Supernal, Hyundai Motor Group’s (HMG) Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) company, announced the opening of its policy and commercial hub in Washington, D.C. This is one of three permanent facilities Supernal is opening this year, which include its engineering headquarters in Irvine, Calif., and an R&D facility in Fremont, Calif., close to Silicon Valley.
Supernal’s 28,000-square-foot office is located at 16th and L Streets N.W. and will include a 5,000-square-foot innovation center upon completion of construction later this year. The company employs more than 60 people in the market across policy, strategic planning, legal, commercial, product, finance and HR disciplines. Supernal plans to hire an additional 20 employees in Washington, D.C., this year, bringing the company’s total headcount to more than 500.
“The decision to open a three-story office in downtown Washington, D.C., reflects Supernal’s earnest commitment to serving as an industry resource to regulators and policymakers as they shape AAM,” said Jaiwon Shin, president of Hyundai Motor Group and CEO of Supernal. “We are also pleased to draw on the region’s growing tech and commercial talent pool.”
Established in 2020 as the Urban Air Mobility Division of Hyundai Motor Group, Supernal is developing an electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) vehicle and the integrated ground-to-air ecosystem to support the emerging AAM industry. As part of HMG, Supernal is working to integrate the automotive giant’s manufacturing technologies, supply chain capabilities and automation into AAM to make electric air travel an everyday transportation option in the coming decades.
“Government and industry’s collaboration is a main reason why commercial aviation has become the safest form of transportation and routine in daily life for many — and we want nothing less for AAM,” said Shin. “Supernal is working with agencies and policymakers to facilitate a cycle of proactive planning and policymaking that will maximize AAM’s benefit to communities when integrated locally.”
Supernal spent more than a year building out the three-story office space with the mantra of “design facilities that inspire and exceed the comfort of employees’ homes.” The interior design pays homage to the company’s aerospace identity with metalwork throughout that mirrors aircraft parts and shapes, conference rooms named after renowned aviators and even flight path markings on the floors to guide employees throughout the space. Relatedly, the design draws from the swarm dynamics of birds to create seamless traffic flows among spaces — promoting fluidity and movement — and the on-site arboretum provides a serene environment that fosters a sense of tranquility and connection to nature.
Supernal also designed the space with employee well-being and collaboration in mind. Meticulously planned amenity spaces offer opportunities for employees to cultivate balance amid work schedules with wellness features that promote relaxation, stress-reduction, creativity and mental clarity. To foster community and collaboration, Supernal chose flexible furniture and round, soft architectural elements to create adaptable spaces that meet the diverse needs of employees. In addition to these spaces, the office boasts ergonomically-designed workstations and an eco-café that serves as a vibrant hub for socializing and collaboration.
The Air Force is investing in JetZero’s aircraft design that will reduce fuel consumption, cut emissions and noise and provide an improved airline passenger experience. The company will build a full-scale demonstrator to validate BWB performance.
As air traffic grows at a projected rate of 3.6 percent annually, decarbonizing the industry becomes even more challenging. The global airline fleet is projected to nearly double to 47,700 aircraft by 2041, according to Cirium, an aviation analytics firm. JetZero aircraft can play an essential role in reducing the industry’s carbon footprint.
JetZero’s demonstrator, the first in a proposed family of BWB aircraft, uses current engines and systems. The blended wing body aircraft, a design that has been under study by NASA and others for three decades, lends itself to conversion in the future to hydrogen propulsion, which would produce zero carbon emissions.
Under the terms of the award from DoD’s Defense Innovation Unit, JetZero will receive $235 million over a four-year period, culminating in first flight of the full-scale demonstrator by the first quarter of 2027. The DIU was founded in 2015 to help the U.S. military make faster use of emerging commercial technologies.
JetZero is collaborating with Northrop Grumman and Scaled Composites, who bring extensive experience in advanced aircraft design, manufacturing, and mission systems integration to build and test the full-scale demonstrator. And JetZero has selected Pratt & Whitney GTF™ engines to power the demonstrator, with Pratt & Whitney GATORWORKS supporting JetZero with design and integration of the propulsion system within the demonstrator.
“The BWB is the best first step on the path to zero carbon emissions. It offers 50% lower fuel burn using today’s engines and the airframe efficiency needed to support a transition to zero carbon emissions propulsion in the future,” said JetZero CEO Tom O’Leary. “No other proposed aircraft comes close in terms of efficiency.”
U.S. Space Force deputy chief of space operations, strategy, plans, programs and requirements, Lt. Gen. Philip A. Garrant, recently made history by leading the first-ever Space Engagement Talks with Japan, aiming to enhance combined space operations and establish a bilateral roadmap for future collaboration.
“The U.S.-Japan Space Engagement Talks represent a further expansion of our strong alliance into the space domain,” emphasized the commander of United States Space Forces Indo-Pacific, Brig. Gen. Anthony J. Mastalir, who hosted the event. “Through these talks and Space Working Groups to follow, we can build a roadmap for cooperation to ensure safety and security in space for our nations and all responsible actors.”
The USSF-JASDF Space Engagement Talks serve as a model of the U.S.-Japan Alliance’s commitment to space collaboration and reinforces the significance of partnerships in achieving shared objectives.
“It’s an exciting time to participate in the Space Engagement Talks with Japan,” said Mastalir. “This forum is an excellent mechanism to drive new collaborative efforts with allies and partners, and to ensure we preserve security, stability, and long-term sustainability of space for the INDOPACOM region.”
The U.S. Space Force’s “Partner to Win” line of effort drives the collaboration, recognizing the strategic advantage that the global network of alliances and partnerships offers. The potential benefits of such collaborations include greater situational awareness, improved operational effectiveness, and increased resiliency in the face of emerging threats. For example, countries with advanced space capabilities can provide technical assistance and training to those with developing space programs, while those with access to strategic locations and infrastructure can provide valuable support in areas like satellite tracking and communication.
“These talks are another example of how our two countries are working together to defend the space domain and support our bilateral joint forces,” Mastalir explained. “I’m grateful for our strong alliance with Japan and proud to be part of this important effort to advance our space operations cooperation.”
Virgin Galactic announced the completion of its first private astronaut flight, Galactic 02. The mission achieved multiple historic milestones, the company says, showcasing how their spaceflights are broadening access to space for a diverse, global community of astronauts.
Flying private astronauts Jon Goodwin from the United Kingdom, and Keisha Schahaff and Anastatia Mayers from Antigua and Barbuda, Galactic 02 achieved many firsts, including the first female astronauts from the Caribbean, the first mother-daughter duo to go to space, most women flown in a single space mission and the youngest person to go to space, among others.
“Virgin Galactic took another historic leap forward by flying our first private astronaut mission and demonstrating how our spaceflights will broaden access to space,” said Michael Colglazier, CEO of Virgin Galactic. “Jon, Keisha and Ana each embody our fundamental belief that space is for everyone, and we are proud that today’s flight has inspired people and communities around the world. This is just the beginning, as we plan to continue flying monthly spaceflights while also developing our Delta Class production spaceships to scale our business.”
C.J. Sturckow, VSS Unity commander said, “It is a surreal and humbling experience to have flown Unity today. The wonder and excitement of spaceflight never loses its magic. I had the honor of being joined in the cockpit by Kelly Latimer, one of the first female commercial spaceship pilots. I’m proud of the work we’re doing here at Virgin Galactic to fly more people to space.”
Kelly Latimer, VSS Unity pilot added: “In my entire career, from the Air Force Academy to being a test pilot for NASA, nothing tops what I have just experienced at the controls of VSS Unity. Going to space today fulfilled an ambition I’ve had since I was a child. It is a privilege to be part of a majority-women crew making history as the most female astronauts flying to space in a single mission.”
The company proceeded with post-flight inspections and analysis in preparation for the next commercial space mission, Galactic 03, which is planned for September in a continuation of Virgin Galactic’s monthly flight cadence.
Istanbul-based flag carrier Turkish Airlines has renewed its existing agreement with Accelya. Through the agreement, Turkish Airlines will use Accelya’s data and analytics capabilities to obtain market intelligence across its main markets, helping the carrier identify targeted opportunities.
Used by airline station managers and sales teams worldwide, Accelya’s Industry Insights solution provides instant information on an airline’s market share against its competitors. In just a few clicks, the web-based solution enables superior decision making to improve market share and ensure increased competitiveness.
“We’re delighted to extend our partnership with one of Europe’s leading carriers and look forward to empowering Turkish Airlines’ commercial department with accurate industry insights for many more years,” commented Artur Farinha, SVP of industry and analytics at Accelya. “With complete coverage of the main markets of Turkish Airlines, we’re confident that Accelya’s Industry Insights solution will continue to unlock new revenue opportunities for the airline.”
“Over the last six years, Accelya’s robust and reliable services have ensured our sales leaders delivered on budget and could create additional value for the airline,” added Ali Fuat, VP of sales analytics and online channels at Turkish Airlines. “As we continue to see strong demand on our domestic and international routes, Accelya’s accurate industry insights, and their integration with other Accelya portfolio solutions, will play a key role in enabling a smooth user experience across our commercial department.”
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