Number 31 – 22 April 2024

“He moves not through distance, but through the ranges of satisfaction that come from hauling himself up into the air with complete and utter control; from knowing himself and knowing his airplane so well that he can come somewhere close to touching, in his own special and solitary way, that thing that is called perfection.” Richard Bach

A very busy aviation week

With the SACAA’s two-day aviation conference, followed by the 25-year anniversary airshow at Wonderboom National Airport and the EAA Chapter 322’s fly-in to Airspan near Rustenburg this past week and weekend was a very busy time for the African Pilot team. Due to the fact that I spent the two days at the National Aviation Conference, I decided to cover the EAA Chapter 322 fly-in and leave the coverage of the airshow to other team members. Within this edition of APAnews we have provided brief coverage of all the events that will be followed up with more detailed coverage within the May edition of African Pilot.

Sun n Fun 2023 Aerospace Expo Aviation Event Walk Through Lakeland Florida

SACAA’s National Aviation Conference

The South Africa Civil Aviation Authority (SACAA) staged its annual Aviation Conference at the CSIR’s auditorium over two days, Thursday 18 and Friday 19 April. The nature of this conference was directed more towards General Aviation and included several very interesting topics for discussion. In addition the venue is certainly ideal for this type of event catering for around 450 people over the two days. The full report on this most important conference will be published in the May 2024 edition of African Pilot.  

SACAA’s 25^th anniversary airshow at Wonderboom National Airport

By Charlie Hugo with pictures from Charlie and Fiona Hugo

The South African Civil Aviation Authority (SACAA) celebrated its 25th year of existence in October 2023. As part of these celebrations an airshow was held at Wonderboom Airport on Saturday 20 April.  The day turned out to be a gorgeous autumn day with perfect blue skies and almost unseasonal hot temperatures. The airshow was the conclusion of the successful National Aviation Conference that had been staged over the previous two days. This highly anticipated airshow (the first held at Wonderboom since 2017) with attendance limited to around 3000 with a heavy leaning towards the youth lived up to its illustrious past and proved to be a great airshow. The celebrations and accolades of the SACAA achieved over the past 25 years were highlighted during the various speeches by the dignitaries who included the Minister of Transport with the SACAA living up to their corporate phrase, ‘Keeping you safe in the Sky.’

The airshow commenced with a three-ship Harvard display by the Puma Energy Flying Lions with the entire gamut of display teams on show. These ranged from the sedate Tiger Moth through a very action packed South African Police Services H125 Squirrel helicopter in a simulated car hijacking to a Hawk Mk120 from the South African air Force. Airlink, a local airline displayed its black Embraer E195 which has become a very popular act on the South African airshow circuit.  There were two new acts in the form of two Light Sport Aviation (LSA) Savannah aircraft and the long anticipated Navion display team from Krugersdorp Flying Club, whilst the Goodyear Eagles Pitts display team ended the airshow. The attendant crowd seemed to enjoy the displays, with especial appreciation of the SAPS display. Commentary throughout the day was ably handled by Brian Emmenis from Capital Sounds, along with his specialist black language commentator Elvis. A full illustrated report will appear in the May 2024 edition of African Pilot magazine.

EAA Chapter 322 fly-in to Airspan near Rustenburg

On Saturday I drove to Airspan airfield as my first visit to this delightful facility with a paved 860 metre runway and ample parking for the 35 plus aircraft that arrived. The purpose was for Col Jeff Earle to present his lecture on ‘formation flying’, which was well attended by EAA Chapter members as well as several other interested pilots. Airspan airfield is well located close Rustenburg and well away from the usual scourge of squatters that always appear to illegally occupy land close to airfields in South Africa. This airfield has a very large hangar with a bi-fold door that is ideal for hosting functions as well as an immaculate training centre catering for drone training, water drilling training and the operating of very large mining equipment amongst other related training courses. More on Airspan airfield and the future development of this privately owned property in a future edition of African Pilot.

23 to 25 April
MRO Africa Conference incl. African Aviation Training Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Contact Nick Fadugba E-mail: nickfadugba@africanaviation.com www.mroafrica.com

27 April
Ekurhuleni East Flying Club fly-in breakfast at Springs airfield
Contact James E-mail secretary.eefc@gmail.com

27 April
Bill Harrop’s Dinosaur Derby night glow
Contact Jacquie Pastor Cell: 083 443 2662 E-mail: jacquie@balloon.co.za

27 April to 4 May
Gauteng Regional Gliding Championships at Magalies gliding Club
Contact Soaring Society of South Africa Website: www.glidercomps.co.za

May

4 May
SAAF Museum airshow at AFB Zwartkops
Contact Lt. Gaelejwe OC Zwartkops Cell: 079 110 5855

4 May
EAA Chapter 322 monthly gathering at the EAA Auditorium 
Contact Neil Bowden E-mail: airadventuresa@gmail.com

4 May
Algoa Flying Club breakfast fly-in to Jay Kilian Farm
RVSP E-mail: info@algoafc.co.za Tel: 041 581 3274 Cell: 079 502 6421

10 & 11 May
Wings and Wheels Queenstown
Contact 082 921 2879

11 May
Lowveld airshow at the Nelspruit airfield
Contact Willemien E-mail: willemein.hodgkinson@kishugu.com Cell: 079 499 5733

11 May
SAA Museum Society Planes Trains Automobiles 09h00 to 14h30
Contact E-mail: info@saamuseum.co.za Cell: 076 879 5044

12 to 15 May
African Airlines Association 12^th stakeholders convention in Addis Ababa
Contact E-mail: events@afraa.org   

14 to 16 May
Airport Show with ATC Forum, Airport Security Middle East DWTC, Dubai
Contact Jamille del Mundo E-mail: jamm.delmundo@rxglobal.com

14 to 17 May
NAMPO Harvest Day Bothaville
Contact Wim Venter E-mail: wim@grainsa.co.za Tel: 086 004 7246

17 to 19 May
Zuikerkop fly-in 
Contact E-mail: info@zuikerkop.co.za Cell: 083 389 0587

17 to 19 May
BOABAB Fly-In Polokwane Civil Airport
Contact Whatsapp: 083 375 6322 E-mail: info@area51rcflyers.co.za

17 to 19 May
EAA Chapter 322 weekend fly-away to Pyramid airfield
Contact Neil Bowden E-mail: airadventuresa@gmail.com

18 May
Tedderfield Airpark breakfast fly / drive-in 07h00 to 12h00
Sponsored by Sling Contact Alan Cell: 083 702 3680

18 May
SAC Free State regionals at Tempe airfield
Contact Quintin Hawthorne E-mail: pak02496@pixie.co.za

21 to 23 May
Air Finance Africa Conference and Exhibition Sandton Convention Centre
Contact Nick Fadugba E-mail: nickfadugba@africanaviation.com

23 to 25 May
SAPFA President’s Trophy Air Race at Louis Trichardt civil airfield (FALO)
Contact David Le Roux E-mail: David@pilotinsure.co.za Cell: 073 338 5200
Contact Iaan Myburgh E-mail: race@sapfa.co.za  Cell: 082 449 2531

Presidents Trophy air race video from 2023:

23 to 27 May
NAC fly-away to Magoebaskloof 
Contact Agnes Phillips E-mail: agnes.phillips@nac.co.za Cell: 082 893 3399

25 May
Tempe airshow Bloemfontein
Contact Conrad Botha E-mail: rowco24cc@mailbox.co.za Cell 082 465 4045

28 to 30 May
EBACE business aircraft show Geneva, Switzerland
Website: www.ebace.aero VP Exhibitions Sacha Carey E-mail: scarey@nbaa.org

June

1 June
Potchefstroom airshow

Contact E-mail: sally@creativespacemedia.co.za Tel: 011 467 3314

1 June
SAA Museum Society Specialised Tour limited to nine adults
Contact E-mail: events@saamuseum.co.za Cell: 076 879 5044

6 & 7 June
Drones and Unmanned Aviation Conference Emperors Palace Convention Centre
Contact Ms Maria Ndlovu E-mail: info@bussynet.co.za Tel: +27 11 074 7095

6 to 8 June
France Air Expo International General Aviation Show 
Lyon Bron Airport www.franceairexpo.com  

6 to 10 June
Zimbabwe Air Rally (50 years)
Contact E-mail: zimairrally@gmail.com Website: www.zimairrally.com 

7 to 9 June
Bona Bona annual fly-in
Booking details visit website  

8 June
EAA South Africa Young Eagles day Lanseria International Airport
Contact Neil Bowden E-mail: airadventuresa@gmail.com

15 June
Maputo airshow
Contact Gavin Neil E-mail: gavin@haps.co.mz

15 & 16 June
SAC Event KwaZulu Natal venue TBA
Contact Quintin Hawthorne E-mail: pak02496@pixie.co.za

15 & 16 June
Hluhluwe fly-in to Hluhluwe airfield
Contact Christiaan Kleyn 082 945 7362 or Mike Currie 084 506 7610

20 June
Rand Airport Safety Symposium at the Harvard Cafe
Contact Dave le Roux PilotInsure E-mail: david@pilotinsure.co.za

28 to 30 June
EAA Taildraggers fly-in to Warmbaths airfield
Richard Nicholson E-mail: Richard.nicholson1963@gmail.com Cell: 082 490 6227

29 June
SAPFA Speed Rally at Warmbaths airfield
Contact David le Roux E-mail: david@pilotinsure.co.za  Cell: 073 338 5200 

29 June
Polokwane airshow at Gaal airport
Contact Robin Tapinos E-mail: airshow.polokwane@gmail.com Cell: 074 117 6384

Nigeria suspends the permits of three private jet operators

Nigeria’s Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has acted against private jet operators flouting regulations by suspending the Permit for Non-Commercial Flights (PNCF) of three operators illegally operating commercial flights.

Equatorial Guinea acquires Z-9WE helicopters from China

Two armed Habin Z-9WE helicopters from China have been supplied to Equatorial Guinea’s military and the country is exploring the  possibility of acquiring additional rotary wing aircraft. According to the countries media outlets on 8 April Vice President Teodoro Nguema Obiang Mangue had inspected the newly acquired aircraft.  With a capacity to carry eight people, the aircraft are fitted with nose-mounted electro-optical gimbals for day and night surveillance as well as hardpoints for weapons, which can include guns, rockets and anti-tank missiles. The Democratic Party added that Mangue is considering continuing with the modernisation of the military and is looking at acquiring more aircraft, particularly to fight maritime piracy in the Gulf of Guinea.

The Z-9WE is the export version of the Z-9W light attack helicopter, based on the Chinse built version of the Airbus AS365 Dauphin. The Z-9W is in Chinese military service and has also been exported, including to African customers. Four helicopters were delivered to the Kenyan Armed Forces between 2010 and 2011.

In recent years Equatorial Guinea has acquired a significant amount of military hardware from China. According to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute’s arms transfers database, the West African nation acquired other weapons from China. Following a period of virtual non-existence, the air force branch of the nation’s military has been expanding rapidly in recent years. Recent additions over the last two decades include two L-39s, four Su-25s, an An-32, a Mi-26, two An-72 transports and six Mi-24 attack helicopters from Ukraine. Russia supplied a couple of Mi-17 transport helicopters in 2006 and 2018. Ukraine also supplied a single Ka-29 helicopter for naval use in 2009.

Ex-mercenary pilot and police officer killed in Cabo Delgado plane crash

Last week a Mozambican police officer and a South African pilot were killed when their light aircraft crashed in Macomia district in Cabo Delgado, The South African pilot was Mark Tout, who had previously flown missions for the private military contractor Dyck Advisory Group (DAG) when it was contracted by the Mozambican police force to provide air cover for counterinsurgency operations in 2020. It is unclear whether Tout and the Mozambican police officer, who has not yet been identified, were taking part in an aerial assault that was carried out on the Mucojo administrative post starting on Friday 5 April and lasting most of that week.

Tout was flying a Bat Hawk, a South African-made microlight used mostly for reconnaissance, often by wildlife conservation organisations. It was the same model as he had flown for DAG and crashed in 2020. Two sources said they believed that Tout and the police officer were carrying a PKM machine gun on the aircraft, likely operated by the police officer. The PKM is a medium weapon, usually fired on a mounting and not hand-held. It was unclear if the aircraft was downed by enemy fire, or if it was an accident caused by bad weather. A flight operated by a conservation body located the crash site a day or two afterwards and saw the two bodies, which have not yet been recovered.

Kenya helicopter crash kills the country’s military chief

Gen Ogolla, Kenya’s highest ranking military officer was in the helicopter with 11 other military personnel when the helicopter crashed and only two people survived. In a news conference, President William Ruto said it was a ‘moment of great sadness’ for the country. Mr Ruto said the crash happened at 14h20 local time  and the Kenya Air Force has dispatched an air investigation team to establish the cause of the crash. The helicopter came down in Elgeyo Marakwet county, some 400km (250 miles) north-west of the capital Nairobi.

Gen Ogolla first joined the Kenya Defence Forces on 24 April 1984 and he was due to mark 40 years in the military next week. He began his career as a 2nd Lt in the country’s air force, where he trained as a fighter pilot with the US Air Force, the ministry says. In 2018, he became Commander of the Kenya Air Force, a role which he held until becoming the country’s military chief.

Nine others killed in the crash and only two survivors are in critical condition and undergoing treatment. The officers had travelled to Kenya’s North Rift region, which has been plagued by banditry. They were on a mission to reopen some of the schools closed following bandit attacks. They had also visited military officers deployed to stabilise the region.

Airliners stop 300 feet apart at DCA

The FAA is investigating a runway incursion at Washington-Reagan Airport on Thursday in which two airliners were stopped by controllers about 300 feet apart. According to ATC recordings, the Southwest 737 and JetBlue A320 were both following ATC instructions when they came close to meeting at the intersection of a taxiway and runway. The FAA confirmed the Southwest flight had been cleared to cross the runway while the JetBlue flight was ‘starting its take-off roll on the same runway.’ The Southwest plane was already 65 feet past the hold line on the taxiway. After both aircraft came to a stop under the shouted instructions from the tower, they were given further taxi instructions and both took off normally a few minutes later. Democratic Senators Mark Warner and Tim Kaine, both from Virginia, quickly made political hay of the mishap. Legislators are split on whether to allow more slots at DCA, some alleging that it is to allow more direct flights for Congress members to get home. “DCA’s overburdened runway is already the busiest in the country and we fear that adding more flights could put passenger safety at serious jeopardy,” the senators said in a joint statement.

EASA EAD 2024-0084-E

EASA have ordered Special Detailed Inspections (SDI) of Main landing gear (MLG) shock absorber assemblies on LEONARDO S.p.A. AB139 and AW139 helicopters

European safety regulators have ordered inspections within between 10 to 100 Flight hours, depending on Time Service (TIS), of the affected parts in accordance with the instructions of Leonardo EASB 139-783. Leonardo has recently received several reports of a broken eye end of the MLG shock absorber piston. Subsequent investigation determined that the cause was fatigue cracking.

This AD requires repetitive Special Detailed Inspections (SDI) of each affected part using Ultrasonic Testing and, depending on findings, replacement. Further inspections at intervals not exceeding 2000 landings or 12 months are required. Landings indicated in this AD, are those accumulated by an affected part since new. This AD is considered to be an interim action and further AD action may follow.

Whistleblower wants the Boeing 787 fleet grounded

A Boeing engineer and whistleblower is calling for the grounding of all the more than 1,000 Boeing 787s for an issue Boeing says has been addressed and signed off on by the FAA. In an exclusive interview  on NBC Nightly News, Sam Salehpour says he will tell a Senate committee that he believes the aircraft are in danger of coming apart due to of out-of-spec gaps where major assemblies are joined. “The entire fleet worldwide, as far as I am concerned right now, needs attention,” he told NBC’s Tom Costello. “The attention is, you need to check your gaps and make sure that you do not have potential for premature failure.”

Salehpour was an engineer on the Dreamliner programme but has since been assigned to work on the 777. He went public with his warning last week and Boeing was quick to discount this. “We are fully confident in the 787 Dreamliner. These claims about the structural integrity of the 787 are inaccurate and do not represent the comprehensive work Boeing has undertaken to ensure the quality and long-term safety of the aircraft,” Boeing said in a statement last week. “The issues raised have been subject to rigorous engineering examination under FAA oversight.” The improperly shimmed gaps were first found more than five years ago and the FAA halted deliveries of the 787 while Boeing came up with a fix. The existing fleet at the time was inspected and repaired and new aircraft were presumably built to spec.

Salehpour says those repairs were not adequate and there is a danger of fatigue failure. Boeing said the fix has been thoroughly vetted and ‘these issues do not present any safety concerns’ or durability problems. It said it will be on the lookout for problems, noting it encourages employees to ‘speak up’ about any safety concerns. ‘Retaliation is strictly prohibited at Boeing,’ the statement said. The FAA says it is investigating the allegations.

Airbus A350F launch customer CMA CGM Air Cargo orders another four aircraft

Specialist airfreight carrier CMA CGM Air Cargo has announced that it has placed an order for four Airbus A350Fs, in addition to the four A350Fs the carrier ordered in 2021. All eight of the new planes, for which the company will be the launch commercial customer, are expected to be in service by the end of 2027, allowing the company to offer its services on a global scale for the first time. CMA CGM Air Cargo, the cargo airline of the CMA CGM shipping group, operates primarily out of Charles De Gaulle Airport (CDG) in Paris, France.

CMA CGM became the second company to sign up for Airbus’ new A350 freighter as the French logistics group continued its expansion in the global air cargo market. The shipping giant, which launched its CMA CGM Air Cargo business in 2021, signed a memorandum of understanding covering the purchase of four initial A350Fs. The commitment came just days after leasing giant Air Lease Corporation placed the first provisional order for seven of the type during the 2021 Dubai Air Show. To date, Airbus has confirmed orders for 55 A350Fs from airlines including Singapore Airlines, Cathay Pacific, and its latest customer, Starlux of Taiwan.

Meanwhile, CMA GGM has announced that it will acquire three Boeing 777-200Fs, with the first aircraft due to arrive in June 2024. Two of the three aircraft will be dedicated to a new transpacific route connecting Asia to North America during the summer of 2024. The new route will serve airports in Hong Kong, Chicago and Seoul. The second aircraft will be delivered in the fourth quarter of 2024 and will connect mainland China to North America. Flights will be operated by CMA CGM’s partner airline Atlas Air. The third aircraft is set to arrive in 2025. Currently, the CMA-CGM Air Cargo Group fleet consists of two Boeing 777-200Fs and three Airbus A330Fs, all of which are based at the carrier’s Paris-Charles de Gaulle (CDG) hub.

The current 777F fleet operates twice-weekly flights between Europe and China, serving the major air cargo hubs in Hong Kong and Shanghai. Of the three A330Fs, two are chartered by a third party, while the third operates connections between Paris-Charles de Gaulle, Mumbai (BOM) in India and Guangzhou (CAN) in China three times per week. The CMA CGM Air Cargo website states that the company ‘offers a complete range of solutions for the transportation of sensitive products, such as hazardous goods, temperature-controlled cargo, perishables, live animals and high-value products’.

After airport flooding Dubai Airport tells passengers to stay away

After dozens of flights were diverted and cancelled the situation on 17 April was not much improved with the Dubai flag-carrier Emirates suspending check-in for passengers for the remainder of the day. Record levels of rain hit the region, with Dubai reportedly being soaked with more than 142 millimetres (5.59 inches) in 24 hours. Footage and photos of planes taxiing through rivers of rainfall at Dubai Airport were shared widely across social media with staff struggling to cope with the sheer amount of rainfall. In addition, roads around Dubai leading to the airport were also flooded making it difficult for passengers to travel. To make matters worse, weather forecasters were predicting that the treacherous conditions would continue into the early hours of 17 April. We are continuously working hard with our emergency response teams and service partners to restore normal operations as quickly as possible and provide support for guests,” a Dubai Airports spokesperson said. “Flights are delayed and some diverted with many airlines impacted by displaced crew. Recovery will take some time.”

Air New Zealand secures landmark deal with Neste for SAF

In a landmark agreement, Air New Zealand has finalised the largest purchase of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) from Neste by any airline outside North America and Europe. The SAF, amounting to nine million litres, is scheduled for delivery before the end of 2024. Produced at Neste’s Singapore refinery, which expanded its SAF production capability last year, the nine million litres of SAF will be blended with conventional jet fuel to meet the required specifications and supplied to Los Angeles International Airport between 1 April and 30 November 2024. The SAF is anticipated to reduce carbon emissions by up to 80% over the fuel’s life cycle compared to the use of fossil jet fuel, encompassing production and transport emissions.

F-35 programme could reshuffle long-term upgrade plan

For years, delays and cost growth on a suite of F-35 upgrades known as Block 4 has vexed the Joint Strike Fighter programme. Officials revealed that bowing to those problems may have to ‘reimagine,’ or completely restructure, the entire upgrade plan. While no final decisions about the way forward on Block 4 has been made, the same challenges also led programme officials to announce that any F-35 jets delivered for another year will receive only an early version of the Technology Refresh 3 (TR-3) software that will not include full combat capability.

The newly envisioned Block 4 would instead focus on delivering ‘must-have’ content, which will include an undefined ‘subset’ of 88 capabilities originally approved as part of the Block 4 plan. The issue has not been decided and requires buy-in from all members of the F-35 enterprise. In addition, the F-35 programme has established new ‘capability decision points’ to ensure certain hardware and software can go out to the fleet, emphasising that programme officials are ‘confident’ in Block 4 deliveries associated with those CDPs. The F-35 programme will lay out the new Block 4 approach in ‘a combat relevant timeframe with yes a subset of capabilities of the Block 4 programme, but those which give us the most bang for the buck.’

After shooting down Iranian munitions, Jordan is defiant in uncomfortable spotlight

Last week the king of Jordan defended his military’s actions over the previous weekend in apparently intercepting some of the Iranian missiles and drones that overflew Jordanian airspace on their way to targets in Israel, saying his lands will not be a ‘theatre of war’ for any side. According to Jordan’s state news agency, the security of the nation and the protection of its citizens, comes above all other considerations, King Abdullah II said.  

On Sunday in the hours after the unprecedented barrage of missiles and drones launched by Iran towards Israel, the government of Jordan, which lies directly between the two Middle East enemies, said it had intercepted ‘foreign objects in Jordanian airspace’ and said ‘fragments’ from the interceptions fell in ‘various locations’ but caused no significant damage. While Amman’s friends in Washington, DC, likely praised the intervention, it has placed Jordan in a delicate position, as ever since, Iran and others have seized on the interceptions as evidence that the monarchy has turned on the Palestinian cause in favour of its de facto protection of Jerusalem.

Jordanian leaders have been very clear to portray their action as defensive and in protection of their own sovereignty rather than any act in support of Israel and this is sincere, as is the message from Amman that the Iranian strikes on Israel must not be allowed to draw attention away from Gaza.

Grassley says FAA loopholes aid drug runners

According to GlobalAir, Iowa Sen. Chuck Grassley is calling on the FAA to tighten up aircraft registration to prevent drug cartels from using N-registered planes to move drugs. Grassley, who is co-chair of the Senate Caucus on International Narcotics Control, issued a report on Monday alleging the cartels are using loopholes to get US registration on drug-running aircraft. “Air transportation is a favoured method for the cartels and a burgeoning industry of illicit aircraft brokers has grown up around it,” the report said. “These brokers exploit vulnerabilities and loopholes in the Federal Aviation Administration’s aircraft registry process to place US-registered planes in the hands of transnational criminal organizations (TCOs).”

Ironically, N-registered aircraft are in hot demand by the drug trade because they are considered well vetted and therefore do not get as much scrutiny by foreign government agencies. Grassley said the General Accountability Office made 15 recommendations to tighten up registration in 2020 but so far only three have been acted upon. He said foreign shell companies and non-citizen trusts are the likely owners of about 5,000 aircraft on the registry and that the addresses of record for at least 25,000 aircraft do not exist.

US Marine aviator of the year is a drone pilot

The Marine Corps’ top pilot for 2024 never leaves the ground. For the first time, a drone pilot, Maj. Shane Gentry, has been named the Corps’ Marine Aviator of the Year. He was also named recipient of the Alfred A. Cunningham Award by the Marine Corp Aviation Association. Gentry is a member of the Marine Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Squadron 3 and has flown the RQ-21, RQ-7 B and MQ-9A. “It is a great honour, it is humbling and absolutely pioneering for the Marine Corps unmanned community,” he told USNI News. Gentry said he chose drones after graduation 10 years ago because they were the ‘most deployed’ units. He said since he began, drones have become increasingly important to operations of all kinds. “We are not coming to take like manned aviation jobs,” he said. “If anything, we are enhancing lethality of the aviation enterprise. We are enhancing survivability of the manned aircraft; we are enhancing their roles and duties in aviation. So we are an enhancing aspect of Marine Corps aviation.”

Starliner takes its place atop an Atlas V rocket

Starliner teammates cheered as the headlights of the transporter slowly neared the corner of the Commercial Crew and Cargo Processing Facility, soon revealing the Crew Flight Test spacecraft they have worked so hard on. Knowing NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams, who were also watching with them, will be flying on board for Starliner’s first crewed flight makes the milestone even more special for the team. The Starliner rolled out from the back of the factory on a transport vehicle and left the parking lot at about 05h00 Eastern time. It made a slow, carefully orchestrated 10-mile (16-kilometer) trek to United Launch Alliance’s Vertical Integration Facility (VIF) at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station.

The spacecraft was later hoisted and integrated on top of ULA’s Atlas V rocket. Work will continue in the VIF before the 6 May launch to ensure the Atlas V and spacecraft are properly communicating with each other prior to launch. The milestone has special meaning for launch campaign managers Richard Skinner and Amanda Ireland. For Skinner, the rollout signifies nearing the end of a long career in human spaceflight, starting with working shuttle payloads in 1980 for McDonnell Douglas. He has also worked for ULA and the Space Launch System and was brought on to help Starliner with the orbital flight tests and then through the first crewed flight.

“Having a chance to get to meet and personally know our flight crew members, it will mean that much more when we see them leave for the pad,” said Skinner, who is also the convoy coordinator overseeing the transport operation of crew to ULA’s launch complex. Much is involved before rollout, including making sure various antennas and GPS systems are working correctly in communicating information back and forth from the rocket to the Boeing Mission Control Center. Now that the spacecraft is mated to the Atlas V, that work continues. Teams will go through a series of functional testing to make sure everything is connected correctly and communicating properly with the spacecraft and rocket.

Functionally this rollout was similar in nature to previous rollouts, Ireland said, including “treating the spacecraft with the greatest care and detail.” Ireland said the importance of having a successful Crew Flight Test is essential in ensuring multiple providers are able to reach different low Earth orbit locations in the future while advancing human spaceflight. Another teammate, Mackenzie Palafox, worked with Skinner and Ireland on the rollout. Palafox has been with Starliner a little over a year, primarily as a manufacturing engineer and agreed to take on the additional responsibilities to assist the launch campaign managers. “I am so proud to be a part of this company’s legacy in human spaceflight,” Palafox said. “It is really amazing to see it all coming together.”

Solar Sail mission is ready for launch

A NASA mission testing a new way of navigating our solar system is ready to hoist its sail into space, not to catch the wind, but the propulsive power of sunlight. The Advanced Composite Solar Sail System is targeting launch on Tuesday, 23 April aboard a Rocket Lab Electron rocket from the company’s Launch Complex 1 on the Mahia Peninsula of New Zealand. Rocket Lab’s Electron rocket will deploy the mission’s CubeSat about 600 miles above Earth, more than twice the altitude of the International Space Station. To test the performance of NASA’s Advanced Composite Solar Sail System, the spacecraft must be in a high enough orbit for the tiny force of sunlight on the sail, roughly equivalent to the weight of a paperclip resting on your palm to overcome atmospheric drag and gain altitude.

After a busy initial flight phase, which will last about two months and includes subsystems checkout, the microwave oven-sized CubeSat will deploy its reflective solar sail. The weeks-long test consists of a series of pointing manoeuvres to demonstrate orbit raising and lowering, using only the pressure of sunlight acting on the sail.

VoltAero is approved as an Associate Member of the GAMA

VoltAero has joined the General Aviation Manufacturers Association (GAMA), becoming an Associate Member with participation in this organisation’s Electric Propulsion & Innovation Committee (EPIC). 

GAMA is a Washington, D.C-based trade organisation that fosters and advances the general welfare, safety, interests and activities of the global business and general aviation industry. With VoltAero’s EPIC Associate Membership, the company will now contribute to the association’s development of industry positions and recommendations on related policy and regulatory matters. VoltAero is taking electric aircraft to an entirely new level. Benefitting from 80-plus years of combined pioneering expertise, VoltAero is developing a truly unique general aviation airplane family, Cassio, for safe, quiet, efficient and eco-friendly flight in electric and electric-hybrid modes.

Electric air taxi manufacturers turn to NASA to model noise

Whether you love them, hate them, or are in the process of building them, electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) air taxis have a key hurdle to overcome noise. Air taxi manufacturers are turning to NASA for assistance. According to the space agency, ‘several’ eVTOL companies are deploying a NASA computer programme to model their future operations and the noise they will produce. The programme, known as Overflow, was developed in the 1990s. But NASA says it has made ‘significant improvements’ to its code to improve its usefulness for the industry.

Manufacturers developing technology related to NASA’s Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) Mission, which explores passenger transport, cargo delivery, public service and other applications for eVTOL designs are being granted an early look at how their propellers, wings and other components may perform in action. As per the agency, the technology can save these manufacturers time and money when making decisions related to aircraft design. Overflow is a NASA-developed computer software tool that predicts aircraft noise and aerodynamic performance. Using a series of calculations, the programme models the flow of air around an aircraft, anticipating the pressures, forces, moments and power requirements it might produce.

Users can integrate the Overflow code into their own aircraft modelling programmes to measure performance and efficiency. They receive a visual depiction of how air behaves on or around the aircraft, represented by different colours. A high-pressure coefficient, for example, might be shown in red, while a lower coefficient is represented by blue. As NASA points out, fluid flows are one of the culprits of aircraft noise. Understanding how those flows interact with the airframe can help engineers make design decisions that keep volume in check.

Supporters and detractors of eVTOL air taxis consider noise pollution a chief concern, particularly when operations take place over an urban area such as a city. Manufacturers such as Archer and Joby, whose designs combine movable propellers with fixed wings contend their designs will be quieter than helicopters. According to images shared by NASA, Archer and Joby each have given Overflow a try. Notably, both companies have a prior relationship with the agency.

uAvionix awarded FAA contract to scale C-Band frequency management for Regional UAS C2

Last week as a leading provider of avionics solutions for uncrewed and crewed aircraft, uAvionix, announced that it has been awarded a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Broad Agency Announcement (BAA) contract to scale C-Band frequency management for Uncrewed Aircraft Systems (UAS) Command and Control (C2) communications to a regional level with multiple UAS operating in proximity to one another. The efforts mark a significant step toward broad commercialisation of UAS by allowing multiple UAS, from different companies to operate near one another while maintaining reliable and deconflicted communications within the limited range of spectrum available for UAS operations.

UAS usage of licensed aeronautical spectrum, such as C-Band, for UAS C2 is currently undertaken by exception, requiring both Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and FAA approval. With this high bar for operation, many UAS flights currently rely solely on unlicensed spectrum, particularly that in the Industrial, Scientific and Medical (ISM) band where high levels of interference can impact C2 communications performance and reliability. The FAA Reauthorisation Act of 2018 directed the FAA and FCC to evaluate various spectrum allocations for UAS C2, leading to support for using 5030 to 5091 MHz as licensed and protected C-Band spectrum. However, effective spectrum management is vital to ensure the limited band is consistently and reliably allocated among multiple UAS operating in the same region.

Building on previous collaboration with the FAA, uAvionix demonstrated a Dynamic Frequency Management System (DFMS) for UAS C2 using the protected C-Band spectrum. Under this new contract, uAvionix will demonstrate the use of DFMS as a National Airspace C-Band frequency management application that meets regulatory policy and encourages commercial build-out of C2 Communications Service Provider (C2CSP) infrastructure. The demonstration will showcase how organisations can dynamically assign available frequencies within the protected C-Band spectrum to multiple UAS operating near each other using the SkyLine Platform. These frequency assignments will be deconflicted and time-phased, ensuring consistent and reliable C2 communications throughout each flight. This contract and the recently awarded FAA BAA for extending BVLOS operations in challenging terrain represent significant progress in the commercialization of UAS operations and their integration into the National Airspace System. Through the FAA and uAvionix collaboration, Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) operations are closer to being a daily reality while ensuring a safer and more efficient UAS industry.

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