Airbus Zephyr | The first stratospheric UAS of its kind sets firsts of many kinds

Prashant-prabhakar

24 Oct 2021

Airbus Defence and Space had very recently announced the successful landing of its first production aircraft of the Zephyr programme, the new Zephyr S HAPS (High Altitude Pseudo-Satellite).

So, here's all you need to know about the ambitious project.

Globally renowned solar–electric, stratospheric Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) and running exclusively on solar power, it typically flies above the conventional air traffic and weather. Bridging the gap between satellites, this UAV is to provide consistent satellite-like images.

Airbus

As a part of its test flight campaign, the final Airbus solar-powered High Altitude Platform System (HAPS) flight touched down on 13th September in Arizona, USA, ending the most ambitious and successful Zephyr flight campaign to date.

This very successful maiden flight represents a new significant milestone in the Zephyr programme, adding a new stratospheric flight endurance record which we hope will be formalised very shortly. We will in the coming days check all engineering data and outputs and start the preparation of additional flights planned for the second half of this year from our new  operating site at the Wyndham airfield in Western AustraliaJana Rosenmann, Head of Unmanned Aerial Systems at Airbus

Milestone(s) achieved

1. The only HAPS with the capability to perform at length in the stratosphere, having completed 36 days of stratospheric flight across two 2021 flights.

2. Bagged the world record for an absolute altitude of 76,100 feet for a UAV of this class.

3. Successful flights with multiple payload integrations demonstrated and tested a new OPAZ payload, streaming Earth observation data.

4. Demonstrated precise stratospheric manoeuvrability and station-keeping over points on the ground.

5. During a 2018 test flight, Zephyr achieved a record 25 days, 23 hours and 57 minutes of endurance, without refuelling. 

Tech and specification(s)

Airbus

Wingspan25mWeight Less than 75kgPayload Different levels of payload capability with incremental performance levels 

Being compatible with OPAZ, which is the In house ObservationSsystem developed by Airbus, Zephyr provides 18cm electro-optical and 70cm infra-red imagery and videos. Additionally, it can also integrate 3rd party customer supplied payloads. 

Zephyr is also touted to introduce the new See, Sense and Connect capabilities which would be beneficial for the military and commercial customers alike.

With the "See and Sense" technology, Zephyr can provide a range of continuous surveillance to meet mission requirements. With a payload coverage of 20 by 30km footprint, sensors located in the stratosphere can easily detect minute environmental changes.

Zephyr can cover even the remotest parts of the world. Apparently, one Zephyr has coverage equivalent to that of 250 cell towers.

Also, since it runs completely on solar power, the entire flight time is carbon-neutral- a notable step towards sustainable aviation.

Credible and proven ultra-persistence, stratospheric agility, and payload interoperability underscore why Zephyr is the leader in its sector. It is a sustainable, solar powered, ISR and network extending solution that can provide vital future connectivity and earth observation to where it is neededJana Rosenmann

Did you know? The Zephyr was originally designed and built-in 2003 by the British Defence contractor, QinetiQ. Later on, it was sold to EADS Astrium (current Airbus Defence and Space) in March 2013 where it was successfully re-flown as part of the High Altitude Pseudo-Satellite (HAPS) programme.

COVER: Airbus

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Qantas to start Sydney-Delhi flight from December 6

Radhika Bansal

23 Oct 2021

Australian airline company Qantas on Friday, October 22 said it will start operating flights on the Sydney-Delhi route from December 6 onwards.

Qantas said the Sydney-Delhi flight is its first commercial service between Australia and India in almost a decade.

"Flights from Sydney to Delhi would operate via Darwin, while flights from Delhi to Sydney would operate nonstop.This (flight) is subject to discussions with Indian authorities to finalise necessary approvals.The Sydney-Delhi flight will operate three times a week with its Airbus A330 aircraft.The frequency of Sydney-Delhi flights will be increased by the end of the year making it a daily service."Statement from Qantas

In line with current Australian government regulations, these flights are limited to Australian citizens, permanent residents and their immediate families and parents.

These flights would initially operate until at least late March 2022, to continue if there is sufficient demand, it added.

Qantas Group CEO Alan Joyce said, "Given the strong ties between Australia and India, flights between Sydney and Delhi have been on our radar for some time, and we think there will be strong demand from family and friends wanting to reconnect once borders open."

Scott Morrison, Prime Minister, Australia (Image Courtesy - NDTV)

Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison had earlier this month announced that an 18-month ban on Australians travelling abroad will be lifted from November 1.

In addition to this, the Morrison government will also recognise the vaccination status of international travellers vaccinated with Covishield, the Indian variant of the UK's AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine.

Australia is among the most preferred destinations for Indian students, and for Indian citizens looking to migrate.

This will be the first time Qantas has operated direct commercial flights from India to Australia since 2009. Over the past 12 months, the airline has operated more than 50 repatriation flights from India on behalf of the Australian Government to bring Australians home.

(Image Courtesy - Qantas)

Qantas says while many aspects of international travel will be the same for customers as they were pre-COVID, some things will look a little different, particularly in the short term. Passengers need to be vaccinated with approved Covid jabs, except children under 2 and medical exemptions. A negative report from a Covid PCR test taken 72 hours before flying to Australia is needed for entry into Australia.

For the last few years, Air India has been the only airline with nonstops between India and Australia.

Cover Image - Conde Nast Traveller

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Medical emergency forces Delhi bound flight to land in Indore, passenger passed away

Radhika Bansal

23 Oct 2021

Delhi-bound Vistara flight was diverted to Devi Ahilyabai Holkar International Airport in Madhya Pradesh's Indore after a passenger complained of breathlessness and fainted, an airport official said on Friday, October 22.

The Vistara flight UK-818, which took off from Bengaluru, landed in Indore at 9:30 PM on Thursday, October 21 and the passenger was rushed to a nearby hospital, where he was declared dead, he said.

"Manoj Kumar Agrawal, who was travelling in Vistara's flight, complained of breathlessness and fainted. The Bengaluru-Delhi flight landed under medical emergency around 9:30 PM at Indore airport after being diverted," the airport's in-charge director Pramod Kumar Sharma said.

The passenger was rushed to Banthia Hospital here, where doctors declared him dead after examination.

"Agrawal succumbed on way to hospital from the airport and looking at his condition, it appears that he must have suffered a heart attack," director of the hospital, Dr Sunil Banthia, said.

An aerodrome police station official said that Agrawal belongs to Delhi and after post-mortem, his body will be handed over to his family.

Image for representative purpose only. (Image Courtesy - EMS Solutions International)

Earlier in October, an IndiGo flight from Kolkata to Hyderabad (6E 946) made an emergency landing at the Biju Patnaik International Airport here due to a medical exigency. The flight to Hyderabad was diverted to Bhubaneswar due to a medical emergency relating to the breathing problem of a 59-year-old man.

The patient was attended by a doctor in the flight itself who detected cardiac problems and suggested that the patient be immediately admitted to the nearest hospital for further medical assistance.

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DGCA fines two flights schools for violating rules

Radhika Bansal

23 Oct 2021

The DGCA on Friday, October 22 said that it has imposed a penalty of INR 75,000 each on two flying training organisations (FTOs) that were found violating the aviation regulator's rules in audits done in September. This is the first time that the Directorate General of Civil Aviation has imposed a financial penalty on anyone, according to a statement.

"The lapses (on the part of the two FTOs) were related to improper maintenance of breath analyser (BA) equipment for the conduct of mandatory BA test and the fine in each case amounts to Rs 75,000," the DGCA said in its statement.

This "level-1 non-compliance" was found when the DGCA conducted special audits of FTOs in September, it said.

“During special audits of FTOs last month, non-compliances were detected in the case of two organisations. Invoking a new provision of the Aircraft Act, 1934, DGCA has for the first time imposed financial penalty against these two organisations. The lapses related to improper maintenance of breath analyser equipment for the conduct of mandatory BA test and the fine in each case amounts to INR 75,000."A Senior DGCA Official

According to DGCA rules, trainee pilots and other aviation sector employees have to undergo random BA tests. The DGCA imposed financial penalties on the two FTOs under the newly introduced Section 10A of the Aircraft Act, 1934.

"In September 2020, Section 10A was introduced in the Aircraft Act, 1934 providing for the financial penalty against the service providers involved in violation of regulations or requirements," the DGCA mentioned.

Subsequently, in May 2020, an enabling provision was introduced by amending Rule 162 read with Schedule 6B of the Aircraft Rules, 1937.

Sources said that the DGCA team did surprise checks on flying schools during which the team found that breath analyser test equipment at government-owned Indira Gandhi Rashtriya Udan Academy (IGRUA) which is situated in Amethi and Chimes Aviation Academy- a flying training school at Madhya Pradesh were not maintained properly.

The Aircraft Act (Amendment) Bill 2020 seeks to convert aviation agencies like the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), Bureau of Civil aviation security (BCAS) and Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) into statutory bodies.

Under the new Act (after its implementation), any violation will attract heavy punishment, for example, violators will be punished up to two years in jail or fine up to INR 10 lakhs or both. Carrying arms, ammunition, and explosives or other banned goods on board, and developing illegal construction around the airports will attract fines up to INR 10 lakhs to INR 1 crore.

The National Civil Aviation Policy 2016 had proposed giving more powers to the regulators and the issue is being taken up now because of the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) audit early next year.

(Image Courtesy - Wikimedia Commons)

India's Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) is the country's civil aviation regulator. Its vision is to “endeavour to promote safe and efficient Air Transportation through regulation and proactive safety oversight system.

Its roles are, among other things, the registration of civil aircraft, formulation of standards of airworthiness for civil aircraft registered in India and granting of certificates of airworthiness, licensing of pilots, aircraft maintenance engineers, flight engineers and air traffic controllers, certification of aerodromes and CNS/ATM facilities, granting of Air Operator’s Certificates to Indian carriers and regulation of air transport services operating to/from/within/over India by Indian and foreign operators, including clearance of scheduled and non-scheduled flights of such operators, conducting an investigation into accidents/incidents and more.

Cover Image - The Flying School

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Scindia wants Indian carriers to buy more widebodied aircraft

Radhika Bansal

23 Oct 2021

The Centre is looking forward to Indian airlines purchasing and leasing many more wide-bodied aircraft once the Indian aviation sector recuperates from the COVID-induced crisis, Civil Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia said on Friday, October 22.

Only two Indian carriers -- Air India and Vistara -- currently have wide-bodied aircraft, which have bigger fuel tanks that allows them to operate long-haul flights such as on India-US routes.

Air India [AI] Boeing 777-300ER (Image Courtesy - Spansen)

Scindia, while speaking at a conference of Public Affairs Forum of India, said Air India's successful sale to the Tata group is a testament of the belief of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and this government that "the private sector has an integral to play in making sure that service value proposition is there for all customers". "I think in many ways, this (privatisation) changes the long-standing perception of the government in business," he added.

The Centre had announced on October 8 that a Tata group subsidiary made the winning bid for Air India by quoting INR 18,000 crore. Both Air India and Vistara are owned by the Tata group now.

"Our national flagship carrier (Air India), over the last 10 years, due to the policies of the past governments, had really become a drag on the resources of the country.That divestment process was completed. The handover is in process. I wish the new owners all success," he mentioned. There is a need to have a level playing field and break down of all the gatekeepers to allow the proliferation of aviation sector players -- not only new players but also existing players that will augment capacity. Stating that he does not want to put the cart before the horse, Scindia said once the normalisation happens, there should be an expansion of capacities. And the expansion of capacities that I would like to see is not only for domestic traffic but also for international traffic. So, I am looking forward to our domestic airlines purchasing many more and leasing many more wide-bodied aircraft so that they can also travel abroad. And these long-haul flights, which will shorten the gap between the RASK and the CASK, the revenue structure and the cost structure of the airline, is something that I am looking forward to."Jyotiraditya Scindia, Union Minister of Civil Aviation

RASK stands for revenue per available seat-kilometre and it is calculated by dividing the total revenue earned from a flight by the total number of seats and the distance travelled. Similarly, CASK stands for cost per available seat-kilometre.

The minister said he is looking to the return of normalcy in the domestic aviation sector in the next couple of months. He said he wished his very best to the two airlines -- reborn Jet Airways and new airline Akasa -- that were coming on board. "The fact that you had a very chequered past with a lot of airlines closing down and today we have a birth of two airlines taking place -- this is a very promising sign for the future," he added.

Rakesh Jhunjhunwala backed Akasa Air

Akasa is backed by ace investor Rakesh Jhunjhunwala and former Jet Airways CEO Vinay Dube and former IndiGo President Aditya Ghosh. It aims to start operations by the summer of 2022.

Jalan Kalrock Consortium, the winning bidder for the grounded airline Jet Airways, had said last month it will restart domestic operations by the first quarter of 2022 and short-haul international flights by the last quarter of the next year.

The minister said he does not think that any other sector in the industry has been hit as hard as the aviation sector by the coronavirus pandemic. Scindia said there are three levers on which this industry should keep its focus -- inclusion, access and affordability. "It will be only a matter of time, in the next three to five years, the number of people travelling by air would be much higher than those travelling by train in coaches second AC or above," he mentioned.

The Centre aims to have one helipad in every district in India. (Image Courtesy - GQ India)

The Centre aims to have one helipad in every district in India, he said while talking about the recently-launched helicopter policy. The government's role is of constructive collaborator and not that of restrictive regulator for the aviation industry and that is why it has established nine advisory groups with the industry, he said.

He pointed to the to growing from 75 airports, heliports and waterdromes to close to 136 airports, teleports and waterdrome’s in seven years.

India's aviation sector is slowly recovering from the turbulence caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. With infection rates falling, vaccination picking up and countries opening up borders to foreign travellers, air passenger traffic is starting to rebound.

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FAA to conduct the next air safety mechanism audit | DGCA gears up

Prashant-prabhakar

23 Oct 2021

The Indian civil aviation watchdog hustles up and gets ready for an audit of the country's air safety mechanism, possibly by next week.

According to officials, the team from FAA, who is likely to land here either today or tomorrow, will commence the process next week starting October 25.

How crucial is this audit for Indian's aviation sector? A brief history

Asia Financial

In addition to the FAA, UN's aviation arm- ICAO, has also been conducting audits to evaluate India's air safety readiness.

Earlier, the ICAO had carried out the Universal Safety Oversight Audit Programme for India in November 2017, followed by a second one in February 2018. The results were quite depressing as it showed the country's rankings drop to 57.44 per cent from 65.82 per cent earlier, placing India below Pakistan, Nepal and many other nations.DGCA was quick to take stock of the situation following which, the scores improved to 74.

These audits also put forward the proposal asking DGCA to be the licensing authority for ATC officers- a task formerly handled by the AAI.

Primary areas of focus

Primary and civil aviation legislationCivil aviation organizationPersonnel licensing and trainingAircraft operations and airworthiness

The importance of good audit scores cannot be emphasised enough as international expansion plans are profoundly impacted by this.

India was placed on the list of 13 worst performing nations in the ICAO audit of 2012. The country's rankings were downgraded further in an audit conducted by the FAA in 2014- a lack of adequate regulatory foresight quoted as being the reason.

Indian operators were barred from signing commercial contracts with US airlines or adding new routes to the US during this period. However, the ratings were restored the following year.

The next round of audit to be conducted by ICAO is expected sometime in 2022.

Also to be noted, the last audit conducted by the FAA was in 2018 wherein it had raised concerns about regulatory and guidance materials. The DGCA, again, was quick to spring into action post which the FAA granted the highest aviation safety ranking of Category 1 for India.

COVER: PennyStocks.News

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