Short hops

one-north abuzz with tech trials

THE Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS) announced that it will be working with a number of companies and tertiary institutions to conduct trials and other development activities with drones.

The move might see European aircraft manufacturer Airbus extend its urban air delivery service, which is currently in the trial phase at the National University of Singapore campus, to the research and development hub in Buona Vista. The experimental project, Skyways, is aimed at developing a safe and economically-viable, aerial, unmanned parcel delivery system for use in dense urban areas.

Meanwhile, Nanyang Technological University's Air Traffic Management Research Institute plans to conduct test flights at one-north on the traffic management of multiple-drone operations in low-altitude airspace for various applications, in different conditions and requirements.

Singtel, together with NCS and HopeTechnik, intends to explore and test out technologies for use in delivery drones and drone stations for Drone-as-a-Service last mile deliveries.

ST Aerospace plans to conduct trials on its DroNet system, which is designed for remote and autonomous deployment of drones within an urban environment.

Through a collaboration with H3 Dynamics, JTC may conduct trials with drones by automating the building inspection process through a data collection and analytics solution for building facades and vertical surfaces.

Thales, CAAS to develop new air traffic management tech

FRENCH aerospace company Thales signed a memorandum of understanding with the CAAS to develop new air traffic management technologies.

They will work together to analyse the impact digital trends have on the aviation ecosystem and ways to apply artificial intelligence in management. They will also co-develop a system architecture that will allow easy integration of the new management technologies.

Separately, Thales signed an agreement with the Middle South Regional Air Traffic Management Bureau of Civil Aviation of China to provide a main Air Traffic Control Centre to manage the Guangzhou Terminal manoeuvering area.

New research centre to identify aviation safety hazards

THE International Air Transport Association (Iata) signed a memorandum of collaboration with the CAAS to establish the Global Safety Predictive Analytics Research Center in Singapore.

The facility will use predictive analytics to identify potential aviation safety hazards and assess risks by leveraging Singapore's research capabilities as well as operational flight data and safety information available from Iata.

Airbus' slow-selling A33neo to get its second wind

AIRBUS is keen on winning more than two new customers for the slow-selling A330neo this year, as it seeks to improve the European company's position in the market for long-haul jets.

Its new sales chief Eric Schulz, who took over from veteran John Leahy, is keen to push sales for the A330neo and the A350-1000 in the next two to three years, a Reuters report said.

Flight test results from the A330neo, an upgraded version of Airbus' most-sold, wide-body jet that is due to enter service this summer, are encouraging. The A330neo, a refresh of the A330 launched with fuel-saving engines in 2014 at a time when oil was above US$100 a barrel, has struggled to make its mark due to lower oil prices and the popularity of the underlying model.

Honeywell to supply units to Lion Air Group's Apac fleet

HONEYWELL signed the largest-ever auxiliary power unit contract in the Asia-Pacific in terms of fleet size with Lion Air Group.

Honeywell will supply the units and corresponding spare parts for the airline group's fleet of Airbus A320ceo and A320neo aircraft in addition to spares for Lion Air Group's Boeing 737NG and Boeing 737 MAX fleet.

Bell Helicopter sells Bell 505 Jet Ranger X to Vietnam operator

BELL Helicopter has signed a purchase agreement with state-owned helicopter operator Vietnam Helicopter Corporation and its subsidiary, Northern Vietnam Helicopter Company, for two Bell 505 Jet Ranger X helicopters.

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