Aviation Technology

Aviation Capital Group Announces Delivery of One Boeing 737-8 MAX to Icelandair

Aviation Capital Group | March 17, 2022

Boeing
Aviation Capital Group LLC (“ACG”) announced the delivery of one new Boeing 737-8 MAX aircraft on long-term lease to Icelandair. This Boeing 737 MAX aircraft, powered by CFM International’s LEAP-1B engines, is part of a multi-aircraft transaction between ACG and the airline.

“With this delivery, we are delighted to complete the purchase and leaseback of two Boeing 737-8 MAX aircraft and the long-term financing through ACG’s Aircraft Financing Solutions program of one Boeing 737-9 MAX aircraft with Icelandair,” said Robert Lewandowski, Managing Director of ACG. “We look forward to continuing our close and long-standing relationship with the Icelandair Group and working with them on their future financing needs,” added Roger Carley, Vice President of Marketing for ACG.

“Icelandair is delighted to team up with ACG, a long-lasting business partner, on this transaction. The renewal of our fleet with new eco-efficient airplanes like the Boeing 737 MAX is an important step towards reaching our ambitious goals of reducing the company’s carbon emissions by 50% by 2030.”

Bogi Nils Bogason, CEO of Icelandair

About Aviation Capital Group
Aviation Capital Group was founded in 1989 and is one of the world’s premier full-service aircraft asset managers with over 440 owned, managed and committed aircraft as of December 31, 2021, which are leased to approximately 90 airlines in approximately 45 countries. ACG is a wholly owned subsidiary of Tokyo Century Corporation.

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Aviation Technology

Joby Subsidiary H2FLY Completes World’s First Piloted Flight of Liquid Hydrogen Powered Electric Aircraft

businesswire | September 14, 2023

H2FLY, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Joby Aviation, today announced the successful completion of the world’s first piloted flight of a liquid hydrogen-powered electric aircraft. H2FLY, acquired by Joby in 2021, continues to lead the industry on the development and testing of hydrogen aviation propulsion systems. The company completed a series of piloted flights with its HY4 demonstrator aircraft, including one that lasted more than three hours, fitted with a hydrogen-electric fuel cell propulsion system and liquid hydrogen that powered it for the entire flight. The flights demonstrate the viability of using cryogenically-stored liquid hydrogen instead of gaseous hydrogen, which enables significantly lower tank weights and volume, leading to longer range. The successful installation and demonstration of flight with liquid hydrogen is believed to increase the range of H2FLY’s HY4 demonstrator aircraft from 466 mi (750 km) to 932 mi (1500 km), marking a critical step towards the long-term decarbonization of mid- to long-range aviation. “H2FLY are pioneers in their field, and we’re proud of them achieving this watershed moment in the use of liquid hydrogen to power aircraft,” said JoeBen Bevirt, Founder and CEO of Joby Aviation. “In the years to come, battery-electric and hydrogen-electric propulsion systems will enable us to build aircraft that are quieter and make mid- to long-range air travel possible with zero emissions. It’s critical we take action now and invest aggressively in these technologies for the health of our planet and future generations to come.” The successful flights are the culmination of Project HEAVEN, a European-government-supported consortium assembled to demonstrate the feasibility of using liquid hydrogen in aircraft. The consortium is led by H2FLY and includes the partners Air Liquide, Pipistrel Vertical Solutions, the German Aerospace Center (DLR), EKPO Fuel Cell Technologies, and Fundación Ayesa. Following this test flight milestone, H2FLY will increasingly focus on its path to commercialization. In June, H2FLY announced the development of its new fuel cell systems, which will be capable of providing their full power range at altitudes high enough to enable commercial hydrogen-electric aircraft, demonstrating real-world commercial aircraft applications. About Joby Joby Aviation, Inc. is a California-based transportation company developing an all-electric, vertical take-off and landing air taxi which it intends to operate as part of a fast, quiet, and convenient service in cities around the world.

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Defense and Space

SmartSky® and flyExclusive Complete ATG Installation on Cessna Citation XL

PRnewswire | July 11, 2023

SmartSky Networks®, a leading provider of inflight air-to-ground (ATG) connectivity for business aviation, today announced flyExclusive, one of the nation's five largest private jet operators, has completed an STC installation of SmartSky's broadband WiFi service on a flyExclusive Cessna Citation XL jet. The installation of the flagship system was the second STC installation completed by flyExclusive's experienced aviation MRO services team. It represents an important milestone in upgrading to SmartSky's connectivity solution on flyExclusive's premium fleet, which includes 40 Citation XL charter aircraft. In addition to the Citation XL, flyExclusive has already installed SmartSky's inflight WiFi on the super-midsize Citation X. The FAA certificate for the XL was issued on June 8, 2023. "flyExclusive is one of the nation's leading private aviation providers because we have focused everything we do on our customers and making every minute matter for them," said Mike Guina, chief operating officer of flyExclusive. "The milestone we've achieved with SmartSky Networks means that more of our customers will be able to maximize their time in the air by staying connected to what's happening with their businesses and families on the ground." flyExclusive's vertically integrated business model means it can maintain, repair, and operate its own jets at its headquarters in Kinston, North Carolina. There, flyExclusive is able to control the fleet's consistency and quality using its state-of-the-art paint facility, an upholstery and interior shop, and a 24/7 maintenance operation. The team announced in May that it achieved Part 145 Certification, which means that it is certified to install third-party systems on the company's fleet as well as private jets owned by other operators. "flyExclusive's MRO team did an incredible job with the STC installation on the XL, completing it in just 210 labor hours. We are ecstatic for even more flyExclusive customers to get to experience SmartSky's unprecedented WiFi performance in the sky," said SmartSky President Ryan Stone. About SmartSky SmartSky Networks was founded to transform aviation through disruptive communications technologies, services, and tools. The network takes advantage of patented spectrum reuse, advanced beamforming technologies, and 60 MHz of spectrum for significantly enhanced connectivity. SmartSky Networks uniquely enables an "office in the sky" experience with unmatched capacity for data transmissions both to and from the aircraft. This real-time, very low latency, bidirectional data link makes SmartSky Networks the best in-flight user experience, and a key enabler for new and enhanced applications and services.

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Defense and Space

Rocket Lab Signs Multi-Launch Deal to Further Deploy Synspective Constellation

Businesswire | July 14, 2023

Rocket Lab USA, Inc. (Nasdaq: RKLB) (“Rocket Lab” or “the Company”), a global leader in launch services and space systems, today announced it has signed a deal with Japanese Earth imaging company Synspective to launch two dedicated Electron missions. The new missions bring the total number of Electron launches contracted by Synspective to six. Rocket Lab has been launching for Synspective since 2020 when the Company deployed the first satellite in Synspective’s synthetic aperture radar (SAR) constellation, which is designed to deliver imagery that can detect millimetre-level changes to the Earth’s surface from space. Since that first mission, Rocket Lab has been the sole launch provider for Synspective’s StriX constellation to date, successfully deploying three StriX satellites across three dedicated Electron launches. Including the two new missions, Rocket Lab is now scheduled to launch three missions for Synspective beginning in late 2023 from Launch Complex 1 in New Zealand. Rocket Lab founder and Chief Executive, Peter Beck, says: “It’s an honor to be entrusted with the continued deployment of Synspective’s constellation. We’re proud to enable them to build out their constellation with precision and efficiency, giving Synspective ultimate schedule and orbit flexibility with frequent dedicated launch opportunities. We’re delighted to continue delivering this unique ability to Synspective through our continued partnership.” In addition to providing Synspective with a high degree over schedule and orbit by flying as a dedicated mission, Rocket Lab also delivers the unique ability to perform an advanced mid-mission maneuver with the Electron rocket’s Kick Stage to shield the StriX satellite from the sun to reduce radiation exposure ahead of payload deployment. Synspective founder and CEO, Dr. Motoyuki Arai, says: “As we celebrate our three-year partnership with Rocket Lab, which began with our first StriX-α satellite in 2020, we are thrilled to entrust them with two more contracts for our StriX satellite launches. Their unwavering reliability and precision have been pivotal to our successful deployments. We’re looking forward to the upcoming launches and the new insights to enhance our satellite data and solution service in line with our customer needs.” Synspective joins several commercial constellation operators that have signed multi-launch agreements on Electron this year, including HawkEye 360 and Capella Space. Previous Rocket Lab Launches for Synspective: • The Owl’s Night Begins: 15 December 2020 • The Owl’s Night Continues: 28 February 2022 • The Owl Spreads Its Wings: 15 September 2022 About Rocket Lab Founded in 2006, Rocket Lab is an end-to-end space company with an established track record of mission success. We deliver reliable launch services, satellite manufacture, spacecraft components, and on-orbit management solutions that make it faster, easier and more affordable to access space. Headquartered in Long Beach, California, Rocket Lab designs and manufactures the Electron small orbital launch vehicle, the Photon satellite platform and the Company is developing the large Neutron launch vehicle for constellation deployment. Since its first orbital launch in January 2018, Rocket Lab’s Electron launch vehicle has become the second most frequently launched U.S. rocket annually and has delivered 163 satellites to orbit for private and public sector organizations, enabling operations in national security, scientific research, space debris mitigation, Earth observation, climate monitoring, and communications. Rocket Lab’s Photon spacecraft platform has been selected to support NASA missions to the Moon and Mars, as well as the first private commercial mission to Venus. Rocket Lab has three launch pads at two launch sites, including two launch pads at a private orbital launch site located in New Zealand and a third launch pad in Virginia.

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Defense and Space

Artel, LLC Partners with Rivada Space Networks for Mission Critical Connectivity

PRnewswire | June 26, 2023

Rivada Space Networks and Artel LLC have announced the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding and Master Services Agreement (MSA) to bring a new level of high security and low latency satellite communications to the government market through low earth orbit (LEO) constellations. Artel LLC provides secure network communication services to U.S. government agencies. Based in the U.S, Artel is a carrier-agnostic network integrator – allowing it to develop customized solutions for its customers, providing cost-effective, on-time delivery of global terrestrial and satellite network communication services, cyber security, risk management, and information technology solutions. Rivada's first-of-its-kind LEO constellation will offer access to a secure satellite network with pole-to-pole reach, offering end-to-end latencies similar to or better than terrestrial fiber. The RSN satellite architecture combines inter-satellite laser links with advanced onboard data routers to create an optical mesh network in space. This approach to "orbital networking" delivers a highly secure data network by routing traffic on a physically separated network, providing a layer of defense for any organization that needs to securely share data over long distances. It is a unique capability for operations in the government services, enterprise, telecom, maritime and energy markets. Artel is already using first generation LEO constellations to deliver secure communications for government communications. In anticipation of the USG's requirements to make use of advanced LEO systems, Artel will now work with Rivada to ensure the latest innovation in secure space architecture is available for mission critical connectivity. "We are committed to delivering state-of-the-art technology solutions to the US Government", said Ed Spitler, Head of Satcoms Programs at Artel. "The Rivada constellation brings a new level of security, performance and global reach that will enable our customers to not only expand their current networks but also address new market opportunities. We are excited to partner with RSN to provide the next generation of secure connectivity." Declan Ganley, CEO, Rivada Space Networks, said: "Rivada has a long history of providing mission critical communications, including deploying an emergency network for first responders in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina in Louisiana. Now with the advanced capabilities of our LEO satellite constellation, where data travels through space alone, we are building something unique, which we call the 'OuterNET.' This new, real private network will provide ultra secure, highly reliable low latency communications anywhere on the globe. And with our manufacturing and launch-services agreements in place, we are moving ahead at full speed to provide our partners with our ground-breaking constellation." About Rivada Space Networks Rivada Space Networks GmbH is a disruptive new company set to establish and operate the first true "OuterNET": a global low latency point-to-point connectivity network of LEO satellites. By connecting its satellites with lasers, Rivada Space Networks will provide resellers and B2B customers with the ability to securely connect any two points on the globe with low latency and high bandwidth. The constellations, comprising 600 low-earth-orbit communications satellites, will represent a fundamental change in the availability of secure, global, end-to-end enterprise-grade connectivity for Telecom, Enterprise, Maritime, Energy and Government Services markets.

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Spotlight

British Airways has committed to more Boeing 787 Dreamliners as it plans to boost capacity and continue its global recovery. Meanwhile, there's also coverage on International Airlines group and their strong start to 2023 as well as future outlook.

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