA researchers conducted a crash test of an electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft. More than 200 channels of data gathered will aid researchers in understanding how the structure of an eVTOL reacts to a crash landing. The data collected will be used to make more accurate predictions for future simulations and testing. It will also inform the potential conditions for a second drop test that is planned to take place in late 2023.

“We successfully tested the eVTOL vehicle concept representing a six-passenger, high wing, overhead mass, multiple rotor vehicle, obtaining more than 200 channels of data, and collecting over 20 onboard and off-board camera views.” – Justin Littell, NASA research assistant (Photo: screenshot from video footage provided by NASA / Credits: Gary Banziger)

The eVTOL concept vehicle, developed by NASA’s Revolutionary Vertical Lift Technology (RVLT) project, featured a “Lift + Cruise” configuration. The aircraft was designed to represent a six-passenger vehicle with multiple rotors. Along with the crash test, NASA’s team conducted a variety of experiments such as a range of sizes of crash test dummies and a variety of seat configurations. NASA also tested a modular energy-absorbing composite subfloor on the aircraft.

According to NASA’s announcement, “The subfloor and energy absorbing seats functioned as intended and limited the effect of the impact on the crash test dummies.” It was also noted that “the vehicle was destroyed beyond expectations which gives researchers valuable data when planning to make AAM vehicles safe for public use.”

“Crash test dummies can be seen seated in the vehicle after suffering a severe crash. The vehicle was destroyed beyond expectations which gives researchers valuable data when planning to make AAM vehicles safe for public use.” (Photo: screenshot from video footage provided by NASA / Credits: Gary Banziger)

The researchers are still determining the effect of the collapse of the overhead structure on the crash test dummies that occurred during the test.

The crash test took place at the Landing and Impact Research facility at NASA’s Langley Research Center in Hampton, Virginia. Justin Littell, research assistant for Langley’s Structural Dynamics Branch, commented on the experiment, saying, “Our computational pretest models did a good job predicting the composite deformation until overhead structural failure. However, the computational models did not predict the overall collapse as seen in the test.”

Footage of the crash test can be viewed here.

The post NASA Conducts eVTOL Crash Test appeared first on Avionics International.

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Weather, Air Traffic Control Issues Cause Flight Disruptions in Florida and Colorado

Weather and issues related to air traffic control caused disruptions to flights in Florida and Colorado over the holidays. (Photo: Pablo Andrés Ortega Chávez/WikiMedia)

Commercial air travel has seen plenty of disruptions over the past few weeks. High passenger volumes and inclement weather have caused delays and cancellations across the country, and both of these factors played a role in Southwest Airlines’ recent operational meltdown that left hundreds of thousands of travelers stranded across its network. Now, it seems additional turbulence has hit the industry as a result of air traffic control issues and more inclement weather. Monday, Jan. 2, proved to be another challenging day for the aviation industry, as Denver along with cities across Florida have seen even more operational disruptions. 

In Florida, this led to an average delay of almost three hours, and busy markets like Miami International Airport and Orlando International Airport were hit hardest. The FAA claimed these disruptions were caused by an issue with the En Route Automation Modernization (ERAM) system at the Miami Air Route Traffic Control Center.

ERAM is the modern computer system implemented in 2015 to replace the FAA’s En Route Host computer and backup system. ERAM has increased the amount of flights that can be tracked by one controller by about 73% and allows controllers to share information between different centers almost seamlessly. This has helped to modernize the air traffic control system through increasing traffic flow and improving conflict and navigation detection. This, combined with its further use of satellites, has created a more modern program to improve the efficiency of the United States’ air traffic control system.

Put simply, as former FAA Administrator Michael Huerta explained it, “You can think of ERAM as a foundational technology, an iPad if you will, and we can build applications on top of it that enable us to provide much more robust capability and functionality for controllers to use.” 

Though the modern ERAM program provides many benefits, the issues it experienced in the Miami Control Center led to four flight cancellations and another 80 delays between Miami International Airport and Hollywood-Fort Lauderdale International Airport. However, the FAA reported the problem had been resolved by Monday afternoon.

Meanwhile, across the country, Denver International Airport encountered its own operational disruptions as freezing fog led to mass delays. Additionally, visibility remained under a quarter of a mile, which only worsened the disruptions. As the busiest city for both Southwest Airlines and United Airlines, two of the nation’s busiest carriers, the inclement weather led to 285 delayed flights and 130 cancellations. This is not the first round of widespread delays Denver International Airport has encountered. Last week one of the airport’s largest operators, Southwest Airlines, encountered an operational meltdown that left countless passengers stranded in the Mile High City.

Undoubtedly, demand for travel has made a dramatic comeback throughout last year. In fact, on Monday, January 2nd, 42,000 passenger flights were scheduled across the country. Though the high volume of passengers returning to the sky is assisting the aviation industry in recovering from the pandemic, it’s clear that the industry still faces technological and operational challenges as it heads towards a new normal.

The post Weather, Air Traffic Control Issues Cause Flight Disruptions in Florida and Colorado appeared first on Avionics International.

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Raytheon Technologies Completes First Engine Run of Hybrid-Electric Demonstrator

The regional hybrid-electric flight demonstrator developed by Raytheon Technologies combines a 1 MW electric motor from Collins Aerospace with a Pratt & Whitney engine. (Photo: Raytheon)

American aerospace company Raytheon Technologies is doing its part to help the aviation industry reach its goal of sustainable air travel. In addition to funding other companies focused on developing hybrid-electric propulsion systems via its venture capital firm RTX Ventures, Raytheon recently completed the first engine run of its regional hybrid-electric demonstrator.

If this program is successful, Raytheon’s new hybrid-electric propulsion system will enable regional aircraft to fly more efficiently, including during take-off and landing. It achieves this by combining traditional, fuel-burning engines with electric batteries and motors. This new method can reduce emissions and fuel burn by up to 30% when compared to preexisting regional turboprops and can lead to additional benefits like lower maintenance costs for operators.

This milestone marks another important step as the program works to begin flight testing in 2024. The system uses contributions from two of Raytheon’s subsidiaries: Collins Aerospace and Pratt & Whitney Canada. Performing up to the company’s standards during its test in Longueuil, Quebec, this system integrates a 1MW electric motor from Collins Aerospace and a highly efficient engine from Pratt & Whitney and demonstrates the newest technology being deployed as the industry attempts to decarbonize air transport.

As Jean Thomassin, Pratt & Whitney Canada’s Executive Director of New Products and Services, explained, “Hybrid-electric propulsion technology offers significant potential to optimize efficiency across a range of different aircraft applications, helping our industry meet its ambitious goal for achieving net zero CO2 emissions.”

Next year, Raytheon’s team hopes to begin flight testing the hybrid-electric propulsion system by using a modified De Havilland Canada Dash 8-100 aircraft as the testbed. The flight tests will be operated by Flight Test Centre of Excellence (Cert Center Canada – 3C). In addition to leading the flight tests, 3C will also be responsible for integrating the system into the aircraft.

Raytheon Technologies’ project, launched via its Collins Aerospace and Pratt & Whitney Canada companies, has seen support from other organizations across the world. The batteries will be supplied by H55 S.A., which recently received an investment from RTX Ventures. This and other electrical control systems will be further developed by organizations like the Innovative Vehicle Institute and the National Research Council of Canada.

This is not the first time cross-organizational collaboration was utilized to further the cause for cleaner aviation. MTU Engines, with the support of the European Union Clean Aviation Joint Undertaking, coordinated with a consortium of aviation technology companies to create systems designed to reduce carbon emissions from aircraft by up to 25%. 

As the aviation industry falls under heavier scrutiny for the adverse environmental impacts it causes, it seems like manufacturers and governments alike are rallying behind the cause to reduce carbon emissions and improve the sustainability of air travel. Raytheon Technologies’ successful first test run of its new system demonstrates the industry’s progress towards greener aviation and a more sustainable future.

The post Raytheon Technologies Completes First Engine Run of Hybrid-Electric Demonstrator appeared first on Avionics International.

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Challenges and Opportunities for Electric Aviation

A review published in a recent issue of the Transportation Engineering journal discusses the challenges of sustainable aviation and the technological advancements that are necessary to make electric aviation a viable option. (Photo: Airbus)

As the aviation industry continues to grow, emissions related to aviation also increase. Working towards net zero emissions is a key objective for the industry, and part of that is research and development in electrifying aviation. A review published in a recent issue of the Transportation Engineering journal discusses the challenges of sustainable aviation and the technological advancements that are necessary to make electric aircraft a viable option.

The review, titled “Electric aviation: A review of concepts and enabling technologies,” was sponsored by the Arctic Center for Sustainable Energy through The Arctic University of Norway. Authors Bright Appiah Adu-Gyamfi and Clara Good purport that disruptive innovation is necessary to achieve the industry’s sustainability goals.

The key highlights of the review include the following:

 

  • Battery technology has not achieved sufficient maturity to make commercial electric air transport viable.
  • The future of electric aviation will be characterized not only by advancement in battery technology but electric motor technology as well as efficient aerodynamic design.
  • Turbo-electric aircraft architecture may present the first opportunity for commercial electric air transport.

 

In their article, Adu-Gyamfi and Good establish the need for decarbonization and for advancements in aviation technology. They draw attention to the opportunities presented by different electric propulsion architectures, including turbo-electric and hybrid-electric configurations, as well as fully-electric aircraft. Next, the review features a comparative analysis to identify what areas of development are critical to enable electric aviation. Adu-Gyamfi and Good also cover some of the current concepts for electric aircraft and what technologies have the potential to be implemented in the relative short-term.

(Graph from article by Bright Appiah Adu-Gyamfi and Clara Good published in Transportation Engineering Volume 9, September 2022)

One of the main factors preventing developments in electric aviation is the low energy density of today’s battery technology, which limits the maximum range of aircraft. “To match the electrical energy equivalent required to power an Airbus A320 using present technology, the batteries’ weight will exceed the maximum take-off weight by a factor of 38,” write Adu-Gyamfi and Good. 

They explain that, while current battery technology is limited, distributed propulsion may have the potential to enable more powerful electric aircraft. “The two most common distributed propulsion techniques used are Distributed electric propulsion (DEP) and Turbo-electric distributed propulsion (TeDP),” the review states.

(Figure from article by Bright Appiah Adu-Gyamfi and Clara Good published in Transportation Engineering Volume 9, September 2022)

Fully electric or hybrid-electric propulsion may be more practical for small aircraft that are designed to travel 500 km or less at a time. However, to make a significant reduction in emissions, larger aircraft also need to be electrified. Single-aisle and regional fleets contribute to 41% of the industry’s emissions.

(Figure from article by Bright Appiah Adu-Gyamfi and Clara Good published in Transportation Engineering Volume 9, September 2022)

The authors of the review conclude, “Turboelectric aircraft could open the opportunity for the first electric commercial air transport capable of achieving significant emission reduction since the major technological risk of low energy density batteries is eliminated. 

“Although other challenges, including power conversion and distribution, low power generators, and issues with power management, still exist, these components are also available in both full-electric and HEP architectures.”

The post Challenges and Opportunities for Electric Aviation appeared first on Avionics International.

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Viasat Receives $325M US Special Operations Command Contract Extension

U.S. Special Operations Command (SOCOM) awarded Viasat a $325 million contract extension for tactical satellite communications and network management. Pictured above is the Pentagon, headquarters for the Department of Defense. (Photo: Britannica)

U.S. Special Operations Command (SOCOM) awarded Viasat a $325 million contract extension for tactical satellite communications and network management.

It is a sole-source, indefinite delivery, indefinite quantity (IDIQ) contract award worth up to $325 million over five years. It extends a $350 million contract Viasat won in 2017. The initial IDIQ contract was awarded to Viasat for the supply of advanced equipment, systems, services and support to modernize ground/air situational awareness, tactical data links, terrestrial networking, Intelligence, Surveillance, And Reconnaissance (ISR), tactical satellite communications, information assurance, network management and cybersecurity for Special Operations Forces. The flexible nature of the IDIQ allows Special Operations Command (SOCOM) to rapidly acquire, deploy and evolve a new operational capabilities, terminals, products, systems, services, support and sustainment in support of current and future SOCOM missions.

Viasat announced the extension on Dec. 29 and said the IDIQ award structure allows for flexibility for the military to acquire technology developments.

Viasat will provide equipment, services, and support to SOCOM for situational awareness, integration, terrestrial networking, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR), tactical satellite communications, information assurance, and network management capabilities.

“This contract award reaffirms Viasat’s deep commitment and partnership with the SOCOM community to understand and address the capability needs of forces for the most complex missions,” said Craig Miller, president of Viasat Government Systems. “Networking and communications needs across the modern battlespace are continually evolving and we’re excited to help SOCOM maintain the advantage with solutions that deliver the performance, flexibility and resilience Special Operations Forces require to successfully operate independently and interoperate effectively with joint forces.”

This article was originally published by Via Satellite, sister publication of Avionics International. It has been edited.

The post Viasat Receives $325M US Special Operations Command Contract Extension appeared first on Avionics International.

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4-FLIGHT Air Traffic Control System Implemented in France

Thales and DSNA shared news of the first operational implementation of the 4-Flight air traffic control system in France. (Photo: Thales/DSNA SYLVAIN CAMBON)

Thales and the French air navigation service provider, DSNA, have unveiled the successful implementation of the next-generation air traffic control system, called 4-Flight. It is a stripless air traffic control system for managing high-density airspace. The system was implemented at the area control center (ACC) in Reims, France, as well as Marseille ACC, in early December 2022.

4-Flight includes COFLIGHT, an advanced system for flight data processing, to provide more accurate forecasts to air traffic controllers for flight trajectory optimization. 4-Flight also offers an intuitive human-machine interface. The system facilitates greater focus on safety, efficiency, and other important tasks for air traffic management (ATM).

The 4-Flight air traffic control system is co-funded by the EU as part of the Single European Sky technical modernization program. It is registered as a SESAR (Single European Sky for ATM Research) Solution and is interoperable with other air navigation systems in Europe. According to the announcement from Thales, “4-FLIGHT is connected to ten Air Navigation Service Providers neighbouring France: ENAIRE, DGAC Algeria, ENAV, Skyguide, DFS, the Maastricht UAC, Skeyes, ANA, NATS, IAA and the Network Manager.”

DSNA (Direction des Services de la Navigation Aérienne) plans to extend the ATM system to France’s three other ACCs by the year 2025. The CEO of DSNA, Florian Guillermet, remarked on the complexity of the project, saying, “The implementation in 2022 of 4-FLIGHT […] proves the commitment of DSNA to pursue its technological modernization to deliver the challenges of the Digital European Sky, and high-quality and more competitive service.”

DSNA originally launched the 4-Flight program in partnership with ENAV, the Italian ANSP, back in 2008. A few years later, Thales and DSNA announced their collaboration to develop the French component of the 4-Flight system. Jean-Loïc Galle of Thales explained that the system would be a continuation of the company’s EUROCAT product, an ATM automation system that was rebranded as TopSky in 2012.

The post 4-FLIGHT Air Traffic Control System Implemented in France appeared first on Avionics International.

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4th Component Maintenance Squadron Team Handles Avionics Repairs for F-15 Flight Deck

Senior Airman Taylor Hunter published an in-depth look into the 4th CMS avionics backshop, where technicians troubleshoot and repair flight instruments in F-15 aircraft. Pictured above, Senior Airman Jonathan Capayas, 4th CMS avionics technician, uses an electronic systems test set (ESTS) to analyze potential issues with equipment. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Taylor Hunter)

At Seymour Johnson Air Force Base in North Carolina, a 68-person team from the 4th Component Maintenance Squadron avionics backshop is responsible for repairing critical flight instruments in the F-15 flight deck. The team maintains all of the avionics on the 94 F-15E Strike Eagles at the Air Force base, including control panels, radar, and GPS systems.

Senior Airman Taylor Hunter published an in-depth look into the work that takes place in the 4th CMS avionics backshop this week. The team uses a range of testing equipment to troubleshoot and repair the different flight instruments. There is a unique procedure for repairing each piece of flight hardware.

Tech. Sgt. Allen Bonds explained that their work area includes a large test station to mimic instrument performance on the F-15 aircraft. The test station has tighter parameters to ensure that “if it passes here, it will pass on the aircraft,” Bonds said.

Attention to detail is critical for testing avionics instruments, because even small parts can cause big problems down the road.

The team uses a supercomputer—the F-15 electronic system test set (ESTS)—to perform multiple tests at the same time. The ESTS diagnoses faulty equipment and detects a specific area that needs to be repaired before the instrument can be returned to service.

“It’s incredibly complex, especially when software keeps failing and you have to go through a bunch of diagrams,” Senior Airman Jonathan Capayas explained regarding the process of testing for faults in the equipment. “If we’re not here, there is no way to verify the software.”

The avionics team at the 4th CMS makes more efficient and cost-effective repairs to flight instruments. Without these experts, the parts would have to be sent to off-site vendors for evaluation and repair.

Last month, House and Senate appropriators provided more than $194 million for upgrades to Boeing F-15 aircraft in their committee-approved versions of the fiscal 2023 defense appropriations bill.

The post 4th Component Maintenance Squadron Team Handles Avionics Repairs for F-15 Flight Deck appeared first on Avionics International.

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TSA Starts Testing Facial Recognition Technology at 16 Major Airports

The TSA is now testing facial recognition technology at 16 major airports in the U.S. (Photo: Ray Whitehouse for The New York Times)

The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) is now exploring the potential of facial recognition technology by introducing kiosks with cameras at 16 major airports to conduct facial identification. It has been integrated at major domestic airports from Atlanta, Boston, and Denver to Detroit, Los Angeles, and Miami—the pilot program began at Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) in 2020. However, facial recognition has been banned by some cities, including San Francisco. The TSA has plans for expanding use of the technology across the U.S. next year. 

The system works like this: Passengers insert their ID into a machine at the kiosk and look at a camera for a few seconds. The technology compares the individual’s face with the photo on their ID. A human agent is present to provide final confirmation, although these machines will eventually operate completely autonomously.

Since early 2022, the TSA has been utilizing the Credential Authentication Technology 2 (CAT-2) system at checkpoints to verify the identity of individuals at the airport. “TSA will convert the information into an anonymized format, encrypt it, and transfer it for temporary analysis to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Science & Technology Directorate (S&T), which will assess the effectiveness of this technology at the checkpoint,” states the TSA’s website

According to Geoffrey Fowler of “The Washington Post,” it has not yet been determined whether the technology is capable of detecting impostors and conducting security inspections more efficiently. He mentioned in a recent interview with PBS that there are also concerns about unfair treatment of minorities. “Are people with darker skin going to be sent to special lines for extra inspection?” Fowler wonders.

It sounds as though those traveling over the holidays do have the option to opt out of the process. While it could help passengers to get through airport security more quickly, many may be concerned about the security of the data collected. The fine print states that data could be retained in the system for up to two years. “Legislators have to get involved to decide what technology can be trusted,” says Fowler.

The Washington Post columnist authored an article in early December on this topic. Nobody yet understands the civil rights ramifications of facial recognition technology, he noted. Fowler spoke with Jason Lim of the TSA, who referred to the technology as a security enhancement. “We are so far very satisfied with the performance of the machine’s ability to conduct facial recognition accurately,” Lim said.

He added that passengers need not be concerned about incorrect identification or about unfair treatment, saying, “We work diligently to ensure the technology is performing according to the highest scientific standards. Demographic equitability is a serious issue for us, and it represents a significant element in our testing.”

According to an opinion article by Blank Rome LLP, facial recognition technology means that airline staff no longer need to spend time checking passengers’ IDs. The staff “are better able to give their attention to passengers who need it, like the elderly or those with disabilities and other special needs,” the article explained. Early findings also showed that the technology is quite accurate even while passengers are wearing face masks.

The post TSA Starts Testing Facial Recognition Technology at 16 Major Airports appeared first on Avionics International.

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