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What’s Trending in Aerospace – June 27, 2021

Check out the June 27 edition of What’s Trending in Aerospace, where editors and contributors for Avionics International bring you some of the latest headlines and updates happening across the global aerospace industry.

Commercial 

Korean Air Deepens Involvement in Space Sector 

(Korean Air)

Korean Air, South Korea’s largest airline, is getting further involved in the space sector. The airline will develop common bulkhead propellant tanks for small satellite launch vehicles as part of the Ministry of Science and ICT’s ‘Space Pioneer’ project. Korean Air announced the collaboration  in a June 24 press release.

The common bulkhead propellant tank will combine fuel and oxidizer tanks into a single tank using the latest metal welding and insulation technology. The airline said this new technology will increase the competitiveness of the small satellite launch vehicle market in Korea, as it will reduce the number of satellite launch vehicle parts, simplify structures, decrease vehicle weights by 30 percent, and cut down production costs.

Korean Air has been involved in space projects for almost a decade now. In 2012, Korean Air developed and assembled Korea’s first space launch vehicle, Naro (KSLV-1), and the company has core technology capabilities such as aircraft system integration and aircraft structure development.

“The small satellite launch vehicle market is expected to grow rapidly worldwide. SpaceX has already launched 1,000 400-kg satellites and plans to launch up to 12,000 more in the future. Global IT companies such as Amazon and Facebook are also planning to launch hundreds of small- and medium-sized satellites,” Korean Air said in the release.  “On June 23, 20 engineers and officials from Korean Air, the Korea Aerospace Research Institute, and NDT Engineering & Aerospace gathered at the Korean Air R&D Center in Daejeon to discuss development plans, a future roadmap, and the scope of cooperation.”

Lufthansa Announces New A340 and A350 Plans From Munich

A Lufthansa A340-600 at Munich Airport. (Lufthansa)

As the global travel industry is returning to prior levels of activity, Lufthansa is strengthening its long-haul flying from Munich Airport and will again offer first class on selected routes. This means, Lufthansa is temporarily reactivating five Airbus A340-600 aircraft with four flight classes, according to a June 25 press release.

Commencing in summer 2022, the A340-600 will fly from Munich primarily to in North American and Asian destinations, according to Lufthansa. The decision to reactivate these aircraft is due to growing premium demand, for business as well as leisure travel.

“In late summer 2023, the first Airbus A350-900, offering First Class, will join the fleet and take off from Munich, bolstering the premium offering at Lufthansa’s 5-star hub,” Lufthansa said in the release.

Maintenance and Staffing Issues Force Hundreds of American Airlines Flight Cancellations 

American Airlines canceled hundreds of flights last weekend due to staffing shortages, maintenance and other issues, according to a June 20 report published by CNBC.

“About 6% of the airline’s mainline schedule, or 190 flights, were canceled Sunday, according to flight tracking site FlightAware. The airline said that equaled about 3% of its total flights, including those operated by regional carriers. An internal company list, which was viewed by CNBC, showed about half of those were because of unavailable flight crews. On Saturday, about 4% of its mainline schedule, or 123 flights, were canceled and 106 on Monday, FlightAware showed,” according to CNBC.

Military 

Bell Retires V-280 Valor From Flight Testing As Focus Shifts To FLRAA Program Of Record

The Bell V-280 Valor. (Bell Flight)

Bell said Thursday it is retiring its V-280 Valor tiltrotor technology demonstrator from active flight testing, after reaching 214 flight hours and a max speed of 305 knots, as it readies for the Army’s official Future Long Range Assault Aircraft (FLRAA) program of record.

The announcement arrives as the Army is set to release its Request for Proposals for FLRAA production this summer, with a contract to be awarded in late fiscal year 2022 to either Bell or a Sikorsky-Boeing team offering the Defiant X platform.

“We have come a long way since we started our journey eight years ago. We made commitments, we safely executed our program on time, and we validated our performance claims and the accuracy of our digital models through flight demonstrations. Ultimately, the Army doesn’t send warfighters into battle riding in the back of digital models and so we thought it was important to bring that physical proof,” Ryan Ehinger, Bell’s FLRAA program director, said in a statement.

Both Bell and Sikorsky-Boeing are currently participating in the FLRAA’s Competitive Demonstration and Risk Reduction (CD&RR) Phase II effort for the Black Hawk replacement program to further refine their proposals, which will include completing both air vehicle and weapons systems preliminary design reviews.

State Department Approves $2.6 Billion In Philippines F-16 Weapons Sales 

The Lockheed Martin F-16 Block 70/72 (Lockheed Martin)

The State Department has approved three sales totaling $2.6 billion in F-16 aircraft, Harpoon missiles, and Sidewinder missiles to the Philippines.

The Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) notified Congress of the possible sales on Thursday.

The largest sale is $2.43 billion for 10 F-16 Block 70/72 aircraft and two F-16D Block 70/72 aircraft along with associated equipment  including 15 each F100-PW-229EEP or F110-GE-129D engines; Improved Programmable Display Generators; AN/APG-83 Advanced Electronically Scanned Array Scalable Agile Beam Radars; Modular Mission Computers 7000AH; and LN-260 Embedded GPS/INS with SAASM and PPS.

The sale also includes 24 Advanced Medium Range Air-to-Air Missiles AIM-120C-7/C-8 or equivalent; 48 LAU-129 missile launchers; three KMU-572 Laser Joint Direct Attack Munition tail kits; six Mk-82 500lb bombs; six Sniper Advanced Targeting Pods (ATP) or Litening ATP; 15 M61A1 Vulcan Anti-Aircraft 20mm guns and several other sensors, ammunition types and associated equipment and logistical support services.

uAvionix Micro-Transponder Certified by DoD

The Department of Defense (DoD) has certified uAvionix Corporation’s micro-transponder, RT-2087/ZPX-A, though the Air Traffic Control Radar Beacon System Identification Friend or Foe Program Office (AIMS PO), according to a June 23 release from the company.

The ZPX-A is suited for DoD classification Group 1 and 2 unmanned aircraft vehicles (UAV), according to the release. The transponder is certified with AIMS 17-1000 performance specification and will allow aircraft to fly in worldwide airspaces with civil transponder modes 3/A, C, S, and extended squitter (ES) ADS-B OUT.

Business & General Aviation 

Jet It and JetClub to Become Launch Customers of Bye Aerospace Electric eFlyer 800

A computer-generated image of what Jet It’s first eFlyer 800 will look like. (Bye Aerospace)

Jet It and JetClub, two sister companies that operate unique new fractional ownership models in North America and Europe, have become the launch customers for Bye Aerospace’s all-electric twin-turboprop, the eFlyer 800.

First unveiled by the Colorado-based electric aircraft maker in April, the eFlyer 800 is being developed to feature a 500 nm range with an operational ceiling of 35,000 feet and 320-knot cruise speed. It will use two wing-mounted electric motors with dual redundant motor windings and quad-redundant battery packs.

Jet It, the North Carolina-based private aviation operator, and JetClub, their sister company serving Europe and Asia Pacific destinations, have signed a purchase agreement for a fleet of eFlyer 800 and four eFlyer 4 aircraft. Launched in 2018 by Glenn Gonzales, with expansions to Canada, Europe, and Asia through the partnership with JetClub, Jet It uses days rather than hours to sell shares of HondaJet Elite aircraft, allowing owners to only pay for the direct operating costs of the aircraft.

Aircraft Electronics Association Hosts Successful Avionics Convention in Texas

The Aircraft Electronics Association (AEA) hosted its 64th annual international convention and trade show last week in Dallas, Texas. According to a June 22 press release, nearly 1,500 avionics manufacturers, repair stations, installers and others converged on the at the Hilton Anatole in Dallas.

Space 

Virgin Galactic Receives Approval From FAA for Full Commercial Launch License

Virgin Galactic’s VSS Unity 2 completed its third successful spaceflight on May 22, 2021. (Virgin Galactic)

Virgin Galactic received an update to their existing commercial space transportation operator license that will allow “the spaceline to fly customers to space,” according to a June 25 press release.

The adjustment to Virgin Galactic’s operator’s license, which the Company has held since 2016, marks the first time the FAA has licensed a spaceline to fly customers. It is further validation of the Company’s methodical testing program, which has met the verification and validation criteria required by the FAA.

“We’re incredibly pleased with the results of our most recent test flight, which achieved our stated flight test objectives. The flight performed flawlessly, and the results demonstrate the safety and elegance of our flight system,” Michael Colglazier, Chief Executive Officer of Virgin Galactic, said in the release. “Today’s approval by the FAA of our full commercial launch license, in conjunction with the success of our May 22 test flight, give us confidence as we proceed toward our first fully crewed test flight this summer.”

SpaceX to Launch Falcon 9 to Transport First SDA Experimental Satellites on June 25

On June 25, SpaceX is to launch a Falcon 9 rocket that will carry the Space Development Agency’s (SDA) first satellite missions–Mandrake II, the Laser Interconnect Networking Communications System (LINCS), and Prototype On-orbit Experimental Testbed (POET).

The SDA missions involve two Astro Orbital-built Mandrake II cube satellites with an SA Photonics payload, two General Atomics LINCS microsatellites to demonstrate space-to-air communications with an MQ-9 Reaper drone, and a Loft Orbital satellite carrying the POET payload, which is to demonstrate a low-latency “battle management capability” in space.

“The more processing that we can move into space, the better off we’re going to be,” an SDA official said on June 22. “POET is going to give us the first opportunity to actually do that… so we’re really looking forward to getting some data out of this.”

The Astro Digital satellites have been part of the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency’s Blackjack program, started in 2018 to show how the military could benefit from low Earth orbit satellites and mesh satellite networks.

SpaceX’s Transporter 2 mission launch from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, Fla. will carry dozens of rideshare satellites in what the company says is its second dedicated rideshare mission. SDA said that its missions will “gather data on optical communication terminal (OCT) performance and processing in low-Earth orbit (LEO), proving out a core capability required for SDA’s future development efforts.”

“Optical links between space, air, and ground assets offer significantly higher data rates and lower latency when compared to conventional radio frequency links, and demonstrate a pathway of getting real-time data to warfighter,” the agency said.

eVTOLs

Hyundai’s UAM Division Partners with ANRA

Hyundai Motor Group’s Urban Air Mobility Division and ANRA Technologies have formed a new partnership to develop an operating environment for the advanced air mobility (AAM) industry, according to a June 23 press release.

ANRA provides end-to-end drone operations and traffic management solutions for unmanned system operators, according to the release. ANRA will help Hyundai create a concept of operations (ConOps) for integrating AAM vehicles into the existing airspace.

“ANRA’s SmartSkies family of airspace management solutions have been proven worldwide and provide the critical support required for complex AAM operations at scale,” Amit Ganjoo, founder and CEO of ANRA Technologies, said in a statement. “We take a long-term view in everything we do as a company and are looking forward to integrating our advanced technologies with the Urban Air Mobility Division of Hyundai Motor Group’s AAM ecosystem and sharing our knowledge and experience to ensure the success of our partnership and help move our industry safely forward.”

According to the release, this partnership is the first in a series of ATM partnerships from Hyundai.

“We are pleased to partner with ANRA Technologies to begin building toward the safe and efficient integration of AAM into existing airspace,” Pamela Cohn, chief operating officer at Urban Air Mobility Division of Hyundai Motor Group, said in a statement. “As an emerging mobility solution, it is critical diverse parties work together to co-create the AAM ecosystem, including its necessary digital and physical infrastructure. ANRA brings a unique background of operational history in the drone services sector that will help define the operating environment for all AAM vehicles.”

Unmanned

Drone Emergency Response Exercise Conducted in New Jersey

The National Aviation Research and Technology Park (NARTP) conducted an exercise to test how unmanned and manned aircraft could work together during an emergency response scenario, the agency announced in a June 23 release.

American Aerospace Technologies (AATI) managed the drill which included manned aircraft like helicopters and unmanned aircraft such as drones, according to the release. The exercise included private companies and local, state, and federal agencies.

“Unmanned aircraft are a post-disaster force multiplier,” David Yoel, AATI CEO, said in a statement. “In the immediate aftermath of a disaster, UAS can provide critical information to first responders, accelerating response while increasing the safety and effectiveness of first responders. The goal of the 2021 South Jersey Emergency Response Exercise is to begin to develop an air operations coordination and approval process that enables UAS and conventional aircraft to operate concurrently – without adding risk to conventional aircraft operations, potentially accelerating response and recovery by days.”

ATC App for Drones Completes Successful Test with LVNL

The air traffic control (ATC) app made by Altitude Angel, GoDrone, completed a successful test where it gave ATC instructions to drone pilots through its interface with Air Traffic Control The Netherlands (LVNL), according to a June 25 press release.

“The success of this test is an important milestone for us,” Jurgen van Avermaete, general manager of procedures at LVNL, said in a statement. “By succeeding in this test, LVNL has delivered the next step towards safe air traffic control for manned and unmanned flights in the same airspace. In controlled airspace, this also means providing air traffic control to drone operators. This is a challenging task which we are addressing in close cooperation with our Dutch Drone Delta partners. We are not there yet, but today’s success shows that we are on the right track.”

The drone uses a UTM system via KPN’s 4G/5G network to transmit data, according to the release. This system was also tested during the exercise.

“The success of the trials are a clear demonstration of how, through collaboration, drones can successfully and safely be integrated in to controlled airspace, opening up a multitude of use cases for UAVs across a broad spectrum of industries,” Chris Forster, Altitude Angel Chief Operating Officer, said. “We’re very much looking forward to working with LVNL on the next exciting phase in the development of the GuardianUTM O/S powered GoDrone which in-turn will enable the Dutch drone economy.”

EASA Awards First Drone Certification to Volocopter

Volocopter’s VC200-2 drone was awarded the first design verification certificate from the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) to operate its aircraft for a specific usage, the agency announced in a June 24 press release.

Volocopter applied for the certificate on May 21 after EASA released guidelines for the design verification of drones on April 8, according to the release. The certificate allows Volocopter to operate its drone in a delimited low-risk area even if that area is located close to a higher risk area.

“The short time needed to issue the design verification report demonstrates that EASA is able to develop flexible tools that are adapted to the risk of the drone operation and to the needs of the market,” EASA Executive Director Patrick Ky said in a statement. “In the medium term this will be a winning concept for our stakeholders as it is efficient for all parties. We expect to process a large number of applications for design verification in the coming months.”

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GE Aviation CEO Talks Importance of SAF in Future of Aviation

GE Aviation CEO John Slattery was the guest on the latest edition of Eurocontrol’s Straight Talk Live on Thursday. (GE Aviation)

GE Aviation and Safran recently unveiled a new development program focused on sustainable technologies for a next-generation CFM engine. During an appearance on EUROCONTROL’s Aviation StraightTalk Live, GE Aviation President and CEO John Slattery described why sustainable aviation fuels (SAF) were essential to making a sustainable aviation engine and what obstacles need to be overcome to increase their use.

“We announced RISE, which stands for revolutionary innovation for sustainable engines,” Slattery said. “It’s a development program that we will look at over 300 different technologies that we will develop. Eventually, that will manifest into an engine that will enter into service sometime in the mid-2030s, but a lot of those technologies…that we will be developing through the RISE program will probably end up feathering a lot of those technologies into our current engines and even engines that we may even introduce before 2030.”

Some of the technologies that will be part of RISE include hybrid-electric engines, SAF, and hydrogen. The RISE program is focused on reducing emissions and one way to do that is to change the type of fuel the engine is burning, Slattery said.

“What people get confused about is the difference between CO₂ emissions and the fuel burn,” Slattery said. “If we can change the type of fuel that goes into the engine, we can reduce those emissions a lot more than the initial 20 percent we’re talking about.”

A big advantage to using SAF is that aircraft today do not need to be modified in any way to use a 50 percent blend of SAF. The current in-production engines developed by GE Aviation are certified to operate with a blend of up to a 50 percent blend of SAF.

To be able to use 100 percent SAF, some modifications to the aircraft engine will be necessary, but these modifications will be small, Slattery said.

“We’re working with regulators around the world to define what the standard is, the definition and the standard of what defines 100 percent SAF,” Slattery said. “When we get to agreeing that standard, there will be some small hardware modifications required on the engine but actually nothing meaningful, some work with the tubes and the ducks. The viscosity of SAF is different to the properties of kerosene, K1, but very doable.”

The problem is aircraft are not even using the 50 percent blend that is approved today. In reality, SAF accounted for less than one percent of the fuel used by airlines, according to 2019 data from IATA. The reason for this is there is not enough supply in the market yet. Slattery said if SAF were to be flown on the entire Air France KLM fleet for example, they would burn the world’s supply of SAF in one day.

“The big issue is getting availability of SAF… so the challenge on us is to create a stable demand so that industry can rally around and create the availability of SAF so that airlines can then get it at a more economical price,” Slattery said.

Slattery said he does think there is demand from airlines for SAF, however, regulators and policymakers may need to create incentives for generating SAF.

“I know the airlines want to do it…but the regulators, the policymakers, they may need to play a role here,” Slattery said. “As they look around encouraging incentives to help people generate SAF and SAF can come from a multitude of sources, including synthetic SAFs. If we bring up the supply, the price will come down and that supply-demand equation will help bring the price down, but regulators are also looking at potentially regulating the percentage of SAF that would need to be used onboard an aircraft.”

After lowering the price, the industry will also have to create a structure to make SAF more user-friendly, Slattery said.

“We do need an eco-structure to make it more user friendly to get SAF to the airports to actually generate SAF, to distill and refined SAF,” Slattery said. “We feel comfortable that it is all doable. Certainly, the refining parts of it is very doable. Frankly, with the current footprint of refineries that are out there today refining oil can very easily move over to SAF.”

There is also pressure from airline passengers about lowering emissions when they are flying which could also contribute to a demand for technologies like SAF, Slattery said.

“The travelers of the future, the passengers, who we are all here ultimately to serve, they want to know what their carbon emission per mile is going to be in the future,” Slattery said.

If GE were to reduce emissions by 20 percent on narrow-body aircraft types flying with its engines today, it would be equivalent to taking 17 million cars off the road, Slattery said. However, the goal of the RISE program is to cut emissions by using a hybrid-electric engine with an open fan architecture and the capability to burn 100 percent SAF or hydrogen fuel.

“To get to that nirvana of carbon-free emissions, zero carbon-free flight, we’re going to need to have improved fuels,” Slattery said. “We’re going to need to have sustainable aviation fuels in a volume that will make sense for the operators around the world and then we need to stay on that path to get to ultimately to find a way to burn green hydrogen.”

Slattery said the aviation industry’s growth is dependent on adopting and developing these new technologies to drive down emissions.

“We’re at an inflection point in our industry,” Slattery said. “We need to win the right to continue to grow and that’s going to be rooted, in my humble opinion, in our commitment to drive down CO₂ emissions.”

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Agility Prime Invests $1.5M in eSTOL Aircraft from Electra

Electra claims its ultra-short takeoff and landing aircraft can deliver nearly triple the payload capacity, an order of magnitude longer ranges, and less than half the operating costs.  (Electra)

The Agility Prime program from the U.S. Air Force has invested in multiple electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft and now it is investing in a new type of flying car, an electric ultra-short takeoff and landing (eSTOL) aircraft through a partnership with Electra.aero.

The Air Force awarded Electra a $1.5 million direct-to-phase II small business innovation research (SBIR) contract with a 15-month performance period, Ben Marchionna, director of technology and innovation at Electra told Avionics International via email. Electra plans to complete the work for this contract by July 2022.

“Agility Prime is excited to partner with Electra on their recent Phase II SBIR contract award,” Agility Prime’s Deputy Lead, Major John “Wasp” Tekell said in a statement. “We look forward to exploring the unique capabilities of this design while continuing to accelerate the electric aviation industry.”

An eSTOL aircraft differs from eVTOLs because eSTOLs use electric propulsion combined with a technique called blown lift to takeoff over very short distances.

“eVTOLs use electric propulsion to takeoff and land vertically – many of these concepts then transition from vertical flight to forward flight with a wing providing the lift once in cruise,” Marchionna said. “Vertical flight requires significantly more power, resulting in an enormous payload, range, and cost penalty. eSTOLs use electric propulsion and an aerodynamic technique called blown lift to takeoff over distances as short as 100 feet. This provides eSTOL aircraft access to many of the same urban air mobility markets.”

The blown lift technique utilizes the aircraft’s wings and propellers to push large amounts of air over the aircraft’s wings and push the air downwards, Marchionna said.

“Blown lift is an aerodynamic technique that tricks the wing into thinking its much larger than it really is,” Marchionna said. “Propellers are typically used for thrust and the wing is used to generate lift. Blown lift uses the propellers to also blow significant amounts of air over large wing flaps that deflect the air downwards. This can be done very efficiently across the entire span of the wing with distributed electric propulsion systems. The technique has been used for nearly 75 years, with extensive research, flight testing, and operations by NASA and the USAF in the 1960s and 70s, but the advent of distributed electric propulsion now makes blown lift practical again.”

Electra’s eSTOL will also use a custom battery system that can be charged mid-air, Marchinonna said. Recharging the battery mid-air will allow Electra’s aircraft to conduct missions over longer distances.

Electra claims that its eSTOL will offer more payload capacity, longer ranges, and fewer operating costs than eVTOL aircraft.

“The improved payload, range, and operating cost are not compared to any specific eVTOL platform – rather, these advantages come from the fundamental physics,” Marchinonna said. “Taking off vertically, even if only for a few seconds before transitioning to wing-borne lift, requires big compromises in performance and safety. An eSTOL requires one quarter the power of an eVTOL to lift the same payload.”

Electra’s aircraft will have a capacity of seven passengers and one pilot with a range of 500 miles, Marchinonna said.

Electra has completed the sub-scale testing of its eSTOL and is now building a two-seat technology demonstrator, Marchinonna said. They will begin ground testing this year and flight testing in 2022. By 2026, Electra is expecting to have its aircraft certified by the Federal Aviation Administration under Part 23.

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Gogo Starts Flight Testing 5G Antennas

The first two Gogo 5G antennas being installed on a tower in the Midwest. (Gogo Business Aviation)

Gogo Business Aviation has begun flight testing the antennas for its next-generation 5G network, the Colorado-based in-flight connectivity (IFC) service provider said in a June 22 press release.

On the ground network side, the first two 5G antennas have been installed on a tower, enabling the company to start conducting prototype testing of the 5G antenna towers. Originally scheduled for deployment this year, Gogo CEO Oakleigh Thorne explained during their first-quarter earnings call in March that a supply chain delay caused by a microchip supplier ultimately lead to their delaying the 5G network until 2022.

“The tests we’ve conducted and successfully passed validate what we modeled when we initially announced we would build a 5G network,” Mike Syverson, senior vice president of engineering for Gogo Business Aviation said in a statement. “Through the testing we’ve done so far, we now know that Gogo 5G is going to be better than we originally thought it would be.”

Another 5G network milestone announced by Gogo is the completion of the development of its 5G air card prototypes and recently completed coast-to-coast flight testing of its 5G belly-mounted antennas. The first flight test involving a connection between the 5G antennas on the aircraft and the 5G antennas on the ground tower was also recently completed. An end-to-end call using a 5G SIM card, from the onboard equipment “to the cell site, through the data center to the internet, and back,” has also been completed, according to Gogo.

“What we’ve done is validate that our systems can talk to one another,” Syverson said. “The antennas can talk to the cell site, which in turn can talk to the data center. There is a lot of software development to put those pieces together, and it’s all working very well.”

Technicians install the first two Gogo 5G antennas on a cell tower. (Gogo Business Aviation)

During his participation in the recent Connected Aviation Intelligence 5G panel, Jim MacDougall, vice president of product management for Gogo Business Aviation said the company plans to have a test 5G network with 10 sites available by the end of the year, followed by a full-scale launch in the U.S. by the second half of 2022.

“Each antenna is using beam-forming to provide an improved experience, and by using the licensed and the unlicensed spectrum together, we ensure that customers will get the best possible experience even in congested airspace over heavily populated areas,” MacDougall said.

Gogo expects their nationwide 5G network to become available by the second half of 2022.

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Eve and Skyports Advance Partnership in Asia and the Americas

Eve and Skyports have formed a partnership for eVTOL operations in Asia and the Americas. (Eve)

A new partnership between Eve Urban Air Mobility and Skyports is aiming to advance the adoption of electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft operations in markets in Asia and the Americas, Eve announced in a June 21 press release.

As part of the agreement, the two companies will create a concept of operations to inform operational procedures and vehicle and services development, according to the release. The concept of operations will be developed using Eve’s eVTOL, urban air traffic management (UATM) software, and UAM services.

“In transition to a low carbon economy, the aerospace industry depends on disruptive innovation to create a more sustainable future,” André Stein, president and Chief Executive Officer of Eve, said, in a statement. “With urban air mobility, we have a unique opportunity to co-create vertiports, vehicles, and operation, designing a new and optimized mobility ecosystem from the ground up. We are thrilled to have Skyports in this journey to develop UAM solutions in Asia and the Americas, bringing us a step closer in providing commuters and travellers [sic] with an entirely new, zero-emission, experience.”

The partnership will also include a market readiness exercise and vehicle concept of operations study in Brazil that Skyports will lead, according to the release.

“Our partnership with Eve paves the way for rapid innovation in UAM, accelerating innovation to meet the growing demand for eVTOL services,” Duncan Walker, Chief Executive Officer at Skyports, said in a statement. “We are looking forward to the expanded partnership, unlocking new opportunities in this fast-growing market.”

The relationship between Eve and Skyports developed in 2020 and the companies have previously worked together on a concept of operations for Airservices Australia and in the UK, according to the release.

Eve announced partnerships with Helisul Aviation and Halo as well in the past month.

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Volocopter 2X eVTOL Takes First Public Flight in France

Volocopter’s X2 eVTOL aircraft flew a flight demonstration in France for the first time. (Volocopter)

The electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft manufacturer Volocopter flew its Volocopter 2X in public for the first time in France at the Paris Air Forum, the company announced in a June 21 press release.

The flight took place at Le Bourget Airfield and lasted three minutes, according to the release. The aircraft flew in a 500 m route at speeds up to 30 km/h.

“The first flight today in Paris highlights Volocopter’s commitment to bring air taxi services to this region in time for the 2024 Olympic Games,” Florian Reuter, Volocopter CEO, said in a statement. “The alliance of the Paris region, Groupe ADP, and RATP Groupe and their intent to bring electric air taxis to France is a stellar example of the collaborative approach we see to be the most successful for adding this exciting category of mobility to cities globally.”

Volocopter is currently working with the French Civil Aviation Authority to bring air taxis to the Île-de-France region and Groupe ADP and RATP Groupe to use eVTOLs in the 2024 Olympics, according to the release. In September 2020, Volocopter was chosen as the first vehicle and operations partner to launch an urban air mobility industrial branch in Paris.

“Today, we were as close as never before in France to experience electric aviation. Volocopter is a vivid example of what the futures of aviation could look like, both carbon-free and innovative, that Groupe ADP wants to accompany thanks to our infrastructure assets, expertise, and know-how,” Edward Arkwright, deputy CEO at Groupe ADP, said. “Along with the other partners of the RE.Invent Air Mobility initiative, Volocopter is now ready to enter a first test flight campaign by September on the Pontoise airfield sandbox we have been building up in the past months. And we are thrilled to be partnering with them, RATP Group and DGAC towards our objective of flight demonstrations in the Paris Region during the 2024 Olympic Games, to lay the foundation of a strong UAM industrial ecosystem in France.”

Volocopter has a design organization approval from the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) for its eVTOL aircraft.

“After having responded as the first player in the urban air mobility industry, in the context of the call for expressions of interest, we are very pleased that Volocopter has confirmed its development and its establishment in France,” Marie-Claude Dupois, director of strategy, innovation, and development at RATP Group, said. “For RATP Group, this new mobility aims to complement our traditional transport modes.”

Volocopter is working on creating an urban air mobility ecosystem that includes VoloCity, an eVTOL aircraft for intra-city missions, VoloConnect, an eVTOL for inter-city missions, VoloDrone, a drone for cargo transport, VoloPorts, vertiport sites, and VoloIQ, a digital platform.

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Agility Prime Completes First eVTOL Operational Exercise

An Air Force pararescue jump (PJ) expert evaluates how to load a simulated injured survivor or “Rescue Randy” into Kitty Hawk’s Heaviside vehicle as part of a personnel rescue scenario. The event demonstrated dual-use capability for civil and government applications. (Kitty Hawk)

The AFWERX Agility Prime program has been investing in electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft with the hope of bringing advancements to the industry and providing possible new forms of transport for the military. During an exercise in May, Agility Prime demonstrated one of these use cases during a medical evacuation exercise with eVTOL maker and new partner Kitty Hawk, according to a June 7 press release.

The demonstration marked Agility Prime’s first operational exercise, according to the release.

“We are pleased to welcome a new partner and happy about the progress in this first Agility Prime exercise,” Col. Nathan Diller, AFWERX Director, said in a statement. “This is just the beginning of many examples that the team will be exploring in the coming months to partner with commercial companies in a way that accelerates maturity for commercialization, while providing the Department of the Air Force with decision-quality data for future force design.”

Agility Prime used Kitty Hawk’s Heaviside eVTOL during the demonstration, according to the release. Heaviside can fly at up to 180 mph and has a range of 100 miles on a single charge. The eVTOL is quieter than a helicopter and uses less energy per mile than an electric car.

Kitty Hawk’s flight team and testers from the Air Force and Marine Corps all attended the demonstration exercises. (Kitty Hawk)

“This exercise produced important data that will bolster the program going forward,” said Lt. Col. Martin Salinas, the mission design team lead in the Air Force Operational Test and Evaluation Center (AFOTEC), said in a statement.

The demonstrations included medical evacuation, personnel recovery, and logistics, according to the release.

“The Agility Prime and Kitty Hawk teams facilitated the convergence of Air Force and Marine Corps testers and operators to engage with Heaviside, all while experimenting within the context of Personnel Recovery and logistics use-case scenarios,” Salinas said in a statement.

Kitty Hawk demonstrated Heaviside’s autonomous capabilities during the exercise. (Kitty Hawk)

Heaviside also has autonomous flying capabilities which were demonstrated during the exercise.

“This collaborative commercial/DoD use-case exploration revealed common attributes that serve both urban air mobility and search and rescue operations: High-reliability, responsive launch & recovery, minimal logistical footprint, accessibility for mobility-challenged, low acoustic signature, and high levels of autonomy,” Col. Don Haley, Commander of Air Education and Training Command Detachment 62, who leads a team in developing training syllabi for these new electric aircraft, said in a statement.

The post Agility Prime Completes First eVTOL Operational Exercise appeared first on Aviation Today.

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What’s Trending in Aerospace – June 20, 2021

Check out the June 20 edition of What’s Trending in Aerospace, where editors and contributors for Avionics International bring you some of the latest headlines and updates happening across the global aerospace industry.

Commercial 

Boeing 737 MAX 10 Completes First Flight

The 737 MAX-10 completed its first flight in Renton, Washington on Friday. (Boeing)

Boeing’s 737-10, the largest airplane in the 737 MAX family, on Friday completed a successful first flight. The airplane took off from Renton Field at 10:07 a.m. and landed at 12:38 p.m. at Boeing Field in Seattle.

“The airplane performed beautifully,” 737 Chief Pilot Capt. Jennifer Henderson said in a June 18 press release. “The profile we flew allowed us to test the airplane’s systems, flight controls and handling qualities, all of which checked out exactly as we expected.”

The MAX-10 lands at Boeing Field Seattle. (Boeing)

The 737-10 can carry up to 230 passengers. It also incorporates environmental improvements, cutting carbon emissions by 14 percent and reducing noise by 50 percent compared to today’s Next-Generation 737s, according to Boeing.

Boeing expects the 737-10 to enter into service in 2023.

Airbus-Boeing Resolution Commits to Transparency on Government Funding for Aircraft R&D

Under a new agreement between European Union (EU) and United States (U.S.) officials announced on June 15, tariffs on large aircraft parts and components have been suspended by both sides for a period of five years that resolves a 17-year trade dispute involving Airbus and Boeing.

According to the cooperative framework published by the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR), a key provision within the new agreement is that both sides will be subjected to a more open and transparent process in the way that they provide government funding in support of research and development of new aircraft programs and technologies developed by Airbus and Boeing.

Airbus Establishes Zero-Emission Development Centers in Germany and France

Airbus has decided to concentrate its efforts for metallic hydrogen tanks in a complementary setup by creating Zero-Emission Development Centers (ZEDC) at its sites in Bremen, Germany and Nantes, France, according to a June 14 press release. The goal of the ZEDC is to achieve cost-competitive cryogenic tank manufacturing to support the successful future market launch of ZEROe and to accelerate the development of hydrogen-propulsion technologies.

The ZEDCs will focus on technology developments that cover the full product and industrial capabilities from elementary parts, assembly, systems integration and the cryogenic testing of the final liquid hydrogen (LH2) tank system, according to Airbus.

“The tank is a safety-critical component, for which specific systems engineering is needed. LH2 is more challenging than kerosene because it needs to be stored at -250 °C to liquefy. Liquidity is needed for increased density. For commercial aviation, the challenge is to develop a component which can withstand repeated thermal and pressure cycling which an aircraft application demands,” Airbus said in the release.

GE Aviation, Safran Launch Advanced Technology Demonstration Program for Sustainable Engines

Technologies matured as part of the RISE Program will serve as the foundation for the next-generation CFM engine that could be available by the mid-2030s, according to GE Aviation.

GE Aviation has established a partnership with Safran to launch a new technology development program targeting more than 20 percent lower fuel consumption and CO2 emissions compared to today’s in-service commercial aircraft engines, according to a June 14 press release.

The CFM RISE (Revolutionary Innovation for Sustainable Engines) program will demonstrate and mature a range of new, disruptive technologies for future engines that could enter service by the mid-2030s, the two companies said in the release.

Additionally, the two companies are extending their CFM International 50/50 partnership to the year 2050.

“Our industry is in the midst of the most challenging times we have ever faced,” Olivier Andriès, CEO of Safran, said in the release.  “We have to act now to accelerate our efforts to reduce our impact on the environment. Since the early 1970s, breakthrough engine efficiency and reliability have been the hallmark of our historic partnership and our LEAP engine already reduces emissions by 15 percent compared to previous generation engines. Through the extension of our CFM partnership to 2050, we are today reaffirming our commitment to work together as technology leaders to help our industry meet the urgent climate challenges.”

General Motors and Liebherr Partner to Develop Hydrogen Fuel Cell System for Commercial Aircraft 

General Motors and Liebherr-Aerospace will join forces to develop a hydrogen fuel cell-based demonstrator system for aircraft. The collaboration is based on GM’s HYDROTEC technology, like this hydrogen fuel cell stack. (Liebherr)

General Motors and Liebherr-Aerospace have agreed to collaborate on development of a HYDTROTEC hydrogen fuel cell technology-based electrical power generation system for aircraft applications.

The two companies will explore possibilities to leverage Liebherr’s strong position as an on-board aircraft system supplier, together with GM’s leadership in hydrogen fuel cell technology, to develop an “integrated system, customized to the performance and economic requirements of commercial aircraft,” Liebherr said in the release.

Moving forward, the two companies will focus on developing an electrical power generation system to demonstrate how hydrogen fuel cell-based power systems could be used in aircraft applications. The construction and testing of this demonstrator will take place in a specialized laboratory multi-system integration testing at Liebherr-Aerospace in Toulouse, France.

“The change from the conventional to a hydrogen technology-based electrical power generation system means major systems modifications on board the aircraft that could result in better, more efficient performance of the plane,” Francis Carla, Managing Director and Chief Technology Officer, Liebherr-Aerospace & Transportation SAS said in the release. “This we want to prove and test thoroughly. The advantage of GM’s HYDROTEC fuel cell technology is that it has shown promise in extensive automotive and military programs, where it has shown to be reliable from the engineering and manufacturing perspectives.”

Leonardo Breaks Ground on New Helicopters Logistics Hub in UK

A computer rendering of Leonardo’s new U.K.-based advanced helicopter logistics hub. (Leonardo)

Leonardo is adding a new £30 million single-site logistics facility to its helicopter site in Yeovil, U.K. The new facility is scheduled to be completed in Q4 2022. The project sees the consolidation of eight existing warehouses into one all-encompassing logistics hub.

“The main aim of the Single-Site Logistics facility at Leonardo’s site in Yeovil is to consolidate all Yeovil-based warehousing. This state-of-the-art facility will streamline the site’s operational capability and customer service by having all logistical support in one place,” Nick Whitney, Managing Director of Leonardo Helicopters (UK), said in a June 16 press release.

The new facility will service the Yeovil production facilities and provide spares support for the global fleet of rotary aircraft built at Leonardo’s site in Yeovil and support the management of production tooling.

Military 

General Atomics Acquires Swiss Opto-Electronics Company Synopta 

A beam pointing system developed and manufactured by Synopta, the Switzerland-based company recently acquired by General Atomics.

General Atomics (GA) on June 14 said it has acquired Synopta GmbH, a developer and supplier of opto-electronics instrumentation used in space and terrestrial applications, in a deal that complements GA’s existing technologies and improves its ability to provide complete subsystems to customers.

Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Based in Switzerland, Synopta’s customers include European organization, national agencies and international companies in the defense, space and capital goods sectors. The company provided the beam pointing system for laser communications on satellites launched by the European Space Agency for the European Union’s Copernicus Earth program, GA said. Synopta also provides strategic and technical consultancy services.

GA already has extensive experience in adaptive optics for lasers and telescopes.

“Synopta’s pioneering expertise and innovative developments in communication, beam control, pointing assemblies, and stationary and transportable optical ground systems will supplement the diverse portfolio of laser communications, sensors, and ground systems which enable delivery of dependable solutions to government and other customers,” Scott Forney, president of GA’s Electromagnetic Systems Group, said in a statement. “Synopta will continue to serve its European customer base but will expand now also to customers in the United States and other countries, while contributing to GA’s systems and strategic objectives. Under its new name General Atomics GmbH, the company will form a technical center of excellence within the General Atomics group of companies.”

U.S. Army Taps L3Harris, Raytheon To Develop Multi-Domain Sensing System For Future HADES ISR Aircraft

The Army announced Monday it has selected L3Harris Technologies and Raytheon Technologies for a prototype program to develop a Multi-Domain Sensing System (MDSS) for the service’s High Accuracy Detection and Exploitation System (HADES) intelligence-gathering aircraft program.

The two companies received Other Transaction Authority (OTA) agreements to demonstrate their sensor offerings in the eight-month first phase of MDSS, valued at nearly $4.7 million, before the Army selects one or both vendors to move onto prototype fabrication.

The Airborne Reconnaissance Targeting & Exploitation Multi-Mission Intelligence System (ARTEMIS) aircraft. (U.S. Army)

“The initial award is for Phase 1 of a Multi-Domain Sensing System program to demonstrate, develop, build, and integrate prototype electronic intelligence (ELINT) and communications intelligence (COMINT) sensors onto [HADES], the Army’s next generation airborne intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance system,” the Army wrote in a statement. “This competitive first phase of a multi-phased OTA prototype project will demonstrate the vendors’ sensors under controlled conditions, leading to Phase 2 in which one or more vendors will further develop and build their sensors specifically for the HADES platform.”

A third phase will then focus on providing “a holistic COMINT/ELINT system” that will be flight tested to inform potential production requirements, with the entire MDSS prototype effort valued at $49 million. 

SpaceX Launches GPS III Satellite on Reused Booster in a US Military Milestone

SpaceX launches the fifth GPS III satellite on June 17, 2021. (SpaceX)

SpaceX’s latest GPS III launch was its fourth time launching this type of satellite for the U.S. military, but Thursday’s mission marked a brand-new milestone: It was the first time a National Security Space Launch (NSSL) mission was conducted on a reused booster.

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket took off from Launch Complex-40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida on June 17 at 12:09 EST, carrying the Lockheed Martin-built fifth GPS III (SV05). The booster successfully landed on a drone ship in the Atlantic Ocean nine minutes later, and the payload separated just under 1 hour and 30 minutes after liftoff.

The booster used in this mission previously supported the prior GPS III launch in November 2020. The U.S. Space Force previously announced its deal to reuse flight-proven SpaceX boosters in September 2020. At the time, the Space Force agreed to re-fly a booster for SV06 as well. The SV05 launch that took place on Thursday was originally set for January 2021, but pushed to the summer to allow time to validate reuse activities.

Business & GA

Global Business Jet Traffic Surges Above Pre-Pandemic Levels in June

“Business jet demand in Texas and latterly, New York, has stormed ahead of 2019 trends in recent weeks. Within Texas, flight activity is still shy of 2020 let alone 2019, but connections between Texas and Colorado, Florida, and California are higher than ever,” according to WINGX.

According to the latest global business jet traffic activity tracker published weekly by WINGX, during the first half of June, global business jet activity rebounded “well beyond the recovery threshold with relation to flight trends in 2019,” according to a June 17 press release.

With just over 100,000 business jet sectors flown this month, the sector represents 15 percent of all fixed wing movements, with activity going 12 percent higher than in the first half of June 2019. This is the first time business aviation growth is outstripping air cargo growth, according to the release.

In contrast, scheduled commercial airline activity globally is still “languishing more than 40 percent below pre-pandemic normal for this time of year,” according to WINGX.

“During the pandemic, lifestyle and occasionally necessity sustained business jet demand, in the last few months we have seen leisure boost the recovery, and this will accelerate through the summer, with the return of at least some business travel taking utilization to new highs in 2021 compared to 2019,” Richard Koe, managing director of WINGX Advance GmbH, said in the release. “The surge should reliably follow the lifting of restrictions, with international trips waiting longer but almost certainly at the planning stage.”

Embraer, VisionSafe Introduce New Safety System for Praetor Business Jets

Embraer and VisionSafe Corporation today announced that VisionSafe’s EVAS (Emergency Vision Assurance System) is now available for the Praetor 500 and the Praetor 600 business jets. The new feature will be available through a Supplement Type Certificate (STC) issued by VisionSafe Corporation, according to a June 16 press release.

The EVAS system provides a clear space of air through which a pilot can see flight instruments and out the front windshield for landing the plane in the event of cockpit smoke, according to Embraer. In addition to the Praetor aircraft, VisionSafe has also achieved certification for the technology through STCs for the Legacy 600, 650 and Lineage 1000 jets.

“This feature will enhance safety on Embraer’s Praetor business jets,” Marsha Woelber, Head of Worldwide Executive Jets Customer Support & Aftermarket Sales, Embraer Service & Support said in the release. “This reflects the continuous improvement Embraer brings to its successful business jet portfolio.”

Connectivity 

Flexjet is Bringing Viasat In-flight Connectivity to Bombardier, Embraer and Gulfstream Jets

Viasat’s in-flight connectivity is being added to a mix of business jets operated by Flexjet LLC, including the Embraer Praetor 600 pictured here. (Flexjet)

Flexjet LLC is bringing Viasat in-flight connectivity (IFC) to its fleet of Bombardier Globals, Embraer Praetor 600s, and Gulfstream G450/G650 aircraft, through a new partnership between the two companies, according to a June 17 press release.

The new partnership will install Viasat’s Ka-band IFC service on the Flexjet Praetor 600 fleet while adding the Ku-band version of the service to the Globals, G450s, and G650s owned and operated by Flexjet. According to Viasat, Flexjet has already begun receiving Praetor 600s equipped with its Ka-band system, which can enable in-flight connection speeds greater than 20 Mbps.

“When we began evaluating IFC partners to improve our existing connectivity, it became clear that Viasat’s products and services would enhance it on more devices across more of our fleet—which will boost the value of our Owners’ flight experiences,” Flexjet Chief Operating Officer Megan Wolf said in the release. “We also appreciated their satellite roadmap—which would ensure the IFC investments we’re making today will meet the increasing data demands of tomorrow.”

Iridium Names New CTO, Greg Pelton 

Iridium Communications has tapped Greg Pelton from Pyron as the company’s new CTO. The company announced Monday that Pelton will take over for retiring CTO Hermon Pon. As CTO, Pelton will oversee the technical aspects of Iridium’s products and services and manage technology development and engineering. 

Pelton served as chief product officer at Pyron, an Artificial Intelligence (AI) company focused on augmented intelligence for enterprise. There, he was responsible for all aspects of the company’s augmented intelligence product portfolio. Pelton also previously led Cisco‘s corporate Technology Center where he worked on the Internet Routing in Space (IRIS) program, consisting of developing a router for use in satellites and transitioning of satellite ground networks to multi-service IP networks.

Unmanned

New uAvionix Autopilot and C2 Infrastructure Demonstrated at Northern Plains UAS Test Site

During a 40-mile demonstration flight at the Northern Plains Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) Test Site in North Dakota, uAvionix displayed its new George autopilot and SkyLine C2 infrastructure using three terrestrial skyStation Ground Radio Systems (GRS).

During a 40-mile demonstration flight at the Northern Plains Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) Test Site in North Dakota, uAvionix displayed its new George autopilot and SkyLine C2 infrastructure using three terrestrial skyStation Ground Radio Systems (GRS), according to a June 14 release from the company.

The George Autopilot was announced in April and is compliant with the National Defense Authorization Act, according to the release. It uses DAL C hardware and safety and sensor monitoring for beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS) operations.

uAvionix’s command and control network, Skyline, powered the autonomous 40-mile BVLOS flight, according to the release. This demonstration was the first time three SkyStation terrestrial ground radio locations were managed by the system.

eVTOLs 

Lilium Appoints Former Airbus CEO as Chairman, Aligns Business with Qell

Former Airbus CEO Tom Enders will assume the role of chairman of Munich, Germany-based Lilium.

Former Airbus CEO Tom Enders will assume the role of chairman of Munich, Germany-based electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) 7-seater jet developer Lilium, according to a June 16 press release.

Enders, who previously served as a Lilium Advisory Board member, assumes the new role as Lilium simultaneously completes a business combination with Qell Acquisition Corp., an announcement made as part of the company’s inaugural “Analyst Day,” held June 15.

In a video message, Dr. Enders discussed the importance of these commercial relationships to the future success of Lilium. The video also highlights the new relationships the company has established with long-running aviation organizations and companies such as Honeywell Aerospace and Lufthansa Aviation Training among others to enable the eventual entry into service of its aircraft within the next few years.

“Tom Enders is an aviation industry giant, and we are all delighted to see him reaffirm his commitment to Lilium by accepting the future role of Chairman of the Board when Lilium becomes a Nasdaq-listed company,” Daniel Wiegand, Co-Founder and CEO of Lilium, said in a statement. “We will continue to leverage Tom’s incredible network across aerospace, both in the delivery of aircraft and in commercial development, and together with Barry Engle and the directors who will serve on the Board of Directors of Lilium N.V., Tom will provide important counsel and stewardship as we prepare for a planned commercial launch in 2024.”

EHang eVTOLs Used for COVID-19 Response in China

Guangzhou-based EHang is using AI for intelligent navigation. (EHang)

EHang, the electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft manufacturer, deployed its aircraft in Guangzhou City, China for COVID-19 relief and control efforts, the company announced in a June 14 press release.

The eVTOL operations began on June 4 and included EHang’s passenger-grade autonomous aerial vehicle (AAV) EHang 216 and its logistics model EHang 216L, according to the release. The AAV’s were able to complete contactless relief and support takes in quarantine and relief zones like aerial logistics, emergency transportation, and aerial inspections.

The post What’s Trending in Aerospace – June 20, 2021 appeared first on Aviation Today.

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PODCAST: Air France KLM’s Sam Krouwer Talks In-flight Connectivity Strategy

Air France KLM Senior Product Owner of In-flight Connectivity’s Q&A during last week’s Connected Aviation Intelligence webcast is featured on this episode of the Connected Aircraft Podcast.

On this episode of the Connected Aircraft Podcast, Sam Krouwer, product owner of in-flight connectivity at Air France KLM, is the guest. This episode features his question and answer session with Mark Holmes, Via Satellite’s editorial director, during the recent Connected Aviation Intelligence virtual summit.

Air France KLM is one of Europe’s biggest airlines and wants to use connectivity to enhance the passenger experience as we head into a new era. As passengers start to gain more confidence about flying again, will their expectations in terms of the ‘Connected’ experience change?

Have suggestions or topics we should focus on in the next episode? Email the host, Woodrow Bellamy at wbellamy@accessintel.com, or drop him a line on Twitter @WbellamyIIIAC.

Listen to this episode below, or check it out on iTunes or Google Play If you like the show, subscribe on your favorite podcast app to get new episodes as soon as they’re released.

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Flexjet is Bringing Viasat In-flight Connectivity to Bombardier, Embraer and Gulfstream Jets

Viasat’s in-flight connectivity is being added to a mix of business jets operated by Flexjet LLC, including the Embraer Praetor 600 pictured here. (Flexjet)

Flexjet LLC is bringing Viasat in-flight connectivity (IFC) to its fleet of Bombardier Globals, Embraer Praetor 600s, and Gulfstream G450/G650 aircraft, through a new partnership between the two companies, according to a June 17 press release.

The new partnership will install Viasat’s Ka-band IFC service on the Flexjet Praetor 600 fleet while adding the Ku-band version of the service to the Globals, G450s, and G650s owned and operated by Flexjet. According to Viasat, Flexjet has already begun receiving Praetor 600s equipped with its Ka-band system, which can enable in-flight connection speeds greater than 20 Mbps.

“When we began evaluating IFC partners to improve our existing connectivity, it became clear that Viasat’s products and services would enhance it on more devices across more of our fleet—which will boost the value of our Owners’ flight experiences,” Flexjet Chief Operating Officer Megan Wolf said in the release. “We also appreciated their satellite roadmap—which would ensure the IFC investments we’re making today will meet the increasing data demands of tomorrow.”

Flexjet’s Viasat selection for the mix of Bombardier, Embraer, and Gulfstream jets comes a year after the satellite communications provider removed all internet speed caps from its entire Ka-band coverage area and added a new 200 GB data tier for business jet operators. The removal makes unlimited connectivity available to business jets equipped with Viasat’s Global Aero Terminal 5510 on the ViaSat-1, ViaSat-2, and European Ka-band satellite service.

Ohio-based Constant Aviation, aircraft maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) partner to Flexjet, will provide installation of the Ku-band system across the Bombardier and Gulfstream jets that are receiving the upgrade. Viasat is also offering “an easy upgrade path from Ku-band to Ka-band,” for those jets that are receiving the Ku-band version.

“By working in close partnership with Flexjet, we tailored our solution so they could gain advantages from both our Ku- and Ka-band solutions,” Claudio D’Amico, Viasat’s business area director, business aviation. “We felt it was critical to work closely with Flexjet to create an IFC solution that was both economically sustainable and technically strong for their long-term commitment needs. We have confidence this deal will lead to a long-standing relationship that will continue to grow as we bring on more global capacity to serve more of Flexjet’s aircraft—in both Europe and the U.S.”

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