The topical issues of science and technology. Хрестоматия для студентов-бакалавров направления «Лингвистика»

For instance, Gatwick Airport – an FTE Innovation & Startup Hub Corporate Partner – and Zurich-based startup Assaia are now working together, 12 months after their first face-to-face meeting at an FTE Startup Hub Live event.

In 2020, we expect that even more airlines and airports will seek partnerships with the startup scene as part of their efforts to improve customer experiences and enhance overall business efficiency. (1037) (23073)

Aviation Trends 2020: The Future Is Now

Dominic LoBianco (a contributing writer and media specialist for Tectonic Management Group).

February 6, 2020

Like any industry, those in the aviation industry must adapt and improve every year to remain competitive, help passengers travel safely, increase profits, and streamline manufacturing and operations. However, as our society becomes more digitized in the 21st century, stakeholders in the industry must continue to adapt with them. You may use some of this technology today, but we believe some of the tips below will become more mainstream in the year to come.

Smart hangars

Smart hangars are designed to be much more secure and intuitive than traditional hangars. With the incorporation of advanced 4G fiber optic internet, they can create “technology blankets” with dedicated servers for each airline/hangar to

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create secure channels, improving the ability to communicate on the fly. This is crucial when dealing with real-time flight logs, especially when additional hazards are incorporated such as inclement weather.

Plus, the hangars are designed with security cameras, emergency doors that close quickly, and fire alarms/sprinklers that prevent fires from spreading. Planes cannot be tampered with because they are locked securely in these hangars, and passengers can board safely because the security measures for each flight are run through the hangar’s computer system.

Charter flight companies have complete control over every flight, and the hangars can even block hackers who are trying to hack the plane’s computer.

Robotic technology

Robotic technology is used to assist passengers in airports around the world. However, more airports are investing in robot assistants. A basic example of in commercial airports currently is the moving walkway and automatic ticket kiosks, but we expect the incorporation of robotic technology to widely expand. Robots could offer better customer service to people who check in the curb, and the airport might have roving robots who can help passengers who are confused, lost, or need flight documentation.

Passengers can get flight information from a robot that greets them when they get off the shuttle. There are even robot drones that prevent birds from congregating near the runway. These scarecrow simulators can prevent death and injury from

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aviation accidents. Robots are easy to program, and they can help passengers when human associates are busy. Plus, you can deploy as many robots as you want without paying them. Robotic technology is a good thing for people who have just landed in a new place. The robots that sit outside every gate can deliver information to the burning questions for customers to find their baggage claim, layover flights, etc.

Biometric services

Biometrics can serve multiple purposes in a commercial airport. For example, they can be used during TSA check to ensure there is no identity theft. Additionally, they can be used at the gates to ensure the right person is getting on a flight. Airlines could use biometrics that have been collected along with the traveler’s driver’s license. Plus, the passengers could enter their biometric information online before they go to the airport.

With obvious preventative measures in mind, these additional safety checks can lead to safer airplanes when pilots must enter biometric information to change the plane’s direction.

Hijackers could not take over a plane because they do not have the biometric information from the pilot. The plane can fly on its own, and the hijacker must wait for the plane to land itself.

Biometrics could be used to help passengers travel paperlessly through the airport. If you put your thumbprint on your boarding pass when you get to the airport, you can use your thumbprint to get through security and get on the plane. You do

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not even need to store the boarding pass on your plane. Plus, you never need to worry about losing a paper ticket.

Liquids you can take on the plane

Security companies are creating x-ray and scanning machines that can detect the contents of liquid packages. You might be able to take liquids on a plane again because the scanning knows if you are carrying hazardous chemicals. The traditional liquid rules may not apply when you get to certain airports.

Security screenings are much easier to complete when the machine tells you everything you need to know. Plus, someone like an asthmatic does not need to explain what is in their inhaler. The screener knows when to pass passengers through, and they will cut down on baggage checks or advanced screenings that can be very uncomfortable.

Sustainable aircraft management

Airports are trying to land planes quickly, cut back on fuel waste, and prevent planes from creating too many greenhouse gases when taking off. Adjusting air traffic control procedures at every airport makes planes a bit more sustainable. Plus, sustainable aircraft fuels are available for planes that use new fuels.

Airlines are trying to be more sustainable because they can save money. In fact, you can review every airline you fly with to find the greenest company. Also, you might want to sign petitions for your local airport to use sustainable take-off and landing techniques.

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Conclusion to aviation trends in 2020

Aviation infrastructure is changing every year to make flying easier, cheaper, and sustainable. Charter companies often lead the way in sustainable technology because they can use smart hangars, robots, and automated security. Plus, airports are offering sustainable fuel, robot assistants, and paperless flight options. If your local airport does not use these things, you should start lobbying for a better travel experience. If you manage an airline or work in the industry, you should push for these technologies. Investors can buy into new technologies early, and air travel will become a more sustainable and safer way to travel globally. (5891)

Stratolaunch Systems: Building the World's Largest

Airplane

By Adam Mann

May 28, 2019

Stratolaunch Systems is a private spaceflight company that aims to create an airborne launch system for spacecraft. It is the brainchild of Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen, who steered the company until his death from non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, a type of blood cancer, in 2018.

According to Stratolaunch's website, the space-focused Allen founded the business to "get game-changing ideas off the ground by making space launch more reliable, affordable and accessible than ever before." The company intends to create "a world where booking a satellite launch is as routine and

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convenient as booking a plane ticket. So more people — across more industries — can see their big ideas take flight."

When it first began in 2011, Stratolaunch teamed up with Elon Musk's spaceflight company SpaceX, which was going to build a modified version of the Falcon 9 rocket to launch from Stratolaunch's giant plane. However, the two companies parted ways within a year and Stratolaunch announced that it was considering multiple different launch vehicles.

In 2015, Stratolaunch Systems was placed under the supervision of Allen's new aerospace company, Vulcan Aerospace. The next year, the company announced that it would be using Orbital ATK's Pegasus XL rocket to launch satellites from their innovative and enormous aircraft, the Model 351 Stratolaunch.

The largest plane

The M351 Stratolaunch features twin fuselages and six jet engines. It is designed to fly small rockets to an altitude of about 35,000 feet (10,700 meters), then release them so they can fire their own engines and reach orbit.

The aircraft weighs 500,000 lbs. (227,000 kilograms), and it can carry another 550,000 lbs. (almost 250,000 kg) with up to three rockets under the wing at the center of the vehicle. Nicknamed "Roc," the craft has a wingspan of 385 feet (117 m)

— about the same length as the International Space Station. The plane was built by Scaled Composites, the company

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founded by Burt Rutan that also built SpaceShipOne, which won the Ansari X Prize in 2004.

The enormous airplane's first test came in 2017, when Stratolaunch rolled it out on the runway in Mojave to test its steering, braking, anti-skid and telemetry systems. Company officials said at the time that everything operated as anticipated.

At one point, the company planned to develop its own rockets. Called the Medium Launch Vehicle, it would have been capable of placing 7,500 lbs. (3,400 kg) into low Earth orbit, the company announced in August 2018. The vehicle would have been powered by an engine called PGA, named after the initials of Paul G. Allen.

But just six months later, Stratolaunch said they would be abandoning those plans. Allen's death in the intervening time had raised questions about the company's future, since it was almost entirely funded by him.

In 2018, Roc practiced for its first flight with several taxi tests in which the craft raced down a runway under its own power, reaching a top speed of 136 mph (219 km/h) but didn't take off.

Stratolaunch's first flight

On April 13, 2019, the world's largest airplane flew from the Mojave Air and Space Port in Mojave, California, for the first time. "The aircraft is a remarkable engineering achievement, and we congratulate everyone involved," Jody Allen, chair of Vulcan Inc. and trustee of the Paul G. Allen Trust, said in a

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statement released by Stratolaunch Systems, the company that owns and operates the enormous new plane.

During its first historic flight, the huge airplane stayed aloft for 2.5 hours. Roc reached a peak altitude of 17,000 feet (5,180 m) and a top speed of 189 mph (304 km/h), ending with a touchdown back at Mojave Air and Space Port.

"The flight itself was smooth, which is exactly what you want the first flight to be. And for the most part, the airplane flew as predicted, which is again exactly what we want," pilot Evan Thomas said during a news conference on the same day as the flight. Stratolaunch said back in 2018 that it expected to take 18 to 24 months to complete Roc's testflight program and receive an airworthiness certificate from the Federal Aviation Administration. Once that's complete, the plane will be ready to serve as an air-launch platform. (4278)

"Space.com"

An Assessment of Aircraft Maintenance Technician

Competency

Tarık Güneş, Uğur Turhan, Birsen Açıkel A

Volume 1, Issue 1 (2020)

Abstract

Aircraft maintenance activities are one of the most important criteria for the safe and effective execution of aviation operations., In aircraft accidents and incidents, maintenance factor is vital for the development of safety for organizations,

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authorities, and countries in the aviation field. Effective maintenance activities will also contribute to the costs of organizations by ensuring the safe operations of aircraft with people. Maintenance activities are carried out by maintenance technicians in areas such as hangars or aprons. Aircraft maintenance technicians' performance in performing maintenance activities directly impacts flight safety and technician safety, which in turn has a positive or negative impact on organizations. Improving technician competency assessment processes can reduce maintenance errors, improve technician performance, create positive impacts on safe and efficient flight operations, reduce maintenance costs and benefit of the entire aviation industry. Technician competency should be considered in performance evaluations and assignments by assessing at all levels with the compatibility of widely used human resources management methods. In this study, technician competency assessment processes are mentioned, the effects of these processes on aviation safety are explained and solutions are proposed to develop and apply the assessment processes. (1691)

“International Journal of Aviation Science and Technology”

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Maritime Transport

What do we want to achieve?

For Europe, maritime transport has been a catalyst for economic development and prosperity throughout its history. Maritime Transport enables trade and contacts between all European nations. It ensures the security of supply of energy, food and commodities and provides the main vehicle for European imports and exports to the rest of the world. Almost 90% of the EU’s external freight trade is seaborne. Short sea shipping represents one third of intra-EU exchanges in terms of ton-kilometers. Ensuring a good quality of life on Europe’s islands and in peripheral maritime regions depends on good maritime transport services. Each year, more than 400 million passengers embark and disembark at European ports. Overall, maritime industries are an important source of employment and income for the European economy.

The European Commission's objective is to protect Europe with very strict safety rules preventing sub-standard shipping, reducing the risk of serious maritime accidents and minimising the environmental impact of maritime transport. It also safeguards access to the maritime transport market and promotes reduction of administrative burden through digitalisation. The Commission also works actively against piracy and terrorism threats. Another important activity concerns the social dimension: looking after working conditions, health and safety issues and regulating the professional qualifications of seafarers. Finally, the Commission works for the protection of citizens as users of maritime transport services, ensuring safe and secure

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