FLYHT Aerospace Solutions and Spectalux Avionics have teamed up to integrate FLYHT’s Automated Flight Information Reporting System (AFIRS) 228S component into Spectralux’s Envoy Future Air Navigation System (FANS) Data Link Unit (DLU). Together the systems offer a streamlined upgrade option for airlines to obtain a cost-effective, FANS-over-Iridium (FOI) solution – a requirement for flying over the world's oceanic regions.
The upcoming launch of the NASA ICESat-2 will be the last liftoff for the Delta II rocket, whose reliability made it a mainstay for civil, military, and commercial space customers. The medium-lift Delta II is manufactured by United Launch Alliance (ULA), a joint venture between Lockheed Martin Space Systems and Boeing Defense, Space & Security, and features main and upper-stage engines supplied by Aerojet Rocketdyne of Sacramento, Calif.
Pratt & Whitney was awarded the contract modification by the U.S. Air Force Life Cycle Management Center for the Adaptive Engine Transition Program. Through AETP, Pratt & Whitney was tasked with designing, fabricating, integrating, and testing complete, flight-weight adaptive engines – the contract modification allocates funding for “risk reduction” activities related to adaptive engine development.
The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) H-IIB Launch Vehicle No. 7 lifted off from the Tanegashima Space Center in Japan at 2:54:27 Japan Standard Time (JST) on September 23, carrying the KOUNOTORI7 (HTV7) cargo transporter into orbit to start its journey to the International Space Station (ISS).
According to officials, the USAF will select a new trainer aircraft by September 30 – before the end of the 2018 fiscal year. The aircraft will be one of the three remaining next-gen trainer candidates from the USAF’s ongoing T-X competition, either the Boeing/Saab T-X, Lockheed Martin/KAI T-50A, or Leonardo DRS T-100.
Beep Inc., an automated vehicle (AV) distributor based in Orlando, Florida, is partnering with Bestmile SA – a developer of fleet orchestration software. Through the collaboration, Beep will use Bestmile’s software to manage and monitor autonomous shuttle fleets that it sells to fleet owners who operate in low speed environments across the public and private sector.
Embraer S.A.’s new Praetor 500 midsize business jet was awarded Type Certification from Brazil's National Civil Aviation Authority (Agência Nacional de Aviação Civil, or ANAC). The Praetor 500 surpassed its certification goals and outperformed class competitors – achieving an intercontinental range of 3,340 nautical miles (6,186 kilometers) with four passengers and keeping with NBAA IFR Reserves, a high-speed cruise of 466 knots true airspeed (KTAS).
Houston-based HTX Labs, LLC was awarded with Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II funding to continue adapting its EMPACT Virtual Reality (VR) platform for the United States Air Force’s Pilot Training Next program. The U.S. Air Force intends to use EMPACT to fast-track the creation of highly immersive VR simulations to accelerate pilot training.
Z Advanced Computing, Inc. (ZAC), a Potomac Maryland-based start-up, will develop 3D image recognition technology for U.S. Air Force unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and drones.