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Argus International Announces Ground Tracking Feature for TRAQPak

Argus International, an aviation service company, has recently announced that it is adding ground tracking to its TRAQPak FBO software. (Photo: ARGUS)

Argus International, an aviation service company dedicated to providing the aviation industry with information needed for efficient management with minimal risk, has recently announced that it is adding ground tracking to its TRAQPak FBO software. This addition will allow Argus to better serve its customers through offering more tools that can be used to support a smoother operation.

Argus International is a part of SGS Group, one of the world’s leading firms for testing, inspection, and certification. In addition to helping businesses operate with integrity and efficiency, SGS owns a majority stake in Argus. It has various offerings for its customers to assist in auditing and evaluating their business practices and operations. These include things like aviation consulting, auditing services, and safety solutions. It also runs Argus Academy, which offers training for auditors and safety managers, all while allowing customers to design custom training programs that best align with their needs.

Beyond services, Argus also offers TRAQPak, a software designed to help aviation companies manage operations. The company recently announced that this program now features a ground tracking tool aimed to better assist customers in their daily operations.

TRAQPak is a software that tracks flights and features a database that provides information relevant and useful for various companies within the industry. With the addition of ground tracking information to this system, customers now have access to real-time tracking of aircraft as they taxi through a given airport. With better information available to them, FBOs can now operate more efficiently and with a better understanding of its airport’s operations.

The practical application of TRAQPak and its new feature extends well beyond FBOs. Ramp agents working at service companies such as ground transportation and catering can now better understand how long taxi times can be and how to plan accordingly for a more efficient operation.

Travis Kuhn, Senior Vice President of Market Intelligence for Argus International, best highlights how this addition answers its customer’s needs, explaining, “Bringing our ground tracking to the marketplace has been an active collaboration between our customers and our TRAQPak team. I am proud to be a part of a team that continues to work tirelessly to meet and exceed the standard of service our industry expects. This new offering is the first of multiple changes we’ll be bringing to the marketplace as we move throughout 2023.”

Through the addition of ground tracking, Argus aims to create a better experience for its customers. FBOs, catering services, ground transportation services, and a plethora of other aviation companies will be able to enjoy the benefits that this real-time program offers. Argus International has demonstrated this technology at NBAA’s Schedulers and Dispatchers Conference in Nashville, Tennessee.

Also at NBAA S&D this week, Argus announced that Embassair joined the Base Operations Audit Program. The soft opening for the Embassair FBO is scheduled for Feb. 1, according to a press release from the company.

Left to right: Ed Wandall (ARGUS), Jose Cabrera (Embassair), Kathy Gokce (ARGUS)

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OPINION: It Was Never About Package Delivery

The CEO of Skyfire Consulting offers a positive outlook on the drone industry, explaining that the end goal is much greater than simple package delivery. (Photo: Skyfire)

This article was contributed by Matt Sloane, founder and CEO of Skyfire Consulting.

There is a bloodletting happening in the technology sector right now, from Google to Microsoft to Meta and dozens of other companies, but the one that caught my eye last week was Amazon announcing it was laying off 18,000 workers—and specifically, upwards of 80% of its flight operations personnel at Amazon Air, their drone delivery business.

Another report just a few weeks ago from management consulting behemoth McKinsey & Company found that as it is organized today, package delivery by drone is not nearly as cost-effective as electric vehicles doing multiple deliveries in a single run, or even as cost- and carbon-efficient as a single electric vehicle delivering a single package.

All of that—for drone company investors, drone company employees, industry watchers, and drone CEOs like me—could be looked at as bad news, or at the very least, as a signal that the industry is not “there yet.”

Truth be told, that was my initial reaction. The more thought I gave it, the more I realized that we have it all wrong.

Decades of research in microprocessors and tiny cameras, radar sensors, and unmanned traffic management systems… and all we get is dog food delivery in 30 minutes or less from a flying Amazon van?

If that was the end-state goal, is it even worth the risk of putting “toy airplanes” potentially in the way of commercial airliners or medical helicopters?

When you put it that way, the answer is a resounding “hell no.”

Cool as that would be, and as futuristic and Jetson-like as it sounds, it was never about package delivery.

In places like Chula Vista, California, and Brookhaven, Georgia, so-called “drone first responder programs” are getting drones on the scene of 911 calls within 120 seconds. (Photo: Skyfire)

There’s a saying in the drone industry—and probably dozens of others—that “just because you can, doesn’t mean you should.”

Dozens of people looking to fly COVID tests around town in mid-2020 were told as much by the FAA: if you can drive it, reasonably, drive it. The same goes for temperature monitoring in large crowds, and spraying disinfectant in heavily-trafficked public places. If you can do it from the ground, you should.

And while I don’t doubt there will come a time where I order something on Amazon Prime and stand eagerly on my front lawn, waiting for it to drop on the Prime Air landing pad, the point is that this shouldn’t be our only endpoint, our only measure of success.

From where I sit (or fly), drones hold the potential to bring automated external defibrillators to a cardiac arrest patient’s side in under three minutes. Did you know that the average survival rate for cardiac arrest outside of a hospital is less than 5%?

Drones could also bring an overdose reversal kit to a child wondering why their parent isn’t breathing, or reverse a potentially life-threatening allergic reaction to a bee sting for a kid on a soccer field.

Is that worth adding a small amount of risk to our national airspace system calculus? You’re damn right it is.

Some of this is hypothetical, but much of it is already happening. In places like Chula Vista, California, and Brookhaven, Georgia, so-called “drone first responder programs” are getting drones on the scene of 911 calls within 120 seconds.

This is not Big Brother—but it may mean the difference between a kid playing with a toy gun getting shot by police, and those officers knowing before they even arrive that the child’s gun is a toy. Or it could mean a police officer knowing he or she was walking into an ambush long before they set foot on a dangerous crime scene.

The truth is, a drone is only as good as the camera or payload that you put on it, much like a tractor. Could you put an Amazon Prime box on it full of lightning cables that you must have in 30 minutes or less? Yes, but am I more concerned about having a drone in my community that could bring a defibrillator to my grandfathers’ side on the golf course when he collapses? Also yes.

So while it’s tempting to see news of Amazon Prime’s layoffs—and reports like the McKinsey paper about how drone delivery is cost-inefficient—as bad news, let’s instead all take a minute to reflect on how far this industry has come in only 10 years thanks, in part, to Amazon, Google, Mattternet, Zipline, and others. And let’s take this opportunity to call on the FAA, the Department of Transportation, and our local, state, and federal elected officials not to wait any longer to help our country’s first responders put that very same technology into effect without delay.

If those same investors, regulators, industry watchers, and drone company CEOs wait for package delivery as a signal that “the industry is ready,” we have missed the mark on so many important uses of this amazing technology.

Matt Sloane is the CEO and founder of Skyfire Consulting and its parent company, Atlanta Drone Group. He is an inaugural member of the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) technical committee on drones, a technical advisor to the International Association of Fire Chiefs technology council, and an FAA-certified pilot.

The post OPINION: It Was Never About Package Delivery appeared first on Avionics International.

USAF Selects Electra for up to $85M in Funding for eSTOL Development

The U.S. Air Force’s AFWERX program chose Electra for a Strategic Funding Increase award. This award secures up to $85 million for Electra to continue developing a full-scale pre-production prototype of its electric short take-off and landing (eSTOL) aircraft. (Photo: Electra)

Today, Electra announced that the U.S. Air Force’s AFWERX program has selected it for a Strategic Funding Increase award. This award secures up to $85 million for Electra to continue developing a full-scale pre-production prototype of its electric short take-off and landing (eSTOL) aircraft. The funding will come from private investments, government contributions, and matching SBIR (Small Business Innovation Research) funding.

The Air Force will be able to use the prototype for validating requirements and operational use cases. Small eSTOL aircraft that do not require a runway could be valuable for contested logistics environments where operating larger fixed-wing or rotorcraft platforms is difficult. Using Electra’s fuel-efficient design could also help the USAF to reduce its carbon emissions.

Almost exactly one year ago, Electra publicized an investment from Lockheed Martin Ventures in its Series A funding round. In February, it announced the receipt of a Phase III SBIR contract from the U.S. Air Force. This contract was awarded through the AFWERX Agility Prime program.

In March 2022, the USAF awarded Electra—in partnership with MIT—a Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) contract. This contract was awarded to the partners for advancing the development of flight control systems for Electra’s eSTOL vehicle. Electra now has a total of six active USAF SBIR and STTR contracts and has matured several technologies for its aircraft, including precision flight controls, distributed electric propulsion, blown lift aerodynamics and acoustics, and hybrid-electric powertrains.

Electra’s eSTOL model on display at NBAA (Photo: Jessica Reed)

2022 was a busy year for the eSTOL developer. Electra was selected by NASA as an Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) National Campaign partner in June. That same month, the company also announced the acquisition of fellow eSTOL developer Airflow.

In October, Welojets signed a letter of intent with the company for 32 eSTOL aircraft. This put the company’s order book total over 1,000 aircraft, valued at over $3 billion. “We offer a lower cost per seat mile, we offer quieter operations than traditional aircraft in this class, and we offer the ability to take off and land from a field the size of a soccer field, or a 300-foot runway length,” Marc Ausman, Chief Product Officer at Electra, shared in an interview with Avionics.

With the Strategic Funding Increase (STRATFI) award announced this week, Electra can continue to strengthen its partnership with the Agility Prime program. In the press release, John S. Langford, Founder and CEO of Electra, stated, “This STRATFI award reinforces the Air Force’s commitment to dual-use eSTOL technology as a solution for national security and other government missions, and validates Electra’s aircraft design and engineering work to date.”

“[Our] eSTOL is ideally suited to serve as a small highly fuel-efficient airlifter that helps the Air Force execute its Agile Combat Employment doctrine and meet its operational energy goals to reduce aviation carbon emissions.” – Ben Marchionna, Director of Technology and Business Development (Photo: Electra)

Lieutenant Colonel John “Wasp” Tekell, Air Force Agility Prime Lead, also commented on the announcement, remarking that the technology could provide valuable logistics and mobility capabilities for the USAF. “It’s vital that we ensure new advanced air mobility technologies with dual-use applications are developed and manufactured here at home in the U.S.,” he said.

The post USAF Selects Electra for up to $85M in Funding for eSTOL Development appeared first on Avionics International.

Unmanned Traffic Management in 2023: Insights from the CEO of Unifly

Avionics recently interviewed the CEO of Unifly, Andres Van Swalm, to learn about what Unifly has planned for 2023. The enforcement of U-space (the European equivalent of UTM) regulations starts this year. (Photo: Unifly)

Unifly, an unmanned traffic management (UTM) system provider, has developed a platform for managing the integration of drones and other advanced types of aircraft into low-altitude airspace.

Avionics International covered some updates from the company in a recent issue of our magazine. We spoke with Unifly’s co-founder and CEO, Andres Van Swalm, last May following the news of a €10 million investment from Terra Drone Corporation and Japanese government fund JOIN. Unifly has partnered with ENAIRE, a Spanish ANSP, to develop an automated digital drone management platform. The UTM system provider also launched a UTM platform in collaboration with the Port of Antwerp.

Avionics recently interviewed Van Swalm again to learn about what Unifly has planned for 2023. He noted that the enforcement of U-space (the European equivalent of UTM) regulations starts this year, and their UTM system can be configured to be U-space compliant. However, it is not designed to only be U-space compliant. For example, Unifly’s RPAS Traffic Management (RTM) platform is used by the ANSP in Canada and complies with regulations there.

Van Swalm believes that 2023 will be when the drone industry truly takes off, and that UTM as well as U-space will play crucial roles in enabling the industry to scale. This year, Unifly plans to launch one of the first implementations of U-space in Spain in partnership with Indra and ENAIRE. This is one of the major objectives for the company in 2023.

In addition to working with Indra and ENAIRE, Unifly is also working with the Bulgarian Air Traffic Services Authority (BULATSA) and SkeyDrone, a subsidiary of the Belgian air traffic controller for manned flights. Additionally, Van Swalm shared that they are in talks with DFS (Deutsche Flugsicherung), the German ANSP. These will be the main focuses for Unifly in Europe in the near-term.

As of January 2023, there are more than 180,000 drone operators using Unifly’s platforms. The company also estimates over 80,000 authorization requests have been granted, and more than 1.5 million flights have been validated using its web and mobile apps. (Photo: Unifly)

NAV CANADA, the ANSP of Canada, entered into an agreement with Unifly to deploy a fully digitized system for operating and managing drones. For drone pilots, the system makes the authorization request process both easier and faster. It can support current regulations for drones operating within visual line of sight.

Van Swalm remarked in the interview with Avionics, “Together with Nav Canada, we will look at how we can promote the UTM system even more. We will also launch a set of new features and functionalities for more extensive use of the UTM system and enabling more complex drone operations in Canada.”

He also drew attention to the fact that Unifly went live in NEOM—a smart city in Saudi Arabia currently in development. “They are very ambitious and want to start flying eVTOLs [electric vertical take-off and landing aircraft] as soon as possible, especially Volocopter.”

Unifly’s UTM platform will be used in NEOM, and the team will launch a new set of features there “to enable very complex eVTOL and drone operations.”

One current objective for the UTM system provider is to offer better support for automated operations that are conducted beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS). Their system makes advanced flight planning for BVLOS operations much easier.

“We are continuing to build on our API,” said Van Swalm. “Unifly is there to enable autonomous aviation. It’s not just using our user interface. We’re working on user-friendly APIs where systems like Volocopter or drone operators can connect using an API—they don’t need to use our interface.”

Unifly hopes to offer its customers a higher degree of configurability in the coming year so that they are able to configure the system by themselves if they wish. Their customers have specifically requested this increased configurability, Van Swalm explained. “We will continue to build more advanced U-space functionalities, such as tactical deconfliction,” he noted.

According to Unifly’s CEO, there are two main challenges facing the drone industry. The first is standardization of UTM and U-space. “It’s quite API-driven; it requires connections, and it can only work if we standardize,” he explained. “There are a lot of standardization initiatives, but some standards need to be defined from scratch. To enable communication with each other, we need to work on standardization.”

The second obstacle is the need to develop the optimal business model for drones. Drone operators have small margins, and it is not yet clear what the best business model will be.

“We’re a technology company,” Van Swalm commented. “It’s more a challenge for our customers, but it’s also a challenge for us. Our customers need to know how they are going to earn money if they are going to provide the service.

“We are looking into how we can create a sustainable business model, and what are good prices for drone operators to pay,” he added.

The post Unmanned Traffic Management in 2023: Insights from the CEO of Unifly appeared first on Avionics International.

Aerus Signs Letter of Intent for 30 Electric Aircraft from Eviation

Aerus signed a Letter of Intent to purchase 30 all-electric commuter aircraft from Eviation. (Photo: Eviation)

Electric aircraft manufacturer Eviation announced last week that the airline Aerus signed a Letter of Intent (LOI) for 30 commuter aircraft. Aerus, a regional airline in Mexico, plans to serve communities in the northern parts of the country including Nuevo León, Coahuila, Tamaulipas, and Veracruz. The airline will use Monterrey Airport as its regional hub to launch commercial operations this year.

Eviation’s Alice aircraft has nine seats and is fully electric. Two magni650 electric propulsion units power the Alice aircraft. It completed its first flight in September 2022 in Washington State, remaining airborne for eight minutes at 3,500 feet.

The Alice aircraft performs its first flight (Photo: Eviation)

Gregory Davis, CEO of Eviation, offered updates on the company in an interview with Avionics International last fall. The interview followed an announcement that GlobalX had signed an LOI to order 50 aircraft from Eviation. “We’re going to get to a point in the not-too-distant future where people are simply flying on all-electric aircraft,” Davis said.

“It’s going to be normal to get on a short-range flight, such as Alice, to go to your destination, or to use these aircraft to have your package delivered with zero specific impact on the environment.”

Davis commented on the announcement about the LOI signed by Aerus, saying, “Our aircraft is an ideal fit for Aerus as a large number of flights in northern Mexico are already less than 250 miles. We are always pleased to receive the endorsement of forward-thinking airlines that are keen to address the climate challenge and be part of the future of aviation.”

Javier Herrera García, CEO of Aerus, also remarked on the announcement that their objective is to create new opportunities for regional travel within Mexico and to ensure that these opportunities are both environmentally and economically sustainable. “Working with Eviation to bring a zero-emissions fleet to our region will transform the way we experience air travel and connect communities like never before,” he added.

“Working with Eviation to bring a zero-emissions fleet to our region will transform the way we experience air travel and connect communities like never before.” (Photo: Eviation)

Air New Zealand has also signed an LOI with Eviation for up to 23 electric aircraft. The announcement, made public last month, followed news of Air New Zealand’s Mission NextGen Aircraft program launch.

According to Greg Foran, CEO of Air New Zealand, “Mission NextGen Aircraft represents a significant commitment to the development of sustainable aircraft and the supporting infrastructure needed to decarbonize our domestic flights. Eviation’s all-electric Alice aircraft is a natural fit for the program with its proven technology that is optimized for short-range flights.”

Last April, Eviation published news of a significant LOI signed by Massachusetts-based Cape Air—one of the largest commuter airlines in the U.S. Cape Air intends to purchase 75 aircraft from Eviation to operate a regional electric fleet.

The post Aerus Signs Letter of Intent for 30 Electric Aircraft from Eviation appeared first on Avionics International.

Alaska Airlines Selects Intelsat’s Technology to Offer Satellite Wi-Fi on Regional Aircraft

Alaska Airlines plans to upgrade its E175 regional jets with streaming-fast satellite Wi-Fi in partnership with Intelsat. (Photo: Alaska Airlines/Intelsat)

Alaska Airlines just announced that it plans to be the first global airline to offer high-speed Wi-Fi on regional jets. The airline chose Intelsat’s newest satellite Wi-Fi technology that uses an electronically steered array (ESA). The latest system from Intelsat has the capability to communicate with new Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellites in addition to traditional geostationary (GEO) satellites.

Intelsat’s new system will first be utilized on Alaska’s sister airline, Horizon Air, early next year. Throughout 2024 and 2025, the system will be rolled out across Alaska Airlines’ fleet of regional jets—including those operated by the airline’s partner, SkyWest.

Intelsat is also installing its satellite Wi-Fi technology across the majority of Alaska Airlines’ mainline fleet. The airline shared in its announcement that it is on track to provide its entire fleet with consistent Wi-Fi—fast enough to enable streaming—by 2026.

Dave Bijur, SVP of Commercial at Intelsat, commented, “With Alaska, Intelsat brings a new IFC solution that’s especially well-suited to regional jets,” in a statement provided to Avionics International.

“By using both LEO satellites from OneWeb, in combination with Intelsat’s own fleet of GEO satellites, we can deliver the most consistent, reliable, streaming-quality inflight internet experience to airlines and their guests,” Bijur continued. “We are honored to be upgrading Alaska’s regional jet fleet with this new 90-pound antenna that isn’t just fast—it’s also a weight- and drag-saver.”

The ESA utilized by Intelsat’s new system enables easier maintenance due to the fact that it is a lightweight antenna without moving parts. The ability to communicate with LEO satellites at 300 miles from the Earth’s surface gives Intelsat’s system stronger connectivity and lower latency. Greater coverage is particularly valuable across the remote areas in Alaska.

“With an additional $25 million investment, this upgrade represents a major step forward in the travel experience for our guests, enabling higher speeds and more coverage in the air, particularly across areas in the state of Alaska,” the airline shared in the announcement.

An aerial view of Alaska (Photo: NASA’s Earth Science Project Office [ESPO])

Sangita Woerner, senior vice president of marketing and guest experience for Alaska Airlines, commented on the selection of Intelsat’s system. Woerner remarked, “Intelsat’s new system will give our guests the peace of mind that no matter whether it’s a short flight or longer journey, there will be reliable, affordable and convenient Wi-Fi.”

“With the growth in remote work, we know staying connected at 34,000 feet is more important than ever,” Woerner added.

Virgin Australia is another airline that has incorporated Intelsat’s satellite connectivity technology into its fleet. In October, Virgin Australia announced that the 2Ku satellite connectivity solution from Intelsat would be installed on its existing fleet of Boeing 737 NG aircraft as well as future 737 MAX aircraft.

The post Alaska Airlines Selects Intelsat’s Technology to Offer Satellite Wi-Fi on Regional Aircraft appeared first on Avionics International.

Tech Firm Semcon To Assist GKN Aerospace In Design, Manufacturing

Semcon and GKN Aerospace have signed a new framework agreement for services spanning Semcon’s entire offering. This includes design, simulation and calculations, software development, and aftermarket solutions. (Photo: Semcon)

GKN Aerospace has signed a framework agreement with Swedish technology firm Semcon, which will provide advice and assistance to UK-based GKN across a variety of areas. News of the agreement was made public earlier this week.

Aerospace components producer GKN is seeking to speed its design and production processes, according to Ingvar Gillgren, Semcon’s department manager for product information. GKN has “a lot of projects going on and coming up,” Gillgren told Avionics International in an interview. “They are catching up from the pandemic.”

Semcon will offer assistance with design elements of GKN components, as well as providing simulations and calculations regarding new and ongoing GKN projects. It will also assist in software development and aftermarket solutions.

Semcon works with companies in different sectors, including rail and telecom, and Gillgren said the tech company can bring experience and lessons learned across industries to GKN’s aerospace work.

“We bring our experiences from other industries and other customer cases,” he explained. “I will say when it comes to the aftermarket, we have very much experience in other industries and will develop offerings [to GKN] based on that. A very specific area is digitalization. There is quite a huge push now to digitalize the distribution of information.”

Digitizing data related to GKN’s aftermarket services is a goal of the partnership. “From a legal perspective, [GKN] has to document a lot,” Gillgren said. “When you are responsible for the aftermarket servicing of aircraft engines, for instance, it is very intensive in terms of tracking and documenting information. We can bring experience in this area.”

“Semcon has a broad offering with expertise in many of GKN Aerospace’s business areas—everything from calculation, simulation, and production methodology to digital information solutions for service and maintenance.” (Photo: GKN Aerospace)

With 38 manufacturing locations in 12 countries, GKN provides an array of systems and engine components to aircraft and aircraft engine manufacturers. The company’s latest product agreement is a contract with ArianeGroup to manufacture and supply turbines and nozzles for 14 Ariane 6 rocket launch systems over the next three years.

“GKN Aerospace values the experience Semcon has amassed through working in many different sectors,” GKN Aerospace Sweden head of procurement Mikael Karlsson said. “New perspectives is an important aspect in our selection of collaborative partners.”

Semcon’s Gillgren said sustainability will be a focus of the company’s work with GKN. “One of the key areas to find solutions for is lightweight materials and components, going from the design phase through the progression to manufacturing,” he explained. “So, if you think of sustainability, reducing fuel consumption is critical, and I will say the development of lightweight components is something that we’ll definitely be able to contribute to.”

Regarding sustainability, GKN in December entered into a consortium supported by the European Union Clean Aviation Joint Undertaking to work towards developing water-enhanced and hybrid-electric propulsion systems for aircraft. The goal of this consortium is to reduce CO2 emissions from aircraft by up to 25%.

The agreement between GKN and Semcon, initiated in December, “runs indefinitely,” according to Semcon. Financial terms of the deal have not been disclosed.

The post Tech Firm Semcon To Assist GKN Aerospace In Design, Manufacturing appeared first on Avionics International.

BAE Systems to Receive USAF Contract to Support Mission Data Loads for F-35

The U.S. Air Force Test Center plans to award the electronic systems sector of BAE Systems a 5-year contract to support the testing of mission data loads at Eglin AFB in Florida for the Lockheed Martin F-35 fighter. Pictured above, the Norway Italy Reprogramming Lab (NIRL) at Eglin Air Force Base, Florida, provides Norway and Italy with F-35 mission data files to assess what threats to search for and when. (Photo: Eglin AFB)

U.S. Air Force Test Center (AFTC) plans to award BAE Systems’ electronic systems sector in Nashua, N.H., a five-year contract before Oct. 1 to support the testing of mission data loads (MDLs) at Eglin AFB, Fla., for the Lockheed Martin [LMT] F-35 fighter.

The award stems from a notice last year by Eglin’s 350^th Spectrum Warfare Wing that sought such industry support (Defense Daily, Nov. 23, 2022).

While AFTC said that the contract to BAE Systems has a relatively low cap of $4.5 million, the continual development of MDLs is crucial, as such MDLs allow the F-35 to use updated maps and identify and counter specific, regional threats, including missiles, electronic warfare systems, and adversary fighters. The 350^th Spectrum Warfare Wing and the U.S. Reprogramming Laboratory (USRL) at Eglin update MDLs to ensure new software incorporates new regional data.

International MDL efforts for the F-35 include those by the Australia, Canada, and the United Kingdom Reprogramming Laboratory (ACURL) and the Norway Italy Reprograming Lab (NIRL). In June 2019, NIRL stood up at Eglin, while ACURL moved from Lockheed Martin’s F-35 plant in Fort Worth, Texas to Eglin in February 2020.

BAE Systems supports the developments and upgrades for combat and fast jet trainer aircraft. (Photo: BAE Systems)

The upcoming MDL support contract to BAE Systems “is for Hardware-in-the-Loop (HITL) Test Facilities Threat Simulators Sustaining Engineering Services (SES) Support providing direct support to the F-35 Partner Support Complex (PSC) ACURL/ F-35 PSC NIRL / F-35 PSC Mission Data Reprograming Lab (XRL)/513th Electronic Warfare Squadron (EWS) USRL,” AFTC said on Jan. 18. “The F-35 PSC NIRL and 513th EWS require management, personnel, equipment, supplies, facilities, transportation, tools, materials, supervision, and other items and non-personnel services necessary to perform sustainment and technical support services of the HITL laboratory testing of simulated regional RF [radio frequency] radar threat signals for the F-35 Mission Data Development Mission program.”

In June 2021, the Air Force stood up the 350th Spectrum Warfare Wing under Air Combat Command to focus on offensive electronic warfare and consolidate all Air Force electromagnetic spectrum efforts (Defense Daily, June 25, 2021). The wing includes the 513th EWS under Eglin’s former 53^rd Electronic Warfare Group.

In past years, the Pentagon’s directorate of operational test and evaluation (DOT&E) has pressed DoD to ensure that USRL is able to test and optimize MDLs under realistic threat scenarios. In its fiscal 2021 “controlled unclassified information” report, DOT&E said that there is still work to do to support F-35 Block 4 MDL development.

The report said that “DOT&E remains concerned about the availability of the test infrastructure and resources required to execute the approved Block 4 test programs.”

The Air Force, U.S. Navy, and Marine Corps and operational test (OT) personnel from the F-35 Joint Program Office “have developed a tail-by-tail accounting of current and future OT aircraft, and identified the necessary modifications to OT aircraft and the required instrumentation,” the study said. “Additional work and funding are required to address these and other test-enabling and infrastructure requirements, such as the U.S. Reprogramming Lab for mission data, data sharing networks and storage systems for the test teams, and JSE [Joint Simulation Environment] upgrades. Currently, these requirements are not fully funded, programmed, or scheduled to be completed in time to support Block 4’s DT [developmental test], integrated DT/OT, and dedicated OT activities.”

The F-35 program has planned to finish the final 64 runs of JSE at Naval Air Station Patuxent River, Md., this year to allow the F-35 to proceed to a full-rate production decision.

This article was originally published by Defense Daily, a sister publication of Avionics International. It has been edited. Read the original version here >>

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FAA Awards Supplemental Type Certificate to Garmin GI 275 for Part 25 Aircraft

Southeast Aerospace, Garmin, and Peregrine recently announced that the Garmin GI 275 Electronic Flight Instrument has been approved by the FAA for installation on Part 25 aircraft. (Photo: Southeast Aerospace)

Southeast Aerospace, Garmin, and Peregrine have recently announced that their new product, the Garmin GI 275 3.125-inch round display Electronic Flight Instrument, has been approved by the Federal Aviation Administration for installation on Part 25 aircraft. This instrument promises to be a cost-effective replacement of both mechanical and electronic standby instruments.

The benefits of this upgraded cockpit instrument are best summarized by Luke Gomoll, an Aircraft Sales Representative for Southeast Aerospace. He explained, “The Garmin GI 275 ESI elevates the cockpit. Display clarity, brightness, data presentation, and data accuracy are all leveled up massively with the GI 275 compared to legacy electronic standby instruments. Obsolescence of older ESIs is really a secondary reason to upgrade to the GI 275, and we think that the GI 275 ESI has enough merit on its own to justify upgrades of non-obsolete equipment as well.”

This new instrument has virtually all of the features of its predecessor, including traditional knob controls, while now offering a modernized look and a glass touchscreen display that is readable even in intense sunlight. Despite advancements like this, it can still be mounted in the cockpit in a standard 3 ⅛-inch round cut out. In addition to its touchscreen, the GI 275 is also compatible with more than 1,000 aircraft models. It displays attitude while saving weight and costs associated with maintenance, since the attitude indicator is driven by ADAHARS rather than a heavier vacuum pump. Furthermore, it displays altitude and airspeed (integrated into one display), connects cockpits to built-in Wi-Fi, features Bluetooth technology, and boasts an hour worth of backup battery power. This improved device can also be integrated with autopilot while providing precise information regarding an aircraft’s location and position.

The Garmin GI 275 can help under challenging circumstances for pilots. If paired with the GTN Xi series navigator, it enables Smart Glide. In the event of an engine failure, this program can help pilots land by finding nearby airports and creating a direct route for a timely and safe touchdown. Furthermore, it accepts speed and distance indications along with inputs for VOR/LOC.

Moving forward, the Garmin GI 275 will be able to replace aging ESI instruments on a variety of Part 25 aircraft. While this aircraft category includes larger types like the Boeing 737 and Airbus A320 family, it also includes a considerable amount of business jets like the Cessna Citation 550/560/560XL, the Gulfstream G200/GIV/GV, the Falcon 50, Lear 60, and many more. Because this instrument is mounted on the cockpits of a wide variety of aircraft, it seems operators, pilots, and passengers alike can enjoy the cost efficiency, convenience, and safety this new instrument has to offer the industry.

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Vortex Aircraft Services Signs Agreement to Use Embraer’s Beacon Platform

Embraer has signed a contract with Vortex Aircraft Services for the use of Beacon, a multi-sided platform to support operators, MROs, and technicians. Pictured above, an aircraft maintenance mechanic inspects a jet engine. (Photo: Embraer)

Recently, Brazilian aircraft manufacturer Embraer signed an agreement with Vortex Aircraft Services for the use of Beacon, a digital platform powered by Embraer-X that helps aircraft return to service quicker through the coordination of resources and mechanics needed for aircraft maintenance and repair. This partnership promises to bring more benefits to both companies while fueling Beacon’s growth into the U.S.

Vortex Aircraft Services was founded in 2017 and serves businesses in need of assistance with aircraft management, scheduled inspections, pre-aircraft purchase inspections, and other AOG (aircraft on ground) services. It also offers consulting services to its clients. Meanwhile, Beacon is an online platform powered by Embraer that allows for improved coordination within and the streamlining of various maintenance channels. Vortex’s use of Beacon will allow it to better serve its clients through better coordination of resources needed for its services, and in an even more timely manner.

As Marco Cesarino, Head of Beacon, explained,“As a fleet-agnostic platform, Beacon is an ideal partner for Vortex, a company providing maintenance and repair services on a broad range of aircraft from different original equipment manufacturers. Every minute counts in aviation. Beacon will help Vortex improve their coordination efficiency of AOG events and field maintenance, foster more effective collaboration, and maintain their high standards of quick response to critical maintenance events.”

This new partnership also helps Beacon expand into a new market. Vortex’s presence in the United States, specifically the southern region of the country, will connect Beacon to geographic areas previously left unreached and in need of coordinated and streamlined maintenance support.

Luis Osuna, Director of Maintenance for Vortex, highlighted the benefits of this partnership when he explained, “We firmly believe in strengthening the quality of work and response for our customers. The Beacon platform aligns with our vision to expand in Charlotte, NC, which remains a strategic location for Vortex and its customers as a hub for air carriers and all operations traveling through the Southeast United States.”

Embraer’s platform Beacon, though relatively new to the market, seems to have been met with enthusiasm from the aviation industry. In addition to Vortex Aircraft Services, several other aviation companies have signed agreements for the use of Beacon. In fact, it was recently applied to the commercial sector of the industry—Embraer-X just signed an agreement with European MRO provider Aero-Masters for the use of Beacon. The coordination this platform provides will help Aero-Masters keep commercial passengers flying safely across Europe. JetBlue is another customer of the Beacon platform.

Aviation is a dynamic industry with ever-changing demands. However, the success of Beacon indicates the importance of using technology and innovation to find more efficient approaches to aviation services.

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