Turkey to collaborate with Pakistan to build the first-ever "Islamic World" fighter jet?

Prashant-prabhakar

04 Mar 2022

Turkey has an ageing Air Force with most of its old F-16s either requiring repairs or an immediate update. With Greece, its arch-nemesis buying the more advanced Rafale, the hierarchy of power seems to have shifted in the region.

Representative | Daily Sabah

Considering the scenario, and recognizing Turkey's need to upgrade its fleet with an advanced aircraft, the CEO of Turkish Aerospace recently announced that it would be collaborating with Pakistan to develop what could be dubbed as the first-ever fighter jet manufactured in the Islamic world.

A brief history

The fighter aviation market has been dominated by Russia and the Western powers for decades now with US and USSR emerging as the undisputed leaders in this niche since the late 1970s. China has been playing catch-up and is the first country besides the US to build a 5th gen fighter craft and introduce it into service.

Analysts and officials from the Islamic states of  Iran, Pakistan and Turkey have expressed concern over the fact that the Islamic states always have had to rely on foreign aircraft for their inventories.

Representative | BETSOL

Even today, the participation of a country in military aviation is set as a benchmark indicating superior battle prowess and state power.

Here are some of the major fighter programs pursued by the Muslim states, some successful and some who bit the dust.

1. Egyptian Helwan Ha-300 Fighter Prototype

The Ha-300 was the capable jet fighter ever designed by a Muslim state and gave a good run for money to other third-generation fighter jets at the time. This supersonic fighter reached an advanced prototype stage in the mid-1960s and was touted to have been built as a replacement for the Soviet MiG-21 and MiG-19 second-generation jets in the Egyptian Air Force and friendly Arab states such as Syria, Iraq and Algeria.

designer.home.xs4all.nl

2. Kowsar 

The first Iranian fighter jet to enter serial production, Kowsar was a lightweight Gen 4 craft thought to be at par with the American F-20 Tigershark, and like the Tigershark, it is closely based on the F-5E Tiger II third-generation jet for which Iran was a leading client. Although claimed to be an indigenous production by Iran, eyebrows have been raised on those claims, especially since it could rely on North Korean or Chinese technologies for electronic warfare, avionics or engines as Iran’s defence sector has traditionally relied very heavily on technology transfers from these two states.

Military Watch Magazine

3. Qaher-313

Yet another product of Iran, and this was the only model to have reached the prototype stage which was not directly derived from the American F-5. Again, it is highly likely that the Qaher would have imbibed many technologies from the Kowsar fighter which entered service in 2018, and the stealth fighter’s engines could have been derived from those of the Kowsar but enlarged to support a heavier airframe.

The National Interest

The Turkey-Pakistan collaboration- TF-X

Turkey is now planning to jointly develop fighter crafts and missiles with Pakistan, which reportedly, might also make it easier for the country to get access to valuable Chinese military technology.

Representative | Wikiwand

Having been launched in December 2010 under the TF-X ( Turkish Fighter- Experimental) program, it is touted to be a stealthy twin-engine fighter jet comparable to the F-35

Recently, a full-scale mock-up was unveiled at the Singapore Air Show, in what can be described as the first such move in Asia.

This is a fifth-generation fighter aircraft on which Pakistan and Turkey are now cooperatingAir Vice-Marshal Dr Rizwan Riaz, Pro-Rector Research, Innovation & Commercialisation (RIC) at National University of Science and Technology (NUST)

Reportedly, the prototype is planned for 2023 while its maiden flight is scheduled for 2026.

Defence Turkey, a Turkish defence website, has estimated it would cost around $21 billion to develop and produce the TF-X fighter, including $7.3 billion for development alone.

SOURCE(s)

COVER: Defence Turkey Magazine

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How do fighter pilots attend nature's call while at cruising altitudes?

Prashant-prabhakar

03 Mar 2022

The normal pull of 1 G force is what keeps us from floating away into space. The extreme acceleration of a fighter aircraft exposes the pilot to massive G forces, which could be five times as much as normal. To put things into perspective, a pilot who weighs 160 pounds at one G would weigh 960 pounds at six Gs.

Representative | FindLight

Imagine having to attend nature's call while being exposed to such extreme G forces and at 30,000 feet. Sure doesn't sound fun. And it's even more cumbersome than you think.

If the flying sortie is of short duration, the pilot can sometimes hold it back in-although it can be hazardous to kidney health.

With air refuelling allowing for longer flights now, "holding back" is just not an option.

So, how do they manage the task?

Historically

Apparently, the problem of relieving a pilot's bladder while flying fighter jets has been around for decades. Initially, pilots resorted to "tactical dehydration" by avoiding water during the mission(s) to prevent visits to the lavatory.

Mission times vary greatly. An air-to-air dogfighting training mission can be less than an hour, while a mission   that involves aerial refuelling could last 6 plus hours. For longer missions, it’s common not to drink too much inflight but that can lead of course to dehydration and possible diminished operational effectiveness.Jeff Devlin from Skyborne Airline Academy-a former US Marine Corps F-18 fighter pilot

Jeff Devlin (right) | Source

Dehydration can cause undesirable effects like headaches, reduced endurance and G-force tolerance- all of which are detrimental for accurate flying.

Some of the methods that have been developed are:

Piddle Packs: It is essentially a plastic bag but made of a much thicker ply-about the size of a hard covered novel. Inside this bag is a powdered substance. The bag has a built in metal twist-tie to secure the bag after its been opened. For this of course, the pilot has to unstrap and unzip, which has caused a few accidents in the past. The powder turn into a gel as urine saturates it- turning it into a non-spilling substance which can then be stored away. Throughout the entire routine, the jet is either put in an altitude hold (auto pilot), or just trimmed up real well to keep the jet from nosing over/up when you release the controls. The whole process is completed in under a minute.

Piddle pack | US Department of Defense)

These packs are also commonly used for ocean crossings that take 10 plus hoursJeff Devlin

The Aircrew Mission Extender Device (AMXD)

Adopted by the U.S. Air Force as a replacement to piddle packs, this apparatus is a wearable device, that detects urine and flushes it into a bag for storage.

Once the AMXDmax automatically detects urine, it pumps it into a collection bag and because urine is nasty, sensors detect the urine within a second and rapidly pump it into a 1.7 quart (6.8 cups) collection bag. In comparison to piddle bags, pilots now don't have to undress in the cockpit- technically releasing the bladder is all the pilot does. The device looks like a black pair of tight-fitting boxer shorts concealing either a cup or a pad.

Representative | The Drive

Additionally, it comes in two different versions for men and women respectively.

For women | Representative | Source

For men | Representative | Source

The new devices are hands-free, battery operated and worn underneath uniformsAccording to Military.com

Ongoing research and development

Reportedly, Royal Air Force (RAF) has been collaborating with the US Airforce in the development of the Omni Gen. 3 Skydrate which is an upgrade to the existing Advance Mission Extender Device (AMXD).

Representative | Task and Purpose

The RAF has been heavily involved in research and development of a variety of devices and have been instrumental in offering feedback to improve systems with the RAF Centre for Aviation Medicine (RAF CAM) being a world leader in this area.A senior Royal Air Force source said 

As per reports, Skydrate has been modified to improve the design and effectiveness of the pad after feedback from female pilots and is now available for both men and women.

US aircrew is set to receive Skydrate by spring of this year.

SOURCE(s)

COVER: Air Force Times

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Jet fuel prices increased by 3.3% to new all-time highs

Radhika Bansal

02 Mar 2022

Jet fuel prices on Tuesday, March 1 were increased by 3.3% to all-time high levels across the country, in step with international oil prices surging to over seven-year-high.

This is the fifth hike in jet fuel or Aviation Turbine Fuel (ATF) prices this year following an unrelenting rise in global oil prices, but petrol and diesel prices remained unchanged for a record 116th day in a row, coinciding with electioneering to elect new governments in states like Uttar Pradesh and Punjab.

In five hikes beginning January 1, ATF prices have been increased by INR 19,508.25 per kl or 26.35%.

ATF price was hiked by INR 3,010.87 per kilolitre or 3.22% to INR 93,530.66 per kl in the national capital, according to a price notification of state-owned fuel retailers. Jet fuel, which makes up for almost 40% of the running cost of an airline, has this year surged to new highs.

The previous peak of INR 71,028.26 per kl was recorded in August 2008 when international crude oil prices touched USD 147 per barrel. Brent crude oil on Tuesday, March 1 was trading above USD 100 per barrel.

ATF prices have increased every fortnight since the start of 2022. In five hikes beginning January 1, ATF prices have been increased by INR 19,508.25 per kl or 26.35%.

Aviation fuel prices increased by 3.3% to new all-time highs

These hikes in the rate came on the back of two rounds of price cuts seen in December that reflected a drop in international oil prices during the second half of November and mid-December. Thereafter, international rates have firmed up, leading to the hike in ATF prices.

ATF prices had last peaked at INR 80,835.04 per kl in mid-November 2021 before it was cut on December 1 and 15 by a total of INR 6,812.25 per kl or 8.4%.

Jet fuel prices are revised on the 1st and 16th of every month based on the average price of the international benchmark in the preceding fortnight.

Brent crude oil on Tuesday, March 1 was trading above USD 100 per barrel.

This is despite a wild swing in international oil prices. Brent crude oil, the best-known international benchmark, was at USD 82.74 per barrel on November 5, 2021, before it started to fall and touched USD 68.87 a barrel on December 1.

Prices have climbed to over USD 105 per barrel last week following the Russia-Ukraine crisis and is now trading at USD 100.99, well above the peak of USD 86.40 touched on October 26, 2021, which had led to petrol and diesel prices spiking to an all-time high.

Civil Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia on Monday, February 28 said that 23 states have slashed value-added tax (VAT) on jet fuel, also called aviation turbine fuel (ATF), and he is working with other states to lower tax. He said he would not rest until the burden of higher jet fuel becomes lower.

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What is Circadian Rhythm and how does it impact pilots?

Prashant-prabhakar

02 Mar 2022

Getting started

A Circadian Rhythm is any biological phenomenon that involves self-sustained oscillation during 24 hours, caused by the earth's rotation. Everyone in the world has an inbuilt "body clock" and it works much, in the same way, a finely tuned watch-making sure every system of the body works in unison to keep the body in homeostasis ( maintenance of the internal processes within tolerable limits).

Representative | Airport Parking Reservations.com

There are clearly recognizable patterns of brain-wave activity, hormone production, cell regeneration, and other biological activities linked to each individual's daily cycle.

How does it work and what makes it relevant?

The "suprachiasmatic nuclei" located within our brain, sort of act like a pacemaker and regulate the firing of nerve cells that seemingly control our circadian rhythm. Although it can't be precisely said how exactly this part of the brain "keeps time", it is scientifically established that it does rely on "outside" influences to keep the rhythm running.

Representative | Blendspace

Circadian rhythm is impacted by lightness and darkness received throughout the day. Most people’s clocks are naturally set to be the most alert in the mornings and late afternoon. For those who work long hours or graveyard shifts, there can be long term repercussions from ignoring the body’s natural cycle.

Circadian Rhythm Disruption (CRD)

Every time our normal 24-hour period Circadian Rhythm is altered or interrupted, it is bound to have physiological and behavioural impacts- resulting in what is known as "Circadian Rhythm Disruption".

Representative | Shift Workers Health

CRD is more apparent in shift work as now the shift timings are often at loggerheads with our internal body clock. This can result in a wide range of highly documented issues ranging from performance issues to accident and health problems.

Disruption of the biological clock and its impact on pilots

Flight and cabin crews operating on long-haul routes often have to cross multiple time zones, sometimes within the same day. The rapid changes in time zones often disrupt the natural biological cycle and result in what is called a "Jet Lag". Yes, jet lag is also a Circadian Rhythm Disruption. Of all the stressors in aviation, Jet Lag is what seems to hit the hardest.

Representative | Shall We?

The effects of jet lag include health problems such as fatigue, irritability, reduced mental acuity, slow reaction time, mood swings and digestive issue. The decreased cognitive abilities can affect the performance of a pilot flying, on whose hands the entire safety of the flight operation rests.

Representative | The pilot who explores

Scientifically, the effects of jet lag seem to be more prominent when flying from west to east as it becomes difficult for the body to adjust to "losing time" when we journey east as opposed to flying west from the east where we "gain time".

CRD as affecting pilot skills:

Increased reaction time to sequential tasks that require time synchronizationImpaired memoryEmotional irritability, amongst many others

How can the pilots counter these inevitable effects?

It is a given that reduced sleep impairs cognitive performance, thereby making red-eye pilots more susceptible to human error incidents. Fortunately, there are prediction models in place that dictate the pilots when to eat, exercise and sleep based on their working schedule so they can be as alert as possible and get everyone to their destination safely.

Red-Eye flights | Representative | Conde Nast Traveler

Additionally. airliners are now employing new sleep monitoring devices that will help accurately gauge when a pilot may be getting overworked and too fatigued to fly safely.

How do you restore your bio clock and recover?

Catch the sun: Exposing yourselves to sunlight has been scientifically proven to be beneficial in helping reset circadian rhythms. Additionally, this light therapy has a direct and positive effect by increasing brain serotonin levels.

Representative | Culture Trip

Be active: Taking a nap on arrival is the worst you can do as it sets the bio clock back to your home time. It is equally important to blend in with the local time(s) for all activities of the day.

Countering CRD while on duty

Avoid pilot adaptation to a local circadian rhythm following trans-meridian flights with short layoversAlternate trans-meridian flights with intra-meridian flights which will enable a smooth transition to normal circadian rhythmsAvoid night flights following a trans-meridian flightUse caffeine strategically to counter circadian rhythm sleepinessAvoid naps longer than 30 minutes as they involve "deep" sleep

Circadian Rhythm Disruption is also touted to lead to extreme chronic fatigue in the cockpit, the effects of which could just as debilitating as drugs and alcohol.

Nevertheless, pilots are trained extensively well and are very tuned in to their personal needs during a flight and hence you’re in highly qualified hands.

SOURCE(s)

COVER: Fodors Travel Guide

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Russian flights banned from American airspace; Boeing halts maintenance support

Radhika Bansal

02 Mar 2022

American aviation giant Boeing on Tuesday, March 1 announced it was suspending its support for Russian airlines and its operations in Moscow amid a growing backlash to Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

"We have suspended major operations in Moscow and temporarily closed our office in Kyiv," the Ukrainian capital.We are also suspending parts, maintenance and technical support services for Russian airlines. As the conflict continues, our teams are focused on ensuring the safety of our teammates in the region."Spokesperson, Boeing

The announcement came a day after Boeing said it had paused operations at its Moscow Training Campus and temporarily closed its office in Kyiv.

The flag carrier of Russia Aeroflot, which flies the Boeing 737 and 777, last week announced it was suspending flights to Europe in response to the flight ban.

U.S. bans Russian flights from American airspace

The United States will follow the European Union and Canada in banning Russian flights from its airspace, President Joe Biden said on Tuesday, March 1 in a move likely to trigger Russian retaliation.

The U.S. bans Russian flights from American airspace

The sweeping orders will mean any plane owned, certified, operated, registered, chartered, leased, or controlled by, for, or for the benefit of a person who is a citizen of Russia will be prohibited from flying over the U.S., the agencies said. The prohibition applies to scheduled and charter passenger and cargo flights. 

United Airlines and United Parcel Service (UPS) have also suspended flying over Russian airspace, joining other major U.S. carriers Delta Air Lines and American Airlines.

"I am announcing that we will join our allies in closing off American airspace to all Russian flights, further isolating Russia and adding squeeze on their economy," Biden said in his State of the Union address.

The White House had held extensive talks with U.S. airlines about the issue in recent days. The ban will take effect by the end of March 2. Russian flights were already effectively barred from U.S. destinations for the most part in recent days because of bans on the use of Canadian and European airspace.

The hardest hit is likely to be Russian carriers, which make up approximately 70% of the flights between Russia and the EU

Some foreign governments had privately questioned why the United States did not move faster to ban Russian planes, as had some U.S. lawmakers.

The European Union had said on Tuesday that it was speaking to U.S. counterparts about extending the ban as it gave more details of the EU's closure of airspace to Russian aircraft imposed after Moscow invaded Ukraine.

Airlines already face potentially lengthy blockages of key east-west flight corridors after the EU and Moscow issued tit-for-tat airspace bans. 

The United States will follow the European Union in banning Russian flights from its airspace

Global supply chains, already hit hard by the pandemic, will face increasing disruption and cost pressure from the closure of the skies which will affect over a fifth of air freight. The hardest hit is likely to be Russian carriers, which make up approximately 70% of the flights between Russia and the EU.

Transport between Europe and North Asian destinations like Japan, South Korea and China is in the front line of disruption after reciprocal bans barred European carriers from flying over Siberia and prevented Russian airlines from flying to Europe.

Airlines responsible for moving around 20% of the world's air cargo are affected by those bans, Frederic Horst, managing director of Cargo Facts Consulting, told Reuters on Tuesday, March 1.

Indian carriers have joined hands to evacuate Indian nationals from Ukraine

Major Asian carriers like Korean Air Lines and Japan's ANA Holdings are still using Russian airspace, however, as are Middle Eastern airlines and Indian carriers.

Russian airlines are also feeling the pinch with airline Pobeda, state airline Aeroflot's low-cost carrier, facing requests from several leasing companies to return their planes, the Interfax news agency reported. 

Pure cargo carriers like Russia's AirBridgeCargo Airlines and Luxembourg's Cargolux are subject to the bans in a move that could send air freight rates - already elevated due to a lack of passenger capacity during the pandemic - soaring further.

Shipping container shortages and port bottlenecks mean more products are being flown by air.

In December, air cargo rates were 150% above 2019 levels, according to the International Air Transport Association. Sanctions imposed on Russia in the wake of its Ukraine invasion are expected to further disrupt global supply chains.

Russia's AirBridgeCargo alone moves just under 4% of global international air cargo, with most of that between Europe and Asia, Horst said.

Shipping container shortages and port bottlenecks mean more products are being flown by air. Demand for air cargo last year was 6.9% above 2019 levels, according to IATA.

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AAI signs air traffic services agreement with Noida International Airport

Radhika Bansal

02 Mar 2022

Airports Authority of India (AAI), the national airport's operator, will provide air traffic services at the upcoming Noida International Airport at Jewar in Greater Noida. As per sources, the first phase is expected to be commissioned by 2024. 

An agreement to this effect was signed between the AAI and Yamuna International Airport Private Limited (YIAPL) on February 28, AAI said. YIAPL is a special purpose vehicle set up for the development of the greenfield Noida International Airport at Jewar. As an Air Navigation Services Provider, AAI is the only entity statutorily empowered to provide air traffic services in the country.

https://twitter.com/NIAirport/status/1498257230029721601

"AAI is pleased to partner with Noida International Airport and is upbeat about these kinds of challenging projects, which will open new gateways of operating multiple major airports in the vicinity of each other catering to the Metros," said A K Pathak, Member (Planning) at AAI.

Mumbai and Navi Mumbai are lined up for a similar approach, he said, adding AAI has already signed a pact for CNS-ATM services with Navi Mumbai International Airport (NMIAL) in 2018. Under the pact with the Noida International Airport, AAI will plan, procure, install and commission the CNS/ATM equipment and facilities and provide air traffic services at the upcoming airport, AAI said.

AAI signs air traffic services agreement with Noida International Airport

Besides, the facility will also be equipped with Advanced Surface Movement Guidance and Control Systems and ATS Automation Systems which will enable situational awareness and provide decision support to Air Traffic Controllers for all-weather operations, it stated.

ALSO READ - Jewar Airport has the potential to make Noida what Delhi Airport made Gurgaon

The Noida International Airport (Jewar) is expected to be commissioned by the year 2025 and AAI will be associated with the airport operator in all three phases covered under the CNS-ATM agreement such as the pre-commissioning, commissioning, and the operational phase, as per the statement.

The Noida International Airport (Jewar) is expected to be commissioned by the year 2025

The airspace design and flight procedure design will be undertaken collaboratively under the Air Space Management (ASM) Directorate of AAI with the participation of the New Delhi Air Traffic Control Centre and the airport operator, it added. AAI said it is also expected to deploy its ATC and ATSEP (Air Traffic Services Engineering Professionals) workforce to meet service standards. 

ALSO READ - UP government to purchase extra 7.9 hectares of land for Noida Airport

The airport will plan and build all relevant aeronautical facilities according to national and international norms prescribed by the Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA), Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) and the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO). A joint coordination committee of NIA and AAI will monitor the implementation of the agreement.

"CNS/ATM agreement with the AAI is yet another milestone in ensuring cost-efficient aeronautical processes and the development of Noida International Airport. We are looking to partner with AAI to ensure safe, efficient and cost-effective ATM services for the airlines operating at the upcoming airport and provide customer-focussed airport operations in a collaborative environment.”Christoph Schnellmann, CEO, Yamuna International Airport Private Limited (YIAPL)

YIAPL - a 100% subsidiary of Zurich Airport International - has been incorporated as a special purpose vehicle (SPV) to develop the airport at Jewar. The company is responsible for implementing the public-private partnership (PPP) project together with the Government of Uttar Pradesh, New Delhi Okhla Industrial Development Authority and Greater Noida Industrial Development Authority.

The airport will start with two runways by 2024 under phase I and it will have five runways on completion to full capacity.

Zurich Airport International AG, the concessionaire of the Jewar airport project, will invest about INR 30,000 crore and has got 40 years to fully develop the project.

Under the public-private partnership model, the concessionaire will design, build, finance, operate and transfer the project to the government after 40 years. The airport will start with two runways by 2024 under phase I and it will have five runways on completion to full capacity.

Construction of Noida International Airport began in November 2021. Expected to be completed by 2024, it will be India's largest airport, with a capacity to handle 5 million passengers yearly.

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