Aviation Week reported that Amazon has “joined widespread efforts to grow the aviation maintenance workforce pipeline.” It has “partnered with a recently launched Part 147 school in Lakeland, Florida to offer a career training program for workers interested in pursuing a new career path in MRO.” The partnership is “part of Amazon’s Career Choice program, which enables its employees to learn new skills to launch career paths internally or in other industries.” The program “includes a vertical called Pathways, in which Amazon covers tuition costs to help employees earn certifications in areas such as technology, health care, transportation, mechanical and industrial systems, and business and administration systems.”
Full Story (Aviation Week)
Tag: Amazon
Amazon Selected as 1 of 6 Participants in U.K. Drone Trials
Flying Magazine reports, “The U.K.’s Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) is launching a series of trials to integrate drones into the country’s everyday life. The CAA on Thursday announced it selected six projects that will test the self-flying aircraft’s use for delivery to consumers, infrastructure inspection, emergency services, and more. Prime Air, the drone delivery arm of Amazon flying in Texas, was one of the selections.”
Full Story (Flying Magazine)
Amazon Switches to Atlas V Rocket for First Project Kuiper Satellite Launch
Bloomberg reports Amazon “said it plans to launch the first two test satellites for its Project Kuiper constellation this fall on United Launch Alliance’s Atlas V rocket, rather than its next-generation Vulcan, as previously planned.” The change “comes amid repeated delays of the debut launch of Vulcan, which has been in development for much of the last decade.” Space News reports spokesman James Watkins said the target launch date is September 26.
Full Story (Bloomberg); More Info (Space News)
Amazon Expands its Air Cargo Service in India
CNBC reports Amazon said Monday it is expanding its air cargo unit, Amazon Air, to India. The company “is using two Boeing 737-800 aircraft flown by Quikjet Cargo Airlines to ship packages across Hyderabad, Bengaluru, Delhi and Mumbai.” Amazon Air’s presence in the country “will enable the company to offer faster deliveries to customers in India, said Sarah Rhoads, vice president of Amazon Global Air, in a statement.” At the same time, Amazon CEO Andy Jassy “is undergoing a broad review of the company’s expenses as it stares down a worsening economic outlook and slowing retail sales.” The company began the largest set of layoffs in its history last week, which is expected to result in the elimination of 18,000 jobs.
Full Story (CNBC)
Amazon Starts Drone Deliveries in California and Texas Markets
Aviation Week reports that 10 years “into its development of a delivery drone, Amazon has started flying packages to customers at locations in Texas and California.” Amazon started “drone deliveries in Lockeford, California, and College Station, Texas, on Dec. 22, the company confirmed to AAM Report.”
Full Story (Aviation Week)
Amazon’s New Delivery Drone
CNBC reported that Amazon’s new delivery drone, the MK27-2, will begin making deliveries in two markets in California and Texas by the end of this year. The drone will drop packages from 12 feet in the air on delivery. “It can only carry packages weighing less than five pounds, and deliveries must fit in one box about the size of a shoe box.”
Full Story (CNBC)
Amazon Leases Cargo Airplanes to Bypass Supply Chain Chaos
CNBC reported that Amazon’s leasing of long-haul cargo airplanes is “helping it avoid the long wait times for available dock space and workers at the country’s busiest ports of Long Beach and Los Angeles.” Amazon is “avoiding ports altogether by reportedly leasing at least ten long-haul planes that can get smaller amounts of cargo directly from China to the U.S. much faster.” One of Amazon’s “converted Boeing 777 planes can carry 220,000 pounds of cargo.”
Full Story (CNBC)
Beta Technologies Flies Alia Aircraft between Amazon Air Hubs
Aviation Week reports that Beta Technologies “has flown its Alia electric aircraft between two Amazon Air hubs, completing a 31-min. flight between Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport and Wilmington Air Park in Ohio.”
Full Story (Aviation Week)
Beta Alia-250 Completes First Crewed eVTOL Transition Flight
Flying Magazine reports, “Electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft manufacturer Beta Technologies this week achieved a milestone few eVTOL companies have reached. The company on Tuesday said it completed a crewed, full transition flight of its Alia-250 (A250) eVTOL.”
Full Story (Flying Magazine)
Beta Performs Piloted eVTOL Aircraft Transition Flight
Aviation International News reports, “Beta Technologies has achieved the first piloted transition flights with a prototype of its Alia 250 eVTOL aircraft prototype, the Vermont-based aircraft developer announced today. A successful transition flight marks a significant milestone in the development of any eVTOL aircraft, demonstrating the core capabilities of vertical lift and horizontal cruise in combination.”
Full Story (Aviation International News)