Airbus Group and Siemens have signed a collaboration agreement in the field of hybrid electric propulsion. In doing so, the Chief Executive Officers (CEO) of both companies, Tom Enders and Joe Kaeser, have launched a major joint project towards the electrification of aviation with the goal of demonstrating the technical feasibility of various hybrid/electric propulsion systemsby 2020.

Both companies will be making significant contributions into the project and have sourced a team of around 200 employees to advance European leadership in innovation and the development of electrically powered aircraft. “Electric and electric-hybrid flight represent some of the biggest industrial challenges of our time, aiming at zero-emissions aviation. The progress we have achieved in this arena, together with our industrial and governmental partners, in only a few years is breath-taking, culminating in last year’s channel crossing of our all-electric E-Fan aircraft. Big thanks today particularly to the Bavarian Government and Minister Aigner for their support here in Ottobrunn”, said Tom Enders, CEO of Airbus Group. “We believe that by 2030 passenger aircraft below 100 seats could be propelled by hybrid propulsion systems and we are determined to explore this possibility together with world-class partners like Siemens.”

“By entering the field of highly innovative aircraft propulsion technology, we’re opening a new chapter in E-Mobility. Collaboration with Airbus Group will create new perspectives for our company and open us up even more to disruptive innovation,” said Siemens President and CEO Joe Kaeser. “The undertaking will be an important project under the umbrella of our so-called Innovation AG.

As previously announced, the aim of this unit is to cooperate with innovative partners in order to identify and invest in new trends and develop future-oriented business opportunities. These partners may include entrepreneurs from Siemens’ own employee environment, external start-ups and newly founded and established companies.”

Hybrid-electric propulsion systems can significantly reduce fuel consumption of aircraft and reduce noise. European emissions targets aim for a 75 percent reduction of CO2 emissions by 2050 compared to the values for the year 2000.

These ambitious goals cannot be achieved by conventional technologies.Airbus Group and Siemens plan to jointly develop prototypes for various propulsion systems with power classes ranging from a few 100 kilowatts up to 10 and more megawatts, i.e. for short, local trips with aircraft below 100 seats, helicopters or UAVs up to classic short and medium-range journeys.

Both companies together with Austria’s Diamond Aircraft initially presented a hybrid aircraft back in 2011. Since then, Siemens has been developing an electric engine for aircraft which supplies five times as much power while retaining the same weight. Airbus Group has been gathering operational experience with electrically powered aircraft since 2014 with the E-Fan, a full electric two-seater dedicated to training pilots. This success has been achieved together with various industrial partners and steadfast support of the French government. Airbus Group intends to accelerate with the extended capabilities of the planned E-Aircraft System House at Ottobrunn/Taufkirchen site the development of components and system technologies.

Siemens is determined to establish hybrid-electric propulsion systems for aircraft as a future business. The partners have agreed to collaborate exclusively in selected development areas. In parallel, both partners will continue to work together with their current partners for small aircraft with fewer than 20 seats.

A new chapter in EU-China aviation relations started today, with the official launch of the EU-China Aviation Partnership Project (APP). The 5-year, €10 million project, managed by the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) and partners, will link technical cooperation with policy dialogue between the European and Chinese aviation authorities. It is funded by the Partnership Instrument of the European Union and supported by the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC).

The project follows a new cooperation approach with the activities being jointly implemented by EASA and CAAC for the first time. It was launched at a ceremony in Beijing, in the presence of Mr. Hans-Dietmar Schweisgut, European Union Ambassador to China, Mr. Feng Zhenglin, Administrator of CAAC and EASA Executive Director, Mr. Patrick Ky.

“Aviation is a strong driver of economic growth, jobs, trade and mobility for the European Union. With China’s aviation market growing fast it makes perfect sense for two of the world’s largest aviation markets to work closely together” Hans-Dietmar Schweisgut, EU Ambassador said.

Patrick Ky, EASA Executive Director said, “We are building with CAAC the foundation for a strong EU-China Aviation Partnership. It will increase cooperation and mutual understanding on key areas such as safety and environmental protection; it will also allow for better exchange of best practices and standards between industry players.”

The EU-China APP will focus on the following areas of mutual interest:

• Aviation safety and security
• General aviation
• Air Traffic Management/Air Navigation Services
• Airports
• Airworthiness
• Environmental protection
• Economic policy and regulation
• Legislation and Law Enforcement

Dedicated activities will be implemented in these areas including regulatory cooperation, safety promotion exercises, workshops, training and technical exchanges. ”With the efforts of the EU and China, the EU-China Aviation Partnership Project will start a new era of broader and deeper cooperation in civil aviation and will promote the development of all aspects of the EU-China civil aviation relationship on the basis of mutual benefit,” Feng Zhenglin, CAAC Administrator said.

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) recently called on governments and aviation stakeholders in Latin America and the Caribbean to work together to harness the power of aviation connectivity to drive economic growth and job creation in the region.

“Air transport in Latin America and the Caribbean supports more than 4.9 million jobs and $153 billion in GDP. It could create even more value but airlines struggle with high taxes, onerous regulation and infrastructure deficiencies. Strong partnerships across the value chain and with governments can unlock untapped value and drive economic growth by tackling these issues. And this is particularly important given the difficult economic situation in several of the region’s top economies,” said Tony Tyler, IATA’s Director General and CEO.

“We’ve achieved great things as a united industry in places where we work with governments as partners in pursuit of common goals. Chile and Panama are creating value with an enlightened strategic approach to aviation. Spreading this more broadly across the region will help build a brighter future for the people of Latin America and the Caribbean with prosperity, jobs and opportunities,” Tyler said.

Tyler highlighted four areas that are ripe for greater collaboration:

• Taxes
• Smarter regulation
• Cost-efficient infrastructure
• Environment

 

Taxes

IATA called on governments to reduce the tax burden which is undermining the region’s prospects for connectivity growth and the benefits it stimulates. “There are 130 different ticket taxes in place across the Latin America and Caribbean region. They increase the cost of connectivity for businesses, individual travelers and potential visitors. Ultimately they limit the ability of aviation to catalyze economic growth, shortchanging the economy as a whole,” said Tyler.

 

Smarter Regulation

IATA urged governments to adopt Smarter Regulation principles and align consumer protection regulations with global standards. “Under the guise of protecting the consumer, we have seen a proliferation of prescriptive, unharmonized passenger rights regimes. While the intention is to protect the passenger, too often the reality simply adds cost and hamstrings the airlines in delivering the best customer service,” said Tyler.

In calling for a Smarter Regulation approach, IATA is urging governments to ensure that regulations are aimed at solving real problems, aligned with global standards, and can be implemented efficiently. The best way to achieving this is through consultation with key stakeholders and with a rigorous cost-benefit analysis.

Cost-efficient infrastructure

Infrastructure deficiencies have long been an issue in the region. Key airports in Argentina, Colombia, Ecuador, Mexico and Peru face growth constraints while passenger numbers to, from and within the region are expected to double to 525 million by 2034.

“Infrastructure must keep pace with growing demand. Governments, airlines, airports and other stakeholders in the value chain need to unite to ensure the right infrastructure is put in place, in a timely matter and at the right cost,” said Tyler. IATA urges governments to follow the principles for infrastructure charges which they have agreed through the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO). These include non-discrimination, cost-relatedness, transparency and consultation with users.

Environment

Lastly, Tyler called for continued industry unity in managing air transport’s environmental impact. The aviation industry is committed to improve fuel efficiency by an average of 1.5% annually to 2020, to attain carbon-neutral growth from 2020 and to achieve a 50% reduction in net CO2 emissions by 2050 relative to 2005 levels. To accomplish this, it has a well-established four-pillar strategy of technology advances, operational improvements, more efficient infrastructure and global market based measures.

The establishment of a global market based measure is on the agenda of the 39th ICAO Assembly in September of this year. Tyler urged governments in Latin America and the Caribbean to support the industry’s call for a mandatory global carbon offset scheme. And he urged the aviation community to remain united in supporting the industry’s four pillar strategy.

Helicopter Flight Data Monitoring (FDM) systems are powerful aviation safety tools. For helicopter air ambulance operators in the U. S., equipping aircraft with FDM systems will soon be a requirement. Investing in the right system is a difficult decision; operators must select a system that satisfies the mandate, but also improves their organization’s safety systems, productivity and profit margin.

 

Helicopter FDM

Helicopter operators supporting oil and gas producers in the North Sea pioneered the use of FDM. These early adopters of FDM have proven that these systems are indispensable and properly managed flight data analysis programs not only enhance safety, but also have a positive impact on improving maintenance, operations and training.

Today, the global offshore helicopter transportation industry embraces FDM as a best practice. FDM is a cornerstone of modern Safety Management Systems (SMS) and provides actionable intelligence across the entire enterprise to improve operations, reliability and ultimately profitability. Integrated FDM systems are now standard on all new medium and heavy offshore helicopters. The offshore industry – based on lessons learned – demands more, not less, from the next generation of FDM systems.

Much of the focus on larger helicopters was based on contractual requirements from the “oil majors” and the perception that equipping smaller aircraft with flight recorders was neither practical nor technologically feasible. Now, these perceived hurdles have been addressed by leveraging technology to create functional stand-alone recorders or integrated systems that combine many functions such as data acquisition, on-board analysis, data transmission, satellite communications and flight following and other features. These new systems enable FDM for operators of lighter helicopters, while adding other features to create a greater value proposition.

 

“HEMS Rule” Recap

On April 23, 2014, the FAA made final a long anticipated rule that affects Helicopter Air Ambulance (HAA) operators in the US. The overarching component of this new rule is a requirement for HAA flights with medical personnel onboard to operate under 14 CFR 135 (135.1, 135.601) or “part 135,” the rules that govern smaller commercial operators. HAA flights under Part 135 must meet a number of new operational requirements and equip fleets with safety equipment, such as radar altimeters, terrain awareness systems and FDM systems. This new set of rules satisfies or partially addresses a number of recommendations by the US NTSB and industry groups to enhance HAA safety.

According to the final FAA rule, “After April 23, 2018, no person may operate a helicopter in air ambulance operations unless it is equipped with an approved Flight Data Monitoring System (FDMS) capable of recording flight performance data”. Justification for the ruling includes the promotion of operational safety and the ability to provide critical information to investigators in the event of an accident.

 

A Missed Opportunity

The rule satisfies a NTSB recommendation to install flight data recording systems (A-06-17), but falls short of establishing structured FDM programs to identify deviations from established norms and procedures (A-09-90). In addition to NTSB support, several industry groups and operators support establishing a formal FDM program for HAA operators. As an example, the International Helicopter Safety Team (IHST) recommends “the utilization of FDM systems such as HOMP or FOQA to evaluate flight operations and to address unsafe or undesirable flight crew habits.” Likewise, other industry comments collected during the rulemaking NPRM process supported employing proactive FDM/FOQA programs; these organizations included Life Flight of Maine, PHI Helicopters, Airbus Helicopters, HAI and the Global HFDM Steering Group.

 

What is FDMS?

The final HAA rule related to FDMS (14 CFR 135.607) established the requirement to install a flight data recorder, but did not provide many details other than specifying the device must record “flight performance and operational data.” 135.607 further outlines the electrical power requirements such as the source and when the FDM must be powered. The rule does not require data collection (one component of a FDM program) or prescribe standards or parameters for data collection; this guidance is contained in FAA Advisory Circular AC 27-1B. During 2014, the guidance in “draft” versions of AC 27-1B evolved from “slightly specific to vague.” In its current form, only a handful of recorded parameters are required (Airspeed, Altitude, Heading, Vertical Acceleration and Time).

 

What’s Next?

HAA operators now face a dilemma; do they simply go with minimal equipage to satisfy the FDMS requirement or follow the lead of the offshore operators and adopt formal FDM programs backed by large datasets. Successful FDM programs – from airlines to large offshore helicopter operators – leverage large amounts of data to benefit the entire enterprise. The value of each additional parameter is exponential to the organization when employed in an effective FDM program; from safety to maintenance and to back office functions such as operations and dispatch. A rich dataset provides many opportunities for organizational enhancements. Adding other functions such as flight following and satellite communications further adds value to a required  investment.

TE Connectivity has launched their MC801 fiber optical connectors. The company says the product supports numerous high-speed protocols, offering low insertion loss across multiple connector breaks, through the use of physical contact optical technology.

The increasing demand for secure high-speed data and signal transfer communication within the Aerospace and Defense industries, is expected to be the key growth factor for the fiber optics market.

“This is an exciting new industry qualification for TE,” said Noel Thornton, TE product manager. “The MC801 product range further expands the already impressive fiber optic portfolio available from TE including, expanded beam technologies and the renowned DEUTSCH physical contact connector ranges.”

Fiber optics are increasingly being used as a replacement for copper systems, owing to its security, efficiency, light weight and high transmission capacity. Fiber optic cables and connectors provide an effective transmission medium, as they are less affected by external and internal interference. The data transfer can be achieved by using single and multi-mode fiber cables, depending on the system requirements and link length.

ARINC 801 is an industry standard optical connector and terminus specification that has become the preferred solution for physical contact optics across multiple applications. Target markets of the TE MC801 product include commercial aerospace, military aerospace, ground vehicles and soldier systems, and C5ISR: Command, Control, Communications, Computers, Combat Systems, Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance. Product applications include, in-flight entertainment, radar, naval upgrades, communications, munitions, unmanned aerial vehicles, inflight networks and Ethernet switches. The connector is a multi-sourced product that is protocol independent, secure, and utilizes standard MIL-DTL-38999 shells.

The MC801 is available in a wide variety of materials including aluminum, composite, stainless steel and marine bronze. The shells are made of a corrosion-resistant finish in a RoHS-compatible material; shell plating is available in black zinc or nickel.

Rockwell Collins has named Geater Machining and Manufacturing, of Independence, Iowa, as the President’s Award winner for 2016. The top honor was presented at the Rockwell Collins Annual Supplier Conference on March 1.

“Geater Machining has been a long-term, trusted supplier to Rockwell Collins and this award is the culmination of the hard work and dedication of its employees,” said Wayne Flory, vice president of Material & Supply, for Rockwell Collins.

Veteran-owned Geater Machining and Manufacturing, Co. has been servicing the aerospace, electronic and high-tech industries since 1962. The company’s high quality parts and outstanding on-time delivery have developed its reputation into one that is synonymous with trust, and setting high standards for precision machined and fabricated parts.

Rockwell Collins says their President’s Award is presented to the company’s top supplier at their annual event as an acknowledgement of its supplier’s outstanding performance and contributions over the past year in the areas of quality, delivery, total cost of ownership, lead time and customer service.

In addition to the President’s Award, Rockwell Collins also recognizes supplier excellence in the areas of heritage, relationships and innovation, which align with Rockwell Collins’ three brand pillars. These pillars are the foundation of the company’s brand promise, Building Trust Every Day. Recipients of this year’s Brand Pillar Awards include:

• Geater Machining and Manufacturing, also received the Innovation Brand Pillar Award for its efforts to continually move the aerospace and defense industry forward today. This award is presented to a supplier that supports and/or provides progressive solutions with rock-solid reliability that our customers expect from Rockwell Collins.
• Aero Simulation, Inc., of Tampa, Florida, was honored with the Relationships Brand Pillar Award for its commitment to working together to advance smart solutions for our rapidly changing world.
• The Heritage Brand Pillar Award was presented to Avnet, Inc., of Phoenix, Arizona, in recognition of its spirit of proven trust and reliability, paired with a track record of setting the standard for its peers and the industry.

Supplier of the Year Category Awards were presented to:

• Electrical Build to Print

Shennan Circuits Co., Ltd., Shenzhen Province, China

• Electronic Components

ON Semiconductor, Pocatello, Idaho

• Mechanical Build to Print

Geater Machining & Manufacturing, Independence, Iowa

• Human Machine Interface and Sensor

Quantum Coating, Inc., Moorestown, New Jersey

• Assemblies

Timberline Manufacturing, Marion, Iowa

• Development and Engineering Services

Aero Simulation, Inc., Tampa, Florida

• Manufacturing and Product Support

Tevet, LLC., Greeneville, Tennessee

• Facilities Support Services

TEK Products, Long Lake, Minnesota

• Value-Add Supplier

Tesat Spacecom, Backnang, Germany

• Corporate/Employee Services

Allegis Global Solutions, Chicago, Illinois

Teledyne Controls and aerospace software provider PACE have signed a new partnership deal that will enable airlines and individual flight crews to actively improve their flying efficiency and fuel consumption, and pilots to receive live weather updates direct to an Electronic Flight Bag (EFB) while in flight. Interfaced with the Teledyne GroundLink Comm+ system and its new integrated Aircraft Interface Device (AID) function AID+, PACE’s Pacelab Flight Profile Optimizer software can draw live data from the aircraft’s avionics buses to determine the most cost-efficient flight trajectory. Using real-time operational and meteorological data and a holistic optimization approach for the remaining route to destination, the companies say Pacelab Flight Profile Optimizer provides pilots with reliable information on how to minimize trip cost. The resulting reduction of fuel burn is significant averaging up to 2 percent per year.

The addition of inflight weather updates direct to the crews’ tablet devices via Teledyne’s GroundLink AID+ ACARS proxy interface gives crews a more complete picture of their ongoing flight, and any changes in profile that may be required through a change in circumstances to achieve greater operational and fuel efficiencies.

An ACARS proxy allows multiple EFBs to send and receive ACARS messages, supporting pilots with ground and air Flight Operations communications, the distribution of flight documents, and load sheets. Crucially, the companies say airlines do not need to install a separate AID unit to benefit from the PACE/Teledyne partnership. With more than 8,000 Teledyne GroundLink units already flying, it is an easy transition for those with the technology already installed, protecting their legacy investment.

“By a simple interface with our AID+ unit and the PACE application, we can deliver all of the key flight data, and external data such as weather updates direct to a tablet to enable pilots to make informed decisions about their flight, and proactively find ways of maximizing their fuel efficiency,” Murray Skelton, director of Business Development at Teledyne Controls, says.

Finmeccanica Helicopter Division’s new AgustaWestland AW109 Trekker made a successful first flight with the Genesys Aerosystems glass cockpit. The new twin-engine, single-pilot IFR helicopter is the latest in the AW109 line of helicopters.

The Genesys glass cockpit is already in service on the Sikorsky S-61T, Embraer Tucano, Textron Scorpion, and Grob G-120TP. It features next-generation synthetic vision, Highway-in-the-Sky navigation, embedded TAWS and HTAWS, embedded FMS, integrated audio/radio management, built-in digital flight recorder, all Level-A software, and is MIL-STD NVIS ‘A’ & ‘B’ compatible.

“The Finmeccanica Helicopter Division and Genesys teams have worked extremely hard to achieve this milestone in a very short time,” says Ricardo Price, VP of Technology at Genesys Aerosystems. “The aircraft and avionics are performing extremely well.”

The Trekker avionics system includes three IDU-680 flight displays, dual VHF com, dual VHF nav, ADF, integrated radio management, dual audio controllers, radar altimeter, transponder with ADS-B out, helicopter TAWS, hover vector display, redundant flight management systems with GPS/SBAS, autopilot and stability augmentation system, and complete engine/systems monitoring. The IDU-680 has built-in interfaces for EO/IR sensors, DF, DME/TACAN, Datalink, and other special-mission equipment to easily accommodate future upgrades.

Duncan Aviation has been chosen as the exclusive AOG service partner for Gogo Business Aviation. The company will now work with Gogo Business Aviation to support Gogo customers 24 hours a day, seven days a week and 365 days per year with LRU serviceable units and spare parts that are strategically placed at Duncan Aviation’s network of facilities and avionics satellite locations within the United States.

“With the world we live in today, connectivity in the air has become a true AOG item,” Matt Nelson, manager of Duncan Aviation’s Avionics Satellite Network, says. “People don’t want to fly without it. And with Duncan Aviation’s numerous locations and strategically positioned parts and spares inventory, we are in a position to provide Gogo with quick connectivity solutions for their customers from high-volume business airports across the United States.”

As part of the agreement, Duncan Aviation has invested in Gogo system spares and distributed this inventory across 17 Duncan Aviation locations in the United States. The spares support Gogo’s air-to-ground Internet and voice systems with wi-fi, Iridium-based phone systems and the UCS smart cabin system.

Business aircraft operators in need of Gogo AOG support should contact Gogo Business Aviation at +1.303.301.3278 from anywhere in the world.

Cobham SATCOM’s AVIATOR 300 SwiftBroadband system is to be certified on Shenzhen Airlines’ Boeing 737-800 fleet. Cobham has partnered with Southeast Aerospace (SEA), China Trancomm, Inmarsat and Delta G Design to develop the FAA Supplemental Type Certificate (STC) and CAAC Validation of Supplemental Type Certificate (VSTC).

The AVIATOR 300 system will be fitted with Inmarsat’s SwiftBroadband Safety capability for Airline Operational Communications (AOC) messaging on the Boeing 737NG aircraft, to meet airlines growing demand for continuous secure data exchange between their ground operations and their aircraft. The Cobham terminal will also interface to the airplane’s existing Aircraft Communications Addressing and Reporting System (ACARS), allowing the flight deck data messages to be carried over Inmarsat SwiftBroadband.

The new technology featured in the AVIATOR 300 will enable Shenzhen Airlines to comply with the Civil Aviation Authority of China’s (CAAC) mandate requiring airlines to operate and control voice communications independent of Air Traffic Control within four minutes, Cobham says.

The AVIATOR 300 features a compact and lightweight Intermediate Gain Antenna (IGA) to ensure a low profile on the fuselage. With data speeds up to 332 kbps, the system provides for fast and reliable connectivity on Inmarsat SwiftBroadband services, supporting high quality, low-cost voice calling and the full complement of data services.

The system has been certified for several key aircraft including the Boeing 757, Airbus 319, 320 and 321, Cessna 550, 550 Bravo and S550, Citation X, G200, Embraer 135 (Legacy 600/650) and Bombardier Challenger 300.