New Podcast Explores GE Aviation Technologies for a Decarbonized Future of Flight

New Podcast
This week, the GE Gas Power team launched season five of Cutting Carbon, their award-winning podcast that focuses on climate change, the basics of what decarbonization is and the technologies behind it. In season five, the team is focused on decarbonization closer to home and invited Arjan Hegeman, GE Aviation’s general manger for advanced technologies, to talk about the future of flight.

Learn more about the role of GE Aviation’s technologies available today and in development for tomorrow to make aircraft engines more fuel efficient and reduce carbon emissions. Open fan, hybrid electric and hydrogen combustion are all discussed by Hegeman and the hosts. Over two episodes, Hegeman also explains the importance of Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF), along with the new engine technologies, to help the aviation industry reach its goal of net-zero carbon emissions by 2050.

The Future of Flight is a two-part episode, and can be found as Episode 27 and Episode 28 under Cutting Carbon. You can listen to the podcast here or on your favorite streaming platform!

The aviation industry is at an inflection point for new technology introduction and acceleration of technology development, Hegeman says. GE Aviation is currently developing its next-generation suite of engine technologies, including open fan engine architecture, hybrid-electric propulsion, and advanced thermal management concepts. GE Aviation is also supporting industry initiatives to approve and adopt 100% SAF and is partnering on a new flight demonstration program to test zero-carbon hydrogen fuel combustion.

GE’s ambition is to be a net zero company by 2050, including the Scope 3 emissions from the use of sold products. GE is also committed to being carbon neutral by 2030 in its own facilities and operations, including Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions.

Spotlight

ATR

ATR is the leader in the regional aviation market. ATR turboprop aircraft are recognized as the most eco-friendly regional airplanes and are the world benchmark in terms of efficiency, reliability and economics on short-haul routes. Today more than 200 operators fly ATRs in over 100 countries worldwide. ATR is an equal partnership between two major European aeronautics players, Airbus and Leonardo. Its head office is in Toulouse. ATR is ISO 14001 certified.

OTHER ARTICLES
Aviation Technology

AI in Aviation: What’s the Word?

Article | December 3, 2021

DataBridge recently released a new market research analysis on AI in aviation, and the findings are promising. The aviation industry has relied on artificial intelligence (AI) for years. The technology has assisted pilots through machine learning algorithms to collect flight data about altitudes, air traffic management, weather, and route distance. It has enabled them to optimize fuel usage and reduce fuel costs. And now, it is going further. AI has been cascading into other areas of aviation. Here are some trends to note from the “Global Artificial Intelligence in Aviation Market” study. Benefitting Ground Operations AI is extensively used in real-time support systems and air traffic control. From automated baggage check-in to facial recognition, it is powering several ground operations. These functions contribute heavily to maximizing resources, reducing labor costs, and enhancing seamlessness across different processes. Improving Performance and Processes with Machine Learning (ML) The emergence of AI in aviation is thanks to a surge of capital investments by key aviation players. Cloud computing is being used by many organizations as a way to consolidate processes and deal with complexity better. Impacting How Planes will be Piloted AI will considerably impact the future of piloting as we know it. Building on Airbus’ first ever takeoff, landing and taxi using vision-based AI in 2020, prominent aerospace tech firms continue to work on self-piloting planes or passenger autonomous aerial vehicles (AV) that will employ AI-powered intelligent navigation to fly. Improving Efficiency and Accuracy for Manual Processes According to aviation experts, ML digital assistants are able to process massive volumes of historical data in order to support ground staff and pilots alike. With AI’s capabilities of enabling elusive insights into patterns and complexities of data, the technology is considered ideal for aviation, where there is no room for errors. The Path Ahead The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the importance of new technologies in pushing the envelope and innovating solutions. The evolution of technology will only propel the adoption of AI further into the aviation industry. With multiple use cases and brilliant results from the use of AI, the aviation industry is all set for a digital transformation fuelled by data, machine learning and precision

Read More
Aviation Technology

6 Effective Airline Marketing Strategies to Revitalize Business

Article | September 3, 2021

The airline industry has been an extremely tough marketplace. It takes a lot of effort to stand out from the competitors and to run business amidst everyday challenges to become top airlines in the country or worldwide. Yet, out of all this, the airline industry has maintained its dignity and has been successfully driven through market challenges. Aside from the unique dynamics of the current COVID-19 crisis, marketers before used aviation marketing tactics in a standard way. But, the sudden outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic made aviation marketing exceptionally challenging for airlines worldwide to forecast demand and kickstart airline businesses in the future. But, as of now (after a year and half months from the pandemic outbreak), there is a lot of excitement about airline branding, airline marketing strategies, airline advertisements, and more. As a result, businesses are becoming confident that revitalizing their strategies would now take off effortlessly. Yet some challenges and many other uncertainties need to be addressed regarding the fast-changing business models, travel demand, revenue generation, sales, stability, and a lot more in the restart period. Let’s put some light on those uncertainties in the airline industry. The Uncertainties As per IATA (2020), the change in the airline business model creates additional uncertainty. It has been observed that the present state of the economy is the ultimate game of risk to airline revenue management and planning. This includes airline marketing strategies, airline advertising campaigns, and prospects of branding as well. The recent shift in business patterns have been caused and triggered by various events such as: A sharp decline in demand stimulation techniques applied by airlines Signs of disruption entering the market in the wake of the COVID-19 situation prevailing in countries Disruption of profitable plans for future Changing consumer behavior Missing data connections and collection As a result, these uncertain events demand a call for action across the entire airline sector value chain. The call must be initiated based on creative marketing strategy, prioritizing personalization, sustainability, and profitability. Now, the question ascends, why does your marketing team need to think out-of-the-box altogether to re-create airline marketing strategies. Read about it next! Why Airline Marketing Strategies Need to be Out-of-the-Box With the changes occurring in airline market dynamics, airline businesses have to reshuffle their marketing strategies. They have to be quick as novel opportunities are continuously pouring in. Despite the current situation that has put the airline market under stress, it has provided the foundations for a range of new blue ocean opportunities. This is where you can hop on those opportunities to re-scale your business. Therefore, the internal and external variables have to be considered in any forecasting activities of airlines, including revenue management, pricing, network, and marketing planning. In other words, game-changing strategies are born of thinking out-of-the-box—a leap into the unexpected. Here, creating effective aviation marketing strategies will fulfill the need to pursue a new product differentiation and revenue management angle. Doing so will also instill confidence back into the base of your airline business, including stakeholders. This is how your business can become successful again. By now, you must have understood that this is where the power of marketing in aviation can play a vital role in diminishing all the challenges. But before your marketing head towards creating robust aviation marketing strategies, you should first know about the approach of 3 Cs to make a successful marketing venture. 3 Cs to Consider While Marketing Your Aviation Business Marketing, as per the current scenario, will require rock-hard strategic preparation. Similarly, in aviation marketing also, your team needs to ensure consistent preparation. This continuous process will help the business build progressively in a constantly changing aviation business environment and fluctuating demands. Following this approach will help better in building innovative strategies and simultaneously exploring a wide range of possibilities. Contrast Before your marketing team heads to the stage of the plan, consider the assumptions bracing up in the current airline industry’s status. Then, your strategists should get hands-on to identify the possibilities to come ahead along with its results. Constrain Keep a look at the limitations stirring in the current airline market scenario. Then consider how the prevailing weaknesses can be converted into strengths to become successful among your competitors. Context To create out-of-the-box airline marketing strategies, which include airline advertisements, airline advertising campaigns, and more, you should plan to have a different context to stand out terrifically among other airline companies. In addition, marketing this way will give you surprising insights and help you emerge afterward through challenges that occurred due to the pandemic. Now that you are aware of the critical things to consider in creating airline marketing strategies. It is time to go ahead with creating strategically planned strategies. Here are some effective strategies discussed that would help to revitalize your airline business. 6 Airline Marketing Strategies Introduce Loyalty Programs The airline business is known for its range of offers of loyalty programs according to the target audience. Nearly all airline businesses create their ways to cater programs to a particular audience group or in general. However, loyalty programs work the same at the core, but to encourage audiences in the current time, you can offer different perks to them. So, be creative in creating campaigns, and you will find that your loyalty programs are capitalizing on your revenue and benefiting customers together. Distinguish your Brand and Position Yourself Branding and positioning have become essential for businesses operating in this pandemic time, where the market is now hugely competitive. So you have got to be quick to get your company identified by your customer base as well as the target ones. While proceeding in this manner, your best strength will distinguish you from your competitors serving in the same area. To make your brand image outstanding, you need to study customer demographics related to airline services. On the other hand, depending on the brand image you want to cultivate, you may need to create airline advertisements accordingly. It is because your brand will communicate a message to the worldwide population. And it’s important to consider how you want your target audience to think of you before you brand and position yourself through advertisements, social media platforms, and more. This is how you will be able to position yourself in every day changing aviation market dynamics. Be Creative with an Airline Advertising Strategy Out-of-the-box airline advertising strategies can help your business outshine amidst insane competition arising. It is because now you have to adjust according to the modern world scenario. Here, creative content plays an important role. Moreover, as you must be working remotely, the idea of using content marketing will massively support your advertising strategy. It would engage and inspire customers to leverage your services, and, ultimately, your revenue will take off once again. Introduce Paid Ads Now that you have a planned airline advertising strategy, you can also consider introducing paid ads in it. Yes! With the help of paid ads, you can target a location-wise audience more precisely. Paid ads also help in revenue generation and collaborations. These aspects are directly proportional to the profit earned out of implementing strategies. For example, paid ads may involve videos creation on YouTube to create brand awareness on your website, landing pages, or content (articles, blogs, etc.) page. By doing this, your brand value is going to skyrocket than what was it before. Set a Strategic Social Media Campaign Social media campaigns are the best ways to reach your customers and target audiences under airline marketing strategies. Spreading your brand voice through different social media platforms will help you humanize your brand and deepen relationships with a larger population. In addition, other airlines use social media to reward customer loyalty, so you can also indulge in activities for the same. For this, your marketing team should study which platforms your customer base visit frequently. Then, based on your research, you can do promotions, provide updates, make announcements, expand services or give some behind-the-scenes look of your company to customers as well as targeted audiences. It is because they appreciate participating in such events and get satisfied by relying on your company. During an interview with Media 7, Didi Horn, Chief Executive Officer at SkyX, made a statement. He told, “We have found that Linkedin has contributed the most to brand awareness over the years. In our business, there’s a very specific and niche target customer that we want to reach, so we don’t hesitate to invest in doing what it takes to build strong, lasting relationships.” Marketing leaders like Didi Horn and more are becoming successful with their marketing activities on LinkedIn. Similarly, you also use LinkedIn—as one of the most influential social media platforms to spread the word about your business activities and reach out target audience easily. Practice Influencer Marketing Yes, you heard it right! Influencer marketing is booming in the current pandemic scenario. This is the best way of earning better ROI. Implementing influencer airline marketing strategies would help realize your business goals. So, what goes under this marketing strategy? The formula of storytelling through content is considered beneficial to increase airline business. Adding transparency in the strategies can also be one formula while practicing influencer marketing. Implementing this strategy will attract more audiences because they get influenced by interesting content, storytelling, company behind the scenes. This humanizes the brand altogether, giving audiences a factor of trust and loyalty. As you have entered a completely different business scenario in the airline industry, your company needs robust marketing strategies. It’s important to understand that change may be predictable, but growth isn’t. Business growth highly depends on all the little things you do consistently to make it happen. Since you’re competing with many other airline companies, developing a strategic aviation marketing plan can boost sustainable business growth. Frequently Asked Questions What is an airline marketing strategy? An airline marketing strategy is a well-planned method in action that businesses create to fulfill goals such as boost revenue, surge engagement with customers, create brand visibility, positioning, target potential audience, and a lot more. Companies invest time and money to create a robust plan so that businesses can run effortlessly. Why is airline marketing strategy important? Airline marketing strategies are important for airlines to stand out firmly among the competitors, position their brand, create awareness among the existing customer base and attract more and more potential audiences through various online platforms. What are the top 3 marketing strategies for the airline? Although the marketing strategies involved in a business are critical, the top ones can be the following. Email marketing Social media Paid media advertising { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "FAQPage", "mainEntity": [{ "@type": "Question", "name": "What is an airline marketing strategy?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "An airline marketing strategy is a well-planned method in action that businesses create to fulfill goals such as boost revenue, surge engagement with customers, create brand visibility, positioning, target potential audience, and a lot more. Companies invest time and money to create a robust plan so that businesses can run effortlessly." } },{ "@type": "Question", "name": "Why is airline marketing strategy important?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "Airline marketing strategies are important for airlines to stand out firmly among the competitors, position their brand, create awareness among the existing customer base and attract more and more potential audiences through various online platforms." } },{ "@type": "Question", "name": "What are the top 3 marketing strategies for the airline?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "Although the marketing strategies involved in a business are critical, the top ones can be the following. Email marketing Social media Paid media advertising" } }] }

Read More
Aviation Technology

The Rise Of Green Travel – How We Will Be Able To Fly In A Sustainable Way By 2022

Article | August 31, 2021

Although airlines only contribute to 2% of global emissions today, research indicates that this number could rise if air travel continues to grow. As such, airlines need to adapt and find new ways to become more sustainable. Successful implementation of eco-conscious strategies will see carriers achieve higher profits and maintain the trust of customers. SimpliFlying has a long history of helping airlines craft the future of travel and we believe that addressing climate change is essential to rebuilding trust in the aviation industry.

Read More
Business Aviation

How is 5G going to be Advantageous for Aviation Industry Despite Safety Alarms?

Article | December 28, 2021

The aviation industry is going through a lot of technological and operational transitions. Every day, new technologies in manufacturing, airports, passengers, security measures and more are being introduced or being implemented in the entire aviation ecosystem. 5G technology is one of the most critical technologies that is currently raising concerns. 5G technology is becoming a hot topic of discussion for governments worldwide in inferior ways. Many discussions are going on the shelf of safety of consumers. Similarly, there has been rising concern about the new 5G technology in the aviation industry. Yes. 5G technology promises to bring some of the best opportunities for airlines. But what will be its impact on airline safety? Before we discuss the 5G rollout, let's highlight its ability to benefit the busiest industry globally. The Ecosystem of 5G Multiple technologies play a vital role in 5G technology in terms of coverage, such as EDGE, IoT, SD-WAN, and more. The ecosystem is rapidly expanding, even the industry of suppliers to aviation. It includes device manufacturing, network supply and maintenance, system integration, testing, and more suppliers. IATA says with regard to the aviation industry, a projected $3.9 billion will be invested in 5G by 2026. Moreover, the projections are taking the entire industry to new altitudes. GSA also forecasts that the growth of 5G will be faster than 4G. The Impact of 5G on the Different Aviation Sectors The deployments and implementations of 5G can be profitable for every aviation sector if used appropriately. Speaking of the aviation sectors, the new 5G technology will transform the industry in four crucial areas. They are: Manufacturing Airports & Airlines Travel Security Manufacturing The manufacturing sector has massively developed partnerships with telecom players. The partnerships have led to the launch of 5G initiatives. Nokia and Lufthansa came forward for inspection of engine parts remotely. With AR visualization and 3D technology, customers can have a visual impact on cabin interiors. 5G technology is also being implemented to trace and track systems in aircraft parts and maintain of operations using transmissions, real-time signal processing, and more. Airports & Airlines With 5G technology, Gogo Business Aviation is developing new designs for antennas and modems. The designs will enable the world's first in-flight connectivity (IFC) and 5G air-to-ground (ATG) networks by 2022. “Towards the end of 2022, we will have sites built, and we will start flight testing,” -Mike Syverson, senior vice president of engineering at Gogo Gogo's 5G network will be limited to North America. It will be leveraging the existing 250 towers with its current 3G and 4G IFC networks. The 5G network will use spectrum in the 2.4 GHz band with the help of other booming technologies to provide the airplane-to-ground station link with higher bandwidth. Travel Viasat Inc. is known globally for offering broadband digital satellite communications, wireless networking services, and satellite communications products. Delta Airlines has partnered with Viasat for its next-generation Ka-band satellite in-flight connectivity (IFC) solution. Delta intends to integrate Viasat technology into 757-200 aircraft, A321ceo, and the 737-900ER (new aircraft) to provide customers with safe and secure air travel. Network Security The European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) discloses that an average of 1,000 attacks per month occur on aviation systems. Thus, it is becoming a real threat to airport security, safety, and reputation. SmartSky Networks LLC is a leading satellite solution. It's also a wireless data and networking services provider globally. It caters to the commercial aviation industry. It offers its innovative air-to-ground inflight Wi-Fi network with 5G technology. In June 2021, Honeywell and SmartSky introduced their high-speed connectivity. They announced it for their business aviation operators in North America. The partnership agreement boosts seamless connectivity in the commercial aviation market. Looking at these developments made possible by the new 5G technology in the aviation industry, how has it become one of the industry's obstacles in terms of safety? Let's highlight the picture here. Aviation Has Expressed a Serious Concern The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has warned about significant safety concerns in the 5G wireless network setup roadmap. The plan for theusage of C-Band spectrum is the prime reason. 5G network operations can interfere with the radar altimeter performance of aircraft. "It is engaging with other agencies. So that aviation and 5G cellular technology can safely coexist." -A Federal Aviation Administration spokeswoman But with the modifications in the manufacturing processes of aircraft, the industry is encouraging manufacturers. Therefore, the manufacturers could conduct tests for 5G interference and modify aircraft designs. 5G Still Provides Hope for a More Friendly Flying Future Aviation has a 5G rollout despite having no proof. The rollout is about interfering with safety concerns. Instead, 5G in aviation is burgeoning the importance of safety and security more efficiently. The emphasis on safety and security is now even more powerful. Pilots have been equipped with high communication tools with air control towers, especially in weather or technical challenges. The new 5G technology is way near to providing superior in-flight bandwidth connectivity while improving operational efficiency. It is going to improve overall operational efficiency. Passengers will be able to take advantage of high-speed internet on planes. Also, business passengers can conduct their business activities while flying and saving precious time and effort. Frequently Asked Questions Is the new 5G technology harmful to airplanes? According to the FAA, aviation operators should be prepared for the possibility that 5G technology could interfere with transmitters. The effects of 5G could cause certain safety malfunctions for airplanes. This could affect flight operations as well. What are the disadvantages of 5G in aviation? Aviation is getting benefits from 5G technology. But there is always the other side of the coin. So, the disadvantages could be as follows: Obstructions in connectivity High costs of technology Operational hindrance Unmatched frequencies What is the market size of 5G in the aviation industry? The overall market size of 5G in the aviation market was valued at $698.45 million in 2020. Now, it’s projected to extent $4,682.12 million by 2030.

Read More

Spotlight

ATR

ATR is the leader in the regional aviation market. ATR turboprop aircraft are recognized as the most eco-friendly regional airplanes and are the world benchmark in terms of efficiency, reliability and economics on short-haul routes. Today more than 200 operators fly ATRs in over 100 countries worldwide. ATR is an equal partnership between two major European aeronautics players, Airbus and Leonardo. Its head office is in Toulouse. ATR is ISO 14001 certified.

Related News

Aviation Technology

Archer Closes Previously-Announced Financing and Development Agreements to Complete World’s Highest-Volume eVTOL Aircraft Manufacturing Facility

Business Wire | October 12, 2023

Archer Aviation Inc. a leader in electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft, today announced that it has closed agreements with Synovus Bank and Evans General Contractors, LLC for the financing and development of its high-volume manufacturing facility in Covington, Georgia. Construction is already underway on the first phase of the Covington facility build out of approximately 350,000 square feet to support production of up to 650 aircraft per year, which would make it the world’s largest eVTOL aircraft manufacturing facility by volume. Archer expects to produce the highest volume of eVTOL aircraft while bearing a dramatically lower manufacturing capital cost than projects announced by competitors in the industry. Today’s announcement secures at least $65 million in financing which represents a substantial majority of the cost of construction for the first phase of Archer’s eVTOL manufacturing facility. In conjunction with previously announced incentives from the state of Georgia and Archer’s partnership with Stellantis, today’s announcement advances the company’s strategy of creating the most capital efficient path to scaled manufacturing. This is also possible due to Archer’s business strategy of partnering with top tier aerospace suppliers, like Honeywell and Safran, for a majority of Midnight’s components, streamlining the manufacturing and assembly process dramatically while allowing for a facility that is set to achieve high volumes of output. Phase one of Archer’s high-volume manufacturing facility is on target to be completed in 2024 ahead of Midnight’s planned entry into service in 2025. Phase two of the facility provides the capability to expand the operation to approximately 900,000 square feet to support long-term production targets of over 2,000 aircraft per year. “The ability to manufacture eVTOL aircraft at scale is critical to building a successful business in this industry and Archer continues to maintain a significant lead on this front. Today, we’re taking another major step forward on our manufacturing buildout by securing a design-build agreement and financing agreement for the world’s first, and largest by volume, eVTOL manufacturing facility,” said Adam Goldstein, Archer’s Founder and CEO. “Consistent with our capital efficient strategy of getting to commercialization, we’ve achieved attractive terms on the project. These agreements, along with our already strong partnership with Stellantis, give us the flexibility to ramp up our capacity and become the leading scale manufacturer of eVTOL aircraft in the world.” Archer has selected Synovus Bank and Evans General Contractors, LLC, respectively, as its financing and development partners. In selecting its partners for the Covington project, Archer considered a range of companies with expertise in high-volume manufacturing facilities in the southeast United States. Goldstein added, “We are committed long-term partners to the community in Covington, Georgia, and we are thrilled to be working with companies who share our vision of having the world’s leading, state-of-the-art eVTOL manufacturing facility right here in the United States.” Archer’s goal is to transform urban travel, replacing 60-90 minute commutes by car, with estimated 10-20 minute electric aircraft flights that are safe, sustainable, low noise and cost competitive with ground transportation. Archer’s Midnight is a piloted, four passenger aircraft designed to perform rapid back-to-back flights with minimal charge time in between flights. Archer’s Midnight aircraft will be manufactured at the company’s high-volume manufacturing facility in Covington, GA before being deployed to different customers and markets in the U.S. and abroad. About Archer Archer is designing and developing electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft for use in urban air mobility networks. Archer’s mission is to unlock the skies, freeing everyone to reimagine how they move and spend time. Archer's team is based in Santa Clara, CA.

Read More

Aviation Technology

Eviation announces Letter of Intent with flyVbird for 25 Alice All-Electric commuter aircraft

PR Newswire | October 17, 2023

Eviation Aircraft, a leading manufacturer of all-electric aircraft, today announced that flyVbird, an emerging on-demand regional airline, has signed a Letter of Intent (LOI) for 25 Alice aircraft, with options for a further 25. flyVbird is committed to enhancing connectivity in rural areas where it will use smaller, more accessible airports. The airline is driven by unique algorithms to deliver on-demand air travel to routes passengers want to fly. It plans to secure its own Air Operator Certificate to utilize Alice for decentralized and sustainable travel across Europe, connecting unconnected or underserved communities worldwide and delivering carbon-free, cost effective, convenient air travel. Leading the Electric Revolution The nine-seater Alice is the world's first flight-tested all-electric commuter aircraft. Built from a clean-sheet design, the Alice produces zero emissions and costs significantly less to operate per flight hour compared with light jets or regular turboprops. It is powered by two magni650 electric propulsion units developed by magniX, the global industry leader in flight-proven electric propulsion systems. "The European Union is moving forward with ambitious new rules aimed at decarbonizing the aviation industry," said Eddie Jaisaree, Vice President, Commercial Sales at Eviation. "The Alice is the innovative and beautifully designed aircraft needed to lead aerospace's transition to net zero carbon emissions. We are very pleased to partner with flyVbird in the future of flight." "The fact that Alice is a zero-carbon, quiet, low operational cost aircraft makes it the perfect solution for flyVbird to deliver clean, on-demand regional travel across Europe into the next decade and beyond," said Anton Lutz, CEO of flyVbird, at the Routes World 2023 Conference in Istanbul. "Through our unique AI-driven approach, we will offer direct alternatives to typical hub-and-spoke operations and Alice will play a critical role." About Eviation Aircraft Based in Washington State, U.S., Eviation Aircraft Inc. develops and manufactures electric aircraft to delight operators and passengers with green, cost efficient and convenient regional transportation. Its electric propulsion units, high-energy-density batteries, mission-driven energy management, and innovative airframe are designed from the ground up for electric flight. Please visit us at www.eviation.com. About flyVbird flyVbird GmbH (formerly flyvirtual.global UG) is an emerging regional airline headquartered in Germany. In lieu of a traditional hub-and-spoke network, flyVbird's airline model is an AI-backed carrier that will use algorithms to schedule flights based on paid bookings. Its focus will be on serving regional airports to offer a faster and more convenient alternative to traditional transport methods.

Read More

Aviation Technology

Aviation Capital Group Announces Delivery of One A321neo to Spirit Airlines

PR Newswire | October 25, 2023

Garmin announced its latest aviator smartwatch – the D2™ Mach 1 Pro. Featuring a large AMOLED touchscreen display, up to 25 days of battery life1, an LED flashlight and more – D2 Mach 1 Pro is designed for the most demanding pilot lifestyles, including those who fly professionally. Sporting classic pilot watch styling and premium materials like sapphire and titanium, the D2 Mach 1 Pro is ready to be worn both in and out of the cockpit. With extensive aviation, health, fitness and smartwatch features – D2 Mach 1 Pro redefines what pilots should expect from their smartwatch. "This year marks 10 years of the D2 series – a smartwatch line that pilots have relied on to combine aviation tools with the latest smartwatch technology. The D2 Mach 1 Pro provides an extensive set of advanced capabilities that pilots use every day, all while touting battery life that can withstand even the long-haul commercial pilot trips. Features like the LED flashlight and large AMOLED display, combined with the high-end materials, make this the most premium-built D2 smartwatch yet." –Carl Wolf, Garmin Vice President of Aviation Sales and Marketing New features pilots will love A built-in LED flashlight offers variable white light intensities, a strobe function and red light for flight deck operations. Improved battery life touts up to 25 days in smartwatch mode and up to 46 hours in the Fly activity, perfect for the professional pilots who complete their trip over multiple days. Red Shift Mode changes the entire watch interface to shades of red to help preserve night vision, which provides for potentially clearer sight for demanding night flying conditions. The ECG app2 allows users to record their heart rhythm and check for signs of atrial fibrillation (AFib). Users can take a 30-second ECG recording and view the results immediately on their smartwatch and, optionally, later in the Garmin Connect™ smartphone app. When pilots aren't taking to the skies, they can get a better understanding of their fitness levels and track their performance with more than 30 built-in sports apps and advanced training features like hill score and endurance score. Designed for pilots Built for 24/7 wear, the carbon gray D2 Mach 1 Pro combines a durable design and premium materials like sapphire and titanium with a vibrant and sunlight-readable 1.4" AMOLED display. The 51mm watch case features a diamond-like carbon (DLC) titanium bezel and stainless steel 5-button design, allowing for quick access to flying tools, fitness stats, smart notifications3 and more – all on the responsive touchscreen interface. Compatible with a wide variety of metal, leather, nylon and silicone QuickFit™ bands, the D2 Mach 1 Pro can be styled for every type of event, whether it's a workout at the gym or a night on the town. Premium aviation features on your wrist The D2 Mach 1 Pro includes all the preflight, in-flight and postflight features pilots have come to know and trust from the D2 series, including a worldwide aeronautical database, HSI, Direct-to and moving map — all available without a phone connection. Pilots can stay informed with easy access to NEXRAD3, METARs, TAFs and MOS4 weather reports — alongside custom weather alerts as well as non-weather alerts like time, distance, altitude and a fuel timer. Utilize the wrist-based Pulse Ox sensor5 to monitor blood oxygen levels and barometric altimeter for altitude alerts. And in case of an engine-related issue, the D2 Mach 1 Pro can show the best glide speed, estimated glide distance and glide time, along with a bearing pointer to the nearest airport and a list of alternate airports. Flight logging is a breeze with the D2 Mach 1 Pro, which automatically starts tracking flights on takeoff, then automatically transfers the date, duration, total flight time and route to the user's flyGarmin.com logbook3. Pilots can connect with the Garmin Pilot™ app to seamlessly transfer flight plans to the watch and view the list of waypoints included in their route. Additionally, for pilots operating a PlaneSync™-equipped aircraft, the D2 Mach 1 Pro can be used to access the aircraft dashboard to view status information6 including fuel, electrical, database and location information while away from the aircraft. Customized fitness With dozens of built-in sports apps – including new team sport activities like football, baseball, softball and more – D2 Mach 1 Pro provides data and insights for many passions. Whether working out at a gym or in the comfort of one's home, the D2 Mach 1 Pro tracks activities like strength, cardio, indoor rowing, stair stepping, yoga and HIIT. Users can also take advantage of daily workout suggestions or follow animated cardio, strength, yoga and Pilates workouts right on their watch screen. For those exploring the great outdoors, they can keep track of adventures like hiking, mountain biking, skiing, snowboarding, surfing, whitewater rafting and more. Around-the-clock wearability The D2 Mach 1 Pro is designed for all-day wear and includes advanced health and wellness tools, as well as a suite of smart features to keep users connected while on the go. Loaded with 24/7 health monitoring features, the D2 Mach 1 Pro includes Body Battery™ energy monitoring, all-day stress tracking, jet lag advisor, advanced sleep monitoring and sleep score, and more. Packed with connected features, the D2 Mach 1 Pro lets users receive smart notifications3; download songs from Spotify®, Deezer or Amazon Music7 for phone-free listening; check their calendar; breeze through checkout lines with Garmin Pay™ contactless payments8; and more. Like all Garmin smartwatches, the D2 Mach 1 Pro can be used with either Android or Apple® smartphones. Available now, the D2 Mach 1 Pro includes a vented titanium bracelet with carbon gray DLC coating as well as a black silicone band for a suggested retail price of $1399.99. Garmin products and services have revolutionized flight and become essential to the lives of pilots and aircraft owners and operators around the world. A leading provider of solutions to general aviation, business aviation, rotorcraft, advanced air mobility, government and defense, and commercial air carrier customers, Garmin believes every day is an opportunity to innovate. Recipient of the prestigious Robert J. Collier Trophy for Garmin Autoland, Garmin developed the world's first certified autonomous system that activates during an emergency to control and land an aircraft without human intervention. Visit the Garmin Newsroom, email our media team, connect with @garminaviation on social, or follow our blog. Battery life based on D2 Mach 1 Pro when smartwatch mode is enabled. The ECG app is only available when paired with a smartphone with the latest version of the Garmin Connect smartphone app. The ECG app is not available in all regions; see Garmin.com/ECG for availability. The ECG app is not intended for use by people under 22 years old. With the ECG app, this device is capable of generating an ECG similar to a single-lead electrocardiogram. When paired with a compatible smartphone, with a data connection, and in range of Bluetooth technology. U.S. airports only This is not a medical device and is not intended for use in the diagnosis or monitoring of any medical condition; see Garmin.com/ataccuracy. Pulse Ox is not available in all countries. Remote aircraft status requires active PlaneSync subscription. User's smart device must have internet connectivity. Feature is available on-ground only and requires GDL 60 to have LTE connectivity; signal strength and other factors may apply. See Garmin.com/PlaneSyncCoverage for coverage details. May require premium subscription by a third-party music provider View current supported country, payment network and issuing bank information at Garmin.com/GarminPay/Banks.

Read More

Aviation Technology

Archer Closes Previously-Announced Financing and Development Agreements to Complete World’s Highest-Volume eVTOL Aircraft Manufacturing Facility

Business Wire | October 12, 2023

Archer Aviation Inc. a leader in electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft, today announced that it has closed agreements with Synovus Bank and Evans General Contractors, LLC for the financing and development of its high-volume manufacturing facility in Covington, Georgia. Construction is already underway on the first phase of the Covington facility build out of approximately 350,000 square feet to support production of up to 650 aircraft per year, which would make it the world’s largest eVTOL aircraft manufacturing facility by volume. Archer expects to produce the highest volume of eVTOL aircraft while bearing a dramatically lower manufacturing capital cost than projects announced by competitors in the industry. Today’s announcement secures at least $65 million in financing which represents a substantial majority of the cost of construction for the first phase of Archer’s eVTOL manufacturing facility. In conjunction with previously announced incentives from the state of Georgia and Archer’s partnership with Stellantis, today’s announcement advances the company’s strategy of creating the most capital efficient path to scaled manufacturing. This is also possible due to Archer’s business strategy of partnering with top tier aerospace suppliers, like Honeywell and Safran, for a majority of Midnight’s components, streamlining the manufacturing and assembly process dramatically while allowing for a facility that is set to achieve high volumes of output. Phase one of Archer’s high-volume manufacturing facility is on target to be completed in 2024 ahead of Midnight’s planned entry into service in 2025. Phase two of the facility provides the capability to expand the operation to approximately 900,000 square feet to support long-term production targets of over 2,000 aircraft per year. “The ability to manufacture eVTOL aircraft at scale is critical to building a successful business in this industry and Archer continues to maintain a significant lead on this front. Today, we’re taking another major step forward on our manufacturing buildout by securing a design-build agreement and financing agreement for the world’s first, and largest by volume, eVTOL manufacturing facility,” said Adam Goldstein, Archer’s Founder and CEO. “Consistent with our capital efficient strategy of getting to commercialization, we’ve achieved attractive terms on the project. These agreements, along with our already strong partnership with Stellantis, give us the flexibility to ramp up our capacity and become the leading scale manufacturer of eVTOL aircraft in the world.” Archer has selected Synovus Bank and Evans General Contractors, LLC, respectively, as its financing and development partners. In selecting its partners for the Covington project, Archer considered a range of companies with expertise in high-volume manufacturing facilities in the southeast United States. Goldstein added, “We are committed long-term partners to the community in Covington, Georgia, and we are thrilled to be working with companies who share our vision of having the world’s leading, state-of-the-art eVTOL manufacturing facility right here in the United States.” Archer’s goal is to transform urban travel, replacing 60-90 minute commutes by car, with estimated 10-20 minute electric aircraft flights that are safe, sustainable, low noise and cost competitive with ground transportation. Archer’s Midnight is a piloted, four passenger aircraft designed to perform rapid back-to-back flights with minimal charge time in between flights. Archer’s Midnight aircraft will be manufactured at the company’s high-volume manufacturing facility in Covington, GA before being deployed to different customers and markets in the U.S. and abroad. About Archer Archer is designing and developing electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft for use in urban air mobility networks. Archer’s mission is to unlock the skies, freeing everyone to reimagine how they move and spend time. Archer's team is based in Santa Clara, CA.

Read More

Aviation Technology

Eviation announces Letter of Intent with flyVbird for 25 Alice All-Electric commuter aircraft

PR Newswire | October 17, 2023

Eviation Aircraft, a leading manufacturer of all-electric aircraft, today announced that flyVbird, an emerging on-demand regional airline, has signed a Letter of Intent (LOI) for 25 Alice aircraft, with options for a further 25. flyVbird is committed to enhancing connectivity in rural areas where it will use smaller, more accessible airports. The airline is driven by unique algorithms to deliver on-demand air travel to routes passengers want to fly. It plans to secure its own Air Operator Certificate to utilize Alice for decentralized and sustainable travel across Europe, connecting unconnected or underserved communities worldwide and delivering carbon-free, cost effective, convenient air travel. Leading the Electric Revolution The nine-seater Alice is the world's first flight-tested all-electric commuter aircraft. Built from a clean-sheet design, the Alice produces zero emissions and costs significantly less to operate per flight hour compared with light jets or regular turboprops. It is powered by two magni650 electric propulsion units developed by magniX, the global industry leader in flight-proven electric propulsion systems. "The European Union is moving forward with ambitious new rules aimed at decarbonizing the aviation industry," said Eddie Jaisaree, Vice President, Commercial Sales at Eviation. "The Alice is the innovative and beautifully designed aircraft needed to lead aerospace's transition to net zero carbon emissions. We are very pleased to partner with flyVbird in the future of flight." "The fact that Alice is a zero-carbon, quiet, low operational cost aircraft makes it the perfect solution for flyVbird to deliver clean, on-demand regional travel across Europe into the next decade and beyond," said Anton Lutz, CEO of flyVbird, at the Routes World 2023 Conference in Istanbul. "Through our unique AI-driven approach, we will offer direct alternatives to typical hub-and-spoke operations and Alice will play a critical role." About Eviation Aircraft Based in Washington State, U.S., Eviation Aircraft Inc. develops and manufactures electric aircraft to delight operators and passengers with green, cost efficient and convenient regional transportation. Its electric propulsion units, high-energy-density batteries, mission-driven energy management, and innovative airframe are designed from the ground up for electric flight. Please visit us at www.eviation.com. About flyVbird flyVbird GmbH (formerly flyvirtual.global UG) is an emerging regional airline headquartered in Germany. In lieu of a traditional hub-and-spoke network, flyVbird's airline model is an AI-backed carrier that will use algorithms to schedule flights based on paid bookings. Its focus will be on serving regional airports to offer a faster and more convenient alternative to traditional transport methods.

Read More

Aviation Technology

Aviation Capital Group Announces Delivery of One A321neo to Spirit Airlines

PR Newswire | October 25, 2023

Garmin announced its latest aviator smartwatch – the D2™ Mach 1 Pro. Featuring a large AMOLED touchscreen display, up to 25 days of battery life1, an LED flashlight and more – D2 Mach 1 Pro is designed for the most demanding pilot lifestyles, including those who fly professionally. Sporting classic pilot watch styling and premium materials like sapphire and titanium, the D2 Mach 1 Pro is ready to be worn both in and out of the cockpit. With extensive aviation, health, fitness and smartwatch features – D2 Mach 1 Pro redefines what pilots should expect from their smartwatch. "This year marks 10 years of the D2 series – a smartwatch line that pilots have relied on to combine aviation tools with the latest smartwatch technology. The D2 Mach 1 Pro provides an extensive set of advanced capabilities that pilots use every day, all while touting battery life that can withstand even the long-haul commercial pilot trips. Features like the LED flashlight and large AMOLED display, combined with the high-end materials, make this the most premium-built D2 smartwatch yet." –Carl Wolf, Garmin Vice President of Aviation Sales and Marketing New features pilots will love A built-in LED flashlight offers variable white light intensities, a strobe function and red light for flight deck operations. Improved battery life touts up to 25 days in smartwatch mode and up to 46 hours in the Fly activity, perfect for the professional pilots who complete their trip over multiple days. Red Shift Mode changes the entire watch interface to shades of red to help preserve night vision, which provides for potentially clearer sight for demanding night flying conditions. The ECG app2 allows users to record their heart rhythm and check for signs of atrial fibrillation (AFib). Users can take a 30-second ECG recording and view the results immediately on their smartwatch and, optionally, later in the Garmin Connect™ smartphone app. When pilots aren't taking to the skies, they can get a better understanding of their fitness levels and track their performance with more than 30 built-in sports apps and advanced training features like hill score and endurance score. Designed for pilots Built for 24/7 wear, the carbon gray D2 Mach 1 Pro combines a durable design and premium materials like sapphire and titanium with a vibrant and sunlight-readable 1.4" AMOLED display. The 51mm watch case features a diamond-like carbon (DLC) titanium bezel and stainless steel 5-button design, allowing for quick access to flying tools, fitness stats, smart notifications3 and more – all on the responsive touchscreen interface. Compatible with a wide variety of metal, leather, nylon and silicone QuickFit™ bands, the D2 Mach 1 Pro can be styled for every type of event, whether it's a workout at the gym or a night on the town. Premium aviation features on your wrist The D2 Mach 1 Pro includes all the preflight, in-flight and postflight features pilots have come to know and trust from the D2 series, including a worldwide aeronautical database, HSI, Direct-to and moving map — all available without a phone connection. Pilots can stay informed with easy access to NEXRAD3, METARs, TAFs and MOS4 weather reports — alongside custom weather alerts as well as non-weather alerts like time, distance, altitude and a fuel timer. Utilize the wrist-based Pulse Ox sensor5 to monitor blood oxygen levels and barometric altimeter for altitude alerts. And in case of an engine-related issue, the D2 Mach 1 Pro can show the best glide speed, estimated glide distance and glide time, along with a bearing pointer to the nearest airport and a list of alternate airports. Flight logging is a breeze with the D2 Mach 1 Pro, which automatically starts tracking flights on takeoff, then automatically transfers the date, duration, total flight time and route to the user's flyGarmin.com logbook3. Pilots can connect with the Garmin Pilot™ app to seamlessly transfer flight plans to the watch and view the list of waypoints included in their route. Additionally, for pilots operating a PlaneSync™-equipped aircraft, the D2 Mach 1 Pro can be used to access the aircraft dashboard to view status information6 including fuel, electrical, database and location information while away from the aircraft. Customized fitness With dozens of built-in sports apps – including new team sport activities like football, baseball, softball and more – D2 Mach 1 Pro provides data and insights for many passions. Whether working out at a gym or in the comfort of one's home, the D2 Mach 1 Pro tracks activities like strength, cardio, indoor rowing, stair stepping, yoga and HIIT. Users can also take advantage of daily workout suggestions or follow animated cardio, strength, yoga and Pilates workouts right on their watch screen. For those exploring the great outdoors, they can keep track of adventures like hiking, mountain biking, skiing, snowboarding, surfing, whitewater rafting and more. Around-the-clock wearability The D2 Mach 1 Pro is designed for all-day wear and includes advanced health and wellness tools, as well as a suite of smart features to keep users connected while on the go. Loaded with 24/7 health monitoring features, the D2 Mach 1 Pro includes Body Battery™ energy monitoring, all-day stress tracking, jet lag advisor, advanced sleep monitoring and sleep score, and more. Packed with connected features, the D2 Mach 1 Pro lets users receive smart notifications3; download songs from Spotify®, Deezer or Amazon Music7 for phone-free listening; check their calendar; breeze through checkout lines with Garmin Pay™ contactless payments8; and more. Like all Garmin smartwatches, the D2 Mach 1 Pro can be used with either Android or Apple® smartphones. Available now, the D2 Mach 1 Pro includes a vented titanium bracelet with carbon gray DLC coating as well as a black silicone band for a suggested retail price of $1399.99. Garmin products and services have revolutionized flight and become essential to the lives of pilots and aircraft owners and operators around the world. A leading provider of solutions to general aviation, business aviation, rotorcraft, advanced air mobility, government and defense, and commercial air carrier customers, Garmin believes every day is an opportunity to innovate. Recipient of the prestigious Robert J. Collier Trophy for Garmin Autoland, Garmin developed the world's first certified autonomous system that activates during an emergency to control and land an aircraft without human intervention. Visit the Garmin Newsroom, email our media team, connect with @garminaviation on social, or follow our blog. Battery life based on D2 Mach 1 Pro when smartwatch mode is enabled. The ECG app is only available when paired with a smartphone with the latest version of the Garmin Connect smartphone app. The ECG app is not available in all regions; see Garmin.com/ECG for availability. The ECG app is not intended for use by people under 22 years old. With the ECG app, this device is capable of generating an ECG similar to a single-lead electrocardiogram. When paired with a compatible smartphone, with a data connection, and in range of Bluetooth technology. U.S. airports only This is not a medical device and is not intended for use in the diagnosis or monitoring of any medical condition; see Garmin.com/ataccuracy. Pulse Ox is not available in all countries. Remote aircraft status requires active PlaneSync subscription. User's smart device must have internet connectivity. Feature is available on-ground only and requires GDL 60 to have LTE connectivity; signal strength and other factors may apply. See Garmin.com/PlaneSyncCoverage for coverage details. May require premium subscription by a third-party music provider View current supported country, payment network and issuing bank information at Garmin.com/GarminPay/Banks.

Read More

Events