APUs play a pivotal role in aircraft operations, providing electrical power and air conditioning while the plane is on the ground to ensure passenger comfort. They also serve as the power source when a pilot initiates the main engines. Honeywell has a rich history in the APU domain, with its first APU taking flight in 1950. The company has manufactured over 100,000 APUs with more than 36,000 APUs, spanning fixed-wing and rotary-wing applications, in active service across regional, executive, commercial, and military applications today.

The 131-9B APU is renowned for its reliability and cost-efficiency throughout its operational life cycle. Heath Patrick, President of Americas Aftermarket at Honeywell Aerospace, highlighted the significance of this upgrade in the context of the aviation industry’s sustainability efforts. “Globally, airlines are working to reduce their carbon footprint and every incremental step will help them achieve their net-zero carbon emissions targets,” he noted. “An airline with a fleet of 50 737s could realize as much as US$450,000 in annual fuel savings and reduce its emissions by up to 1,100 metric tons of CO2, depending on operating conditions.”

The HEM upgrade is designed for aircraft already equipped with a 131-9B APU, including Boeing 737-600, 737-700, 737-800, 737-900, and 737 MAX models. The upgrade can be seamlessly incorporated during any routine maintenance event and does not necessitate additional downtime for newer 131-9B APUs (series 49 and above) equipped with the new diffuser, enabling an on-wing upgrade to HEM.

The introduction of HEM follows its successful implementation on Airbus A320 Series aircraft in 2020, with over 700 131-9A APUs currently benefiting from the upgrade.

GE Aerospace’s Sensiworm possesses an untethered soft robotics design, equipped with an electronic skin-innervated platform. This unique configuration enables Sensiworm to navigate effortlessly through the intricate crevasses and curves of jet engine components, making it highly effective in detecting part defects, corrosion, and even measuring the thickness of thermal barrier coatings.

Presently, aerospace service operators rely on advanced inspection instruments like video borescopes to gather crucial inspection data. However, these instruments are limited in their ability to cover every inch of the engine due to factors such as gravity, which can cause them to settle when not supported by a structure within the engine. Sensiworm’s self-propelling, compliant design aims to provide operators with unprecedented access to perform inspections without the need to disassemble the engine.

Deepak Trivedi, Principal Robotics Engineer at GE Aerospace Research, explained, “With mini-robot companions like Sensiworm, service operators would have multiple additional sets of eyes and ears to perform on-wing inspections. With their soft, compliant design, they could inspect every inch of jet engines, transmitting live video and real-time data about the condition of parts that operators typically check. Sensiworm can even measure the thickness of thermal barrier coatings on parts that are applied to protect the parts from heat.”

The cutting-edge Sensiworm robot was developed by GE Aerospace with the support of SEMI Flex Tech, a public/private partnership focused on advancing innovative hybrid electronics. This initiative is funded by the US Army Research Lab. GE also collaborated with Binghamton University, known for its world-class Center for Advanced Microelectronics Manufacturing (CAMM), and UES, Inc, an Ohio-based R&D organisation with extensive experience in aerospace and electronics research.”

The Sensiworm represents an advancement in the field of in-situ, highly intelligent robotic platforms. Its potential for on-wing inspections offers the promise of reduced removals, minimised downtime, and faster turnaround times, ultimately ensuring that engines remain at peak operational availability. Further, its potential extends beyond inspection. Trivedi stated, “Currently, our demonstrations have primarily been focused on the inspection of engines. But we’re developing new capabilities that would allow these robots to execute repairs once they find a defect as well.”

As part of this agreement, Eaton will assume a 51% equity stake in the JV, while SIAEC will hold the remaining 49%. The initial issued and paid-up share capital for the venture will amount to US$ 16 million. Both Eaton and SIAEC will subscribe to these shares in accordance with their respective equity positions, contingent upon obtaining the necessary regulatory approvals.

By expanding their collaborative efforts, Eaton and SIAEC intend to strengthen their presence and service capabilities for customers across the Asia Pacific region.

Mr. Ng Chin Hwee, Chief Executive Officer of SIAEC, expressed the strategic importance of this partnership with Eaton in Malaysia, particularly in the context of its growing component capabilities and increasing the competitiveness of its component Power-by-the-Hour product offering. He noted, “This JV will be an important platform to build capabilities on new-generation aircraft and will complement our existing portfolio of engine and component JVs with other leading Original Equipment Manufacturers.”

Nanda Kumar, President of the Aerospace Group at Eaton, highlighted the significance of this new venture, saying, “This new venture will combine SIA Engineering Company’s experience and well-respected position in the region with Eaton’s global reach and existing customer base. We look forward to building our regional presence to serve customers throughout the product lifecycle in this growing market.”

Dassault’s Falcon 6X has been granted the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) and the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) type certificates.

These certifications mark the conclusion of a rigorous two-year-long testing campaign that accumulated 1,500 flight hours worldwide. It signifies a significant step towards the Falcon 6X’s entry into service, with the first units now undergoing final completion.

“The certification of the Falcon 6X represents a remarkable milestone for Dassault Aviation. We extend our appreciation to the EASA and FAA certification teams for their dedication during this demanding process and to our customers for their confidence,” commented Eric Trappier, Chairman and CEO of Dassault Aviation.

The Falcon 6X, with its impressive range of 5,500 nautical miles (10,200 km), stands as a testament to Dassault Aviation’s expertise in both the business and fighter jet spheres. The aircraft is being touted as the longest-range jet in its category and the most spacious, advanced, and versatile twinjet within the long-range business jet segment. It has garnered numerous design accolades, including the Red Dot Award and the International Yacht & Aviation Award.

In a development announced at the 2023 Asia Pacific Airline Training Symposium, Embraer-CAE Training Services (ECTS) is set to launch a state-of-the-art E-Jet E2 full-flight simulator (FFS) and a dedicated pilot training programme. The training will commence at the Singapore-CAE Flight Training Centre in December 2023, marking the first step in this ambitious initiative. Over time, E2 pilot and cabin crew training programmes will be progressively rolled out to strategic locations within CAE’s extensive global network, ensuring seamless support for aircraft deliveries.

The selection of Singapore as the inaugural location is strategic, given the growing presence of E-Jets E2 aircraft in the Asia Pacific region. The establishment of a full-flight simulator and pilot training programme in Singapore enhances Embraer’s value proposition in the APAC region, further solidifying its commitment to customers in this rapidly expanding market.

Johann Bordais, President and CEO of Embraer Services & Support, expressed his enthusiasm about the expansion, stating, “We are delighted to build on our offering and introduce the E2 pilot training programme to support the growing number of APAC operators embracing the latest generation of platforms. We are more than ever committed to providing high-quality training programmes in locations close to our E-Jets E2s’ operators.”

The E2 training programme will feature CAE 7000XR Series full-flight simulators (FFSs) and the innovative CAE Tropos 6000XR visual system. Additionally, it will include CAE XR Series’ flight training devices (FTDs), to provide E-Jet E2 pilots and cabin crews with state-of-the-art training using cutting-edge technology.

Group photo of students at the ERAU Aerial Festival

This groundbreaking event brought together students, aviation enthusiasts, and industry experts to celebrate the limitless potential of the latest drone technology. Under the blue skies of Singapore, the festival provided various experiences for participants, encompassing learning, skill development, demonstrations, and a celebration of the drone landscape. The event not only showcased the capabilities of drones but also underscored the importance of cooperation and regulations in realizing the dream of safe and responsible drone flying.

The drone event at Dover Fields was split into 3 zones and the first zone is where attendees were able to get hands-on experience flying a drone. The second zone is about identifying objects within buckets that could only be seen from certain angles, testing the situational awareness and hand-eye coordination of participants, reflecting the characteristics of a drone pilot. The final zone consists of a demonstration of controlling a remote-control (RC) helicopter by a member of faculty from ERAU, Mr. David Cirulli, participants were also given the opportunity to control and handle a RC Helicopter in this zone.

Zone 2 Activity that requires participants to identify objects within buckets at different angles

To conclude this eye-opening event, GoFlyKite was invited to perform their live night show using aerial technology. GoFlyKite is a company that specializes in aerial performances through the utilization of innovative technology and art. Everyone had the privilege to witness the live performances of these radio-controlled kites which captivated everyone with their mesmerizing aerial maneuvers and animated patterns in the night sky.

The successful hosting of this drone event in Singapore stands as a significant milestone that not only showcases the feasibility of drone flying within the nation’s airspace but also underscores the transformative power of collaboration and robust regulatory frameworks and takes a step towards an enriched aviation landscape.

ERAU Aerial Festival at Dover Fields

SUTD Booth at OneAviation Career Fair

The focal point of SUTD’s booth was an impressive holographic flight planner, designed to swiftly create flight plans during emergency or unexpected airspace situations. ASI researchers and staff effectively manned the booth, atracting numerous visitors intrigued by the holographic display. Notably, industry professionals from various other booths, including representatives from CAAS, Bombardier, Inmarsat, and more, sought out further explanations from Director of ASI, Professor Peter Jackson and ASI Translational Research and Industry Engagement Lead, Mr. Jamie Bloomfield.
Throughout the event, many students from different schools came together to learn more from each other. Youths from Temasek Polytechnic and Changkat Changi Secondary School expressed keen interest in SUTD’s undergraduate programs at the booth. Similarly, aviation club student leaders from the academic institutes present at the fair, came together to discuss on how they conducted club activities for the community.

Photo with students from all universities and polytechnics present

An important milestone was the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between SUTD and CAAS, officiated by Minister Chee Hong Tat on stage. The MOU aims to create more aviation-related internship opportunities for students, facilitate knowledge exchange on air traffic management, aviation operations-related cybersecurity, and emerging unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) technology. After the signing, Minister Chee Hong Tat took time to visit SUTD’s booth and engage in a brief conversation with ASI researchers. They discussed past aviation collaborations between the government and SUTD while reaffirming their commitment to future collaborative efforts in aviation.

MOU between CAAS and SUTD

Beyond the booth, an SUTD alumnus from the class of 2021 actively promoted sustainability in the aviation industry. He shared insights into several innovative sustainable solutions, including the application of small electric vehicles for transporting airport staff and the increased use of Sustainable Aviation Fuel in airlines. Overall, it was a very productive event for SUTD as ASI and AIG networked with industry professionals, reconnected with alumni, and promoted SUTD to potential students.

Photo with SUTD Alumni (Class of 2021)