AE February 2021 ROSPACE

THE GREAT US-CHINA RESET DOES EUROPE NEED A CIVIL X-PLANE? THREATS TO PRECISION TIMING

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V olume 48 Number 2

SOLO FLIGHT UK AEROSPACE TAKES OFF FOR BREXIT SKIES Royal A eronautical Society

FEB 2021 AEROSPACE COVER.indd 1 21/01/2021 14:53 RAeS Careers Service The RAeS Careers Team – We are here for you!

Established in 1997, The Royal Aeronautical Society Careers Team are your one-stop-shop for FREE impartial and specialist advice. While the service has lived through many crises, Covid-19 sees the industry’s biggest challenge yet and we are here to provide specific support. We have a vast range of resources and materials on careers in aerospace and aviation – from civil, military, engineering and maintenance through to pilots, cabin crew, business and operations. We are here to support anyone, whether you are new to the sector or an experienced professional looking for further development.

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Careers 7_2020 280x210 Adv FINAL update.indd 1 17/07/2020 15:36 Volume 48 Number 2 February 2021

EDITORIAL Contents Digital twins vs flying Regulars 4 Radome 12 Transmission prototypes The latest aviation and Your letters, emails, tweets aeronautical intelligence, and social media feedback. Increased computer processing power and higher fidelity modelling offer analysis and comment. hope to aircraft designers that the big-data revolution is set to supercharge 58 The Last Word 11 Pushing the Envelope Keith Hayward analyses the the development of new types of aircraft and dramatically slash development Rob Coppinger on the logistics required to operate costs and time (See ‘Pushing the Envelope’, p11). Yet we have been here implications of the digital the Royal Navy’s new before. CAD (computer-aided design) is not new and promises of reduced engineering revolution. supercarriers. cost and time have been broken. However, today two things make digital twins Features

more critical than ever before. The first is that, at least from Airbus or Boeing, Alfonso Eguino there are no new civil airliners as yet at the design stage and, without new 24 High Five, H145 An analysis of Airbus programmes, there could be an expanding gap in knowledge and skills. One Helicopters’ re-engineered solution might involve designers and engineers working on military projects to H145 helicopter. hone these digital skills, while another is that of ‘digitising’ some of these skills 14 and knowledge, so that they could be maintained in ‘virtual warehouses’ ready 28 United Airlines to be used as and when they are needed. The next generation of airliners in Brexit at arrivals the 2030-40s could feature radically different configurations, propulsion and Keith Hayward considers the fuels, as the industry addresses the challenge of sustainable aviation. Yet how implications for aerospace of well digital tools and AI that have been optimised around refining tube-and- the recent Brexit deal. Tearing up the rulebook wing configurations might perform, for say hydrogen-powered flying wings 17 Time to secure time To meet the ambitious with distributed propulsion, is as yet unclear. These new green airliners may The national strategic challenges of zero-carbon need de-risking with flying, piloted prototypes. For digital engineering there is importance of satellite aviation – is it time for industry navigation to precision timing. also another challenge. How does one communicate the progress of a project to be even more disruptive? if different parts are moving concurrently at different speeds – and exist only Airbus 30 Climate control in the virtual digital space? It may be that, even in the 21st century, there will Report on the first RAeS conference on climate change. still be a need for full-scale flying prototypes. 18 Animal Dynamics Tim Robinson FRAeS, Editor-in-Chief 36 [email protected] @RAeSTimR Creative construction Correspondence on all aerospace matters is welcome at: [email protected] Does Europe need a new civil aircraft demonstrator Engineering nature Editor-in-Chief Editorial Office 2021 AEROSPACE subscription project to de-risk future green Aeronautical engineers have Tim Robinson, FRAeS Royal Aeronautical Society rates: Non-members, £190 airliners? created new designs and +44 (0)20 7670 4353 No.4 Hamilton Place To place your order, contact: modes of operation inspired [email protected] London W1J 7BQ, UK Wayne J Davis 22 Can President Biden by the natural world. +44 (0)20 7670 4300 Deputy Editor +44 (0)20 7670 4354 reset relations with China? [email protected] Bill Read, FRAeS [email protected] Richard Aboulafia assesses 38 Cabin fever +44 (0)20 7670 4351 www.aerosociety.com Any member not requiring a print one of the biggest aerospace How Covid-19 will change [email protected] AEROSPACE is published by the Royal version of this magazine should challenges in the new US aircraft cabin design and the Aeronautical Society (RAeS). contact: [email protected] Production Manager president’s in-box. air travel experience. Wayne J Davis Chief Executive USA: Periodical postage paid at +44 (0)20 7670 4354 Sir Brian Burridge CBE FRAeS Champlain New York and additional [email protected] Advertising offices. +44 (0)20 7670 4346 Afterburner Publications Executive Postmaster: Send address changes [email protected] Chris Male, MRAeS to IMS of New York, PO Box 1518, 44 Message from our President Champlain NY 12919-1518, USA. +44 (0)20 7670 4352 Unless specifically attributed, no [email protected] 45 Message from our Chief Executive material in AEROSPACE shall be taken ISSN 2052-451X Production Executive to represent the opinion of the RAeS. 46 Book reviews Annabel Hallam Reproduction of material used in this 49 Library Additions +44 (0)20 7670 4361 publication is not permitted without the [email protected] written consent of the Editor-in-Chief. 50 New Member Spotlight Book Review Editors Printed by Buxton Press Limited, 51 Obituary Palace Road, Buxton, Derbyshire Tony Pilmer and Katrina Sudell 52 UK’s first virtual Cool Aeronautics [email protected] SK17 6AE, UK Original artwork 53 RAeS Diary ©Wayne J Davis/RAeS Distributed by Royal Mail 56 Elections

Additional content is available to view online at: aerosociety.com/aerospaceinsight Read AEROSPACE and the insight blog on your Including: Waiting for the eVTOL-taxi ranks, The UK’s Brexit deal for aerospace, In the January issue of AEROSPACE, Aerospace book choices for Christmas 2020, The long road to recovery, smartphone or tablet with the AEROSPACE app Online Revolutionising flight test and evaluation, Virtual collaboration, New Member spotlights. APP available on iTunes and Google Play

@aerosociety i Find us on LinkedIn f Find us on Facebook www.aerosociety.com FEBRUARY 2021 13

Contents Feb.indd 1 21/01/2021 13:36 Blueprint

INTELLIGENCE / ANALYSIS / COMMENT Load alleviation Active load and gust alleviation technologies would reduce the limiting wing load and allow for a lighter wing to be used. Laminar fl ow for wing and fuselage The SE2A design would use a combination of natural and active laminar flow technology to reduce drag. The foward swept wing and boundary-layer suction would see laminar flow extended up to 80% of the chord, while suction applied to the foward fuselage would extend laminar flow to reach the wing-body fairing.

Specifi cations

Wing aspect ratio 16 MTOW 69,696kg Range 3,320nm Cruise Mach number 0.78

AIR TRANSPORT Hybrid-electric trijet From Germany’s Technical University of Braunschweig comes this concept for a single-aisle airliner that could be 43.5% more fuel-effi cient than an Airbus A320. The concept is part of the Research Cluster of Excellence Sustainable and Energy Effi cient Aviation (SE2A) – a seven- year project begun in 2019 by the Technical University of Braunschweig, German Aerospace Research Center (DLR) and the Leibniz University Hannover to investigate technologies for sustainable and eco-friendly aviation. The aircraft, designed by Prof Dr Ali Elham, Chair of Aircraft Conceptual Design, with assistance from PhD researcher Stanislav Karpuk, incorporates a number of innovative features, including hybrid-electric propulsion, rear- mounted boundary-layer ingestion fan and high-aspect forward-swept wings. TU Braunschweig

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February 2021 News.indd 2 21/01/2021 14:52:10 Advanced materials New composite materials and structural design reduce the airframe weight by 19% compared to an all-metal aircraft.

Boundary layer ingestion Using hybrid-electric architecture, the SE2A would feature ultra-high bypass ratio engines mounted above the wing, giving a reduction in fuel consump- tion by 25%. Meanwhile, a rear-mounted ducted fan would feature 360° boundary layer ingestion, improving fuel efficiency by 5%.

High-aspect folding wing The high-aspect, forward-swept wing brings high efficiency. An outer folding portion, like the Boeing 777X, allows it to fit within current airport gate regulations.

FEBRUARY 2021 5

February 2021 News.indd 3 21/01/2021 14:52:15 Radome COVID-19

AEROSPACE AIR TRANSPORT Airliner deliveries nosedive UK mandates Covid tests for in 2020 international arrivals

Airbus and Boeing have meanwhile, delivered published details of their 157 aircraft, compared orders and deliveries to 380 deliveries in for 2020, all of which 2019. Orders for Boeing showed a sharp decline were for 184 aircraft, due to the Covid-19 down from 246 in 2019. pandemic. Airbus With the 737 MAX now

reported that it delivered cleared for fl ight by US AirportHeathrow 54th Paris Air Show cancelled 566 new aircraft in regulators, December The UK government has scrapped its safe ‘travel corridors’ and introduced new 2020, down from 863 also saw Boeing resume rules that require inbound passengers to provide proof of a negative Covid-19 test. aircraft in 2019. During deliveries, handing over The new rules, brought in on 18 January, mean that passengers arriving in the UK 2020, Airbus received 27 by the end of the year will now have to present a negative Covid-19 test within 72 hours of travelling to 268 orders, down from (see By The Numbers, Britain, as well as fi ll in a passenger locator form with contact details and a UK 768 in 2019. Boeing, p10). address, or face a £500 fi ne.

GENERAL AVIATION AEROSPACE Tecnam fast-tracks refrigerated Heli-Expo fi nally cancels P2012 for vaccine transport trade event in March Tecnam After the withdrawal The organisers said of major OEMs as that ‘while some in our exhibitors, including industry have urged us to Airbus Helicopters, Bell, carry on with the show, Sikorsky and Robinson, the majority have recently the organisers of the expressed discomfort Heli-Expo trade show, with the logistics involved Helicopter Association in business travel at this International (HAI) took time’. New Orleans itself Under a crash programme of less than a month, Italian airframer Tecnam has developed a the decision to cancel is currently under Phase new variant of its P2012 Traveller utility aircraft for the delivery of ultra-cold goods, especially the physical trade show, One restrictions that Covid-19 vaccines, to remote areas. Tecnam has partnered with ultra-freezer manufacturer set for late March in limit businesses to 25% Desmon to produce the P2012 Travelcare which will be able to transport products in a New Orleans on 20 capacity and gatherings freezer at -86°C or -65°C for between 10-12 hours. January due to Covid-19. to immediate households.

NEWS IN BRIEF

to wear masks onboard Aircraft (LCA) for the plans to develop its EH216 over Tianqin Park in Cranfi eld University has airliners, the FAA has Indian Air Force (IAF). own broadband satellite Hengqin New Area, China. offi cially received its introduced new stricter Given the go-ahead megaconstellation, Some 36 passengers new Digital Aviation and rules to deal with unruly by India’s Cabinet with the goal of initial were carried in the aerial Research Technology and disruptive passengers. Committee on Security services by 2024. The sightsighting fl ights, Centre (DARTeC) from The adminstration says that (CCS) on 13 January, the service would be a rival although it is unconfi rmed building contractor R G disruptive behaviour by contract comprises 73 to the SpaceX Starlink whether these passengers Carter. The £65m facility, passengers will now attract Mk 1A fi ghters and 10 megaconstellation and paid for their fl ights. designed to advance fi nes of up to $35,000 Mk 1 dual-seat trainers. the UK-Indian-owned the application of digital and imprisonment, without The aircraft will be built by OneWeb. Boeing has agreed technologies in the air warnings or counselling state-owned Hindustan to pay $2.5bn to the transport sector, is set to offered as previously. Aeronautics Limited (HAL) Chinese urban air mobility US Department of open later this year. in Bangalore. manufacturer EHang Justice to settle criminal India has approved has revealed it carried damages arising from In the wake of violence the procurement of 83 The European out passenger fl ights the 737 MAX case. in Washington DC and indigenously designed Commission has said on 8 January with its The settlement breaks some passengers’ refusal Tejas Light Combat that it aims to accelerate autonomous two-seat down into $243.6m in a

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February 2021 News.indd 4 21/01/2021 14:52:16 AEROSPACE DEFENCE Sriwijaya Air 737 crash in Australia chooses AH-64E as next Indonesia kills 62 attack chopper Boeing Australia Boeing

As AEROSPACE goes descent from an altitude of to press, Indonesian Navy 10,000ft about four minutes divers have recovered the after take-off. ADS-B flight flight voice recorder and tracking site FlightRadar24 flight data recorders from the said that it had recorded the wreckage of the Sriwijaya Air aircraft losing 10,000ft in Boeing 737 which crashed a minute. The cause of the into the sea on 9 January, accident is not yet known, killing 62 passengers and although recovery crews crew. The aircraft was in have located parts which Australia has selected the Boeing AH-64E Apache Guardian for its Armed the early stages of a flight they say show that the Reconnaissance Helicopter (ARH) requirement from 2025. The Apache will replace the from Jakarta to Borneo aircraft engines were still Airbus Helicopters Tiger currently in service with the Australian Army. Island when it lost radar operating when the aircraft  Meanwhile, on 29 December, the US State Department approved the sale of 24 contact and made a rapid crashed. Boeing AH-64E helicopters to Kuwait in a deal worth approximately $4bn.

AIR TRANSPORT GENERAL AVIATION Norwegian Air Norwegian Norwegian Signature Aviation to be axes low-cost acquired in $4.6bn deal long-haul Business aviation GIP. As AEROSPACE services and FBO group, goes to press, Signature Aviation, has Signature’s board has agreed to be acquired yet to approve the by investor group Global acquisition. Signature’s Infrastructure Partners business aviation (GIP) in a deal worth services feature a $4.6bn. The company network of FBO and had been the focus service centres around Norwegian Air has announced that it is rationalising its business model by abandoning of a bidding battle the globe and employs its foray into low-cost long-haul flight. The Oslo-based carrier is to axe its transatlantic between rival investors, some 5,300 people, and Asian routes with the loss of 1,100 UK-based cabin crew and pilots at Gatwick including Blackstone while GIP also has and a similar number in other countries. Its fleet of Boeing 787 Dreamliners, currently and Bill Gates’ Cascade a stake in Gatwick grounded, will now not return to flight, with the airline reorganising to focus on its short- Investment, before Airport and owns haul network with 50 Boeing 737s. accepting the offer from Edinburgh Airport.

criminal penalty, $500m in cabin crew, many of (LANCE) contract propulsion could cut Pilatus aircraft. The 100th additional compensation whom are grounded as a will increase flying travel times to Mars in PC-24 delivery came less to relatives of those who result of low air travel, are hours, create new UK half, to three or four than three years after the died in the Ethiopian and already security cleared capabilities, such as an months, compared to first PC-24 was handed Lion Air crashes, and a and first-aid trained, ejection seat workshop, chemical rockets, as well over. further $1.77bn to airline speeding up approval of aircrew equipment as reduce the radiation customers for harm volunteers to administer facility, component spray dose experienced by any The US FAA has issued incurred as a result of the the vaccine. facility and support more astronauts. a final rule which grounding of the aircraft. than 170 jobs at RAF streamlines and clarifies Lockheed Martin and Marham. Switzerland’s Pilatus procedures to obtain easyJet cabin crew in the F-35 Joint Program Aircraft reached the official approval for the UK are to be trained Office have signed Rolls-Royce and the milestone of the 100th supersonic flight testing in administering the a £76m contract to UK Space Agency have PC-24 business jet, in the US. The ruling Covid-19 vaccine as part support the UK F-35B partnered together to handing over the is expected to assist of the push to fast-track fleet.The Lightning study nuclear propulsion milestone aircraft to companies developing the vaccination of the Air system National solutions for future space European operator Jetfly, new civil supersonic population. The 3,000 Capability Enterprise exploration. Nuclear which has a fleet of 51 aircraft.

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February 2021 News.indd 5 21/01/2021 14:52:17 Radome

AIR TRANSPORT GENERAL AVIATION IATA warns of bleak Urban Aeronautics sells four outlook in near term CityHawks for medivac missions Urban Aeronautics

The International Air dropping 41.0% compared Transport Association to the previous year. In (IATA) has said that the total, demand was down recovery in passenger air 70.3% since November traffic in 2020 came to an 2019, with capacity abrupt halt in November, 58.6% lower and load as more severe restrictions factors dropping by 23%. and quarantine measures Meanwhile, IATA Director were introduced around General, Alain de Juniac, the world. International warned that the near-term passenger demand was picture was ‘bleak’ and that Israel urban air mobility company Urban Aeronautics has received an order from Hatzolah down 86.3% since the governments had ‘chosen Air for four vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) CityHawks to use for emergency medical previous November, policy measures that will service missions. Powered by two Safran HE Arriel 2N turboshafts, the CityHawk will fly with domestic demand shut down air travel’. at up to 150kt with a range of 194nm.

AEROSPACE SPACEFLIGHT Rolls-Royce performs first engine Countdown to first Blue run in Testbed 80 Rolls-Royce Origin space tourists

US private space Skywalker’ strapped into company Blue Origin one of its seats, reached test-flew a sub-orbital an altitude of 351,215ft New Shepard rocket above sea level before carrying an unpiloted crew descending back to Earth capsule on 14 January using parachutes. The from its launch site in west reusable rocket returned Texas and said that the to its landing pad at the first passenger flights for spaceport. After this 14th Rolls-Royce has conducted the first jet engine runs at its new testbed facility in Derby. space tourists may only be flight which tested an The £90m Testbed 80 facility has an internal area of 7,500m2 and can collect data from a couple of months away. upgraded capsule, Blue more than 10,000 different parameters on an engine. As well as being sized for larger The six-seat capsule, Origin hinted that it is turbofans, the facility has also been designed to test sustainable aviation fuels and which held a test dummy expecting to fly the first electric motors. named ‘Mannequin crewed flight in April. NEWS IN BRIEF

March 8 rocket, made the EU and UK. We are On 29 December, The USAF Research Lab a successful first flight, Companies and delighted to continue American Airlines became has carried out a flight placing five payloads organisations have to work with our many the first carrier to resume trial of collaborative, into orbit. The medium cautiously welcomed stakeholders in the spirit scheduled passenger AI-enhanced weapons, launcher, designed to the news that, on 24 of collaboration and flights in the US after a under its Golden Horde put 9,900lb into orbit, December, the UK long-term partnership.” 20-month grounding of Vanguard programme. took off from Wenchang secured a trade deal Meanwhile, aerospace the 737 MAX was lifted. The weapons test Spacecraft Launch site with the EU, amid and defence group The first flight was the AA saw a F-16 drop AI- on Hainan Island. fears that Britain was ADS also welcomed 718 service from Miami enhanced Small Diameter set to crash out in a the agreement, saying: to New York LaGuardia. Bombs (SBD) which US charter company worst-case no-deal “The UK aerospace, American became the communicated with Wheels Up is to purchase Brexit. Commenting defence, space and third airline to resume each other to identify the bizjet operator Mountain on the agreement, security industries commercial services highest priority target. Aviation. Colorado-based Airbus CEO Guillaume welcome the agreement after Gol Linhas Aéreas Mountain Aviation has Faury said: “Airbus of a deal on the UK’s and Grupo Aeroméxico On 21 December, a fleet of 60+ aircraft, welcomes the news future relationship with restarted flights earlier in China’s newest launch including 26 Cessna that an agreement has the EU.” (See Brexit at December. vehicle, the Long Citation Xs. been reached between arrivals, p14).

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February 2021 News.indd 6 21/01/2021 14:52:18 SPACEFLIGHT AIR TRANSPORT Virgin Orbit Boeing gets lift from air Virgin Orbit cargo orders lives up to Driven by the demand for backlog, with an order for its name air freight in the pandemic, eight 777Fs. cargo airline Atlas Air has  To round off 2020, announced an order for Qatar Airways took delivery four new Boeing 747-8F of three Boeing 777F freighters. The aircraft freighters on 31 December. are expected are to be The three aircraft took off delivered from May-October within 30 minutes of each 2022 and will be the last other on the same day, Space launch company Virgin Orbit has successfully launched the first satellite into four 747s off Boeing’s for the flight from Everett, orbit using its Boeing 747 ‘Cosmic Girl’ and ‘Launcher One’ air-launched system. The production line. Meanwhile, Washington, to Doha, Qatar. flight, on 18 January, saw ten payloads put into orbit over the Pacific Ocean after the package delivery specialists The latest deliveries brings mothership launched from Virgin Orbit’s base in Mojave, California. The succesful flight DHL has also boosted the number of 777Fs in opens up the path for air-launched space launches from the UK in the near future. Boeing’s cargo aircraft Qatar’s fleet to 30.

DEFENCE AEROSPACE Greece and Israel to team Airbus reveals hydrogen-powered up on fast jet training six-engined airliner concept Airbus Greece and Israel are T-2 Buckeyes in the to collaborate on fighter advanced training role for pilot training, with Israeli the Greek Air Force. The defence firm Elbit to M346 is already in service establish a flight training with the Israeli Air Force academy in Greece. The which has 30 trainers in $1.68bn deal will see the service. training school equipped  Meanwhile, on 14 with ten Leonardo M346 January, the Greek advanced jet trainers Parliament voted to and will see Elbit also approve the acquisition Airbus has revealed another potential hydrogen fuel cell-powered ZEROe aircraft upgrade Greece’s existing of 18 Dassault Rafale concept in the form of a six-engined propeller airliner. The six engines would consist of T-6 Texan II trainers. The fighters from France in a stand-alone hydrogen fuel cell ‘pods’, each driving an eight-bladed propeller and being M346s will replace ageing €2.5bn deal. able to be removed and replaced easily.

ON THE MOVE Executive Officer and appointments of David Elaine Chao resigned Boeing has appointed The next ESA Director Director of Aviation Safety Settergren as VP Asia and early in protest over the Michael Delaney to the General is Josef of Australia’s Civil Aviation Jay Aiken as VP Americas. Washington riots, together newly created role of Chief Aschbacher, who takes Safety Authority. with five officials from the Aerospace Safety Officer. over from Jan Wörner at After four years at the FAA. Chao was due to be the end of June. Asiana Airlines has named helm, Graham Turnock replaced by Pete Buttigieg As AEROSPACE goes to Jung Sung-kwon as its has resigned as the Chief on 20 January. press, Secretary of the US Former Airbus UK SVP new CEO. Executive of the UK Air Force Barbara Barrett Katherine Bennett is Space Agency. The UK’s Aerospace along with Will Roper, to take up a new role Melissa Thorpe is the new Technology Institute (ATI) Assistant Secretary of the at the UK’s High Value interim head of Spaceport Raymond G. Bohn has has named Dr Katy Milne, Air Force for Acquisition, Manufacturing Catapult Cornwall, taking over from been appointed President Head of Industrial Strategy Technology and Logistics, as CEO. Miles Carden. and CEO of Nav Canada. and Mark Howard, Head have stepped down ahead of Commercial Strategy of the new incoming Biden Graeme Crawford has SR Technics has US Department of for its FlyZero sustainable administration. been appointed Chief announced the Transportation head aviation programme.

FEBRUARY 2021 9

February 2021 News.indd 7 21/01/2021 14:52:19 By the Numbers Understanding the world of Aerospace through data Airbus 2020 Deliveries Airbus

Boeing 2020 Deliveries RAeS

Boeing saw a reduction of 60% in deliveries of aircraft to customers in 2020 from 2019. Boeing’s delivery of 157 aircraft is down from 2019’s total of 380.

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FEB 2021 By the Numbers.indd 2 21/01/2021 14:42 Pushing the Envelope Exploring advances on the leading edge of aerospace Robert Coppinger The digital engineering revolution

ircraft and satellites, designed and cost surprises late in the process would never happen tested inside computers with only again. That same month, the then Assistant Secretary the final design fabricated for use, of the US Air Force for Acquisition, Technology and is expected to end the ever-growing Logistics, Dr Will Roper, revealed that the NGAD development costs for aerospace demonstrator had already flown. projects.A It is a vision of the immediate future that has been prominent in a number of next-generation The digital environment military aircraft programmes. The UK’s Tempest, the Franco-German-Spanish future combat air system Demonstrators for Tempest and FCAS have yet to fly (FCAS) and the United States’ Next Generation Air but Tempest partner, BAE Systems, has publicised Dominance (NGAD) project have all seen digital its digital engineering work. Using the term ‘digital model engineering promoted as a way the spiralling environment’, BAE has disclosed that it has designed, costs of past military programmes can be avoided. tested and virtually flown Tempest concepts using such an approach. BAE also uses the term ‘digital twin’ From blueprints to chips to describe the conceptual Tempest shapes whose aerodynamic performance is assessed in virtual wind Decades ago, when desktop computers started to tunnels. Pilots have also flown these Tempests in become available for engineers to work with, the flight simulators. Meanwhile, Airbus has used the term terminology was computer-aided design (CAD) and ‘simulation environment’ to describe a method for the computer-aided engineering (admittedly, the origins FCAS companies to ensure ‘consistency between of electronic computation’s application to aerospace demonstrators’. These are being developed under the development do go back further). To distinguish 18-month FCAS Phase 1A contract announced in this next-generation, 21st century use of electronic February last year. Airbus had made digital methods a computation in research and development, terms such strategic priority for its business before FCAS, Tempest as digital engineering, digital design, models-based or the eSeries were made public. In 2017, Airbus systems and ‘digital twin’ are the new buzzphrases. announced Skywise, a digital platform with a range of When the then US Secretary of the Air Force announced in September last year that the US uses and, in February 2019, the firm started talking THE MODEL- Air Force embraced this new digital frontier, it was about what it calls digital design, manufacturing and BASED DIGITAL declared that virtually modelled air and spacecraft services (DDMS). DDMS includes existing software ENGINEERING would be given the prefix of ‘e’ in their names. It was used for enterprise resource planning, product data APPROACH HAD also revealed that the first USAF aircraft, designed management, Airbus’ manufacturing execution system and the Skywise platform. Early Airbus DDMS projects SEEN FINAL using the digital approach, existed: it is the Boeing ASSEMBLY HOURS eT-7A Red Hawk. The September announcement included designing an engine nacelle. Despite all the also stated that the model-based digital engineering European digital investment, FCAS is not envisaging REDUCED BY approach had seen final assembly hours reduced by demonstrator flights as soon as NGAD’s: the FCAS 80%, SOFTWARE 80%, software development time cut in half and the prototype is expected to fly in 2026. Real-world DEVELOPMENT eT-7A move from computer screen to first flight in 36 Tempest test flights are also years away. In short, TIME CUT IN months. Arthur C Clarke said that the immediate significance HALF AND THE To convey how significant this change to a digital of a technology is often overstated and its long-term ET-7A MOVE method is, USAF officials explained that the eSeries impact underestimated. Is digital engineering the long- acquisition programmes would begin and end using term realisation of a significant computer revolution or FROM COMPUTER a virtual environment. Within that environment an, are the claims of end-to-end virtual development to be SCREEN TO FIRST ‘almost perfect replica of…the physical weapon cursed by the information technology idiom of old – FLIGHT IN 36 system,’ will be created. Performance, production and garbage in – garbage out? MONTHS

FEBRUARY 2021 11

Pushing the Envelope B A T.indd 1 21/01/2021 14:49 .

Transmission

LETTERS AND ONLINE @aerosociety i Find us on LinkedIn f Find us on Facebook www.aerosociety.com Happy 155th birthday Rolls-Royce ‘nuclear spaceships’? Rolls-Royce @MurphToTheSky While I did study some elements of rocket science at university, I’m pretty sure that had nuclear propulsion for spacecraft be f a viable thing ... those more experienced in a) nuclear RAeS award winner @GotALightBoy [On propulsion and b) spacefl ight Captain Ameen Budagher 737 MAX back in fl ight Rolls-Royce to study would have already done this? [On RAeS 155th anniversary nuclear propulsion for space Call me a cynic, of course if on 13 January] An amazing @SkyandBull [On American exploration] Slow down a bit, you wish, but I am fairly sure run. Best of luck 2021. Airlines resuming commercial I’m still waiting for Reaction we’d have seen it by now. 737 MAX fl ights] Presumably Engines to fi nish their project. Even Elon is using the same for a much-needed boost principles generally! Steve Beattie DC, double to national morale and century coming up! Maintain confi dence in the product, the the run rate. presidents of both Boeing and Wellington podcast Norwegian long haul the US were aboard? @NikosHeadband [On @Rob_Coppinger [On latest RAeS podcast released Norwegian drops long- David Cox What a great New R-R testbed on the Vickers Wellington(2)]] haul fl ights] I enjoyed my innings!! OMG I had NO idea you had transatlantic fl ight with Graeme Catnach [On RAeS @crp_uk [On Rolls-Royce a podcast. Norwegian. Food on demand Flight Operations Medal award makes fi rst run in Testbed 80 via the seat back display menu winner Captain John Cox Robert Scott Proud to be a in Derby] Crikey. It’s quite big, instead of fi xed meal times FRAeS for his contribution Fellow. isn’t it?! Reminds me of the @j_aero Very enjoyable was very welcome. to aviation safety and his Turbine Hall at Tate Modern - podcast indeed. Thank you! major work in rewriting the appropriately enough. infl uential ‘Smoke and Fire in Women in aviation Transport Aircraft’ documents] . Well deserved. I met him at RAeS Urban Air Mobility conference

the SAPOE conference in Marnie Munns [On The Joby Aviaton @drcockford [On Waiting for Scottsdale AZ a couple of House of Commons Defence the air taxi(1)] A great article. years ago. Fascinating chap, Committee (UK) inquiry on Weather will be the largest great speaker and a very nice Women in the Armed Forces hurdle to roll out adoption. guy. looking at the experience of female service personnel and What the article fails to considering whether there mention is the involvement of are unique challenges that local authorities who will want are not adequately addressed to have a say in where the air by the current policies and taxi ranks are located. They services] It’s important that we will also want to license them! investigate whether enough is being done to support women in our workplace. I would @Victory205 Look at the Joby Aviation six-rotor eVTOL air taxi design. i failure points and lack of also welcome a report on women in the airline industry, redundancy on that thing. @fg_domperry I would have @iain_grey Great input from AVAir Specialist Award especially on pilots. There You’d have to be a hopeless thought David’s expertise was @OWRobbieB are no reporting structures and/or arrogant tech nerd to more in the area of urbane air Paulo Santos [On RAeS in place in the industry as a believe it is viable. mobility. Specialist Award winner whole, which means pilots @fl ight_crowd A great UVAid team, for demonstrating have to rely on their individual summary of what the outstanding sector leadership airline employer or their @Vertopolis Hmmm. @ElectricVTOL ‘Having industry discussed during and technical achievement training provider. I commend @DavidLearmount says multiple simple thrusters the @AeroSociety #UAM in the fi eld of unmanned the armed forces for paving #eVTOL are ‘mechanically propellers with no cyclic or conference at the end of last aviation in humanitarian the way in this important simple, lighter, far quieter’ ... collective is much simpler year! Thank you once again and development settings] piece of work. Gender or race says who? In the same para, than having a single complex for having us present and Congratulations. do not determine your skills there’s ‘36 small ducted fans thruster’ and FBW is a no- mentioning our co-founders and ability and all workplaces in a hybrid tilt-wing’, ‘18 larger brainer for #electricVTOL – in the article! Despite many should evaluate how inclusive, unducted fans’ and ‘eight fans’. why would you have pushrods hurdles, we must all unite to Geoffrey Wardle Well open and supportive they Sounds really simple! And how and actuators for an electric make UAM a mass-scale deserved, an excellent are to all the talent in their many FBW commercial helos motor? reality! application of UAS technology. workforce. are there?

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. eHang fl ies eVTOL passenger fl ights Aviation terms we love 30th anniversary of Operation Granby to hate RAF eHang

@JDKightly [On misuse of aviation terms] One for the aviation writers and editors. What are the aviation terms you are always having to correct? Some faves: - bi-plane - loop the loop - aircrafts - jet fi ghter / jet plane / prop- eHang eVTOLs fl y over Hengqin New Area in China on plane etc. and the perennial fave 8 January The fi rst British air strikes carried out by RAF Tornados against - hanger (with a DeHavilland the Iraqi Air Force took place on 17 January 1991. @AlcockNews [On eHang @VerderaJoana China is Gypsy inside). fl ies 36 passengers in totally ahead of this race! The 17th of January marked the 30th anniversary of the fi rst eVTOL fl ights in China] Very British air strikes carried out by RAF Tornados against the curious business model. @SamWise24 Generally just Iraqi Air Force as part of the US led multi-national coalition’s Hard to be sure if money @zainisaari Isn’t this Pak incorrect use of plurals, either actions to liberate Kuwait following the Iraqi invasion on 2 actually changed hands Wan’s fl ying car? Looks with apostrophes or not even August 1990. The British military contribution to the Allied for these fl ights. But could familiar. putting an ‘s’ at all. Coalition to remove the Iraqis from Kuwait was codenamed be. By the way, can you ‘Birds’ for planes. Operation Granby. The coalition fi elded 2,300 aircraft with imagine EASA, FAA and Co ‘Driver’ for pilot. the British contribution to the strike force comprising RAF approving revenue fl ights in @A_Xkier Great, until ‘Mig’ for MiG. Tornados, Jaguars and Buccaneers. RAF Chinooks and an uncertifi ed aircraft? I’m still there’s a fl ock of birds or a Putting ‘Mil-‘ instead of Mi- in Pumas from the Helicopter Support Force conducted sorties struggling to understand the single large bird which needs Mil helicopter designations (eg to land British Special Forces behind Iraqi lines and, in the relationship between CAAC avoiding. Effortless for a Mil-24). aftermath of the confl ict, delivered food and aid to displaced and eHang. human pilot. Wouldn’t fancy refugees. Support was also provided by RAF Victor Tankers, my chances in a pilotless Hercules, Tristar and VC10 supporting logistics for the RAF eVTOL. Not at the moment @OhJoBails Tarmac for apron, and other militaries, as well as the Nimrod MR2 assisting @MichaelJPryce No wind thanks. I’ll walk. our readers hate that one. naval operations. The air campaign lasted 43 days until the it seems. Will they work on a ceasefi re on 28 February 1991. gusty day? Also, the leg/child slicers may be an issue for @Luke_skipper Wow – you @Bart666 Glowacki Multirole From the RAeS photo archives certifi cation. can get such a great view of fi ghter. (Only Rafale is the construction site! omnirole). RAeS/NAL

Cambridge lecture India in space @dtieic There are two famous names associated with fl ying- @_lmob [On Dr Peter Lee @writetake In the January wing aircraft, neither of which online lecture at Cambridge issue of AEROSPACE there’s is a seed company or a cartoon Branch] This will be a great a comprehensive recap + elephant. talk. His book was fascinating update of India’s #Gaganyaan and he’s a compelling lecturer. mission by comrade-in-arms @CheckSix_Bison(3). The link @CWLemoine ‘Aircrafts’ is a to read this paywall article is big one. It’s even a tag/category @Al_brock Fantastic lecture here: ow.ly/CzqT50D0bwW on YouTube. I think it originates this evening focusing on the from people who say maths. ethics of remote operations. Mary Jackson lecture Boeing YB-52 Stratofortress, 49-231, with Mount Rainier Bit different to our usual behind. This aircraft, the fi rst B-52 to fl y, retained the technical stuff. Very thought @fl ywithsiren Hi friendly @MagicHydraPants [On tandem-crew seating arrangement of the XB-52 prototype. provoking. Apparently it was neighbourhood Brit here. Mary Jackson inaugural The B-52 entered service in June 1955 and remains in recorded but you will have to (4) Aircrafts disgusts me too named lecture ] Dr Moo! service today, over 65 years later. Current intentions are to register to be able to watch it but leave my maths alone. I Booking a ticket ASAP. Why? keep the aircraft in service until 2045, an unprecedented back if you hadn’t registered. worked hard to get better at it. Because Space! 90 years service life for a frontline aircraft.

1. AEROSPACE, January 2021, p 26, Waiting for the eVTOL-taxi rank 2. http://www.aerosociety.com/news/audio-classic-lecture-the-wellington-by-c-f-andrews/ 3. AEROSPACE, January 2021, p 18, A tryst with destiny 4. https://www.aerosociety.com/events-calendar/raes-inaugural-mary-jackson-named-lecture/

@aerosociety i linkedin.com/raes f facebook.com/raes www.aerosociety.com FEBRUARY 2021 13 AEROSPACE Brexit and UK aviation Alfonso Eguino

Brexit at arrivals Brexit is here – bringing a mixed outlook for UK aviation, aerospace and space. Professor KEITH HAYWARD FRAeS considers the implications of the Brexit deal, ending four years of upheaval and debate stemming from 2016’s historic referendum.

he final agreement is a legally dense the basic four freedoms including unlimited point- doorstop of a document and omissions to-point traffic between all UK and EU airports. may count for more than inclusions. The economically important ‘fifth freedom’ and the Many of the details are subject to further implicit ‘sixth freedom’ of onward flights from EU negotiations and the final outcome is destinations to those outside the EU or the UK, and Tlikely to be affected by wider political interests, cabotage rights of unrestricted internal operations Above: Ryanair, easyJet including EU responses to HMG actions in respect within the European Aviation Market are currently and British Airways will of state subsidies and third party trade agreements. denied to passenger operations: ‘fifth freedom’ need to come to terms with rights are, however, granted to scheduled and the EU ownership rules. Aviation non-scheduled all-cargo flights. EU airlines have Below: Prime Minister comparable operational rights in the UK but they Boris Johnson signs have hardly the same commercial implications as The EU–UK Trade and Back to Chicago ‘44 the loss of full access to the European aviation area. Cooperation Agreement. This is a temporary or holding agreement pending The absence of scheduled passenger ‘fifth future negotiations; the EU and HMG are freedom’ rights is underlined in specific paragraphs understood to be shortly addressing a longer-term of the agreement. Non-scheduled services may set of arrangements as a matter of urgency. As have a limited ‘fifth freedom’ right, ‘provided they matters now stand, UK registered carriers can no do not constitute a disguised form of scheduled longer participate in the fully liberalised EU aviation service’. Subject to approval from UK and EU market. In effect, the Chicago Convention of 1944 authorities, marketing and code sharing links are and its ‘five freedoms’ will shape air transport permitted between UK and EU carriers with full between the UK and the EU pro tem: this allows for applicable traffic rights. However, ticketing must be Crown copyright/UKCrown Govt

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Brexit arrived B T A.indd 14 21/01/2021 12:46 fully transparent and airlines should not exercise EU air passenger rights will continue to apply traffic rights outside of those permitted by the to flights operated from the UK to the EU by an EU agreement. There are no capacity constraints other airline, or to flights operated from the EU to the UK, than for operational reasons (pp 227-8). The likely whether operated by an EU or a UK airline. They will effect on future UK-EU fare costs and the viability not however apply to UK-operated flights from the of ‘thin’ routes now served only as point-to-point, UK UK to the EU. Presumably, these rights will now be return flights are uncertain. protected by UK consumer legislation. From 2022, UK citizens will need visas for long-term stays in the EU. Border checks will apply, passports will need to Ownership be stamped via non-EU citizen channels and EU pet The ownership criteria are defined as majority passports will no longer be valid for UK residents. ownership and ‘effectively controlled by’ member states of the EU (p 230). UK airlines seeking Airworthiness and licensing operating authorisation will have to be UK- controlled and UK shareholdings will no longer The UK is no longer a member of EASA and is count as EU interests in the ownership structure unable to shape future standards and regulations of EU airlines. However, a UK carrier shall still or general policy. The UK CAA will now be legally be granted operating permissions if it is majority- responsible for the certification of UK-generated owned by EU or European Economic Area, or Swiss aerospace equipment and components and the interest, as long as it already holds a valid operating licensing of engineers and other personnel. licence and is under UK regulatory control. A The potential effects on personnel licensing mixture of EU and UK shareholders can control UK are somewhat opaque: there may be a requirement carriers; this should avert wholesale divestment or for multiple licences, which would be costly. Other individual airlines having to be split off from owning engineering qualifications (excluding licences) groups. However, the Hungarian-licensed Wizz Air should be covered by existing international is taking steps to ‘disenfranchise’ UK shareholders conventions. to ensure that it remains within the EU ownership rules. Ryanair is taking similar steps to ensure Manufacturing compliance. EasyJet and IAG/BA, with either EU- registered subsidiaries or as part of a larger EU The agreement allows for non-tariff trade in goods company, claim that they are already in step with between the UK and the EU. This removes one of EU ownership rules and thus able to operate as EU the worst fears of UK aerospace manufacturing: carriers within the EU (subject to the ‘fifth freedom’ increased prices and disruption of supply chains. rules on flights to and from the UK). There remains the possibility of increased Both sides have agreed that further liberalisation overheads caused by any increase in paperwork of ownership rules could be mutually beneficial. The associated with the export of goods and equipment agreement specifies that ownership and control across the EU/UK border. There might be some issues will be subject to examination over the next issues related to foreign (ie non-EU and non- 12 months by the Specialist Committee on Air The UK will still be able UK components incorporated into UK made to participate in the EU’s Transport. Copernicus satellite equipment) suppliers but, given a 40% threshold, programme – albeit by this issue would seem to be an unlikely problem for aerospace. As long as any additional overheads are Security, ground handling, air traffic paying a fee. management and passenger rights “Ground handling contracts and airport slot allocation are subject to the general agreement covering ‘level playing fields’ affecting competition policy, environmental regulations and social issues” (pp 233-6). “Leasing of aircraft and crews is permitted under defined conditions (p 235). ATM user charges must be ‘reasonable and non-discriminatory’ and must reflect costs plus a ‘reasonable’ margin” (p 237). The UK and the EU will continue to co- operate on matters directly affecting the safety of operations including air traffic management and security. Each party to the agreement undertakes “to co-operate on aviation security matters to the highest extent” (p 240). This includes maintaining

specific co-operation agreements. ThalesAleniaSpace

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Brexit arrived B T A.indd 15 21/01/2021 12:46 AEROSPACE Brexit and UK aviation

limited, there should be, ceteris paribus, little threat to foreign investment in UK aerospace stemming from the new manufacturing trading relationship. Short-term visa-free business visits will be allowed for up to 90 days in a given six-month period. However, while this will allow meetings, conference attendance and research, other functions, including sales, may require the relevant national work visa. Secondees working in EU-based factories or other institutions will be subject to a three-year limit. Professional qualifications will no longer be automatically recognised. Both issues could cause long-term problems for the likes of Airbus and MBDA accustomed to an unconstrained flow of personnel between sites.

Research and development Airbus

The UK will be allowed to participate in the €100bn Horizon programme as a paying ‘guest’. This from EU sanctions, imposed in retaliation for US Wing assembly at Airbus’ will be some relief to UK researchers who were actions, following the WTO ruling against Airbus. Filton site. already being locked out of emerging research It is unclear whether legally the UK will remain partnerships and should bring continuity to existing outside of future cases (as Japanese state aid teams hoping to bid for future contracts. Over the does in respect of Boeing contracts) and entitled longer term, much will depend on maintaining links to support future civil projects using the repayable with successive EU programmes and launch aid formula or something similar. retaining the benefits of the leverage Conceivably, the UK using state aid that follows from collaborative activity, denied to EU states may, however, accessing a much larger budget than incur EU sanctions under the ‘level the UK could sustain alone. playing fields’ provision of the Brexit The UK will not have access agreement. to sensitive, high-security projects THE Similarly, while it has been or contracts, which will include the AGREEMENT suggested that the UK, for example, be expanding EU-funded defence R&D IS MERELY THE able to promote a more liberal drone programme. The UK may be able to regulatory regime, the UK has chosen join, on a government-to-government START OF AN to mirror wider European regulations. basis, European defence programmes EVEN MORE Divergence generally from EU but collaboration between the COMPLEX AND legislation and rules might in the future European FCAS and the UK Tempest be affected by the ‘level playing fields’ projects may, for example, depend on PROTRACTED provision and possibly subject to EU wider political issues. SET OF counter action. The UK will be able to participate NEGOTIATIONS Disputes and clarification of legal in the Copernicus programme, as well TO REFINE AND issues, such as airline ownership, will as satellite surveillance and tracking be resolved by reference to a joint (SST) services and, as a member, TO CLARIFY THE committee that will meet alternatively in ESA-funded programmes. Access DETAILS OF A London and Brussels. to Galileo high security services and LARGE RANGE manufacturing contracts remains OF HIGHLY Commentary closed. This may have consequences for UK airports that would like to TECHNICAL The agreement is far better than employ the EGNOS (European AND LEGAL no deal. However, its complexity Geostationary Navigation Overlay RELATIONSHIPS will ensure that implementation and Service) precision patch to enable clarification of details and interpretation GPS-facilitated approach. will be far from simple. In reality, the agreement is merely the start of an ever more Miscellaneous complex and protracted set of negotiations to refine and to clarify the details of a large range of highly Future UK association with the WTO civil aircraft technical and legal relationships. These are likely to subsidy dispute and any potential settlement is be subject to an equally diverse range of domestic unclear. HMG has already sought to distance itself and international political pressures and influences.

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Brexit arrived B T A.indd 16 21/01/2021 12:46 Time to secure time? Keeping time is a growing concern – and we all need to be alert to the risks to precision timekeeping – explains JAMES GRAY, Managing Director, Cyber & Intelligence, Raytheon UK. t is about time. Not a lot of people understand that one such tradesman could knock out a nearby it, or where it comes from. But time is a critical cash machine as he parks up his car. But the highest factor to the way the modern world operates. impact would be incalculable. The energy grid, banks, modern This threat is a growing risk and governments communication, our food supply chains and and authorities need to be aware of it. From the Iso many of the services that we all use every single A GOVERNMENT- disruption to our Critical National Infrastructure (CNI) day are all reliant on being able to accurately and BACKED STUDY and the way our country operates, we know this consistently tell the time in a way that reliably FROM LONDON dependence on time comes with vulnerabilities – yet, matches with other clocks all around the world. time is hidden and attacks may not be obvious to the As Professor Bryn James warned the Royal ECONOMICS eye until it is too late. Aeronautical Society’s ‘Extreme threats to the ESTIMATED UK’ conference: “Everybody who does anything in THAT SUSTAINED Atomic clocks Western civilisation is dependent on precision timing from space.” DISRUPTION A government-backed study from London Economics The way we have historically achieved this is TO EXISTING estimated that sustained disruption to existing through satellite timing systems, linked to GPS SATELLITE satellite navigation capabilities could cost the satellites. This means that the UK essentially NAVIGATION UK economy £1bn per day. However, the British takes its time from the US Naval Observatory in government is doing an excellent job of getting ahead Washington. CAPABILITIES of the game on these risks, establishing a National It has been an excellent system but it is not COULD Timing Centre with multiple atomic clocks scattered without problems. This reliance on space technology COST THE UK across the country. These systems are designed with generates vulnerabilities that we cannot control. From ECONOMY £1BN redundancies and multiple fail-safes to keep Britain the weather to space debris, these uncontrollable ticking, including a wide range of different methods to forces can disrupt the basic tools of civilisation. PER DAY secure reliable timing if satellite signal is disrupted. This is a landmark effort that shows tremendous Stopping time leadership and forethought and it is one that should be replicated globally as we seek to secure not just It is not just natural forces that have the power to our time but also safeguard the global economies disrupt time. It is not hard to search on the internet that are entirely reliant upon it. and find equipment designed to ‘spoof’ or disrupt Authorities around the world should be thinking GPS tracking and, in doing so, also disrupt the signals about what they can do to create similar resilience that dictate precision timing. This technology can be but businesses also have a part to play here. It is cheap and used by anyone, from organised criminals vital that all sectors understand their dependence on to the tradesman who simply does not want his An RAF ‘Type’ MK.IIIA undisrupted time and they are aware of where their Cockpit Clock. employer to constantly track his location. vulnerabilities may lie. These devices act to jam communication If you run a railway franchise, a radio station or a between satellites and local GPS equipment. The video streaming platform or indeed, anything reliant smallest devices can draw their power from the on electricity, you have a responsibility to make sure cigarette lighter in your car but their effects can your business recruits and trains staff to understand range as widely as hundreds of metres. The largest these vulnerabilities. are commonly deployed by military forces and can In all sectors, improving the resilience of our impact several hundreds of kilometres. entire economic system could depend on our Because that very same signal is used for ability to build on this knowledge and create the accurate timing and jamming, this has the potential contingency systems that keep the clocks working. to be catastrophic. At the lowest impact, that means After all, it’s about time.

FEBRUARY 2021 17

Precision Timing Security A.indd 2 21/01/2021 15:02 AEROSPACE The requirement for a European civil X-plane Airbus

Creative construction ALAIN GARCIA past VP AAE, HonFRAeS, membre Emerite 3AF, JURGEN KLENNER, VP AAE, Member of the DGLR Senate, and RAeS Past-President DAVID MARSHALL FRAeS, present the findings of a joint Académie de l’Air et de l’Espace study into the pressing need for a European civil airliner technology demonstrator.

ommercial transport aviation is having An original path for securing these hurdles to cope simultaneously with: is being proposed to Europe. It has been laid ● huge economic shortfalls in the out in a joint study prepared by members of the aviation industry and services Academy of Air and Space based in Toulouse operations resulting from the and the German Society for Aeronautics and C Covid-19 crisis Astronautics, the DGLR, in the AAE Opinion N°11- DGLR Opinion 2020-01. Combining smartly, the ● an absolute need to deliver much ‘greener’ aviation needs of selecting the radically new but matured to the market as soon as possible technological solutions for the ‘greener’ aircraft ● a global lack of financial resources to prepare on- to be put into service in 2035 with maintaining time development of the corresponding products the European aeronautical sector know-how, the Additionally, since the Airbus A350 was proposed solution that came naturally is to launch, launched in 2007, no entirely new aircraft has been very soon, a new architectural-technological launched in Europe and there exists a widespread ambitious flying demonstrator. A new paradigm for concern in the European aeronautical community Europe. as to the progressive loss of experience for the successful development of a brand new large civil What is missing for reaching the transport aircraft. This affects particularly the critical ambitious ‘decarbonisation’ goal? areas of architects and integrators. In a few years, in the absence of any demanding new programme It is a common understanding that very low launch, almost an entire generation of aeronautical emissions in aviation can only be approached by engineers in Europe will have had no chance of applying disruptive technologies to the airframe applying and sharpening their skills. and propulsion system. This objective is likely to

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Creative construction B A T.indd 1 21/01/2021 14:19 Airbus has flown significantly change the way this ‘green’ aircraft facts, aviation is sometimes considered to be a BWB techology is designed, and what it will look like compared to ‘conservative’ compared to other ‘avant-garde’ what we have seen up to now. businesses. sub-scale A holistic approach will be necessary, not However, this time the typical ‘conservative’ demonstrator in only continuing incremental developments to the approach will not result in the needed ‘step the form of its airframe design, featuring more advanced materials change’. So what is the solution? The only way Maveric – but if and improving the engine, but also challenging all the aviation industry can dare to make this development steps with an unprecedented level ‘step change’ is by maturing and validating new it were to decide of global integration. This could be the case for technologies thoroughly enough before applying/ on a hydrogen- applying advanced engine cycles including variable integrating them into a brand new aircraft that powered blended pitch blades, some appropriate level of electrical meets both market expectations and environmental hybridisation, optimised combustion processes, needs. In aviation, development programmes are wing airliner, will sophisticated gust and manoeuvre loads alleviation common in research activities that assess, further a larger piloted systems, changing over to a natural or hybrid mature and validate technologies. However, these X-plane be laminar flow design, entering a completely new are individual technologies that – especially needed? configuration featuring reduced flight mechanic if publicly supported – do not go beyond a stability and providing the necessary fuel volume technology readiness level of 6. Past experience for hydrogen fuel (if applicable), to name but a shows that the demonstration needs to go well few. Propulsion and engine/airframe integration beyond TRL 6 and new technologies have to be will of course play a major role. Only by applying tested and proven in an integrated manner in order breakthrough technologies, daring to deviate to mitigate the risks. from what we know and have achieved so far and These steps, up to the appropriate levels ‘thinking out of the box’, can an aircraft be created of progressive integration (eg engine-level that features very low emissions and meets the demonstrator, flight controls demonstrator, environmental goals set for the middle of this etc.) are necessary. But if a whole bunch of century. new technologies needs to be validated in an integrated way, in addition to partial conventional How can such a ‘revolutionary’ validations such as analyses or partial testbeds, aircraft be developed? the only solution will be a global flying technology demonstrator, which would raise the chances Safety is paramount in aviation. No aircraft for subsequent application in a new aircraft developer or operator can accept undue risks in programme meeting environmental needs, market order to achieve higher performance or greatly expectations and competitiveness goals, while reduced emissions. Risk assessment and risk mitigating risks. Concerning large civil transport mitigation are essential when developing a aircraft this has, so far, not been the approach of The BAC 221 was a sub-scale but piloted new aircraft. Thus, a technology for which the the aircraft manufacturers (neither in Europe nor in demonstrator to de-risk risk of failure is considered to be too high will the US). For Airbus, this would be a real paradigm Concorde’s wing. not be applied to a new product. Due to these change. RAeS/NAL

FEBRUARY 2021 19

Creative construction B A T.indd 2 21/01/2021 14:19 AEROSPACE The requirement for a European civil X-plane Airbus

Why an airborne technology The Airbus/Rolls-Royce requirements must define the technology demonstrator? E-Fan X hybrid-electric demonstrator in a top-down way – derived from technology demonstrator the requirements – in terms of configuration was cancelled in 2020 Partial flying and ground-based demonstrators before it even took flight. and technologies to be integrated. This includes can be sufficient for sets of technologies applied a roadmap setting the need date and required to one equipment (including the engine) but not maturity level for individual technologies and for for the significant step changes required for a each step of integration as well. It is then up to the ‘green’ aircraft, for which an unprecedented level major manufacturers, internally, but also the supply of integration is expected, whatever the still-to-be- chain members (including system suppliers) and made technological choices. If we want to achieve research establishments (RE), to work on these this in the envisaged timeframe, a flying technology technologies (up to the concept of pre-industrial demonstrator is a must, capable of integrating all modular demonstrators) within publicly supported essential, interacting technologies. research programmes and up to the engine A large enough ambition for the demonstrator manufacturers for integration first into the engine will therefore require the experience and know-how and then into the airframe. In addition bottom-up currently at risk and motivate the next generation of proposals of suitable technologies will come from young engineers demanding step-change solutions. REs, the supply chain, the systems companies Of course, it is up to the aircraft manufacturer and engine manufacturers – the latter will be very and its partners to define the demonstrator and important since propulsion will very likely contribute the technologies that will need to be incorporated, significantly to emissions reduction itself (hydrogen bearing in mind that the future product will have to use is a big challenge in particular) and optimal meet both market requirements and environmental integration into the airframe will be challenging but demands. However, in order to achieve maximum a key success factor. risk mitigation and the best chance of application, Concerning timely availability of the technology the technology demonstrator should be close demonstrators, the integrated in-flight demonstrator enough to this future product in terms of size, and their results, it will be mandatory to properly configuration and critical technologies (including the orchestrate the various technology development airframe/engine integration). activities of the different players, independently of the funding sources, whether Clean Sky, national How to define the technology or even regional research programmes, as long demonstrator as those activities are focused on stepwise demonstration and later application in a new large The definition of the flying technology demonstrator civil transport aircraft. An adequate management needs to combine a ‘top-down’ with a ‘bottom-up’ organisation needs to be set up. approach. The airframe and engine manufacturers With these properly managed approaches that need to meet both market and environmental on technology solutions demonstrators and

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Creative construction B A T.indd 3 21/01/2021 14:19 the integrated flying demonstrator, risks and Overall – and taking reasonable overlapping development timing will be reduced for both. into account – the airborne technology At the airframe side the definition phase of demonstrator programme will take between eight the demonstrator will mainly draw on architectural to ten years. and integration skills, whereas in the demonstrator Whereas the technology development development phase the complete spectrum THIS research programmes can be funded in the usual of engineering skills, be it non-specific and PROGRAMME way, considering the difficult financial situation specific design work (at the aircraft and engine – WITH THE due to the coronavirus crisis, the airframer, manufacturers, the supply chain, REs and NECESSARY engine manufacturers, systems manufacturers universities) will be needed. and the involved suppliers will not be capable of No less important is the need for a ‘living’ STEPS – financing the activities at the above mentioned research network driven by the requirement to NEEDS TO BE level in the indicated timescale. Consequently, elaborate concrete applications with the necessary LAUNCHED the flying technology demonstrator will require pressure from industry. Academics have a big special public funding that has to go well beyond role to play, particularly in establishing/validating SHORTLY the usual 50% public funding rate, spread over radical new solutions as yet unknown. Theoretical IN ORDER its lifetime. studies at academic level with subsequent TO DELIVER studies and testing at the level of the research RESULTS BY Why start now? establishments (such as the DLR in Germany, INTA in Spain, ONERA in France and ATI in UK). THE END OF The EU is committed to reaching the ambitious The academics’ role is broad: from educational THE PRESENT goal of significant emissions reduction in aviation aspects to solution finding. Their survival at the top DECADE by the middle of this century. In order to achieve world level depends on regularly launching new that goal, the entry into service (EIS) of a first challenging programmes, essentially in Europe. ‘green’ aircraft has to be in the 2030s. For that, the development of such an aircraft needs to start in Costs, timeframe and financing of a the late 2020s. Taking the total programme time of flying technology demonstrator eight to ten years for the demonstrator programme into account, this programme – with the necessary There will be two cost elements of a flying steps – needs to be launched shortly in order to technology demonstrator: The demonstrator itself deliver results by the end of the present decade. (developing, building and flying/testing, analysis Thus no time should be lost in order to meet the of results) and the development and validation 2050 target. of sets of technologies that will be integrated in Whereas the development of technologies the demonstrator – provided they are suitable for is quite well under way, it is mainly the four integration and matured enough to ensure reliable Airbus nations – France, Germany, Spain and and safe operations of the demonstrator. the UK – that will have to initiate the principle Depending on the size and the closeness of complementary and timely investment in to future product configuration, the flying order to finance the required flying technology demonstrator will be at a cost level of €4-5bn demonstrator (similarly to what is done in (including the definition phase), and will take the US). On the basis of a total cost of €5bn, six to eight years to be developed and tested. the yearly contribution, over eight years, for a The pre-definition phase at the start of the partner assuming a share of 35% (eg France or programme, resulting in a suitable configuration Germany) would be of €220m and of €125m for of the demonstrator and a ‘top-down’ established a share of 20% (eg for the UK). list of required technologies, will take some two This investment will be beneficial not just for years. Overlapping with the pre-definition phase Airbus but also for the engine manufacturers, the and continuing over another three to four years, entire supply chain including systems companies, the detail technologies will be developed and as well as research establishments, universities validated already with some level of integration and associated testing facilities contributing to the (eg engine) (up to TRL 6) in the course of various demonstrator. research programmes (Clean Sky 3/Clean By doing so, Europe will prepare the ground for Aviation, national research programmes such as green aviation while preserving its know-how for LuFo in Germany, CORAC in France and ATI in commercial transport aircraft development, thus the UK) and even regional research programmes), maintaining its global leadership. as long as they are on the short list of the At this stage the article authors want to demonstrator programme and aiming at a ‘green’ stress the point that the UK contribution is being or ‘climate neutral’ commercial transport aircraft. assumed as a natural follow-on from its past Additional funding has to be ensured within these historical major role in the European aeronautical programmes if not all needed technologies are sector. No one should miss such an opportunity covered. without inducing major risks for its future.

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Creative construction B A T.indd 4 21/01/2021 14:19 AEROSPACE US President and China

Can President Biden reset relations with China? With the change of leadership in the US, RICHARD ABOULAFIA FRAeS considers one of the biggest policy challenges waiting in President Joe Biden’s inbox.

n December, the Trump administration AVIC products and no clarity has been provided on announced that it would create a new ‘military this by the agencies responsible for the list. end user’ list impacting trade with over 100 Since the new list was announced by the Chinese and Russian companies and entities. Department of Commerce in the last few weeks of For the aviation industry, the upshot is that the the Trump presidency, it could be reversed by the Inew list could make all of the technology transfer Biden administration, which will need to deal with this and sourcing arrangements between Chinese list as a high-priority problem either way. Since both airframers and Western companies impossible, or at candidates campaigned on a promise to be ‘tough least extremely difficult. Thus, all of China’s aircraft on China,’ revoking the new list might be politically programmes, as currently configured, might be over. difficult. This move happened surprisingly late in the Trump presidency. His administration’s approach towards Closing shop trade with China had been aggressive and deliberately aimed at destroying the existing status quo. Like a lot From a Chinese perspective, the US move reveals of other Trump-era trade rules, it came with a host of some difficult truths about the country’s aviation possible loopholes, uncertainties and a general lack strategy. China’s priority has been creating national of clarity. aircraft, with all the necessary engines, avionics, For example, the Commercial Aircraft Corporation systems and other technologies all imported. These of China (COMAC) is not on the list but all the imports are accompanied by extensive technology Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC) transfer schemes but the scale of replicating an entire companies are, and AVIC is a key owner of COMAC. aviation supply chain in-country would seem beyond COMAC’s products are effectively (but not definitely) any country’s reach. No country has achieved this

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Biden China reset B A T.indd 1 21/01/2021 14:45 David Lienemann level of self-sufficiency, with the possible exception of for aviation technology, to the extent that this is the old Soviet Union. possible. As for China’s aerospace industry strategy, To put it another way, building a tube and wings national aircraft development would continue but the with a national flag on the back is easy. Building real emphasis would be on joining the global aviation the guts to make an aeroplane work, and to make it supply chain, emulating Japan’s supplier-focused competitive and productive, is far harder and far more approach. expensive. This supply chain replication 2. Chinese strategic patience. Here, challenge has much in common China would agree to a few with China’s semiconductor creation concessions – perhaps a well- initiatives, which appear to be failing too. orchestrated purchase of Boeing From a US perspective, however, jets, and a promise of greater this list, and the trade strategy behind intellectual property respect – in it, does have some appeal. For years, WHILE THE exchange for removing China’s the PRC viewed Western aerospace AVIATION aviation companies from the ‘military industries as a source of technology, end user’ list. In the long run, to be obtained legally and illicitly. TRADE BALANCE China would bolster its indigenous In addition to technology transfer BETWEEN THE US capabilities, continuing both its demands, China’s government and AND CHINA WAS national aircraft programmes and industry have demonstrated a lack STRONGLY IN also its systems and component of respect for intellectual property technologies. It would take a long rights and have also been accused THE US’ FAVOUR, view, preparing for a decoupled of extensive cybertheft of aerospace AVIATION WAS future where China’s industry could technology too. REALLY THE meet domestic market needs with Above: Then Vice President While the aviation trade balance Joe Biden salutes as he ONLY MAJOR autarkic products. between the US and China was approaches Marine Two, MANUFACTURING 3. Aggressive decoupling, with a shift with Air Force Two in the strongly in the US’ favour, aviation was background, after landing really the only major manufacturing INDUSTRY WHERE towards Russia. In this scenario, at Joint Base Andrews in industry where this was true and THIS WAS TRUE the PRC would react to the US 2012. with its new platforms, China was move by announcing the effective Below: Western suppliers even trying to remove this advantage, end of China-Western aviation on China’s Xian MA700 effectively making trade relations less co-operation. The country would regional turboprop include appealing from a US perspective. embark on a crash programme to Collins Aerospace, Dowty create indigenous substitutes for the Western Propellers, Pratt & Whitney So, for the US at least, the new strategy gives Canada, Thales, Meggitt, the US a degree of agency with regard to aviation. equipment on the ARJ21, C919 and the future Honeywell, Eaton and Western aerospace is no longer just the designated CR929. Co-operation with Russian industry would Parker Hannifin. hostage in any trade stand-off with the West, as help to accelerate this process, albeit at the one former chief executive put it. The new list tells price of tying China’s aviation future to a much the Chinese government that now, China too has less competitive level of commercial technology. something to lose. Its cherished national platforms Purchases and financing of Western jets by Chinese will be completely useless without these imported institutions would be kept to a minimum, even technologies, and will remain useless for at least if national aviation market growth slowed as a another decade until China can create substitutes consequence. (assuming that it can). While this third option might seem drastic, the Collins Aerospace Collins possibility should be seen in a broader context. The Trade or no trade? PRC, over the past few years, has engaged in a counterproductive shift away from the private sector If the Biden administration does indeed continue and global trade and towards a government-managed Trump’s initiative to stop any kind of aviation economy emphasising state-owned enterprises. In technology trade, there are three possible outcomes recent months, this trend has grown to embrace a to this situation: vilification of China’s own successful tech companies. The path China takes may not be clear for 1. US victory. In this rather happy, if unlikely, scenario, months, or years, and the three possibilities might not the PRC admits that its aviation industry strategy be exclusive. They will also not be immutable. has been flawed. They resume sourcing jets from The Biden administration’s approach might not the West and even agree to respect the World Trade be clear for months either. Hopefully, Biden’s team Organization Agreement on Trade In Civil Aircraft, will recognise that the US’s go-it-alone approach which forbids government-mandated purchases to confronting China in aerospace, in general trade of national aircraft. Most importantly, they agree to issues and even geopolitically, was terminally flawed. respect intellectual property rights and to maintain By working with allied countries, the US has the best strict firewalls between civil and military applications chance of achieving a positive outcome.

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Biden China reset B A T.indd 2 21/01/2021 14:45 GENERAL AVIATION Airbus H145 Airbus Helicopters

High Five, H145 PAUL EDEN reports on how Airbus Helicopters has re-engineered its popular H145 helicopter with a new five-bladed main rotor – with the Norwegian Air Ambulance to trial it as a one-of-a-kind HEMS air ambulance testbed.

anufacturers inevitably sing the socially-distanced briefing from Airbus Helicopters praises of their latest aircraft Marketing Manager Ralf Nicolai, visiting from the developments. However, they are OEM’s Donauwörth headquarters in Bavaria. typically less keen to demonstrate their marketing bullet points. Airbus D-3 introduced MHelicopters is not only proud of the latest five-blade variant of its H145 light twin but was also happy With an extensive background in technical and to show the machine off to a handful of journalists operational support, Nicolai delivered a detailed, at a carefully conducted demonstration event in expert presentation on the aircraft. First, he tackled October. It provided a rare opportunity to match the its designation. Check the Airbus website and experience with the marketing. you will see no difference in designation between Airbus had flown the first five-bladed H145, four- and five-bladed H145s and Nicolai described D-HADW, to the UK’s London Oxford Airport for ‘H145’ as a title primarily for marketing purposes. a series of demonstration flights, most of them for “We’ve nicknamed the new version ‘High potential customers, including HEMS operators Five’ but I prefer the technical terminology to and medical staff. While the helicopter was busy differentiate between the models. According to flying, the 20 October press event began with a its type certificate, the four-bladed aircraft is the

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High Five H145 A B.indd 24 21/01/2021 14:47 BK117D-2, while the five-bladed aircraft is the hours, a figure of little obvious significance until BK117D-3.” He stuck to this precise convention Nicolai explained that the 1,400-strong H135 fleet for the remainder of the presentation and it makes flew 375,000 hours over a similar period. Clearly, sense to do so here. H145 utilisation is high and the aircraft work hard. The first flying prototype of the BO 105 light With 4,400hr behind it by 31 August 2020, the helicopter completed its maiden sortie in 1967, high-time H145 is a UK-based, ex-HEMS airframe. introducing the world to a pioneering hingeless Until the third quarter of 2021, D-2 and D-3 rotor system designed by Ludwig Bölkow. That helicopters will continue down the Donauwörth system became synonymous, not only with the production line, at which point the final D-2, serial legendary BO 105 but also the BK117, EC145 20360, will mark the end of the four-bladed H145; and H145 that followed. Now, Airbus Helicopters Nicolai expects to see the aircraft completed in has taken the next evolutionary step. September or October. He anticipates delivery of a “We’ve eliminated the rotor head,” Nicolai said, further seven D-3s in 2020, with between six and “and installed five blades directly onto the rotor eight machines handed over per month thereafter mast. On this size of helicopter, the rotor head from a production rate of around 80 helicopters typically adds between 700 and 1,200 parts. The per year. D-3 has less than 100 parts, which means 56kg Considering that more than 300 D-2s had less weight, reduced maintenance and lower cost.” been delivered by 2019, five years after the The result is a 150kg increase in the H145’s type’s introduction, the D-3’s achievement of 115 useful load and improved passenger comfort contracted orders by mid-October 2020 is quite thanks to a smooth ride. remarkable. It also means that a customer ordering “The rotor is still rigid but contains no oil or a D-3 in December 2020 is likely to have to wait grease. A composite flex control unit inside each until spring 2022 for delivery. blade controls blade movement, with lead and Or perhaps not, or at least not entirely. Airbus is lag dampers installed externally. The result looks also offering a D-3 retrofit for the D-2, a prospect similar to the H135 blade but we’ve included a that has already tempted operators into placing break point where two bolts connect the inner more than 80 orders. and outer blade. It simplifies our production The initial retrofit installation, for Rega, Swiss process and reduces maintenance costs. When Air-Rescue, began at Donauwörth late in October. a rotor blade is damaged, it’s normally the outer, However, parts are sold as a kit and any approved aerodynamic section that is involved and now this Part 145 maintenance organisation will be able can be detached and replaced without affecting to complete the work in future. “We’re doing the the whole blade. All blades are interchangeable retrofit together with Rega’s technicians,” Nicolai and manufactured to a weight tolerance of +/– 1g, said, “in order to verify its content and ensure our based on a so-called ‘master blade’.” service bulletin (the document that accompanies Aside from changes to the tailplane and the upgrade) is fully accurate. Essentially, we’re forward cross tube for the skid undercarriage to refining the process with our first customer.” accommodate the new rotor’s vibration frequency, Ultimately, the upgrade is expected to take 250 the rotor itself is the primary engineering change man hours if completed as part of an 800hr between D-2 and D-3. Otherwise, a small inspection. software revision smoothly incorporates the D-3’s Launching the new model and D-3 upgrade performance characteristics into the Helionix while still building the D-2 might have been a cockpit avionics that are common with the D-2, challenge at the best of times. However, with although the D-3 also introduces an entirely new Covid-19 impacting operators and suppliers, connectivity capability. and Airbus Helicopters’ staff, Nicolai admitted: The wireless airborne communication system “The orders are very positive but providing all (wACS) enables Helionix to communicate the components we need for production and the wirelessly with a server while the helicopter is on retrofit kits in the current situation is stressing our the ground and via LTE when it is in the air. The logistics system.” Nonetheless, Airbus Helicopters process enables transfer of key data between announced delivery of the first production D-3 on helicopter and server, as well as communication 30 September 2020. Given the H145’s HEMS and data handling between Helionix and cockpit legacy, it is fitting that the airframe went to the devices, including iPads containing navigation, Norwegian Air Ambulance Foundation (see panel weather or mission data. LTE internet connectivity on p 26) is also available to cockpit and cabin devices. Proven capability D-3 delivered The H145 is classed as a light twin-engined Some 326 D-2s have been delivered. In 2019, the helicopter. However ‘light’ should not be confused operational H145 fleet accumulated 85,800 flying with limited. The cabin comfortably seats eight

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High Five H145 A B.indd 25 21/01/2021 14:47 GENERAL AVIATION Airbus H145

passengers behind the one- or two-pilot crew, “Empty weight is 1.9 tonnes, which means we’ve or as many as ten in high-density configuration. achieved a 1:1 ratio between empty weight and However, the H145 is the tool of choice for special useful load. I think it may be the only helicopter missions – Nicolai likened it to a Swiss Army knife on the market with that ratio. It comes through – and regularly flies with heavy role equipment the use of technology and lightweight materials, rather than a cabin full of passengers. Useful load including composites and carbon fibre. Essentially, is therefore more relevant to many of its real world you can load in as much fuel, equipment and as operators. many passengers as the aircraft weighs.” “The BK117D-3 is a 3.8-tonne machine at Main rotor diameter is reduced by 0.2m with maximum take-off weight,” Nicolai highlighted. the five-bladed unit, a saving Nicolai termed

Norwegian Air Ambulance Foundation HEMS testbed

On 30 September 2020, Airbus Helicopters announced the – it is awaiting EASA paperwork for the medical interior – and it’ll delivery of the first customer D-3 to the Stiftelsen Norsk be exciting to get out and fly it properly.” Luftambulanse (Norwegian Air Ambulance Foundation). A The medical fit is currently similar to that already established subsidiary of the Foundation, Norsk Luftambulanse (Norwegian in service, avoiding the need to certify new equipment. Later, it Air Ambulance) provides HEMS to the Luftambulansetjenesten, will take on the test mission. “We’re already looking at transferring Norway’s national air ambulance service, and to Denmark. The the human-machine interface and ergonomics that pilots have D-3 will remain with the Foundation as a trials platform, a role become accustomed to in modern cockpits into the back, where HEMS pilot and Head of Flight Operations Development, Erik the information the medical team needs is on screens all over the Normann, believes is unique. place. It is true of all HEMS helicopters and we want to clean that “We have a large fleet of D-2s, so we knew what we were up with a little bit of aviation philosophy; away off in the future, the getting with the D-3,” Normann says. “The H145 is like a doctor may have a helmet display showing all the information.” helicopter SUV, flexible and relatively small, but with a large The Foundation has already caused much excitement and cabin. If you need to land in tight spots, with range and payload, discussion with its plan to install a head-only CAT scanner. it provides a good compromise. The Helionix cockpit is also very “People think it’s crazy because these things are maybe 400 flexible, really easy to use on a simple, short-range VFR flight but or 500kg and located in hospitals but we know there are real as advanced as any modern airliner cockpit for IFR in marginal benefits if we can move stroke treatment from hospitals out to conditions. The autopilot is fantastic too.” the patient. It’s been done experimentally with land ambulances “The D-3 solved the operational challenges we faced with and there will be even more benefit to using a helicopter but there the D-2, which made it our ideal research platform. The aircraft’s are technical challenges to that and we’re working on them. Our greater payload was important but its improved ride quality was plan is to show the D-3, with a CAT scanner installed as a working especially appealing. We’ve so far only flown the aircraft home prototype, at Airmed 2022 in Salzburg.” Norweigian Air Ambulance Norweigian Airbus Helicopters

The Foundation has already caused much discussion and interest with its The Norwegian Air Ambulance Foundation took delivery of the first plan to install a cranial CAT scanner to give on-site assessments of trauma customer BK117D-3 at the end of September 2020. Its Norsk patients. Luftambulanse subsidiary began operations using a BO 105 in 1978 and has remained faithful to the products of what became Airbus Helicopters ever since, although its current roster also includes the Leonardo AW139.

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High Five H145 A B.indd 26 21/01/2021 14:47 Airbus Helicopters 27 21/01/2021 14:4721/01/2021 14:47 FEBRUARY 2021 Aside from the two cockpit seats and pair seats and pair Aside from the two cockpit is usual for donned headsets, which We pilot Hover taxiing us away from the ramp, our of turbulence in the air around Oxford Pockets The result is a high seating position that combines that combines result is a high seating position The view through the huge cabin with an exceptional window. of passenger seats bolted to the cabin floor, D-HADW was relatively austere inside, as befits of fittings lack its trials and demonstrator role. The though allowed a real appreciation of its capacity – think and the empty cabin is surprisingly large good-sized van – and usefully shaped. excellent helicopter travel, allowing the pilot’s commentary and description of the helicopter’s out systems to be heard, as well as shutting an ear soon after take-off aircraft noise. I exposed to better judge cabin noise levels and, considering there was no sound insulation in the semi-finished cabin, found them surprisingly low. ready to established the helicopter in a low hover, ability to deliver training demonstrate Helionix’s created modes. A simulated single-engine failure no drama at all, just a slight dip towards the power ‘failed’ engine before the aircraft adjusted an automatic automatically and recovered. Later, initiated descent into another very low-level hover, when we were already some distance out from the as airfield, also impressed, although not as much the power demonstrated as we climbed out in a simulated helipad take-off profile. made the flight a little bumpy at times. Besides Your author that, the flight was remarkably smooth. but understands has no previous H145 experience that HEMS have been impressed. veterans Someone unfamiliar with helicopter flying would definitely notice the vibration; I found it comparable to the ACH130 Aston Martin Edition, although not a luxurious single-engined machine, as smooth as the Sikorsky S-76D. is not an That entirely just comparison though, since the US type boasts a highly capable vibration suppression system, while the D-3 has none at all. Indeed, the removed as vibration suppression system is D-2’s part of the D-3 makes its smooth which retrofit, ride all the more impressive. Light though it may be, on walking up to it, the Light though it may be, on walking up to it, the When it comes to performance, in the urban it comes to performance, in the urban When As the D-3 it will commonly do enters service, Less obviously, the five blades of the D-3 may obviously, Less Five star experience Ralf Nicolai said that, for him, the biggest take- the D-3away from experiencing in flight is the to fly the chance smoothness of the ride. Offering in the demonstrator aircraft, Airbus provided the opportunity to test his claim. H145 does not seem like a small helicopter at all. requires a reasonable reach Climbing into the back up onto the skid step and then on into the cabin. be folded to an ‘all-back’ position, reducing overall position, reducing overall be folded to an ‘all-back’ length compared to the D-2, where two blades H145 is popular with fold forward and two aft. The owners and the D-3superyacht is more easily better housed in the small hangar spaces of the equipped vessels. environment or in the field, the H145 has always impressed, especially under hot-and- a high conditions. Airbus proved the point with recent trip to Aconcagua, landing the D-3 on the that while mountain at 22,840ft. Nicolai explained feat the it was a first for a light-twin helicopter, He said, “Here in reach. was also within the D-2’s the UK, even loaded to 3.8 tonnes, the aircraft will do a Cat A vertical take-off with no problems.” D-2s.so alongside existing Operating variants of in terms of the same type can generate headaches training and spares in tools, technician differences Nicolai confirmed: “Except for holding. However, no payload, there’s the rotor system and extra almost aircraft are technically The difference. identical, with the same maintenance schedules and requirements.” ‘negligible’ compared to the D-2‘negligible’ compared landing for pilots a D-3 in a confined space. Otherwise, the aircraft is towards the large end of the HEMS scale, of yet sufficiently compact to make it a machine ability to land in a city centre pocket The choice. park, parking lot or even on a traffic roundabout is especially prized for crews delivering critical healthcare. High Five H145 A B.indd 27High Five H145 A B.indd 27 AEROSPACE Sustainable aviation ZeroAvia

Tearing up the rule book The formation of Britain’s Jet Zero Council and the start of the government-backed FlyZero programme is making sustainable aviation a major focus for the UK. IAN RISK, Chief Technology Officer at CFMS, explains why, to meet these ambitious ‘zero-carbon’ goals, industry needs to tear up its current rule book.

020 was an extremely testing year for the we do not currently have the necessary skills and ZeroAvia’s hydrogen- aerospace industry with challenges on capabilities? powered six-seater Piper almost all fronts. Looking forward, there Calling for more funding and investment in M-class aircraft. is now no such thing as ‘business as skills and capabilities can be challenging, yet that usual’ and we are all having to do things is what industry needs. Massive technological 2differently to adapt to the ‘new normal’. disruptions are happening in the race for net zero Farnborough 2020 was a good example. in every key industrial sector. New computational Despite not physically taking place, the great and methods and tools are needed to develop this new the good from the industry still got the chance to generation of products. In short, current technology come together virtually via the FIA Connect online alone cannot deliver what is required – so industry event to discuss and debate the big issues. must think differently. With the event following hot on the heels of the government’s announcement about the Connecting ideas on fuel formation of the Jet Zero Council, sustainable aviation was one of the major talking points Back at FIA Connect, there was plenty of during the FIA Connect webinars. How should the discussion around fuel types and broad agreement industry meet the challenge of making net-zero that synthetic aviation fuel is the only current aircraft a reality and how can we deliver when option for long-haul, especially when you consider

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Tearing up the rulebook A B T.indd 28 21/01/2021 12:44 29 21/01/2021 12:4421/01/2021 12:44 FEBRUARY 2021 By doing things differently the project has the project has By doing things differently With many other industries having already having already many other industries With creation of this new community is an The Of course, the real test will come at the end A platform for the future As the sponsors of the project, the UK government is to be applauded for instigating an will not only address one of the initiative which biggest long-term issues facing aerospace but way of working a different also for kick-starting new resource pool created The for the industry. by FlyZero will be able to access knowledge from giving those who work on the across the sector, project more capability and collective power than any other industry community that has been put together before. created a new model for aerospace collaboration be incredibly powerful and could which transformative at a time when the industry needs to adapt the most. made public commitments to net-zero targets, to net-zero targets, made public commitments that UKFlyZero clearly demonstrates aerospace FlyZero does not want to get left behind. However, is more than an important milestone on the journey to zero-carbon flight. It also represents In the past, the a new departure for the industry. have commercial barriers between businesses cautious meant organisations have been naturally about information, so pan-industry co- sharing operation on this scale has simply not happened ventures. without the formation of large-scale joint bringing FlyZero will break down those barriers by from the industry as together around 100 experts secondees to the project. encouraging sign for the future of the industry. It tears up the rule book of how aerospace new businesses work together and provides a will really model for co-operative working which world- leverage the skills and capabilities of our leading aerospace industry. who of the programme when all those people return to their day have been seconded to the ATI them jobs. My hope is that they will bring with made the networks and connections they have through FlyZero and seed new ways of working within their organisations.

EAG The Aerospace Technology Institute (ATI) is is Institute (ATI) Aerospace Technology The programme will pull together expertise from across from across programme will pull together expertise the UK and universities in an chain industry supply initial 12-month programme to look at the design and market the opportunity of zero- challenges emission aircraft concepts. FlyZero programme and FlyZero aims to determine the technical commercial viability of a future zero-carbon at CFMS emission aircraft design. We, are looking forward to supporting the project and can best demonstrating how digital technology be used to model and simulate design options help move the industry forward in a can which sustainable manner. leading the way here, with its Government-backed leading the way here, with its Government-backed to help FlyZero programme – an ambitious project UK aerospace develop a zero-carbon emission the over the summer, aircraft by 2030. Launched the size and costs of adapting existing fleets. fleets. adapting existing the size and costs of design perspective, from an engineering However, for hydrogen or electric- it is the opportunities powered flight in the short-haul and regional are particularly exciting. market which To realise green concepts, To as the Electric such HERA Group’s Aviation (Hybrid-Electric Regional Aircraft), is a more radical needed? approach Tearing up the rulebook A B T.indd 29Tearing up the rulebook A B T.indd 29 AIR TRANSPORT RAeS Climate Change Conference

Climate control Despite coronavirus wreaking havoc on the air transport industry in 2020, the drive to shift to a zero-carbon future has only accelerated. BILL READ FRAeS and ROGER WILTSHIRE FRAeS from the RAeS Greener By Design Group provide an overview of the Society’s first Climate Change conference held online in November.

n 3-4 November 2020 the RAeS the first major economy to set a 2050 ‘net-zero’ hosted its first annual Climate Change commitment and, as air travel returns, the industry Conference. Speakers included must also deliver reduced emissions. representatives of government, industry, regulators and financiers Aiming for Jetzero Oand featured four panel discussions with airline CEOs, airports, OEM companies and fuel Bria The UK government recently established n Pe ar ce , suppliers. This virtual, online, event was IA the Jet Zero’ Council to co-ordinate the T A , C chaired by Geoff Maynard, Chair of the h UK’s capability. The vision is for a new i e f

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‘Recovery Strategy with Climate Gain’, A crisis with a goal to demonstrate zero- ) recognised that the industry is facing its carbon flight across the Atlantic in the greatest-ever crisis during the Covid-19 next ten years. pandemic but also that it needs to address The UK needs to be part of the £4tn the longer-term climate crisis. global future aircraft market by 2050 and Shapps Geoff Maynard introduced the first day’s opening listed the significant recent investments in research speaker, the Rt Hon Grant Shapps MP – Secretary of and development made by government and industry. State for Transport, who gave a pre-recorded address. A strong sustainable aviation fuels (SAF) production He drew parallels between the current Covid-19 capability could also contribute £0.7-1.6bn to the UK situation and WWII, both national and international economy by 2040, maybe 11,000 ‘green jobs’. crises. The Covid-19 crisis represents an opportunity The Secretary of State stated the government’s for a similar change of direction for the UK aviation priority is to tackle Covid-19 and get aviation going industry as that prompted by the war. The UK was again. The aviation recovery plan will support the

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Climate Change Conference A TR.indd 1 21/01/2021 12:38 sector and maintain the skills required A parallel process is ICAO’s to permit its future growth in the UK. long-term global aspirational goal Meanwhile, Brian Pearce, IATA’s (LTAG) involving 600 scientists and Chief Economist, described the specialists. It is currently reviewing Covid-19 crisis as “the greatest shock the environmental data and scientific to the aviation sector since WW2”, with COVID-19 CRISIS developments to support the 2022 passenger demand down to a third PROVIDES AN CAEP meeting and 41st ICAO of 2019 levels. A limited recovery is OPPORTUNITY TO assembly. The process looks at underway but it will be much slower SHIFT AVIATION’S improvement within the aviation than after previous crises. sector, plus the capabilities of others, FOCUS ON TO eg energy generation sector, and He reported that industry CO2 emissions in 2020 could be half ENVIRONMENTAL takes account of the government’s those in 2019 when it reached about TECHNOLOGY emissions commitments. Hupe 900m tonnes. Future CO emissions described the road ahead as “a flying 2 IN A WORLD per revenue tonne-kilometre (RTK) future but a sustainable flying future”. will benefit from the early retirement WHERE FUNDING of older, less efficient aircraft types FOCUSES ON UK Carbon Road Map with a low double-digit improvement INNOVATION expected this year compared with the Following the break, Adam Morton, normal 2-3%. DELIVERING Chair of Sustainable Aviation (SA), Clean fuels, eg sustainable aviation ENVIRONMENTAL the environmental coalition formed in fuels (SAFs) and electrification, are the BENEFITS 2005 covering 90% of the broader long-term solution. The introduction of UK aviation industry, explained how SAFs, in particular, is potentially easy to Jane Hupe SA believes the net-zero target can incentivise. Deputy Director – be achieved for UK aviation. Morton Despite global government focused on SA’s latest Carbon

providing about $160bn of strategic aid, Environment, Road Map, published Adam Mo rt on airlines are still ‘burning through their in February 2020. . ICAO C h a cash reserves’ and this raises serious He explained ir , S

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ever ICAO CAEP CO2 standards for aircraft and the CORSIA market-based offsetting scheme are two examples. There has also been progress on SAF with over 200,000 commercial flights using ‘drop-in’ SAF. CORSIA’s pilot phase starts in January 2021 with 88 states participating. Each batch of SAF requires

certification to determine the CO2 saving attributable within the CORSIA system.

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Climate Change Conference A TR.indd 2 21/01/2021 12:38 AIR TRANSPORT RAeS Climate Change Conference Heathrow

the CCC later in the year where we hope to see Hydrogen is versatile and has a lot of potential. It much less difference of opinion on how aviation can could, for example, power the many vehicles used meet the net-zero target.” to load and unload cargo aircraft at East Midlands SAF is seen as an important part of this Airport.

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32 AEROSPACE

Climate Change Conference A TR.indd 3 21/01/2021 12:38 Airline chiefs spell out their message to Greta

The first panel discussion, which was chaired by Michael Gill, Executive Director of the Air Transport Action Group, looked at airline strategies towards the achievement of net-zero emissions. Gill explained how the whole airline industry is already

committed to reduce CO2 emissions to 50% of 2005 levels (a target of 325m tonnes) and that this would be a tough target to meet. However, the airlines are not short of ambition. As the new CEO of British Airways, Sean Doyle, reminded delegates: “We, BA, are part of the first airline group to commit to net-zero emissions by 2050 in October 2019”. BA is focusing on newer more fuel-efficient aircraft but Doyle also stressed the need for a portfolio of solutions. Since over 70% of aircraft carbon emissions come from medium and long-haul flights, one short-term priority asw the development of SAF to replace fossil fuel-derived Jet A1. Johan Lundgren, CEO of easyJet said that the feedback from passengers emphasised the need to tackle the environmental issue. “We need a whole range of technologies to solve the problem,” he said. “easyJet is committed to carbon offsets and, as a short-haul airline, we’re excited about the prospects offered by hydrogen and electric aircraft.” Rob Gurney, CEO of Oneworld Alliance, agreed that the issue of tackling climate change remained a priority. “We are happy to be the first airline alliance to commit to net-zero emissions by 2050 in September this year,” he said. “The Covid crisis has reinforced that commitment.” Each speaker was asked what message they had for environmental activist Greta Thunberg and the flygskam (flight shaming) movement. “We’re taking this very seriously,” responded Doyle. “Aviation has been the first sector to create a global framework and to commit to achieving the regulatory targets by 2050. Our commitment to the environment is genuine and sincere.” He added: “We want to continue providing the benefits of aviation but in a way that is sustainable.” Johan Lundgren also stressed the social and economic benefits offered by air travel. The industry can adapt and change and also help combat inequality by maintaining people’s ability to travel. “It’s up to our industry, with the regulators and other stakeholders, to ensure that we have less impact on the environment.” “I am very glad that Greta has stood up to raise awareness of climate change,” said Rob Gurney. “However, we shouldn’t just focus on the awareness but also on encouraging those areas where the airline industry has made commitments and where work is being done to improve sustainability.”

Greener but also more profitable? importance to investors of environmental, social and corporate governance (ESG). The following quote The second day started with a keynote presentation from his presentation summarises the BlackRock from Chris Stark, CEO of the Committee on Climate view: “Our investment conviction is that sustainability Change (CCC), which advises government on and climate-integrated portfolios can provide better climate change matters. He focused on its next risk-adjusted returns to investors. With the impact of report to government due in early December, which sustainability on investment returns increasing, we is likely to include the following recommendations: believe that sustainable investing is the strongest international aviation and shipping within UK climate foundation for client portfolios going forward”. targets, supporting further R&D and deployment Sustainability has transformed investing over the of new aircraft technology and sustainable aviation past 10 years and returns on green equity were fuel and managing demand and airport capacity as a outperforming market-wide benchmarks. backstop if efficiency gains plus sustainable aviation Dr Simon Weeks, Chief Technology Officer, fuels and greenhouse gas removal under-deliver. Aerospace Technology Institute (ATI), gave a The report will cover the UK’s 6th Carbon Budget presentation entitled ‘Setting the Ambition for in the mid-2030s, a key milestone on the way to Sustainable Air Transport Technology’. He described 2050. Stark warned that a steeper decline in UK emissions is needed if we are to achieve net zero. how the ATI is helping to progress technologies that Nevertheless, he was confident that there would improve aerodynamic efficiency. be sufficient green energy available to meet the He discussed future propulsion systems and demand by 2050 based mainly on offshore wind and predicted that the turbine engines would remain in the utilisation of hydrogen. He expected SAF to play operation for long-distance flights due to their fuel’s an important role in aviation and also expected the higher-power density. 2050 net-zero target to be achieved. Dr Weeks completed his presentation by The next presentation was given by Michael describing the ATI FlyZero project which aims to Eberhardt, a Director of BlackRock the global realise the design of a zero-emission commercial investment management corporation. He explained aircraft by the end of the decade. A team with a sustainable investing at BlackRock and the range of key capabilities has been established

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Climate Change Conference A TR.indd 4 21/01/2021 12:38 AIR TRANSPORT RAeS Climate Change Conference

and he expected this project to contribute to the Electric and hydrogen solutions innovation recovery in UK aerospace needed to meet the challenge of net zero by 2050. Electrification was discussed with energy density of batteries agreed to be a limiting factor. The What can industry offer? E-Fan X project has laid the Airbus groundwork now being taken forward The first panel discussion of the day, through hydrogen. Hunt pointed entitled ‘Where Carbon Reduction out the challenge for longer flights Features in OEM’s Strategy’, included where weight on landing would pose speakers from the sector’s leading a big design challenge. Newsum saw companies. Panel Chair, Colin Smith COMMITMENTS electrification being introduced in Chair of the Aerospace Growth TO NET ZERO ARE small fixed-wing aircraft as a proving Partnership, noted the industry’s ground for use in civil regional aircraft. past performance and SOLID WITHIN THE Hybrid solutions may add a few Geoff H un t SECTOR AND THAT SV current situation but percentage points efficiency gain but P , E n asked: “Should ACHIEVING 2050 the panel took the view that this is not g in e a step-change a game changer. e GOALS THROUGH r i n

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United Airlines by Cait Hewitt, Deputy Director of the Aviation Environment Federation under the title ‘Can we rely on airlines’ promises to decarbonise?’ She reminded the conference that 2019 had the highest

CO2 concentration on record and that September 2020 was the hottest September on record. She welcomed the airline sector commitment to net zero but questioned if future growth should be allowed. Hewitt also questioned the industry’s confidence, noting that proposed solutions are not delivering as envisaged. Electric aviation may serve short- haul needs in time and hydrogen production would require green electricity to be of real value. Biofuels potential is limited and synthetic fuels derived from carbon capture may mature but the sector is in its Sean Newsum, Director of Sustainability infancy. Hewitt also warned the industry of potential Strategy at Boeing, identified with the strategies noise issues (from AEF members) associated with of fellow panel members. He believed that airspace modernisation for greater efficiency. commitments to net zero are solid within the sector In summary, she agreed that SA has a net-zero and that achieving 2050 goals through one or two vision but regulatory and financial mechanisms do generations of technology will still need a massive not exist to ensure delivery. The AEF advocates less boost in the penetration of alternative fuels. aviation overall to make the problem manageable.

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Climate Change Conference A TR.indd 5 21/01/2021 12:38 Secretary of State for Transport, Grant Shapps MP, provided the keynote, drawing similarities between the UK’s WW2 vision of post-war civil aviation and the 21st century Jet Zero goals.

The role of sustainable aviation fuel Renewable Transport Fuels Obligation (RTFO), where aviation fuel is now encouraged but not The final panel session of the conference considered mandated and a new category of development fuel the outlook for sustainable aviation fuels. The Chair, has been created, with such fuels being eligible for Robert Boyd, Manager Environment – Alternative a much higher number of certificates than standard Fuels at IATA, explained the outlook for SAF has biofuels. never been more challenging – yet SAF have never Leigh Hudson, Sustainable Fuels and Carbon been more needed. Manager, International Airlines Group (IAG), spoke Both fuel companies on the panel sounded encouragingly about the sustained commitment to positive. Tom Parsons, Commercial Development low carbon across the sector in this very difficult Manager – Low Carbon (Air bp) said that the industry period. There is great interest in electric and is aligned on the need to take action. It has recently hydrogen but customers are interested in both SAF signed a deal with Swedavia to supply renewable fuel and offsets. IAG is encouraging a diverse approach and their first municipal solid waste project is coming and now have 12 low-carbon projects: most are

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Mitigating the climate impact of non-CO2 – Aviation’s low-hanging fruit, RAeS Virtual Conference 23-24 March 2021, London

FEBRUARY 2021 35

Climate Change Conference A TR.indd 6 21/01/2021 12:38 AEROSPACE Biomimicry Engineering nature Is it a bird? Is it a plane? Is it the best of both? BILL READ FRAeS reports on how aeronautical engineers have been learning from nature to create new aircraft designs, concepts and modes of operation to optimise performance.

eronautical engineers are looking easily. Airbus is designing a retractable, brush- to nature for inspiration on new like fringe to mimic the owl’s serrated feathers ways to make aircraft lighter and on wings, as well as a velvety coating on aircraft more fuel-efficient. Not surprisingly, landing gear. the focus on biomimicry has begun There has also been research into the withA studying birds. When birds are in the air, they development of aircraft with beating wings. A extend their wings to reduce air drag and help them paper published in Science Robotics in July 2020 to stay high – in a similar way to a glider attempting described how students at Nanyang Technological to increase lift and reduce drag. When birds want University in Singapore had designed a micro to move faster, they close their wings – as birds of ornithopter which flies like a bird and could be prey do in an attack dive to catch prey. used for monitoring crops or crowds. Engineers have also developed micro aerial vehicles (MAVs) Learning from birds which look like birds to observe birds. Developed by engineering students at the University of Delft There could be many efficiency advantages if in 2007, the 5cm wide morphing wing RoboSwift aircraft could replicate the flight of birds and is a small propeller-driven MAV, fitted with cameras change their wing shape in different stages of designed to observe swifts in their natural flight. Adaptive wings could provide a significant environment. increase in performance, including fuel saving, longer range and reduced noise. Different wing Colour perception and flight shapes could also assist aircraft experiencing patterns changes in weight and weight distribution as fuel is used up during flight to fly more efficiently. Biomimicry research is not restricted to the way In addition to morphing wings, engineers have birds fly but also to how they see. The Lund Vision also been inspired by other avian characteristics. Group in Sweden has designed a camera that In 2017, researchers at the University of Denmark recreates how birds distinguish colour which could used computational morphogenesis to design an have applications for aircraft navigational systems The RoboSwift MAV alternative ‘organic’ interior structure for a Boeing and pilot enhanced vision systems, as well as developed at the University 777 wing, based on the structure of a bird’s wing improved sensor and guidance systems for UAVs. of Delft. which was 5% lighter than a conventional wing

structure. University of Delft In 2019, Airbus produced the ‘Bird of Prey’ conceptual airliner design inspired by the eagle. The theoretical design was a hybrid-electric, regional turbo-prop which mimics the eagle’s wing and tail structure and features individually controlled ‘feathers’ that provide active flight control. Airbus has also studied the wing design of the long-eared owl to see how it can fly so silently. Most birds generate noise when flying through turbulence created when air flows over the surface of their wings. However, the long-eared owl has primary feathers, serrated like a comb, which muffle the sound by enabling the air to pass through

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Biomimicry A T.indd 1 21/01/2021 12:41 Top right: Animal Dynamics’ However, biomimicry of birds does not end with Animal Dynamics 8in Skeeter drone was bird shapes but also with flight patterns. Airbus inspired by the double has worked on the fello’fly demonstrator project wings on a dragonfly. which looks at how aircraft might learn from the Lower right: Original designs for Airbus’ way in which flocks of snow geese fly in a ‘V shape’. Concept aircraft, ‘Bird of According to Airbus, this is because the follower Prey’. geese expend less energy by surfing on the wakes (ie left-over kinetic energy of moving air in the sky) created by the leader bird. When flying in this way,

geese immediately benefit from free lift, which Airbus enables them to stay aloft with minimal fatigue over long distances. The Airbus project is looking at how a commercial aircraft could save 5-10% of fuel from ‘wake-energy retrieval’ by following the air upwash from a leader aircraft. The swarming flight patterns of insects have also inspired military UAV researchers into the potential of using swarms of miniature drones to overwhelm enemy defences.

Bees, fish and bones

Insects have also provided a source of inspiration with the development of insect-sized nano UAVs to way of replicating a continuously moving surface be used for military reconnaissance and surveillance on an aircraft fuselage has not yet been solved, missions. Researchers at the University of Arizona aircraft engineers have developed ‘riblets’, a series have studied the aerodynamic characteristics of a of small grooves on the surface of an aircraft bumblebee micro air vehicle while Oxford-based aligned to the direction of the air flow – which Animal Dynamics has created miniature drones with are claimed to achieve a 4-7% reduction in skin flapping wings based on dragonflies which it claims friction. In 2010, a team at The Fraunhofer Institute can hover in 20mph winds. in Germany was awarded the 2010 Joseph von Airbus has also produced 3D printed metal Fraunhofer Prize for a paint, modelled on shark cabin dividers based on cell and bone structures skin, incorporating grooves which was tested in which are 45% lighter than conventional partitions. 2013 on two Lufthansa A340-300s and has since Not all biomimicry research is based on been commercialised and is being marketed by structures. In 2003, researchers at the State German laser specialist company 4JET and aircraft University of New York and University of Missouri paint manufacturer Mankiewicz as the Laser were reported to be studying the vibrational Enhanced Air Flow (LEAF) system. communications used by treehopper insects with a Researchers have also been learning from view to locating the source of sounds – which could the human body. Scientists from the University of be used to locate a problem on an aircraft. NASA Illinois have worked on a USAF-funded project also conducted a project with Boeing to create a on autonomic materials systems which mimic windscreen coating based on the exterior surface the body’s processes – including the potential of of a lotus leaf which would reduce the effect of dirt, self-healing polymers which can enable composite dust and water on aircraft windshields. aircraft structures to ‘heal’ themselves, if damaged by, releasing resin into cracks. Work is also being Sharkskin paint carried out on composite materials that can bend with the application of low-voltage charges – in Nor is biomimicry limited to animals which fly. the same way that muscles contract and expand. Another area of biomimicry research inspired by Such materials have many potential applications, marine animals has been into ‘compliant surfaces’. including the operation of actuators in space It has been calculated that around 40% of drag vehicles. is caused by the turbulent boundary layer – a Such is the interest in the inspirational thin sheet of air just above the aircraft’s skin engineering possibilities offered by biomimicry that which creates friction. Marine animals, such as the US-based Biomimicry Guild organises field trips dolphins, are able to suppress this turbulence when to wildlife sites for groups interested in learning swimming through water by continuously rippling from nature. Two workshops in Costa Rica and Peru their skin. Researchers believe that fitting aircraft were attended by engineers from Boeing which with a continuously adapting compliant surface inspired new ideas on aircraft seat design and could virtually eliminate skin friction drag. While a suppressing aircraft noise.

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Biomimicry A T.indd 2 21/01/2021 12:41 AIR TRANSPORT Post-Covid cabin design Cabin fever As the airline sector reels from the Covid-19 pandemic, JOHN WALTON examines the changes to the passenger experience coming to an airline cabin near you.

t is clear that Covid-19 will change the fundamental make-up of the commercial aviation industry in ways that are both eminently clear and as yet impossible to conceive. It is a paradox that will be complicated for an industry that is Irenowned for its rather wide turning circle in terms of change. As the conversation shifts from crisis management to planning for the vaccine-enabled recovery, the need for airlines – and every other player in the industry – to innovate out of this crisis is evident. This pandemic and its effects will change the design of seats and the cabin but not in the ways that were originally thought. Covid-19 has had, and will continue to have, an accelerating effect on many parts of our lives, from the adoption of videoconferencing technology to the growth of remote-first working, through to the retirement of older and less efficient aircraft and a round of industry consolidation. The cabin and the passenger experience are no different: the green shoots of change have seen accelerated growth in some areas, while technologies that had been ignored as unnecessary or too expensive are being adopted wholesale.

A different look at the cabin

As the pandemic took hold in early to mid 2020, cabin designers, seat makers and other players in the industry pivoted swiftly to starting to develop hard product changes to the cabin: new ways of arranging seats, dividers of all kinds, hygiene bubbles, touchless lavatories and a myriad of others. Fundamentally, though, the principal change on the part of airlines has been to clean surfaces more thoroughly and to talk about it. Whether this is the most effective intervention for a virus that is increasingly seen as spreading more via the airborne/droplet/aerosol route than formite/touch will be something for the industry and public health experts to examine at a later date.

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Cabin Fever B A T.indd 38 21/01/2021 12:47 Finnair At Collins Aerospace, says David McConnell, us and we are focusing on solutions which can be Associate Director for Advanced Materials and used on different materials. Further minimising gaps Processes, “we are making sure we understand and cavities, and material selection is definitely the critical factors surrounding cleanliness and important. This is going to play a bigger role in future how customers plan on cleaning/disinfecting developments. We anticipate new requirements due WHAT IS NEW seats. Fogging or electrostatic spray is becoming a to the need for more frequent cleaning cycles, which IS THAT THE more common practice and is more of a full cabin will require a higher resistance for cleaning and treatment versus hand cleaning of specific features. ensure no negative effects on functionality.” APPEARANCE This pushes our design to consider access to certain The effects of cleaning chemicals being applied OF DIRT NOW features and also prevents cleaners from going more frequently and potentially in conflict with HAS THE where they shouldn’t.” other chemicals, Hiller notes, “is certainly an area POTENTIAL TO “The trend towards ‘cleaner’ will speed up an of concern. Plastics can be especially affected by existing move towards less complexity in the seat,” certain disinfectants. Because of this, we have started CONNOTE ‘WE predicts Daniel Baron of LIFT Aero Design, an an extensive testing campaign in the summer with DON’T CARE aircraft cabin design studio with offices in Tokyo and different disinfectants and made recommendations ABOUT YOUR Singapore, citing an expected “reduction in number of on which are good to use to our customer base.” parts, elimination of crevices and steps, et cetera.” While many of them have been used in other HEALTH’. This is, Baron says, “driven by the need to shed public environments like cruise ships, medical weight, simplify supply chains and make the lives facilities and shopping centres, few of these of cabin cleaning crews easier. For example, a inherently antimicrobial products have been tested seemingly small detail such as a gap around a table against the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus, or indeed in inlay can, over time, become quite a headache for the unique cabin environment, with MGR Foamtex’s cleaners. This is not new. What is new is that the MGRSafeWall product that uses the Biomaster silver- appearance of dirt now has the potential to connote ion antimicrobial action a recent breakthrough. ‘we don’t care about your health’.” Collins Aerospace has been working with industry, regulators and associated bodies like the The antimicrobial attack SAE (formerly the Society of Automotive Engineers), NIAR (National Institute for Aviation Research) and One key weapon in the arsenal against Covid-19 the FAA, says the company’s David McConnell. “We – and indeed future pandemics, as well as tested many of the common cleaners/disinfectants existing more pedestrian bacteria and viruses – is on a range of common interior substrates such incorporating antimicrobial products into new seat as plastics, fabrics and textiles for criteria such as surfaces, as well as developing coatings that can be flammability, strength and aesthetics.” applied which actively kill microbes on contact. Indeed, a recent SAE letter to the industry stated “We are looking into antiviral coating and we that: “the recommendations, based on the test results will be offering (it) to our customers soon,” says to date, have been determined by concluding minor Mark Hiller, the Chief Executive Officer of German performance differences in agent-treated materials seat maker, Recaro. “This has been a priority for and are not significant enough to alter the continued airworthiness of the products when compared to

Avio Interiors untreated materials. Some degradation in visual appearance is to be expected with the repeated use of these agents and parts may need to be replaced over time.”

Better by design?

But, from a design perspective, asks designer Ben Orson, “Is there a trend towards cleaner seats? We’ve seen some intriguing concepts but it may be too early to say if a trend has been established. From our RedCabin polling, we saw a very high level of scepticism around the idea that many of the ‘anti- Covid’ concepts that we have seen over the past nine months will ever become established in the market.” If structural change is unlikely, incremental and elemental improvements are almost certain. The way seats are constructed will need to change, whether that is to add antimicrobial materials to surfaces, move away from small storage spaces to open, see- through (and drop-through) design, or to account for

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Cabin Fever B A T.indd 39 21/01/2021 12:47 AIR TRANSPORT Post-Covid cabin design Boeing

Applying strong design principles through the recovery phases will be critical

London-based design studio Tangerine’s Director Melinda Darbyshire charts aviation’s course towards recovery via three distinct, yet overlapping, phases. “The initial phase will need to focus on communicating the changes that airlines are making to keep passengers healthy and better informed about current air quality in the cabin,” Darbyshire explains, noting that outside aviation circles, where this message has been drummed into heads for months, “most passengers don’t know that cabin air is changed every two to three minutes and that it has been HEPA filtered.” In 2020 Boeing and the the impact of cleaning chemicals on the seats and “The second phase will address crew and University of Arizona their components themselves. passenger behaviour,” Darbyshire says, “and conducted a research If there are no major changes to the way cabins study with a ‘live safe virus’ changes with airlines creating journeys with the are laid out, seats are separated, and so on, Recaro least friction and designing experiences that are that confirmed that existing cleaning procedures and and other industry players are expecting to receive safe but also evoke an emotional connection chemicals are effective in requests to modify existing seats to increase their with their guests. Some will be pure behavioural killing Covid-19. ‘cleanability’, with drop-through stowage spaces changes such as boarding and deplaning regimes, replacing closed ones, hooks or ledges rather than while others will address the intersection of nooks or crannies, open storage instead of closed, technology and human behaviour.” and so on. As one example of what may never return “Our impression is that the vendors will wait to post-change, when a passenger steps onto the see how a vaccine affects attitudes to the coronavirus aircraft from the jetbridge, a flight attendant would and therefore demand for air travel before committing approach them to inspect their boarding pass or to significant redesign of established products,” says phone, often taking it to bring it into view. Darbyshire Ben Orson. “Investment in these sorts of changes is suggests simple yet effective redesign: showing the likely to be a challenge for seat makers for a period seat number in a larger font on the mobile screen or given the fall in demand from airlines. Currently, we printing it larger on a paper boarding pass. do not see that push yet,” concurs Recaro’s Mark “The third and longer phase will turn its attention Hiller, “but we are convinced that it will come. We to design of hard products. At a cabin level, social are preparing for this and are currently proactively areas may be redefined to offer a little more working on different ideas and adaptations.” distance,” Darbyshire theorises. “The aesthetics Some of this will change the way that seats quite of the seating may change to embrace more fluid literally look and feel. “At this time, airlines should forms that avoid areas where dirt and germs can focus on designing for an non-tactile experience,” become trapped, as even though antimicrobial advises Geraint Edwards, Head of Service Design at surfaces will not let pathogens spread, their London-based Tangerine, a design studio. surfaces won’t kill the germs either. The materials “Luxury traditionally meant course textures, will need to trade up to become biocidal in order to opulent materials and patterns, and over-the-top kill them.” placement of luxury items like curtains,” Edwards While it may be something of a matter of explains. “There will surely be a ‘new normal’ sterile received wisdom in the industry that passengers experience where the staff are trained to deliver tend to have short memories of problems, it is also a service that creates a feeling of wellness and the case that applying previous experience to this safety for the passengers and where the materials particular pandemic needs more than just a pinch are valued for their ability to be cleaned and to be of salt. Darbyshire concludes that: “designers perceived to be free of bacteria.” will be challenged to find new ways of creating the perception of comfort as they explore the passengers’ desire for increased privacy while Material differences setting that against the need for a cabin that is Yet, of all the programmes Tangerine is currently easier to clean.” working on, none of the material allocations for items like thermoplastics or textiles have changed.

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Cabin Fever B A T.indd 40 21/01/2021 12:47 “It would be interesting to hear from airlines if Qantas had cancelled all international flights well the new cleaning protocols have affected any of into 2021. As vaccination programmes gather speed, their materials,” Edwards notes, “as we have heard though, airlines will be left with the economic crisis as mutterings in the industry that corrosion is occurring the primary driver for the short to medium term. more rapidly. We wonder if the coatings that are being introduced are more for marketing purposes. OUR IMPRESSION Different classes We are not sure how much difference they will make IS THAT THE or how long they last.” VENDORS WILL Within the aircraft cabin, even the medium term of Indeed, more research on this latter question is WAIT TO SEE five years or so is too short to radically redesign what certainly required, including big-picture and real-world goes on board. For the four principal classes of travel testing that examines the interactions between actual HOW A VACCINE – economy, premium economy, business and first wear, a variety of cleaning products and the cabin AFFECTS class – what we have now is essentially what we will environment. ATTITUDES be using during the Covid recovery phase. In the meantime, explains David Voskuhl from TO THE Matt Round, Chief Creative Officer at Tangerine, German cabin supplier Diehl Aviation, “we are CORONAVIRUS starts at the front of the aircraft. “As business class predominantly looking at surfaces when it comes to products have become better and better, we are enhancing cleanliness in aircraft cabins. To start with, AND THEREFORE seeing more airlines eschewing first class. For most our efforts for providing touchless cabin functions DEMAND FOR airlines this is a matter of balancing brand positioning will help because touching less also means less need AIR TRAVEL with the combined profitability of all their cabins.” for cleaning. Beyond that, using UV-C technology for BEFORE In essence, some more premium airlines are disinfection will help to enhance hygiene on board.” COMMITTING likely to continue offering first class, simply because Diehl is realistic about the extent that it will these seats are so very profitable when the ultra- be able to make change here in the serious TO SIGNIFICANT rich pay for them – or as a perquisite to attract very budgetary crunch in which most airlines are finding REDESIGN OF frequent flyers and their loyalty points. However, for themselves, however. “As we all know,” Voskuhl says, ESTABLISHED business travellers, “as customers re-evaluate their “most airlines are currently in challenging financial PRODUCTS spending, the space that premium economy fills has situations, which makes it difficult for them to the potential to attract greater passenger numbers. raise resources for modernising their cabin interior However, the challenge for the airlines is not to allow spaces. We are trying to meet their requirements for premium economy to cannibalise revenue from other enhanced hygiene under affordable conditions.” products. So what we may see, is a more à la carte The amplifying effects of the Covid crisis, set of choices for the products and services that especially around demand, will be massive for airlines passengers can purchase,” Round says. and what they offer on board. In essence, we are looking at the potential For airlines, the pandemic is part regulatory – unbundling of products throughout the aircraft, in the they simply are not permitted to fly in some cases same way that the ‘basic economy’ trend unbundled – part massive demand hole, and part unprecedented the cheapest seats on the aircraft. Qatar Airways and economic crisis. Emirates have already started this process with what In some countries and regions that have got a the Dubai-based carrier calls special fares: no lounge handle on Covid, such as China, New Zealand and Finnair safety hygiene access without frequent flyer status, advance seat Australia, the first two factors are in some cases shown in the on-board selection or chauffeur drive, reduced points earning, relaxing, although at the time of writing, for example, cleaning of IFE screens. no upgrades, and so on. Finnair Finnair

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Cabin Fever B A T.indd 41 21/01/2021 12:47 AIR TRANSPORT Post-Covid cabin design

“Business class remains the most significant Diehl premium offer,” says designer Ben Orson of the eponymous Orson Associates. “The line between business class and first class will continue to blur with recent concepts from Thompson and Safran enabling this and smaller, long-range aircraft encouraging a reassessment of how the first class can be delivered in a more compact footprint.” These seats include, in front rows in particular, what has been termed as ‘business-plus’ seating. Since all rows but the frontmost nestle into the seat in front of them in either a staggered or herringbone configuration, the front row can offer more space. Seat makers have suggested premium sub-products that make the most of this: an added suite door, for example, or a larger screen, bigger side table, and so on, with some airlines like China Eastern already plumping for these pumped-up products. Diehl’s touchless lavatory. save the day,” he says. “It is possible that the classes Further back in the aircraft, there is movement used for business trips will not change,” Baron notes. too, Orson says. “According to data gathered at “The customer will still need to be well rested – but RedCabin (a passenger experience conference in there will be fewer trips. December, online this year), the industry expects to Indeed, the acceleration of the trend towards see increased focus on innovation in the premium remote-first, work-anywhere hiring will also affect economy/economy class range driven by the aviation but this may well not end up being a net increased significance of single aisle aircraft in loss. It has been clear to any office worker that, the global fleet and the requirement on the part of while there are some benefits to working from home, businesses and individuals to contain spending.” And there are equally benefits to being present with there’s the rub. colleagues, especially for interaction-heavy strategic, brainstorming or teambuilding experiences. Still travelling for business? Instead of, say, half of a 50-person company travelling all from one or two airports to work The way businesses and individuals travel on together, proportionally more of them are likely to be business is going to diversify – fast. One of the travelling from dozens. Headquarters footprints will greatest challenges that the aviation industry will reduce, leading to a need for on-demand and ad hoc have to face after Covid-19 turns from health offsite options for in-person group work. emergency to economic crisis is the changing This will affect the way corporate travel works. nature of business travel. An entire generation of While previously a London-based company would knowledge workers whose jobs largely revolve have had a natural affiliation with British Airways around a desk will have had a year or more to get for long-haul travel, BA’s history of abandoning UK used to Zoom, Teams and so on. With a financial regions may mean that an airline like KLM, with its crunch it is clear that, in the same way that people extensive countrywide network, may be a better joke “could this meeting have been an email?”, choice. people will be asking very seriously “could this On the aircraft, Ben Orson imagines, “we might business trip have been a Zoom call?” see renewed interest in addressing the enduring “Unlike previous crises,” says Ben Orson, ‘comfort canyon’ between economy and business. “the Covid pandemic comprises multiple distinct The diversity of products in this space remains challenges for the aviation sector: fear of infection limited, in part due to a lack of interest from airlines on board or at the airport, a significant drop in the to date. We see significant opportunities here for ability and willingness of businesses and individuals innovative future products, providing airlines with to spend on travel, worldwide and ongoing border opportunities that may prove to be better aligned restrictions and increasing confidence in virtual with new profiles of passenger demand.” meetings as an alternative to business trips.” By 2025, the aviation industry’s predictions are Designer Daniel Baron concurs: “9/11 was a by and large that it will be back on track. But behind disruption without a viable alternative for business the Covid-19 crisis looms the greater climate crisis, travel. The difference now is that voice and video as well as future challenges we do not yet know are cheap. Fortunately, they can never fully replace about and in some cases can not even imagine. face-to-face. Nuance in things like eye contact, facial Indeed, by that time, Airbus plans to have made a expressions, gestures and humour will always matter decision about its first steps into hydrogen power for and the ability to do a spontaneous, quick side aircraft and we may be standing at the dawn of one meeting with a colleague during a crisis can literally of the greatest changes to aviation since the jet age.

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Cabin Fever B A T.indd 42 21/01/2021 12:47 Afterburner www.aerosociety.com

Diary 23-24 March 2021

Mitigating the climate impact of non-CO2 – aviation’s low-hanging fruit RAeS online conference

Contrails from an Airbus A380. Air Team Images.

44 Message from RAeS 46 Book Reviews 52 UK’s first virtual Cool Aeronautics – President Aero-Neurosis, Rockets and Missiles of Vandenberg The UK’s first virtual Cool Aeronautics event, in AFB, Human Factors in Aircraft Maintenance and association with the RAeS, was created by a team “I was really pleased to be able to introduce Blind Bombing. of graduate and apprentice STEM Ambassadors our inaugural Mary Jackson Lecture, which is based at Leonardo’s Yeovil site. a new Named Lecture celebrating the work of 49 Library Additions the individuals from BAME communities within 54 RAeS Diary aerospace.” Books recently supplied to the National Aerospace Library. Find out what online events are happening. – Chief Executive New Member Spotlight Elections “The Society’s Specialist Groups are the engine- 50 56 room for extending the body of knowledge: their events are tangible evidence that we are 51 Obituary independent, evidence-based and authoritative.” Carl Edward Mann AMRAeS.

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Afterburner_February2021.indd 3 21/01/2021 12:27:41 Message from RAeS OUR PRESIDENT

Prof Jonathan Cooper I was really pleased to be able to introduce disappointment and uncertainty which might be of our inaugural Mary Jackson Lecture, which is interest to readers. See https://www.aerosociety. a new Named Lecture celebrating the work of com/news/mental-health-wellbeing-talking- the individuals from BAME communities within together-with-professor-jonathan-cooper- aerospace. The lecture series has been named in fraes-sir-brian-burridge-fraes/. Participating in honour of Mary Jackson (1921-2005), who became this event got me thinking about a number of issues the first black female aerospace engineer at NASA myself that I hadn’t considered before. in 1958 and was featured in the book and film So, the Brexit deal has finally been done, not Hidden Figures. The lecture was presented by Dr surprisingly at the last minute, but the ramifications Moogega Cooper who is currently the Planetary of this momentous change to our relationship with Protection Lead for the Europa Lander concept the rest of Europe will take some time to become at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory. Her expertly clear, particularly as many issues affecting the delivered talk provided an overview of the NASA aerospace, aviation and space communities remain M2020 mission which was designed to investigate to be finalised (see Brexit at Arrivals, p 14). At the key questions related to the habitability of Mars moment, Covid restrictions permitting, we can still and will conduct assessments that will help plan for fly to Europe; however, the effect on the aerospace future human exploration of Mars. You will remember manufacturing industry will take many months, if not that we signed an MoU with the American Institute years, to play out. Not being able to participate in of Aeronautics and Astronautics last summer and we the EU Galileo and EGNOS programmes will surely were delighted that this lecture has been facilitated cause difficulties and limit the UK’s capabilities. I was by working in association with the AIAA. Particular pleased to see that the UK will become an Associate thanks must go to Claudine Phaire from the AIAA Member of the EU Horizon Europe research and Richard Gearing from the RAeS, who chair their programmes which enables the participation of respective Diversity & Inclusion Committees and UK universities and industry in large collaborative who both spoke after the lecture about ongoing D&I projects but I do have concerns that, as one of initiatives in both organisations. the major benefactors of the current H2020 and In these continuing difficult times, our mental previous programmes, the government may find the health and well-being is being challenged constantly cost of Horizon Europe membership prohibitive. A across all aspects of our lives, be it at a personal further issue that may have a knock-on effect is that or professional level, with not just the direct effects a large proportion of researchers in UK universities of Covid-19 on our health to consider but also and engineers in industry are from the EU and the resulting lockdowns, furloughs, redundancies, delays are already starting to occur in recruitment shrinking of order books, lost apprenticeships, due to visa requirements. In the years leading up working from home, online university education, to Brexit, the Society briefed about the potential etc. The Society has recognised the effects of consequences; I hope that some of the possible mental health across the aerospace and aviation outcomes that we warned about don’t occur and that communities and has previously run a number of the Society’s communities are able to prosper post- IN THESE conferences and events addressing this important Covid and post-Brexit. CONTINUING topic. I can recommend two upcoming events on a Finally, the Sir Robert Hardingham Presidential DIFFICULT similar theme: Sword is a prestigious award presented annually by ● The Mental Wellbeing and Human Performance the President in recognition of outstanding service TIMES, OUR event aimed at aircrew is on 27 April – this event to the Society. I am honoured to present this year’s MENTAL has been part of a series of conferences over the award to Jenny Body, in recognition of her long and HEALTH AND past few years since the Germanwings incident. valuable contribution to the Society, including being WELL-BEING ● Maintaining Wellbeing: Opening up in the a former President (and first woman to hold that Maintenance Environment event on 20 May – role), significant leadership of our Education and IS BEING this event is aimed at maintenance and safety Skills activities and contributing in many other areas. CHALLENGED engineers and professionals. In normal circumstances we would have announced CONSTANTLY On a related topic, the CEO and I recently and presented the award at the Wilbur and Orville ACROSS ALL participated in an IMechE/IET/RAeS Mental Wright Lecture but, due to the on-going situation with Health & WellBeing Talking Together conversation, Covid-19, this will not be possible this year. Instead, ASPECTS OF discussing issues relating to young professionals in there will be a virtual announcement via our website OUR LIVES STEM careers such as loneliness in the workplace, and social media channels to celebrate the award.

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Afterburner_February2021.indd 4 21/01/2021 12:27:42 OUR CHIEF EXECUTIVE

Sir Brian Burridge ● With the passing of the Brexit Transition Period, Thomson-Smith and Bhavik Bhatt, hosting a the UK has formally left the European Union. After discussion with the President and me on mental a photo-finish, the associated trade deal offers health. some useful certainty for airlines and aerospace ● Another important facet of the Society’s profile is manufacturers. As the industry and regulators set The Aeronautical Journal. Its success relies heavily about building on the fundamentals in areas, such on our team of volunteer Associate Editors who as safety, we await further information on aspects, review the merits of the papers submitted for such as space, air power and in the education and publication. We recently held an on-line gathering skills domain. The Society will continue to engage of this cohort under the stewardship of the Editor- with changes that may occur on the recognition in-Chief, Professor Holger Babinsky, crowning a of professional qualifications. You can read my full successful, if difficult 2020, in which production of statement on the Society website (https://www. the Journal was not disrupted. Equally, there was aerosociety.com/media/15255/2021_01_08_ a 25% year-on-year rise in downloads of Journal trade_deal_response_final.pdf) and we will papers. Also of note, was the diversity of the global keep you updated as things solidify. academic representation, including eight members ● Recent Eurocontrol analysis highlights that from US universities and others from Germany, European aviation suffered more in 2020 than Ireland, Japan and Sweden. We look forward to a any other region. Some six million flights were special 125th anniversary edition of the Journal for lost against the European norm of 11 million, with publication in 2022. job losses of 191,000. Among those affected are ● The Society’s Specialist Groups are the engine- young people on the threshold of their careers. room for extending the body of knowledge: The 2021 Prince’s Trust Annual Youth Index survey their events are tangible evidence that we are points out that 68% feel that they are ‘missing out independent, evidence-based and authoritative. on being young’ with optimism plummeting and As the issues within our sectors increase in much understandable anxiety about the future. complexity, there is a clear need for multi- This underlines the importance of the Society’s disciplinary collaboration in addressing them. To careers support service which offers expert meet this and other challenges, after a lengthy guidance on navigating these turbulent times, review, a refreshed Specialist Groups Committee including CV support. We have also launched a (SGCC) has been launched. My thanks go to new Aviation Inspiration area on the Careers in Richard Hooke who chaired the Review Sub- Aerospace website funded by the Department for Committee and to its members, in particular Transport with stories from industry role models. Bernard Chan, who has led the SGCC over the We are particularly keen to highlight the diversity last couple of years. We are pleased to welcome of both the people and jobs in our sectors so, if Tony Henley as the new chair and I would place you feel that you or your team should feature, then on record my gratitude to all Specialist Group do please contact the Careers Team. members who, as volunteers, do so much to ● Although we are well down the track of being enhance the Society’s reputation and profile. a fully digital Society, there is more to do in This activity sends a strong message to potential using multi-channel communications with our members. In spite of the challenges of Covid, membership and beyond. To that end, we are this year has begun on a positive note with 260 ALTHOUGH WE revising our social media approach and you applications already received. ARE WELL DOWN will notice some positive changes in 2021. The ● Finally, some important dates: National Society is active on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram Apprenticeship Week is from 8-14 February which THE TRACK OF and LinkedIn: please engage with us. Additionally, aims to celebrate the opportunities available BEING A FULLY there is a regular RAeS newsletter which to young people through a fully recognised DIGITAL SOCIETY, highlights events, news and opportunities. If you programme of employer-led learning. Supported by THERE IS MORE are not receiving this, please check your settings our professionally registered engineers, we have on the member portal. You might also want to now conducted over 200 apprenticeship end point TO DO IN USING glance at the Society’s YouTube channel which assessments. Later in the month, on 22 February, MULTI-CHANNEL now includes some of the Branches’ events, not we have a Corporate Partner Briefing by Chris COMMUNICATIONS least the recent Washington DC Branch interview Stark, CEO of the Climate Change Committee WITH OUR with Philippe Martou, Director of the Aviation entitled, ‘The Role of Aviation in Achieving Net Service of the World Food Programme, the 2020 Zero’, representing a timely reminder that, in spite MEMBERSHIP AND Nobel Peace Prize Laureate. There is also an of the rigours of Covid, efforts to address the BEYOND item instigated by young professionals, Joshua environmental challenge have to continue.

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Afterburner_February2021.indd 5 21/01/2021 12:27:42 Book Reviews AERO-NEUROSIS

Pilots of the First World Officers of No24 Squadron concern that your fatigue would be interpreted as RAF in France, 29 November cowardice or lack of moral fibre and so these people 1918. RAeS (NAL). War and the Psychological soldiered on, getting more fatigued until they were Legacies of Combat so chronically fatigued some of them had to be stopped. The wise commander would see this but, By Mark C Wilkins as was often experienced in those telling times, the commander was as fatigued as the men he flew Pen & Sword Aviation, Pen & Sword Books, 47 with, sometimes with tragic results. Church Street, Barnsley, S Yorkshire S70 2AS, What have we learnt from these early aviators UK. 2019. x; 178pp. Illustrated. £19.99. ISBN and their problems? For a start, the machines today 978-1-5267-312-3 are far more reliable but, on crossing water for the first time, low level, the fear of something going This is an interesting book but, as with all books wrong can trouble the most modern mind until written by historians, no matter how eloquent and landfall is made. For many of us it takes many hours factual, there is always the omission of the feeling for that fear to diminish but we now understand it, of real experience. By that I mean there are people and can teach others about how to manage it. We alive today with whom the author could have try to manage combat flying hours into sensible discussed and compared the past with the present. manageable rotas but, when the pressure is on, Those first pilots had to battle with their machines and the manpower reduced, even the most well as well as the enemy. Today, the pilot is an integral organised system can be fractured. part of the machine, the fatigue may have been Those lessons from WW1 were applied in WW2 produced in a different way but the end result is but ran into the same problems when the manpower always the same. was reduced, and the task load increased. This That said, the book is a fascinating collection was very evident during the Battle of Britain. The of narratives about the ‘Aces’ of the Great War and one-to-one combat fear was just the same. how that war took its toll in various ways on them, Today, we have a better selection system, before most of them sadly perished. hopefully preventing those of a weak disposition, One of the common denominators throughout There was from entering flying training. Modern air-to-air is the effect of ‘fear’. This was not only generated combatants rarely see their opponents’ aircraft, by the constant concern about the integrity of the always the let alone the pilot, and the weapons systems are plane you were flying but the fear of not coming concern that designed for total aircraft destruction. There is little back. Those of us who have experienced ongoing your fatigue time for fear, which is always there, as the pilot is day after day fear, know how draining and fatiguing would be too busy to dwell on their inner thoughts, as high G it can be, even if nothing happens, except now and manoeuvres, twist and turns, fire-and-forget, take-up again. This type of fatigue is common in a number of interpreted as every moment of the pilot’s skill and ability to survive. walks of life even today and, unless it is managed by cowardice or It is a book that each reader will form their own sympathetic and understanding people, it can have lack of moral and probably differing opinion about the effects of fatal results. The signs and symptoms do vary from fibre and so flying combat missions, both then, and now. person to person, as the author well describes. The early cases were not well managed as these people Dr Ian Perry they were not understood. There was always the soldiered on FRAeS

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Afterburner_February2021.indd 6 21/01/2021 12:27:43 ROCKETS AND MISSILES OF VANDENBERG AFB By Joseph T Page II

Schiffer Publishing, 4880 Lower Valley Road, Atglen, PA 19310, USA. 2019. Distributed by Gazelle Book Services Ltd, White Cross Mills, Hightown, Lancaster LA1 4XS, UK. 192pp. Illustrated. £38.99. ISBN 978-0-7643-5679-7.

This is an impressive work of reference. Starting with a brief history of the Vandenberg Air Force Base (AFB), it proceeds to describe, in alphabetical order, all launches of rockets and missiles from 1958 to 2016. It then catalogues chronological events of the AFB and lists each firing in chronological order. Vandenberg AFB is located adjacent to the Pacific Coast in California, near Point Magu. It is the USAF’s test and evaluation for inter-continental ballistic missiles (ICBMs), sounding rockets, satellite launch rockets, ground-launched cruise missiles, interceptor missiles and other test vehicles. Vandenberg AFB also served as an operational base during the Cuban Missile Crisis in 1962, although this fact is not explained in the brief history; the Minuteman section, which runs to over a fifth of the book’s content, covers the preparations and part the base played at that time. Indeed, the Minuteman section spans an impressive 54 years of Vandenberg AFB’s history (to 2016). Of the 60-plus missile types covered, others I found interesting were the SCUD B and Thor. The SCUD B was fired twice in 2002 to characterise the missile’s signature in both day and night. The Royal Air Force trained on the Thor missile, the first ICBM fired at Vandenberg AFB in December 1958, at what was then called Cooke AFB (now part of Vandenberg AFB). Each missile featured in the book has a brief history of the programme, a designation of purpose (ICBM, satellite-launch etc), a description The space shuttle Enterprise moves towards the shuttle assembly building at Vandenberg AFB of main components, and the firing history. The Space Launch Complex 6 aboard its specially-designed Cometto 76-wheel transporter in February book describes how various missiles, Thor as an 1985. In the background are the payload changeout room and the payload preparation room. USAF. example, were developed beyond their usefulness as offensive assets, to be modified to become space launch vehicles, targets for interceptor missiles and for other purposes. Throughout the book, there are many high-quality photographs and detailed line drawings but none (except on the inside covers) are full page, indicating this is a work primarily of reference to Indeed, the the detail, rather than a ‘coffee-table’ book. This book will primarily appeal to missile historians and Minuteman found the alphabetical approach to covering the has a special place in US archives as a complete section spans missiles slightly disorienting when reading the book non-classified record of firings from one of its an impressive sequentially; however, this method of reading is, bases. 54 years of perhaps, not how the author intended. Despite the comprehensive lists, glossary and bibliography, the book lacks an index, which Vandenberg Tim Marshall makes locating information time-consuming. I AFB’s history CEng FRAeS

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Afterburner_February2021.indd 7 21/01/2021 12:27:44 - Book Reviews HUMAN FACTORS IN AIRCRAFT MAINTENANCE Stuart Bailey/British Airways Bailey/British Stuart By Demetris Yiannakides and The publishers seem content to price this slim volume disappointingly high. The UK CAA CAP 715 Charalampos Sergiou ‘An Introduction to Aircraft Maintenance Engineering Human Factors for JAR 66’ contains broadly similar CRC Press, Taylor & Francis Group, 6000 Broken material in a similar length document. While it is a Sound Parkway NW, Suite 300, Boca Raton, FL little dated, issued in 2002 before EASA Part-66, it 33487-2742, USA. 2019. Distributed by Taylor is still a credible text. CAP715 is downloadable for & Francis Group, 2 Park Square, Milton Park, free, as are many other resources that would allow a Abingdon OX14 4RN, UK. xix; 119pp. £66.99. curious student to achieve Part-66 Level 2 ‘General [20% discount available to RAeS members via www. Knowledge’ in HF through self-directed study. crcpress.com using AKQ07 promotion code]. ISBN This book is unlikely to be useful for Part-66 978-0-367-23011-1. Module 9 instructors as the depth of material is This book seems primarily written for EASA Part-66 insufficient to give the depth of understanding an students intending to become licensed engineers. instructor would need. This is odd because the Of the eight chapters, six directly align with authors do finish with a chapter that sets out their sections of the EASA Part-66 Module 9 knowledge views on how Part-66 HF training can be better requirements. Chapter 5 combines sections 5, 6 delivered. The authors advocate that the first three and 9 of Module 9. The material is well written and elements of Module 9 be taught in the classroom incudes frequent references. early on but the other six elements be addressed The book does suffer from adopting that within practical engineering modules. structure, as it lacks a developing narrative to link There is much to be said about moving HF the material and suffers from not having a strong learning from the classroom to the hangar floor. A concluding chapter. It does contain 13 accident/ book structured around illustrating that approach incident case studies from 1979 to 2017. These would be so much more valuable to instructors. are typically half a page long and are a missed opportunity to show how the learnings could have Andy Evans been applied to prevent these occurrences. CEng FRAeS BLIND BOMBING How Microwave Radar a tool by Churchill to entice the US to form closer ties to the UK to help it in its war effort. In this case, Brought the Allies to D-Day through the 1940 Tizard mission to the US that and Victory in World War II disclosed Britain’s research into jet engines, guided weapons and the RCM, a version of the latter being By Norman Fine given to the US. The result was a twin-track development by Potomac Books, Lincoln, NE. 2019. Distributed by the Telecommunications Research Establishment Casemate, The Old Music Hall, 106-108 Cowley (TRE) in the UK and the MIT Radiation Laboratory Road, Oxford OX4 1JE, UK. xvi; 230pp. Illustrated. (Rad Lab) in the US. This was a largely co-operative £20. ISBN 978-1-64012-220-8. relationship leading to the British H2S MkIII and American H2X, both operating at 3cm wavelengths. On the surface, the prospect of investing time in Although the author highlights the opposition a 230-page book devoted to microwave radar, or This well- to H2X by many in the US Army Air Force, and more specifically, resonant cavity magnetrons (RCM), written and acknowledges that visual bombing using the may not fill potential readers with much joy. From ‘expensive, elaborate, fraud’ that was the Norden the outset, however, this book avoids the complex researched bombsight was more accurate, H2X had one key physics behind this most important of inventions book provides advantage; it allowed bombing on the 80% of days and weaves together a narrative that blends politics, some novel when weather prevented the bombardier seeing the personalities and operations to tell its story. target and therefore made a significant contribution The major application of RCM technology during insights to the Combined Bomber Offensive. WW2 was concentrated on blind bombing and into the US This well-written and researched book provides air-to-surface-vessel (ASV) radars; the former being contribution to some novel insights into the US contribution to the the main focus of the book. After tipping his hat the Combined Combined Bomber Offensive. to the inventors of the RCM, Messrs John Randall and Harry Boot at the University of Birmingham, Bomber Trevor Nash the author highlights how technology was used as Offensive MRAeS

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Afterburner_February2021.indd 8 21/01/2021 12:27:44 - Library Additions BOOKS

BIOGRAPHY & Sky talk: stories from demise of Army Co-operation Illustrated throughout with in Astronautics and Aeronautics AUTOBIOGRAPHY flying’s golden age by Philip Command and finishes with contemporary photographs, an v. 260. Hogge, Burnt Ash, 2020, 189pp. the war in East Africa and account of the biggest Imperial Chapters in this book Adventures in aeronautical A collection of stories from the various campaigns in the Japanese Navy operation seen describe observations and design: the life of Hilda a BOAC and British Airways Western Desert. up to that point. modelling of high-pressure flows M Lyon by Nina Baker, navigator and pilot while flying encountered in gas turbine, Crampton-Moorhouse, 2020, VC10s, 707s and 747s. SERVICE AVIATION diesel and jet engines used in 64pp. aeronautics and astronautics. A short biography of Sketches of Fiji by Andrew Meteor Boys: true tales one of the earliest female Drysdale, Mentor Aviation from the operators of AIRCRAFT aeronautical scientists and Services, 2019, 377pp. Britain’s first jet fighter, IDENTIFICATION engineers. Includes information A personal memoir from 1944 to date by S Bond, about her time at Parnalls, the covering the author’s early years Grub Street, 2020, 223pp. Civil Aircraft Markings 2020 Royal Airship Works and the as an aircraft engineer with Fiji Tales from over 40 people by A S Wright, Crecy Publishing, Royal Aircraft Establishment. Airways during a pioneering who operated the Gloster 2020, 464pp. time in Pacific aviation. As CEO Meteor, Britain’s first jet fighter. of Fiji’s Blue Lagoon Cruises The latest edition of this I sell aircraft: no ‘plane’ handbook recording all current business by Brian M Dixon, and as CEO of Air Pacific, Phantom Boys: True Tales now again Fiji Airways, at civil aircraft registrations in the Corporate Jet Investor, 2020, from UK Operators of the UK and the registrations of 308pp. the time of the 1987 military McDonnell Douglas F-4 by 100s of airliners likely to be The memories of an coups to turning the company R Pike, Grub Street, 183pp. into more than ten years of The Secret Horsepower seen in the UK. aircraft salesman working for Race: western front fighter A compilation of informal Britten-Norman in the early profitability and building it into an international airline. engine development, Calum recollections from RAF Military Aircraft Markings 1970s before moving to Short personnel of operating the E Douglas, Tempest, 2020, 2020 by H J Curtis, Crecy Brothers, Bombardier and 480pp. F-4 Phantom (including over Jetcraft. His work took him Spy Pilot: Francis Gary Publishing, 2020, 304pp. A beautifully illustrated in- the Falklands), illustrated across the world, including to Powers, the U-2 incident, throughout with contemporary The latest edition of depth study of the development Africa and Hong Kong. and a controversial Cold photographs. this handbook recording the War legacy by Francis Gary of piston aircraft engines before registrations of all military Powers Jr and Keith Dunnavant, and during WW2. aircraft that are based or The Dowding papers by Tornado Boys: thrilling Prometheus, 2019, 296pp. operate from the UK and Ireland Lord Air Chief Marshal tales from the men and The empire strikes south: (including those of the USAF, Dowding, edited by Donald Based on newly available women who operated this US Navy and US Army) or are Spiers and James Buckley, information, the son of famed Japan’s air war against indomitable modern-day likely to be seen in the UK. Lightning Source, 2020, 155pp. U-2 pilot, Francis Gary Powers, Northern Australia, 1942-45 bomber by Ian Hall, Grub The previously discusses the downing of the by Tom Lewis, Avonmore, 2020, Street, 2020, 199pp. American U-2 spyplane over the 183pp. unpublished personal Tales from those men and AIRCRAFT HISTORIES Soviet Union on 1 May 1960. memoir of Air Chief Marshal A day-by-day account women of the Royal Air Force Lord Dowding written for a of the Japanese attacks on who flew the Panavia Tornado. American Secret Projects 2: biographer. The papers cover WORLD WAR 2 Australia. US Airlifters since 1962 by his early life at school, in the Sir G Cox and C Kaston, Crecy Army and later the Royal Air British imperial air power: Imperial Japanese Navy vs Publishing, 2020, 360pp. Force, including his time as the Royal Air Force and the the Allies: New Guinea & Illustrated throughout with Air Member for Supply and defense of Australia and the Solomons 1942-1944 numerous general arrangement Research, the termination New Zealand between the by M Claringbould, Avonmore, diagrams and artists’ of his tenure as the WW2 World Wars by A M Spencer, 2020, volumes 2 & 3. impressions, a detailed history Commander-in-Chief of Fighter Purdue University Press, 309pp. Illustrated throughout with of the evolution of over 200 US Command and his subsequent Examines the air defence military transport aircraft, both interest in spiritualism. contemporary photographs and of Australia and New Zealand artist impressions and markings, conceived and operational. during the inter-war period, and diagrams of the key aircraft Tomcat Rio: a Topgun demonstrating the difficulty of types, it chronicles the air war instructor on the F-14 applying new military aviation between the Imperial Japanese Tomcat and the heroic technology to the defence of Navy Air Force and the allies in naval aviators who flew it, the global Empire and provides New Guinea and the Solomons. by D Baranek, Skyhorse, 2020, an insight into the nature of the 161pp. political relationship between A further volume of tales the Pacific Dominions and Japanese army fighters: from Dave ‘Bio’ Baranek, this Britain. New Guinea & the Guardians of Ukraine: the time exploring the later parts of Solomons 1945-1944 by M Ukrainian Air Force since his career. Claringbould, Avonmore, 2020, 1992 by B Taghvaee, Crecy, Close call: RAF close 104pp. 2020, 352pp. air support in the Illustrated throughout with The hunt for Jimmy Brown: Mediterranean, volume A history of the second an MIA pilot in World War I defeat in France to el contemporary photographs, largest air force in Europe from its creation after the break-up II China by Robert L Willett, Hamma 1939-1943 by V artist impressions and markings of the Soviet Union in 1992. It Potomac Books, 2020, 207pp. Flintham, Crecy Publishing, diagrams of the key aircraft types used by each unit used contains chapters on fighters, The story of an American 2020, 208pp. by Japanese Army Air Force in trainers, long-range and trainer pilot who was lost while flying Close support for the Army Auster: production New Guinea & the Solomons. aircraft, with information on a China National Aviation by the RAF evolved during histories by Malcolm Fillmore, Part two of the series. radio and radar jammers. Corporation (CNAC) aircraft WW2 from a state of near Air-Britain, 2020, 256pp. during WW2 and his family’s non-existence to becoming a A classic Air-Britain guide search for answers. CNAC fully integrated part of the battle Operation i-go: Yamamoto’s POWER PLANTS to the production histories of pioneered the hump routes plan. The first of two volumes last offensive, New Guinea each of the Auster aircraft across the Himalayas and was begins in the final year of the and the Solomons, April High-pressure flows for produced. It complements the used to supply China from Great War, explores the inter- 1943 by M Claringbould, propulsion applications by 2018 Air-Britain book, Auster: depots in India. war years, Dunkirk, the rise and Avonmore, 2020, 158pp. Josette Bellan, AIAA, Progress the Company and the Aircraft.

To borrow these and thousands of other titles contact the National Aerospace Library. E [email protected] W www.aerosociety.com/catalogue

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Afterburner_February2021.indd 9 21/01/2021 12:27:45 NEW MEMBER SPOTLIGHT

Brandon Carter, Apprentice Affiliate, 21 further my professional development and keep Location: Crawley, UK informed about the latest developments and issues within aerospace/avionics. I would also Job Title: Software Engineering Apprentice at Thales within the avionics business. like to be involved in projects that aim to promote the industry to younger people showing them the What inspired you into aviation? As a kid, I range of opportunities available, as I don’t think used to ask a lot of questions, mainly how things enough people find it accessible. work, why, and what would happen if I did that. Some of those questions were smart and some What three items would you take with you were just silly but most of them were unanswered. to the space station? I would have to take my I found physics a really interesting subject camera to photograph the many sunrises and because it happened to provide answers to most sunsets that are seen by the ISS every day, a of these questions, so I thought that I was going couple of photographs of friends and family and to study physics at university but I realised that it’s my phone for music. the satisfaction of solving problems and constantly What’s your favourite aircraft? Lockheed SR-71 learning new things that I enjoy. I have found that Blackbird. this career allows me to continue those things every day. Who is your biggest inspiration? I don’t really have a single biggest inspiration; I do appreciate What is the best thing about your people like Erwin Schrodinger, however, who’s apprenticeship? My apprenticeship gives me the great experience of working on real-life projects work in the mid-1920s was so instrumental to the while studying which means I get to apply my development of concepts that underpin much of knowledge and put my skills into practice. As the 21st century’s modern science that we have well as meeting some great people and having learned to take for granted. It’s people like him who fun working on different projects, I have gained inspire me to do great things. confidence in the working environment with the Why do you think apprentices should dedicated support from my team. take advantage of free membership with What made you join the Royal Aeronautical the Society? I think apprentices should take Society? I joined the Royal Aeronautical Society advantage of the opportunity; as membership for the resources and networking opportunities. is free, there is really nothing to lose. The Having access to all of the content the Society many resources available will help in terms provides will help facilitate ‘wider reading’. of professional development, knowledge and, What do you hope to get out of your hopefully, interest. It’s also a chance to meet new membership? I hope to use my membership to people and be recognised.

National Apprenticeship Week 2021

‘Build the Future’ is the theme for NAW2021, taking place between 8 and 14 February 2021, aiming to encourage everyone to consider how apprenticeships help individuals to build the skills and knowledge required for a rewarding career.

The 14th annual week-long celebration of apprenticeships, taking place across England, will showcase the impact apprenticeships can have on communities, local businesses and regional economies and how they all benefit from the impact of apprenticeships.

For more information on apprenticeships visit: www.apprenticeships.gov.uk

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Afterburner_February2021.indd 10 21/01/2021 12:27:46 Obituary CARL EDWARD MANN AMRAeS included the annual calibration of the flight 1937-2020 instruments for the BBMF. By this time he was one of the very few able to service the pre-electronic instruments. Carl was born on 3 April 1937 in York. After an Carl became a member of the Chester apprenticeship as an electrician, he decided to Branch of the Society in 1978 and served on the pursue a career in avionics in the RAF. His first Committee from 1982 to 2018, as Secretary from posting was to RAF Leeming, followed by a 1990, Vice Chairman from 2002 and Chairman detachment to Aden during the Aden Emergency from 2004 until he retired in 2018 as a result of and a posting to RAF Conningsby during which, his deteriorating health. In 2020 he was proud on a home visit, he met his future wife, Marie. They to accept nomination as Branch President. His were married in 1964. contribution to the Branch was enormous. During The next posting for the couple was Gütersloh that time he was heavily involved in the organising where their son, Rodger, was born and then RAF of three Branches’ Conferences and two North Sealand where their second son, Adrian, was born. West Forums. Carl completed his 22 years in the RAF at Carl’s love of all things aeronautical was Sealand on declining a posting to Lossiemouth to boundless. He was an active member of the Clwyd avoid unsettling the family in Chester. However, Aviation Group, worked towards the establishment the week after handing in his uniform, he was of a museum at Sealand and was involved in too back at his workbench as an MoD civilian. As such, many other aviation activities to mention. he was awarded the Air Officer Commanding’s He will be sadly missed by Marie and his family, Commendation in recognition of his work which as well as the Chester Branch.

Human Factors Group: Engineering – Strategy to Influence Human-Centred Design for Maintenance

One of the most effective ways to prevent errors during maintenance of aircraft is through the aircraft design. Making sure items can only be fitted one way, not locating identical couplings side by side, using different electrical plugs that are in close proximity; all these are examples that help to stop maintainers make mistakes. The Human Factors Group: Engineering, a sub-group of the Human Factors Specialist Group, is looking for some help from volunteers to develop a strategy that it can employ to improve understanding of the impact of design and the trade-offs that have to be made on human error in maintenance and then bring about beneficial change and error reduction. We envisage something like a six-month piece of work to outline how best to engage with aircraft design organisations and the actions that could be taken to drive change. If you have relevant experience and understanding of aircraft design and would like to help with this project we would be delighted to hear from you.

Please email [email protected] for more information and express your interest.

FEBRUARY 2021 51

Afterburner_February2021.indd 11 21/01/2021 12:27:46 COOL AERONAUTICS

Creators of UK’s first virtual Cool Aeronautics experience tell the story of their intrepid journey

Picture the scene: a winter snowstorm engulfs you Above: Some of the team who Aaron Baker, Charlea Boucher, Amy Jarrett, as you pace forward in a group, huddled together. produced this event. Leonardo. Alwin Karmacharya, Evelyn King, Felix Loy, Oliver In the distance, a deep gully emerges, your only Mackenzie, Nelson Nunez-Mulder, Eilidh Seville, obstacle to attending a top-secret sustainability James Varney, Bryony Venn and Harry Whitehead. conference. With basic resources to hand, only engineering skills will save you. Pulling together a captivating challenge to This was the dramatic scenario laid before engage students’ imagination participants at the UK’s first virtual Cool Aeronautics Amidst all the distractions of the pandemic, the team event in association with the Royal Aeronautical recognised it was important to create a compelling Society (RAeS), created by a team of graduate and activity that could immerse the 477 school students apprentice STEM Ambassadors based at Leonardo’s who registered for the event. Participants were Yeovil site. Like the adventurers described in invited to become ‘brave adventurers’ who needed their unique STEM experience, Leonardo’s STEM to use engineering and communication skills to Ambassadors were determined to find a way cross a deep gully in the midst of a snowstorm so through the challenge posed by the pandemic. they could arrive at a sustainability conference and Due to the pandemic, Leonardo hosted the develop a new energy source! event for Years 5 and 6 primary school students, of eight to ten years of age, virtually, instead of at the Fleet Air Arm Museum, RNAS Yeovilton Creating a workable concept to deliver where it is typically held. The team guided students STEM during a pandemic safely through each step of their intrepid journey to link Leonardo’s STEM team decided to use the online engineering to the children’s imagination during video meeting software WebEx to deliver the event the most challenging circumstances. Leonardo’s remotely. It was important that the children had graduate and apprentice STEM Ambassadors who a clear set of instructions, to guide them through organised the event were: Olivia Gribler, Bethany the construction of their own battery-powered car Elwell, Sebastian Watts, Benjamin Hunter, Bianca and a bridge. Months before the event, the STEM Erwee and Joshua Hughes. On the day, each Ambassadors gathered together, armed with tape, school had their own volunteer STEM Ambassador: string, Blu Tack, straws, a car kit and batteries, and

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Afterburner_February2021.indd 12 21/01/2021 12:27:46 got to work carrying out a practice run of a car and bridge construction to make sure the engineering concepts they were going to share were achievable. Olivia Gribler said: “Logistically speaking, there was a large challenge in bringing this event onto a digital platform. In previous years, there have been barriers to inclusion, such as funds for transportation and the required number of teaching staff to cover the school requirements. By holding this event online, we have been able to remove almost all of those barriers, which accounts for the increase in participation for this year’s event.” The team packed up STEM boxes for each school ‘bubble’ with all the materials they would need, along with a prize for the top performers in Above left and left: Bridge construction tested to its limits. each bubble. Each school bubble classroom was Above right: The ‘virtual’ STEM Ambassadors. provided with access to a breakout room where a Leonardo. Leonardo STEM Ambassador would be waiting for them, ready to respond to their queries. STEM Activities Manager Sebastian Watts said: “All of the materials had to be delivered two Bethany Elwell, School Liaison Manager, said: “I am weeks before the event on the 18 November, as very proud to have taken part in this virtual event the schools needed to have enough time to check so the students didn’t miss out like they have for so they had everything and quarantine the boxes. many other things this year! The event has inspired A lot of pressure came with the role of Activities me to believe that not all ideas are unachievable and Manager, as I had to ensure we produced activities if an idea does sound ‘out of the box’ you may be on of a consistent quality which were also fun. This to something!” encouraged me to plan and add material, little Ben Hunter added: “For me, this year’s Cool by little, with the team, until we had a really well- Aeronautics event provided a great example of presented activities pack that was engaging for the how positives can always be created from negative students and helpful for the teachers.” situations. With a global pandemic spoiling the The adventure challenge day also featured usual fun, we were able to create the largest Cool a quiz with Leonardo’s senior leadership team Aeronautics ever seen, virtually of course!” which included Nick Whitney, Managing Director of Leonardo Helicopters UK, Sarah Cook, Head of Operations Leonardo Helicopters UK, Paul O’Grady, Head of AW101, Leonardo Helicopters UK, and Dr Alisdair Wood, Chair of RAeS Yeovil Branch. Questions posed by the students included: “What’s your one piece of advice to pass on to the up and coming generation?” to which the answer was “Find something you are passionate about and turn it into Anne Tompkins a career.” Members will be sad Leaving young people with a sense of their to learn of the death potential as future engineers of former Society staff member Anne Comments from the school students confirmed Tompkins. Anne joined that the event had reached its goal of inspiring an the staff from the interest in STEM subjects. Feedback included: SBAC to become the “I am very glad I took part in this STEM day and PA to Keith Mans, I have put my certificate on my fridge. I wear my RAeS CEO, later badge every day. Thanks again for a wonderful continuing as PA to event.” Simon Luxmoore. Anne “You really inspired me and made me realise that left the Society in without engineers we wouldn’t have the things we August 2012 and has have today and life would be much much harder.” been much missed. Our thoughts are with her “I certainly will never forget the day. You have family and friends. inspired me to be an engineer in the future.”

FEBRUARY 2021 53

Afterburner_February2021.indd 13 21/01/2021 12:27:47 Diary

EVENTS www.aerosociety/events-calendar/

2 February Rochester Avionic Archives Chris Bartlett, Curator, Rochester Avionic Archives Online lecture followed by a discussion with Tony Pilmer, Librarian and Archivist, NAL

3 February Engineering the Future – A System of Systems Approach Martin Aston, Consultant and former Airbus Senior Manager Online lecture

4 February A short history of the 737 MAX and ‘Manoeuvring Characteristics Augmentation System’ (MCAS), from development to fix Chris Brady, Boeing 737 pilot and Chairman of the UKFSC from 2014 to 2016 Solent Branch online lecture

9 February The New UAS Regulatory Regime Online RAeS workshop

9 February 2021 Lecture from Reaction Engines Limited (REL) Robin Davies, Reaction Engines Stevenage Branch online lecture

10 February Surrey Satellite Technology Ltd; 30 Years & Beyond of The Caproni Ca60 Transaereo Medals & Awards Changing the Economics of Space or Noviplano (nine-wing), 16 March Robert Goddard CEng FRAeS, Engineering Director, Surrey was the prototype of a Rolls-Royce ACCEL: The world speed record for electric Satellite Technology Ltd powered aircraft large nine-wing flying boat Brough Branch online lecture intended to become a Phill O’Dell, Rolls-Royce Pilot, and Matheu Parr, Project Manager 100-passenger transatlantic Online lecture 10 February airliner. It had eight engines Branch AGM and Typhoon EMH – Electro Magnetic Hardening and three sets of triple wings. Stuart McCafferty, Typhoon EMH Lead Engineer, BAE Systems Following a brief first flight 16 March – Air from Lake Maggiore, the Landing Gear Systems Preston Branch online lecture Ca60 crashed shortly after Mick White, Chief Engineer New Product Development, take-off on its second flight Safran Landing Systems 16 February on 4 March 1921. An online Gloucester and Cheltenham Branch online lecture The most prestigious and From the Drawing Board to the Sky: Vertical Aerospace’s lecture, ‘Perspectives on Journey to Certification (Aerodynamic) Drag’ will be 23-24 March Tim Williams, Chief Engineer, and Sophie Robinson, Senior Mitigating the climate impact of non-CO given by Dr John Maris to 2 long-standing awards in Flight Dynamics Engineer, Vertical Aerospace the Montreal Branch on 18 – Aviation’s low-hanging fruit RAeS General Aviation Group online lecture February. Online RAeS conference global aerospace honouring 18 February 14 April Perspectives on (Aerodynamic) Drag Small Modular Reactors Dr John Maris, Chairman, Montreal Branch Matthew Blake, Rolls-Royce Small Modular Reactors Chief achievements, innovation Montreal Branch online lecture Engineer Online lecture and excellence. 24 February Geoff Wilde Lecture in association with the Rolls-Royce 14 April Heritage Trust: Profiles in Courage: Bold Leaders who shaped Lightning Cold War Warrior today’s Jet Liner Ecosystem Captain Ian Hollingworth Kevin Michaels, Author & Managing Director of Aerodynamic Preston Branch online lecture The Society’s Medals and Awards are open to everyone in the global aerospace Advisory Derby Branch online Named lecture 14 April community – from senior professionals to students and graduates. 66th Sir George Cayley Lecture: Air Power, Technology and 10 March Maintaining the Competitive Edge Sir Freddie Page Lecture: Future Technology David Short, Technology Director, Chief Technology Office, BAE Do you know an individual or team that has made an outstanding contribution to Ian Muldowney, Engineering Director, BAE Systems – Air Systems aerospace and merit recognition? Nominate them today. The nomination form can Preston Branch online Named lecture Brough Branch online Named lecture be found on our website www.aerosociety.com/medalsandawards. The closing date For further information and booking: is 31 March 2021. www.aerosociety.com/events-calendar/

For further information call email [email protected] 54 AEROSPACE

Afterburner_February2021.indd 14 21/01/2021 12:27:48 HMA 2021 advert.indd 1 15/01/2021 11:22 2021 Medals & Awards

The most prestigious and long-standing awards in global aerospace honouring achievements, innovation and excellence.

The Society’s Medals and Awards are open to everyone in the global aerospace community – from senior professionals to students and graduates.

Do you know an individual or team that has made an outstanding contribution to aerospace and merit recognition? Nominate them today. The nomination form can be found on our website www.aerosociety.com/medalsandawards. The closing date is 31 March 2021.

For further information call email [email protected]

Afterburner_February2021.indd 15 21/01/2021 12:27:48 HMA 2021 advert.indd 1 15/01/2021 11:22 Elections

FELLOWS Liz Matthews AFFILIATES Sam Oliver WITH REGRET Philip Adrian Julia Cullen The RAeS announces with regret the death of the Timothy Gibson E-ASSOCIATES STUDENT AFFILIATES following member: Have you successfully renewed MEMBERS Lochlann Allison Michael William Ashcroft CEng MRAeS 80 Gareth Caine Gabrielle Annese Mark Burleigh Guglielmo Cimolai Samantha D’Arcy Clive Reginald Brewer CEng MRAeS 88 your membership for 2021? Andrea Ciarella Matthew Clarke Adrian Ebenwaldner Rodney Brown ARAeS 88 Edyta Dzikon Amjad Miah Edward Derek Dixon CEng MRAeS 93 ASSOCIATES Pablo Garza Timothy Mukhwana Oliver Heard Christopher Willett Michele Ann Evans FRAeS 55 Andrew Bates Benjamin Jenner Hugh Oliver Field FRAeS 91 James Forbes Nurina Sharmin Ulric Keith Gerry CEng MRAeS 96 Anthony Gillard Matthew Snowdon Adil Hebil-Motie Julian Stephens Derek Miles Affiliate 85 Neil John Beaumont Ritchie CEng FRAeS 84 Daniel Powell Seeley Affiliate 85 Anne Elizabeth Tompkins Affiliate 68

Are you a Member or If you have not yet renewed your membership for 2021, ensure you do so as soon as possible to maintain access to your exclusive range of membership benefits. You can renew your Fellow of the RAeS? membership online by logging into your online account. Visit the link below and pay online using a debit or credit card. Did you know you can nominate your peers and colleagues for www.aerosociety.com/login membership?* Your recommendation will allow them to benefit from a Payment can be made via BACS transfer to the Society’s bank account, quoting your streamlined application process. membership number. Bank details are as follows: Nominate here: Bank: HSBC plc BIC/Swift: HBUKGB4B Sort Code: 40-05-22 IBAN: GB89HBUK40052201564641 www.aerosociety.com/recommend Account No: 01564641 *Fellows can nominate at the Fellow grade and below & Members at the Member Alternatively, you are also able to renew by calling +44 (0)20 7670 4304/4315 or by emailing grade and below. [email protected] Find out more ways to get involved and utilise your membership benefits on our website: www.aerosociety.com/membership Thank you in advance for renewing your membership! +44(0)20 7670 4384 [email protected] With your support, the Royal Aeronautical Society remains the world’s foremost professional institution dedicated to the entire aerospace and aviation industry.

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Afterburner_February2021.indd 16 21/01/2021 12:27:48 Membership Renewals Ad RP WJD young member.indd 1 21/01/2021 11:20 Have you successfully renewed your membership for 2021?

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Afterburner_February2021.inddMembership Renewals Ad RP 17WJD young member.indd 1 21/01/202121/01/2021 12:27:48 11:20 The Last Word Commentary from Professor Keith Hayward FRAeS

Great ships – pity about the logistics

early 60 years ago, the Labour Strategic rationale Government cancelled the CVA-01, a 53,000t carrier, and served notice There is the wider question of what exactly is on the remaining fixed-wing naval intended by deploying to the Asia-Pacific, or even to platforms. The power projection gap the Gulf. The UK will add little to existing US assets Nwas to be filled by land-based F-111s, bought from in the region, save providing political cover in future the US to replace the TSR.2. The F-111 contract operations, possibly designed to deter or to react to only lasted another year – terminated with the end Chinese actions. But the mid to late 2020s will be of major British military commitments ‘East of Suez’ just when the Chinese will be ready to deploy new in 1967. weapons designed to drive US carrier task forces well east of Taiwan – how will the Royal Navy defend itself Another Anglo-American naval against these threats? In cancelling the CVA-01, Denis aviation co-production Healey used the increasing vulnerability of carriers in the North Atlantic and Mediterranean to justify his decision. Arguably, we are in an even more dangerous The new Queen Elizabeth-class is, so it seems, to environment against first division adversaries and not be deployed where the CVA-01 was to go – ‘East of much better off against ‘asymmetrical’ threats. Suez’. With more historical echoes, its primary strike There is a case for carrier-borne aviation but armament will be an American aircraft with British perhaps only as part of a well-shaped European engines (or R-R LiftFan), the F-35B – just like the force, with French naval capabilities to the fore ‘anglicised Spey-Phantom’ acquired to fill a Fleet and other F-35B operators to fill out the UK’s Air Arm capability gap. The decision in the 1990s diminishing numbers. At the very least, the UK can to rule out ‘cats and traps’ on cost grounds means fit into a NATO context supplementing US assets, that the F-35B is the only option. Just as well it benefitting from the defensive shelter of a US battle works – or well enough, according to the latest US group. These scenarios at least make some sense Government Accountability Office (GAO) report. for a post-Brexit defence posture of a resource- However, it will cost even more than last calculated, strapped European military power. putting considerable pressure on a post-Covid UK THERE IS A defence budget. At least the procurement process CASE FOR Last November, the House of Commons Public worked this time CARRIER-BORNE Accounts Committee weighed in with its two pennyworth, identifying problems in sustaining The PAC report noted the weakness in the AVIATION, BUT a carrier battle group with the current fleet of Crowsnest shipborne AEW programme but, PERHAPS ONLY support vessels and whether the UK would be despite costing double the original estimates, the AS PART OF A able to afford a sufficient number of F-35Bs to contractors have delivered technically a splendid sustain operations across the two ships’ lifetime job. There are still questions about whether the WELL-SHAPED (the Prince of Wales is due to enter service in the carriers will have sufficient bandwidth to make best EUROPEAN mid 2020s). The current confirmed order of 48 use of the F-35’s command and control functions FORCE, WITH aircraft is a modest amount of power to project. but the Navy will have a very good piece of kit. It FRENCH NAVAL The recent uplift in defence spending (net of the is just whether 20 years of technological evolution projected equipment budget ‘black hole’?) might will have taken its toll on a strategic rationale that CAPABILITIES get us closer to the notional final order of 138, but looked ambitious even in the late 1990s, and that TO THE FORE the UK might have to settle for far fewer than that. was before the money ran out.

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