Archer completes preliminary design review of the "Midnight" eVTOL - receives its first pre-delivery payment from United Airlines

According to reports, Archer Aviation has completed the preliminary design review for the initial production version of its eVTOL air taxi dubbed " Midnight".

A blast from the past

Midnight is Archer’s second eVTOL design, its first is "Maker". The company unveiled the prototype of the Maker in June 2021. It is a two-seater, fixed-wing vehicle with an all-composite fuselage that is powered by twelve electric motors. With 75 kWh of battery power available, the vehicle can fly 100 kilometres/60 miles at a speed of 240 kilometres per hour/150 miles per hour. The Maker made its first short hover flight on December 16.

Maker

Midnight is a piloted, four-passenger aircraft that is the aircraft planned to be used for commercial operations. It is expected to be able to carry more than 1,000 pounds of payload and to be able to fly up to 100 miles. Furthermore, it is expected to be able to complete the target mission of successive 20-mile flights with a charging time of approximately 10 minutes.

What is a Preliminary Design Review (PDR)?

A PDR is a review of the aircraft design to ensure the program is on track and the design is mature enough to proceed to the next development phase and the kick-off of production of long lead time hardware.

It also features all aspects of the aircraft’s specifications and manufacturing requirements, necessary pre-conditions for determining that the design is feasible for regulatory compliance and viable to bring to market.

Representative

The Preliminary Design Review has been completed, with the findings now used for the Critical Design Review that is scheduled for the first half of 2023. The Midnight will be the version that Archer plans to certify for commercial services, for which it is actively working with the FAA.

While that is underway, Archer is also building its manufacturing infrastructure simultaneously. According to the company, it has selected over 50% of its suppliers for the program, recently adding Honeywell for various systems and FACC for the production of the fuselage and wing elements to the program.

$10 million deposit from...

In what it describes as a “watershed moment for the eVTOL industry”, Archer announced that it has received a $10 million pre-delivery payment from United Airlines on 100 Midnights.

United’s decision to place a deposit for 100 of Archer’s eVTOL aircraft signals its desire to be one of the first airline operators in the US to bring eVTOL aircraft to market.Archer says in a press release

United’s decision to place a deposit for 100 of Archer’s eVTOL aircraft signals its desire to be one of the first airline operators in the US to bring eVTOL aircraft to the market.

Recently, United formed a Joint eVTOL Advisory Committee with Archer, allowing the parties to work more closely on eVTOL maintenance and operational matters. Committee members include Archer’s operations and maintenance leadership, as well as leadership from United’s maintenance, materials, and engineering groups.

United had provisionally agreed to buy in February 2021. Archer said the deal represents one of the first of its kind for the budding eVTOL industry, as many eVTOL developers have signed only non-binding agreements with prospective customers that have not yet made any formal payments.

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According to reports, American Airlines and Boom Supersonic have announced the airline’s agreement to purchase up to 20 Overture aircraft, with an option for an additional 40. Apparently, the airline has already paid a non-refundable deposit on the initial 20 aircraft.

Boom Supersonic’s Overture would introduce an important new speed advantage to American’s fleet, which is currently the simplest, youngest and most efficient among U.S. network carriers.

Looking to the future, supersonic travel will be an important part of our ability to deliver for our customers. We are excited about how Boom will shape the future of travel both for our company and our customers.Derek Kerr, American’s Chief Financial Officer

The Boom Supersonic Overture

The Overture is touted to be the world's fastest airliner-optimized for speed, safety, and sustainability.

Beautiful sky. Cumulonimbus cloud and cirrus cloud

It is being designed to carry 65 to 80 passengers at Mach 1.7 over water — or twice the speed of today’s fastest commercial aircraft — with a range of 4,250 nautical miles. Flying from Miami to London in just under five hours and Los Angeles to Honolulu in three hours are just two among the many possibilities.

CRUISE SPEEDMACH 1.7CRUISING ALTITUDE60K FT FUEL100% SUSTAINABLE AVIATION FUELRANGE4250 NMPASSENGER CAPACITY65-80Boom Supersonic

We are proud to share our vision of a more connected and sustainable world with American Airlines. We believe Overture can help American deepen its competitive advantage on network, loyalty and overall airline preference through the paradigm-changing benefits of cutting travel times in halfsaid Blake Scholl, Founder and CEO of Boom

Blake Scholl

Boom revealed the final production design of Overture in July, which is slated to roll out in 2025 and carry its first passengers by 2029.

ALSO READ - Boom Supersonic unveils updated “Overture” supersonic airliner design

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The security of India and Sri Lanka is enhanced by mutual understanding, mutual trust and cooperation, the Indian envoy here said on Monday, August 15 as India gifted a Dornier aircraft to the Sri Lanka Navy to enhance its maritime surveillance capabilities and bolster the bilateral defence ties.

Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe was present at the handover ceremony which took place on a day when India celebrated its 76th Independence Day and a day before a high-tech Chinese missile and satellite tracking ship docks at the island nation's Hambantota port.

Vice Chief of Indian Navy Vice Admiral S N Ghormade, who is on a two-day visit to the country, accompanied by Indian High Commissioner in Colombo Gopal Baglay, handed over the maritime surveillance aircraft to the Sri Lanka Navy at the Sri Lanka Air Force base in Katunayake, adjoining the Colombo international airport.

https://twitter.com/IndiainSL/status/1559083805947727873

"Security of #India and #Srilanka is enhanced by mutual understanding, mutual trust and cooperation. Gifting of Dornier 228 is #India's latest contribution to this cause," High Commissioner Baglay said at the handing over event.

"Like fruits of other areas of cooperation with India, the gift of Dornier to @airforcelk is of relevance to and a step to meet its requirements for maritime safety and security. It is an example of India's strength adding to the strength of its friends," he said.

The aircraft is being provided to Sri Lanka from the inventory of the Indian Navy to help the country meet its immediate security requirement. The Indian Navy has already provided extensive training to a team from Sri Lanka's Navy and the Air Force to operate the maritime surveillance aircraft.

Sri Lanka Navy receives Dornier aircraft as a gift from the Indian Navy

"Sri Lanka has been a key partner of India and we will continue to expand our bilateral defence cooperation in the months and years to come," a senior official said in New Delhi on condition of anonymity.

Recalling the arrangement, Sri Lankan officials earlier said that during the Defence Dialogue between India and Sri Lanka held in January 2018 in New Delhi, Sri Lanka had sought the possibility of obtaining two Dornier Reconnaissance Aircraft from India to enhance the maritime surveillance capabilities of the island nation.

The sources in New Delhi said India will provide to Sri Lanka two Dornier aircraft which are being manufactured by state-run aerospace major Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL).

The aircraft will be flown and maintained by 15 Sri Lanka Air Force crew who were specifically trained in India for four months.

Once these two HAL-manufactured aircraft are handed over, then the Dornier aircraft given will return to the Indian Navy. The aircraft will be flown and maintained by 15 Sri Lanka Air Force crew who were specifically trained in India for four months.

The team consists of pilots, observers, engineering officers and technicians. They will be supervised by the government of India technical team attached to the Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF).

The team would undertake comprehensive supervision of aircraft, airframe, aircraft support equipment, ground support equipment, and relevant documents and would ascertain the serviceability of all the assets, the SLAF said.

India will provide to Sri Lanka two Dornier aircraft which are being manufactured by state-run aerospace major Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL).

The handing over of the Dornier aircraft by India comes a day before Chinese ship 'Yuan Wang 5' docs at the Southern port of Hambantota on Tuesday for a week for replenishment purposes. The ship was originally scheduled to arrive at the port on August 11 but it was delayed in absence of permission by the Sri Lankan authorities.

Sri Lanka is a member of the ‘Colombo Security Conclave’, which began as a trilateral initiate involving India, Sri Lanka and the Maldives, and later included Mauritius, for maritime cooperation in the region. Sri Lanka maintains close defence ties with its regional partners, including India and Pakistan.

“Our national security is deeply intertwined with our collective security aspirations in this region,” National Security Adviser Ajit K. Doval said in March this year, addressing the fifth NSA-level talks of the Conclave held in the Maldives.

Malaysia Airlines has signed a provisional agreement to acquire 20 Airbus A330neos to replace its ageing fleet of A330 widebody jets in a deal that also involves aircraft leasing company Avolon.

The airline will buy 10 of the planes from Airbus and then execute a sale-and-leaseback deal with Avolon, with the other 10 leased directly from Avolon. The planes, which will have Rolls-Royce engines, are scheduled to be delivered from the third quarter of 2024 through 2028.

Avolon said separately that deliveries will begin in 2024 and that it will finance all of the planes, with the 10 bought by the carrier set to be purchased on sale-and-leaseback terms.

The model is a re-engined version of the original A330 that the airline already operates, obviating the need for pilots to go through expensive retraining.

The aircraft will join the carrier’s fleet of six long-range A350-900s and gradually replace its 21 A330ceo aircraft. The model is a re-engined version of the original A330 that the airline already operates, obviating the need for pilots to go through expensive retraining.

The fleet upgrade, which includes purchase rights for another 20 A330neos, comes amid signs of a pick-up in demand for widebody jets after a lengthy downturn. From East Asia to the Gulf, several airlines are renewing widebody fleets as international air traffic recovers from its pandemic lows.

"The A330neo will not only provide modernisation to our fleet and enhanced operational efficiency, but also meet environmental targets through reduced fuel-burn per seat while keeping passenger safety and comfort at its core.The innovative, cost effective, successful tripartite approach offers a holistic solution to fleet owners that is financially viable for MAG as we secure a lower and stable cost base, and with assurance of support financing.This is a significant milestone as the Group moves ahead towards the successful execution of our Long-Term Business Plan 2.0 to position itself as a leading aviation services Group within the region.”Izham Ismail, CEO, Malaysia Airlines

The airline said it was also working with Airbus on a wider collaboration in Malaysia in areas including sustainable aviation fuel, training, maintenance and airspace management.

Malaysia Airlines, which cut its debt burden by more than half as part of a restructuring agreed with creditors last year, has said it aims to return to profit in 2023 as demand improves.

"Malaysia Airlines is one of the great Asian carriers and we are proud and humbled to be its preferred supplier of widebody aircraft. The decision is a clear endorsement of the A330neo as the most efficient option in this size category for premium operations.” Christian Scherer, Chief Commercial Officer and Head of International, Airbus

The A330neos, all of which are the larger A330-900 model, will have 300 seats and a two-class layout and operate on the airline's existing network throughout Asia, Australia, New Zealand and the Middle East.

Parent Malaysia Aviation Group has been cash-flow positive since the fourth quarter of last year, with capacity restored to 60% of pre-Covid levels. The stronger-than-expected recovery in air travel has provided a boost for planemakers following a hiatus during the pandemic, with wide-body demand now picking up after an earlier rebound in single-aisle sales.

As of the end of July 2022, the A330neo has received more than 270 firm orders from over 20 customers worldwide.

The A330neo is the new generation version of the popular A330 widebody. Incorporating the latest generation engines, a new wing and a range of aerodynamic innovations, the aircraft offers a 25% reduction in fuel consumption and CO2 emissions. The A330-900 is capable of flying 7,200nm / 13,300km non-stop. 

The A330neo features the award-winning Airspace cabin, providing passengers with a new level of comfort, ambience and design. This includes offering more personal space, larger overhead bins, a new lighting system and the ability to offer the latest in-flight entertainment systems and full connectivity.

As with all Airbus aircraft, the A330neo also features a state-of-the-art cabin air system ensuring a clean and safe environment during the flight. As of the end of July 2022, the A330neo has received more than 270 firm orders from over 20 customers worldwide.

India has all the substances to become a big marketplace for sustainable aviation fuel (SAF), Julien Manhes, head of Sustainable Fuel Projects at Airbus told Mint.

The use of SAF offers distinctive alternatives to nations to scale back their dependence on fossil gas and it wants a regulator to implement insurance policies and airways that are keen, Manhes stated. “Sustainable aviation gas is at the starting of turning into bigger at scale..globally presently it has lower than 1% of general gas consumption.”

Globally, airlines like United, Air France, EasyJet, Qantas, and Lufthansa have been faster in adapting to SAF, others are a bit slower however Airbus expects that by 2050, practically 70% of the international ATF consumption must be SAF pushed.

Airbus says India has all the substances to become a big market for sustainable aviation fuel (SAF)

Fuel effectivity can be one in each of the steps in direction of power conservation, Manhes stated, including that 63% of the Indian fleet includes fuel-efficient new era planes, Manhes stated.

Airbus is engaged in modifications to aerodynamic, avionic and different small modifications to plane expertise to achieve higher gas effectivity, Manhes added.

The firm is engaged in a brand new challenge on hydrogen and anticipates the business entry of such a plane into service by 2035. The goal is to have "a great double-digit" saving when it comes to gas effectiveness as compared to the present product.

The idea of sustainable aviation gas amongst Indian airlines continues to be at a nascent stage

Cost is an element of the adoption of SAF however economies of scale shall be vital. However, Manhes stated, that there has been proof of eagerness in company travellers throughout Europe and the US to pay extra for an airline which is inclined in direction of SAF. “Whether fares go up or not relies on the airways, relies on native rules,” he added.

India’s ministry of civil aviation and the ministry of petroleum and natural gas are engaged in issuing a roadmap for sustainable aviation gas over the subsequent few months, officers in the know of the matter stated.

This would lay the framework for decreasing carbon emissions through the aviation trade. Thus the use of SAF would be a new way of reducing the fossil fuel dependency of the country and in turn help in maintaining India’s COP26 targets.

Airbus is engaged in modifications to aerodynamic, avionic and different small modifications to plane expertise to achieve higher gas effectivity

The idea of sustainable aviation gas amongst Indian airlines continues to be at a nascent stage. So far, there have been a handful of demonstration flights on blended gas to decrease carbon emissions. In August 2018, SpiceJet operated the first such flight which operated on a mix of 75% aviation turbine gas and 25% biogas constituted from the jatropha plant.

ALSO READ - IndiGo joins sustainable initiative spearheaded by the World Economic Forum

IndiGo had additionally taken delivery of an aircraft which ran on sustainable aviation fuel in February 2022. In December's final 12 months, the airline signed a settlement with the Dehradun-based Council of Scientific and Industrial Research-Indian Institute of Petroleum to manufacture and deploy sustainable aviation gas globally.

IndiGo had additionally taken a supply of an aircraft which ran on sustainable aviation fuel in February 2022.

ALSO READ - Airbus, Air Liquide and VINCI Airports collaborate to accelerate the decarbonization of the aviation sector

Consuming about 10% of the total energy of the transportation sector each year, the Aviation industry exhales its own share of greenhouse gas into the atmosphere which is about 2.5% of global emissions. This leads to concerns for the environment and has also led the aircraft sector to increasingly adopt non-fossil fuel.

ALSO READ - AN-32 of IAF to fly on blended biodiesel for 200 hours

Today, India requires about 25 Metric Ton of Aviation Turbine Fuel (ATF) to ensure all its civil and military aircraft remain airborne, which also has economic and strategic considerations. Further, the de facto supply line (and stock) of imported crude and refined products with oil companies (and refineries) is highly limited.

(With Inputs from Mint)

Following the guidelines of the government of India to provide contactless, seamless processing of passengers at Airports, the Delhi International Airport Limited (DIAL) on Monday, August 15 announced the soft launch of a beta version of the DigiYatra app for the Android platform.

The Delhi Airport is among the first few airports to introduce this system in the country. DIAL had installed the required facility at Terminal 3 of Delhi Airport and already conducted its trials. Nearly 20,000 passengers had a seamless and secure travel experience after using the facility during the trials.

The beta version of the DigiYatra app is presently available at Playstore (for the Andriod platform). The same app will be available in App Store (for the IOS platform) in a few weeks.

https://twitter.com/DelhiAirport/status/1559131299486597120

ALSO READ - DGCA alters the Digi-Yatra program; enables self-registration for touchless travel

Domestic passengers flying from Terminal 3 by any airline can download the app and register themselves for a seamless travel experience at the airport.

The 'DigiYatra' is a Biometric Enabled Seamless Travel experience (BEST) based on Facial Recognition Technology. It aims to provide a paperless and seamless travel experience to the passengers.

"DigiYatra is a unique initiative of the Government of India, coordinated by the Ministry of Civil Aviation. It is in line with the Prime Minister's vision to transform the nation into a digitally empowered society. Delhi Airport is among the first few airports of the country which are ready with the facial recognition system. The system is going to give a seamless experience to passengers. The FRS will save passengers from the process of identity checks at multiple points and encourage them to travel paperless and also enhance safety at the airport."Videh Kumar Jaipuriar, CEO, Delhi International Airport Limited (DIAL)

With this technology, passengers' entry would be automatically processed based on the facial recognition system at all checkpoints including entry into the airport, security check areas, aircraft boarding, etc.

The technology will make the boarding process significantly faster and more seamless as each passenger would need less than three seconds at every touchpoint. Their face would act as their documents, like ID proof, Vaccine proof and also act as a boarding pass.

The DigiYatra Foundation will be the custodian of the passenger ID validation process. It will also define the criteria for compliance and guidelines for the local airport systems.

It will also ensure enhanced security at the airport as the passenger data is validated with the Airlines Departure Control System, thereby only designated passengers can enter the terminal. The entire process is non-intrusive and automatic leading to optimization of staff for stakeholders like CISF, airlines and others.

Last month, the Consultative Committee of the Ministry of Civil Aviation met to discuss the DigiYatra project. The project is being implemented by the DigiYatra Foundation — a joint-venture company whose shareholders are the Airports Authority of India (26% stake) and Bengaluru Airport, Delhi Airport, Hyderabad Airport, Mumbai Airport and Cochin International Airport. These five shareholders equally hold the remaining 74% of the shares.

The DigiYatra Foundation will be the custodian of the passenger ID validation process. It will also define the criteria for compliance and guidelines for the local airport systems.

The Airport Authority of India (AAI) will identify the airports where DigiYatra will be implemented in a phased manner.

There will be regular audits of the various compliances and guidelines (including guidelines on security, image quality, and data privacy) defined by the DigiYatra guidelines for the local airport Biometric Boarding Systems.

ALSO READ - Check-in at Bengaluru and Varanasi airports using facial recognition technology on August 15

In the consultative committee meeting, it was proposed that in the first phase, DigiYatra will be rolled out at Varanasi and Bengaluru this month, and at five airports — Pune, Vijayawada, Kolkata, Delhi and Hyderabad — by March next year. The Airport Authority of India (AAI) will identify the airports where DigiYatra will be implemented in a phased manner.

DigiYatra app operational at Bangalore Airport

Bangalore International Airport Ltd (BIAL) says the DY Biometric boarding system at Kempegowda International Airport’s (KIA) e-gates is operational and being rolled out at full scale for all domestic airlines in a phased manner, covering checkpoints for domestic travel.

https://twitter.com/BLRAirport/status/1559160698562912256

Vistara and AirAsia India are currently integrated with DY at KIA. Passengers can easily enrol on the DigiYatra app from the comfort of their homes, BIAL says.

“It is our constant endeavour at BIAL to offer innovative ways to simplify the passenger journey and make it as seamless as possible. The DY Central Ecosystem (DYCE) implementation is one more step towards achieving this. We are glad to be part of the first phase rollout.”Hari Marar, MD & CEO, Bangalore International Airport Ltd (BIAL)

BIAL says “privacy issues are taken care of and passengers will not have to worry about sharing their data as it is secure and will be deleted after 24 hours following their travel.”

DYCE is the initiative of the Digi Yatra Foundation (DYF) which was set up as a joint venture company in 2019, and BIAL is one of the key shareholders. The DigiYatra Foundation will be a pan-India entity and the custodian of the Passenger ID validation process.