Global Supply Chain Summit 2021, May 10-11 on the Web!

 <Global Supply Chain Summit 2021>

The Global Supply Chain Summit, which has been held in Montreal, Canada, has brought together all players in the global aerospace industry and their suppliers to stimulate discussion on current best practices in procurement and foster collaboration among industry players.

　The summit is the largest gathering of aerospace decision makers in Canada in the field of procurement where future challenges and potential business opportunities are presented.

After 15 years of strong growth and development, Montreal, Canada is now undergoing a digital shift in which innovation, the environment and startups are playing a key role in developing new growth opportunities and improving efficiency. It also needs to address new challenges related to cybersecurity and reducing its carbon footprint.

　Supply chain players will be called upon to reinvent the way they do things in order to remain competitive and offer smarter, greener products to their customers.

For more details, please click here.

Small and Medium Enterprise Agency Invites Applications for JAPAN Brand Development Support Project!

 < JAPAN Brand Development Support Project>

The purpose of this program is to contribute to the revitalization of the local economy and the promotion of local small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) by subsidizing a part of their expenses when SMEs take actions such as the development and improvement of new products and services, branding, and the development of new sales channels in order to expand their business overseas or nationwide with a view to doing so. 

Qatar Airways begins in-house engine maintenance!

 Qatar Airways has opened a new 9,000sq ft engine facility as it aims to streamline the cost of its technical maintenance operations by more than US$2.2 million per year. (Quoted from Aviation week)

For more details, click here.

Don't let Corona beat you! FDA to conduct a scenic flight at Niigata Airport on Sunday, April 18!

   Fuji Dream Airlines, Inc. will conduct a scenic flight to and from Niigata Airport for the first time as FDA on April 18, 2021 (Sunday). 

   The flight will depart from Niigata Airport and fly over Sado Island on a special route, offering a spectacular view of the Himesaki Lighthouse, Kamo Lake, and Onogame. We hope you will enjoy this scenic flight, which can be easily enjoyed on a day trip.

A scenic flight around Kyushu on a specially chartered Jetstar Japan aircraft!

 Aso Kumamoto Airport x Jetstar Special Collaboration!

A special chartered aircraft for a scenic flight around Kyushu 

   Jetstar Japan Co., Ltd. (Head office: Narita City, Chiba Prefecture; President: Masaru Kataoka; hereinafter "Jetstar") and Kumamoto International Airport Co.

(Head office: Mashiki-cho, Kamimashiki-gun, Kumamoto Prefecture; President: Shohei Niihara; hereafter "Kumamoto International Airport") will conduct a "scenic flight around Kyushu by chartered aircraft" on April 24, 2021 (Saturday).

   Jetstar has been providing easy air travel to and from Kumamoto since it started its service in October 2014. Jetstar has been offering easy air travel to and from Kumamoto since its launch in October 2014, and Jetstar would like to offer a special air travel experience to the people of Kumamoto and Kyushu.

This project will be implemented in cooperation with Kumamoto International Airport. 

   This is the first Jetstar scenic flight outside of its home base at Narita Airport, enjoying the scenery from the window of the plane as it circles Kyushu. In addition the special contents will be prepared such as an aviation class in the sky, an in-flight announcement experience, and a special backyard bus tour by Kumamoto International Airport that will take you into an area of the airport that is not normally accessible before boarding so that you can enjoy the landing of airplanes and the water discharge arch up close.

   Jetstar and Kumamoto International Airport will continue to work together on projects that will help people in Kumamoto Prefecture become familiar with the airport and airplanes.

For more details, click here (Japanese only)

ANA in-flight restaurant with Boeing 777 First and business class seats!

   Amidst the mass suspension of international flights due to the new coronavirus infection (COVID-19), the project focused on in-flight meals, which until now had been an added value of transportation, and enjoyed luxurious in-flight meals.

　Applications were accepted from 11:00 a.m. on March 8, and the evening session was sold out by the morning of March 9.

　The menu is actually served on international flights, and before entering the plane, you can use the ANA lounge at Haneda Terminal 2, where you will also receive the amenities offered in each class.

Photo by Aviation Wire

SpaceX successfully completes its third high-altitude unmanned flight test, but explodes in flames after landing.

 <The third high-altitude unmanned flight test>

On March 4, 2021, SpaceX conducted its third high-altitude unmanned flight test. In addition to ascending to and reaching the target altitude of 10 km and making a controlled descent from the sky to the landing site, the spacecraft finally achieved a soft landing at the landing site. However, it exploded a few minutes after landing.

For more details, click here

Honda Jet donated to Misawa Aviation & Science Museum, Aomori!

 <Misawa Aviation & Science Museum, Aomori Prefecture>

　On March 28, the Misawa Aviation & Science Museum (Misawa City, Aomori Prefecture), which is scheduled to reopen on April 20, held a pre-opening for invited guests and the media, and unveiled for the first time a technology demonstration model of the Honda Jet, a small business jet that will be newly exhibited at the museum.

For more information about the museum, click here.

Airbus to final assembly of A321XLR test aircraft at Hamburg plant!

  <Airbus state-of-the-art aircraft >

　The A321XLR (Extra Long Range) has a cruising range of 4,700 nautical miles (about 8,704 km) thanks to the addition of fuel tanks. It is the world's longest among the single-aisle aircraft. The maximum takeoff weight (MTOW) is 101 tons. The manufacturer's standard seating capacity is 180-220 seats in two classes, and a maximum of 244 seats can be configured in one class. The fuel efficiency per seat will be improved by 30% compared to the previous generation aircraft. The company has received orders for more than 450 aircraft from 24 customers so far, with deliveries scheduled to begin in 2023.

Airbus Zero-e Aircraft Development

 <AIRBUS　Zero-e>

As part of its decarbonization efforts, Airbus is developing a hydrogen-fueled aircraft that can carry 100 passengers and fly 1,000 nm by 2025.

(Photo by Airbus)

For more details, click here

Space debris removal satellite successfully launched; Astro-scale

Astro scale holdings, inc.

 Astro Scale Holdings (Sumida, Tokyo), a space debris removal technology company, announced on the 23rd that it has successfully launched a technology demonstration satellite. The satellite will be tested within a few weeks.

After launch, the satellite was detached at an altitude of 550 kilometers, and communication with the ground was confirmed around 10:30 p.m. The experiment, which will last about six months, will begin as soon as the operation of the equipment is confirmed.

Astroscale CEO Mitsunobu Okada said, " We are pleased with the success of the mission, and we hope to complete the mission safely and further encourage the entire space industry to act responsibly.

Debris is a component of used satellites and rockets, and Astroscale is aiming to commercialize debris removal services in the early 2020s. (Nikkei Shinbun)

The YS-11 made its last flight!

 Domestically developed machine ends its service again

On March 17, the Japan Air Self-Defense Force's YS-11, the first domestically produced passenger plane since the end of World War II, made its last flight at Iruma Air Base in Saitama Prefecture as many members of the Air Self-Defense Force looked on. In addition to commercial airlines, it was also used by the Japan Coast Guard and the Air and Sea Self-Defense Forces. The aircraft has already been retired except for the Air Self-Defense Force.

(Photo by Yomiuri Online)

Honda jet runs off runway, serious incident in Okayama

 On March 13, 2021, at around 5:25 p.m., a small business jet, HondaJet, deviated from the runway after landing and came to a stop at the south landing strip at Okanami Airfield in Okayama City. 

(Photo:Kyodo)

HAYABUSA2 capsule unveiled at Sagamihara City Museum on March 12

  Hayabusa2> to be exhibited nationwide

March 12 - 16, 2021 Sagamihara City Museum, Sagamihara, Japan

March 27-April 11, 2021: National Museum of Nature and Science, Ueno, Tokyo

After that, it is being considered to be unveiled nationwide.

On March 12, the capsule of the explorer "Hayabusa2," which delivered a rock from an asteroid to Earth, was exhibited for the first time at the Sagamihara City Museum until the 16th. The capsule is exhibited at the National Museum of Nature and Science in Ueno, Tokyo, from March 27th to April 11th, after which it will be open to the public and is being considered to be exhibited nationwide. Yuichi Tsuda, Hayabusa2 project manager, said on the day, "The capsule is the actual thing that flew 5.2 billion kilometers between the Earth and the asteroid and came back. I hope that children will experience the power of the real thing and dream that they want to challenge even more amazing things in the future. (Mainichi Shinbun)

How can robotics support the resumption of MRO activities?

 AV&R, located in Montreal, Canada, has developed a machine that uses robotics to grind blades and vanes for aircraft engines, and is currently being used by some of the world's leading engine manufacturers, including P/W, RR, and GE.

For more details, please click here

ATR 2020 deliveries was 10 aircraft ! (68 aircraft in 2019)

 ATR shipped just 10 units in 2020, nine of which were delivered in the last quarter of the year. This represents a sharp decline from the 68 units delivered in 2019.

For more details, please click here.

Lecture by Mr. Miyakoshi, Director, Aircraft Weapons and Space Industry Division, Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry [March 23 Webcast]

 <The 2nd Aircraft Equipment Certification Technology Open Forum >

   The "Software Certification Technology Initiative for Aircraft Equipment" has been holding technical seminars and exchanging opinions with overseas certification bodies, as well as  holding the open forums to to promote collaboration among industry, government, and academia, with a focus on Initiative member companies.

   In the private-sector-led consortium scheduled to be launched in April 2021, we will enhance the services for members, and   expand the scope to include not only software but also systems and environmental testing.

The following programs were implemented on March 13, 2021

Keynote Speech 1: The State of Japan's Equipment Industry and International Cooperation

　　　　　　　　(Mr. Akira Miyakoshi, Director, Aircraft Parts and Materials Industry Office, Aircraft Arms and Space Industry Division, Manufacturing Industries Bureau, Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry)

Keynote Speech 2: Promotion of International Mutual Certification by BASA

　　　　　　　　(Gen Yoshimura, Director, Aircraft Technical Standards Planning Office, Aircraft Safety Division, Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport)

Lecture 1:Summary of the Initiative (Achievements and Challenges of the Initiative)

　　　　　　　　(Mr. Takashi Atobe, Next Generation Aviation Innovation Hub Manager, Aviation Technology Division, JAXA)

Special Lecture: Expectations for the New Consortium "CerTCAS"

                       (Mr. Shinji Suzuki, President, Japan Aviation Innovation Promotion Council)

Lecture 2 Establishment of Consortium - Concept of "CerTCAS", Equipment Certification Technology Consortium

　　　　　　　　(Mr. Shinji Suzuki, President, Aviation Innovation Promotion Council) 

Lecture 3 :Technical Research - Key Points in System Technology and Environmental Test Technology

　　　　　　　　(Mr. Hiroki Tanaka, Senior Manager, Safety Development and Mission Assurance Department, Manned Space Systems Corporation)

                        (Mr. Hisashi Kinoshita, Senior Manager, Quality Control Development and Mission Assurance Department, Manned Space Systems Corporation)

　　　　　　　　　　　

Five scenic flights on the Airbus A380 on weekends in April!

ANA's A380 to make scenic flights at Kansai International Airport and Chubu International Airport on weekends in April. 

(Photo by Aviation Wire)

   All Nippon Airways (ANA/NH) announced on March 8 that it will hold five scenic flights on weekends in April by the "Flying Honu," a double-decker superjumbo Airbus A380. The flights will be held for the first time at both Kansai and Chubu airports, in addition to the existing flights to and from Narita. The flights will be inspired by Hawaii, where the aircraft, which means "flying sea turtle," is usually deployed. Registration for the flights  will be accepted through the dedicated website.

   ANA's first A380 aircraft will also make scenic flights at Kansai International Airport and Chubu International Airport (PHOTO: Tadayuki YOSHIKAWA/Aviation Wire)

　The flights will be held on the 11th in Narita, the 17th and 18th in Kansai, and the 24th and 25th in Chubu. The flight time for both flights is approximately 3 hours and 30 minutes, and in-flight meals and drinks such as mojitos will be provided for each class.

　The course to and from Narita will start at 10:00 a.m. and end at 11:30 a.m., departing around 1:00 p.m. and returning around 5:00 p.m. An optional bus tour of the airport, including the runway and hanger, will be available before departure.

　The schedule for the Kansai and Chubu courses will be the same for the two days, with the two airports meeting between 9:00 a.m. and 10:30 a.m., departing around noon and returning around 4:00 p.m. The flight number will be the same for all five flights, NH2030, as in the past. (Aviation Wire)