EOPC Ags 07 oue4 Nme Royal Aeronautical Society Volume 44 Number 8 August 2017

August 2017

AFRICAN BETTER BRIEFINGS FOR PILOTS ISRAEL’S MISSILE DEFENCE SYSTEM

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MAGNETIC ATTRACTION? DAVID LEARMOUNT ASKS, WHY ARE WE NOT USING TRUE NORTH? On demand, cost effective dedicated payload delivery to any orbit

Skyrocketing innovation. We’re in the midst of a new space race. Around the world, demand for innovative satellite applications is surging, creating an enormous appetite for small payload launch capabilities. Even the most modern small vertical launch systems still demand dedicated, remote and costly fixed infrastructure. Only horizontal launch systems and spaceports can offer the global small payload launch capacity necessary to meet current demand and fuel future growth.

follow us Volume 44 Number 8 August 2017 North by North Why does Taxi to LEO please aviation continue Six years after the last 14 to navigate by Space Shuttle mission, Magnetic North 38 the US counts down rather than True to regaining its human North? spacefl ight access. Contents Boeing Defense

Correspondence on all aerospace matters is welcome at: The Editor, AEROSPACE, No.4 Hamilton Place, London W1J 7BQ, UK [email protected] Comment Regulars 4 Radome 12 Transmission The latest aviation and Your letters, emails, tweets aeronautical intelligence, and feedback. analysis and comment. 58 The Last Word Smothering the infant king 10 Antenna Keith Hayward looks at Howard Wheeldon the increasing competition considers Boeing’s claims between private and Some 40 years ago, the then civil giants of Boeing, McDonnell of unfair competition from government space Douglas and Lockheed laughed at the idea of a European ‘’ widebody Bombardier’s CSeries. enterprise. ever competing with them. Today, however, it is a different story with the big duopoly consisting of Airbus and Boeing – bitter rivals but both keen to Features Xevi V see off new entrants on their turf, such as Embraer and Bombardier. Yet two Israeli Defence Force things, perhaps, might strike an external observer as slightly peculiar in Boeing opening a new front against the CSeries. The fi rst is that the current CSeries is aimed at the smaller single-aisle market segment (103-133 seat). The trend for airlines to upgauge and demand larger narrowbodies strongly suggests that Bombardier’s struggling CSeries poses no immediate direct threat to Chicago or Toulouse. The best-selling A321neo can be confi gured with 235 28 seats, while the recently launched MAX 10 can seat 230. Second, there is 18 a larger and bigger threat to Airbus and Boeing looming, that both seem Africa’s airline travails remarkably reticent to complain about – that of China. Unlike the CSeries, the Shielding Israel Why Africa’s carriers still COMAC C919 with 156-168 seats overlaps Airbus and Boeing’s bestselling An analysis of Israel’s three- struggle as successful tier anti ballistic missile business ventures. models. Yet, so far, there has been no effort to strangle the young heir in the defence system. crib. Conversely, it could be argued that Airbus and Boeing have actually been assisting the development of a giant civil aerospace rival with a A320 FAL 22 Briefi ng better and 737 completion centre the latest in transfers of skills, technology and How current pilot briefi ng knowledge that may one day come back to haunt them. It therefore is ironic procedures could be that action has been started against a rival airliner that is unlikely to match the improved.

powerhouse of European and US aerospace commercial industry – yet the USAF real long-term threat to the civil airliner duopoly is quietly ignored for now… 26 Tim Robinson, Editor-in-Chief 32

[email protected] 2017 Air Show report Romania’s Notorious MiGs A full report of the highlights A visit to Aerostar’s MRO at this year’s Le Bourget NEWS IN BRIEF facility in Romania. show.

Editor-in-Chief AEROSPACE is published by the Royal 2017 AEROSPACE subscription Tim Robinson Aeronautical Society (RAeS). rates: Non-members, £160 +44 (0)20 7670 4353 Chief Executive Please send your order to: [email protected] Simon C Luxmoore Chris Male, RAeS, No4 Hamilton Place, Deputy Editor Advertising London W1J 7BQ, UK. 41 Bill Read Simon Levy +44 (0)20 7670 4352 Afterburner +44 (0)20 7670 4351 +44 (0)20 7670 4346 [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] Any member not requiring a print Publications Manager Unless specifi cally attributed, no version of this magazine, please 42 Message from our President Chris Male contact: [email protected] material in AEROSPACE shall be taken 43 Message from our +44 (0)20 7670 4352 to represent the opinion of the RAeS. USA: Periodical postage paid at [email protected] Chief Executive Reproduction of material used in this Champlain New York and additional Production Editor offi ces. Online publication is not permitted without the 44 Book Reviews Wayne J Davis written consent of the Editor-in-Chief. Postmaster: Send address changes Additional features and content +44 (0)20 7670 4354 to IMS of New York, PO Box 1518, 47 Library Additions [email protected] Printed by Buxton Press Limited, are available to view online on Palace Road, Buxton, Derbyshire Champlain NY 12919-1518, USA. 48 IT FLIES USA www.media.aerosociety.com/ Book Review Editor SK17 6AE, UK aerospace-insight Brian Riddle 50 Corporate Partners ISSN 2052-451X Including: Do Avgeeks dream of electric Editorial Offi ce Distributed by Royal Mail 52 Diary fl eets?, Escort Spitfi res, ATM for UAVs, Plane Royal Aeronautical Society Speaking with AM Greg Bagwell, Five daily No.4 Hamilton Place 54 RAeS Golf Day blogs from 2017 Paris Air Show, Airbus London W1J 7BQ, UK 55 YPN in the spotlight A400M photo contest, Interview with +44 (0)20 7670 4300 [email protected] 56 RAeS elections Nigel Whitehead of BAE Systems, www.aerosociety.com Going Dutch with CAE.

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INTELLIGENCE / ANALYSIS / COMMENT

Specifi cations Length 12m Wingspan 15.2m MTOW 6,070kg Powerplant 280kW (cruise) Seats 9 An aeroplane called Alice PAX (9+2) Designed for two pilots and up to nine Cruise altitude 10,000ft passengers the Alice would have a cruising Cruise speed 240kt speed of 240kt and a range of 1,000km. Range + reserve 600 miles Batteries Li-lon 980kWh

Sub-scale demonstrator Eviation plans to de-risk the technology for Alice with an electric-powered sub-scale UAV demonstrator called Orca. As well as doing fl ight testing for Alice, Eviation revealed that the Orca, equipped with a sensor payload, will also be mapping underground water pipelines from November this year for Israeli water services company, Mekorot. Orca was selected for this project thanks to its high-speed of 150kt.

4 AEROSPACE / AUGUST 2017 Distributed propulsion Designed as a business and commuter aircraft, Alice is powered by a single main pusher at the tail and two pusher propellers at the wingtips, reducing drag and creating redundancy.

Battery power Some 65% of the aircraft’s weight is taken up by high energy density batteries which combines lithium-ion for high power needs and aluminium-air system for maximum range. “Structurally, it is a battery,” says CEO,

Omer Bar-Yohay. Eviation W GENERAL AVIATION Alice in electroland Revealed at this year's Paris Air Show was Alice – an all-electric business and commuter aircraft being developed by Israeli start-up company Eviation Aircraft, which has been working on the concept for the past two years. The aircraft uses an unconventional layout with rear mounted and wing-tip electric motors. Carrying 6-9 people, Alice is aimed at revolutionising the business aviation and small commuter market, opening up new niches in affordable point-to-point with an operating cost goal of under $200 per fl ight hour. Eviation CEO Omer Bar- Yohay says a fi rst fl ight of Alice is planned for 2018, with certifi cation aimed at 2020. The company is now seeking some $50m in funding to bring the aircraft to market.

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AEROSPACE SPACEFLIGHT Triple boost to UK aerospace R&D

Cranfi China’s Long March 5 Cranfi eld University has announced that it is to build a eld University eld fails on second launch new £65m Digital Aviation Research and Technology Centre (DARTeC). The Centre will conduct research A Chinese Long March 5 after its fi rst launch in into areas such as the integration of UAVs into two-stage heavy lift rocket November, the payload civilian airspace, increasing the effi ciency of failed to reach orbit on 2 for this mission was the July after lifting off from Shijian-18 experimental through technological advances, creating safe, secure the Wenchang Launch communications satellite. shared airspace through secure data communication Complex LC101 on Hainan Approved for development infrastructures and increasing the reliability and availability Island in the southern in 2004, the Long March of aircraft through self-sensing, self-aware technologies. province of Hainan. The 5 rocket can insert 25t Meanwhile, Rolls-Royce has announced plans to build a new engine testing facility cause of the failure has payloads into LEO and 14t at Derby. The new facility will be able to test various engines, including the XWB, as not been disclosed but into GTO. The failure raises well as offering extra capacity for future powerplant programmes. The facility is part of a reports suggest that it may doubts over the schedule £150m investment into new infrastructure. have been caused by a for its next fl ight, planned Finally, GE is to reopen a new facility subsidiary in after problem with the second for November, which is a previous one was destroyed by fi re in 2015. It is also set to invest £10m in a joint £20m stage. The second fl ight a Lunar sample return UK ATI 'Digital Propulsion' research project. for the Long March 5 mission. DEFENCE AIR TRANSPORT

North Korea tests ICBM Figures published by the International Air Transport Association (IATA) say that global demand for air freight in May rose by 12.7%. Measured in freight tonne km (FTK), On 4 July North Korea vertical profi le, reaching an growth for Europe rose by 15%, North America by 13.9% and Asia-Pacifi c by 11.3%. conducted a test altitude of 1,731 miles Meanwhile, this year’s Amazon online shopping ‘Prime Day’ on 10 July saw the debut N o launch of what it r before splashing of the Internet giant’s leased cargo fl eet of 24 Boeing 767 freighters. th

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NEWS IN BRIEF

selected Vienna as its next regulators in the Commercial Aircraft Boeing has announced operating base and applied SpaceX successfully Norway and the UK. The Corporation (COMAC) that it is to use a FedEx for a new Air Operators launched a Falcon 9 were grounded which will permit it Express 777 Freighter for Certifi cate to create rocket on 5 July from the following an accident on to deliver the ARJ21 its next ecoDemonstrator an Austrian-registered Kennedy Space Center 29 April 2016 off the west Advanced Regional Jet to fl ying testbed in 2018. The ‘easyJet Europe’. 110 of its on a satellite launch coast of Norway in which customers for commercial 777F will be used for three aircraft will be transferred mission. The rocket carried 13 people were killed. The service. months to test emerging to Austrian registration. a Boeing Intelsat 35e UK Civil Aviation Authority technologies, including communications satellite (CAA) said that fl ights has propulsion advancements A US Marines KC-130J into geostationary orbit would resume after each announced plans to and fl ight deck innovations, Hercules transport aircraft 22,000 miles over the operator submitted a safety acquire up to 4.75% of after which it will be crashed into a fi eld in equator. case. shares in rival American returned to FedEx. Mississippi, US, on 10 July, Airlines, despite resistance killing all 16 passengers A year-long fl ight ban on The Civil Aviation from the US carrier. Concerned about and crew. The cause of Airbus Helicopters Super Administration of China Meanwhile, American access to the EU market the accident is under Puma H225s and AS332 (CAAC) has awarded a Airlines is to end its post-Brexit, easyJet has investigation. L2s is set to be lifted by production certifi cate to codeshare agreement with

6 AEROSPACE / AUGUST 2017 DEFENCE AIR TRANSPORT Royal Navy

On 26 June, the Royal Navy’s new Queen Elizabeth aircraft Laptop ban relaxed carrier went to sea for the fi rst time from Rosyth dockyard in Scotland. The 65,000t ship is currently conducting sea trials. The US has begun threat from new bomb- The fi rst deck landing on the carrier was performed on 3 July by relaxing its ban on airline making methods has now a Fleet Air Arm Merlin . passengers carrying been lifted from Royal laptops and large Jordanian, EgyptAir, Q Royal Navy’s a ta electronic devices r ,

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y eight Middle s Airways, Qatar sets sail East and North Airways and African countries . after the affected As AEROSPACE airports have begun goes to press, Saudi introducing enhanced Arabian Airlines and Royal security measures. The Air Maroc are expected ban, introduced in March to have their ban lifted by after fears of an imminent 19 July. AEROSPACE GENERAL AVIATION Airbus: Aerial taxis Dassault fl ies new Falcon 5X closer than you think On 5 July ’s new ultra-wide cabin Falcon 5X business jet made its fi rst fl ight from the company’s -Mérignac facility. Powered by Silvercrest VTOL electric-powered explore this technology. engines, the fi rst fl ight lasted two hours. Entry into service for the 5X, which has suffered 'aerial taxis' may be It is set to fl y an electric schedule slips, is set for 2020. feasible in only fi ve-to- unmanned autonomous seven years, according 6t multicopter CityAirbus to Airbus. Giving a demonstrator in 2018, lecture to the RAeS with a ‘piloted’ test fl ight Rotorcraft Group, Mark to follow in 2019. The aim Cousin, SVP Head of is for an air vehicle able to Flight Demonstrators, cruise at 120km/h with a Airbus CTO, revealed range of 60km and with more information on the 25% of the operating costs company’s roadmap to of a twin-engine helicopter. Dassault Aviation

Qatar Airways and Etihad, safety experts are now effective from March 2018. The Japan Aerospace Bell Helicopter has investigating a near-miss and Exploration Agency announced that it has at San Francisco on have announced plans to The UK MoD has (JAXA) is to build a resumed test fl ights of 7 July after an co-operate on developing announced two defence second X-ray astronomy the Bell 525 Relentless A320 overfl ew four aircraft a new fi ghter to replace contracts worth a total satellite to replace the helicopter after receiving by 100ft during a go- Rafales and Eurofi ghters of £120m. Marshall Hitomi observatory which an experimental certifi cate around after erroneously in service. No timeline has Aerospace and Defence experienced attitude renewal from the US FAA. lining up to land on a been given but Paris and Group will get £110m for control problems and Test fl ying was stopped taxiway. Berlin want a roadmap wing-box work to extend spun out of control after last year after an accident ready by mid-2018. the RAF C-130J life out its launch in 2016. A in July 2016 in which a has taken . to 2035, while QinetiQ smaller scaled version Bell 525 crashed after delivery of its fi rst Airbus On 14 July a Russian has won a £9.5m contract of Hitomi, the new X-ray breaking up in fl ight and A350-900, becoming Soyuz 2-1A launched to allow Typhoon pilots Astronomy Recovery killing two pilots. the fi rst operator in North with a Kanopus-V-IK to link-in to distributed Mission (XARM) could America. The A350 will imaging satellite and 72 synthetic training from be launched as soon as Transportation Safety replace 747-400s in the cubesats – the most ever their home bases. March 2021. Board of Canada Delta's fl eet. fl own by a Soyuz.

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GENERAL AVIATION DEFENCE 21st century flies

USN Super Hornet shoots down y The Siberian Aeronautical up to 300km/h, and its Research Institute wing can accommodate Syrian Su-22 (SibNIA) has auxiliary fuel tanks to

Si assembled and bN increase range IA fl own an all- to 2,000km. composite SibNIA says biplane that there are based on plans to begin the Soviet- era Antonov the new aircraft An-2. Named in the Novosibirsk the TVS-2DTS, the Region within the On 19 June a US Navy F/A-18E Super Hornet shot down a Syrian Arab Air Force new prototype made next two years with an (SyAAF) Su-22 ground-attack aircraft near Raqqa, Syria, after it attacked coalition- its fi rst fl ight on 10 initial production rate of friendly anti-regime ground troops. The F/A-18E fi red an AIM-9X and then an AIM-120 July. The TVS-2DTS is 20 airframes per year. missile at close range to down the jet, the fi rst time a US fi ghter has shot down a manned expected to fl y at speeds aircraft since 1999. SPACEFLIGHT AEROSPACE NASA/JPL-Caltech/Sw Juno puts spots in front of our eyes St Maarten jet blast kills tourist

A 57-year-old woman concrete. She later died in

RI/MSSS from New Zealand has hospital. The beach airport at been killed at the popular St Maarten is a favourite for planespotting location tourists and photographers /Gerald Eichstädt of Princess Juliana due to its famed low International, St Maarten in approaches and ability for the Caribbean. The woman people to experience jet NASA’s Juno probe has made the closest ever fl y-by of Jupiter's dissipative was reportedly seriously wash from aircraft on take- ‘red spot’ or great storm. The close pass, on 10 July, saw the spacecraft dip injured after jet blast from off and landing. Though to some 3,500km above the gas giants clouds, returning images of the storm a 737 taking off blew her injuries have been reported in unprecedented detail. over and she hit her head on before, this is the fi rst fatality.

NEWS IN BRIEF

an unmanned version of of an increased wage Drone delivery specialists its P.180 Avanti II twin claim. Meanwhile, BA is wet US President Donald Cambridge-based Zipline Drones has . Flight testing leasing nine aircraft from Trump has signed an Aveillant is to supply its announced that it has was paused after the fi rst Qatar Airways. executive order re- Gamekeeper ‘holographic expanded its UAV example crashed in May establishing the high- radar’ as part of a system emergency blood supply 2016. The US Army and White House National to counter rogue drones delivery service in Rwanda Raytheon have conducted Space Council, which was at Paris Charles de Gaulle to 21 remote hospitals. cabin crew the successful fi rst fl ight last active in 1993. Airport. Using a drone can reduce working under mixed fl eet test of a high-energy laser a delivery time from four employment terms are weapon from a helicopter. A HondaJet on an inbound has signed hours by road down to 17 to stage a further series The trial, at White Sands fl ight from Philadelphia slid a MoU with the Samoan minutes. of strikes. Following a Missile Range, New off the at Chicago Government to launch strike from 1-16 July, the Mexico, saw an AH-64 Midway Airport on 12 July. a new carrier to replace Aerospace has Unite union is to hold an Apache fi tted with a There were no reports of Virgin . It will be restarted fl ight test activity additional two-week strike podded laser weapon on injuries. The cause of the called for the second prototype of from 19 July. The 2,500 a stub wing to track and accident is thought to have and will wet-lease its P.1HH HammerHead, staff are striking in support direct energy on targets. been heavy rain. aircraft from Fiji Airways.

8 AEROSPACE / AUGUST 2017 AEROSPACE AIR TRANSPORT US Nav The Flying Squad – UK Airbus y Airbus wins 140-airliner gets fi rst UAV police unit commitment from China Devon and Cornwall Police staff and six UAVs with the has become the fi rst intention of expanding police force in the to 40 offi cers and D e v UK to form a o 18 UAVs by n

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GENERAL AVIATION During a visit of Chinese President Xi Jinping PIilatus Aircraft PIilatus to Berlin, Airbus signed a GTA (General Terms Pilatus delivers 1,500th Pilatus Aircraft has Agreement) with the China Aviation Supplies Holding PC-12 delivered the 1,500th Company (CAS) for 100 A320-family aircraft and 40 example of its PC-12 A350s. The deal is worth up to $22bn at list prices. single-engine turboprop, The aircraft are to be bought on behalf of several some 23 years after the Chinese airlines for the country’s fast growing type entered service. The aviation sector, with its domestic sector set to be the 1,500th example was world’s largest, according to Airbus forecasts. As of handed over to Australia's May this year, Chinese airlines operated some 1,440 Royal Flying Doctor Service Airbus , including almost 1,230 A320 single- on 30 June. aisles. DEFENCE INFOGRAPHIC: Typhoon fi res Brimstone for fi rst time

BAE Systems has announced that a Eurofi ghter Typhoon has successfully test fi red a Brimstone missile for the fi rst time, part of a suite of upgrades for P3E Project Centurion ON THE for the RAF. BAE Systems MOVE Leslie Thng has been named as the successor has appointed of Yeoh Phee Teik as Chief its fi rst female CEO, Executive of Indian airline Farzaneh Sharafbhan. . Outgoing Iran Air Chairman and MD Farhad Chief Executive of easyJet Parvaresh, meanwhile, Carolyn McCall is to step is to become Iran's down from the airline, ICAO representative in becoming the head of ITV Montreal. in 2018 .

US Vice-President Mike GE Aviation has Pence is to head the announced that John reformed National Space Mansfi eld is its Chief Council. Digital Offi cer.

@aerosociety i Find us on LinkedIn f Find us on Facebook www.aerosociety.com AUGUST 2017 9 Global Outlook and Analysis with antenna: HOWARD WHEELDON CSeries in Boeing’s crosshairs

oeing’s decision to ask the US accusations but, if the fi gures quoted above are Department of Commerce and the US found to be true and Bombardier is at some point International Trade Commission (ITC) found guilty of offering export versions of the aircraft to investigate ‘subsidisation and pricing’ at prices that are well below production costs, it isn’t of Bombardier’s CSeries and of what only Bombardier and Quebec that could suffer. Any BBoeing alleges as an ‘antidumping, countervailing funding or other assistance provided to Bombardier duty order against the sale of those aircraft in the from the Canadian Government since the CSeries US market’ can hardly be that surprising. project started in 2005 will need to be scrutinised. Faced with a dearth of new orders for the Indeed, Canada could easily fi nd itself under full CSeries two years ago, while at the same time being investigation by the WTO and potentially being fi ned forced to refi nance the development, Bombardier and even banned from selling aircraft in the US and embarked on what has since been described by maybe elsewhere. observers as a very aggressive US sales campaign. With only 320 orders so far secured, it should Building a competitor to Boeing’s and Airbus' hardly be surprising that Bombardier has chosen hugely successful 737 and A320 families and to offer the aircraft at a more competitive price breaking into a market dominated by the two largest to raise the order book. Together with the various aircraft manufacturers in the world was never development delays that pushed up costs while at going to be easy. Getting into the US airline market, the same time pushing back the aircraft certifi cation Boeing’s back garden, was considered crucial and process, move into fi nal production and deliveries meant that, if they were to succeed, then price to airlines and, while it is true to say that most competitiveness would be critical. commercial aircraft developments suffer delays, the Bombardier is perfectly entitled to attempt CSeries has appeared to suffer more than most. to sell airliners to any US airline, of course, but foreign competition is acceptable only if played Aiming to break-even out on a level playing fi eld. If the allegations prove to be correct and Bombardier is found to have Of course, any airline worth its salt wants to buy overstepped the mark, then the WTO rules are aircraft at the cheapest possible price. Neither is it perfectly clear. unusual that, if development and other investment Boeing’s allegations are seemingly based on a costs are taken into consideration ahead of any belief that Bombardier has been attempting to sell write-offs, the sales break-even point could be CSeries airliners at $20m each on what it believes several years and maybe as many as two or three to be production airframe costs of as much as hundred aircraft builds away. $33m. While I am unable to verify the accuracy of It is also quite normal that a launch customer either fi gure, if Boeing is correct, there is a strong will purchase the aircraft at what might be termed ‘a case to be answered by Bombardier. Boeing does considerable discount price’, in part, because from say, however, that its pricing and cost information a delivery timing aspect, they may well be taking on is based on publicly available information and it has increased risk. The reality, of course, is that the vast thus defi ned the claim against Bombardier within majority of commercial aircraft sales are discounted the category of ‘price dumping’. but certainly not by as much as 60% off list prices. Following the announcement of large write The Canadian government, which has long downs on the CSeries in July 2016, the company supported Bombardier as its aerospace industry secured a complete refunding that brought the champion, has a vested interest in seeing the Quebec Government in as a 49.5% partner. Through industry grow but, I fear, that it will now be involved a body known as CSALP (the CSeries Aircraft in any confl ict that emerges with Boeing and the US Limited Partnership), the Quebec Government Government. has effectively invested $1bn for its share in the While the fi nancing deal between Bombardier project and, through CSALP, will take on its share of and the Quebec Government looks perfectly sound, transferred CSeries assets, liabilities and obligations. the probability is that both provincial and national Not surprisingly, the Quebec Government has governments too could now be dragged into a very been pretty quick to dismiss Boeing’s ‘price dumping’ uncomfortable situation.

10 AEROSPACE / AUGUST 2017 Could there be wider implications for Canada if Bombardier is found guilty of ‘price dumping’ in its sale of the CSeries to Delta Airlines? Bombardier

Not just Boeing deduced that both airlines probably paid a similar price. Aggressive pricing is one thing, price dumping is While some commentators believed that quite another. It isn’t just Boeing that has expressed Bombardier may well be losing between $7m to concern about potential price dumping of CSeries $10m per aircraft produced, the Boeing request aircraft. Reports suggest that Airbus and ATR have for investigation by the Department of Commerce also requested that the WTO should investigate and the US ITC contends that the loss per aircraft the amount of state aid that has been given to sold is around $13.6m. This is, I believe, based on Bombardier by the Canadian Government. Canada a discounted aircraft selling price thought to be has a long history of providing fi nancial support $19.6m per aircraft. If true, there can surely be little to Bombardier in the form of loan support and the doubt that Delta got a very good deal on the CSeries. CSeries partnership agreement that was signed While selling aircraft at a huge loss is, last year is very important to Quebec. Indeed, under certain circumstances, allowable, it is to having ensured that the strategic, fi nancial and be considered as not only unsustainable but operational headquarters of CSALP, together unacceptable if government has been providing any with manufacturing, engineering services, and form of ongoing subsidies or support that is without research and development activities, will remain in recourse – meaning that loans must not only be the Province of Quebec for at least 20 years from paid back but also that standard market interest September 2016, the importance of CSeries to jobs, rates are payable. skills and the wider economy of Quebec can easily The Bombardier issue is somewhat different be seen. from the long-running loan subsidies and tax Even though an offi cial request for investigation incentive disputes between Airbus and Boeing has been made by Boeing, the situation for and the US and the EU currently in the hands of Bombardier could be made signifi cantly worse the WTO. In the case of Airbus and the EU, any should the US decide to punish Canada. Indeed, we government support that Airbus receives is paid should observe here that, in respect of other trade- back through the lifetime of the aircraft build related concerns, President Trump has expressed programme, often with additional long-term benefi ts strong views in respect of Canadian trade and for the partner governments involved. made plain his view that the US is not prepared to Interestingly, if the Boeing fi gures are correct, allow dumping in any form. The bottom line in this Bombardier could well need to sell as many as seemingly new protectionist age is that the view 500 CSeries to reach break-even point. Add in of the US is heavily blinkered toward securing and development cost payback and it might even be IF THE BOEING creating US jobs rather than promoting free trade. double that number. Tolerance of those that are not prepared to play the While no outcome has yet been confi rmed, ALLEGATIONS game by the same rules as the US is very low. reports that Bombardier has been talking to China’s PROVE TO BE The ‘price dumping’ issue appears to have state owned aircraft manufacturer COMAC about CORRECT AND been built around Bombardier’s securing of an another CSeries refi nancing arrangement in return BOMBARDIER IS order for 75 CS100 aircraft from Delta Airlines for being given a stake in the aircraft, or maybe in April last year. This had actually been the fi rst Bombardier itself, would appear to have merit. FOUND TO HAVE CSeries order in 19 months. The Delta order was One thing is for certain though – with talks OVERSTEPPED followed last June by the signing of contracts between the Canadian Government and Boeing THE MARK, between Bombardier and Air Canada for the already over a potential sale of 18 F/A-18 Super Hornets WTO RULES announced order for 45 CS300s. The price paid suspended due to the ‘price dumping’ spat. Canada by Air Canada and Delta for these aircraft has has serious problems on its hands that need to be ARE PERFECTLY never been offi cially disclosed but it could easily be sorted out. CLEAR

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LETTERS AND ONLINE Airbus Urban air mobility Urban air mobility Fantastic and insightful article(1)! I’m excited to see what the near-future holds for aerial mobility.

f Callum Parker

Urban air mobility New FRAeS

With reference to July’s Many congratulations to Do AvGeeks dream of Alex Murphy, Head of electric fl eets? blog(1), it’s Aviation, Gulf Aviation a nice thought but it is on being awarded far more likely that unruly RAeS Fellowship. Richly social elements will keep deserved. the general, law-abiding Helen Griffi ths public from benefi ting from CityAirbus concept for an electric VTOL aerial taxi for a future urban air transport system. technologies requiring civil and responsible behaviour. @ztiruam [On ‘Do @marcin_par @DzirhanDefence Unless politicians start Great job. Avgeeks Dream of A very interesting article. Urban Air Mobility, is that prioritising the welfare Electric Fleets’ blog(1)] consisting of getting of their own citizens, no That’s a great summary @BernieBaldwin dropped off in the city one will ever benefi t from of opportunities and But what about ‘fl ying in a combat 4x4 from technological advances in challenges! car’ certifi cation, driver back ramp of low level the future. licensing and all other A400M? regulatory matters. Let’s Horst Bereczky @BrightSkyPics Looks fi x Single European Sky Manned spacefl ight really cool. politically fi rst. Best headline ever! @LeadHyperion [On Taxi to LEO, please(3)] Star St George Armed cropdusters Long-range Spitfi res

Kennedy Has CST-100 even done US National Archves cargo runs yet? It’s still a @AmShootingJourn way from being man rated [On LASA (Blackwater- xxC surely? I Dragon will fall linked) armed cropduster into ‘SpaceX time. on display at Paris] Erik is always thinking ahead, perfect for counter- Long-haul, low-cost insurgence focused-light attack/surveillance plane. @wings_around [On Probably cost less than Can low-cost long haul an A-10. i work this time(4)] It should! If it can’t work this time, it will take a long long time Greg Bagwell @BoneyAboard [On Two Spitfi re IXs were to try this model again! @adamspink [On Plane experimentally fi tted with Long range escort Spitfi re Speaking with Greg Mustang drop tanks in the Long-range Spitfi res blog(2)] A fascinating read Bagwell(5)] Chief of the Air US. Fitting drop tanks to of what might have been, Composite An-2 Staff in civvies??? Spitfi re was an interesting an escort Spitfi re over development(2). I was not @PaulEremenko [On an Berlin by ‘42/’43. aware this had been done. all-composite redesign of @bigmattl13 Yes! @McParlinStephen The Mustang was an An-2 biplane] I wonder if Remember History, Ethos, @SkippyBing Could With apologies to Paul all-metal construction of they retained/improved Tradition? Contractors are have made the Seafi re Stoddart, the cruise speed course, so could carry the the ‘automatic’ leading (mostly) good and needs broadly useful as a carrier was too low, as was the additional weight of drop edge slat design that gave must to save money. BUT fi ghter as well! wing loading. tanks. the An-2 its amazing low they can’t replace us all! speed characteristics? David Joyce

12 AEROSPACE / AUGUST 2017 Armed Protector New European fi ghter Aerial performance Amy Johnson lecture @Marcellogus [On @thomas_embleton @jamebird [On F-35 advert for fully-armed [On news that France and fl ying display at Paris Air Protector UAV with 12 Germany will co-develop Show] The idea that you Brimstone + 2 x Paveway a new European fi ghter can judge any aircraft’s IV] I fi nd all of this just jet] So France is going combat effectiveness on absurd: initial idea was to be in charge of these the basis of an air show something very light in projects. And as for the display is laughable. case of a fl eeing terrorist UK not being involved, leader, not to get an that’s a win for the UK. unmanned COIN. @schmevely To estimate the proportion of F-35s lethality that is made up @MichaelJPryce Hmm, by its aero performance @robblesslie Is there Brexit probably scuppered requires much more info Katherine Bennett FRAeS, Senior VP Public Affairs, Airbus still an intent to move the it for us than is available to most. speaking at the 2017 RAeS Amy Johnson lecture on 3 July. decoy/jamming pods from GR4 to Protector? Orders from Paris @McBaine146 The @AlessandroSDIB [On @LvMcilree Fantastic @fl yingamit [On Airbus EU hasn’t built a 5th Amy Johnson lecture] talk by @Westminstrwings airliner backlog numbers generation fi ghter, let Fantastic insights on for the @AeroSociety Amy from Paris Air Show] @RAF_Simmer 12 alone a 6th. Business-Government Johnson named lecture. Market was not ready Brimstone and >30hrs relations from So inspiring. to absorb the numbers. endurance. One Protector @Westminstrwings Backlog did benefi t the to do job of multiple @Airbus at the airlines and OEM. Typhoon/F-35. @Rob_Coppinger Just #AmyJohnson lecture @RossHaynes Good to as some Brexiteers realise @AeroSociety. see @Westminstrwings they can’t get deal they delivering the annual Amy @aeroanalysis Leaving thought they could get, Johnson lecture – ‘Airbus; two questions: percentage @NickdeLarrinaga Only Brexit means Germany Politics with Wings on it’ of cancellations of each 12 Brimstone? You can only has France to work @PhilippaHAV Thanks company and value of get 18 on there! with on this. for the great lecture. As backlog of each over raw someone starting out in @Jeffi nerB plane numbers. this industry I really took a @AeroSociety lot from it. @Westminstrwings now F-35A or B? UK aerospace extinction event? giving an update on the balance between industry @gregbagwell [On and politics. a possible UK split F-35A/B buy] The fundamental question needs to be what airpower do you need to meet future tasks and threats @CcibChris Logic would @ManfromMosman and how might it operate? dictate choosing the one Basing becomes an issue. with better payload and A model requires advance performance. Any fl aw in land base and support. B @GuardedDon Anyone that argument? model uses 2 QE Class else visualise an air fl eet Carriers as mobile bases. that has more than a few interoperability problems? @AviationVincent @Aeroassurance [On whether Brexit is an There is a lot of dialogue 1. https://www.aerosociety.com/news/do-avgeeks-dream-of-electric-fl eets/ ‘extinction level’ event for between the industry 2. https://www.aerosociety.com/news/escort-spitfi re-a-missed-opportunity-for-longer-reach/ UK aerospace] I hope not bodies and HMG. 3. https://www.aerosociety.com/news/taxi-to-leo-please/ 4. https://www.aerosociety.com/news/in-for-the-low-cost-long-haul/ but there does seem to be 5. https://www.aerosociety.com/news/plane-speaking-with-air-marshal-greg-bagwell-cb-cbe-raf-rtd/ a lack of understanding in the UK government. @DefenceViper There is fi nally starting to be, but not sure that was the case Online earlier on. Additional features and content are available to view online at http://media.aerosociety.com/aerospace-insight

@aerosociety i Findlinkedin.com/raes us on LinkedIn f facebook.com/raesFind us on Facebook. www.aerosociety.comwww.aerosociety.com AUGUST 2017 13 AIR TRANSPORT Navigation

North by North

The maritime world has been navigating by True North since the early 1970s but aviation still uses Magnetic. With today’s technology, why? DAVID LEARMOUNT investigates.

avigation in modern commercial the gently wandering – and continually drifting – aircraft could be conducted using their vagaries of the Earth’s dipolar magnetic fi eld. phenomenally accurate, multi-sensor Digital cartography organisation GIS systems orientated relative to Earth’s (Geographic Information Systems) commented spin axis. However, in practice, civil recently on three years of work done by the Naviation navigation is still conducted by reference to European Space Agency (ESA) under its SWARM the planet’s magnetic poles, which are somewhere programme, mapping Earth’s magnetic fi eld. GIS near, but not co-located with, its geographic poles. explains what the ESA has achieved using its trio of There are many in the industry who argue that specialist, magnetometer-equipped satellites: “This IT IS civil aviation navigational accuracy is increasingly has resulted in the highest resolution map of Earth’s DIFFICULT TO compromised by the International Civil Aviation lithospheric magnetic fi eld. The lithosphere is the Organization’s (ICAO) decision to continue – rigid outer part of Earth, consisting of the crust and UNDERSTAND indefi nitely – recommending the present system of upper mantle. According to the ESA, the majority of THE ICAO’S directional orientation based on the Earth’s ever- Earth’s magnetic fi eld is generated deep within the CONFIDENCE changing magnetic fi eld. Ships’ commanders only planet due to movements by the molten iron in the use that these days if all else fails. outer core. About 6% is from electric currents in the IN A LEGACY space surrounding the planet and from magnetised SYSTEM THAT Sticking to magnetic navigation? rocks in the upper lithosphere”. THE MARITIME By plotting this information against historical WORLD By modern navigation standards the magnetic magnetic fi eld data from the German CHAMP compass is not an accurate device. For example, an satellite, ESA can plot with higher accuracy DECIDED, IN aviator fl ying by magnetic compass toward either than ever before not only actual magnetic fi eld THE EARLY the North or South Magnetic Pole fl ies a course that characteristics but changes and fl ux rates. One 1970S, TO the Geomagnetism Team of the British Geological result announced by ESA is that the magnetic ABANDON Survey describes as ‘a wiggly track’. The pilot’s fi eld in what is roughly described as the ‘western magnetic compass may display a constant 360degM hemisphere’ is weakening, and in the Indian Ocean EXCEPT AS A or 180degM but the aircraft relying on it follows area it is strengthening. BACKUP

14 AEROSPACE / AUGUST 2017 ESA

Left to right: Swarm constellation, Swarm compasses, Front of Swarm satellite and Swarm separation.

Swarm is an ESA Taking direction from the past Making the switch Earth Explorer Some three decades ago, when skies were So why not adopt True North? Of course it is not for 3-satellite mission less busy and a navigation error allowance the CAA, being part of EASA, to make this decision launched in of 5nm laterally was built into the design of unilaterally; that task is for ICAO and regional November 2013. It airspace and traffi c control systems, the use of aviation authorities like EASA. Slightly apologetically, measures magnetic a directional orientation system that had served however, the CAA offered this explanation on behalf well for thousands of years was arguably still of the international aviation establishment: “If we fi eld direction and good enough. Now it is diffi cult to understand were starting from a blank sheet of paper with the strength above the the ICAO’s confi dence in a legacy system that technology available today, you would select True ionosphere the maritime world decided to abandon in the North. But aviation started with magnetic from the Magnetometers early 1970s, except as a backup. Here the ICAO outset. The infrastructure supporting aviation is is at odds with its UN sibling, the International also based on magnetic, including VORs, runway on boom to keep Maritime Organisation (IMO). The IMO promulgated directions, approach procedures, radar etc.” them remote from the enabling order in 1974 for ships which had ICAO argues that navigation by magnetic track magnetic material Sperry gyro-compasses, which meant large, heavy still works, so there is no need to face the effort and instruments. Aircraft had to wait for more compact, cost of changing to an orientation system based on in satellite body. lighter inertial navigation systems but these have Earth’s spin axis (True North/South), despite the Orientation by been in service since the 1970s and are infi nitely fact that the cost of switching would be one-off. star cameras (on more accurate and reliable now. There is little doubt that a major factor in ICAO’s ground orientation In 2011 a Boeing 737 suffered a fatal crash reluctance is the knowledge that co-ordinating the on approach to land, at least partly because of the change with air navigation service providers around done by differential cognitive complexities for the crew of a navigation the world would unquestionably be a challenge. At GPS, astronomical system based on Magnetic North operating in a present, the International Air Transport Association observations, region close to one of the poles where the approach (IATA) does not offi cially disagree with ICAO, gyros). aids were orientated to True North. The crew became although increasing numbers of individuals within it confused, diverged from the intended track and hit dissent but, at the moment, they request that their high ground near the destination. All four crew and identities are withheld. eight of the 11 passengers were killed. Maintaining the existing system, which requires The IMO-approved marine navigation by True regular updating to charts and to navigation North/South from the 1970s and now it is universal software – both in airborne equipment and in for all but those few coastal mariners who choose ground navigation aids – as Earth’s two magnetic not to use GPS backed up by inertial navigation poles constantly migrate relative to the geographic systems (INS). ICAO itself, on the other hand, poles, has a continual cost. It seems, however, that commented recently: “This issue [navigation by True this is judged acceptable because the cost has North] is not on our work programme at present.” always been built-in as part of the system’s budget, The organisation refused to discuss the matter so no new decisions on expenditure need to be further. made. A major European airline has conducted Asked for a comment on the situation, the UK a study into all matters affecting the Magnetic/ Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) said: “We understand True case, and one conclusion it drew was this: the issue and, with the increased use of GPS etc, “Discrepancies between different magnetic variation moving to True North does make more sense. sources (and round off methods) are hampering Also, as more look to formalise GNSS navigation database checks which are essential approaches, the logic is clear.” for RNP operations.” RNP (required navigation

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Maps and charts – whether paper or digital – are orientated according to the Earth’s spin axis – True North/South but airway tracks and the trajectories to be followed in standard instrument arrivals and departures are marked in Magnetic. The orientation datum programmed into aircraft FMS is True North. The system converts their True orientation information to Magnetic to pass it to the avionics displays, unless the pilots choose to select True, which, of course, is an option – and occasionally a necessity. Air traffi c management protocol still requires them to use Magnetic when operating under instrument fl ight rules (IFR). Air traffi c controllers still pass magnetic headings for pilots to steer for procedures and traffi c separation purposes and their ATC displays are orientated to

Pilots of Swiss magnetic N/S unless in far north and south locations. Pilots still navigate by adopting Magnetic headings performance) GNSS-guided approaches are which are actually converted from True by the FMS becoming common worldwide. Europe happens to and shown on their compasses in the primary fl ight be lagging in this process. display/navigation display. The variation values stored in the FMS need to be Backup updated regularly but this is not always done, despite DISCREPANCIES the fact that, in the past 40 years rate of migration Magnetic navigation is arguably fi ne as a backup of the Magnetic North Pole (MNP) has accelerated BETWEEN system – and nobody doubts that every aircraft will dramatically. DIFFERENT continue to carry a magnetic compass in the In fact, the surface position of the MNP is forecast MAGNETIC cockpit as long as manned fl ight lasts. Meanwhile, to pass its closest to the Geographic North Pole in VARIATION Airbus confi rms that, for a long time (nearly 40 years), 2020 (approximately 87N 170E), heading tangentially advanced aircraft have no longer carried magnetic past it toward Russia’s north coast. Therefore the SOURCES (AND sensors except for the standby magnetic compass so-called magnetic heading most aircraft are fl ying is ROUND OFF in the cockpit, which is independent and does not inaccurate because the variation value imbedded in METHODS) ARE feed into any system. The inertial reference system the system fi rmware – in most fl eets – has not been HAMPERING (IRS) and its gyros/accelerometers are slaved to True updated since the FMS was new. Taking the inference North, which they detect through the Earth’s rotation from Capt Michel Brandt’s report on his A340-500 NAVIGATION and there are no magnetic inputs whatsoever from polar fl ight, the ultimate solution is not to embed DATABASE units like, for example, the fl uxgate sensors aircraft Magnetic North in the system at all. CHECKS, WHICH used to have. The magnetic variation is extracted Partly as a result of crew confusion caused by from tables in the Air Data/Inertial Reference System this built-in disparity, in 2011 a ‘classic’ Boeing 737 ARE ESSENTIAL (ADIRS) and the Flight Management System (FMS) fatally crashed into high ground close to an airfi eld FOR RNP according to the aircraft’s geographical position near the magnetic north pole. The potential for pilot OPERATIONS and applied to the data the pilots see on their fl ight positional disorientation increases with the size of the instruments, so they can fl y by Magnetic heading, local magnetic variation, particularly in aircraft with which air traffi c control requires. These tables give an traditional cockpits. accurate magnetic variation up to a latitude of 82° N. Beyond this latitude – and beyond about 60º South – Consequences TRUE reference must be used. Back in 2002 Airbus carried out two A340-500 On 20 August 2011 the crew of the Bradley Air test fl ights involving north-polar region navigation to Services Boeing 737-210C were attempting an test the fuel system and the ADIRS performance. instrument landing system (ILS) approach to the Captained by Airbus test pilot Michel Brandt, the fi rst airport at Resolute Bay, Nunavut, in Canada’s far fl ight routed out of Toulouse to the geographic North northern islands, somewhat closer to the Magnetic Pole and then to Kefl avik, Iceland, overfl ying Thule, North Pole than most aviators usually get to fl y. The northern Greenland. The second sortie was a return airfi eld and approach charts – and therefore the to Toulouse on the reverse route and both fl ights took procedures – use True North for orientation. This is more than ten hours. Brandt, concluded: “With the customary in polar regions because the magnetic fi eld polar navigation capability of the Airbus Long Range lines close to the Magnetic North Pole have a strong family of aircraft using the fl ight management system, vertical component, so the lateral strength of the fi eld polar fl ights are no longer different from standard reduces. Meanwhile the variation can be enormous. navigation.” The Resolute Bay ILS approach that day was to

1 6 AEROSPACE / AUGUST 2017 US/UK World Magnetic Model - Epoch 2015.0

Main Field Declination (D) NOAA/NGDC & CIRES

5°W 90°W 45°W 0° 45°E 90°E 135°E - 20 N - 0 10 10

0

2 -3 0 20

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-10 0

0 0 30°N - 10

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- 2 10 1 0 - 0 - 1 -20 - 0 10 0 -30 30°S

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-5 S

S

20 1 0 0 -10

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20 0

- -30 0 -4 5 60 - 7 - -

S TSBC 90°W 45°W 0° 45°E

Main fieldfield declinationdeclination (D)(D) Map developeddeveloped by NOAA/NGDC & CIRES Approach path of FAB6560 from The Transportation Contour interval: 2 degrees, red contours positivpositivee (ea(east); blue negative (west); green (agonic) zero line. http://ngdc.noaa.gov/geomag/http://ngdc.noaa.gov/geomag/WMMWMM MercatorMercator ProjeProjection.ction. Map revreviewediewed by NGA and BGS j : Position of dip poles PublishPublisheded December 2014 Safety Board of Canada Aviation Investigation Report A11H0002.

runway 35T, the ILS localiser orientated to 347degT. of co-ordinating change globally, Canada would The magnetic variation at Resolute Bay at the time have the option of fi ling an exception and moving to was 28degW. navigation by True North unilaterally. There have been The autopilot was initially set to VOR/LOC no noises indicating such a move is imminent. Capture and the compass system set to True but, Now, with more fl ights than ever transiting the according to the Transportation Safety Board of Arctic Ocean on routes between North America and Canada (TSBC) report, there was a compass error. South East Asia and India, steering by Magnetic The captain was fl ying 330degT according to the North makes little sense, although it just happens heading on his horizontal situation indicator (HSI), that the Magnetic North Pole is migrating closer to perceiving the intercept angle to be 17º approaching the Geographic North Pole than it has ever been in the localiser from the right. recorded history. The report explains: “However, due to the compass That imminent closeness of the two North Poles is error, the aircraft’s true heading was 346º. With 3º used by the pro-True lobby to suggest this is a natural of wind drift to the right, the aircraft diverged further time to change, because the changes required will right of the localiser. The crew’s workload increased as be the smallest they have ever been. However it is they attempted to resolve the ambiguity of the track change itself that presents the one-off cost, not the divergence, which was incongruent with the perceived mathematical size of the variation between Magnetic intercept angle and expected results.” This can happen and True. when pilots do not know what to believe, and in a Another relevant fact is that the two Magnetic region where there are three Norths – Magnetic, True, Poles are not positioned on the surface of the globe and Grid (the latter for local charts), confusion is the in a kind of mirror image geographically relative to the default when things don’t proceed as expected. True Poles, as if they represented the two ends of a The crew were indeed confused and decided bar magnet speared through the exact centre of the to abandon the approach, but just as they were planet. Magnetic South is much further away from initiating the go-around the 737 fl ew into a snow- the Geographic South Pole (about 63degS between covered rocky hilltop about a mile east of the airfi eld. Australia and Antarctica) than Magnetic North is from The accident report was critical of the pilots’ crew True North (about 85degN). This greater southern resource management throughout the approach hemisphere disparity simply means that the potential but the cockpit voice recorder dialogue shows for extremely large Magnetic/True variations is greater the additional cognitive workload imposed by the but because far less aviation takes place in the south Magnetic/True disparity had left them confused. polar region, the issue is not high on priority lists. Beyond GPS/INS using True North/South, Heading North aviation will still have a legacy network of ground- based radio navigation beacons that is essentially Transport Canada has made a formal redundant most of the time and the number of recommendation to ICAO that navigation by True beacons is being reduced over time. Despite having North should become standard. It makes particular phenomenally accurate inertial reference systems to sense for any country with territories that approach back up GPS in modern aircraft, the pilots will feel the Arctic or Antarctic regions, like Canada, but those happier knowing they are there as an ultimate fall- further away may see change as unnecessary. If the back for everyone. Mariners would not want to get rid ICAO is reluctant to change because of the diffi culties of all lighthouses either.

@aerosociety i Find us on LinkedIn f Find us on Facebook.com www.aerosociety.com AUGUST 2017 17 DEFENCE Anti-ballistic missile systems

Shielding Israel

Israel’s unique geopolitical position has forced it to develop a sophisticated ABM defence system. MIKE BRATBYBYY MRAeSMRAeS exaexaminesmines itsits structure.structure.

fter the Octoberober 11973979 3 YYoYomm KiKippurppur war, Israel’s AArArabab eenemiesnnemies fi nallynally accepted thatat ththeireeir aiairr foforcesorces wwereere e no match forr tthehe fformidableormim ddable IsIsraeliraeli Defence Forcercce AAirir FFoForcerce ((IDF/AF)IDF/AF) andA that any attack on Israelaeel by ttheirhheir aairir fforcesorces would almost invariably resultsult iinn a swswiftift and eeffectiveffectivve riposte from the Israelis. Eventsvents a fefeww yeyearsars latelaterr in 1982 proved this to be trtrue,rue, aas tthehe IIDF/AFDF/AF quickly achieved complete ddodominanceminaance off the skiskieses when Israeli and Syrian forcesrcces cclashedlaashhede ooverveer fuffutureture control of the strategically iimportantmpoortaant BBekkaaekkaa VaValleylley in Lebanon. By then the Egyptiangyptiaan ggovernmentovernment hahadd already negotiated a peacee ttreatyreaaty witwithh IIsrael,srael, wwhilehile Syria and Iraq were developingoppping a llargearge ttacticalactical rocket launching capability.y. TToday,odaay, as a result, IsrIsrael’sael’s Arab foes are equipped withth thtthousandsouussaandn s ofo rrocketsocckek ts and missiles, including onesess ppotentiallyotteennttiiala lyy ccapableappabablee ooff delivering chemical and biologicalologiccaal wwarheads.arheh ads. TTheyhey see these as their most effectivefectivve wweweaponsapponns agagainstgainsst the Jewish State. The threataat is mmamagnifiagnnifi eded byy IIsrael’ssrsraael’l’s small size and by being surroundedrroundeed bbyy enenemies.eme ies. TToo understand the threat better,eer, tthehe IIDFDF hhasas aadopteddopted the, ‘Circles of Engagement’,ntt’, ananalysis.aalyysis. ThThehe fi rstrst circle includes Arab states tththatat hhaveaave bobordersrders wiwithth Israel, such as Lebanon andndd SySyria.yriiaa.. TThehe ssecondececond circle encompasses Arab ccocountriesouuntrriees wiwwiththh oonene bbufferufffer state between them and Israel,srrael, ssuchuuch asa IraIraq.q. TThehe third circle contains hostilee ststatesateess witwithh twtwowo oro mmoreore buffer countries between ththemhhem aanandnd IIsrael.sraell. IrIranana aandndd Pakistan are the main threatseaaats inn tthishhis cacategory.tegory. The Scud missile attacksckkks oonn IsIsraelisraelli cicitiesties bbyy IIrIraqaqq in the 1991 Gulf War, althoughough oonlynlly 39 mmissilesissilles were launched and almost aallll mmissedissed ththeireir tatargets,rgetss,

18 AEROSPACE / AUGUST 2017 provided the fi rst example of the vulnerability of Israel’s population to these new weapons. Many Israelis took to their cars and fl ed Tel Aviv to escape the bombardment. Israeli leaders determined that a solution had to be found. Hezbollah, which controls the south of Lebanon, has also re-equipped with 50-60,000 small rockets and missiles sourced from Iran and Syria. These threaten Israel’s northern and central cities and military bases. Additionally, Hamas, which controls the Gaza Strip, has acquired thousands more rockets and missiles; some are of military standard but many more are crude home- made Kassem rockets. This arsenal threatens Israel’s central and southern cities and military bases. The IDF/AF believes the threat posed by

these weapons can only increase with time and US Gov they have already been extensively used in recent Above: An Israeli Air Force F-15I. Middle Eastern confl icts and clashes. So the IDF/ Opposite page: An Arrow anti-ballistic missile launch. AF is deploying a range of capabilities, both old and new, to counter the menace. Measures include UAV squadrons, a new attack helicopter force and Iron Dome, an anti-rocket short-range defence system system, which bears a superfi cial resemblance to which has demonstrated an 80% success rate, the Soviet-era SA-10 Grumble, is now regarded as according to the Israelis, for destroying incoming mature and has recently seen action. Its advanced short-range missiles. technology is likely to be more in line with the US Terminal High Altitude Air Defence (THAAD) Ballistic missile threats system, which is also being offered to Israel and NATO. The Chetz is designed around long range Iran under the Ayatollahs is also a growing threat radar that identifi es and tracks a ballistic missile in recent years, repeatedly proclaiming its intention launch, alerts the command and control centre to eliminate the Jewish state altogether. Iran is which calculates the track of the incoming threat believed to be developing its own long-range and a Chetz is launched to intercept the threat at ballistic missile capable of threatening Israel and a height of up to 90 miles. However, the primary much of Europe besides and, despite long-running Israeli response to such a threat is based on international sanctions, was also believed to be aircraft, in particular IDF/AF’s powerful force of working on development of a nuclear warhead F-15I and F-16I strike aircraft along with its fl eet of to go with the missile. China, Russia and North tankers, airborne early warning and command and Korea are all thought to have provided help to Iran’s control aircraft, and surveillance and intelligence clandestine weapons programme. gathering assets. The aim is to launch a pre-emptive The combined threats drove Israel to set up its strike wherever possible, to bring the confl ict to current multi-layered ABM defence system and to the enemy’s doorstep and to deter further action develop new IDF/AF assets and capabilities. Israeli against the Jewish state. Very recently, Syrian anti- developments include entering the space arena with aircraft sites are believed to have fi red several SA-5 intelligence collection and early warning satellites Gammon Cold War era long range SAMs at Israeli and, of course, Israel’s own nuclear capability. Israeli jets attacking Iranian arms shipments through doctrine encompasses long-range military capability Syria to Hezbollah, one of which was engaged and to strike back at its enemies and, at the same time, destroyed by a Chetz when the Israeli Air Defence effective defence against the missile and rocket Command perceived it as a threat to Israel’s threats. Israel has recently changed the title of its security. Anti-Aircraft Command to Air Defence Command, The second defensive layer is designed to to refl ect the growing importance of air defence to operate against medium range missiles and rockets. the nation. These threats include Soviet-designed Scud and FROG from the Cold War era and sophisticated Three layers of ABM defence multiple rocket launchers such as the Russian BM- 27. This is the Russian equivalent of NATO’s Multiple The fi rst layer of Israel’s defence against missiles is Launch Rocket System, (MLRS) which proved highly the Chetz, meaning Arrow, air defence system for effective in the 1991 Gulf War. These weapons have use against incoming long-range ballistic missiles. ranges varying between 170 miles for developed Development began in the early 1990s and Chetz versions of Scud, to 15 to 25 miles or so for multiple 2 and 3 have since gone into production. The rocket launchers. The defence screen against these

@aerosociety i Find us on LinkedIn f Find us on Facebook www.aerosociety.com AUGUST 2017 19 DEFENCE Anti-ballistic missile systems Alpert Nathan, GPO

Heavy damage and rubble medium level threats comprises mainly Patriot PAC- million Jewish citizens live, from Hamas rockets. from an Iraqi Scud missile hit 3 anti-missile batteries. The original Patriot systems The system works in three phases. Surveillance in Ramat Gan. used in the 1991 Gulf War against Iraqi Scuds had radar detects the incoming threat, the command very mixed results, with some sources claiming and control centre computers work out whether only one successful interception. Later variants are the threat is likely to hit an Israeli city or township claimed to be considerably more effective. However, and, if so, it launches response missiles with Israel, with a policy of developing its own weapons proximity warheads on a trajectory designed to systems where possible, is currently working on intercept the incoming threat. As yet it has not a new defensive system, David’s Sling, to replace stopped thousands of rockets from being fi red Patriot. at Israel in recent confl icts with the Palestinians The low layer of Israel’s ABM defence and many citizens have fl ed from higher risk areas comprises a series of Iron Dome missile batteries when attacks occur or have taken refuge in air raid surrounding cities and military bases. The system shelters across the country. Egypt has been held has been operational since 2012. It provides responsible for smuggling many weapons into Gaza defence against short to medium range rockets via tunnels across the border. Some of the missiles and missiles, over the bracket 5 to 50 miles. It was have been of military grade, such as the Soviet fi rst used to defend the Gaza Strip, where over one designed 122mm. Others are crude and home- made but nevertheless can still be effective. Israel Defence Force Finally

Israel’s response to security threats has always been to utilise all available assets and capabilities, including today’s strike aircraft, smart weapons, attack helicopters, UAVs and surveillance aircraft to provide a formidable array of long-range power projection capability. The IDF/AF is focused increasingly on new technologies and is A missile from the Israeli Iron developing greater independence in its weapons Dome system, launched to intercept a missile coming systems. Israel is also exploiting space to add to its from the Gaza strip. operational capabilities.

2 0 AEROSPACE / AUGUST 2017 Images courtesy of www.defencephotography.com

34,038 VISITORS FROM ACCESS THE REGISTER TO 108 COUNTRIES GLOBAL MARKET ATTEND TODAY (6% INCREASE IN 2015) 76% AT THE WORLD OF ATTENDEES DECISION MAKERS OR AIR LEADING DEFENCE SPECIFIERS (DSEI 2015) & SECURITY EVENT LAND 1,683 N AVA L EXHIBITORS To enquire and reserve your exhibition space contact: REPRESENTING THE T: +44 (0)20 7384 7770 E: [email protected] SECURITY WHOLE SUPPLY CHAIN Register to attend: WWW.DSEI.CO.UK/RAES JOINT 42 INTERNATIONAL Supported by Platinum Sponsors Organised by PAVILIONS AEROSPACE Human factors and CRM Briefing better

Captain RICH LOUDON, * and Captain DAVID MORIARTY, RAeS HF Group (Flight Operations and Training) take a look at current briefing procedure.

n 14 August, 2013, an Airbus A300, and situational awareness due to onset of high experienced a controlled fl ight crew workload as a result of rapidly changing into terrain fatal accident during a conditions. localiser, non-precision approach I have spoken to numerous US and international to runway 18 at Birmingham air carriers about the content of their own departure OShuttlesworth , Birmingham, and arrival briefi ngs and have found most to be Alabama. The National Transportation Safety strikingly similar. The commonality is a decades- Board (NTSB) ultimately concluded that pilot error old briefi ng method that has neither adapted to was the primary cause of the crash. The cockpit next generation fl ight decks nor incorporated voice recorder revealed a haunting revelation breakthroughs in our understanding of human about the content of the crew’s arrival briefi ng… cognition. Today’s typical Standard Operating it was perfect. Or was it? There was certainly a lot Procedure (SOP) briefi ng is simply too long (due to of talking by the Pilot Flying (PF) as he dutifully years of adding more and more items determined ‘ticked all the required boxes’ but no discussion to be ‘too important not to discuss’). Additionally, regarding the relevant threats or countermeasures briefi ngs have become one-size-fi ts-all solutions that could have averted disaster. The fatigued serving as repositories for redundant verbal crew crew chose to fl y a seldom performed, non- crosschecks of highly automated, highly reliable precision approach at night to a short runway systems. Finally, they are all too often one-sided with limited lighting with a weather forecast that conversations that lack involvement from the very suggested an unpredictable cloud ceiling. This is crewmember that recent industry accident trends one more example of an all too common thread in indicate will play a primary role in maintaining safety recent industry accidents: the loss of fl ight path margins: the Pilot Monitor (PM). David Moriarty

*Check Airman and lead Alaska Airline Human Factors Working Group

22 AEROSPACE / AUGUST 2017 After the Birmingham accident, Alaskan Airlines that precede them. Yet, on today’s modern fl ight reviewed our departure and arrival briefi ngs and decks, crews are required to go through the same found they were equally inadequate. As a result, litany of items for each and every fl ight leg. Crew we decided to conduct a comprehensive study of briefi ngs need to be scalable. Professional aviators our crew briefi ngs that started with a review of our know how to discern what is important based on voluntary safety data (AQP, ASAP, FOQA, LOSA). BRIEFINGS profi ciency, familiarity, fl ight complexity and a host We wanted to see if we could fi nd a link between HAVE BECOME of other factors that may or may not be relevant at the content of our own lengthy, one-sided, ‘box ONE-SIZE-FITS- the time. ticking’ type briefi ng and the safety defi ciencies ALL SOLUTIONS 4. Cognitive. Finally, following the principle noted in the data. What we found was astonishing. of recency (that information presented last is There was not only a clear connection between SERVING AS also well retained), crew departure and arrival crew errors and undesired aircraft states with the REPOSITORIES briefi ngs should conclude with a recap of the quality and content of the briefi ngs that preceded FOR critical threats and associated countermeasures, them but there was also a disconnect between our as well as specifi c PM duties for each particular SOP briefi ng requirements and line pilot adherence REDUNDANT departure or arrival. Why is this so important? Dr to those requirements. Our analysts advised us that VERBAL CREW Gary Klein, a leading researcher in recognition- we either had bad pilots or bad policy. We believed CROSSCHECKS primed decision-making theory, has determined it was the latter. Our briefi ngs, like so many in the OF HIGHLY that professions requiring rapid decision-making aviation industry (as shown in the LOSA archive), in high workload environments subject to had become so over-loaded and rote that many AUTOMATED, rapidly changing conditions (ie fi re-fi ghting, law of our crews were either choosing not to adhere HIGHLY enforcement, military and aviation), will involve to the seemingly irrelevant policy or they dutifully RELIABLE decisions based on recognition-primed pattern- followed it only to fi nd out later through debriefi ng, SYSTEMS matching. A pattern match, according to Klein, that what they spent so much time briefi ng wasn’t is an action that is derived from relevant cues, focused and directed on what they should have expectancies, and goals. These cues, expectations been briefi ng. and goals will normally be a result of insights and expertise gained through specifi c training or Briefi ng better routines, professional study, deliberate practice, or overall experience. In very rare cases, such as It is time to rethink the way we brief to not Sully’s ‘miracle on the Hudson,’ experts will seek a only address these issues but also create pattern-match that is ‘close enough’ because the a methodology that incorporates recent situation is unfamiliar to them, requiring some level breakthroughs in cognitive theory regarding of improvisation. In any case, a successful outcome decision-making in the very environments that are will require an appropriate pattern match. For this proving to be so challenging for pilots. After a year reason, fl ight crews should brief in a manner that of research and development, we came up with will serve to prime them with potential pattern- four goals for our briefi ngs: matches. Once these pattern-matches and the 1. Threat Forward. Following the law of primacy cues that should elicit them have been mentally (that information presented fi rst is better retained), primed, it is a lot more likely that when an abnormal crew departure and arrival briefi ngs should fi rst situation arises, the crew will be able to trigger address the relevant threats to the fl ight and go these pattern-match based responses quickly and on to discuss specifi c countermeasures that could accurately. be employed should any of those threats degrade safety margins. An additional benefi t of a threat- David Moriarty forward briefi ng is that, in identifying relevant threats early in the briefi ng, those threats tend to positively inform the subsequent departure or arrival plan. 2. Interactive. The briefi ng design should encourage interaction between the PF and PM. It is time to put away the age-old notion of ‘my leg, your leg’. The desired goal should be an ‘our leg’ mindset where the PM plays a leadership role in developing critical content of the briefi ng. After all, industry accident data continues to reveal that it is the PM that will play a signifi cant role in noticing and re-establishing safety margins should they deteriorate. 3. Scalable. Just as no two departures or arrivals are the same, neither should be the briefi ngs

@aerosociety i Find us on LinkedIn f Find us on Facebook www.aerosociety.com AUGUST 2017 23 AEROSPACE Human factors and CRM

Set-up and brief (T-P-C) PM to begin the discussion in this manner, a level of ownership and interactive engagement is fostered. To incorporate these four goals, we came up with The PM must take time to prepare an answer to a better way for crews to prepare for departures the inevitable question that will start the briefi ng: and arrivals. First, they perform a set-up. The set- ‘What are our threats?’ Together, the crew will then up is a very specifi c, deliberate process in which discuss and decide on countermeasures for each both the PF and PM take time, normally without relevant threat identifi ed. We provide our crews with discussion, to ensure all required and applicable a quick reference card that includes a summary of items are ready to go. These include a review the briefi ng format, a tool for conducting debriefs of the weather, applicable NOTAMs, a set-up of and a list of common threats as a memory jogger. On their electronic fl ight bags, instrument panels, complex, high-risk departures and arrivals, the threat navigational guidance and appropriate crosschecks portion of the briefi ng can be the most signifi cant [eg, automatically uploaded departure or arrival and lengthy component of the overall discussion. waypoints in the fl ight management computer). Next comes the PF’s PLAN. There was The reason for a ‘silent’ set-up is that we only want considerable debate over what should be included crews actually discussing relevant items that may in the plan, as we did not want to revert back to the affect safety. We found no data to support the fact long, drawn out ‘list’ of required items we were trying that a verbal, crew crosscheck of automatically to revise (this is an exercise each respective airline loaded systems, is necessary. Though that might will have to perform as they decide for themselves have been important when a system was fi rst what guidance they want to include). Just like introduced, after many years of improvement and briefi ng threats, however, the plan portion should A NOTAM report distributed via an FAA mobile website. proven reliability, a verbal review is simply no longer also be relevance-based and scaled up or down needed. Knowing what we now know about the appropriately. If a crew is about to perform their FAA importance of priming and pattern-matching, we 10th arrival and visual approach in the same sunny are convinced that every word crews speak during conditions to an airport they have been fl ying to all their briefi ng is critical and potentially life-saving. month long, then the discussion will normally be appropriately scaled down due to high profi ciency, The PM starts the briefi ng familiarity, and low risk. If, on the other hand, there exists low familiarity and high risk then much more Once both crew are set-up, the newly devised ‘T-P-C’ detail is required. (Threats-Plan-Considerations) briefi ng begins Finally, the CONSIDERATIONS portion of the with the PF asking the PM to review any relevant briefi ng is intended to be a recap or summary of THREATS that might be anticipated. By requiring the the discussion. It is particularly important if the

2 4 AEROSPACE / AUGUST 2017 briefi ng has been scaled up due to a combination of high risk and complexity. A review of specifi c PM duties will serve to ‘prime the PF and PM for action’ should any relevant threats require the agreed upon countermeasure(s).

The rollout

The most frequent questions I get asked are; ‘How did you get your Flight Operations leadership to buy off on such a big change to your SOP?’ and ‘How did you go about communicating the change to your pilots?’ The answer to the fi rst question is easy… we just showed them the voluntary safety data and proposed a solution that was more in-line with what crews were actually doing and one that incorporated human factors science. Regarding the second question, we spent considerable effort communicating the need for a change several months in advance. We then developed a robust training module including video examples and, more importantly, emphasising the ‘why’ behind the change. On the day of the rollout, numerous Flight Operations leaders were available at each domicile to ensure a smooth transition and answer any lingering questions. Several months following the rollout, we conducted a fl eet-wide survey to obtain feedback on how well the change was being incorporated and to learn how it could have been trained and implemented better. The overall

satisfaction of the entire process received an 84% approval rating.

Autonomy, mastery and purpose

It is time to unshackle our line crews from the decades old required list of briefi ng items. As Dan Pink has said in his New York Times bestseller, Drive – The Surprising Truth About What Motivates Us: “Carrots and sticks are so last century. For 21st Century work we need to upgrade to autonomy, mastery and purpose.” The ‘brief-this-or-else’ stick places the motivation in the wrong place. We need to allow crews the autonomy to scale and tailor their briefi ngs according to the specifi c situation at hand, not require a one-size-fi ts-all solution. We must further encourage crews through revised SOPs to exercise their professional mastery in analysing risk and crafting management strategies to mitigate relevant threats to the safety of fl ight and to develop appropriate plans of action based on conditions. The purpose of briefi ng is also the purpose of a professional pilot: to maximise safety. The Birmingham   crew thought they were briefi ng in the safest possible manner but, despite their compliance with all the rules, it just wasn’t enough. We can and we must do better.

Check out the RAeS HFG (Ops and Training) website: www.raes-hfg.com/hfg-ops-membership and our LinkedIn page: Royal Aeronautical Society Human Factors Group – Flight Operations and Training.

@aerosociety i Find us on LinkedIn f Find us on Facebook.com www.aerosociety.com AUGUST 2017 25 DEFENCE Romanian MiG-21s

Romania’s Notorious MiGs ANDREW DRWIEGA visits Aerostar’s MRO facility in Romania tasked with keeping the Romanian Air Force’s MiG-21 LanceRs in service.

he unmistakable roar of a military fast Romania purchased 12 used F-16AM/BMs from builds to a crescendo of noise Portugal, nine single-seat and three dual-seat shattering the peace of the quiet airfi eld versions. in eastern Romania. But there is no take-off and the engine spools down Upgrading the MiG-21 Tas quickly as it came to life. However, the process is repeated twice more before the silence returns on a The upgrade programme was valued at $300m Above from left to right: Chief more permanent basis. with Israeli company Elbit involved in the provision Engineer Ispasoaia Marinel, chief of the military engine Far from there being a problem with the of specialist avionics and weapons systems. These workshop with an R11-300 Romanian Air Force Russian made MiG-21, this was allowed the aircraft an extended mission profi le maintenance record history just another aircraft going through its fi nal allowing them to fl y and fi ght during the night folder; A Romanian Air Force C rest o f t Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21 range of engine tests at Romanian MRO he and in bad weather. R o LanceR takes off; The engine Aerostar’s facility located alongside the m Aerostar’s legacy in MRO extends a n test facility; Engineers working i runway at Bacu airport, before being a back to after WW2 but its most n on the main fuselage of a

A returned to frontline squadron duty. i important developmental aircraft was MiG-21. r

F

In November 1993, Aerostar was o in the 1970s with the Avioane Craiova Below: The author inside the r c selected by the Romanian government e IAR-93 Vultur (Vulture), a twin-engine, MiG-21’s cockpit. to completely overhaul the nation’s subsonic, close support, ground attack (All images used in this article entire fl eet of 110 Mikoyan-Gurevich and tactical reconnaissance fi ghter jet. are author’s own except MiG-21 LanceR A/B/C jets (LanceR Maiden fl ights and prototypes were based MiG-21 take-off above (USAF)). A is ground attack, B is trainer, and C is in Bacu and, through a joint development fi ghter). The fi rst MiG-21 LanceR prototype programme with Yugoslavia, at the Batajnica fl ew in 1995 and was displayed at Farnborough in Air Base, according to Doina Matanie, Aerostar’s 1996. Today, around half of those aircraft are still marketing manager. in service as air patrol and training aircraft, as the However, the full upgrade programme was Lockheed Martin F-16 Fighting Falcon is taking completed by 2002 and since then Aerostar has up the role as Romania’s frontline fi ghter. In 2016, been responsible for maintenance.

26 AEROSPACE / AUGUST 2017 Dragos Sfi rlea, quality and environmental history to be found within the door-stop sized folder. manager responsible for MRO programmes said: Marinel stated that there are around 1,500 pages “Every seven and a half years the whole aircraft and to be added at each service point every six years, all its equipment is fully dissembled, inspected and and most engines have had at least fi ve overhauls, then reassembled.” This is the concept for eastern making each folder an average of 7,500 sheets of aircraft types, not the on-condition maintenance paper thick! widely practised in the west.” The Romanian AF use the MiG 21 LanceRs for Mozambique MiG-21 modernisation training and for air security. The country is on the eastern side of NATO (it became a NATO member in Aerostar also won a contract to overhaul and March 2004) and borders the increasingly sensitive upgrade eight MiG-21 fi ghters for the Mozambique Black Sea. The AF bases operating the MiG-21s Air Force. The aircraft were a mix of six single-seat Aerostar engineers conduct an engine test on a Romanian are at Câmpia Turzii in the north (71st Air base) and and two dual-seat trainer variants, some of which AF MiG-21 at Bacau airfi eld, Feteti near the Black Sea (86th Air Base). had not been fl own operationally for up to 20 years. eastern Romania. Since 1953, Dragos said that Aerostar had The contract, which was completed by the overhauled around 3,500 aircraft and 6,500 engines. summer of 2014, reset all of the aircraft, many of “The MiG-21’s Tumansky R11-300 engines are rated which had lower than expected fl ying hours due to for six years between overhauls. The aircraft comes their lack of operational use. The complete process back after 600 fl ying hours and the engine 300 took around 120 days per aircraft and included hours, so during the time between overhauls each the installation of a GPS system and digital fl ight aircraft will fl y with two engines assigned to it.” recorder. “The upgrading we did in the late 1990s was Aerostar also organised training for the state-of-the-art with head-up display and targeting. Mozambique pilots that were designed specifi cally It was important to make it an eastern platform for them. Some of the pilots had fl own the aircraft compatible with either eastern or western weapons. a long time before and others who were ab initio Not only the weapons systems but also the weather pilots. Dragos said of the training at Bacau: “They radar. Even today the pilots are still very happy with started with propeller aircraft, then on to the Aero it.” The aircraft uses an Elta EL/M2032 air combat L-39 with 10 pilots with 30 technicians. After this, radar. Aerostar test pilots continued the training back in Dragos says that the current throughput of Mozambique on the MiG-21.” However, the training MiG-21s is between fi ve to six per year with a 90 was not actually completed and, while several of day turn around from receipt to back to the Air Force the pilots could fl y the L-39, “none were capable of customer. piloting the newly updated MiG-21s by themselves.” Aerostar is currently responsible for full lifecycle MiG-21s currently support of all remaining LanceRs but the company Future plans has serious MRO ambitions regarding the Romanian in service. AF’s growing fl eet of F-16s. “We are determined to get into the maintenance Walking around Aerostar’s dedicated MiG-21 for the F-16s but have no certainty at this time as shops involves an encounter with the engine-test there is no formal agreement yet. I am confi dent Angola unit. The Soviet designed original dials and test in this direction but what counts is how and when Azerbaijan equipment is still in place with Cyrillic writing but the Romanian AF fl eet will grow,” said Grigore now succeeded by a twice modernised panel that Filip, General Director and President of Aerostar’s China (J-17) provides far more accurate digital data analysis of Board of Directors. He added that, in addition to Croatia each engine’s performance in the test bed. Catalin the existing purchase of 12 aircraft, there were Cuba Zota, operational director of the aero products indications of another 24/36 F-16s, although the Egypt division and the man in charge of the testbed facility timeline to their acquisition would be crucial to Guinea said that testing continues until the engineers are Aerostar’s potential involvement. satisfi ed with the results but this is never longer than Aerostar intends to remain an MRO organisation India 35 hours in total. for the Romanian Ministry of National Defence Libya Walking away from the testbed and over to the and for the Air Force, said Filip, as well as offering Mali engine workshops also seem like a step back in varying levels of overhauls and upgrades to foreign Mozambique history. Only 70 engineers work in a multisectioned military customers. dated building compared to the 300 or so when The company recently announced that it intends North Korea the MiG-21 fl eet was being upgraded around the to build another civil MRO facility at Lasi in northern Romania turn of the century. This was a time when the shop Romania. This will be a purely civil centre with a Serbia averaged around 100 engines overhauled per year,” four-bay MRO hangar for Airbus A320 family and Sudan said Ispasoaia Marinel, chief of the military engine Boeing 737 Classic and New Generation overhauls, Syria workshop. potentially opening in the summer of 2019. The life history of each engine is contained in a Conveniently, this may free space in Bacau for Uganda huge binder with every engine check sign-off in its additional civil, military or business. aircraft. Zambia

@aerosociety i Find us on LinkedIn f Find us on Facebook www.aerosociety.com AUGUST 2017 27 AIR TRANSPORT African airlines Aéroports de Paris Management

Africa’s airline travails

In a continent hungry for reliable trans-continent and international , Africa’s airlines still struggle to survive as successful business ventures. KEITH HAYWARD FRAeS considers why this is so.

frica is a huge continent with a wide Tough economic times make for climatic range, a diverse cultural tough conditions for airlines heritage and varying levels of economic development. There are some marginal Life for African airlines has not been helped by recent and struggling states but others economic woes. Last year was another diffi cult withA immense natural wealth. Most have young and year generally for many African economies, hit by ambitious populations. The continent generally has falling oil revenues and terrorist activity depressing poor roads and rail networks that, where they exist, tourism, with memories of Ebola still fresh in the were developed primarily with colonial interests in memory. Many airlines have revenues trapped in local mind. In short, this should be an ideal environment for currencies while all main operating expenses are air travel. in US dollars. This had a negative affect on liquidity Well, in principle and in some countries. The and the ability to upgrade equipment. The loss of colonial heritage combined with political suspicion hard currency from falling commodity prices had and a reluctance effectively to co-operate over the a generally depressive impact on the continent’s years has also left Africa well short of the international air transport industry. This obstructed the supply of and domestic air transport complex it needs for spare parts to keep aircraft operational and affected sustained economic development. As a BBC West the willingness of overseas airports to accept credit African correspondent blogged recently, it is still for fuel and other services. With some exceptions often necessary to fl y via London or Paris to reach a an older airliner fl eet is hampering increased Fastjet neighbouring country, requiring between 24 and 48 effi ciency and will be diffi cult to replace in the short hours to make a 400-mile international fl ight. With a term. Infrastructure investment is poor, especially few notable exceptions, the primary long-haul airlines in information technology – especially vital for the are outsiders. The low-cost carrier (LCC) model, which growth of the LCC sector. Gulf airlines are also has swept all before it in most other parts of the world, poaching African engineers who would otherwise is still spluttering to take-off, hamstrung by a snail’s underpin the development of a local healthy and pace move towards ‘open skies’. All too often, airlines lucrative repair and maintenance operation. suffer from predatory governments and corrupt African airlines are facing a powerful challenge politicians eager to tap revenues through taxation and from the Gulf-based carriers and Turkish Airlines, as other means. well as a growing threat from China. A decade ago,

28 AEROSPACE / AUGUST 2017 African airlines had 40% of the market – today this corporation, now manages the carrier. Arik fl ies over has dropped to 20%. In general, African airlines are half of Nigeria’s domestic fl ights and services to South too small and undercapitalised to meet this challenge. Africa, the UK and the US East Coast. Despite having A number have stopped fl ying long-haul international a relatively modern fl eet the airline has struggled to services. Most intra-African routes are unprofi table pay its staff and creditors over the past nine months, IT IS STILL – , for example, cross subsidises its and has had to ground eight of its aircraft. It has often OFTEN African services from profi ts made fl ying to Europe had problems delivering basic services, with over NECESSARY TO as part of a wider feeder network. Last year African 60% of its fl ights subject to delays and cancellation. airlines collectively lost $700m with a further $500m Violence has been frequent at check-in. FLY VIA LONDON expected this year. Arik has been badly hit by Nigeria’s wider OR PARIS economic malaise, driven mainly by falling oil revenues TO REACH A Nigerian problems and mismanagement. Jet fuel has been in short NEIGHBOURING supply affecting all airlines operating in the country. The condition of the Nigerian airline industry perhaps Other national airlines have also been unable to COUNTRY, exemplifi es, in an acute form, the state of play across repatriate earnings – estimated to total over $600m, REQUIRING the continent. The closure earlier this year of Abuja leading to several airlines cancelling operations. BETWEEN 24 airport (Nigeria’s second busiest) was perhaps the However, Arik is the most consistently and directly AND 48 HOURS nadir for the country’s ailing air transport system. The affected by loss of hard currency and management entire runway had to be resurfaced. This should have has been drawn into corruption enquiries. TO MAKE been done in 2002 but neglect and mismanagement Other domestic airlines have struggled in a A 400 MILE by successive Nigerian governments led to the negative environment. The , which INTERNATIONAL shutdown. Several near accidents had already led operated Virgin Nigeria, itself remnants of Air to several foreign airlines threatening to terminate Nigeria, was reluctant to fl y international routes, in FLIGHT services into the capital’s airport. part because of the competition this would have The closure – and the subsequent boycott by generated for , its parent airline. Its foreign airlines of the diversionary airport 200km collapse left Virgin Nigeria a legacy of debt. to the north at Kaduna – nearly ended direct Safety has been another long-term issue international fl ights into the capital. for Nigeria, affecting both airlines and air traffi c Signifi cantly Ethiopian Airlines re-routed its management. Although since January, Nigeria’s operations to Kaduna, using its fl agship Boeing 787 overall offi cial safety rating has risen to world aircraft – a move that is likely to increase still further standards, a generally poor air transport infrastructure the carrier’s growing popularity as an alternative to has blocked improvement. Many Nigerian airports still Below: Ethiopian Airlines Nigeria’s own airlines and underline its emerging role do not have runway lights and navigational landing Aero Icarus Boeing 767-300ER. as Africa’s de facto ‘fl ag carrier’. aids, limiting operations to daylight hours. Repairs Above opposite page: The Abuja closure exacerbated the problems at Abuja were completed on schedule and fl ights Mauritius’ Sir Seewoosagur facing Arik Air, Nigeria’s largest carrier and primary have resumed to the capital but the incident only Ramgoolam International Airport. national international airline. The Nigerian government served to underline the parlous state of air transport Below opposite: An advert for intervened in February to save the airline. Amcon, infrastructure in what should be Africa’s economic Tanzanian carrier, Fastjet. a state-owned ‘bad bank’ asset management powerhouse. AIR TRANSPORT African airlines

Michael Garnett with little sign that the revenues are used to fund improvements in the civil aviation sector. Partly as a result of this burden, 27 Nigerian airlines have been forced out of business over the past 25 years. Ghana is also still struggling to re-establish a national airline, although the government has requested proposals from private investors or strategic partners. Ethiopian and RwandAir have made tentative enquiries but, to date, there has been little movement towards launching a new carrier.

African skies are still largely closed

In general, the development of African air transport, President Muhammadu Buhari sacked the head Above: Arik Air – Airbus particularly the LCC sector, has been hampered of four state-run aviation departments and agencies, A330-223, BN-JIC landing at by the slow evolution of ‘open skies’ and a less London Heathrow. including the Air Safety and Accident Commissioner. regulated environment. This has delayed the Below: The Jomo Kenyatta No details were provided on the dismissals but it International Airport, Nairobi. advent of less costly access and movement may have been an attempt to defl ect blame for generally throughout Africa. At the moment only 17 long-term neglect of the country’s aviation sector African countries have deregulated their airspace, and infrastructure. These changes will do little to although 44 are formally signed up to the 1999 improve the overall management of Nigeria’s air Yamoussoukro Declaration pledging the creation transport system. In general, infrastructure problems of an Africa ‘Open Sky’ process. This became the have further depressed the Nigerian economy Yamoussoukro Decision in 2008, further updated by which, according to some estimates, has cut annual the Abjuba Declaration of 2012. growth by 2-3%. Paradoxically, foreign airlines tend to benefi t the most from any liberalisation – Turkish Airlines serves Taxes to make Air Passenger Duty 51 African destinations, signifi cantly more than any look African airline and 23 African countries have open skies agreements with the US; and many intra- In general, airline costs in West Africa are 30- African city pairs are still connected only via external 40% more expensive than in East Africa with fl ights to Europe or the Middle East. accompanying higher taxes and the Nigerian situation is one of the worst. The Nigerian An LCC sector is emerging Government has tended to treat the sector as an easy target for fund raising. Domestic airlines, on With few exceptions, LCC operation across average, pay about 35% to 40% of a ticket cost national frontiers has struggled in this climate. The as taxes and charges that come under the guise strongest market is in South Africa, with one of of statutory levies, in addition to other charges. the most sophisticated national economies and There are some 18 separate taxes and surcharges strong growing demand for air travel. The LCC potentially levied on Nigerian airline operators sector is trying to reach the substantial number of – all of which are paid to government agencies, people who have never fl own before but may have enough money to pay for a cheap ticket to avoid

Kenya Airports Authority an overcrowded and perhaps dangerous long- range bus service. This often requires innovative approaches to payment when many lack a bank account or credit card. MangoPlus accepts a payment card. Bookings and payment through its supermarket and store card partners accounts for a signifi cant percentage of its revenue. While South African low-cost carriers focus on the classic LCC balance of cost and comfort, Tanzanian budget carrier Fastjet has tapped into a new audience of cross-border traders in East Africa. Its ‘Freighty’ add-on offers passengers up to 80kg of freight for $40 if booked in advance, while an innovative ‘Fish Bucket’ product allows travellers fl ying between Dar es Salaam and Mwanza, on the shores of Lake Victoria, to pre-book a 20kg refrigerated fi sh bucket

Kenya Airports Authority Kenya for their fl ight (an idea for Ryanair perhaps).

3 0 AEROSPACE / AUGUST 2017 – decline of a giant

The saddest case is perhaps the slow decline of South African Airways (SAA), historically the only African airline consistently able to match Ethiopian (FASTJET’S) for quality. However, mismanagement and political ‘FISH BUCKET’ interference, as well as failure to adapt to new competitive pressures, have undermined its position. PRODUCT Loss making for several years, SAA’s high cost ALLOWS structure and heavy debt burden continues to TRAVELLERS undermine the state-owned airline. The fi nancially FLYING

fragile company projects a net loss of over $65m Lagos airport in 2017-18 and, while this was a signifi cant BETWEEN DAR Lagos airport. improvement on the projected loss of some $300m ES SALAAM AND for the last fi nancial year, this may be optimistic. MWANZA, ON SAA has struggled to compete against foreign THE SHORES OF Ethiopian serves 36 cargo destinations and intends long-haul airlines and a domestic LCC sector, one to create the best cargo hub between the Americas, of the most vibrant in Africa. Between 2011 and LAKE VICTORIA, Europe and the Far East. 2016, SAA’s share of international long-haul traffi c TO PRE- Ethiopian is a strong advocate of creating fell from 25% to 19%, while more than 50% of BOOK A 20KG regional alliances and is prepared to help raise domestic capacity is run by low-cost carriers. It has standards generally among its partners. Offi cial set up its own LCC subsidiary – MangoPlus – but, REFRIGERATED talk began last year between the governments of like many legacy carriers operating the LCC model, FISH BUCKET Ethiopia, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Uganda, Rwanda, it has struggled to make a good fi t of the two FOR THEIR DRC Congo and Botswana aimed at establishing businesses. FLIGHT a pan-African airline based in southern or central Africa. Ethiopian Airlines already has an investment Better news from Kenya in Togo-based ASKY Airlines and Malawi Airlines and is forging a strategic partnership with RwandAir. In East Africa, is still coping with In short, Ethiopian is so far the only credible African the fallout from sacking and resignations of top resistance to the challenge posed by the Gulf-based management last November and, earlier this year, airlines. The airline has a plan – Vision 2025 – to be the carrier accumulated debts of $1.4bn and was the leading African airline. By then it hopes to have forced to sell a number of aircraft. However, a a network of 180 destinations; the latest is a direct turnaround strategy launched late in 2016 has service linking Nigeria with Singapore. begun to have some positive affects with a net loss for the fi rst half of 2017 down to $49m and A brighter future generally? traffi c up by 4% and improved yields. The airline has renegotiated terms with its pilots and intends Over the next decade, air traffi c in Africa is expected to renegotiate terms with its leading shareholders, to grow at a modest but steady rate. Airbus and which include the Kenyan government (29.8%) and Boeing are forecasting air traffi c in Africa to -KLM (26.7%). South African grow at around 6% annually over the next 20 Airways projects years – modest by emerging market standards Ethiopian Airlines – the African a net loss of over and dependent on an expanding middle class with champion higher disposable incomes. However, while 86% of $65m in 2017-18 this growth is likely to and from the continent, the The state-owned Ethiopian Airlines remains Africa’s highest rate of growth is still expected to be from airline bright spot and is positioning itself as Africa’s intra-African traffi c. This should generate some ‘fl ag carrier’. Flying through a history of national Xevi V 303m passengers a year by 2035. and regional political turbulence and violence, The key question will be whether the benefi ts of Ethiopian has acquired an enviable reputation for this growth will fall to local airlines or to the mighty quality and solvency. Named African airline forces to the north and northeast. Ethiopian of the year at the Air Cargo Africa conference Airlines and perhaps a reformed and revitalised SAA last February, this followed a fi fth consecutive could form the basis for an African revival but this accolade as Africa’s leading airline. The airline fl ies will depend on the lowering of political barriers that to 98 destinations worldwide, including several in would liberalise African skies. Unless the continent China, with 85 modern aircraft (with another 48 on can deliver a more comprehensive deregulation order). Ethiopian declared a record profi t for 2016 package, the main benefi ciaries of general of $273m – up by 10.3% on 2015. Building on economic growth and rising prosperity are likely to the new $115m cargo terminal at Addis Ababa, be externally-based carriers.

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ith lowered expectations on the Le Bourget, at a press briefi ng in the morning side due to Lockheed Martin gave a programme update and airframers’ giant backlogs, along revealed information about how sheer numbers of with Brexit and Trump adding to the aircraft in service worldwide very soon will help uncertainty, this year’s Paris Air drive down costs, not just in acquisition but also in ShowW defi ed expectations in the amount of trade operating it. conducted. True, visitor numbers (322,000) were There are now 220+ fi ghters in service, said down (6% fewer trade and 10% fewer public) – a Jeff Babione, Lockheed Martin’s F-35 Executive consequence of reduced company budgets for VP and General Manager but, just three years exhibitions, searing heat and additional security later, with fi nal assembly lines now running in Fort Armed Wing measures. However, exhibitors were up 3% from Worth, Texas, and Japan, this will grow to 600 Loong II draws 2015 and the week ended with a respectable aircraft. Two years later, there will be 1,000 aircraft attention $150bn worth of orders and commitments in service around the world. This, says Babione, announced for 834 commercial aircraft (see could deliver unique opportunities to exploit big China's AVIC stole the show panel p 37). The show also racked up a number of data for predictive maintenance. The F-35 can for UAVs with a full scale aircraft debuts in both fl ying and static, including generate huge amounts of data every fl ight, and, mock-up of its Wing Loong the Lockheed Martin F-35A, Mitsubishi MRJ90, with 1,000 aircraft fl ying, this “will deliver an II armed MALE UAV – which Embraer E195 E2, Lockheed Martin LM-130J unprecedented amount of learning” to operators included a wide range of and Airbus A350-1000, with some 140 aircraft on and the manufacturer. Future F-35 highlights to weaponry, including an anti- display. The organisers also said that the new Paris watch for include the conclusion of SDD by the ship missile. Air Lab zone attracted some 50,000 visitors, with a end of the year, the integration of the Enhanced further 55,000 visiting the Careers Plane pavilion. Paveway II GBU-49 to address a moving target Let's take a look at some of the highlights. weapon gap and the fi rst delivery of home-based F-35s to Norway. F-35A fl ies at Paris In addition, Lockheed Martin was also reported to be close to sealing a 440 aircraft ‘block-buy’ While one of the highlights for many on day order with 11 countries that could be worth one was the fi rst fl ying display of the F-35A at between $35-40bn. Paris shimmers and shines

Sweltering heat, innovation centre stage and better than expected airliner business. TIM ROBINSON and BILL READ report from the 2017 Paris Air Show held on 19-25 June.

32 AEROSPACE / AUGUST 2017 Boeing

Big MAX takeway as At a press conference on PAS17 IN Boeing launch MAX 10 the fi rst day, Boeing CEO and Chairman Dennis BRIEF Muilenburg, and BCA CEO Kevin McAllister VTOL start-up XTI announced the launch of Aircraft revealed that the 737 MAX 10 as the it has already signed newest member of the up three pre-orders 737 MAX family. for its revolutionary Powered by CFM hybrid $6m TriFan 600 International LEAP- from a customer. The 1B engines, the 230-seat MAX 10 will be 66in longer than the MAX 9 with levered main landing gear to company changed the allow the aircraft more space to rotate its longer fuselage during take-off. Other changes include a variable powerplant to a hybrid- exit limit rating mid-exit door, a lighter fl at aft pressure bulkhead and a modifi ed wing for low-speed drag electric confi guration, reduction. McAllister called the MAX 10 the “most effi cient single-aisle aeroplane in the skies.” Initially where a single predicting that it would announce around 240 MAX 10 orders at the show, from 10+ customers, the week 1,100shp engine drives saw Boeing exceed that goal with 361 orders from 16 customers (see table p 37). three ducted fans. XTI is now working on a 60% scale UAV/ optionally piloted demonstrator which is Boom reveals commitments for 76 Boom says that it has suffi cient funds. “We’ve set to fl y next year. supersonic airliners spent $33m getting the SB-1 ready,” said Scholl. “We’ve got $41m in funding which will more than Tuesday morning saw a presentation from pay for the demonstrator. The 76 order reservations supersonic commercial aircraft start-up Boom are backed by ‘tens of millions’ of dollars in non- Aerospace with an impassioned talk from Blake refundable payments. Scholl also revealed the cost A380plus study Scholl, founder and CEO of Boom Aerospace. “We of a Boom SSJ – $200m – and the cost of a return are talking about a supersonic renaissance,” said ticket for a supersonic fl ight across the Atlantic and unveiled Scholl. “Speed matters. Airplanes aren’t cruise ships. back – $5,000. Airbus revealed We love fl ying but we love arriving more.” the A380plus – a Boom Aerospace plans to build the Boom Elbit unveils wide-area sensor development study supersonic jet (SSJ) which will reintroduce to boost the fl agging supersonic travel for commercial passengers. The This year saw Israel’s unveil an superjumbo’s sales interior of the Boom SSJ will be fi tted with 55 advanced persistent wide-angle ISR sensor, the appeal. New winglets seats. “ SkEye. Roughly similar to the US ‘Gorgon Stare’ (which have yet to To test the technologies needed to create payload, the SkEye uses several EO sensors fl y), just on their own, the commercial passenger version of the Boom working together to cover a far wider fi eld of view say Airbus, can give SSJ, Boom Aerospace is building a smaller Mach than existing targeting pods or sensor balls. This, up to 4% in fuel 2.2 supersonic demonstrator – the XB-1 – also along with sophisticated algorithms and automated savings, along with known as the ‘Baby Boom’. The demonstrator has alerts, allows operators to monitor bigger areas other aerodynamic completed a preliminary design review and is now than ever before, without missing anything. tweaks. Additionally, ready for assembly with GE, , Tencate 'Rewinding' footage using sensors like this also the A380plus will see and Stratasys as manufacturing partners. Scholl allows intelligence analysts to 'follow' suspects or 80 extra seats and explained how the design had been modifi ed bomb makers, for example, back to safe houses or an increased MTOW. since the end of 2016 with the number of intakes meeting places. Optimised maintenance, increased from two to three and a change to the too, will help airlines wing planform. The Baby Boom will be powered GKN signs research partnership for save money. All in by GE J85 engines as used on T-38 trainers. The large-scale 3D printing all, say Airbus, the XB-1 is scheduled to be completed this year with A380plus should be fi rst fl ight in 2018. The fi rst passenger fl ight of the GKN Aerospace has signed a fi ve-year research able to offer airlines full-size aircraft could follow as early as 2023. agreement with one of the world's most advanced a 13% per seat cost “We have now had preliminary reservations for physical science research establishments – the reduction. 76 aircraft from fi ve world airlines,” said Scholl – US Department of Energy's Oak Ridge National although he did not reveal their identities. However, Laboratory. The research agreement will see GKN it is likely that one of the customers is Virgin Atlantic and Oak Ridge focus on laser-metal deposition with which was the launch customer for the design. wire (LMD-w) process for additive manufacturing, “We’ve got enough customers to launch the design,” with the goal of developing a machine that could 3D said Scholl. print medium or large-scale structures in titanium. Lockheed Martin Lockheed

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French-Italian space and satellite company ThalesAleniaSpace has taken a minority stake in balloon specialist Airstar Aerospace as part of a plan to accelerate development of the Stratobus high altitude pseudo satellite (HAPS) airship. Airbus reveals updated RACER demonstrator Scheduled to fl y in late Over at the EU's Clean Sky research stand, it was standing room only as Airbus Helicopters CEO Guillaume 2020, the autonomous Faury unveiled a model of its RACER (Rapid And Cost-Effective Rotorcraft) which it is developing under Stratobus, by fl ying at Clean Sky’s LifeRCraft. The RACER, a compound, high-speed rotorcraft, is designed to provide high-speed an altitude of 20km, (400kph) but at an affordable cost – opening up new market niches in EMS, VIP and offshore operations. could provide 5G The RACER will feature two RTM322 engines. The new confi guration shows the design tweaked with services or high-speed pusher propellers at the rear and instead of a single high stub wing, a double wing, which gives better Internet over specifi c aerodynamics high stiffness and reduced weight. First fl ight of the RACER technology demonstrator is areas with lower latency scheduled for 2020. than satellites.

Cobham unveils 'virtual refuelling' next ten years to meet global demand.” Meanwhile, an airliner market forecast from Airbus also echoed Over at ’s stand the company was demoing this outlook. It predicts that some 35,000 aircraft the results of some extremely sophisticated valued at $5.3 trillion will be required in the next 20 computer modelling of fl exible hose and drogue years. For those thinking of entering the aerospace systems that has resulted from 1,000s of hours of industry, airlines will also need 530,000 pilots and fl ight testing and the fi rm’s long heritage in air-to- 550,000 technicians too. air refuelling. While for the show, the company had included a virtual reality (VR) headset, the primary Budget COIN from Bulgaria More lift for LM customer for this modelling are companies building or converting tankers. By using this modelling, This year's Le Bourget saw not just one but two airship the effects of different hose tension, disconnect modifi ed armed agricultural aircraft on display at Lockheed Martin has pressures and the like can be assessed and the the show – as militaries around the world look for signed up a second pod or hose design tweaked. This has the potential low-cost attack aircraft to fi ght insurgencies. From customer for its LMH-1 for ‘signifi cant’ savings in time and money, says Bulgaria’s LASA, was a modifi ed Thrush 510G hybrid airship. French Cobham. A secondary market might be for this which, interestingly, is equipped with Russian company Hybrid Air hose and drogue real-time modelling package to be rocket pods and twin-barrel cannon – as well as a Freighters (HAF) signed available to simulator companies to 'drop-in' existing sensor pod from Austria's Airborne Technologies. a letter of intent (LoI) mission simulators to train pilots in the challenging Meanwhile, L3 Technologies was showing off its for up to 12 airships, art of aerial tanking. Experiencing it in VR, it is heavily-armed AT-802L Longsword. joining UK customer clear that it is no video game – the hose responds Straightline Aviation exactly as you think it might – even to the extent of Designing the Factory of the Future which has a LoI for 'whipping' up vertically if you withdraw break contact 12 LHM-1s. However, too quickly. Over at French engineering group Assystem, the a launch date for the company revealed its vision for what a Factory of programme has yet to Wanted: more pilots the Future 4.0 could look like in the 2020s. Taking be announced. as an example product, an aerial taxi and VIP VTOL Unveiling its fi rst ever Airline Pilot Demand Outlook, personal air vehicle, Assystem envisages that a Canadian training and simulation specialists CAE FoF could be made 50% automated with ‘cobots’ predict that the global civil air transport fl eet will helping out and aerial drones delivering parts need some 255,000 new pilots in the next ten just-in-time. The aerial taxi market would require years. The report also found that there was a automotive style volume production, with a 'Takt requirement to develop 180,000 fi rst offi cers into time' of just six minutes. This could mean that a captains – a higher number than any other decade customer might be able to order an aerial taxi and In short, said Nick Leontidis, CAE Group President, have it delivered in just two months. The goal here Civil Aviation Training Solution: “The airline industry would be to reduce the manpower hours-per-aircraft will need 70 new type-rated pilots per day for the from the tens of thousands currently in traditional Lockheed Martin Lockheed

34 AEROSPACE / AUGUST 2017 aerospace manufacturing to just 40hrs or double To help tap into this market, Airbus announced that of the 20hrs of the car industry. Skywise, an open aviation data platform that is powered by data analytics company, Palantir Turkish industry out in force Technologies. Skywise, says Airbus, is intended to be the ‘single platform of reference’ that will allow As well as Japan and Brazil, another nation to airlines to improve effi ciencies, reduce downtime, showcase its growing aerospace industry at Le and boost their reliability. Bourget this year was – which had brought So what does that mean in practice? One early two examples of TAI's Hurkus A basic trainer – adopter of Skywise is the UK's easyJet, which

Airbus Helicopters making its Paris debut in both the fl ying and static detailed how they had trialed some predictive display. While the Hurkus fl ying in the fl ying display maintenance tools. The fi rst step was to centralise Personal aerial sported a yellow and black livery, the one on static and bring separate databases together. The airline vehicle was confi gured as the Hurkus C COIN/light attack, then made a Top 100 list of 'out of service' faults One of the more unusual aircraft spotted in the with rocket pods, guided missiles and ventral sensor. – and isolated individual failures to create the static park was the SureFly TAI also used Le Bourget to unveil a mock-up of 'signature' of the technical fault – (for example electric quadcopter from its new 12-seat T625 medium helicopter, which is a higher than normal oil temperature associated US technology company scheduled to fl y in 2018. Powered by two HTEC with an imminent integrated drive generator (IDG) Workhorse Group which was CTS800 engines, the T625 is initially aimed at the failure. By using Airbus's Skywise platform, this unveiled for the fi rst time at Paris. The SureFly features commercial and parapublic market – with potentially signature could be tracked and looked for across four propeller arms with two a follow-on military variant. the fl eet. EasyJet says that this has already proved fi xed contra-rotating propellers its worth and that half of its top 100 operational on each arm, a backup battery faults can be predicted in this way, opening up new to drive the electric motors Analytics to power MRO in the event of engine failure levels of reliability and effi ciency. and a ballistic parachute that With the world's airline fl eet set to continue growing will safely land the craft in – support and services will become ever more Honey, I shrunk your radar! the event of an emergency. important, predicted Airbus. It forecasts a projected The early models will be market of $3.2trillion, the bulk ($1.85trillion) of A new sensor for UAVs to be unveiled at this year's piloted but Workhorse’s aim is to introduce future versions that coming from MRO. Increasingly the MRO show came from Leonardo, which unveiled its capable of autonomous fl ight sector and services will be powered by software, Gabbiano TS ultra-light radar. This tiny multi-mode carrying payloads of up to as aviation embraces big data, analytics and digital radar, with 'grown-up' modes such as SAR, GMTI, 400lb. Test fl ights are to begin transformation. Predictive maintenance is set to maritime, search, air-to-air search and track weighs this year with eventual FAA certifi cation planned for the become more and more commonplace. less than 24kg – opening up use on for 'mini' UAVs. end of 2019. Paris Air Lab sees start-ups take-off Set aside in the Concorde hall at the Musée de l'Air et de l'Espace this year at the show was a new exhibition space called Paris Air Lab, devoted to tech start-ups, innovation and virtual reality which is now making waves across the conservative aviation industry. Whether it is reusable rockets, fl ying cars, space hotels or supersonic passenger fl ight, new Silicon Valley-style tech fi rms are aiming to disrupt and drive change. One event at the Paris Air Lab, saw a TED-style debate with the legacy aerospace sector represented by France's Grégoire Aladjidi, Head of Safran Corporate Ventures, and François Chopard, CEO and founder of Starburst Accelerator, the world’s fi rst ‘global aerospace and aviation incubator’. The title of their debate: ‘Does the future of the aerospace industry belong to start-ups?’ Safran’s Aladjidi noted that recently: “Something's happened – would anyone imagine this [Paris Air Lab] two years ago?” Chopard, as might be Textron Systems expected, was highly has launched a new positive of the start-up military UAV which it culture and innovation claims offers improved accelerating aerospace combat capability over development saying: its existing Shadow “SpaceX developed M2 unmanned aircraft rocket engines in almost system. The new no time – it was thought Nightwarden Tactical to be impossible.” He Unmanned Aircraft predicted that there would System (TUAS) can be supersonic passenger fl y up to 90kt with an fl ight in a decade and endurance of up to 15 5,000-10,000 people hours and a payload living in LEO in the near capacity of 130lb, the future. company said.

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Brimstone Typhoon test imminent The fi nal tally for Boeing orders and commitments came to 571 aircraft, worth some This year saw the 500th Eurofi ghter delivered $74.8bn. While Boeing on Monday had expected and the fl eet, in service now with eight countries, 220 orders from ten customers for the MAX 10, recently passed the 400,000 fl ying hours milestone. it actually won 361 orders from 16 customers. The game-changing MBDA Meteor BVRAAM and However 214 of these were conversions from other Storm Shadow cruise missile are now in the fi nal MAX or 737 models, leaving 147 new/incremental stages of integration for the RAF and a Eurofi ghter orders or commitments.

MBDA Typhoon is set to test fi re another new weapon, With pointed questions over how fi rm many SmartGlider Brimstone, 'imminently' according to the company. of these actually are, Boeing's Mounir noted that breaks cover conversions showed a high level of demand from Summary and analysis impatient customers and gave both airframer and MBDA unveiled a new airlines fl exibility in allocating delivery slots. He family concept for While not a bumper year like previous Le Bourgets also stated that many of these LoIs (Letters of long-range (100km) – a blaze of airliner orders and commitments Intent) placed at Le Bourget would be fi rmed up glide weapons. The throughout the week surprised many who had very quickly. Mounir also predicted that depressed SmartGlider weapon perhaps been expecting a much quieter air show. widebody demand would pickup – driven primarily concept is aimed at Much of this, of course, came from Boeing's by “very strong demand” from China, which is an equipping fast jets from new 737 MAX 10 launched at the show, which “incredibly under-served market”. the mid-2020s and supercharged its numbers and led the company's Meanwhile, over at Airbus, at its usual end-of- ranges from the 120kg normal motto of ‘we don't get involved in order show summary conference, Airbus conceded that SmartGlider Light, races’ being ditched for an out-of-character wrap-up it had been a slower air show that usual and that to the SmartGlider press conference – with even a nervous but happy Boeing had indeed won the total Le Bourget orders Heavy with a 1,000kg Ihassne Mounir, Senior VP of Sales, BCA saying: race. It announced (with one MoU to Iran Airtours warhead. MBDA see "We've never had a wrap-up like this.” for 45 A320neos announced barely ten minutes the SmartGlider as occupying a new niche between cruise missiles This year Brazil’s Embraer had a special treat – the fi rst ever media demo fl ight on its new KC-390 tanker/ and other PGMs with a transport which made its Paris Air Show debut and also fl ew in the air display. Particularly noteworthy on tactical fi ghter able to the one-hour demo fl ight was the KC-390’s spacious cockpit with its Rockwell Collins Pro Line Fusion carry as many as 18 of fl ightdeck. The KC-390 has a FBW system with ‘no bank angle limits’, according to a company test pilot. It the Light variant. also boasts another innovation in BAE Systems ‘active sticks’ which enhance crew situational awareness and give tactile safety cues about the edges of the fl ight envelope. Despite being a jet, the KC-390 is also capable of steep tactical descents to minimise exposure to enemy fi re. Cargo handling too is extremely easy, according to an ex-C-130 , with the fl oor rollers able to be fl ipped over to change confi guration in just three minutes. Embraer said that the KC-390 has now racked up over 1,000 hours in the fl ight test campaign, which has included AAR, parachute and cargo drops, water ingestion, as well as testing loading of military vehicles using a special ground rig. The two prototypes have thus been extremely busy, with Embraer saying they are fl ying daily at an “unprecedented fl ight rate.” Launch customer for the KC-390 is set to be the Brazilian air force with 28 aircraft on order. Deliveries of the fi rst two production examples to the AF are set to begin in 2018, with Embraer and the Brazilian AF working together to deliver an initial operational capability (IOC) by the end of 2017. The company also hopes to secure its fi rst export sale by the end of 2017, with Portugal hotly tipped to be that sale, after its government approved negotiations to acquire fi ve KC-390s. Onboard Embraer’s KC-390

36 AEROSPACE / AUGUST 2017 Another new aircraft at this year’s show was the LM-100J – Lockheed Martin’s new commercial variant of the C-130J Hercules. The 17th different variant of MRJ makes debut the C-130J Super Hercules platform, the LM100J is an updated This year's Le Bourget saw a strong showing from Japanese aerospace, with three of its designs making version of the L-100 their Paris debuts, the HondaJet, Kawasaki P-1 MPA and Mitsubishi Regional Jet (MRJ) – which made its which Lockheed Martin fi rst international air show appearance. Painted in the livery of its launch customer All Nippon Airlines (ANA), produced from 1964- the MRJ on show is the third from a total of fi ve MRJ90 test aircraft which are currently being fl own at 1992. The LM100J Moses Lake, Washington, US. ANA expects to take delivery in 2020. has just begun its fl ight test programme, having earlier) that during the week it had won 326 orders Peering through the smoke and mirrors of made its maiden fi rst worth some $40bn. These broke down into 144 airliner fi rm, MoU and LoI announcements at air fl ight on 25 May. fi rm and 186 MoUs. shows then, how worried should one be about the Legendary sales chief John Leahy, set to step underlying state of the industry? Giant production down sometime before the end of 2017, was backlogs and robust airliner market forecasts quick to dismiss a suggestion that Airbus had 'lost by Airbus (35,000 aircraft needed) and Boeing its mojo' and stressed that while the orders cycle (41,030) for the next two decades suggest that would peak and fall, the important factor was the fi nding buyers for airliners in the future will not be a delivery cycle – which was on an upward curve. He problem – given the right product. However, a note observed that “even if there was a recession (and of caution must be sounded – has the exuberance we don't expect one) we don't expect a downturn in of recent years led to airlines over-ordering? In deliveries.” Indeed, the airframer is now sitting on a which case – Paris may signal a return to a more record backlog of 6,800+ aircraft. sober and sustainable sales level.

2017 Paris Air Show airliner order round-up C295 wins civil AIRBUS Firm orders: Delta –10 A321neos, Air Asia – 14 A320ceos, Wizz Air – 10 A321ceos, Hi Fly- 2 A330-200s, Delta – 10 A321ceos; Ethiopian Airlines – 10 A350-900s leasing ordrer Conversions from existing orders: CDB Aviation converted 15 A320neos to 15 A321neos, In a fi rst for Airbus MoUs: Iran Air Tours – 45 A320neos, Zagros Airlines – 20 A320neos and 8 A330neos, CDB Aviation – 30 A320neos and 15 Defence and Space's A321neos, Viva Air – 35 A320neos and 15 A320ceos, Tibet Financial Leasing – 20 A321neos C295 medium tactical transport, Canadian BOEING Firm orders: ACG – 20 737 MAX 10s, Okay Airlines – 8 737 MAX 10s and 7 MAX 8s, Ryanair – 10 737 MAX 8s, United lessor Stellwagen – 4 777-300ERs, CALC – 50 MAXs (including 15 MAX 10s), AerCap – 15 MAX 10s, Tassili Airlines – three 737-800NGs, Malaysia placed an order for 12 Airlines - 10 MAX 10s, Mauritania Airlines – one MAX 8, Ethiopian - 10 exercised options for MAX 8s from 2014 order aircraft. The sale of the MoUs: Ruiji Airlines – 20 737 MAXs, Unidentifi ed customer – 125 MAX 8s plus 50 options, Xiamen – 10 MAX 10s, ALC - 5 MAX 7s rugged transport to and seven MAX 8s, Avolon – 75 737 MAX 8s, Okay Airways – 5 787-9s, – 4 787-8s, Ethiopian Airlines – 2 777Fs, a commercial leasing JIA – 10 737 MAX 8s, company opens up new Conversions from existing orders: United Airlines converted 100 MAX orders into MAX 10 orders, - conversion from markets for the C295 in previous MAX order to 15 MAX 10s; Donghai Airlines – conversion from order for 10 MAXs to 10 MAX 10s humanitarian operators, Previously announced orders: – fi nalised 2015 order for 2 787-8s and one 787-9, – 6 737 MAXs, Ethiopian Airlines - 10 freight operators or 737 MAX 8s (previously unidentifi ed customer and exercised options) parapublic roles, such as SAR. EMBRAER Orders: – 1 E175 and 1 E195, – 3 E175s, – 1 E190, KLM Cityhopper – 2 E190s, Unidentifi ed customer – 10 E195-E2s Commitment: Unidentifi ed customer – 20 E190-E2s

BOMBARDIER Previously announced: SpiceJet – 25 + 25 purchase rights Q400s (unidentifi ed customer). LOI: Ethiopian Airlines – 5 Q400s

ATR Orders: Air Senegal – 2 72-600s Airbus Defence

@aerosociety i Find us on LinkedIn f Find us on Facebook www.aerosociety.com AUGUST 2017 37 SPACEFLIGHT Commercial crew launch

Taxi to LEO, please

Some six years after the Space Shuttle Atlantis touched down for the last time, the US is set to return to human spaceflight from its own soil with commercial crew launch services to LEO. TIM ROBINSON reports from Kennedy Space Center, .

nside a building right next door to the gigantic The view from the crew CST-100 VAB (Vehicle Assembly Building) at Kennedy access tower, Pad 41, where Space Center that dominates the skyline on Starliner astronauts will Presiding over Boeing’s human spacefl ight effort blast-off from. The building Florida’s Space Coast, there is a palpable in the distance is the vertical with the CST-100 is, appropriately enough, the last sense of excitement at a facility building integration facility where the commander of the Shuttle Atlantis, astronaut Chris Ia spacecraft that will help the US get its space Atlas V/CST-100 stack will be Ferguson, who is now Director of Crew and Mission ‘mojo’ back. The building, formerly a Space Shuttle assembled. Operations. As the last Commander of the fi nal processing facility, is now home to Boeing’s CST- Shuttle mission, Ferguson has thus an extremely 100 Starliner hardware development. In 2014 it, personal stake in seeing the US return to having its along with SpaceX, was awarded a contract worth own human spacefl ight capability. a potential $6.8bn by NASA to develop a capability Three spacecraft are now in assembly at to deliver and return up to seven astronauts or a mix Boeing’s leased facility at KSC, with the fi rst of crew and cargo to the ISS – freeing Washington fl ight model to be used in a pad abort test in early from paying for seats on Russia’s Soyuz rocket. 2018. A second will be used for an uncrewed and First begun in 2010 by NASA’s Commercial autonomous test fl ight in mid-2018, while the third Crew and Cargo Program Offi ce (C3PO), the will undergo environmental testing before being agency received submissions from 36 companies, refurbished for the fi rst crewed test fl ight with before Boeing and SpaceX were confi rmed as Boeing and NASA pilots, set for later in 2018. the two chosen after whittling the fi eld down The CST-100 will be launched using an ULA from an original fi ve. As well as safe and reliable (United Launch Alliance) Atlas V rocket from Pad crew transfer to the ISS, the commercial crew 41 at KSC. In May ULA had just taken ‘ownership’ requirement also included the need for the of the pad after it had undergone specifi c spacecraft to stay docked to the ISS for extended modifi cations to support human space launches. periods of time as a ‘space lifeboat’ for astronauts. A white-coloured crew access arm on top of the

38 AEROSPACE / AUGUST 2017 Boeing 12-storey high tower now provides access to the capsule, while ziplines allow astronauts to escape to safety in the event of an emergency. With echoes of Apollo-era hardware, the CST- 100 capsule features a friction-welded structure and a disposable service module skirt that is jettisoned on re-entry, with the capsule landing with parachutes. Unlike previous US manned capsule fl ights, the Starliner will touch down on land, with desert locations in the Western US earmarked as SpaceX landing sites. Ferguson notes that the Atlas V rocket should Interior mock-up of SpaceX’s Virtual reality training give passengers an acceptable 4G ride into space. Crewed Dragon capsule. Boeing’s goal is that the CST-100 should be able Another innovation that CST-100 will introduce to be refl own for up to ten fl ights, with a six-month is in virtual reality (VR) crew training. While space refurbishment period. agencies have been investigating the use of VR While there is a certain historical symmetry training for extra vehicular activity (EVA) and other that it will be an Atlas V, the latest in an US rocket tasks for a while now, Boeing’s Ferguson revealed family that fi rst put John Glenn in orbit in a Mercury that Starliner astronauts would be using VR to train capsule, Ferguson also explained that, despite the together prior to launch. This, thanks to increased clean-sheet design, CST-100 incorporated “so immersion, not only allows for high-fi delity and much heritage from Space Shuttle technology” – enhanced learning but also means that individuals with decades of Boeing and its legacy companies’ do not need to be in the same place and can train spacefl ight experience going into it. together even if hundreds or thousands of miles apart – massively increasing fl exibility in training Flight deck and controls schedules. Inside Boeing’s leased facility at KSC is not only Interior CST-100 hardware but also a fl ight deck simulator and capsule full-deck mock-up. Though the CST- Designing a spacecraft from scratch has also 100 may look externally like a 60s Apollo Command allowed the company to leverage 21st century Module, inside it features the latest avionics in a ergonomics research in designing the cabin interior. clean, functional layout. The left-hand pilot’s station Interestingly, the CST-100 takes some design is dominated by two large vertically-orientated cues from research conducted by Boeing for MFD displays. Small hand controls are included for its commercial airliner division, such as blue sky manual control – but these are just for back-up, says colours and the line of sight for passengers. The Ferguson. Boeing says that the entire fl ight, including inference here is that, longer term, it might not just launch, docking and re-entry will be autonomous. be astronauts visiting the ISS who make use of the Docking with the ISS, for instance, will be automatic, Starliner. although astronauts will still need to train for manual While C3PO’s baseline requirement is a space revision. In addition, while tablets and laptops taxi to transport four ‘NASA-sponsored astronauts’ mounted on seemingly every available space have (plus cargo) the agreement also allows for a fi fth become a frequent sight in ISS videos, the Starliner seat to be added for commercial opportunities – with from the start has docking posts and holders for The fl ight deck of CST-100 the full capacity of seven astronauts if no cargo is iPads or tablets, as well as WiFi for the crew. features two large MFDs. carried. The CST-100 thus has enough space allocated for a fi fth non-astronaut ‘space fl ight participant’ which could provide revenue opportunities. This could be a non-NASA scientist or industrial researcher, for example, or perhaps a foreign national from a country keen to exploit the prestige of space as a ‘sovereign astronaut’. It could also allow ‘space tourists’ of the Dennis Tito variety to visit the ISS. Further in the future, it is notable that Bigelow Aerospace partnered with Boeing/Lockheed joint venture ULA in 2016 to launch an infl atable habitat into LEO in 2020 as a private space station. Could the Starliner one day be the orbital limo that drops passengers off at a ‘space hotel’?

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SIX YEARS AFTER THE RETIREMENT OF THE SHUTTLE, THE US IS ON Inside the former Space Shuttle processing facility at KSC – now home to Boeing’s CST-100. THE CUSP OF BEING ABLE TO Suit-up Summary ACCESS SPACE Boeing’s Chris Ferguson has also put his personal While it’s a myth to think of the US (with Juno, WITH NOT spacefl ight experience to good use by helping, with Cassini probes and Mars Rovers as well as private ONE, NOT TWO, the David Clark Company, design a new lightweight entrepreneurs boldly going) as a nation in decline NOT THREE, and fl exible spacesuit to be worn by CST-100 with regard to space, there is no doubt now that astronauts on launch, ascent and re-entry. The reliance on Russia’s Soyuz to thumb a lift (at a BUT PERHAPS new user-friendly ‘Boeing Blue’ suit features a soft $70m+ per seat – a hefty increase since $21m EVEN FOUR helmet (with hard cranial insert) with zippers, as well in 2008) for astronauts to the ISS has dented US HUMAN-RATED as touch-sensitive screen friendly gloves. pride and been a source of mild embarrassment SPACECRAFT to NASA and Washington. Yet, six years after the SpaceX – Dragon retirement of the Shuttle, the US is on the cusp of being able to access space with not one, not The other company awarded the Crew Commercial two, not three, but perhaps even four human- Contact is, of course, SpaceX, with its human-rated rated spacecraft – (CST-100, Dragon, Orion and Dragon capsule which already fl ies cargo to the ISS Blue Origin’s sub-orbital New Shephard). Others and so far has fl own ten resupply fl ights. are no doubt waiting in the wings. The scientifi c, The human-rated version of Dragon 2, to be engineering and economic possibilities of such an launched using SpaceX’s Falcon 9 Blk 5 rocket, uses expansion in human access to space are extremely a slightly different outer mould line in a larger vehicle. exciting. It also includes landing/abort engines, landing legs NASA’s commercial crew programme is also and solar arrays. First revealed in 2014, the Dragon 2 signifi cant for another reason, in that it pits ‘New SpaceX’s underwent a launch pad abort test in 2015. SpaceX Space’ vs ‘Legacy Aerospace’ head to head in the Dragon 2 is also intend that the Dragon 2 will return to land, most diffi cult challenge – launching and returning rather than sea, but use retrorockets to perform a humans from orbit safely. Will it be the innovative, larger and more soft landing, à la its Falcon fi rst stages. However, a rule-breaking start-up with a charismatic founder sophisticated than baseline sea recovery mode is also planned. in the form of Space X, or will it be Boeing; tried the Dragon cargo The fi rst uncrewed orbital fl ight test of Dragon and trusted, 101-year old company with the last US 2 is scheduled for March 2018, with a crewed test Shuttle commander in charge of this project, that ship. fl ight to follow in May 2018. However, the uncrewed in 2018, returns a US astronaut from US soil into fl ight test, shifted from December this year, leads space? The race is on. some observers to predict that a fi rst crewed test fl ight will also slip. As might be expected from SpaceX and Elon Musk, Dragon 2 is not just designed to fl y crew to the ISS or LEO. Earlier this year, he announced that two private individuals had signed up for a round- the-Moon fl ight in 2018 using the Crewed Dragon capsule. Details and a timeline of this are still scanty but it might be reasonably assumed that a cislunar mission will follow a successful LEO test fl ight, rather than the other way around – pushing it to the latter part of next year. The uncrewed version of Dragon 2 will also be the pathfi nder for SpaceX’s ambitious programme of Mars exploration – with the company aiming to soft- land a Red Dragon on the planet in 2020.

40 AEROSPACE / AUGUST 2017 SpaceX Afterburner www.aerosociety.com

Diary 4 September Critical Care in the Air Aerospace Medicine Group Conference

One of London’s Air Ambulance MD 902 Explorer helicopters fl ies alongside Tower Bridge. Matthew Bell.

42 Message from RAeS 44 Book Reviews 52 Diary - President Lighter Than Air, Eisenhower at the Dawn of the Find out when and where around the world the Space Age and The Art of Flight. latest aeronautical and aerospace lectures and “The aerospace sector is one of the most diverse events are happening. and innovative businesses, both in terms of career opportunities and the technology at the heart of the 47 Library Additions products and means by which we fl y. For those who 54 RAeS Golf Day attended the Paris Air Show this year, you will have Books submitted to the National Aerospace Library. seen the impressively varied and exciting ideas that This year’s RAeS Golf Day saw increased numbers are being developed by industry players across the of players compete at the Frilford Heath Golf Club in globe.” 48 IT FLIES USA Oxfordshire. Two teams from the University of Manchester - Chief Executive travelled to The University of Dayton for the annual 59 YPN in the spotlight IT FLIES USA competition. An update from the Young Persons Network. “Summer is always the season for air shows and the Society’s staff and members have been out in full force.” 50 New Corporate Partners Seven new companies join the Society’s Corporate Partner Scheme.

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ACM Sir Stephen Dalton The aerospace sector is one of the most diverse many many more, including makers and and innovative businesses, both in terms of career regulators, as well as aircraft pilots and despatchers. opportunities and the technology at the heart of It is commonplace these days when you board a the products and means by which we fl y. For those commercial aircraft bound for Munich or Tenerife to who attended the Paris Air Show this year, you be addressed by a female captain/pilot. However, will have seen the impressively varied and exciting are we actively identifying and seeking to employ as ideas that are being developed by industry players wide a cross-section of our populations as we can in across the globe. One of the growing concepts the signifi cant range of jobs that exist in aerospace? (and reality) that was not very evident was the Are we doing all that we can to demonstrate the burgeoning development of ‘carplanes’! The idea value, skill and career opportunities in aerospace? and indeed, fl ying examples of, cars that can Could we do more to encourage and convince all become aeroplanes, have been around for a long the potential candidates, who are just graduating time. However, examples are now being developed from education, that the opportunities in aerospace from Slovakia to America and Japan and, very engineering and aviation in the round are real soon, this age-old vision of people being able to opportunities for them? This is an international drive their car out of their garage and then fl y to challenge and the RAeS Council will be considering work, school or to the coast will become reality. The this critical requirement at its September meeting. biggest question will be how to put some structure I would encourage any of our members to send in around this increased demand for airspace! Just their thoughts, questions and ideas of how your as when unmanned aerial vehicles became readily Society could do more to address this important and cheaply available, the regulators and traditional topic. At our Council meeting, we want to consider operators have been trying to catch up with the the widest range of ideas and possibilities, so that impact of these new users ‘operating’ in our we can ask the executive and others to put actions backyard. We need to urgently consider how our in hand to ensure that we are leading the way in airspace is going to be redesigned to cope, with opening young peoples’ eyes to the possibilities not only the increasing amount of commercial air and opportunities and in encouraging employers of traffi c but also with the real risk to safe operations all disciplines to seek the talent from all over our posed by unregulated/licenced operators of UAVs society to come and join our exciting and future- and the rapidly approaching demand for more facing sector. people to want to ‘fl y to work every day in their car’. The need for The RAeS as one of the Learned Many might think that these additional pressures Societies to provide balanced, independent and on airspace regulation are still a small factor and in focused advice to governments is, of course, at the total volume, today, that is probably true but, within a heart of our strategic aim. However, as genuine very short space of time, these additional pressures cross-discipline international issues arise, as they are already causing serious interaction, as witnessed do from time to time, it is probably worth us having ARE WE DOING by the increasing number of incidents caused by some discussion as to how we can work with the ALL THAT small UAVs being operated near airports etc. other Learned Societies to pull together a coherent As this year’s class of university, school and and comprehensive set of advice and discussions WE CAN TO college graduates leave to fi nd further education with the relevant commercial companies and DEMONSTRATE and jobs, it is probably a good time for us to refl ect governments. The UK leaving the EU in 2019 is THE VALUE, SKILL on the wide range of jobs, disciplines and skills that one of those genuine international issues which will the aerospace industry needs and employs. The require some concerted and comprehensive thinking AND CAREER design, testing, manufacturing and maintenance and to which the Learned Societies could make a OPPORTUNITIES of air vehicles immediately come to mind. Behind powerful and effective concerted contribution; worth IN AEROSPACE? those immediate disciplines there are, of course, a thought and/or discussion?

42 AEROSPACE / AUGUST 2017 OUR CHIEF EXECUTIVE

Simon C Luxmoore Summer is always the season for air shows and Hamilton Place. There is still time to book a the Society’s staff and members have been out summer party in August and we’ll even offer in full force. First, we had the Paris Air Show members a complimentary glass of Pimms for where the President and Head of Business every guest. Visit www.4hp.org.uk/summer- Development, Simon Levy, met with many of our parties for more details. Corporate Partners as well as hosting, alongside In the Queen’s Speech earlier this year, the the Paris Branch, a networking breakfast for UK Government confirmed its commitment to members from both France and the rest of the realising the full potential of the commercial world. It was a great opportunity to catch up with space sector to the economy by including the friends and highlight the excellent benefits we Space Industry Bill in its legislative programme IN THE QUEEN’S can offer to industry professionals. Following for the next two years. This news was welcomed SPEECH EARLIER on from that our Young Persons Network has by the Society following our written evidence THIS YEAR, THE been promoting STEM at the Cosford Air Show, to the draft Spaceflight Bill and the topic will Yeovilton Air Day and the Royal International Air be further explored during the President’s UK GOVERNMENT Tattoo. Conference on the Commercialisation of Space CONFIRMED ITS We had a strong turnout for this year’s in November. COMMITMENT Aerospace Golf Day with three new teams Finally, our thanks go to the family of Harold TO REALISING taking part and it was a wonderful day of Caplan FRAeS who have made a donation to networking and healthy competition. Our the Royal Aeronautical Society following his THE FULL thanks to Cyient, FlightSafety International, death last year. Harold was a Fellow of the POTENTIAL Food by Dish, Frilford Heath Golf Club and the Society who founded the Air Law Group and OF THE InterContinental London Park Lane for their the donation will be used to continue supporting generosity in providing prizes (see p 54). many of the Society’s charitable activities. To find COMMERCIAL Continuing the summer theme, we have had a out more about leaving a legacy visit SPACE SECTOR busy party season on our Roof Terrace at No.4 www.aerosociety.com/legacy.

NATIONAL AEROSPACE LIBRARY The Hub, Fowler Avenue, Farnborough Business Park, Farnborough, Hampshire GU14 7JP Aviation Book Fair

Thursday, 28 September 2017 10.30am – 4.30pm

Read about 150 years and more of Aviation/Aerospace History

100s of donated aviation books and 1,000s of magazines for sale

Free Admission

All proceeds to conserve historic aviation material in the Library’s archives

T +44 (0)1252 701038/701060 E [email protected]

Find us on Twitter i Find us on LinkedIn f Find us on Facebook www.aerosociety.com AUGUST 2017 43 Afterburner Book Reviews LIGHTER THAN AIR

The Life and Times of Wing Commander N F Usborne RN, Pioneer of Naval Aviation By G Warner

Pen & Sword Aviation, Pen & Sword Books, 47 Church Street, Barnsley, S Yorkshire S70 2AS, UK. 2016. 310pp. Illustrated. £25. ISBN 978-1-47382- 902-2.

Neville Usborne was one of a number of career offi cers from both the Military and Naval wings of the Royal Flying Corps who decided to fl y airships rather than aeroplanes. Joining the Royal Navy as a cadet in 1897, he became interested in aeronautics and, in 1910, was involved in the ill-fated attempt to build a rigid airship (Mayfl y) for the Royal Navy. Regarded highly by Cdr E A D Masterman for his work on this project, he was appointed Captain Designate of the new craft despite having no subsumed somewhat into the bigger historical Above: SS14 at Kingsnorth experience of fl ying airships. narrative. However, the detailed historical Airship Station on the Isle of Later, he trained as an airship pilot at Grain, 23 March 1917. background story is well told and useful for anyone Below: Airship No1, Mayfl y, Farnborough and went on to become a leading light who is not familiar with general lighter-than-air after it broke its back while in the Airship Section of the Royal Naval Air Service. history. The book is generally well produced, except being winched out of its In 1915 he was appointed Commanding Offi cer with regard to the photographs which, as with many shed on 24 September 1911 of Kingsnorth Airship Station on the Medway and books on airships, are reproduced far too small and without ever fl ying. RAeS (NAL). played a large part in the development of the fi rst are often of poor quality. Submarine Scout and Coastal airships that made Had he lived, Neville Usborne, like many of a vital contribution to the war against the German his contemporaries in the airship service, would U-boats. It was while test fl ying one of his later undoubtedly have gone on to enjoy an illustrious experimental prototypes that he was killed on 21 career in the RAF. This book pays a belated tribute February 1916. to an innovative talent whose loss was keenly felt by This well-researched book sets out to describe the service and by those who knew him. the career of Neville Usborne and place his story into the context of contemporary aeronautical Brian J Turpin history. As a result, Usborne’s career tends to be MRAeS

44 AEROSPACE / AUGUST 2017 EISENHOWER AT THE DAWN OF THE SPACE AGE

Sputnik, Rockets, and Helping Hands By M Shanahan Lexington Books, Lanham, MD. 2017. Distributed by Rowman & Littlefi eld, 10 Thornbury Road, Plymouth, Devon PL6 7PP, UK. 207pp. £54.95. ISBN 978-1- 4985-2814-6.

For most of the Cold War period it was taken for granted that America’s space programme had been triggered by the Soviet launch of Sputnik-1 in 1957. US politicians, media and public were aghast at the apparent lead that the Soviets had in long range rocket technology. This lead was apparently confi rmed when, less than three years later, the Soviets placed the fi rst human in space – Yuri Gagarin. The accepted story continued with America’s fi ght back fi rst with its own robotic satellites, then the gallant Mercury astronauts and, fi nally the fi rst humans on the Moon. Shanahan sets out to correct this version of history. President Eisenhower had initiated a US space programme two years before Sputnik involving a secret spy satellite programme called Artist’s impression of Sputnik 1 in orbit. Gregory R Todd. CORONA. He initiated a civilian programme at the same time to disguise the military activities, the civilian initiative being badged as part of America’s contribution to the 1957 International Geophysical Year. The US space programmes that emerged in the late 1950s and early 1960s were perceived by space programmes, such as the proposed follow- the public and the media as primarily a reaction to ons to the Mercury human spacefl ight missions the Soviet space successes rather than as a part but he supported the creation of NASA to manage of a longer-term strategy. Eisenhower (and later whatever civilian space programmes were approved. Presidents) chose not to reveal the existence of the The main fl aw in the book is the author’s CORONA and related initiatives that would have failure to acknowledge the work of post-Cold War corrected this impression. historians in relating this revised version of history. The early chapters provide extensive evidence In the 1990s the secrets of the CORONA spy of the erroneous view of history as written from the satellites were gradually revealed, making clear the 1960s to the 1990s, although the detail Shanahan existence of the US pre-Sputnik space activities provides will be mainly of interest to other historians. including the political reasoning that underpinned His review of the media and political reaction to them. Authors such as Jeffrey Richelson, David Sputnik is also quite detailed and will be of more T Lindgren, Dwayne Day, Robert A McDonald general interest. He shows that the public concern and L Parker Temple III are just some of those about Sputnik was quickly allayed by Eisenhower’s who have covered the early years of the space reaction in the months that followed – a calm and Shanahan also age in the US with full recognition of the catalytic cool reaction that assured the public that the US corrects an role played by the need for high-altitude military was militarily well-prepared. often-cited surveillance. Shanahan seems unfamiliar with these Shanahan also corrects an often-cited reluctance by sources perhaps because they are historians of the reluctance by Eisenhower to create a civilian technology and programmes rather than general agency to lead US space activities – NASA. He Eisenhower to historians. His failure to acknowledge these writers shows that Eisenhower had set in train a process create a civilian mars what is otherwise a readable account of the that led to the emergence of NASA as the logical agency to 1957-1960 emergence of US space programmes. organisation for the job. This subtle but strategic lead US space approach of Eisenhower’s is an example of his use Pat Norris of a ‘hidden hand’ mentioned in the book’s subtitle. activities – FRAeS Eisenhower was against very expensive prestige NASA Author of Spies in the Sky

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By J Watkinson the described processes. Not all of the chapters are Above: British Airways as comprehensive as the one on aerodynamics, with Boeing 747-400 arriving at London Heathrow Airport in the chapter on power plants being little more than a American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, 2015. Adrian Pingstone. Reston, VA. 2016. Distributed by Transatlantic general overview of the principles behind piston and Below left: A Schlieren image Publishers Group, 97 Greenham Road London N10 gas turbine engines. of shock waves created by a T-38C in supersonic fl ight 1LN, UK. 437pp. Illustrated. £87. [20% discount Overall the book achieves its aim of providing correct and thorough qualitative explanations for captured using the Sun’s available to RAeS members on request; E mark. edge as a light source and [email protected] T +44 (0)20 8815 5994] a number of important processes, but I wonder then processed using NASA- ISBN978-1-62410-372-8. whether all of the descriptions would be readily developed code. NASA. understandable by its target audience. An initial In the preface, the author explains that this book chapter on technical background is extensive is an attempt to bridge the gap between books but understandably brief on some topics which about fl ight for the general public and those aimed would probably leave some readers wanting more explanation. However, I could imagine many at the professionals. The gap arises because the undergraduate engineers would appreciate and gross simplifi cations contained in books from benefi t from reading the qualitative descriptions as the fi rst category do not provide the skills to a supplement to their more mathematical-orientated allow the general reader to interpret professional studies. publications. To address this gap, the author sets out to provide a qualitative understanding of the Peter Render underlying principles without engaging in gross MRAeS oversimplifi cation. Along the way a number of dragons of The scope of erroneous concepts are slain, including the commonly repeated explanation that the generation the book is far of lift is based on Bernoulli’s equation. Instead the reaching, and as author offers a clear and almost totally qualitative well as covering description of circulation and its role in the aerodynamics, generation of lift. The scope of the book is far reaching and, includes as well as covering aerodynamics, includes chapters on chapters on propulsion, fl ight instruments, control propulsion, fl ight and performance. There is also a chapter on the instruments, helicopter and another on surface effect craft. Throughout the book there are frequent references control and to real aircraft to illustrate practical applications of performance

46 AEROSPACE / AUGUST 2017 Library Additions BOOKS

FLIGHT SIMULATION Age Battle. L Cole. Pen & BA22 7JJ, UK. 2009. 164pp. booster of 6,000lb thrust the Maybach-Motorenbau Sword Aviation, Pen & Sword Illustrated. supplementing its company and the major Books, 47 Church Street, Numerous photographs engine. contribution which Maybach Barnsley, S Yorkshire S70 2AS, (colour and black-and-white) engines made to the UK. 2017. 240pp. Illustrated. illustrate this history of the development of airships, £25. ISBN 978-1-47387- famous German fi ghter aircraft aircraft automotive vehicles 532-6. which is followed by a detailed and ships in Germany. The account of the restoration volume records the history of Trident: the Saga of and fl ying the Bf109G-2/Trop the company through to its the Unbeatable French Black 6. amalgamation with Daimler- Rocket Fighter. X-Planes Benz AG and the evolution of Profi le-4. H Matthews. HPM Natter Bachem Ba 349: MTU. The English summary of Publications, Beirut. 2001. and other German rocket the main text also incorporates 49pp. Illustrated. fi ghter projects. J Dressel. English translations of all A well-illustrated Schiffer Publishing Ltd, Atglen, the detailed references and history of the evolution, PA. 1994. 48pp. Illustrated. photograph captions. development and fl ight testing ISBN 0-88740-682-3. of the SNCASO (Société The Arado E381, Memories 1909-1984: In-Flight Simulators Nationale de Constructions DFS ‘Eber’, Sombold Engine Production and Fly-by-Wire/ Aéronautiques de Sud-Ouest) SO 344, Messerschmitt in Friedrichshafen. Light Demonstrators: a SO-9000 Trident supersonic P.1103/P.1104, Heinkel Motoren-und Turbinen-Union Historical Account of interceptor fi ghter, the P.1077 ‘Julia’ with prone pilot, Enterprises: Friedrichshafen GmbH, International Aeronautical prototype of which fi rst fl ew on Junkers EF.127 ‘Wally’ and a History. G M Simons. Pen & Friedrichshafen. 1984. 147pp. Research. Edited by P G 2 March 1953. the Bachem Ba 349 Natter Sword Aviation, Pen & Sword Illustrated. Hamel. Springer. 2017. 345pp. are among the secret German Books, 47 Church Street, A compilation of concise Illustrated. £112. ISBN 978-3- WW2 projects discussed in Barnsley, S Yorkshire S70 2AS, articles beginning with the 319-53996-6. this well-illustrated history. UK. 2017. 318pp. Illustrated. achievements of Gottlieb £25. ISBN 978-1-47386- Daimler, Wilhelm Maybach, GUIDED FLIGHT Top Secret Bird: the 138-1. Carl Benz and Rudolf Diesel Luftwaffe’s Me-163 Comet. reviews the major contributions Russia’s Air-launched W Spate. Pictorial Histories LIGHTER-THAN-AIR which Maybach, Mercedes- Weapons: Russian-made Publishing Company, Missoula, Benz and MAN engines have Aircraft Ordnance Today. MT. 1992. 270pp. Illustrated. The Story of a Zeppelin made to the development of P Butowski. Harpia Publishing ISBN 0-929521-08-0. Mechanic: My Flights airships, railway locomotives, LLC, Houston, TX. 2017. Originally published 1931-1938. Writings on armoured vehicles and tanks Distributed by Casemate in 1983 under the title Der Airship History No.9. leading to the companies’ UK, 10 Hythe Bridge Street, Streng Geheime Vogel Me 163, E Bentele. Wolfgang eventual merger into the MTU Oxford OX1 2EW, UK. 2016. the revealing detailed memoirs Meighorner-Schardt, Motoren-und Turbinen-Union 92pp. Illustrated. £18.99. ISBN The Right Flyer: Gabriel of a former German gliding Friedrichshafen. 1992. 100pp. Friedrichshafen GmbH group. 978-0-9973092-1-8. , Henry Farman champion and WW2 fi ghter Illustrated. ISBN 3-926162- An informative well- and the archetype of squadron commander who was 59-7. Royce and the Vibration illustrated compilation of aeroplanes. R Winstone. to oversee the E.Kdo.16 unit The revealing memoirs Damper. Technical Series programme summaries/ Faustroll (www.faustroll.co.uk). and the fl ight testing of the of a Zeppelin Chief Mechanic No 6. T C Clarke and K Lea. specifi cations of air-to-surface/ 2017. 349pp. Illustrated. Me163 Komet rocket-powered who fl ew a total of 664,500km Rolls-Royce Heritage Trust, air-to-air/helicopter-launched £39.95 plus postage/packing. fi ghter aircraft designed by in the LZ-127 Graf Zeppelin, Derby, UK. 2003. 123pp. missiles, aircraft guns/rockets/ Illustrated throughout by Alexander Lippisch and its LZ-129 Hindenburg and LZ- Illustrated. ISBN 1-872922- bombs, naval weapons and numerous photographs and introduction into combat 130 Graf Zeppelin II airships, 18-X. nuclear bombs that are other colour reproductions, service. crossing the Atlantic Ocean 69 A detailed account of currently in operation or under a detailed history of the times, including his personal the work undertaken by development in Russia. formative years of the Messerschmitt Me163 insights into the Hindenburg Henry Royce to minimise the development of powered Komet. M Ziegler. Schiffer disaster. Includes introduction risk of crankshaft failure by The Rocket and the Reich: fl ight in Europe and the major Publishing Ltd, Atglen, PA. by Peter Kleinheins. reducing engine vibration and Peenemunde and the contributions made by Voisin 1990. 48pp. Illustrated. ISBN how this led to a major patent Coming of the Ballistic and Farman, this large-format 0-88740-232-1. Der Zeppelin: 100 Jahre dispute with F W Lanchester Missile Era. M J Neufeld. volume concluding with Messerschmitt Me163 Luftfahrtgeschichte. C who had developed his own Harvard University Press, biographical summaries of a Komet Vol II. M Emmerling Chant. Bechtermunz Verlag. vibration damper, the volume Cambridge, MA. 1996. 386pp. number of their contemporary and J Dressel. Schiffer 2000. 112pp. Illustrated. ISBN concluding with a technical Illustrated. ISBN 0-674- pioneering aviators. Publishing Ltd, Atglen, PA. 3-8289-5372-7. overview of vibration problems, 77650-X. 1992. 48pp. Illustrated. ISBN A German language engine crankshaft design A detailed history of the From Jet Provost to 0-88740-403-0. edition of this well-illustrated and operation and damping German development of the Strikemaster: a Defi nitive Numerous photographs history of the Zeppelin mechanisms for crankshaft A-4/V-2 guided rocket during History of the Basic and illustrate this concise history company originally published and gear trains. WW2. Counter-Insurgent Aircraft of the development of the fi rst by Amber Books Ltd. at Home and Overseas. combat aircraft in the world to Vengeance: Hitler’s D Watkins. Grub Street, 4 be powered by a rocket engine PROPULSION Nuclear Weapon Fact or Rainham Close, London and its variants. Fiction? P Henshall. Alan SW11 6SS, UK. 2017. 224pp. Hochleistungs-Motoren: Sutton Publishing Ltd, Stroud. Illustrated. £25. ISBN 978-1- Jack Woodman: First Karl Maybach und sein 1995. 180pp. Illustrated. ISBN 910690-35-2. Rocket Starfi ghter Pilot. Werk. W Treue and S Zima. 0750908742. X-Pilot Profi le 3 series. H VDI-Verlag GmbH, Dusseldorf. An account of how Messerschmitt BF109 Matthews. HPM Publications, 1992. 438pp + 2 pull-out German development during 1935 onwards (all marks): Beirut. 17pp. Illustrated.1997. pages. Illustrated. ISBN WW2 of a modifi ed V-2 rocket an insight into owning, A concise illustrated 318400905X. For further information could have resulted in the fl ying and maintaining summary of the career contact the National world’s fi rst nuclear weapon. the Luftwaffe’s legendary of Jack Fraser Woodman Heavy-Duty Engines: Karl Aerospace Library. single-seater fi ghter. (1925-1987) who undertook Maybach and His Work. T +44 (0)1252 701038 HISTORICAL Owner’s Workshop Manual a number of the test fl ights Summary of the German or 701060 series. P Blackah and M V for the Lockheed NF-104A Original Edition. VC10 – Icon of the Skies: Lowe. Haynes Publishing, Aerospace Trainer programme, A detailed well-illustrated E hublibrary@aerosoci- BOAC, Boeing and a Jet Sparkford, Yeovil, Somerset an F-104A with a rocket history of Karl Maybach, ety.com

Find us on Twitter i Find us on LinkedIn f Find us on Facebook www.aerosociety.com AUGUST 2017 47 Afterburner Society News IT FLIES USA Winning aircraft design comes from Manchester

IT FLIES USA was held in April at The University of Dayton, Ohio. This year there was a truly international mix of students – all sharing the same passion – aerospace. The University of Dayton is so lucky to have the Wright Patterson Air Force Base close by and, this year we had four test pilots to fl y and assess the aircraft designs and three judges from the Society of Flight Test Engineers to evaluate the students’ project presentations. The winning aircraft design came from The University of Manchester – Ana Gea, Thomas Moissinac and Yufei Jin – their prizes were $1,000 and a year’s membership of the Royal Aeronautical Society. Their design was fl own and assessed in Dayton’s MP521 simulator by Brad Fairfax, a US Naval Test Pilot. They then had the added bonus of having their winning UK IT FLIES design fl own after the event by Gary Konnert, Lead Test Pilot over at Dayton for the competition. The same team had designed a blended wing aircraft and Gary is an ex B-2 Test Pilot – he had fun – and the team learnt Above: Elektron, an electric- powered VTOL air taxi, won a great deal. Below is the write-up from two of the fi rst place. Manchester students on their trip to the USA: Left: The winning design ‘The Flight Simulation Society (FSSoc) team, Ana Gea, Thomas [www.fssoc.co.uk], is an innovative, student run, Moissinac and Yufei Jin, came from The University of engineering society within the School of MACE Manchester. (Mechanical, Aerospace and Civil Engineering) at the University of Manchester. The main aim of the society is to teach aircraft design to students which are then tested and tuned in the Merlin fl ight simulators. This year, the Society entered two teams into the Merlin IT FLIES USA competition held at the University of Dayton on Saturday 8 April. The teams consisted of three 2nd year aerospace engineering not possible due to physical limitations and some students. found in the simulation. The variable sweep would All six members have spent hundreds of hours require a morphing wing shape, as the trailing of their own free time to design, build and simulate edge would become a leading edge, meaning that their aircraft models. This year the Society has the aerodynamic forces on the wing would shift gone ‘green’ and the two teams have designed signifi cantly. After this setback, we investigated an electric-powered VTOL air taxi and a hybrid the concept of short-range electric aircraft, basing passenger jet. it on the Airbus E-Fan concept aircraft. The idea At the beginning of our second year, we of an electric aircraft comes from the growing started discussing concepts and ideas that we market of environmentally friendly and sustainable considered too complex for the knowledge we transportation systems, similar to the Tesla cars. had in fi rst year. Most of the ideas we wanted to The main diffi culty we encountered in the focus were fi ctional aircraft in different movies process was power calculations, due to lack of to investigate their real feasibility. Originally, we information on batteries. Considering the date when started some calculations on a variable-forward such batteries would become more effi cient and sweep aircraft based on a science fi ction movie. produce more power to sustain VTOL capabilities. Through extensive calculations and some initial We spent many hours completing complex simulation we concluded that this design was calculations, as well as performing many test fl ights

48 AEROSPACE / AUGUST 2017 Left: Voltic, a hybrid transatlantic aircraft, won the prize for most innovative design. Far left: Its design team also comes from The University of Manchester.

using the university’s simulators. From these tests of missions it has completed. A very fun hangar to we were able to improve our model through the visit was the one that contained the Presidential addition of VTOL, as this will make the air taxi a aircraft, as you could walk through them and see more desirable product. the development of the interior confi gurations with During the competition, we had the chance to different Presidents. After the competition, we took talk to multiple test pilots and hear their different advantage of being in the US to visit New York for a fl ight experiences. We stood next to our test pilot, to few days, as some of members had never been. This guide him through some of the procedures, which part of the trip was very interesting and we were THROUGHOUT were more unconventional than a normal aircraft. able to visit a few museums, such as the American The VTOL was one of the capabilities he focused Museum of Natural History, as well as walk down THE JOURNEY WE on, as it is what differentiates our aircraft from the the High Line during the sunset. Speaking in LEARNED AND rest. It was very interesting to hear his thoughts the name of all the members, it was an amazing ATTAINED MANY while fl ying it, as well as some ideas for future experience through which we became better friends, developments of the aircraft after the testing. team mates and improved our overall aviation NEW SKILLS, The other aircraft which competed was Voltic. knowledge. WE MADE NEW The concept behind Voltic is that of a hybrid We hope to see many more innovative and FRIENDS AND transatlantic aircraft. The main purpose being realistic concepts through the journey of the to save fuel, through extensive calculations we Flight Simulation Society’s future. Throughout the WERE ABLE TO estimated to be able to save 75% of the total fuel journey we learned and attained many new skills, SPEAK TO TEST costs to undertake a transatlantic fl ight. With its six we made new friends and were able to speak to PILOTS AND HEAR electric engines on top of its wings and two gas test pilots and hear their opinion on our ideas. All turbines at the rear, it truly was an unconventional of this knowledge we will be able to apply in our THEIR OPINION design. Some of the main diffi culties were again future careers in not only aircraft design but also ON OUR IDEAS the battery calculations but also how to maintain project management and conceptual aircraft design enough lift when all these engines are on the wing. developments. We achieved this by simply increasing the area We would like to thank all the staff at the School and changing the overall shape and, therefore, the of MACE and the Manchester Student’s Union for aspect ratio of the wing. their continued support, and Merlin Flight Simulation Although competition was tight, both Group for organising the competition.’ Below: Former static test Manchester teams won numerous prizes. The VTOL article of the Northrop air taxi won fi rst place and the best presentation Ana Gea and Charles-Antoine Lassonnery Grumman B-2 Spirit in the National Museum of the award and the hybrid passenger jet won the prize 2nd Year Aerospace Engineering Students, Air Force. for The Most Innovative Design. University of Manchester Clemens Vasters. While in Dayton we took the opportunity to visit the National Museum of the US Air Force at at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base. Here we got a chance to see all types of commercial and military aircraft. The museum is divided into sections, the fi rst is the beginning of aviation, where we could read about and see the earliest aircraft. In this section we attempted to guess which aircraft was the parent to common aircraft that we have studied or that we know. The middle hangar, the largest, had a B-2 aircraft, this is one of the most impressive machines to see up close. It was amazing to see such a large aircraft and think of its impact it would make to see it fl y, as well as the number

Find us on Twitter i Find us on LinkedIn f Find us on Facebook www.aerosociety.com AUGUST 2017 49 Afterburner Corporate Partners

NEW PARTNERS

The Royal Aeronautical Society would like to THE AIM OF THE welcome the following Corporate Partners. CORPORATE PARTNER GATWICK AIRPORT LTD SCHEME IS TO Destinations Place, Gatwick Airport, West Sussex EUROPEAN BUSINESS AVIATION BRING TOGETHER RH6 0NP, UK ASSOCIATION (EBAA) T +44 (0)1293 505777 Square de Meeûs 37, Brussels BE-1000, Belgium ORGANISATIONS E [email protected] T +32 2 318 28 00 TO PROMOTE W www.gatwickairport.com E [email protected] BEST PRACTICE Contact W www.ebaa.org Mark Lever, Head of Public Affairs Contact WITHIN THE Gatwick is a major national infrastructure asset Paul Walsh, Senior Manager, Member Services INTERNATIONAL for the South-East of England and the UK. It is EBAA is Europe’s business aviation association. It AEROSPACE the busiest single-runway airport in the world, aims to promote excellence and professionalism SECTOR serving over 44m passengers each year to over among our Members to enable them to deliver 200 destinations. best-in-class safety and operational effi ciency, while representing their interests at all levels in Europe, to ensure the proper recognition of business aviation as a vital part of the aviation infrastructure, supporting local and national economies. BROOKS AVIATION CONSULTANCY SERVICES 39 St James Close, Rawliffe, York YO30 5WL, UK T +44 (0)1904 533929 E [email protected] W www.bacs.limited Contact Nick Gill, Compliance, Assurance and Safety BACA – THE AIR CHARTER ASSOCIATION Director The Baltic Exchange, 38 St Mary Axe, London BACS Limited Training is an approved EC3A 8BH, UK organisation that can provide technical training T +44 (0)20 7118 7557 courses to individuals, groups and corporate E [email protected] organisations. The training courses follow the W www.baca.org.uk guidelines as set by the UK CAA, EASA, FAA, Contact National and Regional Aviation Authorities, ICAO Madeleine Puzey, Executive Secretary and IATA. BACA is the leading association focused on BACS Limited offers the most adaptable the role of the air charter broker in the aviation range of aviation training courses available market. Our goal is to raise and maintain worldwide. Our training service is designed standards of conduct in the air charter market, around the specifi c information your business and promote integrity and ethical business needs, helping you develop the detailed practices, so that members can deal with each knowledge and practical skills necessary for other (and clients can deal with our members) maximum effi ciency. with confi dence. We are working hard to benefi t Our open access courses are open to our members; currently we have around 230 everyone and take place around the world. For members, of which roughly a third are air charter companies, we can deliver on-demand training at brokers, a third operators/airlines and a selection your workplace or at a venue of your choice. Tell of airports and FBOs, consultants and many our training team what you need to know and we’ll other company types involved in supporting the develop the right course for you. aviation industry. We address the whole market, At BACS Limited we have experience in all from helicopters, to business jets, to commercial types of drone aerial fi lming and photography passenger, to cargo. including fi lm productions, television series, commercials, sporting events and live broadcasts. The skill and experience we have developed as an aerial team is unparalleled.

50 AEROSPACE / AUGUST 2017 EVENTS

Please note: Attendance at Corporate Partner Briefi ngs is strictly exclusive to staff of RAeS Corporate Partners.

Monday 11 September 2017 / London The impact of Brexit on UK and European aviation networks (title tbc) Corporate Partner Briefi ng by Chris Chalk, Global Aviation Practice Leader, ASIAN BUSINESS AVIATION Mott Macdonald and Vice Chairman, British Aviation Group ASSOCIATION (AsBAA) 18/F Silver Fortune Plaza, 1 Wellington Street, Monday 2 October 2017 / London Central Hong Kong, Hong Kong Corporate Partner Briefi ng by Christine Ourmières-Widener, T +852 3182 7129 Chief Executive Offi cer, E [email protected] W www.asbaa.org Wednesday 8 November 2017 / London Contact Corporate Partner Briefi ng by Keith Garden, Portfolio Programme Director & Thomas Warren, BD Manager Deputy MD UK and Rear Admiral Simon Charlier, Senior Defence & Political Adviser UK, MBDA Missile Systems Asian Business Aviation Association (AsBAA), a non-profi t organisation that seeks to promote Thursday 23 November 2017 / London and provide a platform for communication & Corporate Partner Briefi ng by John Slattery, President & Chief Executive awareness of Business Aviation’s contribution to Offi cer, Embraer Commercial Aviation the regional economies. Our main goal is advocating the Asian Biz/ www.aerosociety.com/events Gen aviation industry with knowledge, expertise For further information, please contact Gail Ward and experience in complex and current matters. E [email protected] or T +44 (0)1491 629912

AFRICAN BUSINESS AVIATION ASSOCIATION (AfBAA) PO Box 657, Kigali, Rwanda T +25111667982 E [email protected] W www.afbaa.org Contact Dawit Lemma, Director of Memberships & Events THE AIR LAW FIRM The African Business Aviation Association was 48 Dover Street, Mayfair, London W1S 4FF, UK launched in May 2012 to represent the interests T +44 (0)20 7151 4181 of Africa’s aircraft owners, operators, and E aosullivan@theairlawfi rm.com suppliers to the Business Aviation community in W www.theairlawfi rm.com a single voice. AfBAA has some 119 members. Contact AfBAA’s primary objective is to promote the Aoife O’Sullivan, Partner understanding and benefi ts that Business Aviation provides for the continent’s economic The Air Law Firm LLP is a boutique aviation law development and prosperity through advocacy. practice providing international legal services to As an active, well-funded, professionally-run the aviation industry. Our practice model sets us organisation AfBAA is committed to increasing apart: we offer a bespoke and focused service membership, raising awareness of the Association from an agile and responsive team who can internally and externally in Africa and supporting react quickly to the changing demands of your all entities involved in Business Aviation in Africa. business environment. Our legal services are Contact: partner-led and we are proactive not reactive. Our Simon Levy lawyers are passionate about aviation, recognised Head of Business Development E [email protected] internationally as being experts in their fi elds, T +44 (0)20 7670 4346 focused and unique. As your legal partner in M +44 (0)7775 701153 aviation, your experience with us will be different.

Find us on Twitter i Find us on LinkedIn f Find us on Facebook www.aerosociety.com AUGUST 2017 51 Afterburner Diary

EVENTS www.aerosociety/events LECTURES www.aerosociety/events

4 September Critical Care in the Air: Integrating and Regulating Air Ambulances Aerospace Medicine Group Conference

5 September Increasing Effi ciency & Reducing Cost within the Aircraft Maintenance Process using New Technology and Innovative Solutions Airworthiness & Maintenance Group Conference

6 September The Future Aerospace Workplace Young Person’s Conference Textron Aviation Textron

Armament Offi cer, Flt Lt Gareth Buckett from the Air Warfare Engineering Squadron looks at weapon release patterns at the Air Warfare Centre on RAAF Base Edinburgh. Capt Michael Fairbanks-Smith will be discussing the role of the Air Warfare Engineering Squadron at the Adelaide Branch on 29 August. Commonwealth of Australia, Department of Defence.

7 September The Evolution of General Aviation and Light Aircraft – From ADELAIDE Air & Information, BAE MELBOURNE Moth to eGo University of South Australia, Systems. Flight Deck Bar and Grill, 37 Dr Ronald Smith, Aeronautical Engineer and Author Building MM 1-05, Mawson First Avenue, Moorabbin, Vic Historical Group Lecture Lakes Boulevard, Mawson CARDIFF 3194. 7pm. Lakes, SA 5095. 5.30pm. Venue TBC. 7pm. 11 October — Hargrave 14 September 29 August — Air Warfare E [email protected] Lecture. Starlets and Flight Test Group Lecture Engineering Squadron 20 September — Flying Australian aerospace. John Simon Davies, Experimental Test Pilot, capabilities. Capt as a bush pilot in Australia’s Corby, designer of the Starlet Flight Test Group Lecture Michael Fairbanks-Smith, Northern Territories. Paul light aircraft. Aeromechanical Design Catanatch. 21 September Engineer, Australian Army. OXFORD High Level Automation vs Autonomy HAMBURG Magdalen Centre, Oxford UAS Group Seminar BEDFORD Hochschule für Angewandte Science Park, Oxford. 7pm. ARA Social Club, Manton Wissenschaften Hamburg, Nigel Randall, E oaktree. 26-27 September Lane, Bedford. 7pm. Marylyn Hörsaal 01.12 Berliner Tor 5 [email protected] Maintaining Pilot Recruitment and Training Standards – A Wood, T +44 (0)1933 (Neubau), 20099 Hamburg. 19 September — Out with Growing Challenge as Demand Outstrips Supply 353517. 6pm. a bang. Simon Eden, Principal International Flight Crew Training Conference 2017 13 September — Special 12 October — Hybrid Air Reliability & Maintainability Ops Liberators – 223 Vehicles – the Airlander Engineer, Martin-Baker Aircraft. 28 September Squadron 100 Group and project. Chris Daniels, Harold Caplan Lecture the electric warfare. Dr Steve Head of Partnerships and PRESTON Ambassador Lorne S Clark, Executive Partner and Head of the Bond. Communications Hybrid Air Personnel and Conference European Offi ce of Nexxt Steps International Consulting 11 October — Mathematical Vehicles. Joint lecture with Centre, BAE Systems, Warton. Air Law Group Named Lecture modelling the search DGLR, VDI and HAW. 7.30pm. Alan Matthews, for MH370. Dr Nira C T +44 (0)1995 61470. 29 September Chamberlain. HEATHROW 20 September — Warton/ British Airways Theatre, Preston/Samlesbury history in SETOps 2017 BOSCOMBE DOWN Waterside, Harmondsworth. photographs. Dave Ward, ex- Conference Lecture Theatre, MoD 6.15pm. For security passes BAE Systems, BAE Systems 11 October Boscombe Down. 5.15pm. please contact Dr Ana Pedraz, Heritage Group. Visitors please register at E [email protected] 11 October — BAE Systems Lecture least four days in advance or T +44 (0)7936 392799. future or similar. Dave Short, Dr Bill Brooks, Technical Director, P&M Aviation (name and car registration 14 September — I believe I Engineering Director, Combat Named Lecture required) E secretary@ can fl y. Samuel Penny, Human Air, BAE Systems. BoscombeDownRAeS.org Powered Flying Club. 12 October 12 September — Aerial 12 October — Future space SOUTHEND Aircraft Noise – Can we Build Community Tolerance? archaeology. Martin Kellett. strategy. Mark Swain, CAA The Royal Naval Association, Conference 10 October — 30th Sir Henry Director and Group Director of 79 East Street, Southend-on- Tizard Lecture: Britain and the Airspace Policy. Sea. 8pm. Sean Corr, T +44 16-17 October Jet Age: 1945 to 1965. James (0)20 7929 3400. CFD and MDO – State of the Art and the Future Holland. LOUGHBOROUGH 12 September — Sir Aerodynamics Group Conference Room U020, Brockington Freddie Laker Lecture. Jota BROUGH Building, Loughborough Aviation and my 40 years of Cottingham Parks Golf Club. University. 7.30pm. Colin Moss, aviation at Southend Airport. 7.30pm. Ben Groves, T +44 T +44 (0)1509 239962. Mike Sessions, Commercial All lectures start at 18.00hrs unless otherwise stated. (0)1482 663938. 10 October — MQ-9 Manager, Jota Aviation, Conference proceedings are available at 13 September — The Future Reaper UAV operations. Paul Southend Airport. www.aerosociety.com/news/proceedings of Hawk. Chris Clarkson, Clark, UAS Flight Operations 10 October — An Engineering Director, Military Manager, QinetiQ. independent RAF, inspiration

52 AEROSPACE / AUGUST 2017 RAeS AT THE PARIS AIR SHOW or aberration? Greg Baughen, Author and Historian. A chance to catch up with new and SYDNEY The Powerhouse Museum, 500 Harris Street, Ultimo, some familiar faces... NSW 2007. 6pm. 18 October — 59th Sir Charles Kingsford Smith Lecture and Annual Branch Dinner. Future direction of commercial aviation, including the developing trends in low-cost carrier operations and the inter-relationship with full-service operators. Jayne Hrdlicka, CEO, Group.

WASHINGTON DC Embassy of New Zealand, 37 Observatory Cir NW, Washington, DC. 6pm. 5 October — Commercial unmanned systems. Panel Discussion.

WELLINGTON 24 August — . Lachlan Thurston, On the Wednesday morning of the Air Show the local RAeS Paris Branch hosted a breakfast reception in the Airport Performance Manager, Wellington Airport. SIAE chalet, right, allowing for some quality networking between members and supporters. Present at the 28 September — RNZAF function was RAeS President Sir Stephen Dalton, as well as some headquarters staff. Prior to the reception, Iroquois. Paul Harrison. Sir Stephen met with Akbar Al Baker, CEO, Qatar Airways, left. 26 October — The Skyhawk in RNZAF service post-Kahu update. Steve Moore.

A Date For Your Diary

12th September The last day of the year to submit your application and be reviewed for membership, upgrades and Engineering Council professional registration is fast approaching!

Apply online now: www.aerosociety.com/login or find out more: [email protected] or +44 (0)20 7670 4384/4400

Find us on Twitter i Find us on LinkedIn f Find us on Facebook www.aerosociety.com AUGUST 2017 53 Afterburner Society News RAeS GOLF DAY Numbers soar at RAeS Golf Day

The Society’s 2017 Aerospace Golf Day was hosted at Frilford Heath Golf Club in Oxfordshire. As always, it was an enjoyable event offering 27 holes of exceptional golf, as well as plenty of good food to keep the players fed and watered. With three new teams taking part, overall numbers were up by 50% on recent years and this made for some healthy competition, as well as some excellent networking opportunities across a variety of sectors within the aerospace community. Once again we were blessed with glorious weather and a special thank you goes to Pauline Luxmoore-Ball for supplying a bumper pack of sun cream to protect our players. This was much needed and much appreciated. Newcomers Rockwell Collins, rocked up with an impressive set of handicaps and took the 18 hole Texas Scramble team competition by storm, Above: The team from winning with an excellent score of 57.9 and taking Rockwell Collins won the 18 hole Texas Scramble. away the coveted Calloway golf bags, generously supplied by Cyient. Long-time supporters, Attewell and Gama Aviation, came in second and third place. Winners of the 9 hole singles competition, including the longest drive and nearest the pin, were Simon Levy, RAeS; Dave Ellis, Wesco Aircraft; Matt Giggle, Attewell; Vince Kerr, L-3, James Condron, CNL Software; Sean Camilleri, Rockwell Collins and Paul Richardson, AAR. NEWCOMERS, The Society would like to thank Cyient, ROCKWELL FlightSafety International, Food by Dish, Frilford Heath Golf Club and the InterContinental London COLLINS, Park Lane for their generosity in providing prizes ROCKED UP and supplying our players with golfi ng merchandise. WITH AN The FlightSafety caps were particularly welcome IMPRESSIVE SET with temperatures reaching 36°C in the afternoon. By popular demand we will be returning to OF HANDICAPS Frilford Heath Golf Club next year on Wednesday, AND TOOK THE 4 July 2018 – please visit our website for further 18 HOLE TEXAS details. We look forward to welcoming back our SCRAMBLE TEAM regular players as well as seeing some more new faces. COMPETITION BY If you have any queries about next year’s event, STORM please contact: Gail Ward, Events Manager – Corporate & Society T +44 (0)1491 629912 E [email protected]

54 AEROSPACE / AUGUST 2017 YOUNG PERSONS NETWORK YPN in the spotlight

Declan Wilcock Bedford Branch

Declan began his engineering career at 15 as a bicycle mechanic before graduating from the University of Bristol with a MEng in Aerospace Engineering in 2015. Since then he has worked for L-3 Systems and Lockheed Martin, where he currently works as a Spacecraft Systems Engineer. He is the Young Person’s Network rep at the RAeS Bedford Branch and is the PoC for the Society’s ‘Schools Wind Tunnel Project’.

Q: Why do you think the RAeS is important for young professional level I’m organising an aero pub aerospace professionals? quiz and we’re trying to move more of our events A: After leaving the vibrant atmosphere of university promotion and correspondence onto social media. (or even if you have arrived via another route) I’ve already organised a facility tour of the Aircraft it is easy to lose touch with the broad scope of Research Association and plan to arrange more with engineering beyond your day job, both socially and the other companies in the area (Hybrid Air Vehicles educationally. The RAeS provides a structure for please!). We are also planning on holding a UCAS meeting others, sharing ideas and generally keeping application clinic for those considering applying for a fi nger on the pulse of the wider engineering engineering courses at University, as well as one for community. I think it’s hugely important to be able Chartership applications. I can’t take credit for all of to interact both formally and informally, so we have these ideas, as the Bedford committee is fully on the opportunity to develop ourselves and explore the board with supporting me in these activities. THE RAES opportunities available to us. PROVIDES A Q: Tell us about a past or future event for young STRUCTURE Q: Why did you volunteer for the YPN? people in your area? A: I joined the YPN to lower the average age of A: For the RAeS 150th Anniversary, the Bedford FOR MEETING attendance at our local branch lecture series! Branch ran a schools wind-tunnel project which OTHERS, Bedford has a fantastic committee that organises involved local high school students learning and really interesting and worthwhile lectures; I wanted presenting projects about aerodynamics and wind SHARING IDEAS to get the word out to the local young professionals, tunnels. The project culminated in a week of hands AND GENERALLY colleges and high schools because I guessed they on aerodynamics workshops utilising a desktop KEEPING A didn’t know what they were missing. wind tunnel purchased for the project. I have since taken responsibility for the tunnel and, from my FINGER ON Q: How do you aim to improve the service of the experience of demonstrating it around Bedford, I’ve THE PULSE OF RAeS to young members at a local level? developed a workshop (including lesson plans and THE WIDER As I’ve already mentioned I’ve been trying to slidepacks) that is available for other Branches to publicise the lectures in local colleges and around use in their local areas. Please get it touch if you’d ENGINEERING the Bedfordshire STEM network. On a more young like the tunnel for workshops or events in your area. COMMUNITY

Find us on Twitter i Find us on LinkedIn f Find us on Facebook www.aerosociety.com AUGUST 2017 55 Afterburner Elections

FELLOWS Simon Allaway Oliviu Sugar Gabor Nigel Allen Devon Sumner SOCIETY OFFICERS Philip Briggs Georgios Matthew Taylor Duncan Campbell Avgouropoulos Natalie Taylor President: ACM Sir Stephen Dalton John Daniels Pablo Aviles Louis Thwaites President-Elect: Rear Admiral Simon Henley Ian Davies Kazuki Baker Brendan Wheeler David Dixon Andrew Balfour James Wotherspoon BOARD CHAIRMEN Roy Donelson Frederick Baxter Geoffrey Douthwaite David Beech ASSOCIATE Learned Society Chairman: MEMBERS Luigi Fernando Scott Belfi eld Air Cdre Peter Round Glenister Fricker James Bembrick Membership Services Chairman: Donal Hanley Joseph Birch Jacob Bullard Neil Hebron Stephen Carrick Matthew Friday Philip Spiers Jonathan Howes Kudzanai Chikohora Matthew Gales Professional Standards Chairman: Claude Hurley David Danquah Kesavan Karunanethy Prof Jonathan Cooper Mark Kelynack Matthew Enright Joshua Kawalek Peter Kosogorin Alexander Farrell Shalif Mohammed Ali DIVISION PRESIDENTS Kim Miller Ioannis Goulos Prateek Pathak Henry Mitchell Malcolm Graham Australia: Andrew Neely Jonathan Morrison Paul Hampson ASSOCIATES New Zealand: John MaciIree Peter Munro-Lott Richard Hinchcliffe Pakistan: AM Salim Arshad Mike Mylan Mohamed Hussein Brandon Croft South African: Dr Glen Snedden Chris Parsons Nameer Kaysi Gayan Ferdinand Roberto Sabatini Timoleon Kipouros Andrew Kellett John Salmon James MacDonald Fahad Naeem Christian Seydel Richard Martin Kieran Priest Matt Roth Emmanouela Koustelli S A Sherif Andrew McLellan Ayush Thapa Rich Loudon Param Anund Soobarah Jack Miller E-ASSOCIATES Pui Tse Lachlan Thomson Georgina Sutton Joseph Obioma Mostafa Uddin Roger Taylor Harsha Ramesh Evangelos Ioannis Derek Valles STUDENT AFFILIATES Jonathan Webber Simon Reynolds Avgoulas Ralph Williamson Joanne Wheeler Kosala Rodrigo Leonardo de Cristofano Adam Zugaj Ludmil Petkov Andrew Rolling Keifer Hudson MEMBERS Christian Schmidt Sinead Hyland AFFILIATES Oscar Scimò Adam Pearson Matthew Allanson Graham Spicer Atma Prakash Eugenie Buchan

Date for your diary

6 September 2017 — The Future Aerospace Workplace. Young Person’s Conference. This conference will look at various technologies of the future workplace that will change the way we work. The event is based on a series of lectures on a common theme, with diverse contributions from across the industry. The conference will inspire delegates with a series of interactive lectures and hands on sessions enable delegates to try out technologies where applicable, delivered by a wide range of experienced National Aerospace Library, Farnborough speakers from across the aerospace industry. ^ĂƚƵƌĚĂLJϵ^ĞƉƚĞŵďĞƌϭϬ͘ϯϬͲϭϲ͘ϬϬ dĂůŬΘdŽƵƌƐĂƚϭϭ͘ϬϬ͕ϭϮ͘ϬϬ͕ϭϰ͘ϬϬΘϭϱ͘ϬϬ WITH REGRET The RAeS announces with regret the deaths of the ^ŝŶĐĞŝƚƐĨŽƌŵĂƚŝŽŶŝŶϭϴϲϲ͕ƚŚĞůŝďƌĂƌLJŽĨƚŚĞZŽLJĂůĞƌŽŶĂƵƚŝĐĂů^ŽĐŝĞƚLJ ŚĂƐďĞĐŽŵĞŽŶĞŽĨƚŚĞǁŽƌůĚΖƐŵĂũŽƌĐŽůůĞĐƚŝŽŶƐƚŚĂƚƚƌĂĐĞƐƚŚĞ following members: ĞǀŽůƵƚŝŽŶŽĨŵĂŶΖƐĂƚƚĞŵƉƚƐƚŽĐŽŶƋƵĞƌĨůŝŐŚƚ͘ Anthony Edward Albert Dudman CEng MRAeS 87 &ŝŶĚŽƵƚŵŽƌĞĂďŽƵƚƚŚĞŐĞŵƐĨƌŽŵƚŚĞůŝďƌĂƌLJ͛ƐĐŽůůĞĐƚŝŽŶ͕ůĞĂƌŶŚŽǁ ŽƵƌǀŽůƵŶƚĞĞƌƐĐŽŶƐĞƌǀĞŽƵƌŵĂƚĞƌŝĂůĨŽƌĨƵƚƵƌĞŐĞŶĞƌĂƚŝŽŶƐĂŶĚŚĂǀĞĂ Jean Michael Hahn CEng MRAeS 89 ĐŚĂŶĐĞƚŽĞdžƉůŽƌĞƚŚĞŵĂƚĞƌŝĂůŽŶŽƵƌƐŚĞůǀĞƐ͘ Ronald Walter Howard CBE FREng HonFRAeS 88 &ŽƌŵŽƌĞŝŶĨŽƌŵĂƚŝŽŶĂďŽƵƚƚŚĞE>ĂŶĚŚŽǁƚŽƌĞĂĐŚƵƐ͕ǀŝƐŝƚ ǁǁǁ͘ĂĞƌŽƐŽĐŝĞƚLJ͘ĐŽŵͬŶĂů Gerald William Miles CEng MRAeS 88 Peter Wentworth Throsby CEng MRAeS 87 Dr John Philip Harrison Webber CEng FRAeS 81

56 AEROSPACE / AUGUST 2017 apats2017 Diamond Sponsor: SINGAPORE

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For more information visit Gold Sponsor: Silver Sponsors: apats2017.com

Meeting your event needs in the heart of London

Home to the Royal Aeronautical Society, No. 4 Hamilton Place is a stunning venue, centrally located in Mayfair, with a choice of event spaces. The venue offers:

• Edwardian elegance • State of the art conference facilities for up to 250 • Versatile meeting rooms • A beautiful west facing terrace • Catering by foodbydish, one of London’s leading contemporary caterers

Let our dedicated team take care of your event requirements.

For more information visit www.4hp.org.uk or contact the Venue Team on 020 7670 4314 or [email protected]

No. 4 Hamilton Place, London W1J 7BQ The Last Word

COMMENTARY FROM Professor Keith Hayward FRAeS

Raise the space Jolly Roger

o Bucks, no Buck Rogers’, as the new players and they are making the pace for the cliché of state-funded space contemporary space activity. research puts the essential truism of space exploration – well, just Sailing under a false fl ag how things have changed in half a ‘decade!N Sir may have kicked off I have also mentioned before the internal the privately funded space programme with Virgin contradictions of a new space entrepreneurship Galactic but he is a church mouse compared to that fl ourishes on the back of a public market as Messrs Musk and Bezos. Their ambitions take us to protected as the Chinese space industry. This is the Red Planet and perhaps beyond, with a ‘private’ perhaps a question of shooting a few sclerotic space programme fi red by PayPal and Amazon- aerospace companies that were also more generated wealth. These are ‘disruptive’ forces comfortable throwing heavy satellites into orbit for challenging the ossifi ed bureaucratic structures of the CIA or the DoD than competing for commercial institutionalised space programmes. launches. Nevertheless, this is the new imperative for There is no doubting the potential impact of NASA as, like many high spending federal agencies, the space buccaneers. Musk and SpaceX are it seeks to pin down an attention defi cit stricken transforming the satellite launch vehicle industry President to a long-term space policy commitment and may see off fi rms that have taken the US to – easy meat for Silicon Valley self-publicists to strike the Moon and have been the mainstay of national out for a dominant role in shaping US space policy. security space for four decades. Bezos and Blue Axe grinding aside, Musk and Bezos are Origin have the contract for the next generation delivering solutions. A few setbacks notwithstanding, rocket motors ‘to lose’, threatening to displace I would not bet against SpaceX reusability or a Rocketdyne, one of the truly great names in world successful Blue Origin motor powering the next space. Bezos may also beat our Richard into lobbing generation of American heavy launchers. It is some high net worth individuals into a very expensive just that a national space policy of the scale and high altitude parabolic theme park ride. scope of the US should not be dominated by the personal interests or preferences of two super THE NASA Not a new force? wealthy individuals. There is a broader and often less CASSINI spectacular set of concerns, not the least of which lie SATELLITE IS A new book by Alexander MacDonald, The Long in the preserve of the long-term deep space mission. PERFORMING Space Race, suggests that private money has intertwined with state funding since the creation Cassini – the real deal ITS SWANSONG, of the American Republic to inspire an interest in SURFING IN astronomy and space research. That’s as maybe Meanwhile, back in the off-world realm of really BETWEEN but few would doubt that the Apollo programme transformatory space research, the NASA Cassini was an archetype of the power of taxpayer-funded probe is performing its swansong, surfi ng in between THE RINGS space programmes and the bulk of modern space the rings of Saturn readying itself for a Viking funeral OF SATURN infrastructure would not have been put in place dive into the planet. This inspiring vision of deep space READYING without government support. This was an example has raised the tantalising prospect of life on one of ITSELF FOR A of classic market failure, where private capital Saturn’s moons. Cassini is also an international effort cannot or will not invest to realise ‘externalities’, the involving 17 countries including the ESA states. This VIKING FUNERAL long-term spin-off values from investment. Public is genuine space science and not an attempt to put a DIVE INTO THE commitments then make the world safe, or relatively Matt Damon lookalike onto the Red Planet, privately or PLANET less risk free for privateers. However, the force is with publicly funded, one-way or return.

58 AEROSPACE / AUGUST 2017 Society Seminar Airworthiness & Maintenance Conference

INCREASING EFFICIENCY & REDUCING COST WITHIN THE CRITICAL CARE IN THE AIR AIRCRAFT MAINTENANCE PROCESS USING NEW TECHNOLOGY & INNOVATIVE SOLUTIONS LONDON / 4 SEPTEMBER 2017 LONDON / 5 SEPTEMBER 2017

Growth and development of This conference will air ambulance services has showcase the outcomes brought great benefits to of applied research and patients worldwide, but the innovative practical solutions complexities of working in for the aircraft maintenance the aviation environment and industry. the vast and rapid increases in both medical and aviation In particular, the event will technology brings challenges focus on unveiling solutions to the nascent subspecialty which facilitate efficiency of aeromedical transport. and alleviate cost within This conference looks at a line and base maintenance range of topical issues in operations in both the civil modern day ‘medevac’. and military aviation sectors. www.aerosociety.com/criticalcare www.aerosociety.com/events

Sponsor: Sponsor

Flight Crew Training Conference UAS Conference

MAINTAINING PILOT RECRUITMENT UAS GROUP EVENTS 2017 AND TRAINING STANDARDS

A GROWING CHALLENGE AS DEMAND OUTSTRIPS SUPPLY

LONDON / 26 - 27 SEPTEMBER 2017 LONDON / SEPTEMBER - OCTOBER 2017

As an industry can we High Level Automation vs realistically be expected Autonomy to meet continue to supply 21 September 2017 competent and skilled This UAS group seminar will pilots to meet the global look at autonomy, lessons demand? Do we risk quality that can be learned from of training and standards other autonomous vehicles in the face on such demand and the ethical / legal for numbers? Can we get aspects of autonomy. increased numbers through programmes, maintain the Realising Market Potential quality standards but also Annual UAS Conference delivered tailored learning? 18 - 19 October 2017 www.aerosociety.com/IFCT2017 www.aerosociety.com/events

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Sponsorship opportunties are available for these events. Please contact the Conference and Events Department for further information. T: +44(0) 20 7670 4345 or E: [email protected]