Tag: Aeronautical

EVOTL OEM Ranking Hold Steady in Reality Index

Aviation Week reports that the ranking of electric air taxi startups “was unchanged in the latest edition of the AAM Reality Index, with Joby Aviation and Volocopter leading the pack followed by a three-way tie between Archer Aviation, Beta Technologies and EHang.” Joby’s front-runner position, with a score of 8.7 out of 10, largely “stems from its hefty cash cushion relative to its main competitors, according to Sergio Cecutta, founder and CEO of SMG Consulting, which publishes the bimonthly AAM Reality Index in conjunction with Aviation Week.” As a comparison, the company “finished the March quarter with nearly $1 billion in cash versus roughly $450 million for rival Archer.”
Full Story (Aviation Today)

2023 AIAA AVIATION Forum Adds Prominent Speakers

June 1, 2023 – Reston, Va. – The American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) announced the addition of several prominent industry professionals and government officials to its 2023 AIAA AVIATION Forum, 12–16 June, San Diego. The five-day program will address the theme, “Revolutionary Leaps Toward a New Age of Aviation.”

On Tuesday, 13, June, 0800 hrs PT, Alan Weston, CEO, LTA Research and Exploration, will deliver the day’s keynote address, “Airships: A Sustainable Path to Decarbonizing Transportation and Complementing Humanitarian Aid.” Other new speakers added include:

  • Pat Anderson, CTO, VerdeGo
  • Natalya Bailey, Chief Operating Officer, Curated Innovation
  • Sean Black, Senior Vice President, Chief Technology Officer & Chief Engineer, Spirit AeroSystems
  • Kevin Bowcutt, Senior Technical Fellow and Chief Scientist of Hypersonics, The Boeing Company
  • Mina Cappuccio, Deputy Manager for University Innovation Project, NASA Ames Research Center
  • Skye Carapetyan, Aircraft Sales & Business Development – Infrastructure, BETA Technologies
  • John Deruchie, Chief – Regional Engineering, Transport Canada
  • John Katsoudas, Founder & CEO, Influent Energy
  • John Morgenstern, Head of Aerodynamics and Boom, Exosonic
  • Carie Mullins, Director of Analytics, BryceTech
  • Tony Mumford, Principal Flight Sciences Engineer, Overair
  • Khin Paing, Vice President of Program Management, Skygrid
  • Lisa Peterson, Vice President, Business Development, AURA Network Systems
  • Dan Sloat, Founder & President, Advanced Air Mobility Institute
  • Jimmy Smith, Unmanned Systems Representative, National Air Traffic Controllers Association (NATCA)
  • Jia Xu, CTO and Senior Director of Engineering, Unmanned Aerial Systems / Urban Air Mobility, Honeywell Aerospace

Registration for the 2023 AIAA AVIATION Forum is open. Journalists who wish to cover the forum can request a Press Pass here.

For the most up-to-date program and registration information, visit aiaa.org/aviation.

Media Contact: Rebecca B. Gray, [email protected], 804-397-5270 cell

About AIAA
The American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) is the world’s largest aerospace technical society. With nearly 30,000 individual members from 91 countries, and 100 corporate members, AIAA brings together industry, academia, and government to advance engineering and science in aviation, space, and defense. For more information, visit aiaa.org, and follow AIAA on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, and Instagram.

Rolls-Royce Sees Hydrogen as SAF Future

Aviation International News reports that hydrogen “may be the fuel of the future, but it’s probably best used to create sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) rather than a direct fuel source for hydrogen-powered aircraft that do not yet exist today.” Rolls-Royce’s Senior Vice President of Strategy Frank Moesta said Wednesday during a panel discussion on novel propulsion at EBACE 2023, “To be honest, I’m not a big fan of thinking about burning hydrogen in an aircraft.” Moesta added that he “would prefer to see hydrogen being used to create eFuels – a synthetic form of SAF – rather than develop aircraft with entirely different propulsion systems.” Moestra explained that eFuel “can be produced locally more easily and sustainably than ordinary SAF, which is made from agricultural feedstocks.” This would make eFuel “more accessible than regular SAF, which is only produced in a handful of facilities around the world today.”
Full Story (Aviation International News)

AIAA Statement on the Axiom Mission (AX-2) Launch

May 21, 2023 – Reston, Va. – The American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) Executive Director Dan Dumbacher made the following statement:

“On behalf of the 30,000 professional and student members of AIAA, we congratulate the entire Axiom team on its successful AX-2 launch onboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket. We applaud this private mission to the International Space Station (ISS), showing how NASA and private industry are working together to extend the human neighborhood into low Earth orbit in meaningful ways.

In addition to expanding commercial research opportunities in the ISS orbiting laboratory, the AX-2 mission adds more names to the growing list of astronauts due to commercial space activity. We are seeing a new breed of explorer emerge in low Earth orbit – from a retired NASA astronaut returning to space like Commander Peggy Whitson, to adventurer and Pilot John Shoffner, to two crewmembers from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. We are encouraged to see the space economy growing, as these explorers and innovators work to improve life on Earth and accelerate our off-world future. We look forward to following their progress.

We recognize the countless aerospace industry professionals involved in making this mission a success. We salute Axiom, NASA, and SpaceX, and their entire team, for helping shape the future of aerospace.”

Media Contact: Rebecca B. Gray, [email protected], 804-397-5270 cell

About AIAA
The American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) is the world’s largest aerospace technical society. With nearly 30,000 individual members from 91 countries, and 100 corporate members, AIAA brings together industry, academia, and government to advance engineering and science in aviation, space, and defense. For more information, visit aiaa.org, and follow AIAA on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, and Instagram.

2023 AIAA AVIATION Forum to Focus on Revolutionary Leaps Toward a New Age of Aviation

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

May 15, 2023 – Reston, Va. – The American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) announced its five-day program on the next age of aviation for the 2023 AIAA AVIATION Forum, 12–16 June, San Diego. The event will feature an extensive lineup of aviation leaders and innovators as speakers, panelists, and presenters, along with over 1,700 technical papers focused on the theme, “Revolutionary Leaps Toward a New Age of Aviation.”

Registration for the 2023 AIAA AVIATION Forum is open now. Journalists who wish to cover the forum can request a Press Pass here.

“We look forward to welcoming the worldwide aviation community to San Diego for the 2023 AIAA AVIATION Forum. We will be hearing from an impressive group of thought leaders and innovators about new capabilities on the horizon that will take us further, faster, safer, and cleaner. It’s truly a can’t-miss event on the calendar this year,” said AIAA Executive Director Dan Dumbacher.

From the main stage, attendees will get an update on the state of the aviation industry and explore timely topics including decarbonization and sustainability, advanced air mobility, new aircraft certification, as well as hypersonics and supersonics. The keynote speakers and panelists represent industry, government, and academia across the aviation community. Confirmed speakers thus far include:

  • Kathy Abbott, Chief Scientific and Technical Advisor, Flight Deck Human Factors, FAA
  • Phillip J. Ansell, Assistant Professor and Allen Ormsbee Faculty Fellow, Department of Aerospace Engineering, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
  • David Arenson, Vice President and Chief Engineer, Lockheed Martin Space
  • Paul Brinkmann, Staff Reporter, Aerospace America
  • Michael Brown, Chief Hypersonic Sciences Branch, AFRL
  • Lt. Col. Joshua Burger, VC-25B Air Vehicle Program Manager, U.S. Air Force
  • Scot Campbell, Project Executive, Airbus UTM, Acubed
  • Todd Citron, Chief Technology Officer, The Boeing Company
  • James Hileman, Vice President and Chief Engineer, Sustainability and Future Mobility, The Boeing Company; former Chief Scientific and Technical Advisor for Environment and Energy, FAA
  • Johnny Hodges, Vice President, Engineering, Gulfstream
  • Erika Holtz, Engineering and Quality Manager, Harbour Air
  • Marcus Johnson, Project Manager, Advanced Capabilities for Emergency Response Operations (ACERO), NASA Ames Research Center
  • Laura Kushner, Lead Systems Engineer, NASA Langley Research Center
  • Nick Lappos, Senior Technical Fellow, Advanced Technology, Sikorsky, A Lockheed Martin Company
  • Jonathan Lovegren, Head of Autonomy, Wisk
  • Mark Moore, CEO, Whisper Aero
  • Ben Murphy, Vice President, Sustainability, Boom Supersonic
  • Anna Oldani, Manager, Sustainable Aviation Fuel Program, FAA
  • Robert Pearce, Associate Administrator, Aeronautics Research Mission Directorate, NASA
  • Sara Roggia, Head of Protections and Controls, magniX
  • Will Roper, Founder & CEO, Istari; former Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Acquisition, Technology and Logistics
  • Venke Sankaran, Chief Scientist, Aerospace Systems Directorate, AFRL
  • Vince Schultz, Deputy Project Manager for the Maxwell X-57 Flight Project, NASA
  • Ezinne Uzo-Okoro, Assistant Director for Space Policy, Office of Science and Technology Policy
  • Graham Warwick, Executive Editor Technology, Aviation Week
  • Jeanne Yu, Senior Technologist, Sky for All Chief Strategist, Aeronautics, NASA
  • Warren Zelaya, Engineering Manager, General Atomics Aeronautical Systems

The technical program will include over 1,700 presentations and papers on the latest innovations spanning 20+ aviation and aeronautics research topics, including fluid dynamics, applied aerodynamics, air transportation systems, thermophysics and heat transfer, multidisciplinary design optimization, and many more.

More than 45 companies and organizations will feature their innovative products and new technologies throughout the Exposition Hall on 13– 15 June. Attendees also can hear company updates and see technology demonstrations on the Innovation Stage at the HUB, in the heart of the Exposition Hall.

In conjunction with the forum, attendees also can focus deeper on specific aviation topics at collocated events:

  • AIAA/IEEE Electric Aircraft Technologies Symposium (EATS). Designed for electrical, propulsion system, and aerospace engineers to discuss electrified propulsion technologies for future aircraft.
  • International Powered Lift Conference (IPLC). Designed for engineers, technologists, and executives to discuss developments in Vertical and/or Short Take-Off and Landing (V/STOL), including fully electrical V/STOL (eV/STOL), aircraft research, design, and developmental projects.
  • 29th AIAA/CEAS Aeroacoustics Conference. Designed for scientists and engineers to exchange knowledge on all aspects of the generation, propagation, and control of vehicle noise, as well as the effect of noise on structures and individuals. Technical content will include innovative design concepts including recent advances in low-carbon aircraft architectures and urban air mobility vehicles.

For the most up-to-date program and registration information, visit aiaa.org/aviation.

Media Contact: Rebecca Gray, APR, [email protected], 804.397.5270 (cell)

About AIAA
The American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) is the world’s largest aerospace technical society. With nearly 30,000 individual members from 91 countries, and 100 corporate members, AIAA brings together industry, academia, and government to advance engineering and science in aviation, space, and defense. For more information, visit aiaa.org, and follow AIAA on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, and Instagram.

Comlux Delivers First Completed ACJ TwoTwenty to Five Hotels

Aviation International News reports that Comlux delivered the first completed ACJ TwoTwenty to launch customer Five Hotels and Resorts. Airbus Corporate Jets partnered with Comlux in 2020 “to bring the executive variant of the Airbus 220 single-aisle airliner to the business aviation market.” Comlux is “designing and installing the interiors on the first 16 of the TwoTwenty; at least 10 have been ordered to date.”
Full Story (Aviation International News)

Rolls-Royce Opening Up Freighter Market

Aviation Week reports that Rolls-Royce is eyeing the widebody cargo sector as a growth opportunity for the engine manufacturer. Encouraged by increasing sales of the Airbus A330 passenger-to-freight (P2F) conversions and the 2021 launch of the A350 freighter variant, Rolls-Royce “claims a 64% market share of the A330 with the Trent 700 engine and is sole source provider to the future A350F version with the Trent XWB.” Despite recent headwinds facing the air cargo market, “confidence remains high in long-term demand for both the single- and twin-aisle conversion sectors as well as the new-build arena.” With air cargo traffic reported to double by 2041 and the world’s freighter fleet to grow by 60% from 2022, it is estimated that two-thirds of freighter deliveries will be conversions. Rolls-Royce says that it has over 80% of the A330 P2F market to date, “with more than 75 Trent 700-powered aircraft either already converted or due for modification through 2026.”
Full Story (Aviation Week)

Rain Aero Has Developed Remote Operation Kits for Drones and Black Hawk Helicopters

Aviation Today reports that “Rain Aero, a California-based company using advanced aviation technologies to fight wildfires, has successfully equipped both a small rotorcraft drone and a full-sized Black Hawk helicopter with a kit that allows remote operation.” Rain Aero CEO Maxwell Brodie said that the company has “plans to outfit a fleet of drones, based strategically where fires most often erupt around California, where they can be automatically alerted and remotely deployed to dispense fire retardant ahead of advancing flames.” During a webinar hosted by the Helicopter Association International, Brodie said, “We are building this technology as an integration kit to bring to existing aircraft and existing platforms. … We want to be able for our fire agency customers to be able to bring their own aircraft to us and for us to be able to upgrade them as it relates to the broader community here. This technology is of course able to help in the interim between now and when it’s deployed in increasing safety.”
Full Story (Aviation Week)