by Joy Finnegan | Feb 2, 2023 | Innovation
Electra.aero, Inc. a next-gen aerospace company with a mission to help decarbonize aviation and open new air transportation markets, today announced its selection by the U.S. Air Force AFWERX innovation arm for a Strategic Funding Increase (STRATFI) award that secures up to $85 million between private investments, government funding, and matching Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) funding for Electra’s development of a full-scale pre-production prototype electric short takeoff and landing (eSTOL) aircraft.
Designed for operations from soccer field-sized spaces, Electra’s eSTOL represents a new class of aircraft, characterized by helicopter-like operational flexibility with performance and operating costs better than comparable fixed-wing aircraft. The eSTOL aircraft can operate in environments ranging from busy urban areas to remote landing strips, and fly missions including on-demand urban and regional air mobility, cargo logistics, executive transport, humanitarian assistance and disaster response, and more. Electra has received over 1,000 eSTOL aircraft orders from commercial customers around the globe aiming to lower operating costs, access new markets through smaller ground footprints and lower noise profiles, and meet both customer and investor expectations for reduced carbon emissions.
This STRATFI award secures an investment partnership that funds the rapid development, test, and evaluation of a full-scale pre-production prototype eSTOL aircraft which can be used by the Air Force to validate requirements and operational use cases. It will leverage Electra’s upcoming world-first flight test of a two-seat piloted eSTOL technology demonstrator aircraft and substantially accelerates the transition path for Electra’s commercial nine-passenger eSTOL product aircraft to support Air Force missions of interest.
This effort builds directly from Electra’s six active USAF SBIR and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) Phase II and Phase III contracts which have matured each of the core aspects of eSTOL technology – distributed electric propulsion, blown lift aerodynamics and acoustics, precision flight controls, and hybrid-electric powertrains. Under the STRATFI contract, Electra will further strengthen its partnership with the AFWERX Agility Prime program, chartered with expanding technology transition paths to accelerate emerging dual-use markets by leveraging government resources for rapid and affordable fielding, while bolstering U.S. tech advantage.
“This STRATFI award reinforces the Air Force’s commitment to dual-use eSTOL technology as a solution for national security and other government missions, and validates Electra’s aircraft design and engineering work to date,” said John S. Langford, founder and CEO of Electra. “The cost and risk advantages of eSTOL technology also make it a smart investment. We are honored to be chosen for this significant award and look forward to continuing our close collaboration with the Agility Prime team.”
“There is a significant gap in the Joint Force to provide logistics and sustainment to widely dispersed units across large contested geographical areas at the tactical edge,” said Ben Marchionna, Electra’s director of technology and business development. “Electra’s eSTOL is ideally suited to serve as a small highly fuel-efficient airlifter that helps the Air Force execute its Agile Combat Employment doctrine and meet its operational energy goals to reduce aviation carbon emissions. Small, affordable, runway-independent eSTOL aircraft could also alleviate demand on larger, few-in-number, high performance fixed wing and rotorcraft platforms in a contested logistics environment. Our team is thrilled to help the Air Force solve this key national security priority.”
“It’s vital that we ensure new advanced air mobility technologies with dual-use applications are developed and manufactured here at home in the U.S.,” said Lieutenant Colonel John “Wasp” Tekell, Air Force Agility Prime Lead. “Electra’s eSTOL technology has the potential to deliver valuable logistics and mobility capabilities to the Air Force. We value our partnership with Electra and look forward to supporting their continued development and future transition.”
by Joy Finnegan | Feb 2, 2023 | Avionics, Connectivity
Satcom Direct’s Plane Simple antenna series has officially entered commercial service. Following what the company says was two years of development, rigorous testing and a thorough customer in-service evaluation, the first antenna in the series is now commercially available for aircraft owners and operators seeking reliable, global, customized connectivity solutions that are future-proofed for evolving connectivity needs.
The SD Plane Simple Ku-band tail-mount terminal is already revolutionizing business aviation connectivity with its purpose-built design developed to meet the sector’s specific needs. The terminal is powered by the multi-layered, high-throughput Intelsat FlexExec network, the first airtime service dedicated to business aviation. Customers are benefiting from greater flexibility, connectivity options that align with anticipated operational costs, and a compact terminal system that supports simplified dynamic upgrade paths.
“We had an idea that we believed would change how aircraft owners and operators think about connectivity. Together with our partners, we are developing, building, testing, and proving the Plane Simple technology, a product line that helps our customers be prepared for now and the future,” said Jim Jensen, CEO and founder of Satcom Direct. “Prior to the Plane Simple offering, high-speed connectivity options were limited by capacity, restrictive pricing plans, invasive installation, and were incompatible with changing satellite markets. The Plane Simple antenna series resolves these needs, and we’re proud to make this advanced, innovative antenna technology available to new and existing customers.”
The Satcom Direct flight department has test flown the Plane Simple Ku-band technology using its Gulfstream G550 to ensure the system exceeds customer expectations. More than 560 total hours of flight time have been logged to confirm the global commercial readiness of the system. “We are passionate about raising industry standards, and the Plane Simple Ku-band terminal, when married with SD’s FlightDeck Freedom, allows for real-time network monitoring to assure crew and passengers are supported by our world-leading customer service team. The mantra in our NOC is we ‘know before you know’, indicating that we are always one step ahead of the aircraft connectivity to ensure unbroken coverage globally.”
Confirming the success of the terminal’s flight trials, all those participating in the in-service evaluation have transitioned to customer status. David Utley of Executive Jet Management, which evaluated the system on its Bombardier Global 5000, added, “The tools and service provided by SD are impressive. We particularly welcome the opportunity to integrate third-party tools as it helps us operate more efficiently. These capabilities, combined with SD’s advice and recommendations on which tools to use and how to optimize them and troubleshoot in flight, empower me to maximize our connectivity. This consultative approach means I always know what is going on. That is important for a busy aircraft frequently flying around the globe.”
Satcom Direct Avionics, the SD manufacturing division, has developed the state-of-the-art hardware in partnership with QEST, a worldwide provider of innovative aeronautical antennas. The singular design of the first antenna consists of just two line replaceable units, the SD modem unit and tail-mount antenna. This minimizes installation times, reduces maintenance fees, and, located in the unpressurized part of the fuselage, frees up valuable cabin space.
With the Plane Simple commercial service introduction on the Intelsat FlexExec network, operators only need to make one call to SD to source end-to-end connectivity acquisition and management. Supported by 24/7/365 customer service, the technology delivers inflight productivity, enhances leisure time, and improves operational management for more aircraft types than ever. Developed on an open-architecture platform, the system supports the integration of third-party suppliers to add further operational value.
The system has already received Federal Aviation Administration STCs for Bombardier Global 5000, 6000, Express, Express XRS, Dassault F2000LX/LXS, Gulfstream GIV, GIV-X, G450, GV, GV-SP, G550 types with the European Aviation Safety Agency also confirming STCs for Bombardier Global 5000, 6000, Express, Express XRS and Dassault F2000LX/LXS models.
by Joy Finnegan | Feb 2, 2023 | Flight Ops IT, MRO IT
Air India passengers can be confident of first-class safety after the flag carrier airline chose global software company Ideagen to support them with end-to-end safety management.
The airline holds the safety of its passengers and people as its top priority, and by choosing Ideagen they’re in good company, as 750 aviation and aerospace organisations worldwide already use Ideagen to support them with their quality and safety operations.Ideagen software covers all aspects of risk, giving management full visibility of safety data from maintenance of the aircraft through to cabin crew checks on board. It provides the Air India leadership team with complete visibility across their entire organisation, allowing them to access the latest data and use this to spot and mitigate potential risks, enhancing the safety of their operations.
“We are honored to be supporting Air India to continue to assure the safety of their passengers, crew and high-skilled workforce,” Ideagen CEO Ben Dorks said. “Air India, like Ideagen, are in an exciting period of growth, adding more routes to connect India with the rest of the world and we are delighted to be with them on that journey. As an expert in software solutions within regulated and high-compliance industries, we have a strong pedigree in quality management, health and safety, risk mitigation, auditing, training and collaboration software. Air India customers can be assured that they are in safe hands.”
Commenting on the development, Henry Donohoe, Head of Safety, Security and Quality, Air India, said: “We are going for a significant and substantial upgrade of our existing systems and processes to ensure seamless flow of intelligence and data on a real time basis.”
by Joy Finnegan | Feb 1, 2023 | Innovation
Honeywell hosted a consortium of companies to its international development center in Brno, Czech Republic, recently to launch research and plans to develop advanced thermal management components and architectures for next-generation narrow body and regional, hybrid-electric aircraft as a critical enabler to reducing aircraft emissions.
Clean Aviation Project TheMa4HERA, which stands for Thermal Management for Hybrid Electric Regional Aircraft, encompasses 24 partners, including universities, research centers, equipment manufacturers and aircraft manufacturers, across 10 European countries. Honeywell will lead research out of its Brno facility. The project will review a variety of thermal management technology to compare and adapt to the architecture of next-generation aircraft.
“Pivotal to achieving the transformation to net-zero aviation will be the development of disruptive solutions that brings momentous gains in aircraft energy efficiency coupled with low- or zero-carbon energy sources. The launch of TheMa4HERA will kick-start the necessary work to drive a step change in aircraft performance, supporting the delivery of EU Green Deal ambitions,” Axel Krein, executive director of Clean Aviation.
“Project TheMa4HERA allows Honeywell to apply its more than 15 years of experience in leading collaboration on international research on programs such as Clean Aviation and SESAR,” said Joeri De Ruytter, regional business development and partnerships lead, Honeywell Aerospace. “We have a long history in thermal management design and manufacturing that dates back to the 1940s. In addition, each partner on this project brings its expertise and passion for advancing sustainable aviation technologies. Combined with our expansive portfolio and long-standing relationships with OEMs, this research provides the opportunity for a unified solution on current and future aircraft.”
The hybrid aircraft of the future will operate much differently than the aviation sector has grown accustomed to during the jet age. Thermal management will become more complex when aircraft manufacturers introduce electric and hybrid-electric aircraft with heat-generating fuel cells, batteries and power electronics. These aircraft will require more efficient and lightweight thermal management systems that will help aircraft manufacturers deliver on sustainability commitments, meet government regulations and enable aircraft to fly farther on less fuel.
Honeywell project partners, such as Collins Aerospace, will work across various workstreams, including research on thermal management architecture, air supply systems, air conditioning and system cooling, as well as testing and demonstration. Collins Aerospace subsidiary Nord Micro, based in Frankfurt, Germany, will work with Honeywell on cabin air distribution for the project.
“Collins’ Nord Micro business has decades of experience developing state-of-the-art cabin pressure controls and ventilation systems for commercial and military platforms,” said Ulrich Raab, general manager for Nord Micro. “Working together with Honeywell and the rest of the TheMa4HERA consortium, we will optimize the design of new cabin air solutions to increase energy efficiency and reduce carbon emissions on future aircraft.”
Clean Aviation recently announced awards to 20 projects under the Clean Aviation Strategic Research and Innovation Agenda covering 14 topics around three focus areas: hydrogen-powered aircraft, hybrid- electric regional aircraft, and ultra-efficient short- and medium-range aircraft. Honeywell has also been selected to implement project NEWBORN to develop a new generation of hydrogen fuel cells for the aviation industry. Resulting technologies will be introduced in 2035 with the intention to help enable the biggest step change reduction on aviation’s carbon impact by 2050, together with accelerated adoption of low or zero-carbon energy sources and sustainable fuels.
by Joy Finnegan | Feb 1, 2023 | Innovation
A consortium led by Honeywell met recently to launch a European Clean Aviation project that will develop a new generation of hydrogen fuel cells for the aviation industry. Project NEWBORN will involve multidisciplinary collaboration between 18 partners from 10 European countries to develop an aerospace-qualified megawatt-class fuel cell propulsion system powered by hydrogen.
Green hydrogen, the term given to hydrogen produced by splitting water into hydrogen and oxygen using renewable electricity, is an extremely clean power source that can be used to propel future aircraft, which makes it appealing as the aerospace sector works to reduce carbon emissions. The megawatt-class fuel cell propulsion system delivered by NEWBORN will give birth to future, sustainable aviation beyond a megawatt. The final demonstrator will be integrated and tested by Pipistrel Vertical Solutions, a Slovene-based disruptive general aviation manufacturer.
“Achieving aviation’s transformation to climate-neutral requires a comprehensive arsenal of disruptive solutions that will bring momentous gains in aircraft energy efficiency coupled with low- or zero-carbon energy sources,” said Axel Krein, executive director of Clean Aviation. “With the launch of NEWBORN we can kick-start the necessary work to drive a step-change in aircraft performance and deliver EU Green Deal ambitions for net-zero flight.”
“Our priority is creating realistic solutions to make flying sustainable. NEWBORN is pushing the boundaries of current hydrogen fuel cell research by establishing a hydrogen hybrid powertrain that employs Pipistrel’s batteries with liquid hydrogen-powered fuel cells at megawatt levels,” said Tine Tomažič, chief technology officer, Pipistrel Vertical Solutions. “It’s an honor to be working alongside our industry partners on a project that opens up truly exciting possibilities.”
“Honeywell is dedicated to helping our customers achieve environmental targets through technologies that make our world more sustainable and better connected,” said Kurt Shewfelt, senior director, Breakthrough Technology Initiatives, Honeywell Aerospace. “We are proud to work with our project partners on innovative, new technology that will help integrate hydrogen propulsion on commercial aircraft and contribute to a more sustainable future for aviation.”
Work on NEWBORN will be performed at the Honeywell Technology Solutions research and development center in Brno, Czech Republic, and at other Honeywell and project-partner sites across Europe.
Clean Aviation Joint Undertaking, the European Union’s research and innovation program for transforming aviation toward a sustainable and climate-neutral future, will fund €700 million over 20 selected groundbreaking sustainability projects in response to its first Call for Proposals for disruptive technology research to power the climate-neutral aircraft of the future. Project NEWBORN was the No. 1 ranked project in the first Call for Proposals, receiving the highest score by the selection committee.
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