Innovation

Blockchain for Parts Tracking: Where does this promising approach stand today?

Blockchain for Parts Tracking: Where does this promising approach stand today?

Virgin Atlantic flies world’s first 100% Sustainable Aviation Fuel flight from London Heathrow to New York JFK

Joy Finnegan

Virgin Atlantic’s historic flight on 100% Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) takes off from London Heathrow to New York JFK today, marking the culmination of a year of radical collaboration, to demonstrate the capability of SAF as a safe drop-in replacement for fossil derived jet fuel, compatible with today’s engines, airframes and fuel infrastructure. SAF has…

 ACI Supports Visionary ICAO Goal for Sustainable Aviation Fuel 

Joy Finnegan

Airports Council International applauds and supports the visionary International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) goal for sustainable aviation fuel to come from the Third ICAO Conference on Aviation and Alternative Fuels (CAAF/3) that took place in Dubai from 20–24 November.  On 24 November, governments from over 100 States, meeting with industry and civil society, have set…

Electra Completes World’s First Hybrid-Electric eSTOL Aircraft Flight

Joy Finnegan

Electra.aero (Electra) has successfully completed the first flights of its EL-2 Goldfinch, a hybrid-electric, ultra-short takeoff and landing (eSTOL) aircraft. “The Goldfinch completed an all-electric test flight on November 11 and a hybrid-electric flight on November 19, both piloted by Cody Allee, from the Manassas Regional Airport in Virginia. The first hybrid flight lasted 23…

ICAO Conference Kicks Off in Dubai to Accelerate Global Aviation’s Transition to Cleaner Energy Sources

Joy Finnegan

More than one hundred countries and one thousand delegates are convening in Dubai this week to firm up their collective commitments to boost global aviation’s transition towards Sustainable Aviation Fuels (SAF), Lower Carbon Aviation Fuels (LCAF), and other cleaner energy sources.  “CAAF/3 convenes just over a year after States’ landmark decision on the long-term global…

Honeywell Providing Advanced Flight ControlsS for AIBOT’s Electric Aircraft

Joy Finnegan

Honeywell has been selected by AIBOT to provide its Compact Fly-By-Wire (cFBW) system to support AIBOT’s fully electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft. This Honeywell technology will empower the next generation of aircraft avionics and create a sustainable transportation ecosystem for the future.  Honeywell’s lightweight Compact Fly-By-Wire system, the size of a paperback book, provides…

Bally Ribbon Mills Supplies E-WEBBINGS E-textiles to Best Aviation Services. Inc. for Torabhaig Atlantic Explorer Gas Balloon

Joy Finnegan

Bally Ribbon Mills (BRM) announced it provided E-WEBBINGS e-textiles to Best Aviation Services. Inc., the balloon manufacturing and repair company supplying a tension system to support the Torabhaig Atlantic Explorer gas balloon’s open basket as it prepares to take the first flight across the Atlantic in an open basket gas balloon. The innovative design incorporates…

AMADA WELD TECH Expands Range of Galvo Scanning Heads for Laser Welding Applications

Joy Finnegan

AMADA WELD TECH, Inc., a leading manufacturer of equipment and systems for welding, marking, cutting, sealing, and bonding, announces a range of galvo scan heads for precision laser welding applications. Common usages for these scanning heads include point-to-point positioning for multi-point welding, shape welding for hermetic seams, and beam weaving to increase weld width. Point-to-point…

Reliable Robotics Achieves Key Milestones in Large Aircraft Automation Study for the U.S. Air Force

Joy Finnegan

Reliable Robotics reports it has made significant progress towards a working autonomy solution for the U.S. Air Force. Reliable’s automation system enables continuous autopilot engagement through all phases of aircraft operation, including taxi, takeoff and landing with a remote pilot supervising operations. Remotely operating large multi-engine Air Force jets like the KC-135 Stratotanker will enable…

RTX Developing Solid-State Circuit Breaker for Hybrid-Electric Aircraft Under NASA Contract

RTX Developing Solid-State Circuit Breaker for Hybrid-Electric Aircraft Under NASA Contract

Joy Finnegan

RTX has successfully demonstrated the operation of a solid-state circuit breaker to support hybrid-electric propulsion systems in future aircraft, a key part of the aviation industry’s efforts to achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2050. Much like a circuit breaker in a residential home, a circuit breaker on an aircraft helps protect the plane by removing…

Collins Aerospace Business Opened Additive Manufacturing Center

Collins Aerospace Business Opened Additive Manufacturing Center

Joy Finnegan

Collins Aerospace opened a $14 million expansion of its additive manufacturing center in West Des Moines, Iowa, recently. The 9,000-square-foot addition provides space for the site to house several new 3D metal printers. The first printer installed has eight times the build volume of the facility’s existing printers, significantly increasing the center’s additive manufacturing capabilities….

Innovating the Most Sensitive Uncooled Thermal Camera Drone Payload with Skydio

Joy Finnegan

USA-based Skydio recently introduced the Skydio X10 drone featuring a customized Teledyne FLIR Boson+ thermal camera module at its Ascend Conference on September 20. Thanks to the Thermal by FLIR collaboration, professional public safety and critical infrastructure inspection pilots can now access the most advanced uncooled thermal imaging technology on the market.   The Thermal by FLIR program…

Supernal, Hyundai WIA and Mecaer Aviation Group Partner to Accelerate eVTOL Landing Gear Development 

Joy Finnegan

Supernal, Hyundai Motor Group’s Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) company, Hyundai WIA, and Mecaer Aviation Group, an Italy-based global aeronautical company, announced a partnership to design and manufacture landing gear systems for electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) vehicles. Hyundai WIA specializes in mass manufacturing and precision machine tools, while Mecaer is experienced in designing and…