SINGAPORE
AIRSHOW NEWS DAY 3
FEBRUARY 22, 2024
AINONLINE.COM
LEGAL Aviation Mediation The Hague Court of Arbitration for Aviation brings its services to Singapore | 04
SUSTAINABILITY Spotlight on Green Tech Singapore’s government launches initiatives to reduce emissions from aviation | 06 DAVID McINTOSH
AIRPORTS CRK Seeks Tenants
AIRBUS INKS MAJOR WIDEBODY DEAL By David Donald Taiwan’s Starlux Airlines signed an order on Wednesday at the Singapore Airshow covering three A330neo airliners and five A350F freighters, powered by Rolls-Royce Trent 7000 and XWB97 engines, respectively. The A330 order builds on the four aircraft already in service, one of which is on show in the static display. Airbus will deliver the new aircraft in 2025 and 2026. The machines will come configured with 28 business class seats and 269 in the economy cabins. Starlux operates an all-Airbus fleet and sees the A330neo as ideal for its intra-Asia routes and to feed passengers into its growing North American passenger services, which started from Taipei to Los Angeles last year and later to San Francisco. Chairman Chang Kuo-wei said the airline would add Seattle as a destination this year. A330s operate on the transpacific routes. Chang added that the airline plans to bolster
its narrowbody fleet in the near future with further A321neos. The order for A350Fs makes Starlux the 10th customer to sign up for the freighter, which has already received 50 orders. Starlux’s move into the segment resulted from the large demand for cargo capacity that originates or transits through Taiwan. Chang noted that the cargo business had remained relatively buoyant during the Covid pandemic. “With this order, Starlux will become the first Taiwanese airline to operate the next-generation A350F widebody freighter,” said the airline’s CEO, Glenn Chai. “In an era of climate change, the A350F has unbeatable efficiency in terms of fuel burn, CO2 emissions, and economics, offering significant energy-saving and carbon reduction benefits.” The airline settled on five as the ideal number of aircraft to start the dedicated freight business, but it expects it to grow. As a consequence, the carrier took options on a further five A350Fs, said Chang. z
Clark International Airport in the Philippines offers space and skills for businesses | 15
AAM Airfish WIG Craft ST Engineering secures first customer for Airfish wing-in-ground effect vehicles | 14 alerts
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DAVID McINTOSH
Chinese Aircraft Leasing Group orders more CFM Leap engines for Airbus A320neos
The Hermes 650 Spark is deliberately “over-powered” for greater tactical flexibility.
Latest Elbit Hermes UAV sparks to life By David Donald Israel’s Elbit Systems has unveiled the latest member of its Hermes uncrewed air vehicle (UAV) family. The Hermes 650 Spark is a multirole UAV designed with tactical versatility in mind—as well as low operating costs. The company says it already has secured one customer on contract, and flight trials commenced in the first quarter of 2023. Full-scale production is about one year away. Unlike previous Hermes UAVs, the 650 has a front-mounted tractor powerplant. The manufacturer hasn’t disclosed the engine model, but it is rated at 120 hp. Elbit describes the Hermes 650 as deliberately “over-powered” to give it greater tactical flexibility, such as an ability to dash to the operational area at relatively high speed—up to 120 knots—before slowing to a loiter speed of 55 knots. The extra power confers good short-field performance on the type, and the aircraft can take off with
as little as 200 meters of runway. Its landing run measures about 800 meters. The Hermes 650 is a 650-kilogram-mtow (1,400 pounds) vehicle with a 260-kilogram (570 pounds) useful payload. It can accommodate a variety of payloads, with the Spectro XR electro-optical turret and AES 211 electronic support/measures/intelligence system being typical fits. It carries two sensor-carrying points under the fuselage and two underwing hardpoints. Lightweight antenna fairings can attach to the wingtips. In one proposed configuration the underwing pylons can carry air-droppable life rafts for maritime search and rescue missions. The Hermes 650 fully complies with NATO STANAG 4671 requirements, and its open architecture facilitates the integration of new payloads and systems. The air vehicle includes various sensors that allow—with the use of artificial intelligence—predictive maintenance scheduling to help reduce operating costs. z
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China Aircraft Leasing Group Holdings (CALC) this week confirmed its selection of CFM International’s Leap-1A engines to power 20 Airbus A320neo and A321neo aircraft due for delivery in 2026. The agreement, which CALC announced at the Singapore Airshow, stems from an order it placed in early 2020. The lessor already maintains a portfolio of 93 airliners with CFM56-5B/7B turbofans that it leases to 20 operators, as well as 38 Leap-powered aircraft now in service with 10 operators. The new order, along with aircraft deliveries in 2024, will bring CALC’s accumulated order for Leap 1A-powered A320neo and A321neo narrowbodies to 66. According to CFM, a joint venture between Safran and GE, the Leap engines provide 15 to 20 percent lower fuel consumption than earlier turbofans. Since service entry in 2016, they have cut carbon dioxide emissions by more than 35 million tons. This week, Indonesian airline Lion Group signed a new five-year agreement to have its CFM56-7B engines maintained by ST Engineering. The Singapore maintenance, repair, and overhaul group will support turbofans operated by Lion Air, Batik Air, Batik Air Malaysia, and Thai Lion Air. C.A.
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Wisk Gen 6 autonomous eVTOL set to fly this year
A subscale model of Wisk’s Gen 6 eVTOL air taxi is on display at the Singapore Airshow.
By Kerry Lynch Wisk continues to eye the end of the year for first flight of its Generation 6 eVTOL air taxi as it strives for certification of the autonomous aircraft by the end of the decade, Catherine MacGowan, v-p of APAC and air operations, told reporters at the Singapore Airshow on Wednesday. The Boeing-backed aircraft developer is campaigning to educate the public about advanced air mobility in the Asia-Pacific region. Based in California, Wisk has a sharp eye on the APAC market with teams in New Zealand and Australia. Wisk has amassed at least 1,750 flights across five generations of prototypes since 2010, and “all of that expertise and learning is
built into our Generation 6 aircraft.” Wisk will use the Gen 6 aircraft for FAA type certification testing with the FAA. Plans call for certification in the U.S. first, with the APAC region to follow. The aircraft will be certified as a fully autonomous vehicle. MacGowan said there would be space for carry-on luggage and personal items in the four-passenger vehicle. It will operate at altitudes of around 2,500 to 4,000 feet and fly to a range of 90 miles, including reserves, at speeds of 110 to 120 knots. MacGowan noted that it would be a fast-charging vehicle, estimating that it will take around 15 minutes to recharge.
Although the aircraft is capable of fully autonomous flight, Wisk is developing plans for supervision by a multi-vehicle supervisor who will monitor operations and work with air traffic control. While targeting the end of the decade, certification will depend on acceptance from the authorities. “We realize that autonomy is a feature that people want to understand more about,” MacGowan said. “We spend a lot of time talking to regulators and also the public about what autonomy looks like and how it’s predictable and safe. We’re conducting flight trial activity both in the U.S. and New Zealand with different platforms in the U.S.” z
Mediation options coming to Singapore The Hague Court of Arbitration for Aviation (CAA) signed a memorandum of understanding with the Singapore International Mediation Centre (SIMC) on Wednesday to provide the first specialized mediation framework for the aviation industry in Asia. The agreement paves the way for an aviation-specific mediation option in Asia and beyond. Currently, aviation businesses seeking such an option must turn to Europe for mediation. Mediation facilitates negotiation through a professionally trained arbiter to help parties reach an agreement over a dispute. This process differs from commercial arbitration and litigation, which can be more adversarial and take much longer to resolve.
SIMC CEO Chuan Wee Meng called mediation a more flexible and cost-effective alternative dispute resolution that can ward off the need for arbitration or litigation. About 90 percent of mediations administered by SIMC take only a day, and the settlement rate averages more than 70 percent. Many are multimillion-dollar settlements, Meng said, adding that its largest settlement resolved involved a $4 billion dispute. “In a fast-moving, mission-critical industry like aviation, the speedy resolution of disputes is absolutely essential,” he said. Paul Ng, co-chair of The Hague CAA’s mediation standing committee and head of aviation at the law firm of Rajah & Tann, noted the challenges the industry has faced because of
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the Covid pandemic but also the importance it plays in global economies. “An efficient method for dispute resolution between industry players is key to help the industry back to growth and success,” Ng said. K.L.
Representatives from SIMC and the Hague Court of Arbitration for Aviation signed a memorandum of understanding at the Singapore Airshow.
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DAVID McINTOSH
Airbus’s A3501000 is flying on sustainable aviation fuel during the daily aerial displays.
Singapore Airshow spotlights the road to net-zero carbon emissions By Kerry Lynch While most eyes are trained on the daily flying display, a central theme of the Singapore Airshow this year has surrounded sustainability. Chee Hong Tat, Singapore’s minister for transport and second minister for finance, sent that message on the eve of the Singapore Airshow with the announcement of a national blueprint to reduce emissions from the country’s aviation sector by 20 percent over 2019 levels by 2030. The attention on sustainability marks a significant change from what would have occurred as late as 2019, remarked Robert Boyd, APAC regional sustainability lead for Boeing, during a briefing at the air show. The industry is committed to net zero by 2050 and most airframers now target 2030 to have their aircraft capable of running on 100 percent sustainable aviation fuel (SAF). The companies might differ in their approaches, but they agree that meeting those goals is imperative. Boyd pointed to the oft-recited statistic that aviation accounts for 2 percent of the
total global production of CO2 emissions. However, he cautioned that the percentage likely will creep up as airline operations continue to expand. “The 2 percent is a well-rehearsed figure. We know that the key with the 2 percent is that number expands,” Boyd said. “If we don’t decarbonize at the same rate as the general economy, it’s as simple as that. So that’s why the imperative is for aviation to have a clear plan to decarbonize over the next 26 years by 2050.” From a business aviation standpoint, the industry segment increasingly has become a target of environmental activism. “We take sustainability very seriously because the current trend right now is to blame business jets about CO2,” said Carlos Brana, executive v-p for civil aircraft for Dassault Aviation. For Boeing, the strategy toward net zero depends on the emissions produced. The longer the route, the more emissions aircraft emit. Medium- and long-haul flights collectively account for 73 percent of industry CO2 emissions. Commuter operations,
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involving nine to 50 seats and an hour of flight, accounts for just 1 percent of the industry total.
A Multifaceted Approach While right now many companies cite SAF as the most realistic mode of emissions reduction, as time goes by, other modes will become more common depending on operations. For instance, by 2025, Boeing sees possibilities for battery-electric or hydrogen fuel cell powertrains along with SAF for the smallest commuter aircraft. By 2040, hydrogen could play a role in medium-haul aircraft. However, the outlook for long-haul aircraft in the same timeframe most likely relies on SAF, making the goals toward 100 percent by 2030 all the more important. Boyd conceded that SAF availability is a key constraint, as only a single percent of the industry’s total need is accessible today. He further acknowledged that the fuel quantity will not be ready by 2030, despite the stated goal of the airframers. However, he noted that an aircraft delivered in 2029 could operate for decades.
Most OEMs use SAF in multiple ways. Brana noted Dassault uses a blend of up to 50 percent SAF in its demo flights, test flights, and ferry flights. Some manufacturers have been conducting trials and demonstrations of 100 percent SAF. For example, Gulfstream in November completed the first trans-Atlantic flight using 100 percent SAF in a G600. But implementing the use of pure SAF on a full-time basis will present difficulties, Brana said. Concerns still exist surrounding the longterm use of SAF for wearing on engine seals, he explained. Dassault is among numerous entities researching how to make a compatible SAF. “I would say we have never been so close,” Brana said, noting there are several options that the industry is exploring. “One of them, which is very promising, is e-fuel based on a combination of hydrogen and carbon. This is not yet implemented but it’s going to come.” He pointed to Rolls-Royce tests of 100 percent SAF. “It’s working fine…So those fuels are coming,” he noted. Although it accounts for a central strategy, SAF represents only one route to net zero by 2050, added Boyd. He cited four paths, namely fleet renewal, operational efficiencies, renewable energy such as SAF, and advanced technology. Fleet renewal provides an instant benefit in the neighborhood of 15 to 22 percent efficiency with new aircraft supplanting older models. Operational efficiencies, such as improved air traffic management, might be the most overlooked but can provide significant advantages, Boyd said. But many impressive tools exist to achieve them, he added. Dassault introduced one such tool, a FalconWays flight-planning application designed to help pilots determine the most flightefficient routes. The app pulls together various data—including aircraft performance, weight, and weather—to determine the optimum flight route to save on fuel burn. “The software can compute trajectories from point A to point B using the lowest amount of fuel,” Brana said, noting factors such as wind that weigh into the algorithms. The app further looks at operational capabilities such as noise and considers weather.
“So, we are saving fuel, but not diverting the airplane toward the airports when the weather does not permit you to land,” he said. For an example of advanced technologies, he pointed to research such as Boeing’s joint research project with NASA to transform an MD-90 single-aisle airliner into an experimental X-plane designated X-66A to test a transonic truss-braced wing configuration for efficiencies.
OEMs Explore Options On the eve of the airshow, Bombardier further updated activities surrounding its blendedwing-body EcoJet phase 2 technology demonstrator, which has generated substantial data in its quest to reduce emissions of a Global 6000-sized business jet by 50 percent. Bombardier believes the aerodynamic efficiencies of the EcoJet could account for around 20 percent of the desired fuel savings, with new propulsion technologies accounting for a similar savings. The remaining 10 percent of the 50 percent goal would come from other technological advances, such as advanced weight-saving techniques and materials.
using sustainable energy sources. The same goes for electric, he added, noting that the grid needs to become greener. Boyd expressed encouragement by the progress the industry has made, however. A vast amount of research is ongoing across the industry, and regulators have started to take notice, embracing the industry goals. Policy is important to unlock SAF, he stressed, and the more it is available the less it will cost. Proving the technological capabilities is critical to such support, and companies continue to demonstrate it at events such as the Singapore Airshow. Airbus’s A350-1000 is conducting SAF-powered flight demonstrations at the show’s daily aerial displays. Boyd outlined an array of initiatives across research, engineering, and design efforts across Boeing’s various segments to improve sustainability in all areas. In addition to promoting SAF, Airbus announced during the air show that it has signed a memorandum of understanding with the Singapore Economic Development Board (EDB) to facilitate the establishment of a Sustainable Aviation Hub with a specific
Dassault’s FalconWays app can help operators plot the most energyefficient routes. Boyd reiterated that all four paths are crucial for the industry goals. “To get from where we are today in terms of emissions created to zero by 2050, it requires each and every one,” Boyd stressed. Market-based measures such as Europe’s CORSIA (carbon offsetting and reduction scheme for international aviation) initiative underscores the point. But SAF “will be the solution for the long haul.” He envisions a place for hydrogen, but it must be developed in a green way. Most hydrogen available today is not produced
focus on technology, research, and innovation. The hub will bring together aerospace professionals, researchers, and other innovators to collaborate on research and development of a sustainable aviation ecosystem. The air show provides a platform for companies to promote the multitude of efforts related to sustainability. In announcing the blueprint, Chee said the goal for Singapore involves a balanced approach “so that future generations can continue to enjoy the benefits of flying.” z
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DAVID McINTOSH
SAESL plans $180 million expansion
Aircraft Industries’ L-410NG is a modern version of the classic Czech L-410.
Updated L-410 Turbolet lands in Singapore By David Donald Appearing at the Singapore Airshow for the first time this year is the Aircraft Industries L-410NG, a comprehensively updated version of the Let L-410 Turbolet 19-seat regional airliner/utility transport from the Czech Republic. The original first flew in 1969, and more than 1,000 were built for civil and military use throughout the Soviet-influenced sphere, and also in the international arena. In 2010 Aircraft Industries, the Russianowned successor to Let Kunovice, launched a major modernization effort, which crystallized as the L-410NG. The first example flew in 2015, and production began in 2018. Initial deliveries went to Russia, Kazakhstan, and Poland. In 2022, the Czech Omnipol Group bought the company. The new variant traces its design to the L-410 UVP-E20 and, while superficially appearing similar, it incorporates a host of updates.
GE Aerospace H85-200 engines, made at the former Walter factory in Prague, replace the original Walter M601 turboprops. They drive five-blade Avia AV-725 low-noise propellers. The 7,000-kilogram-mtow aircraft can operate in a temperature range of -50 to 50 degrees C (-58 to 122 degrees F). Airframe life increases to 45,000 hours, and the wing is a new design that incorporates integral fuel carriage. Designers completely modernized the avionics with a Garmin G3000 system with integrated GFC 700 autopilot and GDU 1250W dual primary flight displays. Several cabin arrangements can serve various roles, including passenger transport with two-plus-one seating for up to 19, an air ambulance layout, and a freighter version. A roller door and canvas seating can be installed for skydiving, and a club-style business interior is an option. Aircraft Industries also promotes the L-410NG as a cost-efficient maritime surveillance platform with an endurance capability of up to 10.5 hours. z
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Singapore Aero Engine Services (SAESL) on Wednesday signed deals to support a $180 million, 50,000-square-meter (538,000 sq ft) expansion that will increase its capacity by 40 percent and generate 500 jobs over the next five years. Company CEO Simon Middlebrough called the expansion the most significant step forward for the MRO joint venture between Rolls-Royce and SIA Engineering since the organization’s founding in 1999. “Opportunities like this come along only once in a generation,” he said. “This sets us on a fabulous trajectory for success.” The memoranda of understanding that SAESL signed with the Singapore Economic Development Board and JTC Corporation are two of multiple such agreements planned for this week. Singapore’s Employment and Employability Institute and NTUC Learning Hub also signed on to support the talent pipeline. SAESL expects demand for MRO services to grow significantly in the coming years, with APAC accounting for onethird of total global demand in 2024. The additions will include a 280,000-sqft facility at JTC’s Loyang estate next to its current SAESL campus at Calshot Road, as well as an expansion into the Rolls-Royce campus at Seletar Aerospace Park. SAESL’s existing facilities will undergo upgrades to accommodate increased production. The Calshot Road facility will concentrate on engine inductions using the latest logistics solutions to optimize engine parts management. The Seletar campus expansion will focus on large component repair, commodity centers of excellence, and low-pressure repair. SAESL is further establishing an advanced repair cell that will center on additive remanufacturing, adaptive machining, and non-contact measurement systems. K.L.
By David Donald Having already sold the Gripen multi-role fighter to Thailand, Sweden’s Saab hopes to secure further sales of the type in Southeast Asia. Two major opportunities exist in the region in the form of a follow-on order from Thailand and a fighter requirement in the Philippines. A Gripen C from the Royal Thai Air Force (RTAF) sits on display in the static park at the Singapore Airshow. Thailand acquired its first batch of six Gripen C/Ds starting in February 2011, having ordered the type in 2008. Saab delivered a second batch in 2013 to complete the equipment of 701 Squadron at Surat Thani. The aircraft
Saab has Thailand and the Philippines in its sights for Gripen multi-role fighter sales.
DAVID McINTOSH
Saab eyes customers for Gripen in Asia
primarily serve in air defense roles and operate alongside a pair of Saab 340 airborne early warning aircraft that were supplied with the fighters as part of an overall package. Now the RTAF needs to replace its oldest batch of Lockheed Martin F-16s that serve with Wing 1/103 Squadron at Korat. It received deliveries of the F-16A/B Block 15s in the late 1980s and plans to withdraw them from service in 2028. Thailand stated a desire to acquire Lockheed Martin F-35s, but the U.S. will not provide them. The RTAF is in the process of evaluating a suitable alternative. As both the Gripen and F-16 already fly in RTAF service, they are the front-runners. The RTAF hasn’t decided whether it will seek
new or used fighters or whether it will choose the Gripen C/D or E/F. An Airpower White Paper is due to be published this year, which is expected to provide more clarity on the requirement. In the Philippines, Saab awaits the new administration for further details of the nation’s fighter requirement. It originally required 12 fighters, and Saab proposed a bid based on the Gripen C/D—not only on budgetary grounds, but also because the Philippine Air Force desired rapid delivery. The incoming government effectively scrapped that requirement and now is potentially looking for 36 new aircraft. It will formulate a new bid once the requirements have solidified. As in Thailand, the F-16 appears the likely principal competitor. z
Bombardier’s flagship Global 7500 made its Singapore Airshow debut this week as the four-zone, 7,700-nm business jet continues to gain a foothold around the world. The Global 7500 fleet has grown to 150 aircraft since entering service in late 2018. Jean-Christopher Gallagher, executive v-p for aircraft sales and Bombardier Defense, called the 7500 the “perfect choice for AsiaPacific customers,” with the ability to connect Singapore to San Francisco, or London and Hong Kong to New York. The aircraft claims the longest-range flight for purpose-built business aircraft, a trip of more than 8,225 nm. In addition, the Mach 0.925 aircraft has set numerous speed records, including from Los Angeles to New York and New York to London. It further logged the longest-ever flight out of London City Airport. The Global 7500 fleet has begun to mature, accumulating more than 100,000 flight hours and surpassing a 99.8 percent dispatch reliability.
DAVID McINTOSH
Bombardier’s Global 7500 makes Singapore Airshow debut
Bombardier has its Global 7500 ultra-long-range business jet on display at the Singapore Airshow for the first time this year. Bombardier CEO Eric Martel said interest in the Global 7500 remains strong even as the follow-on Global 8000—with a top speed of Mach 0.94 and an 8,000-nm range—remains on track for certification and initial deliveries next year. When the 8000 enters service, Bombardier will issue an optional service bulletin for the 7500 that will allow it to be retrofitted with the 8000’s performance enhancements. K.L.
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Supernal advances Singapore’s AAM goals By Charles Alcock Supernal, the advanced air mobility division of Korea’s Hyundai Motor Group, is partnering with Singapore officials to lay the groundwork for new eVTOL air services. On Tuesday at the Singapore Airshow, the company signed two memoranda of understanding with the Singapore Economic Development Board (EDB) and the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS). The partners agreed to work jointly on new research and development initiatives, identify potential use cases for eVTOL aircraft, exchange information to develop a regulatory framework, and expand public awareness. Supernal, which is based in the U.S., is developing an all-electric vehicle called the S-A2
that will carry a pilot and four passengers on flights of up to around 60 miles (100 kilometers) on a single charge. EDB officials have committed to tasks such as conducting market analyses and viability studies to support the case for introducing eVTOL operations in Singapore as well as other locations in the Asia-Pacific region. The studies will also consider service readiness involving aircraft assembly, operations, and maintenance, repair, and overhaul. The CAAS is seeking input from Supernal on the framework for aircraft certification, validation, acceptance, and entry into service. Their joint work will also consider interoperability requirements at vertiports to support seamless integration of ground and air operations. Singapore’s air safety regulator is also
looking to consider infrastructure standards for advanced air mobility, including charging and electrical energy storage solutions. It also wants to work with Supernal to engage with other stakeholders for the required ecosystem. “Advanced air mobility has the potential to be a new and exciting niche in Singapore’s aerospace sector, creating good business opportunities while also opening new alternatives for getting around the region,” said EDB managing director Jacqueline Poh. “As one of Asia’s leading aerospace ecosystems, Singapore offers global companies established capabilities, including a strong talent pool, to undertake a spectrum of activities across research and development, manufacturing and maintenance, repair and overhaul.” CAAS director-general Han Kok Juan called for collaboration among regulators and industry stakeholders to develop and deploy the regulations needed to support the new sector of aviation efficiently. He said that the partnership with Supernal had begun with discussions at a meeting of Asia-Pacific regulators held in Singapore in November 2023. z
Liebherr highlights tech solutions for sustainable aviation Liebherr Aerospace has a history of introducing increasingly efficient aircraft system components—such as actuators, environmental control and thermal management systems, and landing gear— that have helped manufacturers improve efficiency and reduce carbon emissions. As a logical next step, Liebherr has begun promoting increased electrification in aircraft systems, a field that is rapidly growing in importance with the emergence of the advanced air mobility (AAM) sector. Aircraft of the future will rely less on traditional engine bleed air and hydraulic systems to power air management and actuation systems, in turn placing decreased or even zero burden on the vehicle’s primary powerplant, with a resulting increase in engine efficiency and reduction in emissions. Electric motor pumps would serve as the core element of decentralized hydraulic power systems. Liebherr has produced electric systems for large aircraft for some time and recently launched a series of smaller electromagnetic actuators. They developed the actuators to satisfy demands from the AAM sector, where component size and weight are constricted yet reliability and power-to-weight ratios remain critical factors.
Liebherr recently added small, lightweight electromagnetic actuators to its portfolio of sustainable aviation solutions. Local business Liebherr Singapore operates a service center dedicated to the Asia-Pacific region. Liebherr Singapore recently expanded the facility with a new high-performance hydraulic test cell and a repair-and-overhaul facility for heat transfer equipment. Adding in-region capability not only provides shorter turnaround times for customers but also reduces the amount of long-distance shipment required. D.D.
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By Charles Alcock Honda Aircraft is introducing its certified pre-owned (CPO) program to support buyers and sellers of its light business jet in Asia. The company has delivered more than 250 HondaJets from its headquarters in Greensboro, North Carolina, including 24 in Asia. According to Honda, it carefully selects aircraft for CPO approval, requiring that they be maintained to the manufacturer’s specific criteria in authorized facilities. The HondaJet fleet has logged more than 210,000 flight hours with a dispatch reliability of 99.7 percent. “Aircraft must pass a thorough pre-purchase inspection covering more than 208 points on the aircraft and have no damage history or repair memos,” Honda Aircraft’s chief commercial officer and senior v-p Amod Kelkar told AIN. The company recently expanded its network of authorized service providers in Southeast Asia with the addition of KarbonMRO, Forth Corporation, and WingsOverAsia.
The HondaJet Elite S model, released in 2021, is on display at the Singapore Airshow.
DAVID McINTOSH
Certified pre-owned HondaJets come to Asia
In 2023, HondaJet flight activity in Asia increased by 20 percent, with customers based in Japan and Thailand accounting for 95 percent of the total. “The demand is from business, personal, and charter uses of the aircraft,” Kelkar said. “Additionally, purchasers of light jets may be looking to lessen their impact on the environment while also enjoying the benefits of private air travel.” Since its introduction in 2015, the HondaJet has undergone a series of updates, boosting the original range of about 1,200 nm to the latest Elite II’s 1,547 nm. While cruising at a speed of 422 knots and a maximum altitude of FL430, it can accommodate up to eight passengers. An example of the current HA-420 model is on display at the Singapore Airshow. Honda is now working on the larger and longer-range HondaJet Echelon model it aims to bring to market in 2028. It will retain the original aircraft’s distinctive
over-the-wing engine mount, which made the cabin quieter and created space for an enclosed lavatory in the aft section of the cabin, as well as reducing drag. The company’s engineering team expects to complete the design review this summer as they prepare to roll out the aircraft and start flight testing in 2026. The Echelon will be somewhat larger than the current Elite II model, with a fuselage that is 4.5 inches taller and 1 inch wider to allow more space for up to 11 passengers. Customers will have a choice of executive, dual club, or divan cabin interiors, each offering 5.5 inches more room at shoulder height and 7 inches at the bottom of the seats. A pair of Williams International FJ44-4C turbofans will power the new HondaJet, in place of the current model’s GE Honda Aero HF120 engines. The Williams powerplant will support a range of up to 2,625 nm with a single pilot and four passengers on board. z
ExecuJet opens Embraer bizjet service center in Perth ExecuJet MRO Services Australia’s facility in Perth has become an authorized service center for Embraer’s business jets. Under an agreement announced on Tuesday, the company will provide support for the Brazilian airframer’s customers in Australia and other parts of the Asia-Pacific region. Initially, support will be available for operators of Embraer’s Legacy 600 and 650 aircraft. ExecuJet said it has invested in new tools and training for the service offering. “With proximity to Southeast Asia, it made sense to make Perth one of our centers of excellence for Embraer aircraft,” said Grant Ingall, ExecuJet MRO Services’ vice president for Australasia.
ExecuJet MRO Services, which is wholly owned by Dassault Aviation, has operated Embraer-authorized service centers at its Melbourne and Sydney locations since 2010. That means it can manage Executive Care support and warranty claims for spare parts and labor for the manufacturer. The company also provides support for a variety of business aircraft made by Dassault, Bombardier, Gulfstream, and Textron Aviation. In addition to maintenance approval from the Australian Civil Aviation Authority, it has clearance to perform heavy maintenance checks on Embraer aircraft from the FAA and the air safety agencies in Bermuda, the Cayman Islands, San Marino, Vietnam, and Indonesia. C.A.
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Remanufactured materials cut CO2
Lufthansa Technik is conducting its second A380 12-year check at its Manila, Philippines facility.
LTP completes first 12-Year A380 overhaul By Jennifer Meszaros Lufthansa Technik Philippines (LTP) has finished its first 12-year check on a Lufthansa Airlines Airbus A380 widebody airliner, marking the return of the world’s largest passenger aircraft to the German flag carrier’s fleet. Bearing registration D-AIMC and dubbed “Mike Charlie,” the aircraft’s 500 seats and two passenger decks were completely pulled out and later reinstalled on a layover in the capital city of Manila. Engineering teams also conducted a complete replacement of the A380’s landing gear, which features five individual gear assemblies and a total of 22 wheels. Lufthansa Technik Landing Gear Services (LTLGS), located in London, is now overhauling the airliner’s four main landing gear components to nearnew condition. As part of the 12-year check, LTP removed all four Rolls-Royce Trent 900 engines for a detailed inspection of the A380’s wings and engine mounts. With a diameter of roughly three meters at the air intake and a dry weight exceeding 6 tonnes, the engines will undergo
minor inspections, LTP said in a written statement. It also performed modifications in response to Airbus airworthiness directives. More than 100 mechanics carried out the detailed inspection during peak times in Manila before the airplane returned to Frankfurt, Germany. LTP is now conducting its second 12-year check on a Lufthansa Airlines A380. To cope with increasing demand, the MRO provider has invested heavily in its in-house capacities with a 9,000-square-meter hangar where it can overhaul three superjumbos simultaneously. LTP’s other A380 customers include Asiana Airlines and Emirates. “The return of the A380 to the fleets of so many airlines have also boosted demand for maintenance services enormously,” said CEO Elmar Lutter. “We are benefiting quite well from this with our A380 expertise here in Manila, that we recently even expanded with the third overhaul line. In view of the delays in the delivery of numerous new widebody aircraft, I am certain that services for the A380 will remain an integral part of our portfolio for years to come.” z
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Nandina REM, a member company of the Singapore A*STAR Advanced Remanufacturing & Technology Centre, is introducing premium carbon fiber material sourced from retired aircraft and processed to meet aviation standards. The initiative fills the void between surplus materials from decommissioned aircraft and the escalating demand from manufacturing sectors for top-tier resources. Nandina’s innovative approach tackles the persistent challenge of maintaining the mechanical properties, including material integrity and quality, of repurposed carbon fiber. By salvaging valuable materials from end-of-life aircraft, the market gains access to new reservoirs of ultra-low emission, high-quality carbon fiber composites that are comparable to virgin materials in quality, all while being more cost-effective. “Reclaiming high-quality circular materials from end-of-life aircraft is a key industry achievement that will unlock a multitude of possibilities for both aviation and advanced manufacturing,” said Nandina REM CEO Karina Cady. Cady estimates that reprocessing retired aircraft can remove 82 million tonnes of CO2 from supply chains. “Enabling high-value circular supply chains makes sense for both planet and business,” she said. “Aviation circularity means we can keep high-quality materials like carbon fiber in high-performance value chains. We don’t have to keep relying on extracting more virgin materials from the environment.” Nandina has set an ambitious target of cutting 1 gigatonne of greenhouse gas emissions by 2030. It now works with key supply chain partners, including Sumitomo and Vaupell, to catalyze a scalable, system-wide solution. J.M.
Airbus ushers in sustainable flight tech
Airbus is evaluating three potential designs for a hydrogenpowered airliner under the ZeroE project.
By Jennifer Meszaros Airbus is highlighting its sustainability efforts in the Asia-Pacific region as the European aircraft maker looks to lead the industry on the path to net-zero carbon emissions by 2050. Addressing reporters at a briefing during the Singapore Airshow, Airbus chief sustainability officer Julie Kitcher stressed the importance of industry and government collaboration while laying out the company’s pathway to decarbonization. “Fuel-efficient aircraft, improvements to air traffic management and operations, and sustainable aviation fuel will combine to provide most of the initial reductions before 2050,” said Kitcher. “In the short- to medium-term, carbon offsetting will play a role, starting with nature-based solutions and progressing to technology-based solutions. Hydrogen will transform aviation over the long-term.” Airbus has set an ambitious target to bring to market the world’s first hydrogen-powered commercial aircraft by 2035. The manufacturer is currently studying the use of hydrogen fuel cells with a propeller propulsion system,
which would generate nearly zero emissions. “Two months ago, the hydrogen fuel cells were successfully paired for the first time with the electrical propulsion system that will drive the propellers of our demonstrator aircraft,” said Kitcher. “This is the aircraft that will be used to test the viability of our designs and our technology both on the ground and in the air. Over the next couple of years, we will make important decisions about the aircraft’s design and propulsion architecture.” Airbus is also laying the groundwork to establish a green hydrogen production and distribution network in the Asia-Pacific region, Kitcher added. “We have been examining the possibility of having a hydrogen fuel hub here in Singapore, and the results of that outcome will be shared soon,” she said. Airbus used 11 million liters of a 10-percent SAF blend for its operations and customer deliveries in 2023, and this year the manufacturer aims to achieve an average of 15 percent SAF in its fuel mix. By the end of the decade, Airbus
hopes to achieve 100 percent SAF capabilities. Despite the ambitions, Kitcher acknowledged that the cost and availability of SAF remain a challenge. Still, progress is being made across the Asia-Pacific region, including in Australia, India, Japan, Malaysia, and Thailand. To accelerate advancements, Airbus is collaborating with key partners in the region, such as Singapore-based Apeiron Bioenergy, a provider of bioenergy products from waste-based feedstock to the end and by-products. Apeiron is present in 10 countries and offers an extensive value chain, featuring storage, processing facilities, and biofuel refineries. Airbus remains active in the Asia-Pacific region, working with Tan Son Nhat International Airport in southeastern Vietnam and Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu, Nepal, on sustainability initiatives. In Australia, its partners include flag carrier Qantas Airways, SAF bio-energy company Jet Zero Australia, the Queensland government, and sustainable fuel technology company LanzaJet. z
ST Engineering extends Honeywell partnership ST Engineering’s commercial aerospace business has extended its partnership with Honeywell, the company announced Tuesday during the Singapore Airshow. Under the agreement, ST Engineering will continue to conduct servicing and repair work on Honeywell’s mechanical, avionics, and Leap engine components. The Singaporean business became a member of the Honeywell channel partner network in 2019, giving it access to advanced technology and software solutions. As part of the network, ST En-
gineering supports more than 700 individual parts. It also serves as the only licensed maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) provider in the Asia-Pacific region for Honeywell components in the Leap engine. ST’s commercial Aerospace is an authorized service center for more than 15 OEMs, and its facilities in Asia and Europe support and deliver more than 80,000 components annually. It also offers nacelle MRO support, including in the U.S. D.D.
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DAVID McINTOSH
ST Engineering is exhibiting its two-seat Airfish 3 wing-in-ground effect (WIG) craft.
ST Engineering lands first Airfish customer By Chris Pocock Skimming across the water with elegance and ease, wing-in-ground effect (WIG) craft seem to offer a faster and more cost-effective alternative to conventional maritime vessels. ST Engineering is the latest company to try and commercialize them, and might have succeeded. It announced Monday that a Turkish company has signed a letter of intent for 10 of its Airfish vehicles, plus options for an additional 10 units. Eurasia Mobility Solutions (EMS) has opted for the 10-seat version of the Airfish family that ST Engineering offers through a joint venture with Singapore-based SME Wigetworks, which recently rebranded under the name Peluca. The joint venture, called AirX, launched in July 2023. The Turkish company plans to operate the Airfish for tourism and private transport purposes. The version displayed on the ST Engineering stand at the Singapore Airshow this week is a two-seat version designated the Airfish 3. It derives from a series of experimental WIGs designed and flown by German company Airfoil Development (AFD) in the 1960s and 1970s. The German military evaluated one in 1977, but no orders followed. Two decades
later, AFD built the Airfish 3 and the larger Airfish 8. Those prototypes underwent sea trials in the Netherlands and Australia in 2001. Established in Singapore in 2004, Wigetworks bought the intellectual property rights and the two prototypes from AFD. It
conducted more sea trials in Thailand and Singapore in 2007 and 2008. It built two pre-production Airfish 8 models in 2017 and 2018. The Royal Thai Navy evaluated them and delivered a positive verdict but, again, it did not place an order. WIG craft use aerodynamic lift plus air pressure generated by flying close to the water surface, reducing induced drag and enabling speeds of up to 90 knots. ST Engineering says that WIGs are inherently stable, and therefore need no complex flight control systems. The Airfish 8 can operate up to sea state 3 and in wind speeds of up to 15 knots. It carries a payload of up to 1,000 kilograms (2,200 pounds) and a cruising range of 300 nm. The maximum takeoff weight is 5,500 kilograms (12,000 pounds). A pair of standard General Motors 500-hp automobile engines power its two pusher propellers. If it operates in ground effect and up to 500 feet, the Airfish can be certified under International Maritime Organisation (IMO) rules. Above that altitude, it must achieve ICAO certification. ST Engineering also cites potential military applications in littoral waters as a stealth platform and in parapublic roles such as medical evacuation and oil spill response. z
ExecuJet Haite, CBM expand MRO services cooperation to Beijing Capital Airport ExecuJet Haite Aviation Services China has signed an agreement with Capital Airport Holding Business Management (CBM) to provide line maintenance and AOG services at Beijing Capital International Airport. The collaboration in Beijing expands upon the agreement ExecuJet reached with CBM in December for MRO services at Beijing Daxing International Airport. CBM offers FBO services at both of Beijing’s international airports. “We continue to look for ways to create more value for our entire business jet operation,” said Li Yiyong, general manager of CBM. “This agreement will allow us to
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work cooperatively with ExecuJet Haite in providing outstanding maintenance support and services to our shared clientele as we operate at one of the busiest business aviation destinations in the region.” ExecuJet Haite, which operates its MRO in Tianjin, will offer support for a range of aircraft types at the expanded locations under its authorizations from the Civil Aviation Administration of China and other national authorities. Paul Desgrosseilliers, ExecuJet Haite’s general manager, said the expansion of its maintenance services “demonstrates our unwavering commitment towards supporting our customers in China and wider Asian region.” K.L.
Philippines’ Clark Airport seeks tenants By Charles Alcock Multiple agencies in the Philippines are joining forces to attract aerospace companies to establish a presence at Clark International Airport (CRK). The focus of the campaign to make more use of the extensive space at the former U.S. military base is mainly on attracting maintenance, repair, and overhaul companies, manufacturers, business aviation services providers (including FBOs), airlines, logistics firms, and training organizations. The campaign leaders can be found at the Singapore Airshow’s Philippine Aviation Pavilion. They include the Philippine Department of Transportation, the country’s Civil Aviation Authority, and Clark International Airport Corporation. Also closely involved in the bid to attract new business is Berthaphil, which was an early investor and developer for the airport’s Clark Freeport, where it is marketing a 10-hectare site. The company has already completed a dozen real estate developments at Clark, including the airport’s first bonded warehouse and logistics center.
Philippines transportation secretary Jaime Bautista (sixth from left) and leaders from partner organizations held a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the Clark Airport expansion campaign. CRK is located within the Clark Freeport trade zone, where businesses can benefit from up to a seven-year tax holiday and a corporate income tax rate of just 5 percent. The primary runway is 10,500 feet long and 196 feet wide and features a new terminal with an annual capacity for 80 million passengers. The airport is located almost 50 miles
Safran launches MRO facility in Singapore Safran Electrical & Power is preparing to open a new maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) facility in Singapore. On Tuesday, the French aircraft engines and systems group signed a memorandum of understanding with Singapore Economic Development Board to agree on terms for the new base, which will focus on supporting aeronautical electrical equipment. The facility is to be located in the Seletar Aerospace Park and will accommodate 50 employees from the Thales aeronautical electrical systems business that Safran acquired in October 2023. The company will use it for production as well as MRO work. The business unit specializes in electric
conversion, power generation, and electric motors for civil and military aircraft. Safran has operated in Singapore for more than 45 years, with activities spanning commercial aviation, helicopter propulsion, aircraft equipment and interiors, as well as defense. With the opening of the new site, it will have almost 800 local employees across seven entities and locations. “This industrial site is a testimony to Safran’s commitment to Singapore as a major regional hub,” said Valerie Patuel, CEO of Safran Singapore. “It will further strengthen our ability to support the increasing commercial aviation demand in the ASEAN [Association of South East Asian Nations] region.” D.D.
north of the capital Manila, to which it is connected by the Northern Luxon Expressway. A new passenger and cargo rail system is due to open in 2025. “Besides world-class airport infrastructure, a strategic location within Asia’s burgeoning aviation market, and a favorable business environment, another key strength of Clark International Airport as an aerospace center is the Philippines’ skilled and qualified workforce,” said Berthaphil chairman Michael Herman. “Building a hangar, for example, doesn’t mean you have an MRO business. The key to having a successful MRO organization is having skilled and qualified maintenance engineers and technicians, and that’s what the Philippines have.” According to Herman, companies getting established at CRK have the potential to attract talent already based locally as well as expatriates wanting to work closer to home. “It is no secret that many of the qualified maintenance engineers and technicians working in places such as Singapore, Hong Kong, and the Middle East are Filipinos,” he said. Among the companies already established at CRK is SIA Engineering, which does airframe maintenance there. Also present are Hong Kong-based business aviation group MetroJet, as well as express freight carriers UPS, DHL, and Fedex. z
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Singapore tech accelerator boosts P&W By Kerry Lynch Pratt & Whitney already is reaping benefits from its recently established Singapore technology accelerator (STA), citing more than 30 innovations that have emerged from the initiative to maximize maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) productivity. In 2022, the company announced a collaboration with the Singapore Economic Development Board to establish the technology accelerator program. The STA works with more than 20 Singapore companies to develop new technologies in the commercial aviation sector. Its projects have focused on automation, advanced inspections, connected factories, and digital twins, P&W said, noting that the innovations are being applied across its four Singaporebased MROs. “STA is a focal point for the innovative thinking and enterprising spirit of our employees, applied to scale technologies across our MRO facilities faster and better,” said Gilbert Sim, P&W’s director of aftermarket global
P&W’s Singapore technology accelerator program focuses on automation and other methods to improve MRO performance. operations technology and CORE (customeroriented results and excellence). “We will continue working with MRO facilities and centers of excellence in Singapore and throughout the network to deliver more technology insertion projects.” As the technologies undergo evaluation at the Singapore facilities, P&W plans to
introduce them throughout its global MRO footprint to improve throughput and turnaround time, the engine maker said. Beyond STA, P&W has worked with centers of excellence around the world to develop and deploy other advanced repair capabilities in emerging fields such as artificial intelligence and machine learning. z
StandardAero gains CAAC nod for RB211-535 support StandardAero secured Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) approval to provide maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) services for Rolls-Royce RB211-535 turbofan engines. The CAAC’s nod clears the way for StandardAero to support Chinese operators of the Boeing 757. A total of 70 Boeing 757s fly with Chinese carriers, representing about 20 percent of the in-service RB211-535 fleet. Rolls-Royce and StandardAero formed a life-of-type maintenance services partnership on the RB211-535 in 2018. StandardAero services the engines at its 810,000-sq-ft facility in San Antonio, Texas and inducted its first one in 2019. StandardAero provides a suite of RB211-535 services for operators worldwide, including component repair and overhaul, used service material management, work scope optimization, and field support for AOG situations. “Receipt of CAAC approval is a key milestone for StandardAero, allowing us to support the MRO needs of RB211-535 operators in China,”
said Janice Ho, StandardAero’s airline sales director for the Asia-Pacific region. “The RB211-powered Boeing 757 remains extremely popular with cargo operators in China representing the second largest market for the type worldwide.” K.L.
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Rolls-Royce’s RB211-535 turbofan engine powers 70 Boeing 757s operated in China.
United Aircraft’s UAVs take center stage among Chinese exhibitors By Jennifer Meszaros Chinese start-up UAV developer United Aircraft Group appears prominently among several firms from the People’s Republic showcasing their product lines at this year’s Singapore Airshow. Founded in 2012 under the leadership of CEO Gangyin Tian, the Shenzhen-based research-and-development (R&D) enterprise has achieved considerable success on its home turf, despite its modest origins. Today, United Aircraft has raised roughly $500 million from several investors, including the Longjiang Fund. “As one of the world’s largest and most important aerospace and defense exhibitions, the Singapore Airshow provides a platform for UAV enterprises to connect with suppliers, clients, and partners,” Tian told AIN. “At the same time, we get to display our latest technologies such as our unmanned helicopter, drones, software, and applications. The global attention garnered can lead to new investments, research collaborations, and customer interest. Industry panels and discussions will offer insights into market trends, upcoming regulations, and other industryspecific knowledge.” With a diverse portfolio that includes uncrewed helicopters, small drones, ground and onboard equipment, rotor blades, and composite products, United Aircraft has positioned itself as a key UAV player, supplying the Chinese government and military as well as various partners. Its products, deployed in provinces such as Beijing, Heilongjiang, and Anhui, cover applications including emergency rescue and powerline inspection, Tian said. Along with Shenzhen, the company operates in Beijing, Guangdong, Anhui, Shaanxi, Sichuan, Shanghai, Heilongjiang, and Gansu. “We’ve set up a comprehensive base that encompasses UAV design, R&D, production,
United Aircraft Group’s TD550 UAV is making its debut at the Singapore Airshow. subassembly, final assembly, testing, and system joint commissioning,” said Tian. “With the support of governments and investors, we are going to invest more into new-gen aircraft represented by tiltrotor UAV and accelerate product R&D and application.”
UAVs On Display United Aircraft’s high-altitude, large-load coaxial unmanned helicopter, the TD550, appears prominently among the company’s products showcased at the Singapore Airshow. With a maximum takeoff weight of 550 kilograms, a takeoff altitude of 5,000 meters, and a maximum speed of 108 knots, the TD550 can carry four 50-kilogram fire-extinguishing bombs within a 124-mile radius. The UAV also serves applications such as cross-island transportation, agriculture, forestry protection, and emergency rescue. Powered by a supercharged piston engine, the TD550 adopts a redundant flight control system and includes a fiberoptic gyroscope inertial navigation system plus China’s BeiDou Navigation Satellite System. Among its functionalities, the TD550 allows for manual control, program-controlled flight, and oneclick full autonomous flight. The high-precision HeliAp flight control
system manages autonomous takeoff and landing, fixed-point hover, obstacle avoidance, emergency return, and precision point delivery. It can perform in various environments, demonstrating resistance to high and low temperatures, humidity, rain, sand, dust, salt spray, mold, and low pressure. United Aircraft also is introducing its latest quad-rotor drone, the Q20. Featuring a maximum battery life of 80 minutes and a level 7 rating for wind gust resistance of up to 38 mph, the Q20 delivers a 75-minute endurance with an empty load and a 50-minute endurance while carrying a 5-kilogram load. Tian noted that the Q20, alongside the TD550 and the TD220 co-axial unmanned helicopter, played a crucial role in last year’s emergency flood response in the provinces of Beijing, Hebei, and Heilongjiang. “With TD550’s 200-kilogram payload, it was able to help deliver supplies to victims,” he explained. “The small size of Q20 played the role of river patrol, and the TD220, equipped with a base station, carried the duty on communication relay.” Using 3-D time-of-flight sensing technology, the Q20 offers 3-D modeling, six-way obstacle avoidance, intelligent identification, and path planning in complex environments.
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It also adopts the BeiDou short-message communication technology as a safety control system feature. Designed for ease of use, cost-effectiveness, and reliability in temperatures as low as -40 degrees C, the drone has widespread applications in various domestic sectors, including energy, agriculture, forestry, public security, and policing. “The Q20, along with the TD550, is making its debut on the international stage at the Singapore Airshow,” said Tian. “In addition, three drones—the Q3 pipeline inspection microdrone, the Q4 warehouse inspection microdrone, and the Q5 tunnel patrol drone— will be on display. These five products form a complete product matrix to meet the different product needs of the client.” Meanwhile, United Aircraft’s latest model, a six-ton tiltrotor UAV, remains under development and will not appear at the show. With a range of 1,864 miles, the design integrates a helicopter’s vertical takeoff, landing, and hovering capabilities and the high-speed cruising ability of a fixed-wing propeller aircraft. “We have achieved good results in the R&D of the tiltrotor UAV,” said Tian. “At present, the project has completed the detailed design phase and has entered full trial production,” he said, adding that the company stands poised for a breakthrough year in 2024. Given China’s maturity in the UAV sector, Tian expressed optimism that UAVs, including eVTOL and tiltrotor designs, will deploy and proliferate in the coming decade. “The development of China’s UAV industry has reached world-class level,” he said. “China’s consumer-grade drones are leading the world, and industrial-grade UAVs are experiencing a period of rapid growth. In the future,
UAVs will develop toward large load capacity, long endurance, and artificial intelligence. UAVs will also complete multiple tasks in one flight and work collaboratively.” Beyond China’s borders, Tian has established a Singapore-based R&D institute to spur advancements in artificial intelligence, autonomous flight operations, and related technologies. Drones such as the Q5 tunnel patrol drone have entered into operation in the Singapore market, specifically in subway tunnels for inspecting wall cracks and water leaks. “The mission of the UAV enterprise is to enhance quality and efficiency across various industries, eliminating the need for workers to engage in hazardous labor,” he said. “We are willing to establish cooperation with Southeast Asian countries to promote the development of the local UAV industry and exchange experience with each other as well as help upgrade traditional industries, such as agricultural protection, transportation across islands, and public security.”
Additional Exhibitors United Aircraft appears among nearly 30 exhibitors from across mainland China and Hong Kong at this year’s event. Notable participants include state-owned Comac, which recently unveiled a 19-seat all-electric regional aircraft, the CE-25A, as well as two shortened and extended variants of its C919 narrowbody airliner. Designed for the business aviation market, the CE-25A is a pressurized aircraft that flies to a range of 250 to 310 miles at a maximum cruise speed of 250 mph. It features a conventional layout with distributed electric propulsion plus a swept wing and T-tail.
The C919, China’s first narrowbody jet, entered service in May 2023.
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Electric ducted fans appear atop the wings in sets of five on each side. Chinese media reports that the CE-25A has already completed a scaled-down verification flight. Development takes place at Comac’s Beijing facility in partnership with battery manufacturer Contemporary Amperex Technology. Meanwhile, a shortened version of the 156to 190-seat C919 narrowbody would seat 140 passengers in two classes; its stretched variant would accommodate 210 passengers in the same configuration. China Eastern Airlines has now acquired four C919s. On January 9, the airline inaugurated its second domestic C919 route, operating between Shanghai Hongqiao and Beijing Daxing Airports.
Business Aviation Presence Among China’s business aviation companies, ExecuJet Haite is exhibiting under its whollyowned subsidiary, the Sichuan-based Haite Group. Speaking with AIN, general manager Paul Desgrosseilliers highlighted the company’s activities, including the upcoming launch of its second MRO facility at Beijing Daxing International Airport in this year’s second quarter. As the treasurer of the Asian Business Aviation Association (ABAA), Desgrosseilliers advocates for ABAA’s activities with a specific focus on its China chapter. “The Singapore airshow is a significant event in the Asia region, and business aviation is expected to have substantial attendance this year, especially with the industry eager to reconnect after a prolonged absence due to Covid,” he said. “I think all the OEMs are going to have a pretty large presence this year; everybody’s excited to go to Singapore.” z
ExecuJet Haite is opening an MRO facility at Beijing’s Daxing International Airport.
Advanced tech shapes future of avionics landscape By Matt Thurber
Collins Aerospace’s pilot support system can provide pilot alertness information to support singlepilot jets and controlled rest-in-seat operations..
Many of the world’s leading aircraft electron- capability is useful for emergencies and the ics suppliers are demonstrating the fruits of system could help in the event of pilot incaextensive R&D investments at this week’s pacitation, Evanschwartz stressed that normal Singapore Airshow, with a strong emphasis operations are the primary focus for this work. on reducing pilot workload in the flight deck and allowing airlines to decarbonize by flying Tackling GNSS Jamming and Spoofing more efficiently. Resilient navigation is another important Adam Evanschwartz, who leads the avion- building block, addressing issues with GNSS ics business unit product strategy at Collins jamming and spoofing, as well as 5G cellular Aerospace, outlined a half dozen “technology interference with radar altimeters. The work frontiers” on which the company is working, includes simplifying upgrades to the Collins calling them building blocks for future aircraft GLU 2100 multimode receiver so it is field upgradeable without removal or rewiring, and flight deck solutions. “The first building block—perception sens- designing GNSS receivers that can identify ing—involves sensors that in the future will abnormal signals and compensate for them or help the pilot and the aircraft make sense notifying the crew that the navigation source of what’s going on in the outside world,” he is invalid. explained to AIN. “That could include image Collins has demonstrated its pilot support recognition so the aircraft can detect and system, which uses flight deck sensors to capavoid non-cooperative traffic. Vision-based ture objective data on pilot alertness. “This is landing systems will supplea big frontier in all the segments ment the information that we service,” Evanschwartz said. “It pilots get from enhanced flight starts with the concept of a fatigue vision systems and head-up risk-management system (FRMS) displays, including millimeand the view that this is important ter-wave sensors, and use all to have in place, but heavily reliant that information to ease the on subjective reports by individupilot’s workload, for examals to assess their fatigue state.” ple, by automatically warning He explained that a need exists that something is blocking Adam Evanschwartz for more objective data on crew alertness so operators and flight the runway.” Collins sees research leading to automatic crews can make better decisions about stage landing capabilities during normal operations, lengths, crew pairings, or even whether it’s not just on CAT III-qualified runways but at safe to fly a repositioning flight after a long any airport with a CAT I ILS. While autoland charter leg.
Sensor-based systems could also feed information to a FRMS although it would need to be de-identified. However useful information such as location and the time of day when fatigue happens could help drive risk mitigation. “If the system can detect and classify drowsiness, it can also detect sleep or incapacitation if the eyes are closed,” he explained. “If you have a pilot support system in one of those uncommon but not unheard-of events where both flight and flight crew members fall asleep, there’s an additional layer of safety, to alert and wake them up.” Evanschwartz said he expects to see pilot support system products—useful not only for single-pilot jets but also for controlled restin-seat operations—reach the market around 2025. “It’s better to arrive at a mechanism to support safe rest and enable pilots to be alert at the end of a flight, he said, than to ignore the problem. Collins is working on advanced sensor systems that either replace antiquated systems such as air data computers relying on pneumatic pressure inputs and dissimilar inputs that provide another layer of redundancy.
Letting Avionics Do the Work The communications building block is looking at full-time inflight connectivity for avionics. The idea is to reduce crew workload by letting the avionics do the work. For example, instead of making the pilot input a new frequency, the avionics could handle that as a
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push-to-load function into the flight management sytem (FMS). Collins also is working on natural language processing, speech-to-text, and vice-versa for routine communications with controllers. Finally, Collins is tackling task automation in the cockpit with simple measures to reduce pilot workload. Using extensive sensing capability, which modern aircraft have already built-in, the avionics could verify and accomplish checklist items.
Delivering More Visual Data The Aperture visual data management system brought to market last year by Elbit subsidiary Universal Avionics (UA) got approval in February 2023 and uses multiple video inputs to deliver improved imagery on flight deck displays. Aperture processes eight video streams and can output them to four independent users in a way the company says enhances safety and improves decision-making. With near-zero latency, Aperture meets design assurance level A, the highest level of integrity in commercial aviation, according to Universal. Ongoing development is expected to add more video/sensor channels, low- latency video aggregation and manipulation, and generation of synthetic imagery. Eventually, it plans to use the capabilities to provide augmented-reality solutions, which could include “visual positioning, obstacle detection, taxi guidance, and traffic awareness to dramatically improve their situational awareness in high-workload environments.” UA’s Connected FMS powers its Connectivity Ecosystem, which allows the secure sharing of information from the company’s FMS, and two applications now offer services using Connected FMS. FlightPartner enables “weather-driven smart flight planning, two-way flight plan exchanges in-flight and on the ground, and seamless interaction with third-party applications,” according to Universal. The app includes a georeferenced moving map with charts and weather information, vertical profile weather depiction, airport data and terminal procedures, and tools and utilities such as a notes function and checklists. For postflight analysis, FlightPartner
connects to UA’s FlightReview app, which automatically collects FMS and aircraft data for delivery of safety and performance insights. The Connected FMS also speeds database updates and optimizes flight time, fuel planning, and flight data reporting. UA plans to add more features to its Connectivity Ecosystem and FlightPartner and FlightReview apps, including ADS-B In and data-link weather for all phases of flight; weight-and-balance, takeoff and landing, and engine-out performance entries; and flight data monitoring analytics and real-time event reporting.
Garmin’s Flight Control Assistance Garmin has been incrementally adding helpful new features, not only to its integrated avionics systems but to individual products, and many of the features come under the company’s Autonomi umbrella. Garmin created Autonomi after its family of flight control assistance products came about, and since then it has added more capabilities. They include electronic stability and protection (ESP) in autopilots, emergency descent mode for business jets and turboprops, Autoland for single-pilot airplanes, Smart Rudder Bias to help with engine failure in multiengine
The Universal Avionics Aperture system uses video inputs to provide imagery of the outside world on flight deck displays. Further developments might incude augmented-reality solutions that could show obstacles and traffic to pilots.
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airplanes, and Smart Glide to guide airplanes automatically to a suitable airport in case of engine failure. “ESP could activate emergency descent mode, which could turn into activating Autoland,” said Dan Lind, senior director of aviation sales and marketing. ESP itself evolved from its introduction in Cirrus SR singleengine airplanes in 2008, adding overspeed, underspeed, and coupled go-around capability. “There hasn’t been an inflight loss-ofcontrol accident in Cirruses equipped with ESP,” said Phil Straub, executive v-p and managing director for aviation. “A lot of people came back to their loved ones because of this.” In terms of pilot interfaces, Garmin endeavors to keep the way pilots interact with its avionics consistent and familiar. From the smallest to largest aircraft equipped with Garmin avionics, “the iconology carries through,” Straub said. “Those things matter; there are so many airline and corporate and military pilots who got their first exposure through Garmin.” Essentially, with Garmin avionics, the FMS is buried inside the avionics and there is no complex control/display unit with arcane commands to memorize. “What if you want to
change a fly-by waypoint to fly-over,” Straub asked. “Do you remember the slash notation on the FMS? You have to drill into your brain to remember how to do that.”
Learning to Trust Smarter Avionics Andrew Barker, v-p of integrated avionics at Honeywell Aerospace, is spending a lot of time thinking about how avionics can help pilots fly safer as he oversees the development of the company’s next avionics platform, Anthem. “There’s so much intelligence that we could capitalize on,” he said, but typically avionics design continues to incorporate traditional ways of pilot interaction. “[As] the physical controls get less, as the autonomy and intelligence in the avionics proves itself, then pilots become more comfortable relying on the avionics. So that [pilot interface], it changes pretty significantly, and you create smarter and more capable avionics systems.” A simple example is the baro setting, which is manual and done by pilots. The only recent automation of that function has been to synchronize the setting across all altimeters in the instrument panel so pilots don’t have to remember to adjust the baro setting on each primary flight display and each backup display. “Realistically,” he asked, “if my avionics are smart enough, do I need a physical baro control? I can get a baro reading over the radio. My avionics can go, ‘oh, you just got a baro update, do you want to accept it?’ Yes [or] no. Okay. Done.” The Anthem platform is exploring such concepts, as well as voice control and combinations of touchscreens and physical controls. Honeywell designed Anthem for small to large aircraft in every segment, and so far eVTOL aircraft developers Vertical Aerospace, Lilium, and Supernal have chosen it, and Honeywell expects news of more applications soon. One huge benefit of all the work being done on AAM flight controls is the adaptation of fly-by-wire systems to smaller vehicles, which will lead to sophisticated controls moving downmarket into light aircraft. “That’s the objective of what we did with our compact fly-by-wire,” Barker explained. “Let’s open up that envelope and bring the safety and the ability of that fly-by-wire system into general aviation.”
Honeywell is supplying its Anthem avionics platform for the Lilium Jet.
Cockpit of the Future is Here and Now Thales’ avionics activities concentrate on three main trends, according to Marc Duval-Destin, v-p of strategy, products, and innovation for flight avionics activities: refocusing human resources on their strategic and decisionmaking added values; increasingly intelligent automation, including AI, to serve humans; and “hyper-developed ground/onboard collaboration thanks to increasingly available, reliable, and cyber-secured connectivity. Ten years ago, Thales began working on its “cockpit of the future,” which should appear in helicopters by 2027. One of the results of the research is the FlytX large-display system “designed to reduce training, optimize workload, and increase safety” and display “only relevant and necessary information… when needed.” Another tool that Thales has developed is PureFlyt, a connected FMS that is linked to non-avionics systems such as electronic flight bags and operational control centers and that can take advantage of real-time weather information, helping pilots optimize the flight trajectory. “The solution makes it quicker and easier to analyze flight plan revisions, providing the pilot with the best route and simplifying interaction with air traffic control,” according to Duval-Destin. “It will help to ease airport congestion, cut fuel consumption, decrease noise pollution, and reduce pilot workload.”
22 Singapore Airshow News • February 22, 2 0 24 • a i n o n l i n e . c o m
Although fly-by-wire flight controls have predominately featured in larger aircraft, Thales is pursuing opportunities to apply the technology to smaller aircraft, specifically urban air mobility and electric aircraft. “We are convinced that fly-by-wire is an asset for aircraft safety, performance, and comfort,” he said. In larger aircraft, he added, “by protecting the aircraft from high loads, fly-by-wire… allowed the aircraft designers to reduce the aircraft structural weight, providing for fuel savings and much longer range. It is also an asset for comfort both for pilots and for passengers. Could you imagine giving up power steering on your car? It is the same for flight controls except it not only provides comfort but it’s a core element of flight safety.” Thales has been manufacturing fly-by-wire components, especially flight control computers, for Gulfstream large-cabin jets since the introduction of the G650, with the latest being the G700. The avionics manufacturer’s fly-by-wire controls are installed on more than 12,000 aircraft. “These capabilities will allow aircraft manufacturers [to introduce] new functions— and they do—to expand the capabilities and safety of their aircraft” as more aircraft adopt fly-by-wire controls, said Duval-Destin. “For instance, we envisage supporting autopilot, navigation, or some surveillance functions. This was just impossible to do with conventional controls.” z
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