EASA issues guidelines for the design verification of drones operated in the ‘specific’ category | EASA

https://www.easa.europa.eu/newsroom-and-events/press-releases/easa-issues-guidelines-design-verification-drones-operated 

COLOGNE, April 8, 2021 - The European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) published guidance for drone operators, manufacturers and national authorities explaining the process for the design verification of drones, an important element in ensuring safe drone operations in the 'specific' category.

Since the new EU drone regulation became applicable on December 31, 2020, the volume of drone operations taking place across Europe has been stepped up. Operators are also gradually increasing the scope of their operations and the design verification of the drone by EASA is an important element to ensure safety, in particular when operations are conducted in populated areas. 

The process applied for the design verification will depend on the level of risk of the operation. When the drone is used in operations classified as high risk (i.e. SAIL V and VI according to SORA), EASA will issue a type certificate according to Part 21 (Regulation (EU) 748/2012). When the drone is used in operations classified in the medium risk (i.e. SAIL III and IV according to SORA), a more proportionate approach will be applied, leading to a 'design verification report'. The procedure to apply to EASA for the issuance of the 'design verification report' are described in the Guidelines.

"EASA continues its efforts to ensure safe, secure and sustainable operations of drones," EASA Executive Director Patrick Ky said. "This new design verification process was developed to support all stakeholders, applying a proportionate approach which will foster innovation and growth in this promising sector".

The design verification process is immediately applicable and national aviation authorities are encouraged to require all UAS operators who are conducting operations in the 'specific' category, with medium risk, to operate drones for which EASA has issued a 'design verification report'.

Official roll out ceremony KF-21 Boramae

https://www.scramble.nl/military-news/official-roll-out-ceremony-kf-21-boramae 

[España]¡El Campeonato Nacional de ULM en Olocau será retransmitido en directo!

Este Sábado 10 de abril del 2021, por primera vez en la historia, se retransmitirá en directo un evento de deporte aéreo distinto de la acrobacia y las carreras aéreas. Todo ello gracias a la productora audiovisual AirCatProductions perteneciente al grupo de empresas de aeronáutica AirCatGlobal quien abordará un despliegue nunca visto antes, con cámaras dentro de los aviones retransmitiendo en directo, varias cámaras a pie de pista para retransmitir las tomas de precisión y hasta con un drone audiovisual. Todo ello con la coordinación de un amplio equipo técnico y aeronáutico así como la intervención como comentarista de Oscar Mateos, piloto y protagonista de los conocidos episodios de Escapadas de Altura y también la intervención en directo de Jesús Más, fundador y 'Padre' de la ANR (Air Navigation Race).   Podréis ver el espectáculo en directo y en exclusiva en el canal de Youtube de Aircatfly, así como en el mismo Facebook e Instagram de esta misma empresa.   Air Navigation Race (ANR) es una competición orientada 100% a que los pilotos participantes no solo compitan al máximo nivel sino que los pilotos que se inician aprendan y se motiven a volar con la mayor diversión en un ambiente de competición donde la adrenalina fluye cada minuto del espectáculo.   Esta disciplina consiste en tanto en pruebas de navegación como en aterrizajes de precisión. Cada una de las aeronaves tiene que volar una ruta de entre 15 y 20 millas, con un pasillo de anchura variable de entre 700 metros a 300 metros. Las rutas las diseña el director de competición y se las ofrece a las tripulaciones 40 minutos antes de salir a navegarla para poderla minutar y estudiar.   La mayor novedad del Air Navigation Race es que cada tripulación lleva a bordo un Smartphone que hace de registrador del track mediante posicionamiento GNSS registrando toda la trayectoria de vuelo, como enviando la posición segundo a segundo a un servidor para poder realizar el seguimiento de la competición en Internet. Una vez terminan la ruta de navegación las tripulaciones deben llegar al aeródromo para ejecutar dos aterrizajes de precisión, uno al ralentí y otro con motor. Ambos deben realizarlos intentando poner las ruedas en una parrilla de 68 metros pintada sobre la pista con franjas cada 5 metros donde se evaluará la destreza de cada piloto para poner aterrizar en la llamada línea de FE, una franja de dos metros donde se obtiene la mínima penalización.   Con esta retransmisión en directo del evento, esperamos acercar más si cabe la emoción de la competición ANR a todos los aficionados del deporte aéreo, por lo que este sábado, la organización tiene diseñado un horario para evitar tiempos muertos y hacer que la competición sea dinámica y vistosa.   Se empezará por la mañana a las 10:00 contando la competición, los equipos y las 2 primeras etapas del día. Por la tarde a partir de las 16:00 se retransmitirán las dos últimas pruebas y la final con el pódium del Campeonato.   Bienvenid@s a esta Competición de Altura

Airbus, Dassault reach deal on European FCAS fighter jet prototype

https://www.dailysabah.com/business/defense/airbus-dassault-reach-deal-on-european-fcas-fighter-jet-prototype 

https://eurasiantimes.com/how-french-senate-panel-brokered-fcas-talks-between-rafale-maker-dassault-airbus/

NASA Invites Public to Take Flight With Ingenuity Mars Helicopter

https://www.nasa.gov/press-release/nasa-invites-public-to-take-flight-with-ingenuity-mars-helicopter 

Aides d'État: la Commission autorise aid a Air France

https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/fr/ip_21_1581 

Rafale deal | €1 mn paid to middleman in Rafale deal, says French report - The Hindu

https://www-thehindu-com.cdn.ampproject.org/c/s/www.thehindu.com/news/national/rafale-deal-french-anti-corruption-agency-afa-found-dassault-paid-1-million-euros-to-middleman-report/article34243196.ece/amp/ 

Boeing, Hypersonix to study hydrogen-powered launch vehicle

https://www.aerotime.aero/27532-boeing-hypersonix-study-hypersonic-hydrogen-vehicle?utm_source=linkedin.com&utm_medium=social 

Russian government approves design of PAK DA stealth bomber

https://www-aerotime-aero.cdn.ampproject.org/c/s/www.aerotime.aero/27613-Russian-government-approves-design-of-PAK-DA-stealth-bomber?v=amp 

Northrop Grumman's optionally-manned Firebird demonstrates operational flexibility

Northrop Grumman's optionally-manned Firebird demonstrates operational flexibility https://www.spacewar.com/reports/Northrop_Grummans_optionally_manned_Firebird_demonstrates_operational_flexibility_999.html 

Air Force's hypersonic missile booster fails to launch from B-52 in first test

 https://www.spacewar.com/reports/Air_Forces_hypersonic_missile_booster_fails_to_launch_from_B-52_in_first_test_999.html 

Principal interior designer Stephanie Chahan talks Exosonic

 https://runwaygirlnetwork.com/2021/04/05/principal-interior-designer-stephanie-chahan-talks-exosonic/ 

Why Hydrogen?

https://projectfresson.uk/why-hydrogen 

TEMACOM Artificial intelligence and Machine learning to predict defective Aerospace components - IDAERO

https://idaerosolutions.com/news/temacom-artificial-intelligence-and-machine-learning-to-predict-defective-aerospace-components/ 

Recently Idaero Joint TEMACOM Project, as part of a consortium with Airbus and IMDEA.

Idaero is in charge of development the software including AI and ML core.

One of the goals of TEMACOM is reducing defects probability occurrence during manufacturing of aerospace parts by developing TEMACOM predictive software.

First Stage
First stage of the project just finished, consists of prediction of what conditions may lead to defects during RTM manufacturing process.

RTM (Resin Transfer Moulding) process consist of injecting epoxy resin in a mold with carbon fiber, so parts manufactured copy the geometry of the mould and are reinforced with carbon fibres.

RTM process are used widely to improve efficiency while manufacturing composite components for aerospace, automotive, wind power and other industries.

There are some possible defects that may appear in the parts during the process, that affect mechanical properties.

Second Stage
Second and current stage of the project is the prediction of manufacturing issues when drilling panels for assembling, based on detection of position of the tools on the outer shape of the manufactured panels, that can result in defects in the holes.

Idaero
Idaero is specialized in developing engineering software of any kind, including Machine Learning and Artificial intelligence solutions applied to improve manufacturing processes.

TEMACOM is a Project from Innovation Hub calls of the Regional Government of Madrid and receives funds from Community of Madrid.

 

 

TEMACOM is a Project from Innovation Hub calls of the Regional Government of Madrid and receives funds from Community of Madrid

First Flight Test Of Air Force’s Hypersonic AGM-183A Air-launched Rapid Response Weapon (ARRW) Fails

https://theaviationist.com/2021/04/06/first-flight-test-of-air-forces-hypersonic-agm-183a-air-launched-rapid-response-weapon-arrw-fails/ 

TsAGI Developed a Concept of Aircraft Wing Surface Micro-Relief

http://tsagi.ru/en/pressroom/news/5156/ 

During unfavorable weather conditions or in case of crew errors, the flying aircraft risks reaching critical angles of attack, which can lead to a plane crash. To solve the problem of the drop in lift, scientists from the Central Aerohydrodynamic Institute named after Professor N.E. Zhukovsky (part of the Research Center "Institute named after N.E. Zhukovsky") investigate the possibility to control the detachable flow around the wing using the surface microrelief. The fundamental activity is being carried out within the framework of Micro-Relief, TsAGI R&D

At the first stage, TsAGI created a concept of the micro-relief which is a number of plastic-foil zig-zag vortex generators distributed above the streamlined surface.

After that, TsAGI used the subsonic T-129 WT to find the best relief position on the wing. The wing model tests were performed at 15-20 m/s flow rate, 0...35-degree angles of attack, and with different micro-relief positions.

'The testing revealed that wing leading edge area is the most effective position for the micro-relief. This does not only increase the maximum lift coefficient but also significantly slows the lift descent at post stall,' said Maksim Ustinov, Doctor of Sciences in Physics and Mathematics, TsAGI Deputy Head of Supersonic Aircraft Aerothermodynamics.

The next stage included tests of micro-relief influence on high-lift wing; they showed the efficiency of using it at the wing slat.

The concept developed may be applicable for different aircraft types; this year, it will be tested on a main rotor blade model. Tests will be carried out on the special facility in the Department for Rotorcraft Aerodynamics and Dynamics.

In the course of the work, the scientists will study the mechanism of the influence of the relief on the unsteady separation of the flow. This will improve the know-how parameters to be used on the rotor blade profile. It is expected that the use of microrelief will significantly increase the helicopter aerodynamic characteristics, in particular, its maximum velocity.

HAECO Cabin Solutions’ Vector Light seats get FAA certification

https://www.flightglobal.com/aerospace/haeco-cabin-solutions-vector-light-seats-get-faa-certification/143201.article 

SpaceX identifies cause of Starship SN11 prototype's crash | Space

https://www.space.com/spacex-starship-sn11-crash-cause 

In response to Air France capital strengthening, KLM says it will also need capital

https://www.aviation24.be/airlines/air-france-klm-group/klm-royal-dutch-airlines/in-response-to-air-france-capital-strengthening-klm-says-it-will-also-need-capital/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=in-response-to-air-france-capital-strengthening-klm-says-it-will-also-need-capital 

Ryanair March traffic down 91% to 500,000 passengers

https://www.aviation24.be/airlines/ryanair/ryanair-march-traffic-down-91-to-500000-passengers/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=ryanair-march-traffic-down-91-to-500000-passengers