TAKING CONTROL - IONIC FLIGHT ARIANE 6 - EUROPE'S ANSWER TO SPACEX? CONTESTING THE GREY ZONES - Royal Aeronautical Society
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June 2019 AEROSPACE IONIC FLIGHT ARIANE 6 - EUROPE’S ANSWER TO SPACEX? CONTESTING THE GREY ZONES www.aerosociety.com June 2019 Volume 46 Number 6 TAKING CONTROL GUILLAUME FAURY CHARTS AIRBUS’ NEW FLIGHTPATH Royal Aeronautical Society
Volume 46 Number 6 Aviation’s new Race across the RAeS/NAL Airbus June 2019 Golden Age Atlantic New Airbus CEO How the press 14 Guilluame Faury considers the future role of the UK in the 32 reported on the first record-breaking flights across the European aviation Atlantic in 1919. industry. Contents Correspondence on all aerospace matters is welcome at: The Editor, AEROSPACE, No.4 Hamilton Place, London W1J 7BQ, UK publications@aerosociety.com Comment Regulars 4 Radome 12 Transmission The latest aviation and Your letters, emails, tweets aeronautical intelligence, and feedback. analysis and comment. Has the aerospace ‘skills shortage’ 10 Antenna 62 The Last Word Keith Hayward on the turned fatal? Howard Wheeldon current commercial comments on the challenges facing Rolls- cancellation of the MoD Royce. ASDOT programme. Greed, cost-cutting, haste, lack of FAA oversight and a disconnect between engineers and managers have all been fingered as possible contributors to the crisis that Boeing now finds itself in with the 737 MAX in the aftermath Features of two fatal crashes. All these may have some truth in them in varying degrees but what if the underlying cause was a symptom of unrelenting 18 30 Ariane Group Holding aging demographics in the West that has seen older generations of aerospace engineers retire – without their knowledge, experience and British Airways integrity being fully replaced by fresh talent? The aging population and its possible implications for STEM skills has raised concerns for a while now, but makes for a worrying thought experiment. Would a previous generation of Boeing engineers have: 1. Spotted the design flaws in MCAS and 2. Countdown for Ariane 6 Flight to aftermarket Firmly stood their ground until it was fixed? It is difficult to say but if the What are the chances for profits suspicion the answer is ‘yes’ to either question, then this problem may be Europe’s new Ariane 6 The growing market for rocket in the new space airline aftercare services. far bigger than corporate culture at Boeing Commercial Airplanes and race? has implications beyond the US and even the aerospace sector itself. 36 Electricity in the air Aviation, in particular, is a highly regulated industry that is unforgiving of 22 Contesting the ‘Grey MIT flies a demonstrator Zones’ powered only by ionic wind. errors or mistakes. If the 737 MAX is a potential harbinger of the future ‘Sub-threshold’ conflict and and the deadly implications of lost skills and decades of experience, then air power on the agenda. 40 AERO Friedrichshafen the ‘engineering skills shortage’ is no mere abstract employment issue for A report on the AERO Friedrichshafen GA show. careers experts to worry about. Instead it may be that it is already here and 26 John Walton has already claimed its first victims. Passing on this hard-earned knowledge and experience to the next generation is now urgent. 44 Tim Robinson, Editor-in-Chief tim.robinson@aerosociety.com Crystallising the passenger experience Last call for Paris NEWS IN BRIEF Report on the 2019 Aircraft Interiors Expo in Hamburg. Preview of the 2019 Paris Air Show at Le Bourget. Editor-in-Chief Editorial Office Printed by Buxton Press Limited, Tim Robinson Royal Aeronautical Society Palace Road, Buxton, Derbyshire +44 (0)20 7670 4353 No.4 Hamilton Place SK17 6AE, UK tim.robinson@aerosociety.com London W1J 7BQ, UK 45 Afterburner Distributed by Royal Mail Deputy Editor +44 (0)20 7670 4300 publications@aerosociety.com 2019 AEROSPACE subscription Bill Read rates: Non-members, £170 +44 (0)20 7670 4351 www.aerosociety.com bill.read@aerosociety.com AEROSPACE is published by the Royal Please send your order to: Aeronautical Society (RAeS). Wayne J Davis, RAeS, No.4 Hamilton 46 Message from our President Production Manager Place, London W1J 7BQ, UK. Wayne J Davis Chief Executive +44 (0)20 7670 4354 47 M essage from our Online +44 (0)20 7670 4354 Sir Brian Burridge CBE FRAeS aerosubs@aerosociety.com Chief Executive wayne.davis@aerosociety.com Advertising Any member not requiring a print 44 Book Reviews Publications Co-ordinator Bharat Davé version of this magazine, please Chris Male +44 (0)20 7670 4346 contact: membership@aerosociety.com 52 Library Additions Additional features and content are +44 (0)20 7670 4352 chris.male@aerosociety.com partners@aerosociety.com USA: Periodical postage paid at 50 Weybridge Branch lecture available to view online on www.media. Unless specifically attributed, no Champlain New York and additional aerosociety.com/aerospace-insight Publications Executive offices. 56 Diary Annabel Hallam material in AEROSPACE shall be taken Including: +44 (0)20 7670 4361 to represent the opinion of the RAeS. Postmaster: Send address changes 57 RAeS at Avalon 2019 Behind the scenes at Flying Legends, Back annabel.hallam@aerosociety.com Reproduction of material used in this to IMS of New York, PO Box 1518, to (flight) school, Seaplane operations in the Champlain NY 12919-1518, USA. 58 Preston Branch lecture publication is not permitted without the Maldives, In the May issue of AEROSPACE, Orbex Book Review Editor Brian Riddle written consent of the Editor-in-Chief. ISSN 2052-451X 59 Corporate Partners opens UK rocket factory, AERO Freidrichshafen show report, Brain-powered drone racing, 60 Elections US-EU WTO subsidies dispute, The great transatlantic race. Front cover: CEO of Airbus, Guillaume Faury. (Airbus) @aerosociety i Find us on LinkedIn f Find us on Facebook www.aerosociety.com JUNE 2019 13
Radome INTELLIGENCE / ANALYSIS / COMMENT Solar power Power for the electric pumps will be supplied by a rechargeable battery which can be topped up by an array of solar cells fitted to the upper surfaces of the wings and tail. AEROSPACE Phoenix rising A team of UK experts has successfully flown the first ever large-scale aircraft powered University of Highlands and Islands by variable-buoyancy propulsion. The Phoenix uses the concept of variable-buoyancy propulsion already used for underwater remotely-operated-vehicles but which has not previously been used successfully for the propulsion of a large-scale aircraft. The vehicle is designed to repeatedly transition from being lighter-than-air to being heavier-than- air, so that thrust is generated to propel the craft forward. The team behind the Phoenix project includes representatives from academia and industry led by Andrew Rae, Professor of Engineering at the University of the Highlands and Islands. Applications for a variable- buoyancy vehicle could include high-altitude psuedo satellite (HAPS) missions, such as persistent surveillance, communications or science missions. 4 AEROSPACE / JUNE 2019
Endurance Because the Phoenix relies on solar power for both propulsion and altitude, it can remain aloft for long periods of time, making it ideal for use as a pseudo-satellite platform.. Dimensions Envelope – 120m3 of helium Length – 15m Wingspan – 10.5m Pump action The fuselage contains 120m3 of helium, providing sufficient buoyancy to enable the vehicle to ascend like a balloon. Fitted within the fuselage is a 6m3 airbag which can be filled or emptied using electric pumps. When the airbag is full, the vehicle will be heavier than air and will fly like a conventional aircraft. When the bag is empty, the vehicle will be lighter than air and will fly like an airship. Pumps located at the mouth of this airbag can inhale and compress air from outside and thereby add weight (without altering the displacement) sufficient to overcome the buoyancy. This transition to heavier-than-air flight allows the aircraft to descend like a conventional aeroplane. The expulsion of the compressed air will propel the vehicle forward. @aerosociety i Find us on LinkedIn f Find us on Facebook www.aerosociety.com JUNE 2019 5
Radome AEROSPACE AIR TRANSPORT Heathrow legal Boeing completes 737 MAX challenges rejected software update The High Court in brought by local councils, London has rejected the Mayor of London, five claims challenging and environmental the UK government’s groups based on climate policy on the need for change, air quality, new airport capacity in surface access and southeast England and noise. The fifth claim was its support for expansion for an alternative runway at Heathrow Airport. capacity scheme at Four of the claims were Heathrow. GENERAL AVIATION German manufacturer Lilium’s eVTOL made its first flight on 4 May. Comprised of a cabin module suspended As AEROSPACE goes to press, Boeing reports that it has completed work on beneath parallel asymmetrical tilt-rotor wings fitted upgrading the software on the manoeuvring characteristics augmentation system with 36 electric jet engines, the unpiloted Lilium Jet (MCAS) on the 737 MAX which is alleged to have been a contributory factor in two fatal took off vertically, hovered and then landed in a brief crashes of 737 MAXs operated by Lion Air and Ethiopian Airlines. Boeing reported that untethered one minute hop at Oberpfaffenhofen. Lilium the aircraft manufacturer is in negotiations with the US Federal Aviation Administration aims to get the aircraft certificated for piloted operations (FAA) to schedule its first certification test flight and has also completed simulator with a maximum speed of 300km/h carrying up to five testing and engineering test flights for the currently grounded 737 MAX. passengers. Boeing is also working with US pilot unions on a proposed computer-based pilot Lilium training session as part of work to return the 737 MAX to service. The training session, which can be completed on a laptop or tablet computer in around 15mins, reviews the 737 MAX’s speed trim system and the MCAS. Meanwhile, representatives of both Boeing and the FAA were questioned by the US House Transportation Committee panel concerning the FAA’s certification of the MAX. The FAA’s acting chief Dan Elwell admitted that pilots should have known more about the MCAS. Ewell also said that the FAA has set up a Technical Advisory Board (TAB) to examine Boeing’s MCAS software update and a Joint Authorities Technical Review (JATR) panel comprised of representatives of international civil aviation authorities to 36-engine VTOL air taxi study the 737 MAX’s flight control system. The JATR panel will meet on 23 May to discuss the FAA’s move toward resumption of 737 MAX commercial flights in the US. flies NEWS IN BRIEF scrapped, only 12 years A Boeing 737-800 Three people were killed Boeing has won a $14.3bn Airbus has announced it after entering service. The operated by Miami Air on 14 April when a Summit contract to upgrade has conducted the first aircraft had been leased International chartered Air Let L-410 on a flight USAF B-1 and B-52 flight of its latest corporate by SIA but the lessor slid into the St Johns river to Kathmandu struck a bombers. The B-1/B-52 jet, the ACJ319neo. had failed to find another after coming off the end Manang Air stationary Flexible Acquisition and The bizjet took to the skies airline willing to operate of the runway at the Naval helicopter while departing Sustainment contract is on 24 April for flight of them. The aircraft are Air Station military base from Tenzing Hillary Airport due to be completed in nearly two hours from the being dismantled at Tarbes in Jacksonville, Florida at Lukla near Mount 2029. manufacturer's facility at Lourdes Airport near the during a thunderstorm. Everest. The L-410 pilot Hamburg. The ACJ219neo Spanish border. The aircraft, carrying 143 was killed, together with The first uncrewed flight is based on the re-engined passengers and crew, was two police officers standing of the Boeing CST-100 A319neo but with extra India’s financially troubled on a military charter flight near the helicopter. Four space capsule is scheduled fuel tanks to give it Jet Airways suspended carrying personnel and passengers and a flight for August, followed by intercontinental range. all flights on 17 April after civilians from Guantanamo attendant on board the the first manned flight in failing to attract additional Bay in Cuba. There were L-410 were injured but November carrying three Two ex-Singapore Airlines funding to keep operating. no fatalities. survived. astronauts. Airbus A380s are being The airline had earlier 6 AEROSPACE / JUNE 2019
DEFENCE AEROSPACE Superjet 100 crashes in Russian MoD Moscow A total of 41 people were and bounced back into killed on 5 May when an the air which caused Aeroflot Sukhoi Superjet it to catch fire. A total 100 made an emergency of 33 passengers and crash landing at Moscow four crew were able to Sheremetyevo airport. The evacuate from the front of aircraft was 30mins into the aircraft but there were a flight from the airport to reports that the evacuation Russia to expand Murmansk when it turned was delayed by some stealth fighter fleet back after suffering from passengers retrieving their electrical problems and luggage before exiting. An On a visit to a military aerospace centre on 15 May, Russian President Vladimir losing communications initial analysis of the flight Putin revealed that the country is set to increase its acquisition of Sukhoi Su-57 fifth following an electrical data recorder revealed generation stealth fighters from the current 16 to 76 by 2028, to enable three full failure at 8,900ft. The the jet was 1.6t over its regiments to be equipped. At the same time, Sukhoi will be expected to reduce costs on aircraft made a hard maximum landing weight the fighter by 20%. landing at Sheremetyevo when it crashed. AIR TRANSPORT SPACEFLIGHT Indonesia’s Garuda to Bezos reveals Moon lander trial UAV cargo ops Amazon chief Jeff Bezos has unveiled the Blue Moon lunar lander currently Indonesian airline Garuda powered, fixed-wing being developed by his space company, Indonesia is planning to BKZ-005 MALE UAVs, Blue Origin, for the past three years. begin unmanned cargo which can carry up to 1.2t The robotic lander would be able to land operations, using a of cargo. Tests of UAV air 6.5t of supplies on the Moon − with Chinese-built UAV capable freight operations are set davits to lower rovers and equipment of carrying over one ton to begin later this year, to the surface to support a sustained of freight. The carrier has with the airline aiming to prescence. A larger version would carry entered an agreement with eventually operate up to astronauts to the surface, with Bezos Blue Origin Beihang UAS Technology 100 UAVs to deliver cargo aiming to meet NASA’s goal of humans to trial three of its piston- across Indonesia. back on the Moon by 2024. cancelled all international flight from Saint-Dizier air reported to be suffering successfully flown a 60% Authority, California Public flights after it had to base, was blasted through a fuel leak and releasing scale demonstrator of its Employees’ Retirement ground most of its aircraft the canopy and away from debris fragments. TriFan 600 VTOL bizjet System, National Pension fleet. the fighter before the seat at an airfield in northern Service of Korea and deployed its parachute. A Challenger 601 business California. Australia’s Future Fund. France is reported to It is not yet determined jet crashed in Mexico have grounded some of whether the incident was killing 13 passengers and The French Vinci group The US Air Force its Rafale fighters for caused by human error or crew. The aircraft was on has formally completed a has conducted a safety checks following mechanical malfunction. a charter flight from Las £2.9bn deal announced demonstration in which an incident in March in Vegas to Monterrey when in December to acquire Raytheon's Multi-spectral which a civilian passenger The Intelsat 29e it came down in a remote a 50.01% controlling Targeting System aboard a French Air Force communications satellite region near Ocampo on interest in Gatwick combined with its high Rafale was injured when is drifting in geostationary 5 May. The cause of the Airport. The remaining power microwave and his ejection seat activated orbit after ‘experiencing accident is not yet known. 49.99% is owned by mobile high energy HEL during the flight. The damage’ on 7 April. Built Global Infrastructure system were used to 64-year-old passenger, by Boeing and launched XTI Aircraft has Partners (GIP), comprising detect, identify, track and who was on an observation in 2016, the satellite is announced that it has Abu Dhabi Investment engage a drone swarm. @aerosociety i Find us on LinkedIn f Find us on Facebook www.aerosociety.com JUNE 2019 7
Radome SPACEFLIGHT GENERAL AVIATION Crew Dragon capsule Daks over Normandy Mass Dakota flypast for D-Day explodes in ground test anniversary Elon Musk’s SpaceX has observed a large cloud suffered a major setback of smoke from the test in its crewed capsule stand. SpaceX intially programme when its described the incident Crew Dragon spacecraft as an ‘anomaly’ but exploded on 20 April in later confirmed that the Cape Canaveral, Florida ‘vehicle was destroyed’. during a ground test of An investigation into the its launch abort engines. cause of the incident Plans are underway to fly up to 18 vintage Douglas DC-3/C-47 Dakotas from the No one was injured in is now underway. Until US across the Atlantic in May to join up with 17 other European-based Dakotas for the ground test of the the accident, SpaceX a 75th anniversary of D-Day fly-past over Normandy. The US-based aircraft are to fly SuperDraco engines had been aiming to fly a from Oxford in Connecticut to Duxford in the UK via Goose Bay in Newfoundland, but a leaked video crewed test flight of the Greenland, Iceland and Prestwick. The 35 aircraft will be based at Duxford from showed a large explosion Crew Dragon to the ISS 2-5 June and then stage a formation flight on 5 June where they will drop 250 and eyewitnesses as early as July. paratroopers over France before going to Caen in Normandy from 5-9 June. AEROSPACE AIR TRANSPORT Bombardier to sell United unveils new livery Bombardier off Belfast plant United Airlines Canadian aerospace manufacturer Bombardier is putting its Belfast and Morocco aerostructures plants up for sale as part of a reorganisation of its business. The remainder of Bombardier’s aerospace activities will be consolidated in a new division US carrier, United Airlines, Continental Airlines- called Bombardier Aviation. Bombardier currently employs around 3,600 people has revealed its new blue- era gold from the paint across several locations in Northern Ireland which supply parts and assemblies to both themed livery, as part of a scheme for a white, grey Bombardier and other aerospace companies, including Airbus. It is hoped that, once branding revamp. and blue livery. The new two divisions have been sold, they will both continue to produce parts for Bombardier The new livery, which scheme will be rolled out aircraft. The effect of the sale on workers’ jobs in Bombardier in Northern Ireland is not was unveiled on a Boeing over the fleet over the next yet known until potential purchasers have been identified. 737-800, drops the few years. NEWS IN BRIEF in early May after two Navy. Separately, the order is the largest yet Rocket Lab’s Electron Embraer’s new re-engined days of negotiations with company has also been placed for electric aircraft. rocket launched on 5 May and upgraded E195-E2 airline management over reported to have secured from New Zealand. The regional jet has received new salary increases. a deal from Egypt for 20 Marshall Aerospace privately-developed rocket type certification from the SAS announced that of its AW149 multimission and Defence Group has was carrying three small US FAA, European EASA negotiations with the helicopters. announced it will be US military payloads. and the Brazilian regulatory Swedish SPF, Norwegian relocating from its base authority ANA. The first NSF/NF and SNF, and A SpaceX cargo at Cambridge Airport Helicopter pilots working E195-E2 is scheduled to Danish DPF unions had spacecraft docked with from 2030. It has named for CHC Scotia on North enter service in the second agreed to new three-year the ISS on 6 May carrying Cranfield, Duxford and Sea flights are to go on half of this year with collective bargaining 2,500kg of supplies and Wyton as its preferred strike. Based at Aberdeen, Brazilian operator, Azul agreements. scientific equipment. options for new facilities. Humberside, Norwich Linhas Aereas Brasileiras. and Sumburgh, the pilots In a $423m deal Poland The OSM Aviation Academy Emirates has removed 40 are considering taking Striking pilots working has ordered four Leonardo in Norway has ordered 60 Boeing 787-10 orders, industrial action between for Scandinavian carrier, AW101s in the ASW and eFlyer2 electric aircraft from its future fleet plan in 21 May to 5 November. SAS, returned to work SAR role for the Polish From Bye Aerospace. The its annual report. 8 AEROSPACE / JUNE 2019
DEFENCE AIR TRANSPORT Dornier Seawings Enter the Orca US issues overflight warnings The US has ordered already prohibited US the suspension of all airlines from flying below commercial flights 26,000ft over Venezuelan between the US and airspace as a precaution Venezuela due to security against MANPADS. concerns after the Meanwhile, the US country’s recent political FAA has also warned unrest. The order from international airlines of the US Transportation increased risks of flying Chinese-owned Dornier Seawings is launching a new seaplane concept customised Department will apply over the Persian Gulf due for defence and security missions. Called the Orca, the aircraft is based on the to all US and overseas to ‘miscommunication manufacturer’s Seastar design and will be equipped with search and surveillance air carriers operating or misidentification’ as cameras and radar systems, medivac stretchers and self-protection suites. The first between the two US and Iranian tensions Orcas may be ready to enter service by 2022. countries. The FAA has continue to deepen. GENERAL AVIATION SPACEFLIGHT Glider to measure NASA asks US Government for cosmic rays $1.6bn to fund return to Moon NASA has requested an additional $1.6bn for the fiscal year 2020 following President Trump’s call for the Agency to return humans to the Moon by 2024. The budget amendment is in addition to an earlier $21bn budget request to fund the development of human lunar landing systems, the Space Launch System (SLS) rocket and the Orion spacecraft, lunar exploration technology and robotic lunar exploration. The budget amendment for NASA would be used to fund deep space exploration, science and technology. UAVOS Stratodynamics and of a Slovak Academy UAVOS have announced a joint project to launch a of Sciences research project to study cosmic AEROSPACE Hidron unmanned glider from a weather balloon rays entering the Earth’s atmosphere. The mission INFOGRAPHIC: BAE Systems’ MAGMA at 82,000ft. The glider is planned to take place ‘flapless’ UAV will then descend slowly in August or September Flap-free flight collecting data as part this year. In a first for aviation, an aircraft has flown using supersonically blown air to control its movement in flight. ON THE J Michael Luttig has MAGMA is an unmanned air vehicle (UAV) designed MOVE been appointed to the newly-created position and built in collaboration with The University of Manchester to demonstrate novel control technologies. Wing Circulation Control The new UK Secretary of Counselor and Senior Engine bleed air is blown at supersonic speed through narrow slots in the wing trailing edge. of Defence is Penny Advisor to Boeing Morduant MP. She Chairman, President and Curved surface replaces Gavin Williamson CEO Dennis Muilenburg. Jet deflection in pitch axis MP who was sacked on 1 May over alleged leaks Former NASA executive Fluidic Thrust Vectoring about China’s Huawei. Robert Lightfoot is to High velocity exhaust jet deflected by small, distributed air jets in the exhaust nozzle to vector it up and down. become the new VP Adaptable Airframe Maria Della Posta is to be Strategy and Business Removing the need for complex moving BAE Systems surfaces with a simpler ‘blown air’ solution, the new President of Pratt Development for engineers could create future aircraft that are lighter, cheaper and better performing. & Whitney Canada. Lockheed Martin Space. Fully attached flow (no blowing, max. nose down thrust vectoring) Partially attached flow (partial blowing, neutral thrust vectoring) Fully detached flow (max. blowing, max. “nose up” thrust vectoring) Copyright © 2019 BAE Systems. All rights reserved @aerosociety i Find us on LinkedIn f Find us on Facebook www.aerosociety.com JUNE 2019 9
antenna: Global Outlook and Analysis with HOWARD WHEELDON ASDOT – Shot down in flames N ot surprisingly, the announcement So why has ASDOT been cancelled? from the MoD in late March, that it had decided to scrap the Air Support At this stage all that the MoD has officially said is to Defence Operational Training that “we received a number of industry proposals (ASDOT) programme, came as a huge in response to the ASDOT invitation to negotiation. A REASON FOR disappointment to the three bidding partnerships We will now re-assess the parameters for the that put so much work in over the previous three programme.” CANCELLATION years to attempt to provide the UK military with a Interpreted, that probably means that, although IS THAT, GIVEN next generation of combat air training. all three of the different bidding partnership THE HUGE ASDOT did not necessarily fail at the last hurdle, proposals most likely met the parameters laid it was more likely shot down in flames by the MoD down by the MoD in 2016, there was an increasing ONGOING on the basis that to provide what was needed was, realisation that they were far too limited in scale SUCCESS OF in effect, considered unaffordable. and, if these were to be properly enhanced to meet THE EXISTING First announced by the MoD in 2016, the the full requirement, the cost of ASDOT would be COMBAT AIR ASDOT programme was designed to provide way ahead of what the MoD had budgeted. combat air support services for the RAF, Royal Navy, Another interpretation and one that I also TRAINING Army and Joint Forces Command. The initial start favour as a reason for cancellation, is that, given SYSTEM RUN BY date value placed on the programme was £700m the huge ongoing success of the existing combat COBHAM, THE but the MoD also envisaged a surge requirement air training system run by Cobham, the MoD MOD REALISED in around 2027 and that this would add a further realised that it has been getting excellent value for £500m to the programme. All-in-all, the value of money. THAT IT HAS ASDOT was placed at around £1.25bn. Another factor which I understand caused BEEN GETTING Interestingly, ASDOT had, until its abrupt a degree of concern in the MoD was the age EXCELLENT cancellation, been regarded as one of the key of some of the aircraft that some bidders were future programme requirements on the MoD list. proposing to use and which, in one case, were VALUE FOR It has taken a lot of time, effort and cost for the possibly older than the existing Hawk T1s used by MONEY various partnership members who, with their various the MoD within the existing Cobham-run system. specialisms, juggled and organised themselves Whatever the reason, I would not expect into teams in order to be able to compete on this ASDOT to come back in anything like its present fascinating programme. form and even when and if it does, rather a lot The abrupt and rather dismissive cancellation more water will have gone under the bridge. of ASDOT has caused a degree of anger and, not That is not to suggest that the MoD believes least with regard to the costs already incurred by that combat air training should no longer be bidders. Those that ultimately submitted bids to the treated as a priority requirement but it is to MoD included Cobham, partnered with QinetiQ, suggest that they do now recognise the need to Draken International – the latter being the only radically rethink the programme to ensure that commercial air adversary provider to USAF – and what will eventually be required is also affordable. 3DSL. While I am sure that industry will rise to whatever Leonardo was bidding through the aptly named new challenge in respect of combat jet training ‘RED Aces’ partnership that included Inzpire and that the MoD resets, I caution that much trust has a Canadian company known as Top Aces while been lost in the manner in which ASDOT has been Babcock International teamed with Elbit Systems. A cancelled. fourth group that had included Thales and Textron It is absolutely right that affordability should pulled out of the ASDOT competition last year. remain a crucial aspect for all MoD programmes Subsequently, QinetiQ has acquired 80% of Inzpire. but it is a pity that on ASDOT the MoD did not see While a further delay to the ASDOT programme the light early enough. As to the future, I suspect would not have surprised, what, in effect, was a that the MoD will now seek to extend the Cobham- cancellation, came out of the blue. run system for a few more years if they can. 10 AEROSPACE / JUNE 2019
Cobham However, while stop-gap extension measures are electronic warfare and other diverse elements that not exactly new to defence, they come at a cost. are already in ships, in the air and on the ground No existing system or capability, however good it to be fit for purpose in the event of enemy attack. Cobham was may appear, can be allowed to stand still and to Phase Two would move the process further by extend the existing arrangement there will need partnered including training facilities that had been left on a to be further investment. Failure to invest in E-3D with Draken wish list. Sentry capability over the past 20 years is an International for For the first phase of ASDOT, the MoD abject lesson of what occurs if you fail to invest. requested that competing contractor partnerships Meanwhile, Cobham’s fleet of Falcon aircraft ASDOT. With bid to provide live flying assets to meet a has already gone through one life extension Cobham’s existing combination of synthetic and actual flying of the process and, while a second is certainly not out of EW aggressor air-to-air combat training role for military pilots. the question, it will need to be properly thought out contract with the This would include air-to-surface, joint terminal and funded. attack controller/forward air controller (airborne), From a Royal Navy and Royal Air Force MoD set to expire electronic warfare and air traffic control training. perspective, continuing to make use of the by the end of this The equipment capability would also be required to venerable Hawk T1 aircraft based at RNAS year, there are support ground-based air defence and aerospace Yeovilton and RAF Leeming would appear to be battle management and live gunnery scenarios. concerns that less of a problem, although even here it needs to Designed to replace an existing Cobham- be recognised by the MoD that extending the life there could be a run combat jet training system and combining of capability requires adequate funding. UK ‘training gap’ a modified fleet of Cobham-owned Falcon While nothing is impossible, extending the caused by the aircraft together with RAF and Royal Navy Hawk life of any capability does have limits. The ever T1s – the latter playing the combat air role, the increasing cost of obsolescence inevitably pushes cancellation of Cobham-run system continues to provide a highly the overall cost of maintenance, repair and ASDOT. specialised support system in respect of UK overhaul higher. Most likely in my view though is operational readiness training, making use also of that, in the short to medium term, Hawk T1 aircraft accurate synthetic-based replication of potential would share the combat aircraft role with Tranche peer threats in a live environment. The Cobham- 1 Typhoon aircraft. operated training system combines technical expertise with world-class electronic warfare (EW) A programme as was systems working in close support with the RAF’s Air Warfare Centre at RAF Waddington. The ASDOT programme envisaged an initial Ultimately, when a new and more appropriate arrangement covering ten years with potential for solution is proposed which will reshape the ASDOT that to be extended by another five years to 15 proposal with an affordable programme, I am in years in all. little doubt that it will also be a contractor-owned Phase One of the programme was to contain and contractor-operated (COCO) scheme and one everything that was considered by the MoD as enabled to train pilots across all sections of the being vital to ensure that Royal Navy and RAF UK military. That is the right way to go but, while pilots are able to undertake sustainable combat air time is of the essence as we move into a new era warfare training within a system using contractor of carrier-borne strike capability, we must ensure operated ‘aggressor’ aircraft. Combat air activity that we get it right and that it is both affordable was to be combined with a variety of ground-based and sustainable. @aerosociety i Find us on LinkedIn f Find us on Facebook www.aerosociety.com JUNE 2019 11
Transmission LETTERS AND ONLINE development (CPD) will 737 MAX and MCAS RAF pilot training be just as important as the The tragic Boeing 737 Sophy Gardner’s article on original PfCO training if MAX accident situation has the crisis facing UK Military we are to keep operators’ many dimensions. As an Flying Training(1) was one skills sharp and prevent ex test pilot and later as a the best and most incisive bad habits from inevitably regulator on the Board of pieces I have read in a long developing. In every the CAA, I am at a complete time. The MoD isn’t going to sphere of manned aviation loss to understand how sort this out anytime soon, and unmanned military Boeing thought it was so I have a suggestion from aviation, recurrent training acceptable to connect outside the box. Forget the and assessment ensure anything as powerful as the graduate entry scheme that skills are developed MCAS elevator system to with its high debts and and safety procedures be controlled by a single happened within Boeing first accident trying to justify admissions to Cranwell aged reinforced. As professional angle-of-attack (AOA), we may never know but I what they did emphasises 22+. Instead, recruit keen drone operators, if we are to sensor, not a particularly find it hard to believe that their complete misjudgement direct-entry 18-year olds enhance our credibility within reliable device by modern Boeing’s Flight Test Center of risk and safety who could take meaningful the wider aviation community standards. As a firm’s test didn’t object. As a result of requirements and in my view distance-learning degrees and ensure excellent safety pilot we would never have these two accidents, the FAA could only have been due during the longueurs of standards, then we too concurred with the design procedures for delegating to commercial pressure. It ‘holding’. The result will be should undertake CPD despite any objections our certification requirements is such a terrible shame not graduate aircrew arriving on covering both theory and employer might have had to firms will surely change, only for the relatives of the their first squadron around practical flying skills on a and equally I am absolutely as will the automatic bereaved but for the high age 25 with fewer debts, recurrent basis. sure the UK’s regulator at acceptance by other national safety standards of world rather than five years later the time, the Air Registration regulation agencies of FAA aviation. with minimal enthusiasm left Marcus Johnson Board, would have refused to certification. With regard to in the tank. CEng MRAeS certificate the system. What Boeing’s statement after the Tony Blackman FRAeS Director, Kittyhawk Drones Andrew Brookes FRAeS RAF (Ret’d) Model aircraft flying and drone pilot registration Civilian passengers Recurrent training for in military fighters The Department for largest recreational aviation BMFA Transport and the Civil activity in the UK. Models drone operators? The recent BBC programme Aviation Authority are taking have been a tool in the The article on how on the Tornado could have regulatory action against development of aviation from HALO Drones is raising been an interesting insight the drone threat to safety the earliest days, and still standards in training for into its operational profile. and security by requiring are. Many of the pioneers drone operators(2) was very BBC journalist Jonathon registration of drone pilots. began their careers as model interesting. As a director Beale flew in the rear seat Enter ‘John’. John is 11 years flyers. The RAeS has hosted of a fellow drone training with the idea to discuss of age. When he grows many lectures and events company – Kittyhawk the many attributes of the up he wants to be a pilot. regarding models and their Drones – it is reassuring aircraft during the flight. He is learning to fly model technological development. to read about fellow All he managed to do was aeroplanes. He has found an This type of clumsy regulation organisations promoting mention when the aircraft In May the BMFA held a instructor and is training to is very disappointing and a positive, professional was designed etc, and be series of Flightfests at local meet the requirements of the flying fields to raise the profile has a discouraging effect on image for our young, rapidly sick. This farcical episode ‘A’ Certificate of the British of model aircraft flying with the bright young people we expanding industry. In was as pointless as it Model Flying Association’s the public and to encourage need. Terrorists, and most particular, the importance was dangerous, taking a Achievement Scheme. new members to join. The casual drone users, will not of Airmanship and how passenger in the rear seat An ‘A’ certificate means main event was held at the register at all. The RAeS is students are encouraged to of the Tornado knowing he can control the model BMFA’s national centre at the only multidisciplinary become stakeholders in the full well that he had a safely, without danger or Buckminster. society dedicated, among application of this technology history of air sickness was inconvenience to the public, other things, to promote the will be very powerful factors putting the safety of those understands the ‘drone code’, a threat that he cannot be highest possible standards in developing the safe and involved at risk. The practice knows the BMFA safety allowed to register until he is in all aerospace disciplines responsible commercial of flying non-aircrew code, is insured and follows 18. The regulations, brought and to play a leading role drone operators of the passengers should be best practice. The DfT is so about by irresponsible in influencing opinion on future. However, one key seriously addressed by all concerned that it has laid drone flyers, affect 35,000 aerospace matters. Model aspect absent from the air force authorities. The down a set of proposed members of the BMFA flying in the UK needs your article was a consideration recent Rafale incident is an rules which will require John alone, currently paid up and support. of ongoing training and example of what can to register with the CAA insured model pilots. These assessment. While it is happen when it goes wrong. every year. John would like people are not the threat. Alan Simmons not currently mandatory, to comply but he is such Model flying is perhaps the FRAeS continuous professional Paul Adams 12 AEROSPACE / JUNE 2019
f AAR Corp. who have been willingly sponsoring our Cool BAE Systems’ MAGMA on One Show Aero initiative for several @ASobester [On BBC years. We very much hope to BAE Systems MAGMA bring Cool Aeronautics back demonstrator appears on to the Canadian people in BBC The One Show] Applied the near future!! aerodynamics hasn’t been this mainstream since someone Electric seaplanes mentioned sycamore seeds on Gardeners’ Question Time Cool Aeronautics in Andy McKee [On in 1987. Canada Flight training school Seaplane paradise(3)] Surely @William_Leech Is this they are ripe to go electric a descendent of Cranfield as per the Vancouver @AviationLed [On time University’s DEMON UAV @MichaelJPryce First ref seaplane taxi service is for an international flight project? I remember that to CC I saw in BAe was an doing? Also, with small training school trade body was doing flapless wind- ASTOVL paper published in electric motors in the floats, blogl(4)] ATPL pilots are a tunnel tests about a decade 1987. The idea was to use there would be no need for small subset of the total ago. I think it was meant fan air blown over deflected the expense of operating a pilot community (military, to deliver better control flap instead of RCS with We would like to say a twin, as water manoeuvering commercial and general performance at high angles- HP air. The criticism was if massive thank you to could be greatly enhanced. aviation), hence it’s largely of-attack, as well as the there is a problem you want RAeS Canada YPN rep, been left up to the airlines stealth bonus. to knock it out with a punch, Valeriya Mordvinova and to develop their own training not wrestle it to the ground. i her team for bringing the academies in line with ICAO Cool Aeronautics program training guidelines. Emergency evacuation Lilian Bland lecture to Canada for the very first time! Last Thursday, @Brads550 [On RAeS the Canada Aviation and @APPG_GA An interesting Evacuation Paper and Superjet Space Museum in Ottawa idea from @AeroSociety crashl(8)] That’s a great report, welcomed over 80 children on creating an international thanks! Do you know if the from two local schools for a trade body for flying schools, recommendation on remote fun-filled day of everything and one that deserves locking of overhead bins has #aerospace. The children serious thought. been given consideration by International training received interactive any authorities? talks from companies, David Carroll [On including Porter Airlines, Back to (flight) school(4)] Mike Savage podcast NAV CANADA and the With the ever-increasing @bsdchapman Nope. Lilian Bland was an Anglo- Transportation Safety globalisation of the pilot @ReviewVayu [On Mike Where else are passengers Irish journalist and aviation Board of Canada. The employment market, it is Savage interview podcast(7] to store spare lithium pioneer who designed, built children were also treated logical to develop such We love Mike! Our dear batteries, food, drink, baby and flew the Mayfly biplane to a variety of hands- an international flight friend for decades!! supplies? Now, should those in 1910. on #STEM workshops, training trade organisation. @AeroSociety bins have remote locks on including designing paper Standardisation of pilot them? Maybe. Really interesting to hear planes and receiving a training methods and about Lilian Bland at the demonstration on the standards will increase @hitchin1066 One of @AeroSociety lecture by workings of an ejector job opportunities for pilots, the first people I met in the @dda951 I’ve heard the Prof Mark Price of seat! With several months as well as increase the aerospace industry and we MC-21 locks the overhead @QUBelfast last evening of planning and endless worldwide pool of available have been friends ever since. bins at touchdown (or First female to design, build phone calls back and forth pilots with a known training A great raconteur, gentleman perhaps before) and they and fly their own aircraft in from Canada, together background and skill set. and consumer of Walking unlock when the airplane 1910. @WomenInAviation we were able to pull off a Johnnies! successfully slows for a stop. http://www.lilianbland.ie/ magnificent event to inspire 737 MAX 1. AEROSPACE, May 2019, p 28, Holding pattern the #nextgeneration. Once 2. AEROSPACE, April 2019, p 14, School of drones again we would like to thank Tyron Seneviratne On 3. https://www.aerosociety.com/news/seaplane-paradise/ 4. https://www.aerosociety.com/news/back-to-flight-school/ everybody who made this 737 MAX – What next?(5)] 5. AEROSPACE, May 2019, p 14, 737 MAX – what next? event possible, including Great insight into 737 MAX. 6. https://www.aerosociety.com/news/down-a-well-trodden-path-another-wto-subsidies-war/ all the volunteers, the staff 7. https://www.aerosociety.com/news/audio-an-interview-with-mike-savage-on-selling-with-handley-page-bac/ 8. https://www.aerosociety.com/news/emergency-evacuation-time-for-a-rethink/ at Canada Aviation and US-EU trade dispute Space Museum and all the speakers and contributors. Last of all, a big thank you Clayton P Henderson [On US-EU WTO subsidies Online Additional features and content are available to view to our programme sponsors. war(6)] Frighteningly true! online at http://media.aerosociety.com/aerospace-insight @aerosociety i linkedin.com/raes Find us on LinkedIn f facebook.com/raes Find us on Facebook. www.aerosociety.com www.aerosociety.com JUNE 2019 13
AEROSPACE Aircraft Airbus Aviation’s new Golden Age Speaking at the RAeS Annual Dinner on 16 May, the new CEO of Airbus, GUILLAUME FAURY, FRAeS spoke about the origins of Airbus, future technology, Brexit and the role of the UK in the European aviation industry. I t’s a great honour for me to become a Fellow of A year of centenaries the Royal Aeronautical Society and to address your dinner. I say that as someone who is first Before I go any further, I must also wish a very and foremost an aeronautical engineer and happy birthday to everyone at British Airways on whose passion for aviation dates back to my their centenary year. This year also happens to childhood. I grew up in Le Havre on the Normandy be a significant one for Airbus – in fact, our 50th coast. My fascination with aviation began when I anniversary is this very month. Back in 1969, the accompanied a harbour pilot on his helicopter flights European aerospace sector was struggling. The above the port there. illustrious names of British, French and German I’d like to thank the Society for everything you aerospace engineering weren’t just competing with do, especially encouraging today’s young people with their rivals across the Atlantic – they were competing their own dreams of a career in aviation. With your with each other. Consequently, the American brands support, many Airbus employees fulfil their ambition of commanded more than 80% of the market for becoming chartered engineers. The Royal Aeronautical commercial aircraft. To revive Europe’s fortunes, Society is also helping to improve the gender balance ministers from France and Germany signed an in our industry by backing the excellent charter for agreement on 29 May 1969 to build the first Airbus Women in Aviation and Aerospace. The charter was aircraft in a partnership of European nations. After only launched last year but more than 100 aerospace an initial phase, the UK was to join the Airbus family businesses here have now signed up to it. around a decade later. 14 AEROSPACE / JUNE 2019
more than 1,000 apprentices in the UK over the last Airbus decade. So, 50 years after Airbus’s foundation, we remain a partnership of European nations, with the UK very much at our core. Brexit, technology and the environment But here in May of 2019 European aerospace is at a turning point. The relationship between the UK and Europe is clouded by deep uncertainty. Aerospace is being transformed by the same wave of technological innovation that is disrupting the entire industrial sector and commercial aviation faces scepticism about its environmental performance. This evening, I will suggest a way forward for the European and British aerospace sector. First, we must capitalise on the technological revolution that is underway. Second, we should lead the way towards a more sustainable aerospace sector. Revolution in technology First, over the next decade, there will be innovation on a scale to match anything in the history of aviation. Guillaume Faury, Airbus’ International business We will see advances in electrification, artificial new CEO, was guest of intelligence, advanced connectivity, digital technology honour at the 2019 Royal Our first aircraft was the A300, the first ever twin- and quantum computing. These technologies will Aeronautical Society aisle, twin-engine jetliner. We have since grown into transform how aircraft are developed, manufactured, Annual Banquet. a global aerospace champion. We produce half the powered, serviced, flown and maintained. world’s large aircraft and have successful businesses New business models will emerge as these in defence, space and helicopters. Our factories now innovations combine in exciting ways. We’ll also see extend well beyond Europe to the USA and countries new competitors. Look at China’s success in drone across the world but we remain proud of our roots in technology or at how the giants of Silicon Valley are Europe. breaking into aerospace. And those roots are deep in the UK. Many of It’s already being called aviation’s ‘new golden age’ you will know that we develop and manufacture the and it calls for an ambitious response from Europe. wings for all our aircraft here. Less well known is At Airbus, we’re upgrading our industrial system with that Airbus is the UK’s largest space business and robotics and digital technology. Our goal is to improve Below left: Europe’s next the Royal Air Force’s second biggest supplier. We’re the quality and efficiency of our entire manufacturing mission to Mars - the also the country’s largest supplier of helicopters and system. ExoMars Rover Rosalind were delighted to strengthen our partnership with the Looking further ahead, we want to use new 3D Franklin, is being tested at National Police Air Service in March. technology to design our next generation of aircraft at the company;s Stevenage site in the UK. Airbus employs around 15,000 highly-skilled the same time as the factories that will produce them Below right: An Airbus people in the UK and supports more than 100,000 – uniting all parts of our production system in one BelugaXL. jobs through our supply chain here. We’ve also trained seamless whole. Our customers will benefit from more Airbus Airbus @aerosociety i Find us on LinkedIn f Find us on Facebook www.aerosociety.com JUNE 2019 15
AEROSPACE Airbus CEO Guillaume Faury efficient aircraft and significantly shorter production global path towards achieving our targets, thanks to lead-times. the great work of ICAO. Yet we should acknowledge Our products are evolving quickly too. Our new that many people want to see commercial aviation A321 Long Range provides the longest range of any commit to more ambitious targets. We should also single-aisle jetliner in the world. The aircraft is opening acknowledge that some industries are progressing up transatlantic routes for the airlines that were comparatively quickly in addressing their emissions. previously impossible. In fact, commercial aviation’s growth means that its greenhouse gas emissions are still rising and our Digital services sector’s share of worldwide emissions will increase from today’s 2%. The bottom line is that improving our We’re also expanding Airbus’s services business. industry’s environmental performance will be critical to Digital technology is unlocking a wealth of new data retaining public confidence about aircraft design, production and operations. So what’s the best way ahead? In the near-term, Skywise is our new cloud-based platform that collects the industry should support the implementation of the data about all aspects of our customers’ aircraft. By CORSIA offsetting scheme. This is the competitive the end of 2018, more than 50 airlines had signed level playing field we use to invest. First, at Airbus, up, linking some 4,500 aircraft to the platform. Many we will continue to raise the fuel efficiency of our airlines have already used this data to drive significant aircraft. Lightweight carbon-fibre materials and new Clockwise from main image: The Airbus improvements in their maintenance and operational engine technology can deliver impressive results. E-Fan X is a flight reliability. They include Easyjet, our partner in the The latest aircraft, such as the A350, provide a demonstrator which will be platform from the beginning. 25% improvement in fuel efficiency compared to a significant step forward in It doesn’t end there. The platform will soon many older jetliners. They’re much quieter too. This hybrid-electric propulsion begin collecting data about different aspects of matters if commercial aviation is to retain public for commercial aircraft. the passenger experience inside the cabin. These acceptance, especially here in London. At Airbus, we Airbus’ A340 laminar-flow innovations can be a blueprint for a competitive have a research partnership with the University of ‘BLADE’ test demonstrator European aerospace sector over the next decade and Southampton whose goal is to reduce aircraft noise to aircraft (A340-300 MSN001) on its successful beyond. a minimum maiden flight for the EU-sponsored Clean Tackling the environmental challenge Cleaner emissions Sky ‘Blade’ project. This demonstrator brings Another challenge will be to develop a more But let’s face reality: over the longer-term, only a new a 50% reduction of wing sustainable aviation industry. Our industry’s generation of cleaner technology will satisfy society’s friction and up to 5% lower CO2 emission. environmental performance will face tougher scrutiny expectations. In European aerospace, we should aim than ever before. We’ve already signed up to some high. Our ambition can only be to develop the first low- The Airbus’ Skywise digital data platform. testing targets, such as halving CO2 emissions by emissions airliner. Such a plane could be a single-aisle Airbus’ air taxi CityAirbus 2050 on their 2005 levels. The good news is that, powered by hybrid-electric engines which might be made its first unpiloted with the carbon offsetting and reduction scheme ready to fly in the 2030s. To bring this dream to reality, flight on 3 May in for international aviation (CORSIA), we now have a we must act now because many years of innovation Donauwörth, Germany. Airbus Airbus Airbus Airbus 16 AEROSPACE / JUNE 2019
Airbus Airbus Airbus Guillaume Faury with UK PM Theresa May, German Chancellor, Angela Merkel and French President, Emmanuel Macron. lie ahead. After all, I’m talking about bringing batteries A disorderly departure from the EU would undermine to a level of maturity sufficient to power an airliner and that reputation. satisfy the regulatory authorities that they are safe. Looking beyond Brexit, it’s imperative that the This would surely be one of the greatest UK remains at the heart of European aerospace’s accomplishments in aviation history. At Airbus, we’re major initiatives. Some of the signs are positive. For accelerating our efforts to make it happen. In 2017, WE ARE example, the UK will remain part of the European we entered into a partnership with Rolls-Royce, STRONGER Space Agency. That is encouraging for a country that Siemens and Cranfield University to build the E-Fan X, is at the forefront of space research through projects a hybrid-electric demonstrator. The E-Fan X should be TOGETHER – AS like the ExoMars Rover and Zephyr. The Mars Rover, ready to fly in 2021 and is receiving funding from the A PARTNERSHIP being built by Airbus in Stevenage, is due to land UK Aerospace Technology Institute. OF AEROSPACE on Mars in 2020. The Zephyr is a solar-powered We’re also pursuing innovations in so-called NATIONS unmanned aircraft that can stay airborne for months ‘urban air mobility’: autonomous flying taxis, powered at an altitude of 70,000ft. And it is the first aircraft by electric engines and drone technology. These of its kind able to fly in the stratosphere. The Zephyr projects should yield valuable lessons on the path to offers outstanding defence and civil capabilities, and developing the first hybrid-electric single-aisle aircraft. will transform our ability to monitor the changing natural landscape and disasters like oil spills. The future for the UK One future fighter or two? How can the UK maintain a leading role in this new era? The country must continue to foster its reputation In other areas the UK’s path ahead is less certain. as a centre of innovation. In recent years, excellent Look at Europe’s next generation of fighters, the work has been done by industry and government. Here aircraft that will replace Eurofighter sometime after I’d like to single out the ‘growth partnerships’ for the civil 2040. Currently, two separate projects are planned. and defence sectors. They set out a vision for the future There’s the Future Combat Air System Programme, of British aerospace and a roadmap for developing the FCAS, that has been agreed between France and the skills and technology to realise that vision. Germany. Then there are the plans underway here in It’s an approach that’s delivering results. Last the UK for a different aircraft, the Tempest. year, the Government announced a ‘sector deal’ for The two projects are similar. Each will feature aerospace that provides funding to improve supply Beyond Typhoon innovations in artificial intelligence, autonomous chain productivity and to establish the UK as a leader and Rafale; will flight and connectivity and each might take two in cleaner technology. This work must continue. Europe come decades or so to develop. Is it really the right way for But there’s a bigger story here. If we’ve learned us in Europe to develop two next generation fighters anything about European aerospace during Airbus’ together for its and systems separately but in the same time frame? history, it’s that we are stronger together – as a next generation Can we really afford it? partnership of nations. It’s often been said that such future fighter? There are times when anniversaries come at an approach shouldn’t work but it does work. It works symbolic moments. Airbus’ 50th anniversary is one because we can move parts, people and technology of those moments, a moment where aerospace is freely within the borders of the European Union. embarking on an era of profound change. I’m confident Airbus So, the role the UK plays in the future will partly be that the European aerospace sector can prosper determined by policymakers this year. in this new era. Our strongest chance of success is The risk of a no-deal Brexit may have receded to proceed as we have done for decades: as a true but it remains. Over many decades, the UK has won partnership of nations beyond borders – with the UK a reputation as an attractive location for investment. at the core. @aerosociety i Find us on LinkedIn f Find us on Facebook.com www.aerosociety.com JUNE 2019 17
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