The Amazon founder, who is also the world's richest man, recently revealed his plans to spend almost every dollar of his incredible wealth on space travel. In an interview with Business Insider, Bezos said he was now spending around $1.3 billion each year on his space exploration company, Blue …

Boeing has struck a $4.25 billion deal to acquire Miami-headquartered aircraft parts distribution, composites and aftermarket supplier KLX Inc.’s Aerospace Solutions Group, marking a further move into the value chain.

US orbital launch provider Rocket Lab and spacecraft platform developer York Space Systems have entered into an MOU to develop a universal Interface Control Document (ICD) and supporting Concepts of Operations (CONOPS) that will streamline the manifesting process for small satellite launch customers.

Pump and metering equipment supplier, Haar Australia, has attained Trade Measurement Unit approval from New Zealand’s Measurement Standards Laboratory for its PreciFUEL aviation fuel metering systems.

Jet Lag. A complete waste of time but for those of us downUnder its a reality on those long flights north, east or west!  however according  to the Financial Review, TravelWeekly say that Qantas is working with scientists to work through the issue, looking specifically at Qantas’ 17-hour long-haul flight.

Rolls-Royce today launched its pioneering IntelligentEngine vision at the Singapore Airshow.  With more people flying than ever before and an increasing demand for more efficient travel, Rolls-Royce has defined a vision for the future of aircraft power that will help deliver passengers more reliably and more efficiently than ever before.

Feb 07, 2018  -  Late  last year Rolls-Royce launched R2 Data Labs, to act as an acceleration hub for data innovation New Zealand being one of the locations. The new organisation, which brings together expertise from across the business, builds on 30 years of data-led services and business model innovation.  Using advanced data analytics, industrial Artificial Intelligence and machine learning techniques, R2 Data Labs develops data applications that unlock design, manufacturing and operational efficiencies within Rolls-Royce, and creates new service propositions for customers.

Feb 06, 2018 -  The International Air Transport Association (IATA) is calling for urgent attention to address infrastructure challenges in order to secure the industry's future.

"Having the infrastructure to grow is vital to our industry's future. But in many key places, it is not being built fast enough to meet growing demand. And there are worrying trends which are increasing costs. One of these is airport privatizations. We have not found the correct regulatory framework to balance the interests of the investors to turn a profit, with the public interest for the airport to be a catalyst for economic growth. All the optimism supporting strong aircraft orders will mean nothing if we don't have the capability to manage traffic in the air and at airports," said Alexandre de Juniac in his keynote address to the Singapore Airshow Aviation Leadership Summit (SAALS). The theme of the Summit is 'Reimagining Aviation's Future'.

Feb 4, 2018  -  A year after its tiny, experimental rocket failed to reach orbit a year ago, the Japanese Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) successfully launched (via Engadget) an experimental rocket into orbit this weekend, the smallest ever to do so.

According to JAXA, the launch was a demonstration experiment, that carried the TRICOM-1R — a three-unit cubesat— into lower Earth orbit, where it will observe the Earth with a set of cameras. Now in orbit, JAXA says that its status is “nominal.”

With its successful launch, the SS-520-5 is the smallest rocket to ever deliver a satellite into orbit. The vehicle is a SS-520 sounding rocket that’s been modified with a third stage, which helped bring the satellite into orbit.

The mission is part of a movement in the space industry towards using smaller vehicles to deliver tiny payloads. New Zealand company Rocket Lab successfully launched its first small rocket called Electron last month, delivering four satellites into orbit, including the disco ball-shaped Humanity’s Star. Small rockets designed to carry small payloads like the Electron and Japan’s SS-520-5 are designed to help bring down the cost to get to orbit, paving the way for small companies that can’t afford to hitch a ride into orbit on rockets from companies like SpaceX, Orbital ATK, or United Launch Alliance.

Source:  TheVerge    ||  February 03, 2018  |||

Feb 03, 2018  -  Airports need to get smarter and not just bigger in order to meet the operational and capacity challenges of tomorrow, writes Kelly Allen for Smart Airports.  Civil aviation is booming, the tumbling cost of air travel helping create one of the fastest growing industries in the world as air passenger volumes and airline revenues continue to grow at a rapid pace.