Number 55 – 15 July 2024

“The mind is the limit. As long as the mind can envision the fact that you can do something you can do it, as long as you believe 100 percent.” Arnold Schwarzenegger

Facebook hacking

Over the past two years many South Africans have found their Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp accounts taken over by cybercriminals. While these attacks have targeted some prominent individuals like radio personalities, many people who are not in the public eye have also been victims of account hijacks. The hijacking begins with a fairly sophisticated phishing attack that tricks people into giving out their usernames and passwords. First, the criminals sent a flood of messages to potential targets. These exploited a layout quirk in Facebook Messenger, allowing them to hide a link to an attack site resembling a real ‘Show profile’ button. Clicking on the button opens a Facebook login page, complete with the correct ‘m.facebook.com’ URL in the browser bar. However, this is faked using a full screen image or some other kind of trick to make the attack page look legitimate on a smartphone screen. Once the attackers have your username and password and they successfully take over your account, they weaponize Facebook’s safety and security policies to keep rightful users locked out.

In addition, over the past few months all the South African banks are providing repeated warnings to their customers about the potential for hacking so that the perpetrators can get into your bank account.
In fact, the e-mail address requesting what at first appears to be legitimate information often comes from within the bank itself, meaning that in many cases the criminals are bank employees operating within the banks. Then there is the constant flow of cheap finance offerings, which are also not legitimate and there appears to be no way to halt the daily trash that reaches my inbox. In one particular case the ‘loan shark’ is using the Sanlam address and trademark. Even though I have brought this to the attention of Sanlam’s cyber security department, it appears that even this company does not have the power to stop this obvious fraud.

Time and time again, my attention is drawn to individuals and companies that have been defrauded by the hackers and cyber criminals. Please remember that it only takes one small slip from yourself when someone that appears to be legitimate calls you to obtain information whilst pretending to be from the very banking organisation that you use. I was astounded at how much private information about myself and my business the one perpetrator had when I was called and it all appeared to be completely legitimate. My advice is that when you suspect you are being attacked – you ‘are being attacked’ and you need to take the precautions to never ever give away any personal information. Also please remember that as with the banks the SAPS are completely useless when it comes to reporting these cyber-attacks. Good luck!    

Unforgettable flight: Springboks surprise FlySafair passengers

Headwinds, but no closure of Plettenburg Bay airport at this time

Once again Plettenberg Bay airport has run into headwinds with questions being asked about who will pay a R46,5 million bill to fix the runway. No decision has been taken on closing the airport and there is no indication of how long the runway works will take. On 27 June 2024 the South African Civil Aviation Authority (SACAA) issued a Level 1 notice (NOTAM) for the airport’s runway to undergo investigation into its safety. Apparently on 28 June at a ‘secret council meeting’ the Bitou municipality discussed the airport issue. Subsequent developments and the fallout have raised suspicions, particularly among the DA caucus in the council and others, on the timing and talk of closing the airport.

This despite a contract with new airport operators Garden Route Aero (GRA), who should have taken over operations on 1 July 2024, which said the ‘deal’ for the airport was to be ‘voetstoots’ (meaning the new operators took over the airport as is). A joint statement by Bitou municipality and Garden Route Aero (GRA), updated on Tuesday 9 June, made no mention of the airport closing. Following its successful bid earlier this year, airport developer, Garden Route Aero (GRA), a subsidiary of rsa.AERO, has in terms of its agreement commenced a transition and handover process with the Bitou municipality for the management of the Plettenberg Bay airport. The transition process includes numerous airport-related activities ranging from contractual reviews, operational planning and civil infrastructure audits. During and as part of the handover process, technical experts, engineers and the South African Civil Aviation Authority (SACAA) have raised observations of structural deterioration in the runway.

Pavement specialists are required to conduct a detailed assessment of the pavement infrastructure and to confirm what remedial work is required on the runway. Consultations are currently taking place with the scheduled airline, CemAir and the general aviation fraternity to assess the impact on airport operations. “We will work closely with the pavement specialists to ensure a positive outcome. The safety of our patrons and passengers are important to us,” said Manqoba Boy Ngubo, acting chief financial officer for Bitou municipality.

“While we are unable at this stage to confirm how long the runway works will continue, we will prioritise the runway assessment and any works required to minimise disruption,” said Deidre Davids, spokesperson for GRA. “We will continue to work closely with all of the role-players,” she added. On 1 July 2024 the licence for the airport was still held by Bitou municipality.

CemAir, the only commercial airline presently using Plettenberg Bay Airport for scheduled flights, started cancelling flights on Tuesday 2 July after being told about the possible imminent closure of the airport, due to the runway conditions, following the SACAA inspection. On Tuesday 2 July Miles van der Molen, CEO of CemAir, said CemAir was informed that ‘it was expected that the airport would be closed from the following day’.  “We began cancelling flights as a result. On Wednesday 3 July, we were informed that the airport and the SACAA had agreed to a plan whereby consultants would be appointed by the end of the month and a further plan for the repairs would follow thereafter. Unfortunately to reinstate the cancelled flights would have resulted in further inconvenience, so those flights remain cancelled.

“We rely on information from the airport and BM (municipality) for our planning and we can only react once information is received. We receive little correspondence from BM and the new airport lessee (GRA) is still in the process of taking over the operation and this has left us in a difficult position,” said Van der Molen.

Concerns around airport

DA councillor Bill Nel, who, as chairman of the Bitou strategic services portfolio committee, has been linked to the airport tender and contract award process, said he was concerned that he had been kept in the dark about the recent developments around the possible enforced closure of Plettenberg Bay Airport by the SACAA. At the centre of this is the fact that the airport issue was discussed in a secret, ‘in-committee’ meeting of the Bitou council on 28 June. Issues raised are the timing and a question about whether the Bitou municipality will be liable for the R46,5m repair bill for the airport’s runway and apron.

Why now?

This was a question asked by Steve Pattinson, chairman of the Hangar Owners’ Association, who said authorities did not have to wait to undertake an investigation into the condition of the runway. “The joint statement by Bitou municipality and GRA shows that once the assessment has been made and clarity has been received on the extent of the repairs, an informed decision can be made about the actual closing dates of the airport, should this be necessary,” said Pattinson.

In his capacity as chairman of Ratepayers’ Association, Pattinson said: “We need to ensure that Bitou does not assume a greater liability than necessary to get the licence transferred from Bitou to GRA.” Other facts that have raised eyebrows include the ‘in-committee’ discussion on the matter. This was found problematic by DA councillor Nel who has been actively involved in the airport lease contract.

• A grade 5 Aerodrome licence extension was granted by the SACAA to Bitou municipality in February this year, after an inspection by the SACAA and extended to March 2025
• The tender and lease agreement was issued on a ‘voetstoots’ basis – meaning the municipality would not be held liable for the cost of the repairs
• Various inspections of the runway were made before the tender was issued and intensively done since the tender process by GRA
• There is no indication of what the ‘nebulous’ mitigation measures will include and how long it will take to establish
• The voetstoots clause in the agreement legally implies that all latent defects will not be the responsibility of the municipality
• The responsibility to fund the required repairs for ‘mitigation measures to prevent further structural deterioration of the runway surface’ has not been legally determined and it can, at this time, not be legally concluded that the municipality is responsible for this cost
• The immediate assumption by selected officials that Bitou municipality will be responsible for the cost of mitigation measures, without proper legal advice, is suspect
• The new ANC-led coalition in Bitou should be up-front with the public about what is going on at the airport and lift the ‘veil of secrecy’ that enshrouds the process, said Nel.

EAA Chapter 322 monthly meeting

The July EAA Chapter 322 meeting was held at the Jack Taylor, Krugersdorp airfield and around 80 persons attended the talk by Chapter 322 vice chairman Graham Richardson’s talk about flying Namibia in a Gyrocopter. Graham and eleven others flew their Gyrocopters on a 6000 km safari to Namibia and toured the territory extensively over seven days. They had a terrific time and were treated royally wherever they landed. From images of the safari, one can appreciate the severe and interesting landscapes they encountered. Graham suggested that the tour at that time of the year would not be advisable for fixed wing aircraft types, especially at the low levels they flew at due to the turbulence they encountered. A gyrocopter is not as uncomfortable as a fixed wing aircraft in choppy air, due to the wing loading on those high aspect ratio and flexible rotor blades. More about this amazing Gyrocopter safari in the August edition of African Pilot.

20 July
SAC Event & Limpopo regionals at Phalaborwa airfield
Contact Quintin Hawthorne E-mail: pak02496@pixie.co.za

20 July
Brakpan Aero Club first annual fly-in
Contact Santjie 063 239 2151 or Wouter 082 455 0216

20 July
SAPFA Navigation Rally at Airspan Airfield
Website: www.sapfa.co.za

22 to 28 July
EAA AirVenture Oshkosh, Wisconsin, USA
Camping on the airfield contact Neil Bowden at E-mail: airadventuresa@gmail.com
Hotels in Appleton contact Calvin Fabig at E-mail: calvin@designer.co.za

22 to 26 July
Farnborough International Airshow London, United kingdom
Contact E-mail: enquiries@farnborough.com

August

2 & 3 August
Soutpansberg fly-in and airshow
Contact Bianca Prinsloo E-mail: spbvilegklub@gmail.com

3 August
EAA Chapter 322 monthly gathering at the EAA auditorium
Contact Neil Bowden E-mail: airadventuresa@gmail.com

3 August
SAA Museum Society AGM 15h00 onwards
RSVP E-mail: secretary@saamuseum.co.za

10 August
Pietermaritzburg airshow Oribi airport
Contact E-mail: sally@creativespacemedia.co.za Tel: 011 467 3314

17 August
EAA Chapter 322 breakfast fly-in to Fly-in Estate
Contact Neil Bowden E-mail: airadventuresa@gmail.com

17 August
Pilotinsure Heli fly-in to Krugersdorp airfield
Contact David Le Roux E-mail: David@pilotinsure.co.za Cell: 073 338 5200

17 August
Marekanelo airshow Rustenburg airfield
Contact Lesego Serekwane E-mail: sculpturevents@webmail.co.za Cell: 066 256 7302

17 & 18 August
SAC North West regionals at Klerksdorp airfield
Contact Quintin Hawthorne E-mail: pak02496@pixie.co.za

24 August
Wonderboom airshow
Contact E-mail: sally@creativespacemedia.co.za Tel: 011 467 3314

24 August
SAPFA Speed Rally at Groblersdal airfield
Contact David le Roux E-mail: david@pilotinsure.co.za Cell: 073 338 5200

31 August
Virginia airshow – Durban
Contact E-mail: sally@creativespacemedia.co.za Tel: 011 467 3314

September

2 to 5 September
Egypt International Airshow
Contact Yasmine Nasr E-mail: yasmine.nasr@arabianworldevents.com

3 to 5 September
Commercial UAV Expo Las Vegas, USA
Website: www.expouav.com
Contact Carl Berndtson E-mail: cberndtson@divcom.com

6 September
Children’s Flight at New Tempe airfield, Bloemfontein
Contact Felix Gosher E-mail: felixgosher@gmail.com Cell: 066 1919 4603 

7 September
RV annual fly-in to Kitty Hawk airfield
Contact Frank van Heerden E-mail: frankvh@mweb.co.za Cell: 082 656 7253

7 September
Bethlehem airshow
Contact Khotso Motsoeneng matsoenegkhotso01@gmail.com Cell: 073 909 5409

7 September
SAA Museum Society Specialised Tour limited to nine adults
Contact E-mail: events@saamuseum.co.za  Cell: 076 879 5044

10 & 11 September
Aerospace and Test Development Show Toulouse, France.
Contact: Tom Enders: tom.eames@markallengroup.com

14 September
EAA Chapter 322 monthly gathering at the EAA auditorium
Contact Neil Bowden E-mail: airadventuresa@gmail.com

14 September
SAPFA Speed Rally finale venue TBA
Contact David Le Roux E-mail: David@pilotinsure.co.za Cell: 073 338 5200 

16 and 17 September
Aviation Africa 2024 Sandton Convention Centre 
Contact Email: info@aviationafrica.aero

18 to 22 September
Africa Aerospace and Defence exhibition at AFB Waterkloof
Contact Nakedi Phasha E-mail: expodir@aadexpo.co.za

20 & 21 September
EAA Silver Creek breakfast pancake fly-in at Silver Creek Gorge
Contact Sean Cronin E-mail: sean@glutek.co.za

28 September
West Coast airshow at Saldanha airfield
Contact Clive Coetzee Cell 084 614 1675

28 September
Great Train Race at Heidelberg airfield
Contact Christopher Van E-mail: chrisvan@rocketmail.co.za

Tourist helicopter crash off Hawaiian island of Kauai

Police said a tour company helicopter crashed off the Hawaiian island of Kauai, killing one person and leaving two missing in the latest in a series of crashes to plague the industry in recent years. A hiker on the Kalalau trail reported seeing the helicopter crash into the water about a quarter of a mile (0.4 kilometres) off the Na Pali Coast on Thursday afternoon and contacted the fire department, officials said. The Robinson R44 helicopter was part of Ali’i Kauai Air Tours & Charters, authorities said.

The company bills itself as the only Hawaiian-family-owned and -operated air tour company on Kauai, and its website said it has more than three decades of flying experience. It offers private tours by plane or helicopter. “Preliminary information indicates that the pilot on board was a local resident, and the two passengers on board are believed to be visitors from the mainland,” Kauai Police Chief Todd Raybuck said at a news conference Friday. Authorities did not provide their identities. On Thursday Kauai lifeguards on personal watercraft recovered one body from the water and they also saw what appeared to be an oil slick on the water, along with some small pieces of floating debris.

Pilot killed when firefighting floatplane crashes in Montana

On Wednesday afternoon an amphibious-float-equipped firefighting aircraft crashed, killing the pilot. According to sheriff’s office reports from Lewis and Clark County, the Air Tractor AT-802 FireBoss hit a mountainside and crashed into Hauser Lake while fighting a fire at Horse Gulch northeast of Helena, Montana. The County Sheriff, Leo Dutton told local news outlets the pilot was identified as Juliana Turchetti (45), a Brazilian native operating with a working visa. She was employed by Idaho-based Dauntless Air, identified as a company with more than 25 years’ experience in aerial firefighting. Dauntless has state and federal contracts, including with the Idaho Department of Lands. Its services were on loan to the US Forest Service to fight the Horse Gulch fire.

Dauntless Air released a statement this afternoon, reading, in part: “We regret to share that a Dauntless Air aerial firefighting aircraft working to control the Horse Gulch fire in Helena, Montana, yesterday afternoon was involved in an accident that resulted in the loss of the pilot’s life. We are deeply saddened and our hearts and condolences are with Juliana’s family and friends. No one in the surrounding area was injured.”

Polish Air Force training jet crashed at Gdynia Airport

A Polish M-346 Master jet crashed during rehearsals for the Gdynia Naval Aviation Brigade’s 30th Anniversary event. The fate of the pilot remains unknown but the footage available online and posted on social media suggests that the pilot did not eject. The Aermacchi M-346 Master is a family of military twin-engine transonic advanced jet trainers and light combat aircraft.

Ryanair flight turned around soon after take-off after an argument escalated

The journey to London from Agadir, Morocco was only airborne for about half an hour before turning back to Marrakesh. One passenger told The Sun that a man had asked to switch seats to sit with his family. It was reported that a man asked another passenger to move so he could sit with his wife and young children. It added that the woman refused and the man started threatening her. Video footage obtained by The Sun shows passengers shouting at each other while the cabin crew tries to calm them down. One man can be heard saying: “I will whack your jaw.”

Another passenger fell ill during the flight, a Ryanair spokesperson said in a statement shared with Business Insider. Upon landing, airport medics determined they were not fit to fly, but they ‘refused to disembark and became abusive towards crew.’ The statement added that it took two hours to get the disruptive passengers to deplane with the help of military police. As a result, the Ryanair crew reached their maximum working time and the flight had to be delayed until the following day with passengers booked into hotels, the spokesperson said.

Debates over whether a passenger should switch seats to accommodate a family are not unheard of, but they rarely escalate like this. Unruly passenger incidents have reached new heights since the pandemic. Statistics from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) show 2024 is set to continue a pattern of fewer incidents but still more than 2020.

Riyadh Air to begin flights towards certification in September 2024

Saudi Arabia’s startup international carrier Riyadh Air has announced that the airline intends to start pre-certification flights in September 2024 and remains on track to commence scheduled passenger services in the middle of 2025. Speaking at the Future Aviation Forum the airline’s CEO, Tony Douglas, stated that it had already recruited its initial tranche of 38 pilots which includes several training captains. The certification flights, which will form part of the process in the airline being awarded its Air Operator Certificate (AOC), will take place between September and November 2024. In addition to flight crew, the carrier has also been busy recruiting cabin crew members and has recently inducted its third intake of flight attendant recruits, according to Douglas. He also revealed that the new designs for cabin crew uniforms are due to be unveiled during the Paris Fashion Show.

Riyadh Air was first unveiled as the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s new airline in March 2023 and quickly announced an order for 39 Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners to be powered by General Electric GEnx-1B engines, with another 33 options. The airline is aiming to serve over 100 destinations by 2030. It remains to be seen how exactly Riyadh Air and incumbent national carrier Saudia will co-exist in the market, although with the Kingdom’s ‘Vision 2030’ plan, tourism to the country is forecast to balloon in the coming years. That said, Saudia has already announced that it will vacate operations from Riyadh’s King Khalid International Airport (RUH), shifting the focus of its operations to Jeddah while leaving the newcomer to Dominate at its namesake airport. Saudi Arabia’s two largest cities are located 500 miles (800km) apart which equates to around two hours of flying time. 

Douglas said that improving connectivity between the Kingdom and the rest of the world remains Riyadh Air’s priority, highlighting that many major cities worldwide remain without direct air connections with Saudi Arabia currently, such as Tokyo and Shanghai. The next major announcement from the airline is expected to be for narrow-bodied aircraft, which is widely expected to follow in the next few weeks. Meanwhile, at the Future of Aviation Forum, countrymate Saudia announced that it had ordered 105 Airbus A320neo-family jets. Speaking in support of that deal, Douglas said that the Saudia agreement ‘reinforced the amount of energy in the kingdom and its understanding of the importance of global connectivity’.

FLYINGGROUP adds ninth PC-24 to management programme

The Belgian charter company has operated the Super Versatile Jet by Pilatus since 2020. Based at Antwerp International Airport, FLYINGGROUP offers its aircraft management and charter services worldwide. Established in 1995, the company currently operates a fleet of over 50 business jets, including nine PC-24s. The new PC-24 with its unique design, elegant grey lines and Swiss edelweiss flowers was handed over to FLYINGGROUP on 16 May 2024. The acquisition of the PC-24 will allow FLYINGGROUP to add even more variety and performance to its fleet for the benefit of passengers and crews alike. At the handover in Stans, Johan van Lokeren, CEO of FLYINGGROUP, expressed his satisfaction with the new addition to his fleet of PC-24s: “Our customers love the PC-24! The Super Versatile Jet is the most modern jet in its class and the spacious cabin offers unparalleled comfort. Our first ‘Edelweiss PC-24’ has been in operation for several years and we are proud to take delivery of a second, latest generation ‘Edelweiss PC-24’ with a higher payload and even greater range.”

Textron delivers first combi-configured SkyCourier

On 11 July Textron Aviation announced it has delivered the first Cessna SkyCourier configured with the factory Combi interior. Everts Air, a part 135 / 121 operator based in Alaska, accepted the utility turboprop twin to serve its passenger, cargo and charter customers throughout the state. Everts also operates throughout North, Central and South America as well as in the Caribbean region. The company already operates a SkyCourier in freighter configuration in Alaska, as well as six Cessna Caravan turboprop singles.

The Combi conversion, which received FAA certification in May, enables operators to fly with a 19-seat passenger configuration or modify the interior to either full freight capability, or to accommodate passengers and cargo simultaneously. Textron considers the versatility as a strong selling point throughout the world. The so-called ‘gravel kit’ option further enables operations from unimproved runways. Robert Everts, owner of Everts Air, said, “I look at the Cessna SkyCourier as a next-generation aircraft for Bush Alaska. The SkyCourier Combi will allow us to be flexible and serve the unique needs of citizens in remote communities. Along with offering the reliability of a Cessna, the aircraft is highly adaptable and the ultimate solution for air freight and passenger support in Alaska.”

Business aviation group joins Dassault in legal action against EU Commission

The European Business Aviation Association (EBAA) has joined Dassault Aviation in legal action against the EU Commission. Dassault brought action against the commission on 14 February 2024, over the Delegated Act on EU Taxonomy which the EBBA describes as ‘unprecedented and discriminatory’.  According to the EU, the EU Taxonomy is a classification system that ‘helps direct investments to activities most needed for the transition to net zero and environmental sustainability’.

However, the EBAA claims that the ‘current Delegated Act explicitly excludes Business Aviation while including commercial aviation’, a decision the association views as ‘unprecedented and discriminatory’. According to the EBAA, the exclusion hampers the ‘competitiveness’ of European business aircraft manufacturers, operators as well as the entire value chain in the sector.  

The EBBA has expressed concerns that the EU Taxonomy framework will make more efficient and sustainable aircraft in the business aviation world less attractive for financing. “The exclusion of Business Aviation from the EU Taxonomy framework is a significant oversight that fails to recognise the sector’s substantial contributions to sustainability and technological advancement,” Holger Krahmer, Secretary General of EBAA, said. “Furthermore, with reference to the EU Treaties, the EU Commission does not have the right to subject individual sectors to discrimination in a legal act without further justification. The Commission has carried out an arbitrary political act that must be urgently corrected.”

It is not the first time that the EBAA has fought against the exclusion of business aviation from the Taxonomy Delegated Act. “Despite extensive efforts, including consultations and public participation, the Act was adopted with this exclusion,” the EBBA said in a statement on 8 July 2024. In response, Dassault Aviation initiated an action for annulment, arguing, among other pleas, that the exclusion breaches the principle of equality. On 4 July 2024, EBAA’s legal team lodged an intervention to support Dassault Aviation’s appeal. “This legal step demonstrates EBAA’s commitment to safeguarding the competitiveness and future of European business aircraft manufacturers, operators and the entire value chain within this vital industry,” the EBBA stated.

France to acquire Saab GlobalEye surveillance aircraft

The French Ministry of Armed Forces is reportedly poised to conclude the acquisition of a GlobalEye surveillance aircraft from the Swedish manufacturer Saab. The information was first reported by the French publication Intelligence Online, which stated that negotiations surrounding the acquisition were about to conclude. The GlobalEye, based on the Bombardier Global Express 6000 business jet, features the Erieye active electronically scanned array radar. This radar can detect and track targets over a range of more than 550 kilometres (341 miles) and can perform early warning and control operations across air, sea and land domains.

The new aircraft will replace the aging fleet of E-3F Sentry AWACS (Airborne Warning and Control System) aircraft, which have been in service with the French Air Force since 1991 and are stationed at Avord Air Base 702. The E-3F Sentry, an essential asset for detection, control, deterrence, protection, intervention and command, has a detection range of 400 kilometres and can remain airborne for up to 12 hours. While Saab’s GlobalEye was also a contender for replacing NATO’s AWACS fleet, the alliance ultimately opted for the Boeing E-7A Wedgetail on 15 November 2023, as its next-generation command and control aircraft.

GE announces new dual-mode hypersonic ramjet test engine

On 10 July GE Aerospace announced it has successfully demonstrated a new hypersonic dual-mode ramjet. According to GE, developing ramjet technology is a pathway to enabling ‘high-speed flight and longer range across numerous multi-mission aircraft.’ Trials began in March at GE’s Evandale, Ohio, clean-air, high-speed propulsion testing facility. The tests exceeded expectations, according to the company. They demonstrated ‘robust operation of a dual-mode ramjet’ and revealed a threefold increase in airflow compared to previously tested hypersonic engines.

Amy Gowder, president and CEO of Defence & Systems at GE Aerospace, said, “The rapid progression from design to testing underscores our commitment to driving innovation in hypersonic technologies. This milestone not only shows the exceptional talent and dedication of our team but also reaffirms our position as a leader in the pursuit of hypersonic flight.”

Mark Rettig, vice president & general manager of Edison Works Business & Technology Development at GE Aerospace, added that the performance of the test ramjet paves the way for future development at GE, focused on a combination of further testing and technology demonstration “in alignment with our roadmap for integrated high-speed propulsion solutions.”

Virgin Galactic completes spaceship factory, prepares to up mission frequency

Virgin Galactic has completed the construction of the manufacturing facility where it will assemble the next generation of its Delta spaceships. Sections of the spaceship which are made in different locations throughout the United States will then be collected and put together at the new facility, located in Phoenix, Arizona. This two-hangar production facility will be fitted with all the necessary tools and equipment in Q4 2024 and, starting in Q1 2025, it will be able to assemble the first two Delta spaceships. Virgin Galactic is also using ‘digital twin’ technology, which allows the digital remote visualization of some processes in order to coordinate assembly work with its suppliers. From Phoenix, the completed Delta vehicles will be transported to Spaceport America, in New Mexico, on Virgin Galactic’s mothership, which is an aircraft specially designed to carry this type of cargo. Flight tests are expected to begin in New Mexico at some point in 2026. With the new Delta spaceships, Virgin Galactic expects to increase the frequency of the private space missions it offers to eight per month.

Lufthansa Innovation Hub identifies top cities for Advanced Air Mobility launch

This collaboration aims to regularly deliver insightful articles and analyses, focusing on the latest advancements and trends in the aviation industry. Lufthansa Innovation Hub, in collaboration with V2AIR, Roland Berger and Unisphere, has released a comprehensive report identifying the most viable global cities for launching Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) operations. The study focuses on 42 cities across the United States and Europe, providing crucial insights for AAM operators, city officials and other stakeholders on optimal launch regions. This report is the first in a two-part series, with the second report addressing the demand side set to release later in 2024. The report emphasises a ‘Route-First Strategy,’ advocating for close collaboration with regulatory bodies, operators, ecosystem participants and the community to tailor AAM operations to specific urban contexts. Advanced Air Mobility, which includes electric Vertical Take-off and Landing vehicles (eVTOLs), electric Short Take-off and Landing vehicles (eSTOLs), as well as conventional electric take-off and landing vehicles (eCTOLs), aims to revolutionise urban and regional connectivity with innovative aircraft technologies.

The report provides a detailed analysis of each city’s operational challenges and opportunities for AAM operations, offering a clear framework to support strategic decision-making for AAM stakeholders. By addressing critical areas such as strategic route selection, regulatory collaboration and community engagement, the study aims to guide stakeholders through the effective implementation of AAM operations, paving the way for growth and innovation in the field of advanced air mobility.

India tests long-range drone control with encrypted satellite comm

This mission showcased how drone swarms can communicate beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS) using a network that includes:

• Drone swarm: A group of drones working together.
• Satellite communication (SatCom): A method for transmitting data via satellites.
• Remote ground control station (GCS): The location from which the drone swarm is controlled.

Mission details

• Location: Ladakh, India (at an altitude of 4200 meters).
• Control Center: NRT HQ in Bengaluru, India (more than 3000 km away).
• Communication: Seamless communication throughout the mission, including real-time data (telemetry) and information from the drone’s sensors (payload data).
• Latency: The network experienced minimal delays.

Benefits of BVLOS connectivity

• Remote Operations: This technology allows for drone swarm operations beyond the visual range of the operator.
• Improved Mission Resilience: BVLOS connectivity enables drone missions to continue even in situations where communication might be disrupted.
• Contested Environments: Drone swarms can operate in areas where traditional communication methods might be unreliable.
• Multiple Users: Several users in different locations can benefit from this technology.
• Faster Response Times: Encrypted satellite communication links can significantly reduce the time it takes to react to a situation (OODA loop closure).

Overall Impact

This mission demonstrates the potential of BVLOS connectivity for drone swarms, supporting NRT’s Next Generation Missions & Technologies (NGMT) initiative.

Arizona teen finds lost pets using drone technology

Combine an entrepreneurial Phoenix-area teenager with an FAR Part 107 drone operator’s license and the result is a lot of happy and relieved pet owners. The story, as reported by a local US television affiliate, goes back two years to when Maxence Pastore thought he could use his recreational drone to help find a missing cat he saw on a posted flyer. Two years later, with his commercial drone operator’s license in hand, Pastore is in business. “I saved up to get a more capable drone and that is how I started,” he said. His company is called TRACC Pet Recovery and it helps people in his area find their lost pets.

Pastore said he does most of his best work at night. “I do not normally do my searches during the day because it is so hot. What I will do is, I will get this one up in the sky at nighttime and it has a thermal camera, so I will look for any heat signatures, like cats, dogs, anything moving, really.” TRACC Pet Recovery has already been successful at reuniting pets with their owners. “Once they realise that their dog or cat has been found, they get super emotional” he said. Pastore aspires for expanding his business to include searches for humans. He told reporters, “I applied for some search and rescue groups. This drone is actually used by public safety for search and rescue, for the fire department and police. So, I wanted to volunteer and help.

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