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Magazine Issue

Aviation Week & Space Technology, November 30, 2015

Space

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Jeff Bezos's Space Launch Breakthrough

Nov 25, 2015
The test aimed to deploy the six-seat crew capsule into suborbit for a planned 4-min. weightless period, but attention was focused on whether the rocket stage could be successfully recovered using the tricky vertical-powered-landing technique.
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India Positions For Growth In Global Launch Market

Nov 25, 2015
The Indian Space Research Organization may propose launching one satellite per month in 2016.
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Senators At Odds Over U.S. Air Force Access To RD-180 Engines

Nov 27, 2015
Sen. Richard Shelby (R-Ala.) may add language to appropriations bill that would help ULA use the Atlas V to compete for future launches.

Defense

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U.K. Strives To Become More Reliable Defense Partner

Nov 26, 2015
While the Strategic Defense and Security Review published on Nov. 23 appears to be good news, the government’s pledges appear to do little more than paper over gaping cracks in military aircraft capabilities left by previous reviews.
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The Week In Defense, Nov. 26-Dec. 3, 2015

Nov 26, 2015
Russia sells China Sukhoi fighters and special ops helicopters; Indian army scraps Nishant UAV; manned-unmanned teaming demo in South Korea; U.S. sells three Global Hawks to Japan.

Unmanned Air Systems

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Toys Could Fall Under Suggested 0.55-Lb. U.S. UAV Registry Threshold

Nov 27, 2015
Task force set up to make recommendations for registration of small unmanned aircraft sets minimum size at 0.55 lb., potentially bringing toy drones under the FAA’s new rule.

Boeing 787 Service Report

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With Better Dispatch Reliability, Boeing 787 Deliveries Reach 350

Nov 24, 2015
Boeing hopes final fixes to 787 will push reliability rate beyond 99% goal.
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Early Boeing 787 Operators Apply Fixes To Improve Reliability

Nov 30, 2015
A typical Boeing 787 user is LAN Airlines of Chile, which experienced early service issues but is now using the twin jet on a wide range of routes and enjoying improved dispatch reliability.
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Boeing 787’s Operating Economics Enable Long-Haul Low-Cost Carriers

Nov 24, 2015
Air Canada recently told investors that when it switched from the 767 to the 787-8 between Toronto and Tel Aviv, the airline was able to carry 31% more passengers while using 3% less fuel.

Fire Safety

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Batteries, Halon Replacement, Fuel Cells Top FAA Fire Safety Agenda

Dec 01, 2015
Anything that can catch fire will catch fire in the hands-on testing facilities within the FAA’s Fire Safety Branch.
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Battery Fire Dangers Persist As Guidelines, Packaging Lags

Nov 27, 2015
Carriers may be left to their own devices to fight lithium-ion battery fires as ICAO contemplates pseudo-solutions.
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Packaging Preventatives For Battery Fires in Cargo

Nov 27, 2015
Given the huge number of lithium-ion batteries being shipped by air, some will eventually short-circuit and go into thermal runaway. Industry and regulators are considering some box-level solutions.

Technology

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Europe’s Fly-Bag Develops Blast-proof Baggage Containers

Nov 23, 2015
Lightweight textile-based approach to blastproofing baggage containers could lead to wider market acceptance of device to protect airliners from terrorist bombs.
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MTU Aero Engines Runs Clean Sky Geared-turbofan Demonstrator

Nov 23, 2015
More engine types, more demonstrators planned under Europe’s second, larger public-private research initiative, Clean Sky 2.
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The Week in Technology, Nov. 23-27, 2015

Nov 23, 2015
Flutter-suppression X-56 crashes; laser IDs target by vibrations; new venture to commercialize morphing structures; Airbus helo R&D in the U.K.; Iceye’s low-cost radar imaging from space.

Commercial Aviation

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Bombardier Earnings, Cash Flow Goals Of Production Increase

Nov 27, 2015
The planned ramp-up will see more than 250 C Series in service by 2020, when the program is expected to begin generating positive cash flow, and is “balanced, manageable and achievable,” says Bombardier Commercial Aircraft President Fred Cromer.

Up Front

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Opinion: How The Defense Dept. Can Be A Better Customer

Nov 30, 2015
Acquisition reform requires speed, resources, commercial pricing—and a little “plain English.”

Inside Business Aviation

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Epic Aircraft Expects 2016 Certification For Former Turboprop Kitplane

Nov 27, 2015
Despite the founder’s indictment, Russian ownership and potential Chinese competition, Epic Aircraft’s E1000 single-turboprop advances towards FAR23 certification.

Leading Edge

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KC-135 Adaptive Flap Trial Next Step For FlexSys

Nov 27, 2015
Shape-adaptive morphing structures could follow the adoption path that have made winglets the rule, rather than the exception, on new aircraft

In Orbit

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Search For Alien Life Moving Beyond Mars

Nov 30, 2015
Engineers and scientists are beginning to plan a program of robotic exploration over the next two decades to look for life on the moons of Jupiter and Saturn. Europa, the large icy moon of Jupiter, is first on the list.

Washington Outlook

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Campaign 2016: Return Of The Hawks

Nov 26, 2015
From no-fly zones in Syria to the potential return of F-22 production, presidential candidates are talking tougher about defense.

Viewpoint

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Opinion: How The Pentagon Can Win Over Silicon Valley

Nov 26, 2015
Ashton Carter’s Defense Innovation Unit, Experimental, is quite small and has no budget to speak of.