Plans to debut electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) air taxi services at the Olympic and Paralympic Games have been scrapped after the certification for the engine failed to come through. German urban air mobility (UAM) pioneer, Volocopter, lobbied for authorisation ahead of the games but the setback highlights the critical safety requirements when pioneering new modes of transportation.

Dirke Hoke, CEO, Volocopter said the change in plans was due to “an American supplier who was not capable of providing what he had promised,” adding, “we are a little disappointed but in any case we had said that we would not make any compromises with security.”

Although the main test demonstrations will no longer go ahead, a successful crewed test flight took place at the Aerodrome of Saint-Cyr-l’École which Volocopter reported was the first bespoke commercial vertiport for eVTOL integrated within Volocopter’s approved flights routes in Paris. Commenting on the test, Hoke said:

“Everyone at Volocopter is incredibly proud of how far the company has come and what it means to fly today at Saint-Cyr-l’École. City launches take time to establish a foothold on the ground, and through open communication and dedication, Volocopter has become an embodiment of trust, from our partners, Europe’s leading aviation authorities, and Paris which has become one of the most advanced IAM networks in the world […] We still aspire to fly at the Austerlitz vertiport later this year. Beyond that, we concentrate on the Type Certification of the VoloCity and will start the test phase of Emergency Medical Services (EMS) in Germany together with our partner ADAC Luftrettung in 2025.”

Adding a new mobility layer to a city is a complex process where safety must remain paramount. For insights from the CEO & Head of UAM at Airbus, Balkiz Sarihan, into what this process entails, watch this short conversation. To hear more on the topic in person, Billy Nolen, Chief Regulatory Affairs Officer at Archer will be answering the question, ‘is the industry ready for the developments in Advanced Air Mobility (AAM)?’ at Aerospace Tech Week Americas. Book your ticket for free to find out the answer.

For more like this see:

• Maturing AAM technology with CEO & Head of UAM at Airbus
• Head of ATM Transformation, EUROCONTROL on building a scalable and efficient system
• The next big aerospace innovations with the MD of JetBlue Ventures

The post Volocopter’s eVTOL launch at Paris Olympics scrapped first appeared on Aerospace Tech Review.

At Aerospace Tech Week, Marouan Chida, Head of ATM Transformation, EUROCONTROL joined to discuss the changing air traffic management (ATM) landscape, looking at key challenges and opportunities. Summarising the responsibility of ATM, Chida explained:

“ATM is delivering a service, its about letting everybody fly at the best possible trajectory.”

Reflecting on the main drivers of change in the ever-evolving landscape, Chida noted a few developments that have forced ATM systems to look critically at itself and modernise. Firstly, it has been a bottleneck for growth. Secondly, its crucial role to play as the industry prioritises sustainability. Thirdly, the changing requirements of “new entrants” that have joined the game. To continue delivering an effective service, ATM systems will have to take advantage of all the latest tech so as not to downgrade the potential of new aircraft.

Thinking about what the ATM landscape will look like a decade from now, Chida discussed the Digital European Sky and SESAR’s role in innovating and accelerating its delivery. In particular, Chida highlighted the need for scalable systems to support aviation’s exponential growth and the importance of cooperation as new players like air taxis and drones join conventional aircraft.

For all this as well as Chida’s observations on the challenges involved with integrating emerging technologies into existing frameworks, watch the full interview now.

Questions asked include:

1. How have we seen the air traffic management landscape develop in recent years and what do you think have been the main drivers of these changes?
2. What role is technology playing in the landscape’s evolution?
3. How do you tackle integrating emerging technologies into existing frameworks?
4. What will the landscape look like in the next 10 years?

In November, Aerospace Tech Week Americas will gather in Atlanta to be inspired by 100 speakers, 60 vendors and over 30 start-ups over 2 incredible days. The conference covers everything Avionics, Connectivity, MRO IT, Flight Operation IT and Testing. Book your ticket for free now. 

For more from onsite at Aerospace Tech Week see:

• Digitalisation and SAF: Director of Sustainability on striving for net-zero at Vueling
• “AR and AI can remove inefficiencies.” Frank Stevens on revolutionising MRO
• Transforming ATM: Viasat’s Joel Klooster on the future of connectivity

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“We have an analogue airspace in a digital age designed nearer a time Yuri Gagarin reached for the stars. The moment for change is now.”

The UK airspace infrastructure, originally developed in the 1950s, has become outdated as the industry’s challenges, technological needs, and goals have evolved significantly. Combatting this, the UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) has launched its plan for modernising UK airspace by 2040.

The ‘Airspace Modernisation Strategy, Part 3: Deployment Plan’ sets out a vision for how airspace will change over the coming seven years and serves as a benchmark for measuring the industry’s progress and alignment with the UK CAA’s Airspace Modernisation Strategy. Released in January 2023, the strategy laid out “a vision for the future of UK airspace to deliver quicker, quieter and cleaner journeys.”

With tech evolving rapidly, the industry scaling up, emerging players like drones and vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) aircraft joining, and sustainability targets looming, the UK CAA is laying the foundations for an extensive overhaul of the UK’s aviation infrastructure. Addressing this ongoing transformation, Aviation Minister Mike Kane said:

“The world of aviation is undergoing a technological revolution and it’s crucial our airspace evolves alongside this. The Civil Aviation Authority’s plan to modernise our airspace will help ease delays, support efforts to decarbonise and reduce noise. Through continued collaboration with industry, this plan will ensure these innovations are safely and effectively integrated into our skies.”

Rob Bishton, Chief Executive of the UK Civil Aviation Authority, added:

“Overhauling our airspace is a long-term and complex endeavour, requiring concerted efforts and collaboration from the aerospace industry. It is key to enabling new and innovative technologies to thrive in UK aerospace. […] It not only outlines our strategic priorities, but also is a blueprint for industry to engage and contribute towards the vision of a modernised airspace for the UK.”

Described as a “once-in-a-generation” opportunity to modernise UK airspace, the plan must pave a way for a more efficient, sustainable, and technologically advanced future.

For more like this see:

• Digitalisation and SAF: Director of Sustainability on striving for net-zero at Vueling
• “The future of air traffic control: ” Test centre built for Namur’s digital control tower
• NATS’ digital twin tech to reduce 30,000 tonnes of CO2 emissions at Heathrow

The post Transitioning away from “an analogue airspace in a digital age”: The UK CAA’s airspace modernisation plan first appeared on Aerospace Tech Review.

At Aerospace Tech Week, Franc Sanmartí, Director of Sustainability & Aeropolitical Affairs, Vueling Airlines joined to share his insights on the industry’s progress towards the net-zero by 2050 target. This five-minute conversation looked at key targets within the airline, the vital role of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) and other emission-cutting initiatives, and Sanmartí’s perspective on the Single European Skies agreement.

Emphasising the importance of SAF, Sanmartí noted that when reducing emissions, 60-70 per cent will come from SAF, compared to 20 per cent from new aircraft technology, 10 per cent from operational efficiency, and the rest from innovations like carbon capture. This highlights that although SAF is critical for the industry’s decarbonisation journey, other efficiency-based tech innovation also has its part to play.

Touching on the Single European Sky agreement, Sanmartí explained that effective digitalisation and innovation can achieve the same emission reduction that the agreement initially proposed. To unlock this, collaboration within the industry and across the value chain will be crucial.

Watch the full interview below for more.

Questions asked include:

1. 1. Do you think the industry is where it needs to be to hit the net-zero by 2050 targets?
   2. What balance are you striking between investment in SAF and investment in sustainability focused technologies?
   3. Are you satisfied with the Single European Sky agreement’s ability to drive meaningful progress with regards to sustainability?

For more from onsite at Aerospace Tech Week see:

1. 1. • Transforming ATM: Viasat’s Joel Klooster on the future of connectivity
      • Willie Walsh: “They’re part of the problem, they’ve got to be part of the solution.”
      • The next big aerospace innovations with the MD of JetBlue Ventures

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Farnborough International Airshow has seen some major announcements this week, with several large orders despite ongoing supply chain issues. By the end of day two, Forbes reported a total of 187 orders between Airbus and Boeing, with Boeing in the lead at 118 orders compared to Airbus’ 69.

US-based Boeing has enjoyed a number of deals, with Qatar Airways ordering 20 more 777-9 planes bringing its total order to nearly 100 aircraft, a deal which Reuters identified as nearly $4 billion. Boeing also secured an order from Macquarie Airfinance for 20 737 MAX-8 planes, estimated to be worth around $1 billion.

Airbus’ key orders included 20 Airbus A350-900 twin-aisle planes and 11 single-aisle A321neo aircraft for Japan Airlines, worth over $3 billion, in addition to six A320neo family aircraft for Berniq Airways, and seven Airbus A330-900s for Virgin Atlantic estimated at $800 million. Speaking on the order, Shai Weiss, CEO, Virgin Atlantic said:

“Our special partnership with Airbus began with the arrival of ‘Lady in Red’ in 1993, with our most recent arrival, ‘Ruby Rebel’, arriving to mark our 40th birthday this year. Virgin Atlantic has flown more than 60 Airbus tails in the last three decades. While not first to the party, they’ve been our main dance partner, making our customers smile ever since.”

Despite these orders, the persistent supply chain challenges remain front of mind for many, with flydubai’s CEO Ghaith al-Ghaith criticising Boeing on Monday:

“So in March, we were told your 12 aircraft is now going to be eight. So now in July, just last week, we were told, out of the eight, we’ve already received four and we’re not going to receive anything more. From our point of view, this is where there is frustration, and we felt like we had to say something.”

The post Boeing leads orders at Farnborough despite supply chain challenges first appeared on Aerospace Tech Review.

In an interview at Aerospace Tech Week, Joel Klooster, Senior Vice President, Aircraft Operations & Safety, Viasat shared his insights on the future of air traffic management (ATM) and the critical role of connectivity in delivering airspace modernisation. 

With the number of aircraft in operation set to double between 2022 and 2042, the industry must take action to ensure the already congested airspace can support this scale up.

Klooster described Iris as “the first step in the future of ATM.” Iris is Viasat’s ground-breaking satellite-based data link technology that optimises airspace, easing congestion and reducing delays for airlines. During the interview, Klooster discussed the significance of Iris for efficiently managing flights and providing secure communications and connectivity.

As congestion on existing communication networks increases, the need for an enhanced connectivity solution is evident. Klooster explains that without it, the industry will not be able to support the projected increase in flight volumes.

Questions include:

•  As we look to the future, how do you see the global industry improving as result of the long-term benefits of Iris?
• Would you argue cockpit connectivity is key to delivering airspace modernisation cross the industry? And why?
• How do you think the connectivity landscape will change in the next year or two? And how does this contrast with how you see it developing over the next decade?

For more from onsite at Aerospace Tech Week see:

• “AR and AI can remove inefficiencies.” Frank Stevens on revolutionising MRO
• Willie Walsh: “They’re part of the problem, they’ve got to be part of the solution.”
• Maturing AAM technology with CEO & Head of UAM at Airbus

The post Transforming ATM: Viasat’s Joel Klooster on the future of connectivity first appeared on Aerospace Tech Review.

From 2025, Heathrow will use digital twin technology developed by NATS to tackle emissions at the airport. The Demand Capacity Balancer (DCB), ‘digital twin’ already predicts and models operational performance in near real-time at the airport but will soon be used to reduce CO2 emissions.

The DCB is a predictive decision-making tool developed by NATS and Frequentis Orthogon that accurately forecasts demand, capacity, and performance metrics from the day of operations and up to six months in advance.

Rolling out a new series of environmental performance-based features, NATS is supporting Heathrow in understanding the most efficient operating plan to reduce emissions. The press release revealed this these improvements would reduce airborne holding and fuel burn and could result in CO2 savings up to 30,000 tonnes a year.

Kelly Stone, Head of Airport Operations, Heathrow said:

“It is fantastic to see the DCBs use extended to environmental performance. Small incremental steps like this are vital to reduce ‘in the air’ emissions to reach Heathrow’s goal of net zero by 2050. I am grateful for NATS’ ongoing commitment in bringing world first technology to Heathrow helping us be an extraordinary airport, fit for the future.”

Guy Adams, Managing Director of NATS Services, said:

“DCB is a proven success at Heathrow, helping save several millions of pounds a year by reducing delay, so it makes perfect sense to harness that same analytical technology to include environmental performance. No other airport in the world has this capability, and NATS is proud to be supporting Heathrow’s ambition.” 

For more on sustainability see:

• Scaling up SAF production with EASA managed EU SAF Clearing House
• The next big aerospace innovations with the MD of JetBlue Ventures
• ECLIF3 study highlights non-CO2 reduction benefits of SAF in commercial aircraft

The post NATS’ digital twin tech to reduce 30,000 tonnes of CO2 emissions at Heathrow first appeared on Aerospace Tech Review.

“In our reality today, the human is the inefficient side of the process. We make mistakes and have emotions, but artificial intelligence (AI) helps take these away.”

At Aerospace Tech Week, Frank Stevens, VP MRO Services, Embraer joined to discuss how AI, augmented reality (AR), and predictive maintenance are transforming aircraft maintenance. From opening up new learning opportunities to reducing errors and enhancing efficiency, the digitalisation of the industry is changing the game for MRO services.

During this 5-minute interview, Stevens explains how leveraging AR, AI, and predictive maintenance correctly can take human inefficiency out of the process, removing emotion from data interrogation and relieving the industry of “analysis paralysis.” The benefits of effectively using these tech-based tools are countless from enhancing safety to financial efficiency. However, with the industry navigating these emerging technologies, the optimal balance between human and tech is unclear for now.

Watch the full interview now.

Questions:

1. How are AI, data, and extended reality already revolutionising aircraft maintenance practices, and how do you foresee this developing in the next five years?
2. Can you outline some of the potential challenges with integrating predictive maintenance and how are you addressing these?
3. We know the digitisation of these processes can improve operational efficiency etc. What are some of the lesser-known benefits to unlock?

Aerospace Tech Week Americas, 19-20 November will be gathering MRO IT experts from across the industry looking at the possibilities in predictive maintenance, modernising TechOps processes, technical roadmaps and much more. With speakers from United Airlines, Southwest Airlines, Boeing, and others, book your free pass to attend now!

For more from onsite at Aerospace Tech Week see:

• The next big aerospace innovations with the MD of JetBlue Ventures
• Maturing AAM technology with CEO & Head of UAM at Airbus
• Ensuring safety while integrating AI with Anna von Groote, Director General, EUROCAE

The post “AR and AI can remove inefficiencies.” Frank Stevens on revolutionising MRO first appeared on Aerospace Tech Review.

This week, The European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) published a press release sharing details of its support for the scale up of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) through the EU SAF Clearing House.

The initiative will facilitate the deployment and approval of SAF, stating its mission as “remov[ing] as many barriers as possible to support the EU & International deployment of SAFs as well as the approval of new SAF pathways.”

Acknowledging the key role SAF will play in the industry’s decarbonisation, this “one-stop-shop” offers a centralised support system for fuel producers and original equipment manufacturers, giving assistance with the ASTM D4054 standard evaluation process. The Screening House will offer pre-screening, technical advice and testing support, provide testing capabilities, give advice on sustainability and likelihood of meeting market entry requirements, and facilitate international coordination.

Maria Rueda, Strategy & Safety Management Director, EASA said:

“The demand for SAF will grow ever more to meet the goals set in the ReFuelEU Aviation Regulation and increasingly reduce the emissions from aviation. Via the EU SAF Clearing House, EASA wants to ensure that the fuel industry gets the support needed to succeed in developing SAF for aviation, so that their innovation efforts are not in vain and more SAF is brought to the market.”

This project is funded by the European Union and managed by EASA.

In March, IATA’s Director General, Willie Walsh joined for a 5-minute conversation touching on the alarming disparity between the US and European levels of SAF production, and the role governments must play in stimulating its scale up. In particular, Walsh condemned fuel suppliers saying:

“Traditional fuel suppliers who have made hundreds of billions in profit off the industry over the years need to significantly accelerate their investment in the production of SAF […] They’re part of the problem, they’ve got to be part of the solution.”

Watch the full interview now for more detail. From 19-20 November, Aerospace Tech Week Americas will explore sustainability, MRO IT, Connected Aerospace, and more. Book your free ticket now!

For more on sustainability see:

• The next big aerospace innovations with the MD of JetBlue Ventures
• Willie Walsh: “They’re part of the problem, they’ve got to be part of the solution.”
• ECLIF3 study highlights non-CO2 reduction benefits of SAF in commercial aircraft

The post Scaling up SAF production with EASA managed EU SAF Clearing House first appeared on Aerospace Tech Review.

At Aerospace Tech Week Europe, Stephen Snyder, Managing Director, JetBlue Ventures joined for a five-minute discussion into the current innovation landscape. Snyder described the space as dynamic, with capital readily available and continued excitement around artificial intelligence (AI). Highlighting the technology’s current position in the trough of disillusionment, Snyder explained why this is an exciting point in the hype cycle for an investor, where applications shift from theoretical to practical and investors can advocate for their future.

Looking ahead, Snyder predicted sustainability-based technologies will be dominating the market 5-10 years into the future, with eVTOL aircraft, hydrogen propulsion, and hybrid electric tech poised to support the industry’s transition to net zero.

Discussing innovation in this safety critical sector, Snyder reiterated that while there is no margin for error, “we also cannot stall when it comes to innovation.” He urged that we must shift the mindset around safety and innovation from “either, or” to “both, and.”

Watch the full interview now.

Questions asked include:

• How would you characterise the current innovation landscape with regards to Aerospace?
• If we think 5-10 years into the future, what technologies will still be dominating the market?
• How do you strike a balance between the importance of safety & security and the need for innovation?

For more from onsite at Aerospace Tech Week see:

• Willie Walsh: “They’re part of the problem, they’ve got to be part of the solution.”
• Ensuring safety while integrating AI with Anna von Groote, Director General, EUROCAE
• Maturing AAM technology with CEO & Head of UAM at Airbus

The post The next big aerospace innovations with the MD of JetBlue Ventures first appeared on Aerospace Tech Review.