Number 12 – 15 February 2024

“When the same man, or set of men, holds the sword and the purse, there is an end of liberty.” George Mason

Bell Helicopter XV-3

(Information from Wikipedia)

The Bell XV-3 (Bell 200) is an American tiltrotor aircraft developed by Bell Helicopter for a joint research programme between the United States Air Force and the United States Army in order to explore convertiplane technologies. The XV-3 featured an engine mounted in the fuselage with driveshafts transferring power to two-bladed rotor assemblies mounted on the wingtips. The wingtip rotor assemblies were mounted to tilt 90 degrees from vertical to horizontal, designed to allow the XV-3 to take-off and land like a helicopter but fly at faster airspeeds, like a conventional fixed-wing aircraft.

The XV-3 was first flown on 11 August 1955. Although it was limited in performance, the aircraft successfully demonstrated the tiltrotor concept, accomplishing 110 transitions from helicopter to airplane mode between December 1958 and July 1962. The XV-3 programme ended when the remaining aircraft was severely damaged in a wind tunnel accident on 20 May 1966. The data and experience from the XV-3 programme were key elements used to successfully develop the Bell XV-15, which later paved the way for the V-22 Osprey.

In 1951, the Army and Air Force announced the Convertible Aircraft Programme and released the Request for Proposals (RFP) to solicit designs from the aircraft industry. In October 1953, Bell Helicopter was awarded a development contract to produce two aircraft for testing purposes. The original military designation was XH-33, classifying it as a helicopter, but its designation was changed to XV-3 in the convertiplane series. The designation was changed once again in 1962 to XV-3A when the V-prefix was changed to mean VTOL. The leading designers were Bob Lichten and Kenneth Wernicke.

The first XV-3 (serial number 54-147) flew on 11 August 1955 with Bell Chief Test Pilot Floyd Carlson at the controls. On 18 August 1955, the aircraft experienced a hard landing when the rotor developed dynamic instability. Bell attempted to remedy the situation and flight testing resumed on 29 March 1956 after additional ground runs. Bell continued to expand the flight envelope of the XV-3, but on 25 July 1956, the same rotor instability occurred again. Flight testing of the XV-3 resumed in late September 1956. Then, on 25 October 1956, the aircraft crashed when the test pilot blacked out due to extremely high cockpit vibrations. The vibrations resulted when the rotor shafts were moved 17 degrees forward from vertical. The test pilot, Dick Stansbury, was seriously injured and the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Bell modified the second XV-3 (serial number 54-148) by replacing the three-bladed rotors with two-bladed rotors and after taking extensive precautions, the second XV-3 began testing at the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics’ (NACA) Ames Aeronautical Laboratory wind tunnel facility on 18 July 1957. Flight testing for aircraft #2 began on 21 January 1958 at Bell’s facility. By April, the aircraft had expanded the flight envelope to 127 miles per hour (204 km/h) as well as demonstrating full autorotation landings and 30-degrees forward transitions with the rotor pylons. On 6 May 1958, another instance of rotor instability occurred when the pylons were advanced to 40-degrees forward pylon angle and the XV-3 was grounded once more. The XV-3 returned to the Ames wind tunnel in October 1958 to collect more data before it could be flown again. As a result of the wind tunnel testing, the rotor diameter was reduced, wing structure was increased and strengthened and the rotor controls were stiffened.

The XV-3 resumed flight testing at Bell’s facility on 12 December 1958. On 18 December 1958, Bell test pilot Bill Quinlan accomplished the first dynamically stable full conversion to airplane mode and on 6 January 1959, Air Force Captain Robert Ferry became the first military pilot to complete a tiltrotor conversion to airplane mode.  Flight testing at the Bell facilities was completed on 24 April 1959 and the aircraft was shipped to Edwards Air Force Base. The military flight testing of the XV-3 began on 14 May 1959. Promoted to the rank of Major, Robert Ferry would coauthor the report on the military flight evaluations, conducted from May to July 1959, noting that despite the deficiencies of the design, the ‘fixed-wing tilt-prop,’” or tiltrotor, was a practical application for rotorcraft.

Following the completion of the joint service testing, the aircraft was returned to the Ames facility, where on 12 August 1959, Fred Drinkwater became the first NASA test pilot to complete the full conversion of a tiltrotor to airplane mode. On 8 August 1961, Army Major E. E. Kluever became the first Army pilot to fly a tiltrotor aircraft. Testing would continue through July 1962 as NASA and Bell completed wind tunnel testing to study pitch-flap coupling exhibited by the tiltrotor in an effort to predict and eliminate the aeroelastic dynamic rotor instability (referred to simply as pylon whirl) that had caused problems throughout the programme.

In April 1966, Bell Helicopter aerodynamicist Dr Earl Hall published an analysis of the XV-3 programme data explaining the tiltrotor aircraft pylon whirl instability. In order to establish Hall’s findings and develop a computer model, NASA agreed to conduct wind tunnel testing at the Ames 40 × 80 wind tunnel. As the engineers were completing the last planned test, a wingtip failure caused both rotors to fail, resulting in severe damage of the XV-3 and damage to the wind tunnel. On 14 June 1966, NASA Ames Research Center announced the completion of XV-3 testing. The XV-3 had accomplished a total of 250 flights, accumulated 125 flight hours and completed 110 full conversions.

Survivors

In late 1966, the sole remaining XV-3, serial number 54-148, was moved to outside storage at Davis-Monthan AFB in Tucson, Arizona. In 1984, the Bell XV-15 flight test team discovered the aircraft stored outside the Army’s Aviation Museum during the XV-15 visit to Fort Rucker, Alabama, as part of a demonstration tour. 54-148 was repaired by December 1986, with Army support and the leadership of former Bell XV-3 engineer Claude Leibensberger, but the aircraft was disassembled and placed into indoor storage. On 22 January 2004, the XV-3 was delivered to Bell Plant 6 in Arlington, Texas. In 2005, Bell Helicopter employees began work to restore 54-148 to museum display condition, this time led by former XV-3 engineer Charles Davis. Following a two-year restoration, the XV-3 was transferred to the National Museum of the United States Air Force in Dayton, Ohio. It was placed on display in the Museum’s Post-Cold War Gallery in June 2007 and as of 2011 is on display in the Research and Development Gallery.

Those persons who correctly identified this week’s mystery aircraft:

Rahul Vala, Andre Visser, Richardt du Plessis, Adrian Maree, Kevin Farr, Shane Schwartz, Clint Futter, Rennie van Zyl, Brian Millett, Hilton Carroll, Christiaan Haak, Danie Viljoen, Jan Sime, Colin Austin, Barry Eatwell, Ari Levien, Michael Schoeman, P Rossouw, Charlie Hugo, Andre Breytenbach, Bruce Prescott, Lance Williams, Steve Dewsbery, Willie Oosthuizen, Piet Steyn, Nic Manthopoulos, Johan Venter, Bruce Margolius, Rex Tweedie, John Moen, Andrew Peace, Carl von Ludwig, Ahmed Bassa, Karl Jensen, Selwyn Kimber, Pierre Brittz, Wouter van der Waal, Erwin Stam, Brian Ross, Dave Lloyd (40).

Aviation Events Calendar

Unfortunately we have already seen the first casualty of the aviation events calendar when the African Air Expo and conference CTICC, Cape Town scheduled for 12 to 14 February was indefinitely postponed – website: www.airexpo.co.za.

Unfortunately the manner in which this aviation trade show was communicated was fundamentally false with claims of hundreds of aircraft and companies that would be attending. The question to be asked: How were the exhibitors and delegates going to see ‘hundreds of aircraft’ at the CTICC in Cape Town anyway. This exhibition centre is located close to the Cape Town Waterfront, which is around 20 kilometres from Cape Town International Airport anyway?

As in the past, unfortunately this year’s aviation calendar will have several more calendar fixtures that are likely to be cancelled shortly before they are scheduled. The downside of this situation is that the ‘event organiser’ takes away a weekend where other legitimate organisers could have utilised the day(s) for another aviation event. Please send your scheduled calendar events to me as soon as you secure them: editor@africanpilot.co.za.

Thank you.  

The winning 4 ball of the Mayday-SA golf day. From the left Alfredo Schulz, Mario Schulz, Martin Banner and Rodger Foster. Congratulations.

SAA is considering hiring staff from other countries

South African Airways says that it will look at hiring staff with specific skill sets from other countries, to rebuild the airline. SAA is trying to scale up operations after exiting a lengthy business rescue process which saw the airline grounded for nearly two years. In a recent interview with aviation journalist Kurt Hoffman, SAA’s CEO John Lamola said that South African Airways was battling to hold onto key staff members with specific skills. This is an obstacle that sets the airline back since SAA is trying to scale up without having key personnel with particular skill sets. One of SAA’s challenges is human capital. Getting the right cockpit crews, engineers and pilots is proving difficult for the restructured airline. Lamola said that SAA was at a disadvantage because many previous employees with these important skill sets have been enticed to work outside of the country for better wages. He also said that the challenge caused by the shortage of specific skill sets will make it necessary for South African Airways to look at hiring personnel from abroad.

Due to a shortage of personnel with specific skill sets in South Africa, SAA will consider hiring individuals with the right credentials, from other countries. “As the market boomed in the Middle East, they are sucking up all the qualified personnel. They are strong competitors, growing, they offering them packages and we are battling to keep our people in South Africa. But we want also to internationalise our SAA staff, we need people from other countries.” Lamola said.

South African Airways is already operating some of its flights with aircraft hired from Turkish aircraft lessor, SunExpress. Presently the airline has two aircraft on lease from SunExpress but these will soon return to Europe, for the busy European summer season. However, SAA is set to double the number of aircraft it hires from SunExpress in the next calendar year. It will lease at least four Boeing 737-800 on a wet lease. A wet lease is when an airline leases aircraft with the cockpit crew.

African airlines’ performance updates by AFRAA

Airline Performance: Since November 2023, traffic carried by African airlines exceeded 2019 level. In January 2023, African airlines RPKs where 2.06% above the level of the same month in 2019 while ASKs where 7.1% above. According to AFRAA estimates, African airlines will carry around 98 million passengers in 2024. Regarding cargo, 149.6 million Kgs moved to/from Africa in November 2023, among which African airlines represented 30.8%.

At some major African airports (Johannesburg, Nairobi, Addis Ababa, Lusaka, Cairo, Casablanca, Abidjan and Lagos), intra-Africa connectivity reached or exceeded pre-Covid level since December 2022. AFRAA predicts that 2023 will see an increase in airline revenues and the narrowing of revenue gap compared to 2022. The full year 2023 revenue shortfall of African airlines will be around US$200m or less, compared to 2019 full year. The 2022 full year passenger’s revenue gap was US$3.5 billion for all African airlines combined, compared to 2019. Jet A1 price continues to fluctuate marginally from week to week. The global average jet A1 price ended the week of 19 Jan 2023 up 2% at $108.92/bbl.

Regulatory / industry matters
Somalia has taken back control of its airspace management from Nairobi where it was airspace control was reassigned in 2018, reflecting its commitment to sovereignty and self-governance. The transition of Somalia’s airspace from Class G to Class A marks a significant milestone in the country’s aviation sector. The class upgrade means Somalia will now provide Air Traffic Control Services, a crucial step in enhancing safety and operational efficiency.

Zambia has adopted the use of electronic cargo manifests, a forward-looking approach aimed at modernising cargo processing and aligning with international trade standards. The move will expedite cargo handling processes, foster smoother operations, and support the objectives of the trade facilitation agreements.

A similar digitisation move in Cameroon has seen the innovative use of a ‘Customs Cmr’ or ‘Douane Cmr’ mobile app in air passenger processing. This will streamline customs procedures and embraces digital transformation in passenger handling. The result will be efficiency and convenience for both passengers and customs authorities.

Tunisia increased tourism tax for economy and business class travellers to enhance revenue generation for the tourism sector. The increase which was without consultation with industry stakeholders could negatively affect the anticipated tourist arrivals in the country. On a positive note, Tunisia has deposited its instruments of ratification of the Montreal Protocol 2014 (MP14) with the effective date of Jan 2023. Tunisia has become the 47th party to MP14 which addresses jurisdictional gaps that allow unruly and disruptive passengers to avoid prosecution AFRAA encourages all African states to ratify this protocol as a deterrent to unruly behaviour on flights and at airports.

In Jan 2024 a meeting was held in Cologne to address challenges related to GPS spoofing. The event emphasised the importance of pilot training highlighted ongoing commitment of the global aviation community to addressing emerging threats posed by spoofing. Balancing the adoption of newer technologies with considerations for evolving security challenges remains a critical aspect of ensuring the resilience and sustainability of the aviation sector. Collaboration and information-sharing are essential to navigating the complexities of the current aviation landscape.

Six killed in California helicopter crash

On Friday the CEO of one of Africa’s largest banks and members of his family were among the six people killed in a Super Bowl-related helicopter crash. Herbert Wigwe, who headed up Access Bank in Nigeria, was killed along with his wife and son. Abimola Ogunbanjo, former head of the Nigeria Stock Exchange, also died along with the two pilots of the Airbus EC130 when the helicopter went down in the Mojave Desert near the California / Nevada border. The flight was headed to Boulder City, Nevada, from Palm Springs and it is thought the passengers were going to the Super Bowl. It was raining mixed with snow at the time of the accident. The helicopter took off about 20h30 and crashed about 22h00.

Caravan kills a man on Mexican beach

A 62-year-old man who was on a Mexican beach was killed when a Cessna Caravan carrying skydivers landed on top of him during a forced landing. The incident occurred on a crowded section of beach in the Pacific coast town of Puerto Escondido in the state of Oaxaca. The aircraft had four Canadian skydivers and a Mexican pilot onboard. They were all taken to a local hospital and were in stable condition on Monday. There was no immediate word on what prompted the emergency landing, which took place between the surf line and a wooden building used as a restaurant on the beach. The aircraft was heavily damaged but remained intact, and there was no post-crash fire.

Sky-high stalker arrested again

The pilot accused of stalking a woman for years, flying low over her home and throwing tomatoes, has been arrested for the fifth time. The 65-year-old pilot, Michael Arnold, has faced multiple arrests over his sky-high stalking. He has been accused of flying his 1976 Cessna 180 over the homes of a small New York village, even throwing tomatoes from his plane. For over four years, Schuylerville resident Cassandra Wilusz and her neighbours have been tormented by the low-flying Cessna.

Flight records indicated numerous instances when Arnold’s Cessna was flying below the FAA’s minimum required altitude, which is 1,000 feet above the highest obstacle in a city, town or village and 500 feet in rural areas. Arnold’s plane was documented flying as low as 300-400 feet over the village, including homes, businesses and even the school across the street from the victim’s café. Despite numerous calls to the police, the stalking continued for years, until he was finally arrested in May of 2023. He was arrested again on 1 June 2023 after violating a protection order and a no-fly order issued by a judge after his initial arrest. Arnold was arrested again in October on two felonies and three misdemeanours, according to the Bennington Banner. His October charges included violation of an abuse prevention order, aggravated stalking with court order violation, giving police false information to implicate another, attempted impeding of an officer and resisting arrest. Times Union reported he was arrested again in October for flying his Cessna when it was supposed to be grounded.

Arnold has continually denied the accusations, even when prosecutors accused him of posting messages online under a different Facebook account with a fake name, with comments like, “nobody stalked that,” and “not my type,” on the victim’s business page, according to Fox News. He pleaded not guilty to his charges in October and was released on the condition that he stay away from Wilusz and planes. Multiple warnings, court orders and arrests could not deter Arnold. The Saratoga County Sheriff’s Office said in a statement that it was made aware of an alleged violation of an Order of Protection on 12 January and he was arrested again on 1 February on misdemeanour counts of stalking and criminal contempt.

The Saratoga County Sheriff’s Office said Arnold allegedly knowingly and unlawfully waited for and followed his victim, in violation of an order of protection. He was arraigned in the Saratoga Town Court and will be held in the Saratoga County Correctional Facility without bail. Schuylerville Mayor Dan Carpenter told Times Union justice for Wilusz is long overdue. Carpenter said after every arrest Arnold would continue to fly low over her home and café and long been a nuisance and potential hazard for the entire village.

Wilusz said Arnold has been stalking her since he first walked into her café in October 2019. She said she received an e-mail from him containing inappropriate unsolicited e-mails and messages and then he escalated to flying low over her home and business and even pelting her yard with tomatoes. She told Times Union Arnold sent her threatening messages, telling her karma would get her and that she killed her father, who died in a fire in 2017 and her husband, who died of cancer in 2023. Arnold was even captured slowly driving by the area while Wilusz was being interviewed. Arnold is being held without bail awaiting a court date, which has not been set.

Court orders Netherlands to stop export of F-35 fighter jet parts in seven days

The move is largely symbolic, as Israel does not “require the F-35 for the operations they are currently conducting over Gaza,” Patrick Bolder, a defence analyst at The Hague Centre for Strategic Studies think tank said. The Dutch Court of Appeal in the Hague has ordered the Netherlands government to stop exporting F-35 fighter jet parts to Israel inside the next seven days after ruling that ‘there is a clear risk that serious violations of humanitarian law of war are committed in the Gaza Strip with Israel’s F-35 fighter planes.’

Human rights groups, led by Oxfam, brought the case to the Court of Appeal, calling for the ban of the parts to Tel Aviv after the Hague District Court refused to do so in a December 2023 judgment. The higher court overturned that decision on Monday, saying in a statement that it ‘rules in the favour’ of Oxfam Novib (a Dutch affiliate of the human rights organisation), Peace Movement PAX Netherlands and the Rights Forum, ‘and orders the State to put an end to the further export of F-35 parts to Israel.’

Oxfam and the other human rights organisations argued that the export of the F-35 parts makes the Dutch state complicit in war crimes as the fighter jets are used in Israeli operations in the Gaza Strip.

A month after the 7 October 2023 attacks by Hamas, reports emerged of Israel using the F-35I Adir fifth-generation fighter in the conflict, including IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Herzi Halevi confirming that one jet had been used in a close air support role to protect troops in the Gaza Strip. Tel Aviv operates two squadrons of the Lockheed Martin-made aircraft and has committed to acquiring a third.

“Israel does not take sufficient account of the consequences for the Gaza Strip civilian population when conducting its attacks,” said the Court of Appeal. “Israel’s attacks have caused a disproportionate number of civilian casualties, including thousands of children.” Israeli political and military officials have consistently denied that its armed forces are committing war crimes in the Palestinian territory. The Hamas-controlled Health Ministry in Gaza says nearly 30,000 people have been killed since Israel launched reprisal attacks for the Hamas assault that killed approximately 1,200 Israelis. The Israeli military says about 10,000 Hamas fighters are among the dead in Gaza.

Red Sea drone attacks create first American Ace in 50+ years

The US military’s first war ace since Vietnam is fighting an enemy his predecessors could not have imagined. Marine Capt. Earl Erhart has shot down seven explosives-packed suicide drones with his Harrier jump jet in the US Navy’s effort to keep Red Sea shipping lanes open. The military defines an ace as any crew member whose aircraft has shot down five enemy aircraft. “I never imagined I was going to be doing this when we launched,” Erhart told the BBC, which was granted a tour of the USS Bataan, one of dozens of ships involved in the Red Sea operation.

Erhart told BBC the force is under constant threat of attack from Houthi rebels who began attacking merchant ships in December 2023. The Bataan is actually an amphibious assault ship designed to rapidly deploy fully equipped fight forces to conflict areas. It pivoted to an air defence vessel with some outside-the-box thinking by its crew. “We took a Harrier jet and modified it for air defence,” Erhart told the BBC. “We loaded it up with missiles and that way were able to respond to their drone attacks.” The ship picks up the drones on its sensors and Erhart heads off in a one-sided pursuit. “They are shooting at us all the time, so we need to be even more focused. Our systems need to be primed so we can stay safe.”

United A321neo fleet grounded due to issue over passenger ‘No Smoking’ signs

United Airlines has been forced to temporarily ground its fleet of Airbus A321neos due to a spat regarding illuminated passenger ‘No Smoking’ signs that has blown up between the carrier and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). The issue came to light as United passengers took to social media channels on 12 February 2024, as one after another of the carrier’s flights due to be operated by the type were either delayed or cancelled.

The issue appears to relate to a little-known FAA regulation that has not required enforcement for many years. The regulation, known more formally as ‘US code 14 CFR § 121.317(a)’, requires airlines to provide flight crews with the ability to be able to illuminate and extinguish the passenger no smoking signs at their discretion during the various stages of flight.  However, as smoking has been banned on all US airlines since 2000, United elected to remove the flight crew’s ability to select the ‘No Smoking’ signs on or off from its new A321neo cockpits, since the lights in theory never require extinguishing in any event and always stay illuminated.

United claims that a simple administrative error has led to the current disruption. In a letter written to the US Department of Transport (DOT), United explains that it already holds an exemption from the regulations for its Boeing 737, 757,767, 777 and 787 aircraft where the No Smoking signs are ‘hardwired to stay illuminated at all times’. However, as the Airbus A321neo is a new addition to the United fleet, it has not yet been added to that list. Seemingly, United simply forgot to ask for the same regulatory waiver for the A321neo as for the other airplane types it operates. The airline currently has five A321neos in service, with another 125 on order.

United has stated in its letter to the DOT that a thorough risk assessment carried out by the airline showed that the decision to remove the flight crew’s ability to select the No Smoking signs on or off had no adverse effect on the airline’s safety reliability. United passengers across the US are likely to experience flight disruption in the coming days while United executives try to agree on a resolution with their counterparts at the DOT. While smoking onboard commercial passenger aircraft has been prohibited for many years, new commercial aircraft are still manufactured today with both ‘No Smoking’ signs and, ironically, ashtrays in some aircraft restrooms as well.

Before the in-flight smoking ban came into force in 2000, airlines used to offer dedicated smoking and non-smoking zones on most commercial flights with smoking zones tending to be toward the rear of the passenger cabins. The aim was to separate smokers from nonsmokers to avoid the non-smokers being exposed to the health risks of ‘passive smoking’. However, this thinking was flawed as the smoke from first and business class cabins would invariably drift into the non-smoking sections of economy class regardless. United Airlines was the first airline to create a dedicated nonsmoking section onboard commercial aircraft in 1971, while Delta Air Lines was the first to fully ban smoking across its worldwide network in 1994. The ban on smoking on flights in Europe came into force in 1997 after the European Union banned smoking on all member states’ flights. Other countries’ aviation authorities followed in the years following, although China still allowed smoking on commercial flights until 2017.

US DOJ seizes former Iranian gunrunning 747

The Department of Justice has taken possession of a 31-year-old Boeing 747-300 cargo plane it says was used to carry weapons and soldiers of Iran’s Revolutionary Guard, a designated foreign terrorist organization (FTO). Iranian airline Mahan Air transferred the plane to Venezuelan cargo carrier Emtrasur in 2022 in violation of international sanctions, the DOJ said. When the aircraft subsequently landed in Argentina it was seized by authorities there and the DOJ slapped an order of forfeiture on the plane. All the paperwork was completed earlier this week and the aircraft is in Florida. “This seized airplane’s arrival in the United States is a powerful example of our unceasing efforts to prevent Iran and its proxies from leveraging and profiting from US technology,” Matthew S. Axelrod, Assistant Secretary of Export Enforcement, said in a news release. It took 18 months working with Argentinian authorities to get the airplane out of Argentina. US Attorney Matthew Graves said that demonstrates the US’s commitment to enforcing sanctions. “Foreign adversaries—seeking to illegally use American-made products to further their endeavours need to know that the United States government will work with the international community to hold them accountable for their illegal conduct,” he said.

Indonesia cancels Qatari Mirage 2000 order amid corruption allegations

The Indonesian Ministry of Defence announced that it had cancelled the purchase of 12 second-hand Mirage 2000-5 fighter jets from Qatar due to budget constraints. In June 2023, the Indonesian government said it planned to purchase the aircraft from the Qatari Emir’s Air Force for €680 million ($732 million). The 2000-5 is an air superiority variant of the aircraft developed by Dassault Aviation in the 1970s.

The Indonesian Minister of Defence, Prabowo Subianto, defended the project, arguing that the aircraft were needed as an interim measure while awaiting the delivery of 42 Rafale jets ordered directly from Dassault Aviation. The minister claimed that the Qatari Mirage fleet still had approximately 70% of its total flight hours. However, the opposition criticised the plan to purchase the Mirage 2000 and pointed out the lack of long-term availability of spare parts, maintenance and repairs for the aircraft. Per the contract, the support service guarantee was limited to three years.

Earlier in January 2024, Dahnil Anzar Simanjuntak, a spokesperson for the minister, revealed that the government postponed the Mirage 2000-5 order due to financial limitations. Days later, the final tranche of 18 Rafale fighters officially entered into force after the first payment for the last batch was made.

Pratt & Whitney completes key design review on next-generation adaptive propulsion offering

Pratt & Whitney has completed a critical assessment of its next-generation adaptive propulsion (NGAP) offering with the US Air Force, moving the programme closer to completing its detailed design review. The team is now working towards ground testing of its NGAP prototype, referred to as XA103, which is expected to occur in the late 2020s.

“We are embracing digital transformation with NGAP and changing the customer experience through the entire development process in order to rapidly and efficiently deliver these advanced adaptive engines,” said Jill Albertelli, President of Pratt & Whitney’s Military Engines business. “This technology is critical to maintaining air superiority, which is why Pratt & Whitney has made significant investments in research and development and advanced manufacturing. Continued government funding for sixth-generation propulsion development must remain a high priority to support critical platform milestones and war fighter readiness.”

The engine will enhance performance that is key to enabling future air dominance capabilities, which are needed to ensure the US Air Force achieves air superiority and deters pacing challenges. NGAP technologies will provide advanced survivability, fuel efficiency, robust power and thermal management. These are necessary to enable the required range, weapon, sensor capability and persistence future air dominance platforms will require to meet evolving operational needs.

Members of the US Congress demand more from FAA on pilot mental health

Last Wednesday, members of the House Subcommittee on Aviation, the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure and other House members sent a letter to FAA Administrator Mike Whitaker. While it calls for more action on an expedited timeline, it is not as comprehensive in providing specifics. “It is clear to us that talented aviation professionals, our constituents often suffer in silence because of the fear that medical evaluation, diagnosis, or treatment, could potentially prolong their return to work, or even prevent them from pursuing their aviation careers,” the letter states. “Medical standards help ensure safety in the National Airspace System. However, they cannot be so cumbersome or potentially punitive as to prevent healthy aviation professionals from having the ability to work.”

The letter goes on to call for better policies and screening methods to encourage the nation’s aviators and air traffic controllers to seek care when needed. “Valuable time cannot be wasted by simply restating what previous findings have already been uncovered,” the letter states. “These entities must be tasked with putting forward concrete and actionable solutions to break down the barriers so professionals can seek care, while also maintaining rigorous safety standards. Anything less is a disservice to our dedicated aviation workforce, as well as individuals aspiring to join this growing sector.”

The members of Congress also applauded recent efforts taken by the FAA, including hiring more experts in mental health care and boosting mental health training for aviation medical examiners. Late last year, the FAA formed the Mental Health and Aviation Medical Clearances Aviation Rulemaking Committee. It notes that action is needed sooner rather than later to attract more workers into aviation.

“As today’s young adults are more apt to openly discuss their mental health, we must be careful to not alienate any future workforce by continuing with a culture of stigma and fear of termination or denial,” the letter states.

The NBAA applauded the letter. The business aviation advocacy group participated in an NTSB mental health summit in December. “This issue is a priority for business aviation and we know it is a priority for FAA and NTSB because it is vital to aviation safety,” NBAA President Ed Bolen said. “We will continue to work with the agencies, Congress and others to ensure those in our industry can get mental health care without concerns over whether doing so will impact their employment.”

Lilium designates Orlando, Florida, vertiport as key network hub

Lilium N.V., developer of the all-electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) Lilium Jet and global pioneer in regional air mobility (RAM), has announced its designation of the future Orlando International Airport (MCO) vertiport as a network hub for Lilium Jet operators in central Florida. Lilium also announced its support for Florida House Bill 981, which proposes the designation of the Greater Orlando Aviation Authority (GOAA) as the advanced air mobility (AAM) test site for the State of Florida.

Lilium has been a driving force for AAM activity in Florida, announcing with the City of Orlando and Lake Nona the country’s first urban and regional air mobility network in 2020. As the partners engaged in the work to bring the first full-scale eVTOL vertiport to fruition, all parties agreed that the best location would be a vertiport on airport property. “We are thrilled about the proposed advanced aviation centre at Orlando International Airport and commend Orlando for its dedication and vision to advancing AAM,” said Sebastien Borel, Chief Commercial Officer at Lilium. “Building a vertiport at the major-hub airport will ultimately enhance regional mobility by increasing passenger access and connectivity while allowing multiple operators to use the facility and share in the cost.”

The airport city of MCO and Lake Nona will be a pivotal hub for AAM operations in Florida. Situated in the centre of the state, the network is strategically placed to cater to the nearly 80 million annual visitors that the region attracts. Coupled with a world-class airport and the rapidly expanding community of Lake Nona, the airport city is expected to become a true multimodal hub for all forms of transportation.

Lilium also announced its support for Florida House Bill 981, which designates MCO as the AAM test site in Florida and enables vertiport permitting in the state ensuring that Florida is prepared for AAM. Lilium has worked directly with HB 981 bill sponsor State Representative Doug Bankson, District 39 and Florida House Transportation & Modals Subcommittee chair State Representative Fiona McFarland, District 73, to ensure Florida is a leader in the nation and adapting policy to meet the needs of Lilium and their commercial partners.

General Atomics unveils XQ-67A off-board sensing station for US Air Force

The US Air Force has officially christened its latest X-Plane, the XQ-67A Off-Board Sensing Station, developed by General Atomics Aeronautical Systems (GA-ASI). The XQ-67A is an uncrewed aircraft that aims to augment human-piloted fighters such as the F-22 Raptor and F-35 Lightning II with a fleet of unmanned wingmen, offering expanded surveillance capabilities and enhanced operational efficiency without the need for additional complex, crewed aircraft. 

The XQ-67A test platform will enable experimentation and evaluation by test pilots and operations planners. Despite its designation, its role will extend beyond mere reconnaissance, offering insights into operational tactics and strategic planning that could shape the future of aerial warfare. According to GA-ASI, uninhabited systems are comparatively cheaper and can be built in large quantities, generating mass, which is critical for combat tacticians. In response to China’s military expansion in the Indo-Pacific, the US Department of Defence recently launched Replicator, an initiative meant to oppose the ‘mass’ of the People’s Liberation Army by relying on ‘innovation, strategic thinking and technology, including the use of attritable autonomous systems.

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