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SpaceX Signs JSX as First Air Carrier for Starlink In-flight Connectivity Service

JSX is adding SpaceX’s Starlink in-flight internet service to its Embraer jets starting later this year. (Photo, courtesy of JSX)

JSX, the California-based Part 135 public charter operator, will become the first air carrier to operate aircraft using SpaceX’s Starlink satellites for in-flight connectivity (IFC) service.

The company posted the announcement to its LinkedIn and Twitter accounts on Thursday, indicating that its first SpaceX-equipped aircraft will start flying with Starlink’s IFC service this year.

“JSX is proud to be the first air carrier to adopt SpaceX Starlink internet inflight, free for every Customer onboard. We’d call it the best Wi-Fi in the sky, but it’s actually the greatest Wi-Fi in the galaxy – coming later this year,” the announcement says.

The charter air carrier has released no details beyond its social media announcements, and several minor statements about how the service will perform on passenger-carrying flights. CNBC reported Thursday that JSX CEO Alex Wilcox confirmed their agreement with SpaceX covers up to 100 aircraft and is currently pending regulatory approval.

“Our Customers have repeatedly asked us when we would offer inflight Wi-Fi, and we’ve said that we’ll do it when we find the best product in the world. Today, I’m proud to say, we’ve found it and the wait for Wi-Fi on JSX is nearly over,” Wilson said in an April 21 press release. “Starlink’s technology will change the way JSX Customers access and enjoy the Internet while inflight and demonstrates another example of how our forward-thinking model of flying delivers the most simple, joyful, and seamless air travel experience available in the skies.”

The majority of routes operated by JSX are between airports located in California and southwestern destinations, with a fleet of 77 total Embraer 135s and 145s. The JSX brand is a subsidiary of private charter JetSuite, and focuses on providing short haul flights at prices that compete with commercial airline business cabin fares. The company previously had committed to becoming the launch customer for the SmartSky Networks IFC service.

The JSX charter air carrier service route map. (Photo, courtesy of JSX)

SpaceX has been indicating its intention to provide IFC service via its Starlink satellite network since March 2021, when the company made its first Federal Communications Commission (FCC) filing asking for a license that would authorize the operation of Starlink terminals for Earth Stations in Motion (ESIMs) on aircraft, ships, and vehicles, according to reporting featured in Via Satellite, a sister publication to Avionics International.

Starlink is a constellation of satellites in Low-Earth Orbit (LEO) that provides broadband internet service in a direct-to-consumer model that has been adjusted to serve enterprise and industrial applications. SpaceX has launched 2,335 Starlink satellites to date, following their latest launch on April 21.

Jonathan Hofeller, who serves as vice president of SpaceX, has also discussed the company’s plans for in-flight connectivity services in several public appearances over the last year. As an example, during his participation on panel discussion at the Satellite 2022 conference in March, Hofeller said the Starlink IFC service will be capable of enabling streaming to every passenger on an aircraft.

“We believe in a future where connectivity is abundant, you’re not scrapping for kilobits per second here. It’s so much that people get on the plane and they stream just like they do in their home, so we’re designing a service that every single passenger on that plan can stream simultaneously if need be,” Hofeller said.

During a virtual appearance on a Connected Aviation Intelligence panel discussion about LEO satellite IFC for aviation services, Hofeller said the company has developed its own IFC terminal that leverages its phased array consumer antenna for aviation.

“High-speed, low-latency internet is critical in our modern age, and during air travel is no exception,” Hofeller said in a statement, commenting on the JSX agreement. “With Starlink, we’re able to provide an internet experience similar to or better than what passengers experience at home. We are creating a future that when all customers walk on to the plane, the internet just works – no hassles, no logins. By being the first air carrier to adopt Starlink, JSX is setting this new standard for air travel.”

Correction: A previous version of this article referred to JSX as an airline. It has been updated to reflect JSX’s status as a Part 135 operator classified as an air carrier, not an airline.

The post SpaceX Signs JSX as First Air Carrier for Starlink In-flight Connectivity Service appeared first on Aviation Today.

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GE Aviation Embracing Software Modularity in Third Generation Connected Flight Management System

GE Aviation is working on the introduction of its third generation “TrueCourse” Connected FMS software. (Photo, courtesy of GE Aviation)

GE Aviation is actively working with several unnamed commercial and military aircraft operators on the introduction of its third generation TrueCourse Connected Flight Management System (FMS) software, Avionics International learned during a recent interview with Jeremy Barbour, the company’s Connected Aircraft General Manager.

The third generation FMS is being developed with TrueCourse segmented into reusable software components and certification artifacts, making them easier to upgrade over the life cycle of the aircraft. GE Aviation’s avionics division has been working on making its FMS more software centric and connected to pilot tablet applications since 2018, when it first demonstrated an open architecture cockpit concept at the Farnborough International Air Show.

Barbour explained how GE is preparing for the first operational launch of their upgraded Connected FMS software.

“Our latest FMS product, TrueCourse, is a third generation design that applies all of the lessons learned from our prior two architectures. It is enabled by a software technology called Framework that enforces several design practices that are key to our modularity. These practices are valuable from both a design evolution and a certification standpoint as the regulatory environment continues to apply additional scrutiny on software functions,” he said.

Interviews with other GE avionics engineers in recent years have focused on the company’s goal of establishing a new a new interface to the FMS, that gives tablet electronic flight bag (EFB) applications bi-directional access to the FMS. The company has also made its Connected FMS software development kit available to third party application developers.

GE Aviation’s TrueCourse Connected FMS segments software functions into reusable components and certification artifacts, making them easier to upgrade over time. (Photo, courtesy of GE Aviation)

According to Barbour, Framework is helping to “future-proof” their FMS, making it more software-centric and capable of advanced diagnostics that identify anomalies or system errors that could occur while in-flight. The Framework software is also responsible for managing all of the static memory within the FMS, or all of the navigational data that gets stored and randomly accessed by the FMS in response to pilot inputs.

Management of that static memory within the FMS is critical to enabling GE’s third generation connected FMS concept, as it allows two key elements, Barbour said. “Any data point managed by Framework can be exposed to external systems via our Connected FMS technology. If data is the new oil, TrueCourse, enabled by Framework, is an fantastic asset. Anything the pilot could do through the FMS user interface in the cockpit can be accomplished through the Connected FMS tablet interface programmatically. This provides the ultimate capability for future autonomy needs. When we say the design is future proof – we mean it.”

More than 14,000 in-service commercial and military aircraft feature GE Aviation’s FMS software, including the Airbus A320 and A330, all Boeing 737 variants and the KC-46. TrueCourse is one of several flight management systems that are being modified with connectivity links and interfaces that connect tablet EFB devices to an aircraft’s databus network. Universal Avionics, Thales, and Honeywell Aerospace are among the other avionics makers that currently have their own flavors of cloud native and connected FMS technologies in development or ready for launch.

Barbour said that their connected FMS has not been used on any in-service commercial aircraft yet, however, the company is actively working with an unnamed airline on its eventual commercial launch, and has several military aircraft users are trailing the upgrade as well. One Connected FMS application that Barbour has found interest in from his discussions with airline pilots is dynamic re-routing.

“Dynamic re-routing occurs when a pilot learns something about their current route that they did not know when they planned flight. That could be weather, turbulence or even traffic flow management at the destination airport. Updating time of arrival, navigating around winds, chasing a tail wind in order to increase fuel efficiency at different altitude, we see a lot of opportunities for the Connected FMS to make better use of that information. Modifying the flight plan on the FMS today is an extremely manual process, and the Connected FMS could automate a lot of those tasks,” Barbour said.

GE currently does not have a targeted date on when the first True Course Connected FMS software will start flying, however, Barbour said their focus right now is on incorporating feedback they have received on how to optimize the EFB-FMS application data exchange and integration.

The post GE Aviation Embracing Software Modularity in Third Generation Connected Flight Management System appeared first on Aviation Today.

CAAC Releases Preliminary Report on China Eastern Airlines MU5735 Crash

The team investigating the crash of China Eastern Airlines Flight MU5735 has recovered its flight data recorder, pictured here. (Photo, courtesy of Xinhua News Agency)

The Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) published its preliminary report regarding an ongoing investigation into what caused a Boeing 737-800—flight MU5735—operated by China Eastern Airlines to crash during a March 21 flight from Kunming to Guangzhou.

CAAC’s preliminary report provides very few details about the crash, information downloaded from the flight data and cockpit voice recorders or any significant updates at all about the investigation beyond what has already been publicly released. As previously confirmed by the agency, the aircraft crashed in Guangxi new the Wuzhou City, Zhuang Autonomous Region, killing all 132 flight crew members and passengers onboard.

According to the report, when an air traffic controller tried to reach the flight crew once the aircraft started dangerously losing altitude, they received no reply. Flight tracking provider FlightRadar24’s replay of the flight shows that the aircraft reached an altitude of about 29,100 feet before taking a sharp nose dive into the ground.

“At 14:21:40, the last recorded aircraft information by the radar was: standard pressure altitude of 3,380 meters, ground speed of 1,010 km/h, and heading of 117 degrees. Subsequently, the radar signal disappeared,” CAAC writes in the report.

CAAC’s report also found no major defects within the airworthiness condition of the aircraft and no unique system or component issues from a review of its maintenance history. None of the recorded communications between the pilots and air traffic controllers that occurred prior to controllers losing contact were found to be abnormal either.

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) started assisting CAAC in its investigation into the crash of MU5735 on April 1, and has not released any updates or statements on its involvement in the investigation since then.

“Under the provisions of the International Civil Aviation Organization Annex 13, the NTSB is participating in the CAAC’s investigation of the China Eastern B-737 accident. Those provisions also stipulate that the authority in charge of the investigation, in this case the CAAC, release all investigative information,” a representative for the NTSB told Avionics International in an emailed statement.

The ongoing investigation will continue to focus on several aspects of the crash “as wreck identification, classification and inspection, flight data analysis, and necessary experimental verification in accordance with relevant procedures, and scientifically and rigorously identify the cause of the accident,” according to CAAC.

The post CAAC Releases Preliminary Report on China Eastern Airlines MU5735 Crash appeared first on Aviation Today.

Zanite Files Definitive Proxy Statement Ahead of Business Combination with Embraer’s Eve

Eve Urban Air Mobility and Zanite Acquisition Corp. are on track to fulfill the business combination agreement made in December 2021 and form a new company, Eve Holding. (Photo courtesy of Eve UAM)

Embraer’s Eve Urban Air Mobility entered into an agreement with Zanite Acquisition Corp. in December 2021. This agreement includes a planned business combination in which Eve will become Zanite’s wholly-owned subsidiary. The resulting company will be known as Eve Holding, Inc. and will list on the New York Stock Exchange under “EVEX” and EVEXW.”

Zanite has now filed the definitive proxy statement on Form DEFM14A, an essential step in the process of making Eve a publicly-traded company. On May 6, Zanite’s stockholders will meet virtually to approve the business combination with Eve. If other customary closing conditions are satisfied, the merger is expected to close on May 9.

Following the successful closure of the business combination agreement, the new Eve Holding will receive a $30 million investment from Acciona—a developer of renewable energy solutions and infrastructure. Acciona’s CEO, José Manuel Entrecanales, is also expected to join the Board of Directors as part of the deal with Eve.

About a month ago, Eve shared two other big announcements. Global Crossing Airlines Group signed a Letter of Intent to form a partnership with Eve in research and development of a UAM (urban air mobility) ecosystem that includes infrastructure for electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft. GlobalX also intends to order up to 200 of Eve’s eVTOL aircraft that will likely be delivered in 2026.

Also in March, Eve made another effort to support UAM in forming a consortium with Skyports, L3Harris, and the Community Air Mobility Initiative (CAMI). The consortium’s objective is to produce a concept of operations for UAM services connecting Miami International Airport (MIA) and the Miami Beach Convention Center.

Eve’s eVTOL aircraft was selected for use by Nautilus Aviation, an Australian luxury helicopter operator that offers scenic tourist flights. As part of the agreement, finalized in December, Eve will deliver 10 of its eVTOL aircraft to the company in Queensland, Australia.

The air mobility business incubator division of Norwegian airline Widerøe, called Widerøe Zero, also demonstrated its interest in Eve’s eVTOL concept last year. A November announcement shared that both companies are partnering to develop a concept of operations for eVTOL aircraft in Scandinavia.

The post Zanite Files Definitive Proxy Statement Ahead of Business Combination with Embraer’s Eve appeared first on Aviation Today.

Viasat Achieves First In-Flight Connectivity Type Certification in China

(Photo courtesy of Viasat)

Viasat has achieved the first type certification for its in-flight connectivity system in China on the Airbus A320.

The Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) issued a Validation of Supplemental Type Certificate (VSTC) to the satellite operator for the installation of Ka-band satellite systems on Airbus A320s. Under the new VSTC, A320 operators based in China can modify their aircraft with Viasat’s antenna, radome, modem, server, and wireless access points (WAPs).

According to Viasat, the new VSTC was issued based on an Airbus A320 STC previously certified by the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA). Xinhua, a Chinese media outlet managed by China’s government, in February published an update noting that Airbus plans to deliver the 600th A320 family aircraft assembled at its final assembly line in north China’s Tianjin Municipality this year.

Don Buchman, Viasat’s vice president and general manager, Commercial Aviation, called their first Chinese type certification “significant because Chinese-based airlines, using our best-in-class equipment, are now a step closer to delivering an on-the-ground internet experience to their passengers while in-flight. We’re grateful to our partners in China for their support and are committed to continuing to invest in this important market—where we have operated since 1994—for the long run.”

Viasat’s CAAC A320 type certification comes following a November agreement established with China Satellite Communications (China Satcom) that will allow the satellite operator to offer its Ka-band service to domestic and international airlines via the Ka-band ChinaSat-16 satellite system.

The post Viasat Achieves First In-Flight Connectivity Type Certification in China appeared first on Aviation Today.

Tecnam Unveils New P-Mentor Training Aircraft with G3X Cockpit

Tecnam unveiled its new P-Mentor flight training aircraft this week, with plans to make its public debut later this month at a general aviation trade show in Germany. (Photo courtesy of Tecnam)

Capua, Italy-based general aviation aircraft maker Tecnam has unveiled its new flight training single piston-engine P-Mentor that will make its global debut during Germany’s AERO Friedrichshafen trade show later this month.

The two-seater P-Mentor aircraft received its European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) CS-23 type certification on April 7, and it is capable of training student pilots from their first flight up to instrument training. P-Mentor has a range of 730 nautical miles (nm), with a max cruise speed of 117 kts.

Inside the cockpit of the P-Mentor is Garmin’s G3X, with Garmin GI275 as a backup instrument and multiple configurations to allow performance based navigation (PBN) as well as GFCTM 500 autopilot training. G3X consists of two touchscreen displays, standard synthetic vision, and the company’s built-in built-in “Connext” technology for wireless flight plan transfers.

The P-Mentor’s cockpit features Garmin’s G3X avionics system. (Photo courtesy of Tecnam)

Additional design features on the new P-Mentor include an all-new wing and a “tapered planform with laminar flow airfoil and mixed structure; light alloy for spars and wing box, CFRP for the one-piece leading edge,” according to Tecnam.

“I am sure this new design will revitalize the Trainer market, helping many flight schools to remain competitive and profitable and making new student pilots happier and more proficient. Real sustainability, fuel economy, and profitability start here,” Tecnam’s Managing Director, Giovanni Pascale, said in a statement.

(Photo courtesy of Tecnam)

Tecnam claims that the P-Mentor saves “up to 10 tons of CO2 for every graduated Commercial Pilot” that the aircraft provides flight training for.

The post Tecnam Unveils New P-Mentor Training Aircraft with G3X Cockpit appeared first on Aviation Today.

Jet It Selects SmartSky LiTE Connectivity System for Honda, Gulfstream Fleet

Jet It will add the “LiTE” configuration of SmartSky’s in-flight connectivity system to its fleet of HondaJet Elite and Gulfstream G150 aircraft, according to an announcement made this week. (Photo courtesy of SmartSky)

Jet It, the North Carolina-based business aviation operator, will install the light jet version of SmartSky’s in-flight connectivity (IFC) system across its fleet of HondaJet Elites and Gulfstream G150s.

SmartSky announced Jet It’s selection of its “LiTE” system on Monday, noting that Jet It will become the first business jet fleet operator to modify its aircraft with the configuration of its IFC technology developed for light jet and turboprop aircraft. SmartSky first launched the light jet version of its connectivity system in 2018 targeting aircraft with up to 19,000 pounds max takeoff weight (MTOW). The system has the ability to simultaneously connect up to six onboard devices to the in-flight internet service.

“At Jet It, we focus on providing our members an ownership experience without compromise, and selecting SmartSky for our fleet-wide fast connectivity solution is no exception,” Glenn Gonzales, CEO and founder of Jet It, said in a statement. “Their advanced technology and hardware combined with a choice of configurations is a great fit for both our HondaJet and Gulfstream aircraft where we will be able to support both passenger and operational connectivity needs.”

Jet It added 13 new aircraft to its fleet, including two Gulfstream G150s, and launched a new brand, Jet Club, that expands their “day-use” fractional ownership model to Europe. Between the two brands, Jet It and Jet Club now have 23 total HondaJet and Gulfstream aircraft in operation. Gonzales first launched Jet It in 2018 with a unique business model that uses days rather than hours to sell shares of aircraft to customers, allowing owners to only pay for the direct operating costs of the aircraft.

Jet It is also now also “Honda’s largest aircraft buyer and operator in the world,” according to a Dec. 31 update on the operational and fleet expansion they achieved last year.

SmartSky expects its IFC network service, which is currently live, to become available for flight operations throughout CONUS airspace “this quarter,” according to a recent announcement. The company has also released several updates about its network on its website in recent months, including the data size and pricing for its business aviation service plans. The basic configuration for SmartSky’s system includes an aircraft base radio, a full-duplex quad antenna, and a blade antenna. Supplemental Type Certification for the LiTE configuration of their system is expected to occur by “the summer,” according to SmartSky.

The post Jet It Selects SmartSky LiTE Connectivity System for Honda, Gulfstream Fleet appeared first on Aviation Today.

Honeywell Aerospace Engineers Develop Version 2 of the IntuVue RDR-84K Radar System

Honeywell Aerospace is currently working on version 2 of its IntuVue RDR-84K radar system, which can be seen mounted on the drone in the image above, taken at the Advanced Air Mobility Lab in Phoenix. (Photo courtesy of Honeywell Aerospace)

Honeywell Aerospace has unveiled a new lab at its facilities in Phoenix, Arizona, featuring the company’s latest advanced air mobility (AAM) solutions. The lab has not formally opened yet, but the Honeywell team hosted a preview event on April 12. Attendees were able to experience three different flight simulators and see some of Honeywell’s systems developed specifically for unmanned aerial systems (UAS) and for vertical take-off and landing aircraft.

The AAM lab featured a space dedicated to its RDR-84K radar system, which was presented by Lead Systems Engineer Larry Surace and by Andrew Baker, Senior Advanced Systems Engineer for Urban Air Mobility. The first version of Honeywell’s RDR-84K radar system recently demonstrated autonomous detect-and-avoid (DAA) capabilities during a series of tests completed with a second non-cooperative drone in Arizona. The DAA algorithm calculates the speed of moving targets to determine when it needs to change direction in order to avoid collision. “There was no intervention from the pilot, who relinquished control of the drone to the radar,” stated Surace during the preview of the AAM lab. “We flew it on multiple missions, at various altitudes, and at different angles. That allowed us to characterize how the radar was performing when it was put on a real drone.”

Honeywell’s AAM lab at its facilities in Phoenix, Arizona, featured multiple flight simulators showcasing their simplified vehicle operations (SVO) and other technological developments like its radar system. (Photo courtesy of Honeywell Aerospace)

Next, they plan to perform tests with the radar against multiple drones in multiple different scenarios. The radar is capable of detecting up to 30 moving targets at the same time. A more immediate goal for the team is to release the second version of the radar, which they expect to do by the end of June.

The radar is compact and capable of detecting objects at a distance of 3 kilometers. The second version of the RDR-84K radar that is in the works right now will weigh about 1.5 pounds, a significant weight reduction from the first version. Although Honeywell has built a wide variety of radar systems for decades, the RDR-84K model was designed specifically for drone DAA applications. Its other features include ground mapping, weather detection, obstacle detection on the ground, and detection of multiple targets.

The RDR-84K radar system on display at Honeywell’s AAM lab (Photo taken by Jessica Reed)

“We’re expecting a 2025 timeframe or sooner to integrate it on vehicles like drones for delivery,” Surace remarked, but the timeline will be driven by the market demand for the radar. Aerospace company Airflow announced a new partnership with Honeywell in October 2021 in which Airflow selected the RDR-84K as the radar system that it will integrate into its electric short take-off and landing (eSTOL) aircraft.

Potential customers have also expressed interest in using the radar system for search and rescue operations, Surace noted, especially those taking place over water. “We are targeting the advanced air mobility market for our OEMs that are asking for this type of capability. We design for certification, and we’re in the process of working with the committees to understand how to get it certified, to show it will perform as designed in a safe manner. We work very closely with the FAA, and they give us suggestions for how to prove that we’re safe.”

Andrew Baker emphasized the engineering involved in determining how to fly the radar. “You can’t just google how to put a radar on a drone,” he explained. “Cameras and LIDAR [light detection and ranging] are very common payloads for UAVs, but not radars.”

An important capability that Baker highlighted is that a radar technician can remotely connect to the RDR-84K radar while it is in flight and quickly change various parameters, meaning that the team doesn’t waste time bringing the vehicle back to the ground. Average flight time with the model performing these tests is just 18-20 minutes, so every moment of a flight test is valuable.

The post Honeywell Aerospace Engineers Develop Version 2 of the IntuVue RDR-84K Radar System appeared first on Aviation Today.

Wisk Aero and Skyports Release Concept of Operations for eVTOL and Vertiport Integration

Wisk Aero and Skyports have formed the first-ever partnership between an autonomous eVTOL developer and a vertiport developer-operator. The companies collaborated to produce a Concept of Operations for autonomous advanced air mobility operations. (Photo courtesy of Wisk)

The first partnership between an autonomous eVTOL developer and a vertiport developer-operator in the United States was announced this week. Electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft developer Wisk Aero is collaborating with Skyports, vertiport designer and operator. The companies worked together to create a Concept of Operations that describes requirements for accommodating safe, autonomous eVTOL operations, including necessary upgrades, procedure changes, and retrofits. This new partnership, according to the announcement from Wisk, is focused on evaluating several core areas including the management of ground operations, schedules, final approaches and take-offs, and contingencies, in addition to defining airspace design, passenger accommodation, navigational aids, and physical aircraft considerations such as functions and capabilities.

Wisk Aero has always had a strong focus on advanced air mobility (AAM). Just two months ago, the company announced a collaboration with the Long Beach Economic Partnership to conduct a study on the economic impact of AAM operations in Southern California. Over the next two years, Wisk and the City of Long Beach will coordinate in bringing together local government, business, and community leaders in a working group focused on autonomous flight and the implementation of AAM in Long Beach.

In January, Wisk shared news of a large investment from Boeing—$450 million, to be exact—making Wisk one of the world’s most well-funded companies focused on AAM operations. Boeing’s investment is contributing to the continued development of Wisk’s 6th-generation eVTOL aircraft, Cora, an all-electric and self-piloted model. The investment from Boeing also boosts Wisk’s efforts to launch scale manufacturing and go-to-market operations.

The ConOps produced by Wisk and Skyports, titled “Autonomous UAM Aircraft Operations and Vertiport Integration,” details the relationship between autonomous eVTOL aircraft and UAM-specific infrastructure. The document describes its scope and purpose: “While the introduction of commercial autonomous eVTOL aircraft may not be immediate, Wisk and Skyports are focused on developing and testing processes and solutions that will be critical to the advancement of urban air mobility (UAM). Considering autonomous eVTOL integration today will help future-proof the development of UAM aviation infrastructure and challenge the advancement of more sophisticated and safer solutions that could benefit piloted eVTOL aircraft and all AAM operations. This ConOps serves as a basis for discussion as industry and regulators begin to consider the integration of autonomous eVTOL aircraft systems into the national airspace system.”

One of the key ideas put forth in the ConOps is that a standardized data system is essential for a vertiport’s function, in particular where autonomous eVTOL operations are introduced. This data system must be able to provide current and future vertiport status to every aircraft operator in the area, and it should also serve as a platform for an informational exchange interface between eVTOL aircraft operators and other vertiport partners.

Wisk and Skyports also describe the necessity of a resource management and scheduling system (RMSS) for vertiports that will allow for passengers to reserve space at a vertiport terminal. The ideal RMSS will have the capacity to allocate and un-allocate resources in order to mitigate risks or delays. “The system will also need to consider the likelihood of offnominal events, weather or airspace delays, and other impacts,” as explained in the ConOps.

The post Wisk Aero and Skyports Release Concept of Operations for eVTOL and Vertiport Integration appeared first on Aviation Today.

Archer Signs Letter of Intent with Composites Supplier Hexcel

Archer Aviation and Hexcel signed a letter of intent regarding a proposed relationship that would involve Hexcel supplying high-performance carbon fiber material for production of Archer’s eVTOL aircraft. (Photo courtesy of Archer)

Archer Aviation announced their intention to enter an agreement with Hexcel, provider of solutions in lightweight composites technology. In the agreement, Hexcel would supply Archer with high-performance carbon fiber material for manufacturing production aircraft, a relationship detailed in the letter of intent signed last week.

Archer’s objective is to establish a network of electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft in cities across the U.S. To achieve this goal, the team needs to be able to manufacture their aircraft at scale, a spokesperson from Archer told Avionics International in an emailed statement. “An undertaking of this magnitude requires advanced materials that are high in quality, meet our high safety standards, and align with our planned aircraft design. Hexcel’s high-performance carbon fiber and resin systems check all of these boxes for us, making them an ideal composites partner.”

Hexcel manufactures lightweight composite structures for commercial and military fixed wing aircraft, helicopters, UAVs, and more. Hexcel has worked with numerous companies in the aviation sector, including Airbus, Boeing, Bombardier, Sikorsky, SpaceX, and Lockheed Martin. (Photo courtesy of Hexcel)

Archer co-founder and co-CEO, Brett Adcock, stated in the company’s announcement, “When selecting a partner, our primary focus was on safety and quality. We were impressed by Hexcel’s track record in delivering high-performance prepreg [carbon fiber and resin systems] materials for the commercial aerospace industry and their proactive approach to developing cutting-edge materials.”

Hexcel’s Chairman, CEO, and President, Nick Stanage, remarked that his team is looking forward to contributing to Archer’s efforts in bringing the new technology to market, “This is a terrific opportunity for Hexcel to join with an innovative leader such as Archer to bring eVTOL to market. By selecting our leading lightweight composites, Archer helps improve aerodynamics, safety and quality in their aircraft designs.”

Another advantage of partnering with Hexcel is the company’s experience with the certification standards of the Federal Aviation Administration. Archer continues to work closely with the FAA as it pursues certification. The FAA presented the eVTOL developer with a Special Airworthiness Certificate towards the end of 2021. Shortly after, on December 16, Archer completed the first successful hover flight with its Maker aircraft.

Archer’s Maker eVTOL aircraft, pictured above, completed its first successful hover test in December 2021. (Photo courtesy of Archer)

Following the hover flight test, the team at Archer Aviation is focused on expansion of their flight testing envelope. Archer has previously stated that they expect to unveil the production-ready aircraft at the end of 2022. Archer’s representative told Avionics that the company will soon release news “about the progress we’re seeing in all facets of our aircraft and operational development plans.”

The proposed relationship between Archer and Hexcel would involve the use of Hexcel’s prepreg materials for fabricating composite parts of Archer’s aircraft. “We’re still in the early days of this partnership, so we’re not able to share specific details at the moment,” stated the company’s spokesperson. “We’re looking forward to sharing more about Archer’s overarching manufacturing plans in the coming months.”

The post Archer Signs Letter of Intent with Composites Supplier Hexcel appeared first on Aviation Today.

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