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UTC Aerospace Systems Brings Big Commercial Innovations To Falcon 6X With Quieter And Fuel Efficient Nacelle Technology

-UTC Aerospace Systems is proud to be entrusted by Dassault Aviation to develop full nacelle system for its newest business jet targeted for entry into service in 2022

CHARLOTTE, N.C., Feb. 28, 2018 /PRNewswire/ — UTC Aerospace Systems, a unit of United Technologies Corp. (NYSE: UTX), announced today that it has been selected by Dassault Aviation to provide an advanced nacelle system for its new Falcon 6X. Under terms of the agreement, UTC Aerospace Systems will design an integrated power plant solution including an inlet, fan cowls, thrust reverser and an engine build-up (EBU) system leveraging years of proprietary technology and industry leading manufacturing expertise. Dassault Aviation has chosen the Pratt&Whitney PurePower PW812D engine to power the new airplane. 

This agreement represents the company’s return to the business and corporate jet nacelle market. This integrated system will employ lightweight composites that take full advantage of the company’s state-of-the-art design and proprietary manufacturing technologies.

Significant innovation of this design include:

• An advanced inlet configuration that reduces community noise and increases fuel efficiency. 
• An improved compact thrust reverser designed for optimal performance. 
• Advanced engineering design & analysis tools to enable rapid development of the nacelle design.

These advanced technologies were designed to meet our customer’s requirements.

“This program will enable us to bring the many new nacelle system technology advancements we’ve developed and matured for large commercial aircraft over the last 15 years to the business and corporate jet market,” said Aerostructures President Marc Duvall. “We are also delighted to again be working with Dassault Aviation. We are proud of our heritage delivering nacelle systems to Dassault and excited for this new opportunity. We stand behind our reputation as an industry leader by continuing to meet changing customer demands with innovations that deliver unmatched customer value.”

U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration Selects Rusada®

Envision® nGen technology chosen to support DEA Aviation Division’s Maintenance Information System

FORT WORTH TX, USA, 28th February 2018 – The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) has chosen Envision nGen from Rusada as their technology platform to support their maintenance and engineering system within the Aviation Division based on the competitive procurement of the required Software and services.

Rusada’s Envision nGen maintenance information technology will be used to support the full range of aviation operations, to include: Program Management, Aircraft & Avionics Maintenance Support, Training Support, Logistical Support, Inventory Management, and Administrative Support. The implementation and deployment of Envision nGen will begin immediately and is being coordinated through Rusada’s Boulder office.

USAF Selects UTC Aerospace Systems DB-110 Airborne Reconnaissance System For Multi-Nation Foreign Military Sales Acquisition

• Indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity (IDIQ) contract award supports requests for system from multiple U.S. allies worldwide as demand for intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) capabilities increases
• DB-110 offers high-end ISR capability, with a stand-off range of 80-plus nautical miles along with the ability to collect more than 10,000 square miles of high-resolution imagery per hour
• System is currently in operation with 14 nations on the F-16, F-15, P-3, MQ-9, Tornado and business jets

CHARLOTTE, N.C., Feb. 21, 2018 /PRNewswire/ — UTC Aerospace Systems, a unit of United Technologies Corp. (NYSE: UTX), today announced that it has been awarded an indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity (IDIQ) contract with an initial ceiling of $22.9 million from the U.S. Air Force (USAF) for the DB-110 Airborne Reconnaissance System.  The acquisition supports requests for the DB-110 system from multiple countries via the Foreign Military Sales (FMS) program.  As the single largest acquisition of DB-110 pods ever procured through FMS, it highlights the growing need for advanced intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) capabilities among U.S. allies worldwide.   
 
The DB-110 is a dual-band 110-inch focal length reconnaissance system that is capable of producing high-resolution imagery from nadir to a stand-off range of 80-plus nautical miles, day or night.  Developed as a derivative of the strategic Senior Year Electro-optical Reconnaissance System (SYERS) sensor on the USAF U-2, the DB-110 can collect more than 10,000 square miles of high-resolution imagery per hour and serves as the cornerstone of many air forces’ tactical and strategic ISR capabilities. It is currently in service with 14 nations on multiple platforms.

“The DB-110 is a transformative system, enabling aircraft like the F-16 and F-15 to perform high-end ISR missions that previously were conducted by dedicated strategic platforms,” said Mike Don, Director of  International Airborne Programs at UTC Aerospace Systems.  “With the DB-110, an F-16 can be flexibly deployed to conduct peace time cross-border surveillance from international airspace, or during times of conflict, quickly transit through contested airspace that may be inaccessible by UAVs to conduct time-sensitive tactical-reconnaissance missions.  DB-110 is truly a force-multiplier for fast-jet operators worldwide.”

In addition to operations on the F-16 and F-15, the DB-110 is operational on special mission aircraft like the Bombardier Global Express and maritime patrol aircraft like the P-3, and was recently  demonstrated on the MQ-9 Reaper.  

“Special mission aircraft represent a uniquely effective space for the DB-110,” explained Gavin Dyer, a senior technical fellow at UTC Aerospace Systems.  “They enable the DB-110 to work in conjunction with other sensors, such as Synthetic Aperture Radar and signals intelligence, thereby producing multilayer intelligence products and a more holistic view of the battlespace.”

In addition to procurement of the DB-110 pods, the USAF IDIQ also includes multiple UTC Aerospace Systems Ground Exploitation Stations.  These systems are deployed worldwide with U.S. and allied countries to enable the ingest, exploitation, archival and dissemination of intelligence products from not only the DB-110, but also Full Motion Video (FMV) gimbals and Non-Traditional ISR (NTISR) targeting pods.  Operating as nodes within a larger network, the ground stations provide a repository for multiple intelligence products and a platform to discover and share information between broad tiers of end users.

“With this award, the U.S. Air Force has recognized the need our allies have for the advanced ISR capabilities of the DB-110,” said Don.  “We are committed to providing worldclass product sustainment and delivering a robust technology roadmap that will ensure the DB-110 product line remains relevant to our customers for years to come.”

Protecting The Homefront: UTC Aerospace Systems DB-110 Sensor Will Enable National Guard To See More From The Air Than Ever Before

• Airborne reconnaissance system will provide Air National Guard with enhanced image resolution over a longer range and greater coverage area, enabling rapid assessment of disaster areas
• DB-110 offers a slant range of 80-plus nautical miles–several times more than current systems–along with the ability to collect more than 10,000 square miles of high-resolution imagery per hour
• System successfully completed first Operational Assessment with New York Air National Guard on MQ-9 Reaper in fall 2017

CHARLOTTE, N.C., Feb. 21, 2018 /PRNewswire/ — The U.S. Air National Guard will soon be able to conduct airborne assessment of natural disasters across wider areas and greater distances than ever before now that UTC Aerospace Systems has successfully completed an Operational Assessment of its DB-110 airborne reconnaissance system on the General Atomics MQ-9 Reaper. Conducted in fall 2017 by the 174th Attack Wing at the Syracuse Air National Guard Base, the assessment addressed the system’s utility for domestic operations missions, such as defense support for civil authorities during natural disasters. UTC Aerospace Systems is a unit of United Technologies Corp. (NYSE: UTX).

Currently in service with 14 countries around the world for military intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) missions, the DB-110 is a dual-band electro-optic and infrared reconnaissance pod that produces high-resolution day and night imagery, from overhead and at long ranges. Operating in three fields of view and capable of collecting still imagery, it provides three-dimensional and stereo imagery, and wide-area persistence surveillance. 

The DB-110 offers a significant capability improvement relative to the Guard’s existing sensors that have a comparatively shorter range and smaller field of view. For example, while current systems have a slant range of roughly 15 nautical miles, the DB-110 is able to produce high-resolution imagery from a slant range of 80-plus nautical miles. In addition, the DB-110 provides an overhead view from higher altitudes and can collect more than 10,000 square miles of imagery per hour. Ultimately, this significantly enhanced capability will allow the Guard to assess natural disasters more rapidly and more comprehensively, boosting operational efficiency in its humanitarian assistance operations. Commanders anticipate using the sensor during such natural disasters as hurricanes, wildfires and floods.

UTC Aerospace Systems was contracted by the Guard in 2017 to support the installation and assessment of the DB-110 on the 174th Attack Wing’s MQ-9 Reaper. Following the first Operational Assessment, the Guard is evaluating long-term solutions to field the next-generation sensor of the DB-110 family, the MS-110, in a new pod that will be compatible with both the MQ-9 Reaper and C-130 Hercules. The MS-110 will produce multispectral color imagery across 7 bands, thereby enhancing the long-range and wide-area attributes of the DB-110. For the Guard, the MS-110 would enhance the service’s ability to assess critical infrastructure during poor weather conditions, through smoke and below the surface of the water, while also helping to detect objects against a cluttered background. 

“As the most advanced tactical-reconnaissance sensors of their kind, the DB-110 and MS-110 will greatly improve the Air National Guard’s ability to carry out its mission of saving lives and providing humanitarian assistance,” said Kevin Raftery, vice president of ISR and Space Systems at UTC Aerospace Systems. “The imagery they provide will enable the timely assessment of critical infrastructure such as power plants, energy corridors, roads and highways, and civilian domiciles. Collecting this information rapidly across wide areas and disseminating the data directly to incident commanders will help save lives and property during natural disasters and emergency situations.”

Air Belgium Selects Envision from Rusada™

Belgian Start-up Selects Hosted Maintenance & Engineering Technology Platform

MONT-SAINT-GUILBERT, BELGIUM, 19th February 2018 – Air Belgium has selected Rusada’s Envision™ technology to manage their maintenance and engineering information system.

The new international airline, which is preparing to commence direct flights from Brussels South Airport to Hong Kong International Airport and to major and medium-sized cities in Mainland China in the coming months, has selected Envision to support its Continuing Airworthiness Management Organisation (CAMO) and quality & safety obligations for its current fleet of Airbus A340s.

Raymond Deswartes, Technical Director of Air Belgium said: “Despite being a start-up airline we have established a set of clear values by which we’ll operate; modernity, transparency, efficiency, quality and fairness are all behaviours we will strive to deliver”.

Raymond continued: “Rusada very clearly demonstrated that they understand our airline and there was clear synergy between our core values and Rusada’s culture. In addition, Rusada is a proven supplier already working with several aviation companies in Belgium such as ASL Airlines Belgium, Noordzee Helikopters Vlaanderen (NHV) and Sabena Aerospace.”

A key motive behind the decision to select Rusada’s solutions and services package was the flexibility that the technology company can offer Air Belgium.

Julian Stourton, Rusada’s CEO said: “Air Belgium has opted for a hosted solution which means the database is hosted by us and information is accessed online. The benefit of this to Air Belgium is that they do not have to maintain the system infrastructure or invest in expensive IT equipment up front, which is an important consideration for a start-up airline”.

Julian concluded: “We recognize that to be successful our customers must be successful and so we listened to what Air Belgium required and made sure we could offer a technology solution that fit their needs”.

First OASES contract win of 2018 is also first win for Commsoft in The Netherlands 

15th February 2018 – Commsoft, developers of one of the world’s leading MRO IT systems, is delighted to announce that Corendon Dutch Airlines has become the latest member of the fast-growing global OASES user community.

Part of the international Corendon group of companies, Corendon Dutch Airlines started operations under its own AOC in April 2011 and currently operates charter flights to a number of destinations around the Mediterranean – including Spain, Portugal, Greece, Turkey, Egypt and Morocco – from Amsterdam Airport Schiphol and Maastricht Aachen Airport.

Under the terms of the new contract, the airline will be using OASES to support its fleet of three Boeing 737-800s.

Combining a high level of technical sophistication with an intuitive user interface, OASES is a ‘best-of-breed’ system structured in a modular format to allow for flexibility and scalability. Corendon Dutch Airlines will be using the Core, Airworthiness, Materials, Line Maintenance Control and Planning modules and has also expressed a strong interest in adding the proposed Compliance module when it becomes available.

All modules will be accessed through Commsoft’s Private Cloud service, avoiding any need for the airline to install additional hardware.

Nick Godwin, Commsoft’s Managing Director, commented: “We’re delighted to welcome Corendon Dutch Airlines, our first customer in The Netherlands, to the truly global OASES family. Initial implementation meetings have already started with the airline’s team and we’re looking forward to the system going live in time for the peak season.”

Rob Smakman, Corendon Dutch Airlines Director of Engineering & Maintenance, added: “We are delighted that we found the right MRO IT partner in OASES. There is a good match between the companies and we are looking forward to start working with the system in the upcoming weeks.”

ATSG subsidiaries select IFS Maintenix for fleet maintenance management solution 

Full footprint implementation to be deployed across three Air Transport Services Group subsidiaries to support air cargo network servicing global customers

February 14, 2018 – IFS, the global enterprise applications company, today announced that Air Transport Services Group (ATSG) (NASDAQ:ATSG), a leading provider of medium wide-body aircraft leasing, air cargo transportation and related services, has selected IFS Maintenix to deliver comprehensive fleet maintenance management across its two cargo airline subsidiaries – ABX Air and Air Transport International – and its aircraft leasing subsidiary, Cargo Aircraft Management.

As the world’s largest owner and operator of converted Boeing 767 freighter aircraft, ATSG has experienced strong growth in recent years. To meet evolving operational demands, ATSG’s airline subsidiaries – ABX Air and Air Transport International (ATI) – and its aircraft leasing subsidiary – Cargo Aircraft Management (CAM) – sought a modern, scalable software solution that could drive greater standardisation and maintenance management process efficiencies.

Following a market review, ATSG’s subsidiaries selected IFS Maintenix to deliver a full suite of engineering, planning and line maintenance functionality, helping ATSG optimise the maintenance management for its combined fleet.

“ABX Air, ATI and CAM needed a solution that could deliver value in short order with minimal disruption to our business,” said Matt Fedders, Vice President, Controller, at ATSG. “By selecting IFS Maintenix, we are taking the next step forward to better streamline our fleet operations, and by extension, better serve our customers.”

Scott Helmer, SVP, Aviation and Defence at IFS added, “We are extremely pleased to have ATSG join our expanding customer community. This relationship not only testifies to our continued commitment to the North American commercial aviation market, it also further distinguishes IFS Maintenix software as the solution of choice for airlines of all sizes across all markets looking to deliver world-class commercial flight services.”

Ramco Systems and XinFin Join Forces in Singapore to Develop Hybrid Blockchain Solution for Enterprises

SINGAPORE / Chennai, INDIA – February 14, 2018 – Two global software specialists will join forces in Singapore to build breakthrough hybrid blockchain solutions that combine features of public and private networks to provide secure and rapid transactions for the aviation, logistics and human resources industries.

Global enterprise software specialist Ramco Systems and Singapore-based open-source blockchain developer XinFin FinTech Pte Ltd will use the latter’s proprietary XDC01 distributed ledger protocol to build a new architecture based on Ramco’s software solutions for the three sectors and help provide blockchain led solutions to Ramco’s global enterprise clients.

Both companies will work on the hybrid blockchain solutions out of Ramco’s innovation lab in Singapore. Backed by Singapore’s Economic Development Board and launched in 2016, the lab focuses on disruptive applications across multiple industries.

The collaboration will lead to a set of distributed ledgers which can prevent users from sending tokens to incompatible networks or non-existent addresses – a current problem facing the fast-growing blockchain industry. The new architecture will also reduce congestion of blockchain networks which inhibit security, speed and scalability.

The open architecture also allows inter-operability with commonly used blockchain networks. Xinfin’s XDC01 protocol uses the best features of public blockchains and private networks and can also settle transactions in real time with existing laws of the land and payment rails.

XinFin and Ramco’s partnership is taking place in Singapore – an international financial centre which is placing a high emphasis on FinTech– amid rising global interest in distributed blockchain ledgers.

These ledgers record digital assets’ movements among different parties. Transaction data is time-stamped and freely accessible but cannot be modified or deleted, ensuring transparency and security. By decentralizing the ledger, trust among counterparties is increased, facilitating faster and more secure transactions.

Beyond enterprise cloud adoption, blockchain is the next technological wave that can disrupt industries. A mechanic on the tarmac can use blockchain-based maintenance logs to track the entire life cycle of an aircraft engine, authenticate replacement parts or check age and air miles logged without having to check with other parties or trawl through records. Such productivity gains can be multiplied across industries once the element of trust is captured electronically.

Virender Aggarwal, CEO, Ramco Systems, said, “At our innovation lab in Singapore, we focus on building prototype use cases to solve real-life business problems. From HoloLens to bots and face APIs to blockchain, we have been investing in next-gen technologies that will redefine the way enterprise applications are used. Our partnership with XinFin will be key to realizing the full potential of blockchain technology in logistics, HR and aviation.”

Sameer Dharap, VP Blockchain Applications at XinFin said, “We are very excited to partner with Ramco Systems and expand our global client list. We look forward to working together and assisting Ramco’s enterprise clients to improve their business process efficiency using blockchain solutions. Hybrid blockchain, powered by underlying XDC01 protocol, maintains data on sensitive financial transactions in the private state on the same blockchain, while a digital asset-based settlement is also supported in a compliant jurisdiction through regulated financial institutions. Owing to its scalable, secure and smart contracting capability, it makes the most appropriate fit for Ramco’s requirements.”

Ramesh Sivasubramanian, Head – AFKLM – Ramco – EDB Innovation Lab, said, “The logistics business requires that service providers coordinate with multiple parties in the supply chain, from shipping companies to couriers, to transport goods. Blockchain provides the ability to trace the entire chain of movement and changes to each individual item throughout its lifetime. It increases trust and fights fraud by verifying product authenticity, reducing human error and improving capacity utilisation while eliminating middlemen in the system. Through our association with XinFin, we will work towards building many such Blockchain use cases to address business pain points.”

Launched in 2017, XinFin’s customers include global Fortune 500 companies in Singapore, India, Europe and the U.S. Its parent organisation, the XinFin Foundation, liaises with global governments and regulators to bridge infrastructure gaps at the lowest possible cost.  

About XinFin FinTech Pte. Ltd:

XinFin is a Singapore based blockchain technology company focused on international trade and finance across the globe. XinFin’s XDC protocol is a hybrid blockchain that allows peer-to-peer contracts over regulated payment rails or using XDC tokens in approved jurisdictions. With an aim to bridge the global infrastructural deficit with their open source marketplace platform – Tradefinex, XinFin enables financial institutions with tools to undertake peer-to-peer financial contracts between governments, corporation, buyers and suppliers. This helps in an efficient use of capital and deployment of projects without burdening the government treasury. You can follow XinFin on Twitter (@XinFinF) and on Telegram (https://t.me/xinfintalk)

20 new customer wins across the world for Commsoft’s OASES in 2017

13th February 2018 – For Commsoft, 2017 was a year of global wins for its industry-leading MRO IT system, OASES.

In Eastern Europe, Commsoft signed contracts with Bulgaria-based cargo airline, Cargo Air, and with Warsaw-based technical services organisation, ALL4JETS, to support its diversifying CAMO operations.

Nordic Aviation Maintenance Organisation (NAMO) in Finland /U.A.E. and the Lithuanian-based operator, Grand Cru Airlines and its sister company Get Jet Airlines, also joined the OASES user community.

Across the rest of Europe, OASES was chosen by Plus Ultra Líneas Aéreas of Spain, new Cypriot airline, TUS Air, and Acumen Aviation, a global aircraft asset manager based in Ireland. In the UK, Commsoft welcomed a new CAMO and the leasing and charter airline, Titan Airways, as new clients.

CAI Aerospace, the AMO operation of Cronos Airlines International, became the company’s first active customer in South Africa and was later joined in the OASES community by Africa World Airlines (AWA), a new Ghanaian airline headquartered in Accra.

In Asia, Wingbox Aviation, based in the Philippines, chose OASES to support its diversifying fleet technical management operations while SereneAir, headquartered in Islamabad, Pakistan became 

a customer.  

Further key as yet unannounced airline customers were won in Pakistan, U.A.E., and Lithuania with a further two airlines in Africa and a corporate operator in Malta.

“With 20 new direct contracted customers in total, 2017 was an outstanding year for us”, said Nick Godwin, Commsoft’s Managing Director. “Particularly exciting was the truly global spread of these new customers. Support for OASES is not just growing but growing internationally. This is a strong reflection on our on-going product developments and thrust for improved services. 2018’s outlook is already looking strong but we must keep focus.”

Currently supporting over 130 aviation operations in more than 55 different countries, OASES is a modular MRO IT system which combines a very high level of technical sophistication with an intuitive user interface.  Designed by engineers for engineers, OASES is continually being developed with the active participation of its global user community.

Openairlines awarded runner-up prize at CleanTech Open Global 2018

On February 12, 2018 – LOS ANGELES, Calif.  OpenAirlines was awarded Runner-up Prize at the Cleantech Open Global 2018, the largest international cleantech start-up competition, in the United States.

On February 2, 2018, Cleantech Open (www.cleantechopen.org), the world’s largest accelerator of early-stage clean-technology companies, announced the winners and runners-up of the Cleantech Open awards for its Global Ideas competition.

Less than two months after the international event “Tech For Planet” that brought together the most innovative tech entrepreneurs fighting climate change – initiated by French President Emmanuel Macron – France shone once again by placing OpenAirlines on the podium of the largest international Cleantech Startup Competition. The event was held in Los Angeles from 28 to 30 January 2018 during Global Forum.

This result confirms France ability to provide concrete solutions towards greater climate action and the incredible talents it has to develop these innovations in the international market.

Winner of Cleantech Open France 2017, OpenAirlines was selected to represent France at Cleantech Open Global. “The Cleantech Open Global Competition supports and encourages cleantech startups’ R&D efforts that are renewing the way to respond to the societal upheavals in the field of business management, natural resources, and ecosystem preservation. The results of OpenAirlines and Alertgasoil demonstrate the quality of innovation made in France,“ commented Pierre Nougué and Oliver Duverdier co-founders of Cleantech Open France.

Supported by Cleantech Open France teams, OpenAirlines which develops SkyBreathe®, a solution to reduce airlines’ CO2 Emission, convinced the jury in the “Growth” category. Represented by Alexander Feray, CEO, the winner of Cleantech Open France 2017 flew the tricolor flag of eco-innovation on the second step of the podium, just behind the Israeli startup Twine.

Already awarded several times in France and beyond, this large media exposure in the global cleantech ecosystem and in front of American decision-makers will help shape the future of the company by introducing their unique fuel savings solution SkyBreathe®, to all American’ airlines. The American region has shown an interest in achieving its goal for more efficient air travel. “Because fuel is their biggest single expense – 33% percent of operating costs – improving fuel efficiency is one of the greatest challenges for all airlines. The only hope for winning the battle against climate change is through greater operational efficiency, an issue that is easily solved with the SkyBreathe®  solution.” Concluded Alexandre Feray