jueves, 19 de enero de 2017

Need Your Own Private Air Force in a Hurry? Here’s One For Sale. [feedly]


Need Your Own Private Air Force in a Hurry? Here's One For Sale.
// The Aviationist

Listing Offers Twenty Complete Combat Aircraft For Sale, With Parts! For "only" 200K USD. Ever wanted to command your own private air force? Here's your chance, and the price seems reasonable. Raptor Aviation of Port St. Lucie, Florida in the U.S has listed the sale of 20 jet trainer/light strike aircraft, an entire squadron, with […] https://theaviationist.com/2017/01/17/need-your-own-private-air-force-in-a-hurry-heres-one-for-sale/


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U.S. B-2 Spirit Stealth Bombers from Whiteman AFB conduct precision airstrike in Libya. Drones perform scene “cleanup” [feedly]


U.S. B-2 Spirit Stealth Bombers from Whiteman AFB conduct precision airstrike in Libya. Drones perform scene "cleanup"
// The Aviationist

Two B-2 stealth bombers performed a round-trip mission from CONUS (Continental US) to perform airstrikes on Daesh training camps in Libya. Drones "cleaned-up" the operation firing Hellfires at fighters trying to run to safety. Two B-2 Spirit stealth bombers from the 509th Bomb Wing at Whiteman Air Force Base carried out a precision air strike […] https://theaviationist.com/2017/01/19/u-s-b-2-spirit-stealth-bombers-from-whiteman-afb-conduct-precision-airstrike-in-libya-drones-perform-scene-cleanup/


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Safran To Acquire Zodiac Aerospace

LYON, France—Safran has entered into exclusive negotiations to acquire Zodiac Aerospace. The two companies aim to depend less on medium-haul aircraft applications, and hope to find synergies in electrical systems. With combined revenues of €21 billion ($22 billion), the merger would create the No. 3 player in the sector, after GE and UTC. Safran and Zodiac expect to close the merger in early 2018, subject to conditions including antitrust approvals. The merger will also bring ...

http://aviationweek.com/awincommercial/safran-acquire-zodiac-aerospace-0

DJI Mavic Pro drone user arrested after flying near Chinese plane - International Business Times UK

http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/watch-dji-drone-narrowly-miss-crash-chinese-passenger-jet-mid-air-scare-1601519


International Business Times UK

DJI Mavic Pro drone user arrested after flying near Chinese plane
International Business Times UK
The video clearly shows a Capital Airlines plane passing close to the drone, which could only have been captured at that height by a unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), and at the end of the video, a watermark comes up advertising the DJI Mavic Pro drone ...

AUDS counter-drone system first to achieve TRL-9 status - Aerotech News (blog)


Aerotech News (blog)

AUDS counter-drone system first to achieve TRL-9 status
Aerotech News (blog)
The AUDS counter-UAS defense system — field proven to detect, track and defeat malicious and errant unmanned aircraft systems or drones — is the first fully integrated system worldwide to achieve TRL-9 status. This follows the successful mission ...


http://www.aerotechnews.com/blog/2017/01/18/auds-counter-drone-system-first-to-achieve-trl-9-status/

The regional market and scope clauses

Union contract Scope Clauses–the provision limiting the weight, capacity or number of aircraft operated by airlines for majopr carriers–are unlikely to be modified any time soon, panelists at the Air Finance Journal conference in Dublin said.

The restrictive Scope Clauses are predominate in the US. These limit the ability of small airplane manufacturers to sell aircraft in the US. Most affected are Embraer, Bombardier and newcomer Mitsubish…



https://leehamnews.com/2017/01/18/regional-market-scope-clauses/

Filling the Middle Of the Market gap

 Airbus and Boeing had completely different views about the product strategy for the "Middle of the Market" sector (MOM), both for today and the future.

Officials presented their views on how to fill the "Middle of the Market gap" at the Air Finance Journal conference in Dublin.



https://leehamnews.com/2017/01/18/filling-middle-market-gap/

A Chick in the Cockpit delves into the professional and personal

Erika Armstrong's book A Chick in the Cockpit lays out for the reader the difficulty of becoming a pilot, especially if you're a woman. It is, in effect, two books linked together by her life story and a strong feminist message. The first half describes …

https://runwaygirlnetwork.com/2017/01/18/a-chick-in-the-cockpit-delves-into-the-professional-and-personal/

Subsonic X-plane Concepts Undergo NASA Mid-term Reviews


Design reviews pave way for X-plane definition as NASA targets smarter acquisition plans
NASA vows to become a "smart buyer" to offset budget threat to X-plane plans as it plans larger, piloted flight demonstrators.

read more


http://aviationweek.com/aircraft-design/subsonic-x-plane-concepts-undergo-nasa-mid-term-reviews

FAA, UAV aerial photography operator SkyPan settle civil penalty case - ATWOnline

http://atwonline.com/regulation/faa-uav-aerial-photography-operator-skypan-settle-civil-penalty-case

International Business Times
FAA, UAV aerial photography operator SkyPan settle civil penalty case
ATWOnline
The case stems from a series of alleged "65 unauthorized commercial [UAV] flights over various locations in New York City and Chicago between March 21, 2012 and Dec. 15, 2014 … [involving] aerial photography," according to FAA's original penalty ...
Drone Regulations: FAA Issues Largest Fine Ever To UAV Company ...International Business Times

los 20 artículos informativos 

Professor uses drones to track human impact on rainforest - Phys.Org

https://phys.org/news/2017-01-professor-drones-track-human-impact.html


Phys.Org

Professor uses drones to track human impact on rainforest
Phys.Org
After discussions, community leaders agreed to fly the unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) once a month and send the data to Cummings. Next came the training. Cummings wanted to make sure the residents knew how to maintain and reassemble the drones in ...

Embraer reaches targets with delivery of 108 commercial jets and 117 executive jets in 2016

Embraer (NYSE: ERJ; BM & FBOVESPA: EMBR3) delivered 32 commercial and 43 executive jets, 25 of which are light jets and 18 are large, during the fourth quarter of 2016 (4Q16). The Company ended the year with 108 aircraft delivered to the commercial aviation market and 117 to the executive aviation market, totaling 73 light and 44 large executive jets. These numbers are aligned with the estimates reported to the market throughout the year (105 to 110 commercial jets, 70 to 80 light executive jets and 35 to 45 large executive jets).

The total of 225 aircraft for these two markets represents the highest volume of deliveries in the last six years. As of December 31, the backlog totaled USD 19.6 billion.

Textron Aviation sees significant growth of its Cessna Pilot Center network



WICHITA, Kan. (Jan. 18, 2017) – Textron Aviation Inc., a Textron Inc. (NYSE:TXT) company, today announced its Cessna Pilot Center (CPC) network added 24 new partners in 2016, including five international flight schools in Argentina, Canada, Colombia, Germany and Poland. This growth supports the next generation of aviators with the help of the world’s leading training platform, the Cessna Skyhawk 172.

“The CPC network makes up the world’s largest and most experienced flight training team,” said Doug May, vice president, Piston Aircraft. “Our commitment to supporting new pilot education and flight training is evident in the enthusiasm we see from our partner flight schools. Throughout 2016 we saw significant growth to the network and we are excited to continue that momentum into the new year.”

The growth led to record CPC curriculum sales in 2016, demonstrating the company’s commitment and leadership in flight training support. The network now includes a total of 163 flight schools, and Textron Aviation plans on further growth and expansion.

About the CPC network
More pilots come to CPCs than any other network of flight schools to get their wings. The network continues to grow and find new opportunities to better support the flight training community. CPCs use the Cessna Flight Training System, a comprehensive, proven flight-training program that produces competent, prepared and confident new pilots. Flight schools interested in joining the network can visit www.newcpc.com to learn more.

Tecnam: DISCOVER THE P2002 SIERRA MkII (2ND GENERATION)



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rcg3lnmDQ9c

The Tecnam P2002 Sierra MkII retains all the features and flying qualities which have established the aircraft’s position in the marketplace, but now offers an improved cabin for greater comfort, top level avionics, new paint colours and interior options and a re-designed cowling for the 100HP Rotax engine.
  • Larger cabin, with new premium interior design.
  • Re-designed canopy with more headroom, and new locking mechanism that reduces noise level.
  • Seats with extra fore and aft adjustment.
  • Sleeker engine cowling
  • State of art avionics.
  • Several options for paint colours and interior fabrics

After 14 successful years since the original Sierra was launched, following a market survey, studying sales records and feedback from both clients & dealers, at the same time taking into account the flying characteristics which the customer has come to expect. The research considered three basic variables: the consumer’s “needs and taste”, the aircraft’s life cycle, and the current competition in the market place. “The market is always demanding greater comfort and more features,” says Paolo Pascale, Tecnam Managing Director, “so improving and updating our product is a must. At the same time innovation has always been part of Tecnam’s DNA and has been one of the major keys to our success.”

The result is the P2002 SIERRA MkII.

Development in Avionics has been rapid since the Sierra’s debut and the MkII offers state of art of technology in a jet-style cockpit. Customers can choose from an extensive range of options, starting with the basic analogue instruments needed for visual flight, a six pack analogue with Garmin GPS, the Dynon SkyView with twin 10 inch displays, the Garmin G3X which features twin 10.6 inch screens, and the G3X Night version with fully backlit backup instrumentation.

The largest choice of options is for Interior and Exterior Styling, with four choices for every Style package: Standard, Premium and Power. For the exterior, the range of paint schemes includes new metallic colours which can be matched to the seats, cabin sides and instrument panel covering. The customer is free to choose whatever suits their imagination and taste.

The P2002 SIERRA MkII will be available in the UltraLight ,US Light Sport Aircraft and Experimental categories. The first model will be delivered to TECNAM US in Sebring Florida, and displayed at Sebring U.S. Sport Aviation Expo in Florida, between January 25th-28th 2017.

Flynas orders 60 Airbus A320neo Family aircraft


Converts further 20 CEOs to NEOs
16 JANUARY 2017 PRESS RELEASE


Flynas, Saudi Arabia’s leading low-cost carrier, has signed an agreement with Airbus for 60 A320neo Family aircraft.

In addition to the 60 aircraft, Flynas has converted 20 A320ceo from a previous order to A320neo bringing the airline’s total firm order to 80 A320neo. The deliveries are scheduled to take place during 2018-2026.

The agreement was announced today in Riyadh at a press conference attended by Ayed Al Jeaid, Chairman, NAS Holding, Bander Al Mohanna, Chief Executive Officer, NAS Holding Group and Fouad Attar, Managing Director, Airbus Middle East.

Flynas, an all Airbus operator, currently has 26 A320ceo in service. Launched in 2007, the airline has successfully operated over 260,000 flights and carried more than 30 million passengers in the last ten years.

Ayed Al Jeaid, Chairman, NAS Holding Group said, “Flynas has come a long way to establish itself as a highly reputed airline in Saudi Arabia. With the introduction of the new aircraft technology, we are confident of our ability to provide best services to our customers. We also look forward to being the first airline in the Kingdom to be successfully listed on the Saudi Stock exchange, which will offer equity ownership to the public and be a part of a great journey.”

Bander Al Mohanna, Chief Executive Officer, NAS Holding Group said, “We have operated exceptionally well with our existing Airbus A320 fleet, which has allowed us to maintain high performance standards in operations and passenger experience. We have an ambitious growth vision and the new A320neo order will further support our plans to be a leading low-cost carrier with the most advanced and efficient technology and will allow us to strengthen our offerings within and outside of Saudi Arabia.”

In 2016, Flynas set a new record by carrying 6.3 million passengers contributing to a 14% year-on-year increase. The A320neo will provide Flynas unbeatable efficiency and comfort in both high-density domestic segments as well as thinner routes.

“The additional A320neo aircraft will continue to support Flynas’ growth plans as a leading low-cost carrier in Saudi Arabia’s fast-growing aviation sector,” said John Leahy, Chief Operating Officer - Customers, Airbus. Today’s agreement further consolidates the aircraft’s popularity that has been endorsed by operators worldwide. The aircraft will offer a unique combination of unbeatable economics, fuel and cost efficiency and outstanding passenger comfort.”

The A320neo Family is the world’s best-selling single aisle aircraft with more than 5,000 orders from 90 customers since its launch in 2010. It incorporates latest technologies including new generation engines and Sharklet wing tip devices, which together deliver more than 15 percent in fuel savings from day one and 20 percent by 2020 with further cabin innovations. The A320neo also offers significant environmental performance with nearly 50 percent reduction in noise footprint compared to previous generation aircraft.

Atomic clocks failures onboard Galileo satellites: nine clocks out of 72 have stopped operating



Across the 18 satellites now in orbit, nine clocks out of 72 have stopped operating. Three are traditional rubidium devices; six are the more precise hydrogen maser instruments that were designed to give Galileo superior performance to the American GPS network.

Galileo was declared up and running in December. However, it is still short of the number of satellites considered to represent a fully functioning constellation, and a decision must now be made about whether to suspend the launch of further spacecraft while the issue is investigated.
  • First four satellites launched were called In Orbit Validation (IOV) platforms
  • The next 14 were referred to as Full Operational Constellation (FOC) satellites
  • Three of the rubidium clock failures have occurred on Galileo’s FOC satellites
  • Five of the hydrogen maser failures have occurred on the IOV spacecraft
  • One maser has stopped on an FOC satellite, giving nine failures in total
  • Three of the four IOVs are affected; two of the 14 FOC satellites are affected
  • Every satellite has two hydrogen maser clocks and two rubidium clocks
  • That means a total of 72 atomic clocks are currently in orbit
  • All Galileo satellites presently have at least two working clocks

Prof Jan Woerner, the director general of the European Space Agency (ESA), told a meeting with reporters: “Everybody is raising this question: should we postpone the next launch until we find the root cause, or should we launch? You can give both answers at the same time. You can say we wait until we find the solution but that means if more clocks fail we will reduce the capability of Galileo. But if we launch we will at least maintain if not increase the [capability], but we may then take the risk that a systematic problem is not considered. We are right now in this discussion about what to do.”

Still operationalEach Galileo satellite carries two rubidium and two hydrogen maser clocks. The multiple installation enables a satellite to keep working after an initial failure. All 18 spacecraft currently in space continue to operate, but one of them is now down to just two clocks.
Most of the maser failures (5) have occurred on the satellites that were originally sent into orbit to validate the system, whereas all three rubidium stoppages are on the spacecraft that were subsequently launched to fill out the network.

ESA staff at its technical centre, ESTEC, in the Netherlands are trying to isolate the cause the of failures – with the assistance of the clock (Spectratime of Switzerland) and satellite manufacturers (Airbus and Thales Alenia Space; OHB and SSTL). It is understood engineers have managed to restart another hydrogen clock that had stopped.

ESA is also in contact with the Indian space agency which is using the same clocks in its sat-nav system. So far, the Indians have not experienced the same failures.

Mitigating actionsA statement issued by the agency late on Wednesday gave additional details. It appears the rubidium failures “all seem to have a consistent signature, linked to probable short circuits, and possibly a particular test procedure performed on the ground”.

The maser clock failures are said to be better understood, with two likely causes, the second of which has caused most grief. The ESA statement said this second scenario was “related to the fact that when some healthy [hydrogen maser] clocks are turned off for long periods, they do not restart due to a change in clock characteristics”.

Actions are being taken to try to prevent further problems. These involve changing the way clocks are operated in orbit. Clocks about to fly are also likely to be refurbished, and future devices yet to be made will have design changes, the agency says. ESA is hopeful it can still launch the next four satellites in the constellation before the end of the year.

Precise timing is at the core of all satellite-navigation systems. Atomic clocks generate the time code that is continuously transmitted to users on the ground to help them fix a position.

The passive hydrogen maser clocks in Galileo are determined to be accurate to one billionth of a second per day, or one second in three million years. This performance ought to contribute to giving users fixes that have errors of a metre or less – significantly better than the standard open service from GPS.

A fully operational Galileo system is regarded as a constellation of 24, split across three orbital planes in the sky. But spares are required also, and with one very early satellite in the constellation already considered very close to complete failure – for different reasons – there needs to be near-continuous production of spacecraft.