AE October 2019 ROSPACE

BREXIT – BRACE FOR IMPACT THE RISE AND FALL OF JET AIRWAYS BOOM COUNTS DOWN TO SUPERSONIC TESTING

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October 2019 THE AIRBORNE EMERGENCY ROOM V olume 46 Number 10 ON CALL WITH YOUR LOCAL AIR AMBULANCE

Royal A eronautical Society EXPERT FORUM

MODERATOR: DR. RAFAEL RAMIREZ, DIRECTOR, OXFORD SCENARIOS PROGRAM

On 14-15 November 2019, the world’s aviation industry leaders will gather at the London home of the Royal Aeronautical Society for a forum on the global megatrends and their importance to our industry. WHY SHOULD YOU ATTEND? The objective of the forum is to develop a plausible investigation of these potentially disruptive trends and to co-create a shared vision of the future. Senior Aviation Executives with a strategic perspective will want their voices to be heard in this important dialogue. 14 –15 NOVEMBER 2019 NO.4 HAMILTON PLACE, LONDON Registration Non-member £1450.00 + VAT RAeS Corporate Partner or Member £1200.00 + VAT www.aerosociety.com/megatrends Please contact [email protected] to register your interest to attend the forum AAKSS Supersionic Boom Volume 46 Number 10 The airborne Supersonic October 2019 emergency room countdown A look at the vital Boom Supersonic work of air ambulance 32 prepares its 14 charity AAKSS in XB-1 technology providing helicopter demonstrator for emergency medical flight testing. Contents services. Correspondence on all aerospace matters is welcome at: The Editor, AEROSPACE, No.4 Hamilton Place, London W1J 7BQ, UK [email protected] Comment Regulars 4 Radome 12 Transmission The latest aviation and Your letters, emails, tweets aeronautical intelligence, and social media feedback. analysis and comment. 58 The Last Word Storm warnings 10 Antenna Keith Hayward looks back Howard Wheeldon considers at the first 100 years of The addition of Italy to the UK’s Team Tempest future combat technology the rapid turnover of UK commercial air transport and Defence ministers and the the future prospects for low- programme last month provided a welcome boost and a sign of gathering effect on high-level policy. cost long distance flights. momentum, some 15 months after the programme was unveiled and Sweden announcing its involvement in July. However, despite these early commitments, time is ticking on and, if Tempest and its associated Features technology strands are to enter service in the 2040s, then any new partners will need to be added quickly. Team Tempest is set to attempt something highly radical – to break the increasing cost/time paradigm 29 for military aircraft. Crucially the more international partners climb aboard, WFP the more risk there is of the programme going at the pace of the slowest 18 Andrew Drwiega nation – a factor that the team will be well aware of. Whatever model for international partnership Tempest uses, then it will also need to be able to Flying to the rescue How UNHAS uses air withstand external geopolitical shocks – Brexit being just one. Over the transport to bring relief Channel, the Franco-German-Spanish FCAS also faces its own challenges. supplies to countries hit by Taiwan showcase Paris and Berlin have diverging views on making the aircraft nuclear- famine and disaster. A report on the 2019 Taipei capable and Germany’s principled stance on defence exports could also Aerospace and Defense 22 At Brexit’s cliff edge Technology Exhibition. be a point of contention for French industry hoping to sell the fighter on The possible impact of the international market – dominated as it is now by autocratic regimes. Brexit on the UK aerospace sector over the short and Meanwhile, new FCAS partner Spain, the recipient of Eurofighter and longer term. A400M production lines, has stunned Berlin and Paris by selected home team Indra to be its FCAS industrial lead – rather than Airbus. With the 26 future of European military aerospace at stake, expect this sort of jockeying 36 for position and industrial benefits to continue as these programmes

solidify and gather steam. of Art College Boeing Tim Robinson, Editor-in-Chief

Fitting into Jet Airways’ [email protected] Flight towards a brave new world shoes What will be the key societal, How the collapse of Jet NEWS IN BRIEF technological and structural Airways benefitted those trends over the next 20 Indian carriers that remain in Editor-in-Chief Editorial Office 2019 AEROSPACE subscription years? business. Tim Robinson Royal Aeronautical Society rates: Non-members, £170 +44 (0)20 7670 4353 No.4 Hamilton Place Please send your order to: [email protected] London W1J 7BQ, UK Wayne J Davis, RAeS, No.4 Hamilton +44 (0)20 7670 4300 Deputy Editor Place, London W1J 7BQ, UK. [email protected] 41 Afterburner Bill Read +44 (0)20 7670 4354 +44 (0)20 7670 4351 www.aerosociety.com [email protected] [email protected] AEROSPACE is published by the Royal Any member not requiring a print 42 Message from our President Aeronautical Society (RAeS). version of this magazine, please Production Manager Message from our Chief Executive contact: [email protected] 43 Wayne J Davis Chief Executive +44 (0)20 7670 4354 Sir Brian Burridge CBE FRAeS USA: Periodical postage paid at 44 Book Reviews [email protected] Advertising Champlain New York and additional 47 Library Additions Online +44 (0)20 7670 4346 offices. Publications Co-ordinator [email protected] 48 Cool Aeronautics Chris Male Postmaster: Send address changes Additional features and content are to IMS of New York, PO Box 1518, +44 (0)20 7670 4352 Unless specifically attributed, no 50 The Comet Inquiry available to view online on Champlain NY 12919-1518, USA. [email protected] material in AEROSPACE shall be taken www.aerosociety.com/aerospaceinsight 52 Diary Publications Executive to represent the opinion of the RAeS. ISSN 2052-451X Including: Annabel Hallam Reproduction of material used in this 54 Obituary At Brexit’s cliff edge, Loyal wingman and loyal +44 (0)20 7670 4361 publication is not permitted without the packs, Cybersecurity and aviation, AEROSPACE [email protected] written consent of the Editor-in-Chief. 56 Elections magazine at 50, In the September issue of AEROSPACE, Cool Aeronautics 2019, Book Review Editor Printed by Buxton Press Limited, AI and legal liability in aerospace, Brian Riddle Palace Road, Buxton, Derbyshire [email protected] SK17 6AE, UK Flying to the rescue. Distributed by Royal Mail Front cover: An Air Ambulance Kent Surrey Sussex (AAKSS) AW169 air ambulance helicopter. (AAKSS)

@aerosociety i Find us on LinkedIn f Find us on Facebook www.aerosociety.com OCTOBER 2019 13 Radome

INTELLIGENCE / ANALYSIS / COMMENT

Drone support As well as the escort drones, designed to be deployed by the ekranoplan itself, the 2050 Future Marines would be supported by ‘grunt drones’ to transport equipment and ‘ghost’ drones to confuse the enemy with holographic decoys. Silent raider The design team envisage the commando ekranoplan would use hybrid-electric propulsion. As well as being eco-friendly, it would also allow the craft to switch to silent battery mode in the last phase of flight − to sneak up on enemy-held coastlines with ultra stealth. The ekranoplan would have a range of around 100nm.

W DEFENCE Commando ekranoplan In a vision of future military opeations, a team of 15 the UK's best young engineers from UK Naval Engineering Science and Technology forum (UKNEST) were tasked to imagine the equipment and weapons of the Royal Marines in 2050. This included hi-tech suits, with jump packs, rail guns and 'grunt' drones. To replace today's landing craft and helicopters for an amphibious assault in 2050, the team gravitated towards designing high-speed (300kt) wing-in-ground-effect (WIG) vehicles, explained one of the team members, Eirini Trivyza, a naval architect from Babcock International. The craft would be able to deploy long-distances over the horizon from the Queen Elizabeth-class aircraft carrier mothership to stealthily penetrate hostile enemy defences and deliver Royal Marines to the target.

4 AEROSPACE / OCTOBER 2019 W deck oftheQEC. from landbasesanddeploy from therear wheeled landing gear, allowing ittoalsofly water. However, thewingpodshouse effect vehicle isdesignedtooperate over aboat-shapedhull,With the wing-in-ground By seaorbyland or equippedwithISRsensors. weapons, suchasmicro-missiles directed energy orconventional and would witheither bearmed drones feature amodularpayload command system. ductedfan The linked by aneural network dronesautonomous escort - would by beescorted ekranoplanThe landingcraft escorts Neural-netted @aerosociety Findus on LinkedInFind usonFacebook www.aerosociety.com i f specifications Range Speed Maximum passenger capacity Commando Ekranoplan

quickly disembark onceatthetarget. petal-like, asdoorsforthecommandosto changing materials thatunfold, profile ekranoplanlandingcraftusesshape- to 24commandosinside.The smooth, low- feature acrewofoneortwo,withspaceforup The commandoekranoplanlandingcraftwould Troop transport

300ks 24 commandosplus2cr 100miles

OCTOBER 2019 OCTOBER ew

Royal Navy 5 Radome

. News roundup from DSEI exhibition DEFENCE Italy partners on MBDA shows off future concepts Tempest The biggest news in the air sector from this year’s DSEI defence exhibition, saw Italy sign up to partner on the UK's Team Tempest future combat air systems programme. Signing a government-to-government statement of intent on 10 September, Italy became the second nation (after Sweden in July) to agree to co-operate on the Tempest ‘sixth generation’ combat aircraft project. The governmental signing was followed by an industrial agreement − involving Italian companies Avio Aero, Elettronica, Leonardo and MBDA Italy. Italian aerospace and defence group Leonardo is already a key part of Team Tempest via its UK radar, sensors and defensive aids division. In additional synergies, Italy also operates the Eurofighter Typhoon and F-35 like the

RAF − with the country also hosting a F-35 final assembly MBDA On display alongside the Tempest fighter mock-up were potential weapon concepts and check-out facility. from MBDA. New at DSEI were tandem within-visual range air-to-air missiles, 'increased calibre' WVR AAAM, hard-kill self defence and ground attack micromissiles and SPEAR EW. MBDA and Leonado have been awarded a £10m DSEI also saw the UK MoD announce a £100m contract to General Atomics contract for development of the SPEAR EW. Aeronautical Systems (GA-ASI) to complete testing and evaluation activities for the RAF's Protector RG1 armed UAV. Protector − a variant of the GA-ASI MQ-9B Inzpire BLOS GECO SkyGuardian, is set to be delivered to the RAF from 2021, with 16 air vehicles to be acquired. Unlike the Reaper it will be certificated to fly routinely in controlled now in service airspace. Over at the Inzpire stand, operations. The enhanced the company revealed electronic flight bag (EFB) that its upgraded GECO and mission map tablet, mission support tablet has now features satellite now entered operational beyond line-of-sight service with Joint communications allowing Helicopter Command − dynamic re-tasking and with RAF Chinook crews enhanced situational £100m for Protector testing using it on deployed awareness of other users. MoD NEWS IN BRIEF

to represent the industrial Mexico – declaring it killed the pilot and Cardiff The Government of Spain interests of Spain and The UK's QinetiQ unveiled operationally ready for City footballer Emiliano has selected defence and work on equal terms its newest target drone, commercial suborbital Sala have revealed that aerospace group Indra with French and German the Banshee NG, at the flights. Space America Sala had elevated levels to be the national prime national co-ordinators.” DSEI exhibition. The features hangars for of carbon monoxide in his contractor for its role in transonic Banshee NG is WhiteKnight 2 and bloodstream. The UK AAIB the pan-European FCAS US carrier Mesa Airlines agile up to 9G, features a SpaceShip2, as well as issued a Special Bulletin future fighter programme has signed a memorandum lower radar cross section mission control and a VIP over the findings, noting the with France and Germany. of understanding for (RCS) for more realistic astronaut lounge. Virgin pilot would have received The decision to nominate 50 76-seat Mitsubishi threat, but is able to Galactic now has a waiting similar levels and warning Indra came as a shock SpaceJet M100 regional use existing Banshee list of over 600 space pilots of piston and turbine to Airbus Spain, widely airliners plus an additional infrastructure. tourists. aircraft of the dangers expected to lead the 50 purchase rights. First of incapacitation due to project from Madrid. Airbus deliveries of the SpaceJets Virgin Galactic has officially Aviation accident specialists carbon monoxide poisoning. Spain has responded with: (formerly known as the opened its new $200m investigating the crash of a “Only Airbus has the scale, MRJ) could begin from headquarters and space Piper Malibu in the English According to The Seattle capabilities and experience 2024. tourist terminal in New Channel on 21 January that Times, the former Chief

6 AEROSPACE / OCTOBER 2019 AIR TRANSPORT GENERAL AVIATION Pilots strike cripples 1,000th Super Puma British Airways delivered

On 6 September at a destined for the German ceremony at its Marignane Federal Police aviation wing facility in France, Airbus – which already has three Helicopters delivered examples in service. First the 1,000th Super Puma flight of the Super Puma helicopter. The milestone (as the AS332) was in aircraft, a H215, was September 1978. British Airways A 48hr walkout by British Airways pilots on 9-10 September saw 195,000 passengers affected and close to 100% of the airline’s 1,700 flights grounded in industrial action over pay and benefits. As AEROSPACE goes to press, a further one-day strike is planned for 27 September, with The Sun newspaper reporting that a ten-day megastrike is being planned for November. BA has offered pilots a 11.5% pay rise over three years but pilot union BALPA is pressing for a profit-sharing deal for its members. Airbus Helicopters AEROSPACE DEFENCE Setback for 777X as cargo Oil spike fears as Saudi facility attacked door blown off in testing As AEROSPACE goes to press, there were fears of a global rise in oil prices Boeing has temporarily operations. The incident after state-owned Armaco facilities in suspended ground testing happened at 99% of final Saudi Arabia were struck by up to 10 of its new 777X widebody test loads. First flight of drones and/or cruise missiles on 14 after a cargo door blew the Boeing 777X has September. Yemen's Iran-backed Houthi off during a high-pressure already been pushed back rebels claimed responsibility for the stress test at its Everett to 2020 after an issue strike on two facilities in the north east plant in Washington state. with its GE-9X engines. in of Saudi, with one facility at Abqaiq, The incident occurred a statement Boeing said: the world's largest oil processing plant. during final ground testing “We do not expect that The attacks have reportedly caused of the static test aircraft, this will have a significant enough damage to cut the Kingdom’s oil where the airframe is impact on aircraft design production in half. stressed to extreme forces or on our overall test beyond normal flight program schedule.” Planet Labs

Technical Pilot for connectivity between the Saab’s Linkoping base in Proton rocket, to arrive at will be delivered in 2021, the Boeing 737MAX UK and the European Sweden on 26 August. the Red Planet in 2021. with the aircraft being used has pleaded the Fifth Union in the event that Brazil has ordered 28 The Rover will undergo to provide air ambulance Amendment in refusing to the UK leaves the EU single-seat Gripen Es and further testing in France services across the entire provide documents to the without a deal. The existing eight two-seat Fs. before being mated to the country. US Justice Department agreement to ensure Russian descent module investigation into the that essential aviation ESA’s Mars Rover, and German cruise Singapore-based grounded airliner. Pleading connections lasted until 30 Rosalind Franklin, has spacecraft. Clermont Group has the Fifth refers to the right March 2020 but has now been fully assembled completed the acquisition of a suspect or person been extended for a further at the Airbus factory Switzerland’s Pilatus has of Israel-based Eviation under investigation not to seven months. in Stevenage, ahead won an order for six of Aircraft which is self-incriminate. of being packed up its new PC-24 business/ developing the all-electric Saab has flown the for shipping to France utility jets from the Alice commuter aircraft. The European Commission first Gripen E to be for testing. The joint Swedish air ambulance Clermont already owns has extended contingency delivered to Brazil. The European/Russian rover organisation, KSA. magniX which provides agreements designed fighter made its first is set to launch for Mars The first medevac- the electric motor used on to maintain basic air 65min test flight from in July 2020 on a Russian equipped PC-24 for KSA the Alice.

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AIR TRANSPORT SPACEFLIGHT The first Indian mission to land on the Moon ended in Sales surge for Comac disappointment on 7 September after the ISRO space agency lost contact with the Chandrayaan 2/Vikram ARJ21 space probe seconds before it was meant to touch down. ISRO has since said it has spotted the Vikram Three Chinese carriers, Air ARJ21-700s with each deal lander on its side on the Lunar surface – but has been China, China Eastern Airlines worth $1.33bn. Deliveries unable to make contact with the probe – which also and China Southern Airlines are scheduled from 2020 was set to deploy a mini-rover had it landed safely. have all placed orders for to 2024. Comac now has An investigation is now underway into the cause of the Chinese-built Comac orders for 338 ARJ21s, with the crash, with speculation that centred on data that ARJ21-700 regional airliner. the type first having flown showed an anomaly in the descent rate, which could Each airline has ordered 35 in 2008. have led to a hard landing.

India loses contact with Moon probe on landing ISRO Peng Chen AEROSPACE DEFENCE

A previously unknown Swedish start-up, Heart Aerospace, has emerged to announce US approves new F-16V that it intends to develop an all-electric 19-seater 400km range regional airliner called the ES-19 – with the goal of certification by 2025. With support from a Swedish sale to Taiwan green aviation initiative, the company is planning to fly a concept demonstrator of the ES-19 in 2022. The US has officially US administrations have approved the sale of 66 new been cautious in approving Lockheed Martin F-16V new fighter sales due to

Lo fighters to Taiwan c the hostile reaction k h e e in a deal worth a d from Beijing − the

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reported $8bn. r last sale being

t i Taiwan is already n made in 1992. The upgrading US approval drew its aging 144 fierce criticism from Swedish start-up aims to develop F-16A/Bs to the mainland China, which V standard and has been has threatened to impose all-electric airliner by 2025 aiming to modernise its sanctions on US companies fighter force but previous involved in the deal. Heart Aerospace NEWS IN BRIEF

first flight. The date and ‘hop’, soaring to 150m to helicopter. The landmark Moscow, the Yak-40 will be UAE flag carrier Emirates location of the 32min demonstrate its vertical rotorcraft went to converted with a 500kW has withdrawn two Airbus flight were not given in landing capabilities. Austrian operator Hubi-fly electric motor driving a A380s to be used as video footage of the 6t The rocket, a prototype Helikopter. The handover propeller in the nose, and a spares. The carrier, which V-tailed drone released for Elon Musk’s larger of the 200th Jet Ranger X 400kW electric generator currently has further by the defence ministry. Starship, is designed to comes two and a half years driven by a gas turbine. A380s on order, has The Russian MoD says trial the Raptor engine after the first delivery in Power will also come from announced that it will that the type will have an and vertical landing March 2017. 100kW of rechargeable begin to reduce its A380 endurance of over 24hrs. for this spacecraft in batteries for take-off and fleet from the mid 2020s The project is understood development. The vertical Russia’s Central Institute of climb. CIAM aims to fly the either retiring aircraft or not to have begun in 2011 test flight took place in Aviation Motor Engineering hybrid-electric testbed in renewing leases. with a contract to Sokol Boca Chica, South Texas. (CIAM) is to develop 2020-21. Aircraft Plant and Tranzas. and fly a hybrid-electric The Russian MoD has Bell has achieved the demonstrator based on a China Airlines has revealed that the twin- On 27 August, SpaceX’s milestone of the 200th modified Yak-40 regional confirmed a $2.1bn engine Altius-U MALE Starhopper demonstrator delivery of its Model jet. Revealed at the MAKS order for six Boeing 777 UAV has undertaken its made its highest ever 505 Jet Ranger X light 2019 air show near Freighters.

8 AEROSPACE / OCTOBER 2019 GENERAL AVIATION DEFENCE Volocopter reveals newest China to navalise J-20 eVTOL design stealth fighter? According to South China contention against the Morning Post, the twin- rival Shenyang FC-31 engined Chengdu J-20 fighter, which has yet stealth fighter has been to secure a domestic or selected by China’s military international customer. leadership as the future For China’s new aircraft combat aircraft to equip carriers, the Navy is to the Chinese navy’s next switch from ‘ski-jump’ generation aircraft carriers. carriers to conventional The J-20 heavy fighter, launch and recovery, but already in service with the use electromagnetic PLAAF, was reportedly in catapults. Volocopter German eVTOL company Volocopter has unveiled a new design for a two-seat electric aerial taxi – the VoloCity. The AIR TRANSPORT 18-rotor air vehicle, which features a range of 35km, has Embraer has delivered the first example of the second of its re-engined and re-winged been designed to meet safety certification for urban aerial E-jets family, the E195-E2, to Brazilian airline Azul. With the first example acquired through mobility aircraft from the European Aviation Safety Agency lessor AerCap, Azul is set to take a further 56 136-seat E195-E2s into its fleet. (EASA). It builds on over 1,000 test flights of previous Volocopter prototypes. SPACEFLIGHT Russian robo-spaceman returns to Earth

On 6 September, was demonstrated, with Roscosmos' Skybot F-850 the ultimate goal that it will Embraer delivers first E195-E2

humanoid robot returned perform spacewalks. Embraer to Earth onboard a Soyuz MS-14 capsule after a 16- AEROSPACE day mission to the ISS. Use of tools aboard the ISS INFOGRAPHIC: BAE Systems to acquire Prismatic − two HAPS prototypes set for flight tests in 2020 ON THE ® MOVE PHASA-35 Potential Applications Powered by This ultra-lightweight solar powered Unmanned the Sun Eddie Wilson has Air Vehicle (UAV) has the potential to remain airborne for up to a year, pushing the boundaries Environmental replaced Michael O'Leary of aviation technology. surveillance as CE of Ryanair from 1 September. O'Leary, Disaster Significantly more relief meanwhile moves to cost effective than current satellite technology Group Chief Executive Border under the resructuring. protection

35-metre Maritime and Rupert Hogg, CE and wingspan military surveillance Paul Loo, CCO of Cathay the same as an Airbus A320 Mobile and internet Pacific, have resigned communications to remote areas after controversy over airline staff taking part in Flies at the upper Weighs just 150kg Hong Kong democracy regions of the Earth’s including a 15kg payload atmosphere at 65,000 ft protests. BAE Systems

@aerosociety i Find us on LinkedIn f Find us on Facebook www.aerosociety.com OCTOBER 2019 9 Global Outlook and Analysis with antenna: HOWARD WHEELDON New day and yet another New Secretary of State

new Prime Minister appointed and brings personal military experience to the role. yet another new Secretary of State Having left the Army, Wallace went on to work for Defence in the form of Ben with the international defence technology and Wallace, MP for Wyre and Preston research-based company QinetiQ before becoming North and who is remarkably the an MP. As Security Minister in Theresa May’s seventhA to hold this crucially important Cabinet administration, Wallace had been quick to dismiss post over the past ten years. fears expressed by former Chief of the Secret It takes a considerable amount of time for a Intelligence Service (MI6) Sir Richard Dearlove new Secretary of State and the various ministers who, together with former Chief of the Defence appointed to the team to learn and come to Staff, Lord Guthrie, claimed that Theresa May’s terms with their briefs. The lack of consistency in EU withdrawal agreement threatened UK national Government is the cause of huge angst within the security and would damage the UK’s relationship defence community and the cost in both time and with NATO, the US and other leading security and THE NEW PRIME effort bringing new ministers up to scratch is perhaps intelligence partners such as Canada, Australia and MINISTER HAS not something that should be quite so easily ignored New Zealand. AS YET MADE these days by those who choose them. The hope will be that the personal defence- NO SPECIFIC Those within the military and particularly that related experience that Wallace brings with him to happen to find themselves working inside the the post, translates not only into improvements for COMMITMENT Ministry of Defence work hard to bring ministerial defence but also in Cabinet, but will also provide a TO INCREASE appointees up to scratch. Various base visits are better understanding by Government of the crucial FUTURE arranged for new ministers to meet with military importance of defence at this time. I am sure that personnel and to learn about capability that the Wallace realises the need to increase investment DEFENCE military has. For service chiefs and senior civil in defence overall and also to provide better FUNDING – servants, the need to get to know their new support to those who serve within the military and OTHER THAN political masters and build relationships is always their families. Let us at least hope that he does! STATING THAT considered a priority. The omens for this are good. In July the With, as yet, no indication from the new PM Government announced an above inflation pay DEFENCE or Chancellor of the Exchequer of the direction rise for the armed forces of 2.9% to be paid in SHOULD ‘GET of travel for the defence budget from here on, September and backdated to 1 April. With this WHAT IT NEEDS’. I venture to suggest that we are unlikely to overall rise, the lowest-paid soldiers, sailors and see much in the way of direct policy change airmen will receive a 6% increase to bring them or enhancement until well into next year. That in line with the living wage. That announcement assumes the current Government survives and was universally welcomed but whether it will be I would add here that, given that the five-year seen as enough to attract and retain the talent comprehensive spending review has for this year that the UK’s armed forces need, remains to be been abandoned in favour of a one-year plan, seen. In this case, the omens are less postive. we can be all but certain that a full defence and Figures published in August show that the Army security review will now take place in 2020. had a target shortfall of no fewer than 7,000 trained troops (the current target size remains A military man at 82,000) while both the Royal Navy and Royal Air Force witnessed small net losses against Thankfully, just as his predecessor Penny Mordaunt set targets. It is clear that issues in respect of had been a Royal Naval Reservist, having served recruitment and retention are major factors that with the Scots Guards following training at the will need to be resolved by Wallace during his Royal Military Academy Sandhurst, Ben Wallace period at the MoD.

10 AEROSPACE / OCTOBER 2019 Veteran support

So, what are the other priorities for the new Defence Secretary? Very close to the top of his list is ensuring that, once and for all, veterans who served the nation so well in the past will not be prosecuted for their previous actions unless new evidence is found. We already know that the Government is working on legislation to deal with legacy issues that date from the Northern Ireland troubles but it is no use Wallace saying that: “the Government had to make sure veterans were not treated badly”, if there was not sufficient legislation on the statute book to protect them. The appointment of Plymouth Moor View MP Johnny Mercer as Parliamentary Under Secretary of State in both the MoD and Cabinet Office, together with Cabinet Office Minister, Oliver Dowden to be jointly responsible for a new Office of Veterans’ Affairs shows that the Government is serious about bringing this disgraceful interlude in the management of UK Gov our military affairs to an end. Mercer is himself a former Army officer and one who has been perhaps the most vociferous in respect of The Secretary of State Debate in respect of issues such as raising this vexing issue in public and proffering for Defence Ben Wallace national interest and maintaining sovereign support to veterans. These moves will also (centre), seen here with (manufacturing) capability has been growing and Prime Minister Boris provide reassurance and necessary motivation these are matters that neither Boris Johnson or Johnson (right), onboard a to military personnel that will hopefully translate Vanguard class submarine his new Secretary of State for Defence can ignore. to improved recruitment and retention. at HMNB Clyde. Linked to this debate perhaps is whether the Government should, on national interest grounds, A spending spike? intervene in the agreed $5bn takeover bid by US buyout firm Advent International Corporation Unlike Jeremy Hunt, who was Boris Johnson’s for the UK-based international defence and opponent in the recent Tory leadership contest aerospace group Cobham. and who said that he wanted to see defence I can make no comment here in relation to spending doubled, the new PM has, as yet, the value that Cobham and Advent International made no specific commitment to increase future have agreed but, having found myself somewhat defence funding – other than stating that defence embroiled in the issues of national interest concerns should get what it needs. That language is, I expressed by some, I do have a view. From the fear, suggestive that we should expect to see a outset I should say that I have no concerns over spike in the defence budget under the present the prospect of Cobham being American-owned. Government. That, if the deal goes through, Advent will eventually Leaving aside the increasingly difficult break Cobham up and sell-off various parts of its situation in Iran, following the seizing of a international and domestic UK businesses probably British-registered tanker in the Straits of Hormuz goes without saying. Having personally spoken which exposed more than a degree of capacity too and listened to the various national interest weakness in the Royal Navy, one of the first concerns expressed by former Cobham directors issues that Wallace will need to resolve internally and shareholders, I would say that it is up to the is ensuring that orders worth around £1bn for a Government to decide what, if any, of Cobham’s fleet of supply ships for the Royal Navy are given many defence and aerospace-related UK interests to British-based shipyards rather than abroad. should be considered as being in the national It is interesting to note that one of the new interest. If the Government does believe thst some defence ministers appointed by Boris Johnson, are, then it must ensure that the new owners Anne-Marie Trevelyan, had previously called on commit to retaining them in the UK. However, I the Government to ensure that the order for the do not believe that Cobham is deserving of carte- supply ships remained in Britain. blanche protection on national interest grounds.

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LETTERS AND ONLINE

Defending against SR-71 Blackbird AEROselfie winner lasers @THGPhoto [On Sr-71 USN/Erik Hildebrandt USN/Erik lecture] I’ve just had the pleasure of listening to Colonel Richard Graham speak on the missions he f flew over Murmansk while flying the Lockheed SR-71 Blackbird out of Det 4 at Miles M.52 RAF Mildenhall, courtesy Supercarrier USS Gerald of the @AeroSociety Mike Drew [On classic R Ford. Cranwell branch. A lecture series – the Miles fantastic insight into those M.52 project] It should Ameen Budagher [On operations. have been flown by ‘Winkle’ UK joins hypersonics Brown through the sound arms race(3)] Will make all barrier, instead it was other armaments present AEROSPACE at 50 given to the Americans and in the immediate The winner of the #AEROselfie contest in which readers by our Government. Any future absolute. The other @AerospaceSA [On were challenged to take a selfie of themselves with a connection between the issue here is how to AEROSPACE magazine at copy of AEROSPACE in any location around the world is cancellation of the Miles defend against hypersonic 50(1)] Congratulations! A Esperanza Cuena Gómez who took this picture in her home M.52 and the Americans weapons. We are talking great milestone. town of Seville, also home of Airbus Defence and Space breaking the sound about lasers and electro- in Spain. Her prize is a set of Isle of Man 100 Years of barrier with Yeager shortly magnetic pulse (high Transatlantic Flight commemorative stamps. afterwards is purely energy). That’s why the coincidental or even down new Ford class super to the UK Government carriers will produce more Is ‘Buy British’ practical for defence procurement?

giving it away – come to electricity than anything RAF @knowlesm [On ‘Buy your own conclusion. floating on water. This is British’ defence industrial going to be an expensive strategy] More like AEROSPACE at 50 endeavour. protectionist nonsense. David J Pilkington [On Buy the best kit for the AEROSPACE magazine forces, wherever it’s from. at 50(1)] Perfect timing! I Maintain it here for long just received a letter from term jobs. If UK-made kit the RAeS acknowledging isn’t the best, then get that I joined 50 years ago. industry to research and The forthcoming RAF E-7 Wedgetail airborne early warning Thanks for the Kestrel invest to become more and control aircraft is based on a US Boeing 737 platform. stickpin. competitive. How will we export if we’ve pulled the drawbridge up? @MugfordSimon I hope @warfareyachtie Same this is true as we need stands with the RN to build more in the UK, and Army. Operational @sheldonsmiths hopefully RBLS, the facility capability must remain at Passenger flight Strategy resilience comes at Methyr Tydfil, possibly the forefront of people’s centenary from sovereign capability. a bigger role for Supacat minds. If British industry Not from importing. May and Tempest and other can’t meet that for the seem jingoistic but it’s such projects are evidence price laid out, then tough. of this. It’s not too late, it’s No one will care where it @Satcom_Guru [On strategically smart. well overdue but it needs was built when rounds are 100 years of international i strategy and linking with coming in, so long as it passenger flights(4] Really apprenticeships. works and we have enough great article. Fascinating @Mark_Bate_UK Define of them. In September issue that airships are in the ‘Buy British’, as this is of AEROSPACE news again. vague and easily includes a foreign entity registered @war_student You guys don’t think Tempest will @MichaelJPryce After a Geoffrey Wardle in the UK, such as Elbit, A very drag it slightly back to a third of a century, is there @Jetcitystar Gotta love Boeing, etc. good read especially the more favourable position? anything left worth saving? loyal wingman article(2). those giants of the sky.

12 AEROSPACE / OCTOBER 2019 National Aerospace The use of software code in automated flight Camp ‘19 @jonititan Interesting accept different practices automated flight article in as reasonable? @SpaceX @AeroSociety have some interesting tools AEROSPACE September and ideas along this line. issue(5). Focuses on @bazelbuild is just one traceability in software/ of the interesting things. AI which is historically an youtu.be/t_3bckhV_YI aero focus. Elsewhere test- This is why one of my key driven design has become interests both for aircraft widespread, even with the and software design is the @PeterKDoyle [On practical limit to the tests use of automated tools to RAeS Careers at National that can be conceived and traceability. The current Even with this costly allow faster iteration around Aerospace Camp ’19] run. However, this ignores system has a long DO-178 approach, stories the design cycle. OODA for Thank you RAeS Careers the increasingly complex development cycle, the trickle out of systems design if you will. It would Team for delivering talks execution architecture Loyal Wingman(3) article in needing to be reset be very funny if aircraft to well over 100 of our below high level code. the same issue highlights following a crossing of software started following RAF Air Cadets at National Was it compiled code or ‘Undermining both of these the dateline. If we accept approaches from cloud Aerospace Camp ‘19 runtime? Which compiler? is the dismal update rate of high costs, long lead computing. Microservices? today! @RAeSCareers Does the CPU have any modern fighter software’. times and that we cannot Containerisation? @qaic_rafac @2ftsCamp opportunistic execution If systems are always quickly integrate new Distributed computing? @2ftsaerospace features? #TDD and high cost and long lead, features, what do we get in Failure tolerance in the @bw_businesswest testing in general have the opportunity cost of exchange? Safe software? @kubernetesio sense? @WestofEnglandCA their limits but so does innovation is sky high. Has the time come to @C_SkillsHub @Newquay_Space Air-to-surface Meteor @mrgerrydoyle Wow, Chinese youth visit mulled that is interesting. Is that saying it would have a New mission for Typhoon? @TimRuff3 [On dual selectable anti-radiation role Meteor missile mode or would this be a @hewasahero [On New concept] MBDA had a different flavour of missile Typhoon loadout spotted green painted Meteor in altogether? at DSEI] I think the new the Land Precision Fires cloaking device needs presentation. Launched more work. from a Boxer variant, it @Gabriel64869839 went a little under the When Italy joined in on @RaeSCareers [On radar... but it could have AGM-88E AARGM, youth visit from Chinese had a Brimstone/Spear they asked for details of Society of Aeronautics @TheWoracle I’ll get my seeker in its nose.... the seeker for possible coat. adoption into Meteor. and Astronautics] Looking A Meteor anti-radiation forward to a lovely summer evening and dining as we @Yod_Cyclist A bit of a variant was repeatedly welcome the CSAA youth @AndyNetherwood light warhead for that role. considered but so far Quite a bit of right boot hasn’t progressed. It would visitors from China to learn required to counter the also be F-35 (including more about @AeroSociety @IanPsDarkCorner asymmetric drag. B) compatible. Would be and #aerospace careers Have you not seen that @richardhastin67 GREAT to resurrect the @4HamiltonPlace before? It’s clearly a Joint Sounds a damn good idea! idea. @bluestrawb4hp Attack Complex Kinetic Environment Targeting @frasercrosan No need system! to worry about that – it will have burnt off in 1,000ft. 1. https://www.aerosociety.com/news/aerospace-magazine-at-50/ 2. AEROSPACE, September 2019, p 14, Loyal wingman and loyal pack 3. AEROSPACE, September 2019, p 24, Accelerating air and space power @MugfordSimon Could @ianmac67_SE I’m sure 4 AEROSPACE, August 2019, p 40, The birth of air travel do with some conformal 5. AEROSPACE, September 2019, p 32, Automated flight the DASS has never been fuel tanks on that bird! abused so much in the history of Typhoon... Online Additional features and content are available to view online at http://media.aerosociety.com/aerospace-insight

@aerosociety i Findlinkedin.com/raes us on LinkedIn f facebook.com/raesFind us on Facebook. www.aerosociety.comwww.aerosociety.com OCTOBER 2019 13 GENERAL AVIATION Helicopter air ambulance operations AAKSS The airborne emergency room

Air ambulances offer a vital service providing the speedy delivery of medical professionals to the injured requiring immediate treatment, often in inaccessible places. MICHAEL J GETHING reports.

o a chap of my generation, who has been TV news stories and documentaries covering the focussed on military aviation for 40-odd subject in Iraq and Afghanistan, it was time to look at years, the term ‘air ambulance’ instantly equivalent capabilities on the civil side. conjures up the opening sequence of the M*A*S*H TV series, with a pair of Bell 47 The busiest air ambulance unit in the TSioux helicopters approaching the landing pad of the UK 4077th Mobile Army Surgical Hospital. Fast forward from war-torn Korea in the early 1950s to present As a supporter of my local Air Ambulance Kent Above: A casualty is day sleepy Surrey and the changes are remarkable Surrey Sussex (AAKSS) charity, its operating base at delivered to the roof heli- to say the least. Aware of the advances in military Redhill aerodrome seemed the place to start. From pad of a London hospital medical evacuation procedure, courtesy of various there, AAKSS provides a Helicopter Emergency by AAKSS AW169 HEMS.

14 AEROSPACE / OCTOBER 2019 Medical Service (HEMS) across an area of 3,600m², stabilising the patient for the onwards journey” to the spanning three counties (plus a small part of north appropriate trauma centre. Hampshire) and two unitary authorities (effectively the whole south-east of England below London), Kit onboard with a combined population of around 4.7m. Not surprisingly, with an average of six or seven call-outs The on-board medical kit for the MD902, described AAKSS WAS per day, according to Leigh Curtis, Executive Director by de Coverly as ‘compact and bijou’, comprises ONE OF THE of service delivery at AAKSS: “it is the busiest air a patient litter, ventilator, full diagnostic patient- FIRST UK AIR ambulance unit in the UK”. monitoring system and an advanced airway kit; The charity uses two main helicopters – Leonardo plus four units of blood, four units of plasma and a AMBULANCE AW169s (G-KSST and G-KSSC), with an MD902 selection of sedation and anaesthetic drugs, loaded UNITS TO BE Explorer (G-KSSA) as an onsite back-up – leased onto the helicopter as part of the ‘scrambling’ NIGHT-CAPABLE from Specialist Aviation Services, which provides process. These elements, together with the other the flight crews (many former military pilots) and medical equipment are packaged in ‘themed’ tote maintenance support, operating on a three-shift bags for specific injuries. “Everything you’d expect 24/7 rotation. (At the time of my visit, however, to find in a hospital emergency room,” said de ‘SST’ was away on scheduled maintenance and a Coverly. second MD902 Explorer (G-KSSH) was filling in.) The AW169 fit mirrors the MD902 but with a The company is also responsible for providing HEMS larger cabin with four seats and a different design helicopters to several other air ambulance charities of patient litter with the oxygen facility underneath around the country, including Essex & Herts, Dorset & in the litter mount. The first of the AW169s was Somerset, and Cornwall. one of the first off the production line and was essentially, a prototype as the UK CAA needed Waiting for the call to qualify the oxygen facility mount installation and other medical modifications. The charity has When a call comes in for HEMS, if the location recently installed a state-of-the-art AW169 cabin is within 15 minutes flying time of Redhill, the simulator at its Redhill base, with full video/audio MD902 (call sign HeliMed21), cruising at 120kt, is recording facilities, to allow initial and on-going ‘scrambled’, while the AW169 (HeliMed60), cruising training to be conducted by the medical team in full at 130-140kt, is held for locations beyond. As might kit, including helmets with all the background noise be expected, all missions are subject to weather, associated with real missions. There is a full play- temperature, payload weights, timings and fuel back debrief capability, allowing the team to learn limitations. from their mistakes. This is the first such facility to The oldest MD902 (‘SSH’) – a former police be established in the UK. helicopter – is the heavier of the two and has The medical team comprises a doctor of an analogue cockpit with two ATC radios, GPS, consultant level (an experienced anaesthetist or transponder, VOR, NDB, ADF and radar altimeter, emergency medical specialist) and a paramedic Below: The GoodSAM remote video streaming while the other (‘SSA’) – previously used as a HEMS (again experienced and often in the first year of a system allows medics platform in the US – is lighter and fitted with a T-CAS Masters degree in Advanced Paramedic Practice). to remote assess the (Traffic alert and Collision Avoidance System) and The medical team usually works with AAKSS for a condition of patitents using a better GPS. The larger AW169s have a similar year, taking their skills back into NHS at the end (in bystanders smartphones.. system but with a digital cockpit, and can carry a greater payload. MD902 ‘SSH’ is only used for daylight operations, while the AW169s and MD902 ‘SSA’ are night capable. “The crew wear ANVIS night-vision goggles using the latest white phosphor image intensifier tubes”, Captain Kevin Goddard, one of the Specialist Aviation Services pilots, told AEROSPACE. The AAKSS was one of the first UK air ambulance units to be night-capable. Goddard explained that, for transit and training flights, the helicopters operate under commercial ATC rules, using the regular call-sign but on emergency call-outs (to accident location and patient transfer) it becomes Helimed60ALPHA, when they become priority flights, bringing the emergency room to the casualty. The job of the medical team, according to Richard de Coverly, AAKSS’ Operations Manager

(and paramedic): “is not fixing [the injury] but AAKSS

@aerosociety i Find us on LinkedIn f Find us on Facebook www.aerosociety.com OCTOBER 2019 15 GENERAL AVIATION Helicopter air ambulance operations AAKSS

a similar way that military medical reservists have the HEMS. These usually involve significant trauma, Above: One of the two improved trauma treatment). Some, however, share such as chest, brain or bleeding injuries. Leonardo AW169 HEMS their time between the charity and NHS on a 50:50 helicopters operated by AAKSS. basis. Live video streaming Right: Right: AW169 HEMS helicopters in For the future, internet technology could add The ‘Dispatcher’ formation. further to the timeliness of getting the HEMS to Below: One of the pre- The non-flying member of the team and, in some the casualty. Together with SECAMB, AAKSS has packed trauma packages ways the most important, according to Curtis, is evaluated the use of GoodSAM – an advanced used by the medical team the Dispatcher, who is responsible for screening emergency alerting and dispatching platform – to at AAKSS. incoming 999 calls to identify those incidents assess casualties at incident scenes. This involves Above opposite page: requiring the HEMS, liaising with other emergency the use of the ubiquitous smart phone to stream The interior of an AAKSS services and arranging the logistical support live video of the casualty back to the Dispatcher, operated Leonardo required. This is done at the operations room of the helping them make the time-critical dispatch AW169 HEMS helicopter. South East Coast Ambulance Service (SECAMB), decision, rather than just the caller’s description of where the AAKSS Dispatcher has a work station the casualty’s injuries, consciousness or state of with full access to the 999 call logs that come in. breathing. With a career background in ambulance dispatch, During the pilot study running from March newly-recuited Dispatchers undergo a four week to December 2018 (and published in the AAKSS training package, covering the purpose of HEMS Scandanavian Journal of Trauma, Resuscitation and (what, how and why), aviation, meteorology and the Emergency Medicine in May 2019), video footage rapid dispatch process. was received directly from 19 emergency calls, Uppermost in the Dispatcher’s mind is the with all of the public making the calls agreeing to importance of the so-called Golden Hour of live stream via their smart phone to help the people treatment so, as the incidents log onto the involved in the real-time incident. This function, via computer, the Dispatcher screens the calls, looking the link, works by the Dispatcher requesting the for certain crucial elements, such as a rolled-over person calling the emergency services to activate vehicle, a fall from height or a car/cycle collision, their smart phone video camera, which then and tries to identify those that will mostly benefit securely streams live footage from the incident

16 AEROSPACE / OCTOBER 2019 direct to the AAKSS operations room. No app is required, only a video-capable mobile phone. Once the Dispatcher has ensured the caller is safe to approach the scene, permission to link to is made via a text message. The incident video is not recorded on the user’s phone. This technology makes it possible for dispatchers to make an instant-on-scene video connection with the person who has made the emergency call in order to accurately assess the scale of the incident and direct the most appropriate emergency vehicle, in this study an air ambulance. The study also suggested the use of the video streaming reduces the stress of the person reporting the accident. More detailed trials are planned for later this year or early 2020. The incident information is fed back to the AAKSS operations room at Redhill, where the team there have access to weather and location data

across their patch, and the helicopter is ‘scrambled’. AAKSS The Captain immediately heads to the helicopter and begins engine start-up, the doctor picks up the drugs and blood supplies from their environmental Once the patient is stabilised and ready for transit, secure storage. The paramedic secures the incident the helicopter takes off and heads for the nearest data, while the co-pilot takes the location data hospital with the appropriate trauma facilities, as and enters it into an iPad navigation system, using dictated by the patient’s most immediate need. While Airbox software. some hospitals have on-site landing pads, others do not. The Captain either makes an ad-hoc landing Leonardo or, in the more urban areas, uses the closest of a number of pre-surveyed landing sites, where the patient is off-loaded for ground transfer. At night, the helicopter would use the closest of a number of pre-surveyed landing sites suitable for night operations, where they receive the patient from either ambulance or police car transfer.

Uniting air ambulances?

Over the recent August Bank Holiday, the AAKSS flew 13 missions and, with some 32 Air Ambulance units around the UK, there is an obvious need for this capability in the country. All these organisations are principally funded by charitable donations. At over £3,000 per mission, the AAKSS, alone, needs over £11m per annum to operate, 60% of which is raised entirely by lotteries and raffles. One cannot According to Captain Goddard, the aim is: “to help wondering whether the time is ripe for all air aviate before we medicate” and the helicopter is ambulance operations to merge into one nationwide usually airborne and heading in the right direction organisation, along the lines of the Royal National in five minutes. Sometimes, however, as further Lifeboat Institution. information is received en-route, the need for That said, there is no doubt of the essential work airborne assistance can be negated and the team that is done by AAKSS and other regional units in head back to Redhill. providing this life-saving capability. Their patients For daylight operations, once over the incident are all someone’s father, mother, brother, sister, child, location the Captain takes the most convenient husband or wife and, as Leigh Curtis succinctly landing site and the medical team gets to work. observed: “we aim to put families back together”.

The author wishes to thank the staff of Air Ambulance Kent Surrey Sussex for their generous assistance in preparing this feature.

@aerosociety i Find us on LinkedIn f Find us on Facebook www.aerosociety.com OCTOBER 2019 17 Flying to the rescue

BILL READ FRAeS looks at the work of the United National Humanitarian Air Service (UNHAS) in transporting food, relief supplies and aid workers to famine, disaster and conflict-ridden areas of the world.

or over 50 years, the World Food UNHAS Programme (WFP) has provided emergency assistance, to save lives in Aviation is vital in supporting humanitarian a wide variety of conflict, post-conflict operations, as well as being crucial in emergency or natural disaster situations. In 2018, response situations when aid must be delivered Fthe WFP delivered supplies to provide relief support quickly to affected populations. Airdrops are used for a number of emergencies, including an Ebola in situations when inaccessible roads, insecurity outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, or lack of proximity to a waterway make access earthquakes in Papua New Guinea, a cyclone in the impossible other than by air. Socotra island in Yemen and floods in Somalia. The WFP operates the United Nations However, while humanitarian relief has saved Humanitarian Air Service (UNHAS), a common lives and restored the livelihoods of millions, it does service created in 2004 to provide ‘safe, reliable not alwaysWFP solve the root causes whichAviation led to the and cost-efficient air transport’ to all organisations crisis, meaning that they could happen again. In involved in relief operations. UNHAS provides air addition to shipping food and other essential supplies transport services to around 700 organisations, to disasterAnnual areas, another aim of theReport WFP is to including 2018 non-government organisations (NGOs), ‘embed resilience’ so that communities can recover UN agencies, donor organisations, diplomatic and rebuild after disasters and thus reduce the need missions and government facilitating humanitarian for on-going crisis response. “As well as food, we response. It also transports light relief cargo, such also fly in workers who can assess the situation and as medical supplies, food and high-value organise its distribution,” explained Philippe Martou, equipment. Chief, Aviation Service, Supply Chain Division, World The WFP also co-ordinates airlifts from other Food Programme. “Our work has increased in recent organisations or governments. Every month UNHAS years due to an increase in global conflicts. Our aim is transports an average of 24,000 passengers not just to relieve problems when they occur but also and over 450t of light cargo to over 300 regular

WFP/Tomson Phiri WFP/Tomson to try to reduce the need for future assistance.” destinations. March 2019 18 AEROSPACE / OCTOBER 2019 A320s and Boeing 737s, are also used to transport Main pic: Cans of humanitarian workers to local airports before vegetable oil are transferring to a smaller regional aircraft. parachuted out of a WFP-chartered aircraft in “Our aircraft are a mix of everything,” explained Ganyiel, Greater Upper Martou. “With emergencies, everybody comes in with Nile, South Sudan. different types of aircraft and we are supporting and managing the flow of different carriers with different Approved operators capabilities. We have larger aircraft which carry passengers and cargo into ‘hub’ airports and smaller UNHAS does not manage any aircraft of its own aircraft, such as Caravans, Dash 8s or helicopters, but contracts aircraft from other operators. “We on ‘spoke’ routes which can land on unmade dirt don’t operate our own aircraft but we charter airstrips. them from approved air carriers,” said Martou. “By “Transporting cargo is one type of business chartering rather than operating aircraft we have while, with passengers, we have another type more flexibility in choosing the appropriate of business,” said Martou. “We also carry aircraft.” The chartered operators need to passengers from 700 different agencies with be compliant with both International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) Standards and Recommended Practices (ICAO SARPs) and the United Nations Aviation Standards for Peacekeeping and Humanitarian Air Transport Operations (UNAVSTADS). Operators are approved by the WFP Aviation Safety Unit (ASU). Based in Rome with regional offices in Johannesburg, Nairobi and Sharjah, the ASU conducts safety evaluation of commercial air operators across all regions for possible inclusion in the List of Registered Air Operators (LORA). In 2018, ASU completed 150 evaluations of different air operators. There are currently around 100 approved operators from around the world which allows WFP to access a range of air assets for rapid deployment to different emergency scenarios - thus reducing lead time and mobilisation costs when emergencies strike. humanitarian workers going both in and out. We also do evacuations which can be either security Aircraft types evacuations or medical evacuations. One recent security evacuation was from Khartoum when we “We get aircraft from various air carriers worldwide, relocated non-critical staff and dependents.” UNWHAS in 2018 such as North America, Europe, Russia and Africa,” said Martou. “They have to be shortlisted, checked Missions and audited and then they come on the list. We ask 386,330 them for a particular requirement and a particular UNHAS uses aircraft to transport aid workers Passengers country – for example for a 12-seater aircraft with and medical staff, as well as food and relief STOL capabilities to operate in DRC or a passenger cargo to remote areas hit by conflict, famine or jet to operate between Jordan and Yemen.” natural disaster. In 2018 the Aviation Service 323 UNHAS currently manages around 60 aircraft, supported WFP operations in 17 countries. These Regular destination including helicopters in ongoing operations. There include South Sudan where, since 2013, WFP are also an additional 40 aircraft with ‘standby’ has airdropped food to vulnerable communities contracts to be used in the event of a sudden in hard-to-reach areas where 7m people are 3,655 emergency. Typical aircraft used include Cessna reportedly in need of assistance. The airdrop Passengers 208 Caravans, Beech 1900Ds, Dornier 228s and operation was conducted from three strategic 328s, various Embraers, De Havilland Canada hubs in South Sudan, Ethiopia and Uganda. In Dash 8 -100s, -200s and –300s, as well as Mil 2018, WFP airdropped 60,667 tonnes of food to 1,362 and Bell helicopters. Larger aircraft, such as Airbus 81 drop zones. The WFP is currently managing 25 People evacuated

@aerosociety i Find us on LinkedIn f Find us on Facebook www.aerosociety.com OCTOBER 2019 19 GENERAL AVIATION Humanitarian relief WFP “We get security in air and ground not only from governments but also from non-state armed groups to provide ‘security umbrellas’ at airports or airstrips and also outside the landing zones.” Another skill required by pilots is precision flying, particularly when conducting food drops from aircraft both from high altitudes of over 5km and also at altitudes as low as 660ft (180m) so that the supplies land in designated drop zones measuring 3,280x660ft (1,000 x180m) on the ground, in the designated DZ (dropping zone).

Planning for emergencies

The WFP does not just react to emergencies but tries to anticipate where and when they might occur. It does this by maintaining a 24-hour monitoring of risk by staff in countries, regional offices and its operations centre (OPSCEN). The WFP also invests in data analysis, early warning and risk management UNHAS charters both aircraft in South Sudan, 15 of which are dedicated and has national and local partners all knowing fixed-wing aircraft and to passenger and light cargo transport, seven to what they need to do and how to do it. Simulations helicopters. WFP airlift and airdrops and three dedicated to are carried out for potential emergency scenarios transport of non-food Items for partners. UNHAS following a Concept of Operations (CONOPS). has also performed a record number of security If and when a natural disaster strikes, such as evacuations, for example when evacuating 245 an earthquake, flood or tsunami, the WFP waits humanitarian aid workers in two days following an until it is asked for help by the government of the attack on humanitarian premises in Maban, South affected country. “Requests sometimes come from Sudan. governments, or from a UN humanitarian co- Within 24 hours of the outbreak of the Ebola ordinator. Sometimes we anticipate emergencies, virus in the Democratic Republic of the Congo such as the arrival of hurricane Idai in Mozambique, (DRC) in 2018, UNHAS had established an when we sent staff to Beira before the hurricane airbridge between Goma and Beni, the epicentre struck.” said Martou. of the epidemic in North Kivu, it also chartered a Within 24 hours, the WFP can mobilise relief specially-equipped helicopter to transport health team, gather, analyse and disseminate its information personnel and biological samples for the Ministry of on the extent of the disaster, locate the most rapidly Health and the World Health Organisation (WHO), available emergency food stocks and alert and as well as to provide an evacuation capacity for deploy experts, including those skilled in such areas suspected patients. UNHAS also operated daily as logistics, telecommunications and nutrition. fights connecting Kinshasa and other main cities to Within 48 hours, the WFP will have established affected regions in both Equateur and North Kivu an emergency operations centre (OPSCEN) to Provinces, providing humanitarian workers, cargo, co-ordinate information flow and define an initial mobile labs and protection equipment access to response plan. Meanwhile, the logistics and telecom affected people. experts will have been drafted in and a plan will Other countries where the WFP is providing have been set up by humanitarian partners and assistance include Afghanistan, Cameroon, Central national disaster management organisations for first African Republic, Chad, Ethiopia, Kenya, Libya, Mali, deliveries and distributions Mauritania, Niger, Nigeria, Somalia, South Sudan, In the following 48-72 hours, the WFP will have Sudan and Yemen. In Syria, high-altitude airdrops conducted rapid needs assessment and OPSCEN will were the only way to provide food to the besieged disseminate data and maps for a common operational population of Deir Ezzor. The WFP has also sent picture of the situation. The first emergency food aircraft as part of its humanitarian response to the assistance will be distributed and the WFP will set up cyclone in Mozambique and Zimbabwe. monitoring and evaluation systems. By the end of the first week, a comprehensive Special skills emergency operation will be in operation, transport and communications channels will be set up, food Piloting a UNHAS-chartered aircraft requires will be brought for relief operations and international special skills, to operate in and out of remote and appeals launched for funds. sometimes dangerous areas. “Sometimes we By the third month, a decision is made whether operate in areas of civil unrest,” remarked Martou. to set up regular distributions in affected areas, to

20 AEROSPACE / OCTOBER 2019 WFP/Ikenna Ugwu WFP/Ikenna extend the emergency operation or to move to a recovery operation. An assessment is also made of the best way to meet urgent needs and increase resilience, as well as to ensure that the needs and rights of marginalised groups are met.

RPAS

UNHAS is also looking at the possibilities offered by using remotely piloted air systems (RPAS) which would reduce the security risks in conflict areas. WFP Aviation has been engaged with different manufacturers and potential operators, including one with an RPAS capable of delivering 1mt of cargo to very short airstrips. The RPAS can be customised for normal runway operations, in an amphibious configuration or for airdrops, which makes it very adaptable and appropriate for different environments. The Aviation Service has consulted the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), As well as food and relief supplies, UNHAS also transports aid workers. the International Air Transport Association (IATA) and national civil aviation authorities to gain WFP more expertise in RPAS and develop operational procedures and risk management to ensure its safe operations. In collaboration with the WFP Technology Division (TEC), the Aviation Service is also supporting training in the use of smaller drones in emergencies. “For the future, we are looking into the possibilities of operating larger drones for carrying cargo,” declared Martou.

Paying the piper

Who provides the funds for the WFP flights to operate? “Around 80% comes from voluntary donations from governments,” said Martou. “We also nearly always implement a cost recovery mechanism UNHAS-chartered Illushin IL-76. which accounts for 20-25% of our required financing for the UNHAS operation, so everyone WFP understands that there is not just something as a free flight. Someone has to pay for the pilots, someone has to pay for the aircraft, fuel and so on.”

Future

When asked about the future role of the WFP, Martou said that his greatest wish was that the organisation could ‘close shop’ because its services were no longer needed. However, wishful thinking aside, Martou aims to keep aid transport as efficient as possible and to get more charter operators up to standard to work together to provide a safe aviation service. “UNHAS has been a “lifeline for many people confronted with humanitarian crises around the world,” he concluded. “The service is especially important to provide access and reliable evacuation capacity for aid workers who strive to restore hope UNHAS sources different types of aircraft from registered air operators to thousands.” around the world.

@aerosociety i Find us on LinkedIn f Find us on Facebook.com www.aerosociety.com OCTOBER 2019 21 AEROSPACE Brexit and UK aerospace At Brexit’s cliff edge

As the UK counts down to tough choices over its exit from the European Union − Professor KEITH HAYWARD FRAeS looks at the implications of Brexit for Britain’s aerospace and aviation sector.

o here we are – at the Brexit cliff edge. not sliding closer, to recession. Global matters will At the time of writing, the exact nature not be helped by trans-Pacific and trans-Atlantic of the departure and its aftermath are tensions over trade. Even without Brexit issues (or still uncertain. Political manoeuvring at the immediate problems at Seattle), 2020 would Westminster and last minute negotiations be shaping up as potentially a difficult year for Swith the EU over the Irish backstop aside, the odds aerospace and aviation. against a ‘crash-out’, hard Brexit have shortened. Warnings over border chaos, interrupted supply chains Looking into the dark glass and the like have grown more strident, matched only by the emollient words of Brexiteers anticipating a But what can we realistically say about the current WTO-ruled post Halloween nirvana. The only clarity position? At a macro level, the UK aerospace and about the impending fundamental shift in relations defence trade association, ADS has detected a with our nearest economic and political neighbours is Brexit-related fall in production over the last quarter. that the world post-Brexit will be very different – in the ADS cites Brexit uncertainties as the main factor long term if not immediately. depressing output. It also estimates that companies Some 40 years of ever more complex and spent over £600m preparing for Brexit – largely detailed regulative and customary links will change; stimulated by the last (postponed) deadline – some will be covered even in the worst-case scenario actions which are expected to be repeated for by emergency provisions – airline services will not October 31st. Smaller aerospace companies will stop on 1 November – but trying to assess how face the greatest difficulty, especially if, like a things might be by this time next year, or even further large number of UK SMEs generally, they have not out is beyond easy and rational analysis. A cautious begun to take the administrative steps to anticipate view is that most of the really significant effects on new customs requirements and regulatory needs. aerospace and aviation will be felt over the longer Although under WTO trading rules, aerospace term – a gradual unravelling of several strands linking has some tariff exemptions, the exact position the UK with European aerospace. The long view is facing supplier companies may require a case-by- likely to reveal some hard truths about the future of case approach. Other estimates suggest that UK UK aerospace and aviation, especially if the breach is aerospace could lose as much as £3bn a year with not soft and negotiated in good faith and with good a no-deal exit. will all-round with a decent transition period to ease the way out. The manner of our departure will shape Regulation and certification issues the air transport, manufacturing, research, and security links with Europe over the coming decade, and In the event of a no-deal Brexit, the UK CAA has perhaps well beyond. stated that it will recognise EASA regulations; but EASA has not so far reciprocated, although it will Other clouds gather allow a limited transition period for the certification of parts. Rolls-Royce and other UK OEMs have taken A further complication – and an additional source steps to ensure direct access to EASA certification of uncertainty – for both the aerospace and aviation but this may be difficult for the smaller fry. The sectors is the extent, depth and duration of what CAA also has two interim agreements in place is seen by many economists as the next global with the US FAA covering both a negotiated and a recession lurking just round the corner. Technically, the no-deal situation. Even so, there may be issues for UK and Germany are already only one quarter away US-based MRO stations using UK-made parts for from an official recession. The EU is in general facing EU-registered aircraft. Sensibly, the CAA is likely to tough economic conditions with other political fissures remain in regulatory lock step with EASA whatever hampering an effective response. Despite apparently the more fervent Brexiteers say about being Brussels better figures, the US economy is slowing down, if ‘rule-takers’.

22 AEROSPACE / OCTOBER 2019 ijclark/Flickr/Banksy Uncertainty over individual licences for all in the business of operating, crewing and maintaining civil aircraft remains a problem for companies and At Brexit’s cliff edge individuals. Thousands of licences, ratings and certifications will have to be transferred – again in the event of a no-deal Brexit. Equally, as the Aviation Week MRO supplement notes, MRO activity in the UK will need to comply with EU third country regulations, adding to both costs and complexity. The MRO sector will also have to increase inventory stocks to cater for interrupted or slower supply chains. The EU has offered to extend existing flying rights (at least on a bilateral, if not a ‘5th Freedom’ basis) until March 2020. Even without an outright disruption of operations, ending access to the European Single Aviation Area will increase costs by limiting flexibility. Over the long term, this may reduce the viability of some routes, especially for LCCs operating on tight margins. This implies the potential loss of some convenient services for UK passengers. The airline ownership question has already led UK carriers to re-locate registration to EU-based centres. This will not help to maintain the full flexibility for UK originating flights but it may help retain some access to the single European Aviation Area and limit some of the potential loss of revenue. The future of consumer rights – paradoxically an area that several airlines serving the UK market have ground their collective teeth over – is equally in limbo. The Government has implied that UK domestic law will mirror existing provision but, in the absence of specific legislation (another area that will fall into the huge bucket of post-Brexit law-making), the future is hard to predict. UK airport passenger management will also face some potentially expensive modifications.

Manufacturing

The UK has been working with its European neighbours for over 50 years, links that predate EEC or EU membership. Indeed, at one time aerospace collaboration was seen as a way of getting entrance to the club. In the short term, even the harshest of Brexits will not halt the movement of Airbus wings from the UK to assembly sites in Europe and beyond. However, a slower supply chain will inevitably impact aerospace manufacturing, even if production is not so knife-edged as the automobile industry. Airbus has warned that there will be problems if its supply chain is delayed. These may well be small but none the less evident as incremental costs build-up. The real issue is not so much with the current generation of Airbus but with the next members of the family. Airbus will have a choice of locations and the UK may not then be the best place to manufacture wings, even if the design centre might stay in Bristol. Paradoxically, adherence to WTO rules

@aerosociety i Find us on LinkedIn f Find us on Facebook www.aerosociety.com OCTOBER 2019 23 AEROSPACE Brexit and UK aerospace

might also limit the degree to which government bring some stability to the exchanges but the UK risk-sharing partnership agreements can sway such aerospace and aviation community will have to adapt investment decisions. As Airbus centre moves, so to a sustained period of a low valued pound. does the loci of associated supply chains. There is perhaps less of a threat to UK military R&D aerospace, which for the next couple of decades is A GRADUAL likely to be buoyed by F-35 production. However, as This is perhaps the long-term issue. EU aeronautical LOSS OF with the next generation of civil aircraft, the UK faces and defence R&D budgets have and are growing. BUSINESS, a choice between either funding an increasingly The UK government has promised to maintain the expensive technology acquisition exercise or losing level of funding at EU programme levels until the LIMITED fundamental design ‘crown jewel’ capabilities. early 2020s. This cannot be guaranteed for any ACCESS TO sector beyond that but, more important, unless a GROWING EU Sterling’s volatility continuing link can be negotiated (as exists between RESEARCH the EU and Switzerland), the UK will lose the Sterling’s volatility against the dollar and the euro leveraging aspects of sharing in a larger programme. BUDGETS AND (sterling hit a three-year low in the first week of There is also the potential loss of personal and CONTRACTS September against the dollar) should not affect corporate relationships that may continue across (ESPECIALLY European collaborative programmes, as most are programmes and into product-related activity. No organised to minimise payments across exchanges. matter how well-funded a domestic programme may IN DEFENCE), Some supplier companies trading directly with a be, this would be the most long lasting of the Brexit FEWER foreign OEM may see an improvement in their effects; a slow loss of capabilities and collaborative BENEFITS FROM competitive position as the pound falls. By the same partners. THE SINGLE EU token, British firms will be even more attractive as AIRLINE MARKET take-over targets. Defence US purchases may be a different matter. While COMPRISE THE some of the exchange risk can, and no doubt has, A similar loss of long-term benefit may eventually MOST LIKELY been hedged, these arrangements will have a spill over into the defence sector: geography and IMPACT IN fixed duration and may not cover an extreme shift common security interests are likely partially to offset downwards in the value of sterling – near parity Brexit, but there will be a risk of long term negative ALL BUT THE levels have been predicted by some of the more effects on UK defence and security interests. There FRIENDLIEST OF pessimistic analysts. This would impact on the cost is a hint already in the emerging bifurcation of NEGOTIATED of equipment bought by the MoD, increasing the next-generation fighter development. Admittedly, pressure on procurement budgets. The rising cost the Tempest programme has attracted now two DEPARTURES. of dollar priced fuel will also have negative affects other EU member states, and the associated on UK-based airlines and holiday companies. A technology acquisition programme is more than degree of certainty about where Brexit is going will useful, especially as the participating firms are MoD

The drop in the pound’s value will increase pressure on the UK’s already strained defence budget, which is committede to buying US equipment such as F-35, Protector and E-7 Wedgetail in US dollars.

24 AEROSPACE / OCTOBER 2019 European production work sharing for the Airbus 320 On to the future

The UK aerospace industry is currently ranked by PWC as 4th in the world (behind the US, Singapore and Canada) and 1st in Europe in terms of general investment attractiveness. Prospects are bolstered by increases in publicly funded R&D and programmes such as Tempest designed to promote future capabilities. However, even PWC, with its eye on inward investment (and the UK remains a particularly welcoming environment to foreign ownership and market participation), Brexit is casting a cloud on future prospects. Leaving aside personal preferences about Brexit in principle, Mrs May’s withdrawal agreement had much to be commended from an aviation and aerospace perspective. A reasonably amicable departure and a two-year transition to smooth over what are likely to be tough negotiations on a huge set of detailed post-Brexit relationships and links. In this respect it is as much the manner of one’s departure Airbus as the leaving itself. Cross fingers that something contributing significant sums. But the issue is how not too dissimilar emerges between now and 31st to fund full development and sustain an adequate October. production run. France and Germany have made it evident that post-Brexit Britain may not be an ideal But it could be so much worse partner in their potentially competing programme, or in other future projects. Accessing the growing Propagator of ‘Project Fear’ is the epithet of abuse EU defence research programme and the leverage thrown by Brexiteers at commentators who predict that this affords will depend on retaining a positive that the sky will fall in during November if the crash- relationship with our European neighbours. out option occurs. However, as this piece suggests, Wider ranging co-operation with the US is many of the critical effects for aviation and aerospace clearly an option, building on the F-35, as well as will be mainly felt over the long term. A gradual loss the substantial British investments inside the US of business, limited access to growing EU research defence market. Similarly, BAE Systems has begun budgets and contracts (especially in defence), fewer to create a range of co-operative/consultative benefits from the single EU airline market comprise relationships with non-EU states. However, these the most likely impact in all but the friendliest of are fraught with unknowns, especially a vulnerability negotiated departures. to shifting political trends – how long might a A ‘toys out of pram’ exit could be so much worse. relationship with Turkey sit easily with US opposition Accompanied by a default on the £35-odd billion to Turkey’s procurement shift towards Russia? of budget payments the UK owes to the EU, an angry crash-out would generate so much ill-will that Space the EU might be prepared to bear the damage to its own interests and obstruct any of the residual The influential Policy Exchange think tank (many of links that might otherwise have been negotiated its alumni have joined the Johnson Administration) over time. Defending the Single Market and the has published a bullish plan for post-Brexit UK interests of a small member (Ireland) are more than space, advocating an £800m up lift for spending mere negotiating points. An abrupt departure would on R&D, as well as a rapid commitment to a UK exacerbate the difficulties of negotiating a hugely alternative to Galileo. In practice, the MoD has gone complex post-Brexit relationship. This could take us quiet over the latter, particularly as commitments to into a very scary place. existing terrestrial programmes look increasingly At the time of writing, the political environment costly. While Brexit does not directly affect UK remains febrile in the extreme. The prospect of a access to ESA budgets, winning big EU-funded ‘no-deal’ Brexit waxes and wanes by the day, with contracts will be seriously compromised, if not the pound yo-yoing in sympathy. A General Election blocked entirely. As with access to EU R&D may or may not precede the 31 October deadline, programmes generally, the faint promise of extra which might have been postponed to early 2020. But, domestic spending hardly matches the benefits whatever the outcome, this is only the start of a hard of accessing a much larger European-wide space slog to sort out the details of our long term relations programme. with the neighbours.

@aerosociety i Find us on LinkedIn f Find us on Facebook www.aerosociety.com OCTOBER 2019 25 AEROSPACE Global Megatrends Royal CollegeRoyal of Art Flight towards a What will be the key societal, technological and structural trends that will A new book and an upcoming Royal Aeronautical Society forum aims to provide

ogue drones at airports, 737 MAX industrialists complained that politicians could only grounding, emerging AI, skills gap, trade see to the next election – thus the phrase: ‘a week is wars, cyber hacks, plastic pollution of a long time in politics’. This short-term time horizon if seas – it seems today that the traditional anything, has shrunk even further. 24hr news cycle has been replaced by Ralmost instantaneous transmission of information, Aviation – a long-term business rumours and ‘fake news’ directly into our brains – thanks to the power of social media and cable news. The problem here is that aerospace and aviation At once, everything and nothing is significant – and a is (despite buzzwords of ‘agility’ and ‘disruption’) a day that starts with threats of WW3 in one part of the globe can be quickly forgotten thanks to a pithy meme about a TV series going viral by the end of the day – and vice versa. The world it seems, is in the throes of some sort of attention deficit syndrome where even sober politicians and executives can find themselves hounded by online Twitter mobs by reacting (or not reacting) to the latest snippet of instant ‘micro-news’. If therefore, you feel sometimes that you can’t see the wood for the trees, you are not alone. What though, has this to do with aerospace? Although online news junkies may be hooked on the instant stream of articles, features, commentaries, reports – for those professionals who are looking to the future of aviation and aerospace, this short-term focus is an increasing problem. In previous years many Reaction Engines

26 AEROSPACE / OCTOBER 2019 seriously long-term industry where key decisions Facing page top left: that were taken 20 or 30 years earlier can continue British Airways in to ripple through and affect programmes, business collaboration with the Royal College of Art and technology today. R&D investment, for example, envisaged the future of for companies like Rolls-Royce, who need to work air travel with its BA2119 at the very limits of materials science for jet engines, exhibition. may take decades to reach the market. The West’s Facing page bottom latest stealth fighter, the Lockheed Martin F-35, left: Reaction Engines’ which only entered service with the RAF last year, two-stage space access first flew (as the X-35) in the year 2000 – almost 20 system. years ago – when those giant ‘disrupters’ like Twitter, Top right: Samsung has Facebook and Uber did not exist. Design studies for revealed its vision of future air travel with this a ‘supersonic Harrier replacement’ go back at least eVTOL double decker another 20 years. The Leonardo AW609 civil tiltrotor, ‘bus’. set to be certificated this year after first flying in 2003, itself dates back to the mid-1990s – after almost a half century of VTOL tiltrotor experimentation. Meanwhile, the US plans to re-engine its B-52 strategic bombers to keep them flying until the 2050s – when the original design will be 100 years old. Incredibly, it will outlast the newer B-2 stealth bomber. Getting it wrong can be very expensive. In the

1990s, for example, airframers on both sides of the Samsung brave new world shape our world for aerospace and aviation over the next 20 years? a high-level guide to our fast-changing world. TIM ROBINSON reports.

Atlantic believed that the way forward for air travel ups’ whether they be in drones, cube-satellites or was larger ‘double-decker’ airliners – to efficiently urban aerial mobility – creating friction as regulators move more people between a growing number of attempt to play catch-up in these new sectors where mega-hubs. However, while Airbus went ahead with innovation is happening at a lightning-fast pace. its flagship A380, which first flew in 2005, today it This clash of cultures between ‘legacy’ and ‘new’ is already being retired and sent to the scrapheap – aerospace cultures creates new challenges – not after only 14 years in service. It arrived into a world just in the certification itself but into communicating where new fuel-sipping powerplants and lighter and imparting knowledge as to why these regulations composites meant that smaller twins could be more matter. As Airbus’ Head of Urban Air Mobility, efficient and fly direct – bypassing hubs altogether. Eduardo Dominguez-Puerta notes: “I don’t think the Meanwhile, on the other side of the world, Boeing’s start-up approach – fail fast, fail cheap – works with current crisis with the 737MAX could arguably be aviation.” traced back over 50 years to the design decision Making the right choices for investment focus, around the height of the landing gear – which led to critical design decisions and long-term strategy for the major engine/airframe integration challenge on any organisation in aviation and aerospace is thus key. the MAX and a fateful choice to rely on software to Finally, there is another aspect – not just in help solve this problem. the long-term view – but in the way in which the Yet it would be wrong to think that this long- world is becoming much more interconnected and term product cycle is uniform over the whole of interdependent. This is not just geographically aerospace or that aviation has time to spare – intense speaking but about how different sectors and competition and new technology is pushing the industries are now overlapping, influencing and industry day-to-day to innovate faster, smarter and sharing ideas. ‘Multidisciplinary’ of course is not new cheaper. Aviation regulations, international standards and indeed it is at the heart of the Royal Aeronautical and certification also evolve at a snail’s pace – much Society’s membership – but today more than ever to the chagrin of these new Silicon Valley-style ‘start- these new challenges span different sectors. Useful

@aerosociety i Find us on LinkedIn f Find us on Facebook www.aerosociety.com OCTOBER 2019 27 AEROSPACE Global Megatrends Uber ‘Big Data’ for an engine manufacturer today may Norway, for example, has committed to making all not only include an airline’s fuel burn, climb and its short-haul domestic flights electric by 2040. How descent profiles but also weather data, volcanic ash will aircraft manufacturers, airports and regulators distribution and even World Health Organization data work together to achieve this? It is also worth noting on respiratory diseases and smog in cities to fully that this is not a problem for 20 years in the future. understand particulate abrasion of fan blades. As Despite the introduction of new aircraft such as the longer and longer flights become possible too, then A320neo, 787 etc, public and political pressure on airlines may be in the vanguard of new research into aviation to ‘clean up its act’ has been accelerating. In sleep activity, wellbeing and health. Sweden, for example, ‘flight shaming’ has become Elsewhere, the challenges of practical a growing eco lobbying movement, leading to a 5% autonomous urban air transport, for example, cover drop in Sweden air traffic in the first half of 2019. Uber sees not just aerodynamics and VTOL flight operations, Aviation and the growth of air travel has survived two its future in but also infrastructure, AI, battery technology, Gulf Wars, 9/11, SARS, and the financial crisis to expanding its taxi societal attitudes, ethics, regulations and air traffic double every 15 years – can it also survive a public management (ATM). ‘flight shaming’ movement that encourages people service to eVTOL Long-term strategies then will also need to take not to fly or to take other greener, forms of transport? air taxis into account other partnerships, stakeholders and adjacent markets – and will require professionals to Megatrends forum – an opportunity increasingly take a holistic view. What then, are the for frank debate bigger and deeper ‘megatrends’ that aerospace and aviation faces over the next 20 years? Next month, in November the Royal Aeronautical Society will be organising a unique Megatrends Global Megatrends – the book expert forum to discuss and add to these topics. Aimed firmly at chief executives, senior managers Launched in April, a new book, led by Pierre and decision makers, this event will take place Coutu of Aviation Strategies International, Global uniquely behind closed-doors – allowing for a frank Megatrends: A Path to Future-Wise Organisations’ and full discussion of the challenges facing the aims to identify and distil these ‘megatrends’ as industry, without worries about commercially sensitive they apply to aerospace and aviation – as well information leaking out or out-of-context quotes as provide practical tools and methodologies for restricting the debate. Which airline CEO, for example, executives and managers to ‘future-proof’ their in a public forum, would admit how many times their organisations – whether they be air forces, MROs or servers might have been hacked over the past year? drone manufacturers. ‘Future-gazing’ of this sort, is of Yet sharing this sort of information, with other airline course, not new but previously has concentrated on chiefs and stakeholders is key to identifying and specific sub-sectors (eg airports) and from specific addressing common challenges and opportunities for viewpoints rather that the entire aerospace sector as the aerospace and aviation industry as a whole. a whole. That, however, is not to say that this is a ‘secret’ Coutu and his co-authors, drawing on detailed gathering. In fact, a summary and report from the and extensive research from industry experts, point seminar will be collated and published after the event, to six key ‘global megatrends’ that they believe will allowing for the key findings to be distilled and shared shape the aerospace industry in the next two decades to a wider audience, and helping to shape future high- and beyond. They are the environmental crisis, the level strategy and initiatives in an ongoing process. global power shift west to east, rapid urbanisation, demographic changes, innovative technological Summary change and global connectedness. Put together, the book argues, these trends will shape the 21st century, Natural excitement over anything novel labelled – not only for aerospace and aviation, but also the wider ‘disruptive’ innovation and technology, coupled with world. the near-instantaneous news/social media feed Take the environmental challenge. While aviation means that today it is very easy for even experienced has been proactive in attempting to do its bit and aerospace and aviation professionals to ‘not see the quest for improved fuel efficiencies continues, the wood for the trees’ and focus on the here and the fact remains that as other industries become now, rather the wider, long-term picture. Global ‘greener’, aviation’s share of the global carbon Megatrends – both the book and as an ongoing footprint will rise. The promise of electrification forum and umbrella for high-level discussion and and hybrid-electric technology then is becoming debate about the challenges of tomorrow and how increasingly important as a way to manage this – at to address them, is set to become an important and least for GA, business aircraft and regional airliners. essential tool for aerospace and aviation leaders.

Global Megatrends and Aviation Forum: Co-creating Visions for the Future of the Industry 14-15 November 2019, RAeS HQ, London.

28 AEROSPACE / OCTOBER 2019 AEROSPACE TADTE 2019 show report

Taiwan showcase The 2019 Taipei Aerospace and Defence Technology Exhibition (TADTE) 2019 showcased a diverse selection of aerospace products to an expectant audience and ANDREW DRWIEGA.

n 20 August, the US State Defense between the two global protagonists, the State Top right: the ARUAV Jian Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA Department has obviously decided that now is as Hsiang ‘suicide drone’ in – part of the State Department) good a time as any to go ahead and finally confirm digital camo is designed to hunt out and destroy announced the approval of a the F-16 request. enemy radars. It appeared Foreign Military Sale (FMS) of 66 The F-16 Block 70 that the Republic of China with a 12-round container OLockheed Martin F-16C/D Block 70 aircraft (C/D Air Force (RoCAF) is now due to receive is the launch truck. indicates single or two seats), together with related new baseline to emerge from the Mid-Life Update equipment and support, to the Taipei Economic (MLU) and Common Configuration Improvement and Cultural Representative Office (TECRO). The Programme (CCIP) and will provide a basis for announcement came just three days after Taiwan’s technology insertion in the future for the worldwide own biennial defence show, the Taipei Aerospace & F-16 fleet. Defence Technology Exhibition (TADTE) had closed The $8bn package will also include 75 Block 70 (15-17 August), to which AEROSPACE magazine F110 General Electric engines (one for each aircraft had been invited by the Taiwan External Trade and nine spares); together with the same number of Development Council (TAITRA). Link-16 Systems; improved programmable display The Republic of China (Taiwan) has sought this generators (iPDG); APG-83 active electronically approval to obtain updated F-16s for some time scanned array (AESA) radars; modular mission – in fact all the way back to 2006. The People’s computers 7000AH; LN-260 embedded GPS/INS; (All pictures: TADTE) Republic of China has constantly warned each US M61 Vulcan 20mm guns; as well as a wide variety administration not to engage in arming Taiwan, of kinetic ordnance. threatening serious consequences if this were to Each aircraft will also have self defence happen. Arms exporters from the US, Europe and equipment, including 75 each of AN/ALE-47 across the world have generally either voluntarily, countermeasure dispensers ; APX-126 advanced or at the behest of their own governments, fallen in identification friend or foe; AN/ALQ-211 A(V)4 line with this threat. However, with Sino-US relations airborne integrated defensive electronic warfare now at such a low ebb due to the ongoing, spiralling suite (AIDEWS); EW line replaceable unit (LRU) and trade war initiated by President Donald Trump a wide range of ancillary kit.

@aerosociety i Find us on LinkedIn f Find us on Facebook www.aerosociety.com OCTOBER 2019 29 AEROSPACE TADTE 2019 show report

At the TADTE show facility with three hangars that can accommodate up to seven of the largest wide-body aircraft. During TADTE, Lockheed Martin had been discreetly One of the indigenous aircraft development showing the F-16C/D Block 70 simulator to programmes being undertaken nationally is Taiwan’s Taiwanese officials and military personnel. In a Advanced Jet Trainer (AJT). The aircraft is being statement from Lenny Genna, President, Military developed by the aeronautical systems research Training, L3Harris Technologies, provided to division of the National Chung-Shan Institute of AEROSPACE after the event, he said that L3Harris Science and Technology (ASRD/NCSIST). The AJT (then L3 Link Simulation and Training) “was awarded will replace the indigenous AIDC AT-3 Tsu Chung contracts in 2016 and 2018 to build and deliver trainer and the Northrop F-5E/F Lift, the latter having F-16V Mission Training Centres (MTC) for the Taiwan been flown by the RoCAF since the mid to late Air Force at Chiayi and Hualien airbases. The F-16V 1960s. configuration is a new aircraft programme which The AJT will be a subsonic trainer, although the retrofits state-of-the-art avionics systems to existing airframe has been redesigned to achieve a higher F-16s. The MTC at Chiayi consists of four fully lift-to-drag ratio. The RoCAF will implement new networked mission simulators and the one at Hualien pilot training based on “three phases with two types consists of three fully networked mission simulators, of aircraft” which will be supported by a ground- each designed for fully immersive mission training. based training system (GBTS) comprising flight These high-fidelity devices will enable the Taiwan Air simulator, ground control system and computer aided Force to execute a significant percentage of their instruction. F-16 pilot training in a simulator.” Although unable to discuss the latest news, a Military MALE gets teeth company spokesperson stated that, “L3Harris has met all customer delivery requirements” to date. Taking centre stage within the Ministry of National During the opening ceremony held on the first Defence Pavilion was the ASRD/NCSIST developed day, James Huang, TAITRA’s chairman talked about mock-up of its proposed medium-altitude long-range the competitive nature of Taiwan’s aerospace sector, (MALE) unmanned aerial vehicle. it will be capable of stating that, “the high degrees of technical complexity automatic take-off and landing and will be powered involved in aerospace and defence makes the by a turboprop engine, rather than piston, giving it a industry an indicator of national competitiveness.” larger payload capability. Lockheed Martin He added that, “under President Tsai’s leadership, The NCSIST’s objective was to create a UAS with had brought its Taiwan’s aerospace and defence industry has been a 24 hour endurance matched with a range of over latest F-16V going from strength to strength, making incredible 1,000km. It is stated to be an intelligence, surveillance progress in the past few years.” and reconnaissance (ISR) platform but its ‘nose Block V simulator As proof of this, Huang pointed to the fact that art’ shows a bomb, which suggests that it would be to TADTE – to “the country’s strong industrial base and supply chain armed at some point. demo to visitors enabled the Taiwanese aerospace sector to generate Also on display was NCSIST’s anti-radiation and VIPs, $4bn in output in 2018, up 11.3% from the previous unmanned aerial vehicle (ARUAV) and lorry-based year.” He added that this business had also benefited multiple launcher system. The drones, which can be including Taiwan’s from the ‘world-class’ maintenance services offered launched singly or in multiples, are designed to loiter President Tsai by Taiwan’s Air Asia, together with China Airlines and in a target area before identifying and selecting a Ing-wen. Eva Air. Evergreen Aviation Technologies, EVA Air’s target then diving down to destroy it. Information subsidiary, operates Taiwan’s largest maintenance provided during the show stated that, “the optimum

30 AEROSPACE / OCTOBER 2019 flight path can be established before launching” to Top left: Geosat showed firmly into the UAV business. According to Chairman allow a more independent prosecution of its target. off its MARS GRH-1 William Chen, the development of the coaxial CX-180 three-bladed VTOL UAV. (Iceman) flying mobile base station has been achieved Commercially speaking with the co-operation of Chunghwa Telecom (CHT). Due to the limiting geographic nature of a good part Jennifer Chuang, Director, ADIC told AEROSPACE of Taiwan’s geography, the CX-10 is tethered to a that her organisation served three different portfolios: ground-based truck but can rise to a height of around the development of upgrades, systems and services 100 metres on a fixed cable providing 4G/5G LTE to support the national defence industry and its focus coverage to communicate with surrounding cells on aviation; the promotion of commercial aviation phones to a range of around 2km. It has a maximum services; and to provide technical innovation. In take-off weight of 35kg and a payload capability of defence this has included supporting the F-CK-1 10kg (100m of cable weighs 3kg). C/D Xiong Ying (Taiwan Eagle), the Ching-Kuo Geosat, one of the largest UAV producing (IDF) fighter, AT-3 and F5E/F. Chuang said that, companies in Taiwan, was showing one of the more while some of the major system such as engines robust UAVs, the three-bladed MARS GRH-1. Dr and ejection seats are sourced internationally, other Cheng-Fang Lo, chairman and CEO of the company systems are developed by the NCSIST. said that the UAV’s 100cc heavy fuel engine could Commercially, Taiwan is one of the largest power it at a speed of over 100km/h with an suppliers of engine castings for both Rolls-Royce endurance of up to 70 minutes on a standard tank and General Electric. Local industry provides doors to but the addition of two extra tanks could extend the Boeing, composite structures for the Boeing 787 and mission time to over 200 minutes. While the sensor fuselage sections for the Airbus A321, in addition to package included high resolution and infra-red part of the rear fuselage for the Challenger 350. cameras (60x zoom), there was a further option for a TAITRA reported after the show that Canada’s laser range finder. The MARS had its first flight this Cascade Aerospace, known for engineering year and was being offered to the Taiwanese armed and maintenance capabilities, “believes that the forces and coast guard. improvement in Taiwan’s maintenance skills over the years places it firmly on their radar for future Summary cooperation possibilities.” Other international manufacturers at the show, One unusual The organisers claimed that over the course of the either on their own stand or in most cases on the exhibit was a full- three-day TADTE and Drone Show event, around stand of a local partner, included BAE Systems, size B-17 Flying 42,000 visitors attended. However, the second and Collins Aerospace, GE Aviation, General Dynamics Fortress ball third days of both shows are open to the public who Mission Systems and Thales, among others. attend in large numbers to view and experience gunner simulator many of the exhibits – several of which seemed to Taiwan International Drone Show have been developed specifically to entertain them. (Drone Taiwan) This included a simulated B-17 Flying Fortress ball turret that was linked to a noisy simulator allowing Unmanned aerial systems are a growing business members of the public to blast away and experience in Taiwan’s aviation community. The accompanying aerial gunnery of old. Drone Show hosted nearly 20 companies to show According to TAITRA, international exhibiting their latest developments, with many focusing companies came from the US, Japan, Singapore, on providing emergency response services for Hong Kong, Russia, Malaysia, Canada, France, earthquakes and disaster recovery situations the Philippines, UK and Bulgaria. However, few of including typhoon strikes. the international companies wanted to engage in Once such company was Thunder Tiger, a discussions about their current and potential military

company that has moved from remote control aircraft author Via business with Taiwan.

@aerosociety i Find us on LinkedIn f Find us on Facebook www.aerosociety.com OCTOBER 2019 31 AEROSPACE Supersonic airliner testing Supersonic countdown Mach 2.2 airliner developer Boom Supersonic is aiming for the first flight of its technology demonstrator XB-1 next year. ROB COPPINGER finds out the details.

his December, Boom Supersonic’s XB-1 Concorde inlets feeding our engines,” says Boom technology demonstrator for its Mach XB-1 Chief Engineer, Greg Krauland. XB-1 has 2.2 55-seat Overture airliner is expected more than 3,700 parts from 183 suppliers, including to be rolled out with flight testing over custom composite structures, a tricycle landing gear, the skies of Edwards Air Force Base in flight control actuators, systems for pressurisation TCalifornia to take place in 2020. Based in Denver, and cooling, avionics and a high-bandwidth Colorado, Boom is a supersonic airliner developer, telemetry system. The XB-1 tests will also prove the which already has orders. Next year, Boom’s XB-1 viability of manufacturing process innovations. will test key technologies for Overture, including Japan Airlines and Virgin Group have placed carbon fibre composites, a delta wing planform and orders for Overtures. Their combined orders amount a variable-geometry propulsion system where the to 30 hulls and Japan Airlines has also invested engines’ inlets can be moved. $10m in Boom. Japan Airlines’ Director of Strategy “Our propulsion system thrust is 5% higher for new business creation, Takashi Morita, spoke at

Boom Supersonic than if (the technology demonstrator) XB-1 had the Boom 2019 Paris Air Show briefing. He said Boom’s XB-1 demonstrator.

32 AEROSPACE / OCTOBER 2019 that the airline had created an innovation laboratory Paul Allen’s giant Stratolaunch dual-hull aircraft. in 2018 to incubate new ideas and technologies Guarente is helping with development, providing and this year it had set up an innovation fund to guidance for the cockpit layout, human factors input, Supersonic invest in new start-ups. “We are working with Boom systems design, the flight control system and the to help make Overture to Japan Airline’s exacting flight simulator among other things. The two pilots needs,” Morita says. will take it in turns flying XB-1 and its chase plane. The XB-1 test flights were planned to begin Testing at Edwards this year, but Boom’s management decided earlier countdown this year to make a change to the demonstrator and The XB-1 will fly in a supersonic corridor above add stability augmentation in all three axes. Boom Edwards Air Force Base next year. In preparation for Overture Chief Aerodynamicist Vice President, Steve the flights, Boom staff hiked to the top of Colorado’s Ogg says: “The need for stability augmentation was Pike’s Peak mountain, 14,000ft (4,267 metres) to informed by an analysis of the aircraft’s dynamics as related to levels of handling qualities; in this case, dampers that reduce or eliminate the oscillations of the aircraft in pitch, roll, and yaw.” The team had found that there was an increased possibility of oscillation that can lead to the overstressing of the aircraft. The solution is a damper, a mechanical actuator that provides inputs into the control surfaces based on the sensed rotational rates of the aircraft. Loss of control has also been a subject of analysis and wind tunnel testing. Boom Chief Executive Officer, Blake Scholl, told the audience of his 2019 Paris air show briefing: “We did spin tunnel testing on XB-1 at a facility in Langley, Virginia to see how it recovers and we found it was easy to recover.”

Iterating for success

The test aircraft is the result of about 250 design iterations, not including the inlet work, and thousands of simulations with hundreds of millions of aerodynamic points measuring take-off and landing, cruise, high speed and extreme conditions. However, the engine that will propel the XB-1, the General Electric J85-15, has not been chosen for the Overture. No powerplant has been selected for the airliner yet. The only Overture engine decision so far has been that it will be a medium bypass turbofan, and there will be three of them: two on the wing and test the telemetry and communication equipment. one in the tail. “While high-bypass engines help They tested the telemetry system to prove that a reduce take-off noise levels, the fuel burn penalty at high bandwidth signal could be received over 200 supersonic speeds means that the optimal bypass miles from the XB-1 when it is flying at M2.2. ratio for a Mach 2.2 airliner is smaller than for a Boom has two test pilots, Bill ‘Doc’ Shoemaker, subsonic airplane,” says Ogg. On a supersonic who has been providing guidance in the aircraft, large bypass engines have a detrimental development of XB-1 since joining Boom in 2018, effect on cruise fuel consumption due to the and Chris ‘Duff’ Guarente, who became part of additional drag caused by a larger cross-sectional the team this year. Shoemaker has an aeronautics area. doctorate and is a former United States Navy That medium bypass turbofan is going to have F-18 aviator and veteran test pilot. Guarente has a a two-dimensional inlet, like Concorde. “The inlets Master’s of Flight Test Engineering from the United on Overture, XB-1, and Concorde are all two- States Air Force Test Pilot School and he was a dimensional, external compression inlets,” says member of the crew for the first flight of the late Krauland.

OCTOBER 2019 33 AEROSPACE Supersonic airliner testing Boom Supersonic Boom Boom Supersonic

Boom’s engineers carried out up to 100 design created by the inlet, the distortion or uniformity iterations on the inlet before making a scale model of the airflow when it reaches the engine face and wind tunnel testing it. Boom has carried out and ultimately how efficiently the inlet slows that four wind tunnel test campaigns, three for the air before it gets to the face known as pressure XB-1 itself and one purely for the inlet. recovery. “All three sections must be optimised “The fourth was a series of wind tunnel tests together to ensure a well-functioning, low drag on a scale model of XB-1’s inlet, which was inlet,” says Krauland. successfully demonstrated at speeds greater than Mach 2.2,” Krauland adds. Boom concluded Engine trials its inlet design work in nine months using computational fluid dynamics (CFD) and says it The inlet, which slows the incoming supersonic achieved its performance goals during that wind air down to subsonic speeds, is not necessary for Japan Airlines tunnel test campaign. engine testing because the test cell conditions and Virgin The four test campaigns had hundreds of wind are already subsonic. However, actions are taken Group are tunnel tests each and the first three used, “slightly to emulate the airflow distortion that the inlet can different scale models of the full XB-1 vehicle, create. “The negative effects of the supersonic future overture evaluating handling characteristics and low-speed inlet, characterised in the supersonic inlet wind operators, with 30 aerodynamics,” according to Krauland. The tests’ tunnel tests, such as distortion, can be represented aircraft on pre- scale models were always in a conventional flight by placing blockages in front of the engine in the orientation and put through a wide range of flight test cell,” Krauland explains. order conditions. The wind tunnel testing ended in late Boom points out that the use of such 2018. blockages is only representative of certain flight For the CFD analysis, Boom used a conditions. “But, by comparing that data with combination of cloud computing and high-end available engine documentation, we can ensure Linux workstations with software from NASA’s acceptable engine operation through the entire Glenn Research Center and Langley Research XB-1 flight envelope,” Krauland adds. The 5% Center. The Langley codes are called Overflow higher thrust, compared to Concorde inlets, is and Fun3D. “The grid generation and overset achieved because Krauland says its inlet pressure interpolation codes, Chimera Grid Tools and recovery is about 3% higher at Mach 2.2 and PEGASUS respectively, were both developed at the XB-1 engine’s “sensitivity” to this improved NASA Ames,” says Ogg. Software called SUPIN recovery enables it to deliver more power. from NASA Glenn was used for the preliminary Another performance increase Boom is inlet design tool. boasting about is achieved using alternative The term inlet can describe several features fuel. According to the company, it saw a 2 to 3% between the oncoming air and the engine face, performance increase in thrust per mass of fuel in particular the compression section, throat, using a blend of aromatics (a type of compound and the diffuser. The inlet’s diffuser increases which can include benzene), and hydroprocessed the pressure of the incoming air by decelerating esters and fatty acids (HEFA) made from waste it into a space which has a larger volume. The animal fats. “This (HEFA) constituted 84% of the geometry of all three is critical for the drag, fuel blend. The balance comprised aromatics that

34 AEROSPACE / OCTOBER 2019 Boom Supersonic Boom

are required to preserve the integrity of internal that can be more than 70ft long but accurate to components of our (General Electric J85-15) two microns along their entire length. turbojet engines,” says Krauland. Boom also intends to use additive For the XB-1 test flights, the aircraft will use manufacturing. “3D printing allows us to print fuel provided by a company called Prometheus. It critical parts and components on site rather than

says it can remove carbon dioxide (CO2) from the purchasing them from a supplier,” says Krauland. air and with electricity from a renewable source, “We can create custom parts, increase our speed such as wind and solar power, to transform the from engineering to manufacturing, and focus

CO2 into gasoline, diesel or jet fuel. Because the on building the aircraft.” The printed parts are

fuel is made from atmospheric CO2, Prometheus made using a variety of materials from metals to claims an engine’s pollution becomes carbon plastics. For XB-1, they are used for a variety of neutral. applications because additive manufacturing can “We plan to use Prometheus’ fuel during create complex geometries, including louvers for the XB-1 flight test, conducting the world’s first environmental controls and engine bleed path supersonic flight using carbon-neutral fuel,” says outlets. Boom has partnered with VELO3D to Krauland. “We are looking forward to working with develop two titanium flight hardware parts for XB- Prometheus to ensure regulators accept it as a 1, as part of the environmental control system. drop-in replacement for fossil fuels across the The printed parts are not only for the entire aviation industry.” Scholl commented on demonstrator, they are also for tooling, prototypes this at his 2019 Paris air show briefing. He said and test benches. “Our partnership with Stratasys, that he expected to use Prometheus’ technology for example, enabled us to 3D print more than 200 and help the company scale up its production parts…saving us hundreds of hours of work time,” so it can be used for Overture. He also said that: says Krauland. Stratasys is a 3D printing specialist “We ran through the engine envelope with low that has worked with Formula One racing. Above: Boom Overture is a carbon renewable fuels, (which were) the highest Scholl told his Paris briefing that Boom 55-seat Mach 2.2 airliner, concentration biofuel blends ever tested on is, “done with the testing phase,” and that the aimed at entering service in the mid-2020s. supersonic systems.” company is now in the build phase. After thousands Below: Boom test pilot of simulations with NASA developed CFD codes, Chris ‘Duff’ Guarente, in Breaking the sound barrier hundreds of design iterations, four wind tunnel the cockpit of the Boom campaigns, additive manufacturing, an all- XB-1 demonstrator. For the higher temperatures that XB-1 and composite construction, and fuel that is said to be ultimately Overture will encounter, Boom expects 100% carbon neutral; next year, that reclaimed Boom Supersonic Boom

the carbon composite primary structures to be able CO2 fuel will suck air through the allegedly to cope. Boom is selecting materials with different Concorde-beating engine inlets and Japan specifications, for example the polymer used in the Airlines and Virgin will look on as the first civilian composites’ resin, based on their ability to cope supersonic aircraft streaks across the Californian with the temperatures and loading that different sky. Scholl told his briefing audience: “When XB-1 parts of the aircraft will experience. To create flies we’ll have done something historic, we’ll be the these large, strong, composite, heat resistant, first private company ever to develop and fly a civil reliable structures, Boom has had tooling made supersonic jet.”

@aerosociety i Find us on LinkedIn f Find us on Facebook.com www.aerosociety.com OCTOBER 2019 35 AIR TRANSPORT Indian airlines Boeing Fitting into Jet Airways’ shoes

NEELAM MATHEWS looks at how the recent collapse of Indian carrier Jet Airways from the fiercely competitive Indian market has benefitted those carriers that remain in business.

he recent bankruptcy of Indian carrier it is being said by analysts, could break even for the Jet Airways has resulted in a mix of joy first time in over a decade if it takes advantage of and sorrow for those domestic carriers the encouraging market conditions. The Jet Airways’ still clinging to the ever-faster revolving shutdown has also given access to Jet’s prime carousel that is the Indian aviation airport slots, particularly in congested Mumbai and Tmarket. Although India is the world’s fastest growing Delhi airports which account for 60% of traffic, as aviation market, fares are cut-throat, airlines’ profits well as providing domestic airlines with additional are low and fuel taxes are among the highest in the aircraft at discounts through Jet’s lessors, anxious to world. cut their losses. However, the low-profit cycle of Indian carriers was interrupted when Jet Airways ceased The Jet Saga operations in mid-April, positively transforming market dynamics for Indian carriers. The reduced Failed airlines have dotted the aviation landscape capacity and high demand in the market has of India for decades, the previously most recent Above: The first Boeing provided an opportunity for domestic carriers to being Kingfisher Airlines and, now, Jet Airways, 737 MAX is delivered to raise fares. With Jet out of the market, respite has both victims of mismanagement and faulty decision Jet Airways in 2018. come in higher yields for the quarter. Even Air India, making.

36 AEROSPACE / OCTOBER 2019 Arne Huckelheim When 25-year old private carrier Jet Airways was faced with a $2.2bn debt after ordering 142 Boeing 737 MAX 8s and 75 737 MAX 9s, to be delivered from 2025, Jet began a series of measures that eventually culminated in its shutdown. Faced with the advent of fast expanding budget airlines, such as IndiGo that began to make their presence felt 13 years ago, Jet went into panic mode. Jet bought ailing Air Sahara in a hurry, primarily to get its aircraft. It is still fighting legal battles with Air Sahara. To compete with the budget carriers, Jet Airlines split its brand, confusing its customers who quickly changed their loyalty to efficient and reliable budget carriers, such as SpiceJet and IndiGo, giving them access to more frequencies, lower fares and new destinations. Following a short lucrative period with Etihad An ex Air Sahara Boeing Act, including proceedings relating to arbitration, Airways buying a 24% stake, Jet Airways continued 737-800 rebranded in Jet compromise, arrangements and reconstruction to operate with low yields but, when fuel prices Airways’ Jetlite livery. and winding up of companies shall be disposed spouted and financial woes started once again, of by the NCLT,” says its website. According to Etihad had a fall-out with Jet founder and Chairman Santosh Hiredesai, Analyst State Bank of India Naresh Goyal, saying that it was only willing to Capital Securities: “All creditors can make a claim increase its stake to 40% on the condition that before a final date. Once claims are established, Goyal stepped down. Goyal, who owned 50.1% resolution professionals will try to verify the actual of the airline, mostly pledged with a consortium of claim figure.” He added that, generally, anybody lenders – mainly government banks – refused and it buying an airline will look at the existing liability and was the start of the finale that led to its end. cash flows. An expression of interest from bidders When Goyal finally stepped down in March, it interested in purchasing stakes in what’s left of the was a year too late. Financial woes had increased oldest private full service carrier in India has been and, in less than a month, the star airline shut down. released and being addressed at time of going into Today, with a large number of its deregistered print. According to a former Chief Financial Officer aircraft taken by fast-growing domestic carriers of an airline: “If I was to buy the airline I would not eager to fill the void, airport slots at crammed bid beyond $1bn. The old aircraft that Jet owns Mumbai and Delhi airports have been reallocated, as are worth around $350m, while its stake in the Jet have rights to international destinations. Privilege (JPPL) Flyer Miles is around $500m… Of the 120 aircraft in its fleet last year, Jet is left There are claims of around $4bn. I suspect that with five Boeing 777s, four Boeing 737NGs and creditors will have to take a 75% cut.” two Airbus 330s. Rumours are strife on who could be interested in the deal, if at all. For instance, the Hinduja-Etihad Debt recovery partnership could gain Etihad much-needed rights Cramer Ball, CEO, Jet to the Gulf countries – the hottest market for A consortium of 26 bankers led by State Bank Airways, Naresh Goyal, outbound travel for Indians, a large number of whom have approached the National Company Law Chairman Jet Airways, and connect further to Europe and US. Jet, a large Tribunal (NCLT), which handles disputes related to James Hogan, President player on the sector, was allotted a quarter of the and CEO, Etihad Airways insolvency, to recover their dues of over $2.2bn from pictured when Jet Airways seat allocation to Dubai, UAE and Qatar from India. Jet Airways. “All proceedings under the Companies joined Air Privilege. Etihad already owns 51% of Jet Privilege that has a membership base of over 9m corporate travellers.

Air Privilege “Etihad needs a network to feed them,” said an official. Another speculation is the Tata Group that has a joint venture with Singapore Airlines for full service Vistara and also with budget AirAsia of Malaysia, could, if the price is right, consider merging Jet Airways’ assets with Vistara, and sell off the rest. However, AEROSPACE could not confirm or verify either deal.

In budget mode

In 2009 the number of seats offered by low-cost carrier within India was 26.2m, compared to 46.9m

@aerosociety i Find us on LinkedIn f Find us on Facebook www.aerosociety.com OCTOBER 2019 37 AirInsight AIR TRANSPORT Indian airlines

available from full service carriers (FSC). However, 12 more countries through a codeshare agreement the aggressive growth of budget carriers has with Turkish Airlines. Following the Jet Airways’ changed the equation. Budget seats have grown bankruptcy, IndiGo is also fast filling the gap in by 340% to 166m while FSCs have expanded at capacity between India and the Middle East. It a snail’s pace by only 6.5%. From a point of near operates 237 flights per week, according to its July dominance, the full service market has given way to 2019 schedule. IndiGo’s Chief Commercial Officer, budget carriers that now account for just over 80% William Boulter, told AEROSPACE that the exit of of seats in the market. Jet Airways from the market had had a positive impact on his airline’s profits this quarter, saying: IndiGo “We haven’t replaced Jet but we are happy to take on whichever routes/slots that we can get to serve Professionally run and cost-conscious budget this market.” He added that expanding to the Middle carriers, such as IndiGo with large fleet orders East was a part of IndiGo’s growth strategy. to prove that they meant business, have brought IndiGo has already secured additional rights awareness of the need for on-time performance and to fly to cities such as Kuwait, Jeddah and Hong competence. IndiGo, with 238 aircraft, is among the Kong. It will be also be increasing frequencies to fastest-growing carriers in the world with almost such current routes as Dubai “where strong market 50% of domestic market share. It claims it has a demand exist. We are very confident about our “OVERALL FOR simple philosophy – “to offer low fares and on-time, international expansion which sees us adding new THE QUARTER, hassle-free service.” Other carriers include SpiceJet, routes with promising markets within the range Goair and the recent AirAsia India. of our Airbus 320/321 fleet. China, Vietnam and WE THINK IndiGo CEO Ronojoy Dutta said at a recent Myanmar are all new markets of potential which are THAT THE earnings call: “It is a tale of two halves for IndiGo, underserved at present. Our competition may follow JET AIRWAYS with the first half of the year incurring losses and but we have the lowest costs in the Indian skies,” FAILURE the second half of the year experiencing a sharp explained Boulter. recovery,” attributing the improvement partially EFFECTIVELY to Jet Airways’ cessation of services. “Overall for SpiceJet INCREASED the quarter, we think that the Jet Airways failure OUR UNIT effectively increased our unit revenue by 3-4%.” For SpiceJet that started flying in 2006, domestic IndiGo, which reported its highest quarterly growth has been a story of rising from the ashes REVENUE BY results in July, is now looking at expanding when it came close to shutting down operations 3-4%.” internationally. The airline offers 1,400 daily flights in 2014 when liabilities exceeded assets. Ajay and connects 56 domestic and 19 international Singh took the airline over and, today, it is the Ronojoy Dutta destinations. It started its operations into Europe, second largest budget carrier in India, expanding CEO IndiGo with the first destination being Istanbul, followed by internationally to Kabul, Dubai, Hong Kong and Vistara

38 AEROSPACE / OCTOBER 2019 Advertorial High flying business Exploring the strengths and weaknesses of British aerospace The Sopwith Camel, the Supermarine Spitfire and the Galileo satellite system were all built by the British aerospace industry. Britain has a trans-generational connection to aviation, having been a prime player in the sector since the foundation of the industry itself. Here Jeremy Whittingham, Head of Marketing for the UK’s largest annual manufacturing and engineering exhibition, Advanced Engineering, explains why the UK’s aerospace sector is one of the most impressive in the world, despite the potential challenges on the horizon. Many iconic aircraft have been manufactured, either in Jeremy Whittingham, Head of Marketing, Advanced Engineering, part or in their entirety, by British companies. However, the and scenes from the event. industry has changed and adapted over the years, becoming increasingly specialised and more widely distributed. These Finding the tailwind days it’s rare that one country would now assemble an entire aircraft, instead countries are opting to specialise in the While there may be multiple challenges facing the British manufacturing of specific components. aerospace industry, each element of uncertainty has a Nonetheless, British aerospace companies have continued potentially strong positive outcome that can also be linked to it. to shine and demonstrating continued competitiveness of The UK aerospace industry is also currently in a strong position the sector. The UK aerospace industry is also the second financially, which will protect it even if research investment largest in the world and is one of the traditional commercial starts to decline. backbones of the UK economy, bringing in £35 billion turnover Whether it is through increases to governmental spending per year. for aerospace R&D or additional private investment, additional funding has the potential to attract more promising candidates to the field locally and from overseas, regardless of the red tape Bumpy landing surrounding access to the talent pool. However, now is not the time to undo the proverbial seat belt As one of the largest pillars of the UK economy ensuring and start roaming around the cabin. While the UK aerospace a strong future for the aerospace sector could be key to industry is in a strong position, there are still challenges that overcoming uncertainty. It is important, therefore, to make sure the sector must overcome. The skills gap, political climate that the correct strategy is in place to help the sector grow. and falling demand from European partners could potentially While the days of the Sopwith and Spitfire may be long damage the strength of the UK market. gone, the foundations of innovation and quality they set can still Yet, unlike other industries and even though it is literally be seen in the modern products that Britain produces to this day. rocket science, British aerospace has the advantage of already To get involved in the discussion and be at the forefront of possessing a large pool of experts that can pass on knowledge industry developments, book your place at the UK’s largest to future generations. Combining this with recent government annual manufacturing event, Advanced Engineering, taking initiatives, it means that the UK aerospace industry has the place at the National Exhibition Centre, Birmingham on 30-31 tools to develop top talent. October, 2019.

About Advanced Engineering The UK’s largest annual advanced manufacturing event, Advanced Engineering is a gathering of OEMs and supply chain partners spanning design, test, measurement, inspection, production, and assembly, reaching into the key sectors of aerospace, automotive, civil, rail, transport and more. Telephone: +44 (0)20 3196 4361 e-mail: [email protected] www.advancedengineeringuk.com Twitter: https://twitter.com/advancedenguk Facebook: www.facebook.com/advancedenguk/ Afterburner www.aerosociety.com

Diary 29 October Indecision, decision and counter-decision: A history of airports policy for London Paul Le Blond, Former BAA airport planner and consultant

A possible view of Heathrow Airport in 2050. Heathrow.

42 Message from RAeS 44 Book Reviews 50 The Comet Inquiry – President Auster, The Routledge Companion to Air Transport On 19 October 1954, the Cohen Committee was Management and The Problem With Pilots. established to examine the causes of a number of “I thought it would be a good idea to make all de Havilland Comet fatal crashes. Correspondance members aware of the Society’s Vision, Mission and 47 Library Additions belonging to J N B Penny QC, Secretary to Lord Strategic Aims that have been adopted by Council, Cohen, has been donated to the NAL. the Board of Trustees and the Executive for the Books submitted to the National Aerospace Library. five-year period starting from January 2020.” 52 Diary 48 Cool Aeronautics – Chief Executive Find out when and where around the world the The RAeS flagship primary school outreach latest Society aeronautical and aerospace lectures “Taken together, all these activities play to our programme ‘Cool Aeronautics,’ has grown bigger and events are happening. revised approach to External Affairs. The Council and stronger this year with the addition of several has set a strategic aim to promote the society’s role high-profile venues and the largest numbers of 54 Obituary as the source of authoritative impartial, evidence- participants to date. based aerospace, aviation and space knowledge Capt Maurice Knowles FRAeS. and policy advice.”

Find us on Twitter i Find us on LinkedIn f Find us on Facebook www.aerosociety.com OCTOBER 2019 41 Afterburner Message from RAeS OUR PRESIDENT

Prof Jonathan Cooper One of the difficulties with writing this column Our Vision is to be recognised as the leading nearly four weeks in advance of publication is that professional community and independent source any observations I make regarding something that of knowledge in aerospace, aviation and space. is changing so rapidly, such as the Brexit saga, To achieve the vision statement, our Mission will be hopelessly out of date when AEROSPACE is to: is published. Consequently, I will refrain from ● Provide influence and leadership to the commenting on the latest developments re: aerospace, aviation and space domains, Europe but please be assured that Council will disseminating impartial and authoritative be discussing the latest situation at its November knowledge and information to a broad audience. meeting when the current uncertainty should be ● Attract and support a diverse and active clearer (hopefully). The Council, Board of Trustees membership base both nationally and and the Executive will ensure that any risks and internationally, via a wide range of activities threats to the Society arising, particularly from a across the entire aerospace, aviation and space no-deal exit from Europe, will be considered and community. mitigated. It is likely that whatever the resulting Maintain and facilitate professional standards situation is, opportunities will occur for the Society ● across a wide range of competence and to provide independent comment and leadership academic activities. on behalf of our professional community, and we must make sure that we take advantage of them. ● Act in accordance with, and maintain, its With the academic year about to start, I charitable status. recently took part in an open day in the Wind To attain the Vision and Mission, the following Tunnel Laboratory at the University of Bristol Strategic Aims have been defined: (other Aerospace Engineering degrees are 1. Promote the society’s role as the source available elsewhere!) demonstrating some of the of authoritative impartial, evidence-based research that I am involved in aiming to reduce aerospace, aviation and space knowledge and the loading effect of atmospheric turbulence on policy advice. aircraft. This research has the potential to reduce the environmental impact of aviation through the 2. Maintain, enhance and disseminate the facilitation of longer wingspans. I was struck by Society’s body of knowledge in all aerospace, the enthusiasm and knowledge of the hundreds aviation and space domains. of years 11 and 12 students that I met during the 3. Extend and support the Society membership day, most of whom were already set on following base nationally and internationally, ensuring a career in engineering. I urge all members of the inclusivity, diversity and active engagement. Society to make any youngsters that they know 4. Encourage the younger generation to enter (and their teachers) aware of the wide range of THESE the aerospace, aviation and space professional exciting jobs that are available across the broad world. OBJECTIVES ARE spectrum of aerospace and aviation. Only by 5. Enhance the Society’s global outreach through attracting the best school leavers at all levels is WORTHY OF existing and new Divisions and Branches and our community going to flourish. through the Corporate Partners, THE SOCIETY I thought it would be a good idea to make all THAT WE WISH members aware of the Society’s Vision, Mission 6. Implement all Society activities in an efficient, TO BECOME, and Strategic Aims that have been adopted by professional and sustainable manner, maintaining the financial stability of the Society. BUILDING UPON Council, the Board of Trustees and the Executive for the five-year period starting from January These objectives are worthy of the Society THE WORK 2020. These aims are being used to determine that we wish to become, building upon the work THAT HAS BEEN the Strategic Objectives which will help ensure that has been done by past generations for over DONE BY PAST that we have a vibrant and relevant Society for 150 years, and covering all activity areas. I hope GENERATIONS the years to come, bearing in mind the rapidly that you can all identify Society activities that you changing world that we live in, our charitable are involved in, covered by one or more of them. I FOR OVER 150 status and that most of our activities are am sure that they will provide a framework upon YEARS undertaken by volunteers. which we can continue to thrive.

42 AEROSPACE / OCTOBER 2019 OUR CHIEF EXECUTIVE

Sir Brian Burridge ● The initiative, This is Engineering, is run under the ● I also recently wrote to EASA to share the stewardship of the Royal Academy of Engineering recently-published Greener by Design report, in partnership with the Professional Engineering available to download on our website. The letter

Institutes and industry. It is a multi-year campaign outlined that the non-CO2 impacts of aviation, aimed at rebranding the image of engineering particularly from contrails and the cirrus cloud and encouraging more young people, from all they create, are substantial and account for backgrounds, to consider careers in our sectors. more than half the radiative forcing (difference Do lookout for the new snappy video material between incoming solar energy and energy to be launched on This is Engineering Day on radiated back from the earth) from aviation. 6 November which, on the basis of extensive Small operational changes to avoid particular research, is aimed firmly at Generation Z by regions of the atmosphere could substantially promoting the social value of the contribution that reduce contrail formation at minimal cost in

engineers make. fuel burn and CO2 emissions. These changes ● In a related area, September saw a NASA focus could be rolled out worldwide quicker than at Hamilton Place with a lecture by Bob Pearce, new technology to reduce fuel burn and CO2 Deputy Associate Administrator for Aeronautics emissions. It is odd that this notion is slow to get Research which covered its advanced research traction given that military pilots have operated programme. Apart from the privilege of hosting this way for years in order to avoid visual such a senior NASA figure, it was highly detection. significant for three reasons. It demonstrated ● Taken together, all these activities play to our the cohesion that now exists between the US revised approach to External Affairs. The Council Government, industry, research institutions and has set a strategic aim to promote the Society’s universities to the benefit of all. It also showed the role as the source of authoritative impartial, engagement that was being generated among evidence-based aerospace, aviation and space young people towards science and engineering knowledge and policy advice. To this end, we because of the exciting technology concerned. have adopted three major themes which are Perhaps most compelling of all, it underlined not expressed in priority order: all are vital in the sheer scale of US ambition. It reminded me the transformation of our sectors. The first is of the way things used to be in the UK and the climate change where much cross-sector effort challenge we have as the Society in returning to will have to be applied in all aspects of aviation that culture. and aerospace in order to meet the UK’s legal ● In terms of influencing the Government’s requirement to be carbon-neutral by 2050: approach, the National Engineering Policy Centre, the subject is also close to the top of political of which the Society is a member, published a very agendas. Next comes Future Flight, which is the readable Engineering Priorities report which is Government’s term within its Industrial Strategy available through the media centre of our website. for the advances inherent in the Fourth Industrial The document is a call for action to secure the Revolution. This includes urban air mobility, hybrid FINALLY, EACH place of engineering as a key component of the propulsion and high-value design. The final theme YEAR WE SAY UK’s future prosperity and provide recognition that is the Future Aerospace and Aviation Professional THANK YOU TO engineering has a significant part to play in many which is intended to give prominence to the way aspects of our society, not just in manufacturing. in which training and education (including CPD) THE SOCIETY’S It was submitted to influence the recent will have to change to align with the future roles LONG-STANDING Government spending review and represents an in our sectors. MEMBERS important example of the professional engineering ● Finally, each year we say thank you to the BY SENDING bodies working together to provide a unified voice Society’s long-standing members by sending a to Government. gold kestrel pin to everyone who has achieved A GOLD ● The Society also responded to the Defence 50 years of continuous membership. In August KESTREL PIN TO Select Committee inquiry into the defence we sent 50 pins to surprised but very pleased EVERYONE WHO industrial policy of the Ministry of Defence, which members receiving such heartwarming responses HAS ACHIEVED was led by the Air Power Specialist Group. It as: ‘Many thanks for this much appreciated token explored procurement policy in relation to UK of recognition, which I shall treasure’, and ‘I am 50 YEARS OF prosperity and the MoD’s impact on the defence grateful for your acknowledgement of my 50 CONTINUOUS supply chain. A copy of the response is now years’ membership and shall indeed wear the pin MEMBERSHIP available on our website. with pride’.

Find us on Twitter i Find us on LinkedIn f Find us on Facebook www.aerosociety.com OCTOBER 2019 43 Afterburner Book Reviews AUSTER

The Company and the Aircraft By T Wenham et al

Air-Britain Publishing, Air-Britain (Trading) Limited, Unit 1A Munday Works, 58-66 Morley Road, Tonbridge, Kent TN9 1RA, UK. 2018. xiv; 242pp. Illustrated. £39.95. ISBN 978-0-85130-508-0.

This is the latest of Air-Britain’s histories of some of the smaller British aircraft companies. There was no Auster history in the Putnam series allegedly because Putnam thought all Austers looked the same. The company began by building US Taylorcraft designs under licence in 1939 and built nearly 3,600 aircraft in the 22 years of the company’s existence. Much of the production was during WW2 and afterwards the company continued to build aircraft for domestic use, the services and export. It benefited from import restrictions into the UK which effectively banned the more modern designs available in the US and Europe. The eventual lifting of import restrictions brought into the UK metal construction, tricycle undercarriages as well as reliable and cheap products. Military orders also dwindled, as the services often preferred helicopters. Top: Auster J-5G Cirrus Autocar A11-301 931 (G-ARKG). Auster eventually became part of the new Beagle This volume fills Alan Wilson. company in 1961. Auster had continued to produce a long-standing Above: Auster J/1N Alpha (G-AGXN) built at Rearsby in 1946 new versions of their basic designs, as well as a small gap in the parked outside the Auster Aircraft Factory at Rearsby in 1966. batch of Agricola low-wing aircraft. Diversification RuthAS. into automotive products and batch of target drones history of British Below left: Auster Aiglet J5F trainer (G-AMZT) at Keevil Airfield, Wiltshire, England, in 2006. Adrian Pingstone. helped to keep the company afloat. Attempts to aviation and produce aircraft to compete with Cessna and Piper will probably came to nothing, often because of a lack of innovation become the and of investment available. Cessna looked to set up a European production line with Auster at one stage standard work but decided to locate to France instead. on the company

There are chapters on military operations and on the many civil applications of the versatile Auster designs. All the many permutations of the Auster designs are described, as well as the many projects which included helicopters and twin-engine designs. There are many tables and a complete list of all aircraft produced. There is to be a second volume which will list the complete histories of each aircraft produced. This is a very attractive volume produced on glossy paper with lots of photographs, both black and white and colour, as well as reproductions of period advertisements. There is a very short bibliography of secondary sources and a reasonable index. This volume fills a long-standing gap in the history of British aviation and will probably become the standard work on the company.

David Potter

44 AEROSPACE / OCTOBER 2019 THE ROUTLEDGE COMPANION TO AIR TRANSPORT MANAGEMENT Edited by N Halpern and

A Graham them from academia – to take stock of the current state of the civil aviation sector. Routledge, Taylor & Francis Group, 2 Park Square, The book does not disappoint. From its chapters, Milton Park, Abingdon OX14 4RN, UK. 2018. xxviii; the readers can learn about both passenger 440pp. £125. ISBN 978-1-138-64137-2. RAeS and cargo airline markets; airport economics, members can access an e-Book edition of this title liberalisation and privatisation; air navigation online via the National Aerospace Library’s e-Book services; some aspects of airline and airport service www.aerosociety.com/ebooks operations and marketing; aviation security; and the environmental impact of civil aviation, among Civil aviation is a dynamic business. Further, this others. The collective volume’s coverage might not business is about more than just the airlines. be entirely comprehensive – for instance, the issues Commercial civil aviation is enabled by the related Passengers boarding a Spring of aviation safety and wider economic benefits of infrastructure – airports and air navigation services. Airlines aircraft via passenger aviation are not covered in separate chapters – Aircraft manufacturers determine aircraft options boarding stairs at Shanghai however, the topics that are covered are covered available to the airlines. Commercial airline Pudong International Airport. well. Further, the book discusses not only the operations require substantial investment into mature markets that traditionally receive attention safety and security. Last but not least, civil aviation in the literature (ie North America and Europe) but stakeholders are becoming ever more conscious also the emerging markets. This volume offers a about their environmental impact. global coverage befitting a truly global industry. Over the past several decades, business and In this book, a reader will find a significant regulatory environment in the airline, airport and number of facts and figures covering all the key air navigation sectors have changed quite a bit. In this book, a segments of the civil aviation industry. While Airlines all over the world are increasingly finding reader will find discussion offered in some of the chapters might themselves in a liberalised competitive environment; a significant require advanced knowledge of the data analysis increasingly more airports are being privatised; number of facts techniques, this collective volume can be a good and governments are moving their air navigation reference book for an aviation enthusiast interested service providers out of the public service structure and figures in having access to in-depth analysis of and facts into commercial institutional environment, while covering (and numbers) about the global civil aviation sector. in the majority of cases, maintaining government all the key A fair warning, though – the price of this collective ownership of what is undoubtedly safety-critical segments of the volume is quite steep. aviation infrastructure. In this collective volume, the editors have civil aviation Dr Volodymyr Bilotkach assembled a team of nearly 40 experts – most of industry Newcastle University

NATIONAL AEROSPACE LIBRARY The Hub, Fowler Avenue, Farnborough Business Park, Farnborough, Hampshire GU14 7JP, UK Aviation Book Fair Thursday, 14 November 2019 10.30am – 4.30pm 100s of donated aviation historical books, biographies, memoirs, aircraft histories, aeronautical textbooks and 1,000s of magazines for sale

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

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

Find us on Twitter i Find us on LinkedIn f Find us on Facebook www.aerosociety.com OCTOBER 2019 45 Afterburner Book Reviews THE PROBLEM WITH PILOTS

How Physicians, Engineers Main picture: Dressed in an Air Force T-1 pressure suit, Richard L Johnson, Convair F-102A Chief Test Pilot, prepares and Airpower Enthusiasts for take-off at Edwards Air Force Base, California, in the first Redefined Flight Convair YF-102A Delta Dagger, 53-1787. RAeS (NAL). Inset: The F-35’s helmet-mounted display systems provide pilots with unprecedented situational awareness. By T P Schultz Lockheed Martin.

Johns Hopkins University Press, 2715 N Charles St, Baltimore, MD 21218-4363, USA. 2018. Distributed by John Wiley and Sons Limited, Chichester. xviii; 244pp. Illustrated. £33.50. ISBN 978-1-4214-2479-8.

This is a well written, interesting but very American book. The author is a former US Air Force pilot. He has researched widely into the American contributions to the development of the pilot through the ages, from the Wright brothers in 1903, to the F-35 manager/cybernetic partner of today. This is a span of some 115 years, during which time there have been some major international conflicts. War has always accelerated technical development, as the warring factions involved try to gain the upper hand over each other. The author makes some interesting comparisons during these troubled times about the different philosophies of the US Army, US Army Aviation and, eventually, the US Air Force, which was formed in 1947. If it was fired or launched without a pilot, it was the province of the Army; if it had wings and could be controlled, it belonged to the Air Force. The history of the development of guided missiles, pilotless aircraft and eventually cruise missiles is explained in an interesting historical way. Each side originally having their own input into today’s joint eventual outcome. Flight is hostile to humans, therefore, in the beginning the pilot had to adapt to this hostile environment. The problems of altitude, a decrease in temperature and pressure, spatial disorientation The F-35 is more complex still. It has a helmet etc had to be addressed and solutions found to visor onto which all the aircraft information is help the pilot. This was done by a growing number displayed, and 360º degree all-round camera of professionals from all aspects of the aviation vision. The pilot has become an integral part of the world. Once the pilot could function and survive machine system, as opposed to just controlling in this hostile world, there was a need to improve it. There are, however, fail-safe systems. If there the aircraft’s performance and range. Aviation is a problem with the pilot, the machine will take became more mechanised. The weather presented over, such as in terrain avoidance. This cybernetic a challenge and so blind flying, relying on and ... is the original concept is fascinating. believing only your instruments, came about. concept of the Then there is the growing problem of drone This continuing development of aircraft pilot, going, pilots. Do they need to have basic flight training? has turned the modern-day pilot into a systems going, gone Arguments for and against are put in such a way, manager. If the aircraft system and the pilot suffer a as to leave all of us asking the same question: is failure at the same time, as in the Air France iced-up forever in this the original concept of the pilot, going, going, gone pitot tube accident, disaster will strike. One system modern high forever in this modern high speed, highly technical, failure was mechanical and the other was that the speed, highly highly manoeuvrable, flying world? You will have to pilots failed to understand what had happened. They technical, highly read the book to be able to give a sensible opinion. compounded the mechanical failure, resulting in the stall into the sea. Further development should manoeuvrable, Dr Ian Perry prevent this from happening again. flying world? FRAeS

46 AEROSPACE / OCTOBER 2019 Library Additions BOOKS

AIR TRANSPORT Jet Prototypes of World 1939-1941 – Norway, the Francis Group, 2 Park Square, Advances in the Astronautical War II: Gloster, Heinkel and Mediterranean and the Milton Park, Abingdon OX14 Sciences Series Vol 167. Foundations of Airline Caproni Campini’s Wartime Bismarck. Edited by B Jones. 4RN, UK. xvi; 232pp. £29.99. Edited by P Singla et al. Finance: Methodology Jet Programmes. T Buttler. Routledge, 2 Park Square, [20% discount available to Univelt, PO Box 28130, San and Practice – Third edition. Osprey Publishing, Bloomsbury Milton Park, Abingdon OX14 RAeS members via www. Diego, CA 92198, USA. 2019. B Vasigh and Z C Rowe. Publishing, PO Box 883, Oxford 4RN, UK. 2016. xxix; 583pp. crcpress.com using AKQ07 xxviii; 3960pp. Illustrated. Routledge, 2 Park Square, OX1 9PL, UK. 2019. 80pp. £39.99. [20% discount promotion code]. ISBN 978-0- $820. ISBN 978-0-87703- Milton Park, Abingdon OX14 Illustrated. £13.99. ISBN 978- available to RAeS members 367-26333-1. 657-9. 4RN, UK. 2019. xxxv; 642pp. 14728-3598-7. via www.crcpress.com using ‘Phobos Rotational £47.99. [20% discount Following a brief AKQ07 promotion code]. ISBN SYMPOSIA Dynamics’, ‘Powered Aero- available to RAeS members overview of the origins of jet 978-1-911423-88-1. Gravity Assisted Maneuvers via www.crcpress.com using propulsion research in Great Originally published in Promote the Progress of in Venus and Mars Changing AKQ07 promotion code]. ISBN Britain, Germany and Italy, 2012 on behalf of the Navy the Pacific-Basin Region the Bank Angle of the 978-1-138-36781-4. a compilation of summary Records Society, a very through Space Innovation: Spacecraft’, ‘Refined Mission histories of the Heinkel detailed historical review of the Proceedings of 15th Analysis for HERACLES - a HISTORICAL He178/He280, Caproni- organisation and air operations International Conference Robotic Lunar Surface Sample Campini C.2 and Gloster of the Fleet Air Arm during of Pacific-basin Societies Return Mission utilizing E.28/39 aircraft programmes. the early years of WW2 as (ISCOPS) held 10-13 July Human Infrastructure’, ‘On recorded in the texts of the 2018, Montreal, Canada the Evolution of Orbits about Thunderchief: the chronologically-arranged 174 (1 vol + CD-ROM). American Active Comets’, ‘Transiting Complete History of the letters, reports, memoranda Astronautical Society (AAS) Exoplanet Survey Satellite Republic F-105. D R Jenkins and other documents that are Advances in the Astronautical (TESS) Flight Dynamics et al. Speciality Press, Forest reproduced in this volume. Sciences Series Vol 166. Commissioning Results and Lake, MN. 2018. Distributed by Edited by A K Misra et al. Experiences’, ‘On the Solution Crécy Publishing, 1a Ringway Univelt, PO Box 28130, San to Every Lambert Problem’, Trading Estate, Shawdowmoss Diego, CA 92198, USA. 2019. ‘Supersonic Retropropulsion Road, Manchester M225LH, xii; 489pp. Illustrated. $160. on Robotic Mars Landers: UK. 299pp. Illustrated. £44.95. ISBN 978-0-87703-655-5. Selected Design Trades’, ISBN 978-1-58007-259-5. ‘Flight Test Results of ‘Morphing Hypersonic Illustrated throughout Parafoil-Type Vehicle with Waverider for Mars Entry’, with numerous colour and Inflatable Structure for ‘Numerical Challenges in black-and-white photographs the Martian Exploration’, Cassini Maneuver Operations’, and other diagrams, a detailed ‘Characteristics of Coupled ‘Arcus Mission Design: Stable history of the design evolution, Orbital-Attitude Dynamics Lunar-Resonant High Earth airframe, systems, production of Flexible Electric Solar Orbit for X-Ray Astronomy’, Sydney Camm: Hurricane and numerous variants of the Wind Sail’,’ Space Debris ‘Trajectory Design for the and Harrier Designer – largest single-engine fighter Collision Avoidance for Korea Pathfinder Lunar Orbiter Saviour of Britain. ever built which became Reconfigurable Spacecraft (KPLO)’, ‘Aeropropcapture: J Sweetman. Air World, Pen particularly associated with the Electromagnetic Formation Applying Propulsion to & Sword Books, 47 Church Wild Weasel air operations of Flying’, ‘Numerical Study on Aerocapture Maneuvers’, Street, Barnsley, S Yorkshire the Vietnam War, a concluding Aerodynamic Improvement ‘Conceptual Design and S70 2AS, UK. 2019. 336pp. appendix recording details of of Slender-Bodied Reusable Aerocapture Analysis for Illustrated. £25. ISBN 978-1- the 612 aircraft losses from MacArthur’s Air Force: Rocket by Fins and Vortex a Crew Transfer Vehicle 52675-622-0. the total of 833 of the aircraft American Airpower over Flaps’. ‘Attitude Control of Solar for an Earth-Mars Cycler’, type produced. the Pacific and the Far Power Sail-Craft “OKEANOS”’, ‘Characterizing the Reentry The Early Development East, 1941-51. B Yenne. ‘Challenge in Solid Fuel Rocket Prediction Uncertainty of of the Aviation Industry: East with Eadon: the Life Osprey Publishing, Bloomsbury Technologies’, ‘Development Tiangong-1’, ‘Space Debris Entrepreneurs of the Sky. of Alan Theodore Eden Publishing, PO Box 883, Results of Enhanced Epsilon Field Removal using Tether M Abbott and J Bamforth. Eadon. Frenchay Village Oxford OX1 9PL, UK. 2019. Launch Vehicle and Future Momentum Exchange’, ‘Low- Routledge, 2 Park Square, Museum, Begbrook Park, 352pp. Illustrated. £25. ISBN Plan’, ‘Flight Result of World’s Earth Orbit Determination Milton Park, Abingdon OX14 Frenchay, Bristol BS16 1SZ, 978-14728-3323-5. Smallest Class Satellite based on Atmospheric 4RN, UK. 2019. vii; 211pp. UK (E frenchaymuseum@ Launcher’, ‘High-Speed Flyby Drag Measurements’, ‘Orbit £115. [20% discount available hotmail.com or Teresa Norton SPACE Observation of Small Asteroid Determination using Vinti’s to RAeS members via www. [email protected]). 2019. by DESTINY+’, ‘Martian Moons Solution’, ‘The Evolution of crcpress.com using AKQ07 123pp. Illustrated. £5 (plus Spacecraft Modeling, Exploration (MMX) Mission and Deep Space Navigation: promotion code]. ISBN 978-1- £1.50 UK postage/packing). Attitude Determination Vehicle Concept’, ‘Task Analysis 2006-2009’, ‘Computational 138-36874-3. A biography of A T E and Control: Quaternion- and Constellation Design Guidance for Mars Entry A review of the evolution Eadon who founded the Based Approach. Y Yang. for Earthquake Monitoring and Power Descent’, ‘Hybrid of the aircraft industry in de Havilland Aeronautical CRC Press, Taylor & Francis InSAR Satellites Systems’, Gravity Models for Kleopatra, Britain, France and the US Technical School which began Group, 6000 Broken Sound ‘Design and Deployment Itokawa, and Comet 67P/C-G’ up to 1945 is followed by its training courses in 1929 Parkway NW, Suite 300, Boca Simulation of a Large-Size , ‘Real Time Adaptive Shape a compilation of concise and who was subsequently Raton, FL 33487-2742, USA. Deployable Truss Reflector’, Reconstruction for Asteroid biographical profiles of the appointed in 1932 as the 2019. Distributed by Taylor & ‘Comparison of Methods Landing’ and ‘Europa Lander Wright brothers, Glenn H first Deputy Director of Civil Francis Group, 2 Park Square, for Spacecraft Collision Trajectory Design using Curtiss, Allan Lockheed, Aviation for India and Burma Milton Park, Abingdon OX14 Probability Computations’, Lissajous Staging Orbits’ were Glenn L Martin, Louis Blériot , – from where the Eadons 4RN, UK. xi; 327pp. £140. ‘Study on Performance of among the 225 technical Raymond Saulnier, the Farman organised the mass airlift of [20% discount available to GTO Debris Removal using an papers presented in 26 brothers, Marcel Dassault, 1,000s of people during the RAeS members via www. Electrodynamic Tether’ were sessions on topics related A V Roe, the Short brothers, Japanese invasion in 1942 crcpress.com using AKQ07 among the 62 technical papers to space-flight mechanics Robert Blackburn, Frederick – and who later, in 1972, promotion code]. ISBN 978-1- presented in nine sessions at and astrodynamics at this Handley Page, George Holt established the Letitia Eadon 138-33150-1. this conference. conference. Thomas, Thomas Sopwith, Memorial Prize educational Geoffrey de Havilland, Nevil award in memory of his wife Apollo in Perspective: Astrodynamics 2018: Shute, Henry Royce, Frederick which was administered by the Spaceflight Then and Now Proceedings of the AAS/ For further information B Rentschler, James Smith Royal Aeronautical Society. – Second edition. J Allday. AIAA Astrodynamics contact the National McDonnell, Donald Wills CRC Press, Taylor & Francis Specialist Conference Aerospace Library. Douglas and William Boeing SERVICE AVIATION Group, 6000 Broken Sound held 19-23 August 2018, T +44 (0)1252 701038 and of the major contributions Parkway NW, Suite 300, Boca Snowbird, Utah, USA (four they made to the development The Fleet Air Arm in the Raton, FL 33487-2742, USA. vols + CD-ROM). American or 701060 of aviation. Second World War: Vol 1 2019. Distributed by Taylor & Astronautical Society (AAS) E [email protected]

Find us on Twitter i Find us on LinkedIn f Find us on Facebook www.aerosociety.com OCTOBER 2019 47 Afterburner Society News COOL AERONAUTICS Mid-Year Report – A* for effort

The RAeS flagship primary school outreach programme ‘Cool Aeronautics,’ kindly sponsored by AAR Corp, has grown bigger and stronger this year with the addition of several high-profile venues and the largest numbers of participants to date. The Cool Aeronautics programme aims to provide an insightful experience into the world of aerospace and aviation to A big thank you to RAeS YPN inspire some of our children to pursue careers in young children aged between 8-11 and their teachers. rep Valeriya Mordvinova and aviation and aerospace, how wonderful that would be!” volunteers for hosting the The events form an integral part of the Society’s inaugural Cool Aeronautics Another 2019 first included our first event in mission to attract and inspire the next generation into event in Canada at the Canada in early May. Led by RAeS Canada YPN rep aerospace, STEM and aviation related careers. National Aviation & Space Valeriya Mordvinova, we were able to put on a fantastic From January we went full throttle with our Museum, Ottawa. display of aerospace talks and STEM activities at the first event of the year hosted by volunteers at the Canada Aviation & Space Museum in Ottawa. The 70 Trenchard Museum in RAF Halton on 31 January. students in attendance received interactive talks from The museum has long been contributing to the Cool companies, including NAV Canada, Porter Airlines and Aeronautics initiative, having welcomed 1,000 pupils the Transportation Safety Board of Canada before in 2018. With the support of RAF Halton, serving RAF witnessing a demonstration of an ejector seat and personnel and the British Model Flying Association, taking part in several other hands-on activities. We in the first half of 2019 the team have reached 445 here at RAeS very much hope to continue serving the pupils so far. Collaboratively, they have managed to young Canadian people for the foreseeable future create one of the greatest recurring Cool Aeronautics and look forward to Cool Aeronautics returning to the programmes to the schools of Buckinghamshire country next year! and the surrounding regions, never failing to exceed Sheffield Hallam University also hosted their children’s expectations with tremendous praise from annual Cool Aeronautics event led by RAeS member school teachers. Julie McVean from Long Crendon Dr Oliver Lewis along with various students and School said of the event: “A Year 5 pupil and his graduates from the aerospace department. They friends said that it was their joint best school trip welcomed 42 children from Acres Hill Primary School ever and everybody was really enthusiastic. From a for a day of interactive aerospace activity. The children teacher’s point of view, I particularly appreciated the received a fantastic talk from Emily Collett*, a leading Dr Nicol Caplin of the patience and quality of the staff and volunteers that European Space Agency aerobatic pilot in the UK. you had at every activity.” takes to the stage to introduce Another new 2019 location was the famous In March the programme travelled to Shannon the upcoming generation Goodwood Aerodrome where 60 children from for Engineer’s Week Ireland, whereby the Atlantic to ESA and its work. Nicol the Chichester area came to explore the fantastic AirVenture Museum played host to 120 students from also spoke about her role in facilities on offer at this prestigious site and take part exobiology and how it will the local area. This event was supported by Lufthansa positively impact future space in activities, also in May. These included a fantastic Technik and Ryanair. The children got to fly a simulator travel. workshop from ESERO ambassador Jo Fox who under instruction which was a highlight for most pupils. transported them into the life of British astronaut 29 March saw us host the first Cool Aeronautics ‘Tim Peake’ who went to school nearby, as well as a event of the year at our beautiful HQ at No.4 Hamilton talk by Virgin Atlantic First Officer Stuart Rawlinson. Place. We welcomed 90 children from Tiverton In the afternoon segment the children got to tour Primary School, Tottenham to experience an insightful the wonderful facilities of this renowned site led by day of aviation and space. The programme included Goodwood Aero Club member Max Tams. The main a morning of several talks including Capt Kate highlight was being up and close to an operational McWilliams of easyJet who is one of the youngest Spitfire and engaging with the pilots who have the female airline captains in the world! Joining her was privilege of flying the aircraft at significant aviation RAeS Fellow and former NASA/ESA engineer Pat events. Max Tams commented: “The past, present and Norris who captivated the children with his experiences future of aviation was tangible within the room. The in the space industry and the role which space plays in questions asked by the children were so intelligent our daily lives. Resham Mirza, Head Teacher at Tiverton and searching – it really showed a deep interest in Primary School said: “You and your organisation have flying and aircraft that belied their age.” welcomed us from the very beginning and we are so The RAeS Gloucester branch held their annual proud to work in partnership with you. If these visits Cool Aeronautics event at the Jet Age Museum in

48 AEROSPACE / OCTOBER 2019 early June, attracting over 90 children from local schools who received a day of STEM-based activities led by local volunteers and aerospace companies, including Safran Landing Systems, Moog, Triumph Actuation and Dowty Propellers. Our SBAP aircraft G-TBLC, kindly hosted by Gloucester Airport, also made a special appearance! The children thoroughly enjoyed learning about the aircraft and there were some great questions floating around. Hopefully it will inspire the children to go ahead and build their own aircraft! In late June, we hosted a long-awaited Cool Aeronautics ‘Space Special’ to commemorate 50 years of the lunar landing with an audience of 120 children from two London primary schools. We were delighted to welcome back ESERO ambassador Jo Fox who this time ran an interactive workshop on Apollo 11 and the Space Race. RAeS Fellow Pat Norris spoke to the students about his time at NASA Cool Aeronautics at the Trenchard Museum, RAF Halton. Children being instructed on how to fly supporting the Apollo missions. The children were the Chipmunk Simulator. Often a highlight of the day for many pupils. thrilled to be in the presence of a person who was able to witness first-hand the events of July 1969 [*Tragically after this article RAeS Careers would like to give their sincere thanks to from Mission Control in Houston, Texas. Looking was written, Emily Collett the following sponsors, venues, speakers, supporters to the present day, our first ever speaker from the was killed with her passenger and activity providers for their overwhelming support in a light aircraft aerobatic European Space Agency, Dr Nicol Caplin, flew in from throughout 2019: The Netherlands to give an insightful talk about her accident on 26 August in Oxfordshire. The Careers AAR Corp – Our programme sponsor research into exobiology in the space industry. In the Department and Society afternoon the children took part in four Space activities Trenchard Museum – Bill McGrath, Francis Hanford & would like to extend their Volunteers including a ‘Going to Mars’ themed workshop with sympathies to her friends and Royal Air Force – RAF Halton Lucinda Offer from the Royal Astronomical Society. family.] British Model Flying Association The RAeS Derby Branch held its first Cool Atlantic AirVenture – Jane Magill Aeronautics event of the year in July at the Derby easyJet Airfield. The event welcomed 33 children from Spire RAeS Fellow, Pat Norris Junior School for a day of aeronautical adventure. The Spectrum Drama event was led by the Young Persons Group many of Stomp Rockets – Samuel Furniss who are employees at Rolls-Royce. We are looking Sheffield Hallam University – Dr Oliver Lewis & Volunteers forward to October when the Derby Branch will hold RAeS Young Persons Network, Canada – Valeriya a second event, this time welcoming back Ashover Mordvinova & Volunteers Primary School who attended last year. Canada Aviation & Space Museum Finally, to wrap up the first half of 2019, we held Goodwood Aerodrome – Mark Gibb, Kristin Gjetnes & another Cool Aeronautics first at the Shuttleworth Max Tams Collection in Biggleswade, Bedfordshire. 50 children Virgin Atlantic – Pippa Thompson & Stuart Rawlinson from Camps Hill Primary School in Stevenage paid Spacefund – Jo Fox (ESERO Ambassador) a visit to the collection and got to engage in talks Attendees were able to visit the Boeing 737 Gatwick Aviation Museum – Ashley Colella by Lockheed Martin graduates, as well as tour the simulator, operated by Gatwick Airport Ltd – Paula Aldridge & Wendy Crowhurst fantastic collection of operational vintage aircraft. Lufthansa Technik, at the Jet Age Museum – Gary Murden Cool Aeronautics event in Teacher Annis Ranson quoted: “The children thoroughly RAeS Gloucester Branch – Kerissa Khan & Volunteers Shannon. enjoyed themselves and it was a fantastic event.” European Space Agency – Dr Nicol Caplin Overall it has been an extremely busy few months RAeS Derby Branch with so many events in the first half of this year! Watch Royal Astronomical Society – Lucinda Offer this space as we have major plans for the latter part of Shuttleworth Collection – Matthew Studdert Kennedy & the year, including our first event at the National Space Volunteers Centre in Leicester, our ever-popular event at the Fleet Lockheed Martin – Bobby Slater, Jennifer Edwards & Air Arm Museum in Yeovilton and continuous events at Jennifer Insley the Trenchard Museum.

Rishi Radia RAeS Careers & Outreach Officer

Find us on Twitter i Find us on LinkedIn f Find us on Facebook www.aerosociety.com OCTOBER 2019 49 Afterburner Society News NATIONAL AEROSPACE LIBRARY The Comet Inquiry

On 10 January 1954 a BOAC de Havilland Comet jet airliner G-ALYP during a scheduled flight from Singapore to London crashed into the sea to the south of Elba. All 29 passengers and six crew lost their lives. On 20 January 1954 the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation, Alan Lennox-Boyd reported to the House of Commons: “On the following day the Chairman of BOAC informed me that the Corporation had decided to suspend their normal Comet passenger services for the purpose of carrying out a detailed examination of the aircraft of the Comet operational fleet, in collaboration with expert representatives of the Air Registration Board and the manufacturers. Above: de Havilland DH106 Subsequently, experts from the Royal Aircraft Comet 1, G-ALYP, of BOAC. Establishment Farnborough were also associated This aircraft operated the first scheduled passenger service with the investigation.” of a jet-propelled airliner on 2 Subsequently on 8 March 1954 Lennox-Boyd May 1952. The aircraft broke reported to the House of Commons: up in mid-air on 10 January “I am glad to say that this afternoon, with my 1954 near the island of Elba full approval, the Chairman of BOAC is making an with the loss of all on board. RAeS (NAL). announcement. He is saying that the modifications Right: Section of fuselage which they are making to their Comet aircraft from the wreckage of G-ALYP ... are now approaching completion. Subject to on display in the Science who, during 1954-1955, acted as Secretary to Lord the outcome of necessary flight testing being Museum showing the two Cohen who was appointed in May 1954 to preside satisfactory, the normal passenger services of the ADF windows which were over the Court of Inquiry. A letter to Lord Cohen found to be the origin of the Comet will be resumed on the Johannesburg service inflight failure.Tim Farley. dated 18 May 1954 by Harold S Kent notes: on Tuesday 23rd March and other services will be “I would like to suggest that J N B Penny might announced to follow.” be your Secretary. He is in Peter Bevan’s Chambers On 8 April 1954 BOAC Comet G-ALYY being and knows a good deal about these air accident operated under charter by a South African Airways inquiries. He is a young man of about six years crew of seven and 14 passengers on board broke standing at the Bar whom we think well of here, and up over the Mediterranean Sea near Naples. On 12 I think might be very useful to you. If you agree, I will April 1954 John Profumo, Parliamentary Under- ask him whether he can take it on.” Secretary to the Ministry, reported: The file of correspondence provides a revealing “As the House will know, my right Hon Friend insight to the workings of the Comet Inquiry which has withdrawn the United Kingdom Certificates ... IT IS CLEARLY was to prove one of the pivotal events in the of Airworthiness of Comet aircraft pending further OF VITAL development of post-war British aviation. detailed investigation into the causes of the IMPORTANCE In addition to a number of letters from Sir recent disasters ... It is clearly of vital importance THAT William Farren, Professor W J Duncan and Air that everything possible should be done to get Commodore A H Wheeler who were appointed to the bottom of these mysterious tragedies. A EVERYTHING Assessors to the Inquiry, the correspondence public inquiry will be held .... In addition exhaustive POSSIBLE includes letters from Group Captain P G Tweedie investigations and tests will be carried out as a major SHOULD BE (Chief Inspector of Accidents), Sir Lionel Heald QC, national research project by the Ministry of Supply. Bruno Jablonsky, Harold A Malpas, L C Wingfield, The full resources of that Department have been DONE TO and W Newman Alcock among others. made available for this purpose.” GET TO THE The National Aerospace Library at Farnborough In August 2019 the National Aerospace Library BOTTOM holds a wealth of material relating to the de was presented by Andrew Penny (Senior Associate, OF THESE Havilland Comet including the major Report on Forsters LLP) and his stepmother Mrs Sara Penny Comet Accident Investigation (12 Parts) and the with a historic file of correspondence and other MYSTERIOUS Report by the De Havilland Engine Company Ltd, papers that belonged to his father J N B Penny QC TRAGEDIES on engines recovered from Comet aircraft G-ALYP

50 AEROSPACE / OCTOBER 2019 which crashed south of Elba – 10th Jan 1954 (six Parts) both intensive investigations being completed in a matter of a few months before the Court of Inquiry opened on 19 October 1954 at the assembly hall of Church House, Westminster, with Lord Cohen acting as Commissioner, and ended on 24 November 1954 after a 22-day sitting. The Report of the Court of Inquiry was published by HMSO on 12 February 1955 and at the conclusion of his introduction Lord Cohen acknowledged: “I cannot conclude this letter without expressing my very sincere thanks to Mr J N B Penny, barrister- at-law, who was specially appointed secretary to the tribunal and has been of great assistance to me throughout the proceedings.” folios), various de Havilland brochures for the Comet The National Aerospace Library holds also a and its variants through to Comet 5 — Project wealth of original documents relating to the design Statement (‘Confidential’) [Hatfield: de Havilland and operation of the Comet airliner, including Aircraft Company. 1956] which was never built, Type Specification of the de Havilland Comet Four in addition to the Comet accident reports and the Turbo-Jet Airliner (Type D.H.106-10-01) for British Above: de Havilland DH106 company journal de Havilland Gazette 1937 No1 – Overseas Airways Corporation (Issue No2 — Comet 1, G-ALYV, of BOAC. 1961 No124. October 1951), de Havilland Comet — Preliminary This aircraft disintegrated in For any enquiries about this material please India during an exceptionally Pilots’ Notes [Hatfield: de Havilland Aircraft heavy tropical thunderstorm contact the librarians at Farnborough (T +44 Company. 1950], performance and flight test on 2 May 1953 with the loss (0)1252 701038/(0)1252 701060; E nal@ reports on the DH Comet I and II 1951-1954 (15 of all on board. RAeS (NAL). aerosociety.com).

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Find us on Twitter i Find us on LinkedIn f Find us on Facebook www.aerosociety.com OCTOBER 2019 51 Afterburner Diary

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

8 October The Real World’s Counterpart: Digital Twins – The present and the future Conference Lockheed Martin Lockheed

8 October Cierva Lecture: Technology Development to Fielding: Concrete Steps Towards the Future of Vertical Lift Rotorcraft Group Named Lecture

9-10 October The second Airbus BelugaXL performed its maiden flight on 15 April 2019. The BelugaXL Airspace Access: Integrated or Segregated? Conference programme will be discussed by Veronique Roca at Loughborough on 15 October. Airbus.

10 October Tony Lucking Debate: Game of Drones – the Rise of eVTOL and Urban Aviation BEDFORD BROUGH RAeS Chester Branch and Air Transport Group Debate ARA Sports and Social Club, Cottingham Parks Golf Club, former RAF Corporal. Joint Aircraft Research Association, Woodhill Way, Cottingham, lecture with The Grosvenor 14-15 October Manton Lane, Bedford. 7pm. Hull. Ben Groves, T +44 Museum Society. Aerodynamics Tools and Methods in Aircraft Design 9 October — What’s cooler (0)1482 663938. Aerodynamics Group Conference than being cool? Thin walled 13 November — Branch COVENTRY heat exchangers. Dr Emma AGM followed by Navy wings Lecture Theatre ECG26, 14 October Ryan, Development Engineer, – flying historic aircraft and the Engineering & Computing Lanchester Lecture Reaction Engines. organisation. Building, Coventry University, Prof Rebecca J Lingwood, Professor of Fluid Dynamics, Brunel 11 December — Flying 27 November — A lesson Coventry. 7.30pm. Janet Owen University London and KTH Royal Institute of Technology, business jets. Paul Catanach, in chemistry. Hull University, T +44 (0)2476464079. Stockholm Line Training Captain, TAG Robert Blackburn Building. 16 October — John Boyd Aerodynamics Group Named Lecture Aviation (UK) Ltd. Dunlop Lecture. The Shackleton CAMBRIDGE from a navigator`s point of 15 October BIRMINGHAM, Lecture Theatre ‘O’, Cambridge view. Air Cdre Bill Tyack, RAeS Development of Hypersonic Glide Vehicles – US, Russian and WOLVERHAMPTON AND University Engineering Dept. President 2014-2015. Chinese COSFORD 7.30pm. Jin-Hyun Yu, T +44 7 November — Annual Dr Malcolm Claus, Course Director – Astronautics and Space National Cold War Museum, (0)1223 373129. Dinner and Talk. Brandon Hall Technology, Kingston University RAF Museum Cosford, Shifnal. 7 November — Throwing Hotel, Brandon. Lecture 7pm. Chris Hughes, T +44 away the rule book, Electric 4 December — Airbus (0)1902 844523. Air transport, Lilium Aviation. electric-engined BAe146 29 October 17 October — Spitfire Girl. Lauren Hazlett, Lilium Aviation. programme. Riona Armesmith, Indecision, decision and counter-decision: A history of airports Candida Adkins. 28 November — Team Rolls-Royce E-Fan X policy for London 12 December — From Tempest, the future of UK air Programme Director. Paul Le Blond FCILT, Former BAA airport planner and Comet to Dreamliner: a power. Michael Christie, BD consultant history of aircraft fatigue. Dr Director, BAE Systes. CRANWELL Lecture Andrew Halfpenny, Director of 19 December — Airborne Daedalus Officers’ Mess, RAF Technology, HBM Prenscia – electronic warfare – the Cold Cranwell. 7.30pm. Please 31 October nCode Products Division. War legacy. Gordon Slater. allow enough time to visit the Trenchard Lecture: British Universities and the Royal Air Force Mulled wine and mince pies Guardroom for your pass. Clive Richards, Author BOSCOMBE DOWN after lecture. 7 October — Post-war Named Lecture Lecture Theatre, MoD combat aircraft procurement in Boscombe Down, Salisbury. CHESTER the UK. Paul Stoddart. 7 November 5.15pm. Visitors please register Room 017, University of 4 November — Flying the Aviation and the Net Zero Emissions Challenge at least four days in advance Chester, Beswick Building, English Electric Lightning. Greener by Design Conference (name and car registration University of Chester, Parkgate John Ward. required) E secretary@ Road, Chester. 7.30pm. Keith 9 December — Christmas 7 November BoscombeDownRAeS.org Housely, T +44 (0)151 348 event and RAF Presentation Brabazon Lecture 8 October — Chasing 4480. Team. Shai Weiss, Chief Executive Officer, Virgin Atlantic Limited Bears in the Phantom. Nick 9 October — Air Accidents Named Lecture Anderson, Ret’d RAF Pilot and Investigation Branch. Peter DERBY Virgin Atlantic Captain. Coombs, Senior Inspector Nightingale Hall, Moor Lane, 8 November 22 October — BepiColombo. of Accidents, Air Accidents Derby. 5.30pm. Chris Sheaf, Careers in Aerospace & Aviation LIVE 2019 Peter Randall, QQ Systems Investigation Branch. T +44 (0)1332 269368. Engineer. Lunchtime. 13 November — War and 9 October — E-Fan X: hybrid All lectures start at 18.00 unless otherwise stated. 19 November — Apollo 11. Peace – 1956-1962. Peter electric flight demonstrator. Conference proceedings are available at Pat Norris. Radcliffe, Grosvenor Museum Riona Armesmith, Rolls-Royce www.aerosociety.com/news/proceedings 10 December — The Giant Society and former Army E-Fan X Programme Director. Typhoon. Lunchtime. Sergeant and Carl Mann, 13 November — The VRCO

52 AEROSPACE / OCTOBER 2019 NeoXcraft: eVTOL multi modal independent airlines Annual Dinner. Matt Hall, pilot, aircraft. Dan Hayes, CEO of the fifties and sixties. Tony Red Bull Air Race. and co-founder, VRCO, and Merton-Jones. Michael Smith, Chairman and TOULOUSE co-founder, VRCO. SEATTLE Symposium Room, Building Museum of Flight, 9404 East B01, Airbus Campus 1, FARNBOROUGH Marginal Way South, Seattle, Blagnac. 6pm. Contact: http:// BAE Systems Park Centre, Washington. 6.30pm. goo.gl/WbiKtV to register. Farnborough Aerospace Centre. 1 October — Insitu – 22 October — The 7.30pm. Dr Mike Philpot, T +44 Unmanned aircraft and their applications of quantum sensor (0)1252 614618. impact on decision making. technology in space. 15 October — The art of Jim Wood, Senior Manager 19 November — 12th ADS bush flying: a pilot’s life in the of Product Development, Toulouse Branch Lecture. bush. Capt Bryan Pill. Autonomous Systems, Insitu Launching satellites from the 19 November — The past, Inc, a Boeing Company. UK Space Centre in Scotland. present and future of air Chris Larmour, CEO, Orbex weapons integration. Gregory SOLENT Space. Nicholls, BAE Systems, Warton. Portland Building, University 17 December — Family of Porsmouth, Portland Street, Christmas Lecture. GATWICK Portsmouth. 6.30pm. Thunderbolts and CAA Aviation House. 6.30pm. 21 November — lightning – are they really 9 October — TAG Developments in UK frightening? Rhys Phillips, Farnborough. Brandon O’Reilly, manufacturing. Phil Spiers, Electromagnetism Scientist, CEO, TAG. Head of Laboratories, Advance Airbus Central R&T. Manufacturing Research International School of Toulouse GLOUCESTER AND Centre. (IST), 2, Allée de l’Herbaudière, CHELTENHAM 31770 Colomiers. Safran Landing Systems, Péter Besenyei crossing between the start/finish pylons in Perth, SOUTHEND Restaurant Conference Room, 2008. Matt Hall will discuss the Red Bull Air Races at the Sir The Holiday Inn, Southend WASHINGTON off Down Hatherley Lane. Charles Kingsford Smith Lecture in Sydney on 8 October. MER-C. Airport. 8pm. Sean Corr, T +44 3 October — Is autonomous 7.30pm. (0)20 7929 3400. air taxi hype for real? Panel 15 October — Airbus E-Fan 8 October — Flying the discussion. The Boeing X Project – Hybrid Electric Spitfire. Flt Lt Charlie Brown, Company, 929 Long Bridge Flight Demonstrator. Anna Performance-based MEDWAY RAF Cranwell. Drive, Arlington, VA. 6pm. Calder, E-Fan X OAD Engineer, oversight in the aircraft MRO Conference Room 1, BAE 12 November — The Hawker 7 November — Commercial Airbus. environment. Paul Griffiths, Systems (Rochester), Marconi Siddeley Trident. Stephen space. 19 November — Urban Air Engineering Safety & Quality Way, Rochester. 7pm. Robin Skinner, Aviation Author and Mobility – A Technical Insight. Team Leader, British Airways Heaps, T +44 (0)1634 Historian. WEYBRIDGE Guillermo Durango, Modelling Engineering. 377973. 26 November — Informal Brooklands Museum, Campbell & Simulation Engineer, Lilium. 13 December — Richard 16 October — The People’s evening with films. The Gate entrance. 6.45pm. 17 December — The ACCEL Fairey Named Lecture. Mosquito. Southend Air Show. Roger 16 October — HMA R-100 Project – Accelerating the Sabre – a new class of 20 November — The John Campbell, Southend Branch designed by Barnes Wallis. Electrification of Flight. propulsion. Sophie Harker, Shepherd Lecture. The F-35. Chairman. Roger Allton, Airship Heritage Matthew Parr, Rolls-Royce Senior Engineer Flight Control Peter Kosogorin. Trust research member. ACCEL Project and Roger Systems, BAE Systems Air. STEVENAGE 6 November — The BAC Targett – Electro-flight. MUNICH MBDA SG1 2DA. 6pm. 221 programme and early days LOUGHBOROUGH 10 October — Sir Brian E [email protected] of Concorde. John Thorpe, HAMBURG Room U020, Brockington Burridge, CEO, RAeS. 15 October — The future of former member BAC Flight Hochschule für Angewandte Building, Loughborough Universität der Bundeswehr aerospace: known knowns and Test Department. Wissenschaften Hamburg, Building. 7.30pm. Colin Moss, (UniBw) München. 6pm. known unknowns! Sir Brian 27 November — 67th Hörsaal 01.13 Berliner Tor 5 T +44 (0)1509 239962. Followed by the RAeS Munich Burridge, CEO, RAeS. R K Pierson Lecture. Sabre. (Neubau), 20099 Hamburg. 15 October — BelugaXL Branch Dinner. Casino der 12 November — Gravity Jet Dr Helen Webber, Heat 7 November — winglets@ – oversize transport for the UniBw. 8pm. Suit. Sam Rogers. Leonardo Exchanger Team Leader, Airbus. Dr-Ing Gerd Heller, 21st century. Veronique Roca, LU1 3PG. Reaction Engines Ltd. Senior Aerodynamics Expert, Airbus, BelugaXL Technical PRESTON 3 December — Merry Airbus Operations. Joint Director & Chief Engineer. Personnel and Conference Quizmas Christmas Quiz Event. YEOVIL lecture with DGLR, HAW- 5 November — Elfyn Centre, BAE Systems, Warton. Dallas Conference Room Hamburg and VDI. 6pm. Richards Lecture. Battle of the 6.30pm. Alan Matthews, SWINDON 1A, Leonardo Helicopters, 26 November — Annual X-planes – the competition T +44 (0)1995 61470. The Montgomery Theatre, The Yeovil. 6.30pm. David Christmas Dinner and for the Joint Strike Fighter 9 October — Airlander. Tom Defence Academy of the United McCallum, E david.mccallum@ Lecture. Anglo-German Club, programme. Rear Admiral Grundy, Executive Director Kingdom, Faringdon Road, leonardocompany.com Harvestehuder Weg 44, Simon Henley, RAeS President, Strategic Customer Solutions Shrivenham, Swindon. 7.30pm. 17 October — Battle of 20149 Hamburg. 7pm. 2018-19. Joint lecture with and Support, Airlander. 2 October — Future Combat Britain – the making of the IMechE. 13 November — Young Air. Mark Bowman. movie. Phil Holt. HEATHROW 19 November — The Fairey Persons Network Mini Lecture 6 November — Enabling 14 November — Merlin British Airways HQ Waterside Rotodyne. David Gibbings. Competition. worldwide logistics for a entertainment. James Theatre, Harmondsworth. 10 December — The 11 December — F-35 into global Britain. Neil Cloughley, Chestnutt. 6.15pm. For security passes, Heathrow air traffic control service. Managing Director and 12 December — Reaction advance registration (at least system at 99% capacity – founder, Faradair Aerospace Engines. two days prior) is required. even under crash conditions. PRESTWICK Ltd. Please contact William Li, E Adam Spink, London Heathrow The Aviator Suite, 1st Floor, 4 December — The Royal [email protected] or ATC. Terminal Building, Prestwick International Air Tatoo – from T +44 (0)7936 392799. Airport. 7.30pm. John Wragg, T small beginings. Tim Prince. 10 October — A brief history MANCHESTER +44 (0)1655 750270. Copy date of the U-2 spyplane. Chris Deanwater Hotel, Wilmslow 14 October — Airbus test SYDNEY Pocock, aviation author, 50 Road, Woodford. 7pm. flying/flying the Shuttleworth The Refectory, Holme Building, for the next issue Years of the U-2 and Dragon 10 October — Tornado Collection. Frank Chapman. Science Road, University of of AEROSPACE is Lady Today. GR4. Dennis Morley. Renold 11 November — Rolls-Royce Sydney. 6.30pm.0 21 November — Charles Building, University of Spitfire. lan Craighead. 8 October — 61st Sir Charles 2 October. Abell Named Lecture. Manchester. 12 December — British Kingsford Smith Lecture and

Find us on Twitter i Find us on LinkedIn f Find us on Facebook www.aerosociety.com OCTOBER 2019 53 Obituary CAPT MAURICE LESLIE FAULKNER KNOWLES

FRAeS Maurice during his time with the CAA worked 1935-2019 with Dan Air, Aurigny, BA and Air Europe among others. He was enticed to joining Air Europe in 1987 as Flight Training Manager, based at LGW, Maurice Knowles could be described as a total flying the B737 and B757. Here he managed to aviation person. He grew up near Heston Airfield gain a good balance between the office-based part where he developed his fascination with aircraft. of the job, developing the Training Centre and also During his teens he joined the Air Training flying the line. Corps and took flying lessons and gained his PPL Within days of the demise of Air Europe in at the age of 17 in 1952. National Service followed 1991, the world again beckoned and he took up the in the RAF [1953-1955] where he was trained as position of Flight Training Manager for Royal Brunei. a Signaller and was based in RAF Changi. Upon Here he returned to long range flying again on the completion of his National Service, Maurice was B767. determined to pursue a flying career in civil aviation. His 60th birthday in 1995 required him to He, without support, purchased a Piper Cub, flying it return to earth and also return to the UK. He to increase his flying hours and renting it out to help became one of the founding owners of CTC pay for his Commercial Licence. Aviation in Hampshire. Maurice was an excellent He started his commercial flying career trainer and developed many pilots through the with Skyways based in Lympne flying the DC-3 simulator training programmes at CTC and indeed and, subsequently, the Avro York and Lockheed championed women pilots. He was instrumental in Constellation out of Stansted and Heathrow. He setting up easyJet in 1995 being responsible for flew all manner of cargo worldwide, including recruitment and training. He continued on a part animals and military personnel. time consultancy basis, after the company was sold In 1961 Maurice left Skyways and joined on, until 2018. Cambrian Airways in Cardiff to continue flying the Maurice, as mentioned earlier, was a total DC-3 and converting to the Viscount. Shortly after aviation person but he had other interests. He was joining Cambrian, he met Joyce, who was flying fascinated with cars and, when he was younger, had as a stewardess and, in 1962, they were married. a classic car to tinker with. He loved sailing which he He gained his command in 1963 and, soon after, picked up in Singapore during his National Service, became a Training Captain and moved his base to was very fit and kept a Class 1 medical well into his LHR. 70s, actively hashing with the Hash House Harriers In 1969 the world beckoned, and he went in Brunei. to Accra, Ghana to take up the position of Flight He was a Fellow of the Royal Aeronautical Training Manager with Ghana Airways. This was Society, chaired the Flight Operations Group, took an exciting time for Maurice, as Ghana Airways Livery with the Honourable Company of Air Pilots was expanding with more aircraft and extending its and was awarded a Master Pilot Certificate in 2014. routes and he introduced the Fokker F28 into the An all-round enthusiast in anything he set his company. mind to, a great family man with a wonderful sense In 1974 they returned and Maurice joined the of humour, a comedian with his grandchildren CAA, taking on a joint role as a Training Inspector and an expert on whiskey which he had a passing in the Safety Regulation Group and, during his time acquaintance with. with the CAA, was based initially in Stansted at the Maurice will be very much missed not only CAAFU and then at the head office in London. Many by his family but by his former colleagues and now venerable examiners were trained by Maurice friends. He left aviation in a better place and will be during this time and had the benefit of his careful remembered. guidance to be effective. He taught that, to be a Joyce and her family would like to invite those good examiner you had to make judgements, no that knew Maurice and would like to attend a pilot is perfect but a safe operation is one where the Memorial Celebration at the RAF Club Piccadilly on crew resolved problems. In 1983 he was seconded 1 October 2019, 12:00-16:00, to please RSVP to to Boeing in Seattle to obtain the UK certification [email protected]. of the B757 and he was part of the crew that made the first transatlantic delivery of this aircraft, which Capt Pete Terry earned a mention on a special edition First Day FRAeS cover for the Royal Mail. RAeS Flight Operations Group

54 AEROSPACE / OCTOBER 2019 Society News IT FLIES UK 2019 The best yet!

Held at The University of Manchester on 6 June, the judges’ comment was that it was the best IT FLIES competition yet. Each entry flew really well and it was decided that they all deserved a prize. Never before has the standard been so high – a real credit to the university students involved, and their enthusiasm for anything aero! ENTRIES ILLUSTRATIONS IN ORDER OF FLYING Entries were extremely varied in design, with some very interesting concept ideas. Chief Flying MERLIN “IT FLIES” 2019 UK – UNIVERSITY OF MANCHESTER Judge, Dave Southwood, from ETPS commented:

“This year all of the models entered flew very successfully at the first attempt, with no refinement required by Merlin. The overall best model was one of the very best that I have ever flown in all the years UNIVERSITY OF MANCHESTER that I have been a judge for IT FLIES. It was very heartening for the judges to see the enthusiasm, knowledge and attitude of all of the student teams. The format of the competition has developed over the years, and we are confident that it gives the best possible learning opportunities for the students – as well as being fun for them – and for the judges!” The official results First Prize £500 from Merlin Products Ltd and e-associate membership of the Royal Aeronautical Society went to Ziad Amin and Delija Lekstutyte from The University of Manchester with their three- lifting surface, twin-engine light jet. Targeted at developing nations with mountainous/rough terrain and short runways, it carried five passengers and had a range of 1,500nm. Second Prize went to Daan de Kogel from Amsterdam University of Applied Sciences with his low-cost regional aircraft with forward-swept wings using a design from students at TU Delft.

Third Prize went to Kevin Besinger and Manuel Top from left: Ziad Amin and Our prize sponsors this year were the Royal Apke from Glyndwr University for their Ultralight Delija Lekstutyte from The Aeronautical Society’s Flight Simulation Group, IHS University of Manchester with Markit and The Aviation Historian magazine. Very fixed-wing two-seater aircraft with a single-prop judge Dave Southwood. many thanks to all of them for supporting the event piston engine. Above: Their winning three- once again! The Prize for the most Innovative Design surface design. Very many thanks to our flying judges, Dave was won by The University of Swansea with their Southwood and Gordon McClymont, and our extreme altitude mountain rescue rotorcraft capable presentation judge, Dr David Philpott. Also, to the of performing rescue missions up to the peak of Mt staff and students at The University of Manchester Everest. Second in this section was James Orendi who helped enormously. from The University of Manchester with his forward Dave Southwood said that: “It was the best IT swept wing military jet trainer. FLIES yet” – I completely agree with him, it was a The Best Project Presentation Award was won pleasure to meet and talk to all the aero students by Rachael Supina and Michael Mongin from The involved. Our aero design industry will be enriched University of Dayton, Ohio with their solar-powered by their graduation! glider. Best UAV design was won by Dushanth Marion Neal Vigneswaran from Amsterdam University of Applied Marketing Director Sciences. Merlin Flight Simulation Group

Find us on Twitter i Find us on LinkedIn f Find us on Facebook www.aerosociety.com OCTOBER 2019 55 Afterburner Elections SOCIETY OFFICERS The Journal of Aeronautical History President: Prof Jonathan Cooper Frank Whittle President-Elect: Howard Nye adjusts a slide rule while seated BOARD CHAIRMEN at his desk at the Ministry Learned Society Chairman: of Aircraft Air Cdre Peter Round Production. Membership Services Chairman: Philip Spiers Professional Standards Chairman: The first four Journal of Aeronautical History papers of 2019 have been Hilary Barton added to the Society’s website and are free to view or download: DIVISION PRESIDENTS https://www.aerosociety.com/news-expertise/journals-papers/ AVM Mark Skidmore papers-of-the-journal-of-aeronautical-history/ Australia: New Zealand: Des Ashton Comments on Whittle’s 1928 Cranwell Thesis Pakistan: AM Salim Arshad South African: Marié Botha By Alec Collins, Rolls-Royce Heritage Trust Commentary on the Thesis ‘Future Developments in Aircraft Design’ WITH REGRET by Officer Cadet Frank Whittle, Cranwell 1928 By Dr Fred Starr The RAeS announces with regret the deaths of the following members: Cayley’s 1804 Glider Dr John Dunham CEng FRAeS 87 By Dr John Ackroyd Frank William Fahy CEng FRAeS 92 The Origins of Aviation Medical Services during World War 1, with Professor Bacharuddin Jusuf Habibie particular reference to the Royal Australian Air Force FEng HonFRAeS 83 By Dr Michael Tyquin Dr Michael Frederick Hawkins FRAeS 87 Harold Alan Scrace CEng MRAeS 92

FELLOWS MEMBERS ASSOCIATE ASSOCIATES STUDENT AFFILIATES MEMBERS Alan Bamford Valentin Buchinger Emily Ansell Mtsweni Lindo Malcolm Evely Jason Ellicott Yuwei Li Akitha Gunarathna Carlos Kaduoka Adrian Lorent Louisa Wells Dhamseth Pallawela Sonya White E-ASSOCIATES Robert Pearce Simon Sanders Davide Grignoli

CORPORATE PARTNER EVENTS

Please note: Attendance at Corporate Partner events is Sponsor: strictly exclusive to staff of RAeS Corporate Partners. Wednesday 9 October 2019 / London Corporate Partner Briefing www.aerosociety.com/events AVM Rocky Rochelle, Chief of Staff Capability (Air), Royal Air Force For further information, please contact Gail Ward Sponsor: E [email protected] or T +44 (0)1491 629912

Wednesday 6 November 2019 / London From first flight to electric flight: transforming for a sustainable Find out more about Royal Aeronautical Society Corporate future membership, advertising and sponsorship: Corporate Partner Briefing by Hans Büthker, Chief Executive E [email protected] or T +44 (0)20 7670 4346 Officer, GKN Aerospace www.aerosociety.com/corporate

56 AEROSPACE / OCTOBER 2019 Society News RAeS Membership and Professional Registration Briefings

Arrange a company briefing to provide your staff with the opportunity to learn about Membership and becoming Professionally Registered

Organise a briefing for your company and learn about: • The Society and our activities • Membership benefits and criteria • Professional development with the Society • Engineers can learn about becoming professionally registered as CEng, IEng or EngTech with the Engineering Council UK • The requirements and application process for membership and professional registration

We can also organise on-site 1to1 registration workshops and mentor training For more information or to arrange a visit contact: [email protected] or +44 (0)20 7670 4384/ 400

2019 Wilbur and Orville Wright Named Lecture Join us as a BUILDING, TESTING & DEVELOPING A Corporate Partner PRIVATE SPACELINE: VIRGIN GALACTIC RAeS Corporate Partners are organisations, both large and small, across civil AND COMMERCIAL SPACE and defence, from the breadth of the aerospace, aviation and space sectors. We provide a high-level commitment to professional recognition, continuous DAVID MACKAY FRAES, CHIEF PILOT, VIRGIN GALACTIC professional development, networking and knowledge sharing.

LONDON / 10 DECEMBER 2019

With the recent move to its commercial operations spaceport in New Mexico and the imminent conclusion of operational testing, Virgin Galactic is set to fulfil its original dreams of its founder. This lecture will describe some of the many challenges and 4 Exclusive Corporate Partner briefings successes of this ground- 4 Access to our global network of Branches breaking programme. 4 Free access to AEROSPACE and The Aeronautical Refreshments 17:30 hrs Journal 4 Discounted conference rates Lecture 18:00 hrs 4 Free accreditation costs Book your place via below or E 4 Discounted individual member joining fees [email protected] 4 Free meeting room and discounted room hire at RAeS HQ www.aerosociety.com/wow 4 Use of the RAeS Corporate Partner logo

This event is available for sponsorship – for further details please contact [email protected] or call +44 (0)1491 629912.

Find out more about corporate membership: [email protected] www.aerosociety.com/corporate +44 (0)20 7670 4300 @aerosociety Find us on Twitter i Find us on LinkedIn f Find us on Facebook www.aerosociety.com OCTOBER 2019 57 WOW2018QuarterPageV4.indd 1 12/09/2019 15:41:03 The Last Word COMMENTARY FROM Professor Keith Hayward FRAeS

A hundred years of airline operation

t is just over 100 years since the world’s first frequency of passenger turnover is one of the scheduled international commercial flights central tenets of the LCC business model. The began operation. Honours to the first of these absence of a higher premium fare-payer also limits was a a flight between London’s Hounslow the yield from long haul. Heath and Paris. IIn a rather brazen PR hijacking of history, the New aircraft may open new doors... 1974 Jonnie-come-lately British Airways has chosen this event to mark its centenary, which The arrival of highly-efficient aircraft (when they are having celebrated the 75 years of Imperial Airways actually in the air) has brought the long-haul LCC a few years back is a fine piece of double-dipping. closer to viability. Ryanair has had a look and, so far, 80 years of BOAC might have been more accurate, stepped back but other classic LCCs are sniffing the or even more accurately for a short haul anniversary, air. Airlines are already using the long-range narrow BEA’s 75th next year. But not to carp, in moving bodies elsewhere in the world to build long-haul from a 450 quid (2019 money) single ticket in 1919 operations, which should improve operating costs to pocket money prices, at least on short-medium and yields, as well as using a common fleet across a haul flights today, we have moved from luxury to range of sectors. commonplace in a very fast time, a development Building long-term viability for trans-Atlantic that we should commend. LCC operation will still be a tough call. With those ultra-high efficiency aeroplanes to call on, it is on Wings across the Atlantic the near horizon, even so, with fuel prices creeping up again, the margins look very tight. There may be While we looking at price comparisons, the 1939 some more room for the old-fashioned package, single across the Atlantic cost over $7,000, which wraps up a complete travel service with a (cheaper than BA First Class today at $12,000) and, bargain air ticket but this is still not the classic LCC while hardly comparable with the sort of prices for THE CLIMATE post-1945 services, it was some time before flying flexible, web-driven operation offering the customer EMERGENCY to the US was commonplace. The wide-bodied options for flight, hotel and car hire. AND THE revolution, Freddie Laker and full de-regulation RENEWED finally did the business. ...but the climatic emergency may The biggest impact of liberalisation was on the close others ATTACK ON short-medium haul market, with a business model CARBON linked to rapid turn-round, several different sets of And the possible showstopper? The climate change EMITTING AIR passengers in a day and lots of ‘extras’ to sell. This emergency and the renewed attack on carbon emitting air travel in general is an unavoidable TRAVEL IN has not suited the long-haul business, with longer periods in the air and one set of passengers with a moment of truth for the airline industry. The industry GENERAL IS AN diminishing enthusiasm to buy in the air. has seen this coming for a couple of decades but UNAVOIDABLE Laker was perhaps still ahead of time with a for a time could hide behind dirtier sectors. However, MOMENT OF ‘no frills’ trans-Atlantic service. Cattle class traffic the rate of growth in traffic and commensurate may have to buy its booze but it is hardly a Ryanair high altitude emissions is the Achilles heel as more TRUTH FOR aerial supermarket. Norwegian Air has staked a people begin to seek airplane-less travel. Not good THE AIRLINE claim to be the first real trans-Atlantic LCC but it news for putative long haul LCCs, which will depend INDUSTRY has struggled to make the concept work, where on a solid core of the travelling public.

58 AEROSPACE / OCTOBER 2019 NOW BOARDING The Autumn UK recruitment fair dedicated to aerospace and aviation

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