Politico reports that every commercial flight “has two pilots at the controls – but some planemakers are now designing cockpits that need fewer pilots, or someday even none.” So far, their airline customers “have been quiet on the issue, but pilots’ unions across the globe are getting louder, saying any fewer than two pilots is dangerous.” The idea “is most active in Europe, where French manufacturers Airbus and Dassault are pushing for regulators to allow passenger planes to operate with only one pilot in the cockpit for the majority of a long-haul flight.” European Cockpit Association President and KLM Captain Otjan de Bruijn said, “It’s a commercially-driven initiative with enormous risks for passengers, for pilots, and for cabin crew.” At present, this is theoretical, but manufacturers “are actively developing and testing a host of autonomous flight projects, including for commercial uses.” And EASA, the European Union’s aviation regulator, “is considering a concept that would have two pilots in the cockpit only for take-off and landing.” For the rest of the flight, the second pilot “would rest outside the cockpit, swapping shifts mid-way through a long-haul flight.” EASA is “expected to sign off on this by 2027.” A FAA official “said the agency is not considering any of the proposals that EASA is weighing.”
Full Story (Politico)
Tag: future
Electric-plane Future Poised to Take Off
CBS News reports that advances being made in aviation technology allow a plane to be powered by batteries, promising a more environmentally-friendly, quieter and cheaper ride. Beta’s CEO and founder Kyle Clark said with batteries improving every year, “he believes that, in the-not-distant future, we will be flying on electric-powered jetliners.”
Full Story (CBS News)
NASA Underscores Role of Moon as Testbed for Future Human Mars Missions
Space News reports, “NASA engineers working on the agency’s architecture for human Mars missions said during a panel at the AIAA SciTech Forum … that they were skeptical crewed missions to Mars of any kind … could be successful without first demonstrating technologies on the moon.”
Full Story (Space News)
Collins Aerospace Opens ‘The Grid’ in Illinois
FlightGlobal reports that Collins Aerospace “has now opened ‘The Grid,’ a long-planned Illinois facility that houses its development of electric and hybrid-electric propulsion technologies for future aircraft.” The aerospace supplier “had previously intended to open the site in the city of Rockford in 2020.” But Collins “slowed some of its electric propulsion work during the Covid-19 pandemic.” The announced opening happened on Wednesday, with the site described as a “$50 million advanced electric power systems lab” focused on hybrid- and more-electric systems. Encompassing 2,323sq m (25,000sq ft) of space, the site “will initially support testing of equipment at power levels reaching 8MW.” Collins already “supplies massive generators to aircraft including Boeing’s 787 and has in recent years amped up its development of new electric aircraft systems.” It recently “developed a 1MW electric motor as part of a broader RTX project to modify a De Havilland Canada Dash 8-100 regional aircraft with a hybrid-electric propulsion system.” Pratt & Whitney Canada “is assisting with that project, which involves replacing one of the Dash 8’s P&WC PW120A turboprops with a hybrid-electric powertrain.” The companies “delayed the project during the Covid-19 pandemic and have recently said they aim for the Dash 8 to get airborne with the hybrid system for the first time in 2024.” Separately, Collins and Pratt & Whitney “are jointly developing a broader line hybrid-electric systems for the emerging urban air mobility sector.”
Full Story (FlightGlobal)
Video
Collins Aerospace opens advanced electric power systems lab, The Grid
(Collins Aerospace; YouTube)
Embraer CEO Touts Company Future
Aviation International News reported that Embraer CEO Francisco Gomes Neto spoke at Embraer’s Media Day presentation in New York on Friday and “said the company is now reaping the harvest from the investments and changes it made in recent years.” He pointed “to the portfolio of new products the Brazilian manufacturer has introduced over the past decade in its commercial, defense, and private aviation markets.” This portfolio “includes the E-Jets E2, the C-390 Millennium military transport, and, on the private aviation side, the Praetor family and upgrades to its Phenom light jets.” He explained that Embraer currently “employs a staff of 100 engineers committed to developing production efficiencies and cost reduction, which has allowed it to not only maintain margins on its products but even increase them in some cases.” One of the company’s “standing projects is to reduce the production time of its aircraft by 30 percent by the end of 2025.”
More Info (Aviation International News)
Future Space Missions Are Being Designed to Take Advantage of New Generation of Very Large Launch Vehicles
The Space Review reported on future space missions being designed “to take advantage of a new generation of very large launch vehicles” that will “offer greater mass and volume” at lower prices. SpaceX’s Starship and Blue Origin’s New Glenn have been considered as possible options for several NASA missions. NASA’s expensive Space Launch System has also been examined for future missions, although it will only be used for Artemis missions through the late 2020s. Panelists at the ASCEND space event “argued that science missions were needed to increase the SLS flight rate and make that vehicle more sustainable.”
Full Story (The Space Review)
Moon Missions to Help Lay Groundwork for Future Missions to Mars
The Daily Mail (UK) reports that an astronaut has said the crewed missions to the moon in the coming years will help to lay the foundation for humans going to Mars. Kayla Barron could be the first woman to walk on the moon as a part of NASA’s Artemis missions, and called the moon missions a “proving ground” for technologies which may enable a crewed mission to Mars.
Full Story (Daily Mail)
Rafale Purchase by Indian Navy is Major Blow to Super Hornet’s Future
Aviation Week reported that the announced selection by the Indian Navy of a French fighter “is another blow to the future of Boeing’s F/A-18E/F Super Hornet assembly line in St. Louis.” The Boeing Company “had already announced plans to wind down F/A-18E/F production in Missouri by 2025, but held out hope that potential orders in India could extend U.S. assembly operations by a year and keep the fighter in production on a new assembly line on the subcontinent.” But India’s Navy announced the selection on Friday of the Dassault Rafale-M “to become its next carrier-based fighter.” Boeing Vice President of Business Development for Air Dominance Programs Bernd Peters said, “So we’ll likely cease production [of the Super Hornet] around the 2025 time frame.”
Full Story (Aviation Week)
ASCEND Announces Initial Program for November Event
June 10, 2021 – Reston, Va. – ASCEND, the interdisciplinary community focused on building humanity’s off-world future faster, today began rolling out the features of its centerpiece event program. Scheduled for 8–10 and 15–17 November, the ASCEND event will showcase a hybrid blend of live in-person and online programming. Powered by AIAA, ASCEND was launched in 2020 to Accelerate Space Commerce, Exploration, and New Discovery.
The hybrid event launches 8 November with a three-day flight of programming – five hours each day, presented only online. These days will include strategic Meta presentations and operational Micro technical papers and collaborative discussions. Registration will open in late July, with multiple options for live, virtual, and on-demand attendance.
Live from Las Vegas
The following week, 15–17 November, ASCEND will welcome attendees live and in-person at Caesars Forum in Las Vegas, and online everywhere. The program will include presentations and conversations led by high-profile thought leaders and rising industry influencers. Content will focus on big challenges, pathways to success, the application of innovation, and the exponential value of interdisciplinary collaboration in space. Select activities will be open only to attendees in Las Vegas.
In addition, ASCEND will host an in-person East Coast Satellite Event in Washington, DC, on 15 November, featuring special programming and a live viewing of Las Vegas sessions. More details will be announced in the coming weeks.
Content presented at 2021 ASCEND will be available for on-demand viewing online throughout the event and the weeks following. Speakers for the visionary Macro sessions and strategic Meta presentations will be announced in the coming weeks as details are confirmed.
“The ASCEND community has stepped up to deliver more of the content and connections we’re hungry for — anywhere on the planet. In fact, we’ve added three days to the schedule to accommodate the new technical and collaborative sessions that will guide building our off-world future faster,” said ASCEND Executive Producer Rob Meyerson.
Technical Presentations Will Be Streamed
Nearly 400 Micro session technical papers will be presented online during 2021 ASCEND, in addition to about 100 collaborative sessions featuring multiple experts discussing focused topics. The international grassroots community includes authors from industry, government, and academia in 27 countries. These Micro session topics range from Accelerating the Space Economy, Space Life Sciences and Systems, and Space Automation and Robotics, to Cybersecurity and Applied Systems Engineering.
“One goal of ASCEND is to connect technical experts with business and government leaders from aerospace and adjacent industries to discuss, test, build, and solve problems together. ASCEND is unique in its ability to convene the technical conversation from the deep aeronautics and astronautics community, as well as from adjacent industries who see their future in space. Expertise can inform the economics and the policies of space exploration and drive the intentional outcomes we need to accelerate building our off-world future,” said AIAA Executive Director Dan Dumbacher.
ASCEND Guiding Coalition Advises on Program Design
“We’re honored this year’s Guiding Coalition continues its role as a critical partner in helping us grow ASCEND as the on-ramp to space for everyone. From rockets and payloads to policy, administration and advocacy, the 33 members of the 2021 ASCEND Guiding Coalition bring an accumulated wealth of experience — millions of miles and billions of dollars invested in space — to inform and inspire the ASCEND community,” Meyerson added.
Tickets to ASCEND in-person experiences will be limited by COVID-19 protocols for safety. Detailed protocols for in-person participation will be announced when attendee registration opens in late July. “Even as we begin to feel comfortable with more face-to-face interactions in the ‘next normal,’ we are pleased ASCEND will be hybrid in nature to maximize its reach and impact,” said AIAA Managing Director of Professional Development Craig Day.
24th AIAA International Space Planes and Hypersonic Systems and Technologies Conference
The 24th AIAA International Space Planes and Hypersonic Systems and Technologies Conference also will be presented 15–17 November, in conjunction with the overall ASCEND experience. This leading-edge forum for exploring R&D and the technologies underpinning confidence in this fast-growing field will highlight multiple opportunities for international collaboration, including national programs from North America, South America, Australia, Europe, and Asia.
For the most up-to-date information about ASCEND, RSVP here.
AIAA Media Contact: Rebecca B. Gray, [email protected], 804-397-5270 cell
About ASCEND
Powered by AIAA, ASCEND promotes the collaborative, interdisciplinary, outcomes-driven community of professionals, students, and serious enthusiasts around the world who are accelerating humanity’s progress toward our off-world future! For more information, visit ascend.events, or follow ASCEND on Twitter, Facebook, or LinkedIn.
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, or follow AIAA on Twitter, Facebook, or LinkedIn.
AIAA Offers New Membership Option to High School Students
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Free Membership Begins at the Earliest Stage of the Academic Journey
March 3, 2021 – Reston, Va. – The American Institute for Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) – the world’s largest aerospace technical society – is excited to announce a new level of membership for high school students. Designed exclusively for students in 6th through 12th grades, the free AIAA High School Membership provides activities, competitions, and scholarships that will promote STEM and STEAM educational programs. Students can become members today at aiaa.org/hs.
“We are thrilled to welcome students into AIAA at the earliest stages of their academic journey – during high school. We are committed to helping guide these students along their paths to a rewarding aerospace career,” said Dan Dumbacher, AIAA Executive Director. “These budding aerospace scientists and engineers can gain experience, mentorship, and access to resources to help them succeed. AIAA will serve as their vital lifelong link to reliable resources and growth opportunities.
AIAA’s goal is to promote equality of knowledge and opportunity from the start for all students. We see this membership opportunity as part of our outreach to help build a future aerospace workforce that represents the diversity of perspective and thought needed in the industry. The aerospace industry must embrace diversity of all forms in order to meet the challenges of the future.”
The new AIAA High School Membership complements the free AIAA Educator Associate Membership offered to K-12 teachers, which helps enhance and solidify the impact of teachers on the future of aerospace.
The AIAA High School Membership includes access to:
- AIAA Mentor Match. This unique program helps students find, connect, and gain insights on how to succeed in aerospace by matching them with professional members.
- STEM-focused webinars and on-demand content. This content is inspired by students, for students.
- AIAA Engage. This exclusive community platform connects students with peers and provides access to the High School Student Library.
- Design competitions. Students can compete in annual design challenges that span the aerospace technical fields.
- Online subscription to Aerospace America. Get in-depth insight on the subject matter that is shaping the aerospace industry with this monthly digital publication.
Discounts to AIAA forums and events. Save on AIAA forums and professional development seminars that provide students with opportunities to network with professional members who will be a lifelong link to the aerospace community.
AIAA Media Contact: Rebecca B. Gray, [email protected], 804-397-5270.
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, or follow AIAA on Twitter, Facebook, or LinkedIn.
United Airlines Aiming to Fly Electric Planes by 2030
CNBC reports that as United Airlines aims for net zero by 2050, it looks to fly electric planes on regional routes by 2030. The battery-powered aircraft are under development by “Swedish start-up Heart Aerospace,” and United ordered 100 of them in 2021 as well as making an undisclosed investment in the company. United Airlines Ventures President Mike Leskinen said, “We cannot continue doing and operating our business the way we do; it is imperative that we change it, and the way we’re going to change it is through investing in technology. Existing technology is going to either cause us to fly less, which is an unacceptable alternative, or continue with a carbon footprint, which we believe is equally unacceptable.”
Full Story (CNBC)
Battery-Powered Aircraft May be the Future of Aviation
The Washington Post reports on electric aircraft. Several airlines including United, Mesa and Air Canada “have started putting orders in for a battery-operated aircraft called the Heart Aerospace ES-30. The Swedish-made four-propeller, battery-powered plane seats up to 30 people and could fly short-haul routes such as Palm Springs to Los Angeles or Denver to Aspen without emitting any carbon. It’s slated to be in the air by 2028.” However, battery technology is an ongoing issue standing in the way of the viability of battery-operated aircraft.
Full Story (Washington Post)