Aviation Daily Roundup: March 29, 2022

United Airlines Invests $5M In SAF Startup Cemvita Factory

Credit: Justin Sullivan / Getty Images

United Airlines announced a $5 million initial investment in sustainable fuel startup Cemvita Factory, part of a collaboration with Oxy Low Carbon Ventures that the companies say could expand in the coming years. Houston-based Cemvita aims to leverage synthetic biology to decarbonize the atmosphere and develop low-carbon alternative fuel sources for commercial and industrial applications.

U.S. Team Cleared To Travel, Join China’s MU5735 Probe

Credit: CNS / AFP / Getty Images

China has issued visas to NTSB investigators and U.S.-based technical advisors representing other key stakeholders, clearing the way for them to travel to the country and join the China Eastern Airlines Flight MU5735 accident investigation. “The team hopes to depart this week,” the NTSB said on its Twitter feed March 29. “The NTSB team will not release any information about the investigation as that authority belongs to the Chinese government under ICAO Annex 13,” the agency added.

UK Aerospace Industry Welcomes ATI Funding Boost

Credit: GKN Aerospace

The UK aerospace industry has broadly welcomed a government decision to provide £685 million ($897.2 million) in funding for the Aerospace Technology Institute (ATI) to accelerate the development of green aviation technologies. Announcing the increase on March 29, the UK Department for Business, Energy, and Industrial Strategy said the funding would support research and development projects through 2025. The funding will also be matched by industry, bringing total investments to £1.3 billion.

Lessor Avolon Cites High EVTOL Demand As Commitments Top 550

Credit: Vertical Aerospace

Strong interest in electric vertical-takeoff-and-landing (eVTOL) vehicles is a clear sign airlines globally are taking the need to decarbonize seriously, according to the head of one of the largest lessors of commercial aircraft. With the announcement of a commitment from Turkey’s Gozen Holding for up to 50 aircraft with the option for up to 50 more, Avolon has now placed all 500 of the VX4 eVTOL air taxis the lessor has on pre-order and option with UK startup Vertical Aerospace.

ALTA Sees Progress Toward SAF Production In Latin America

Latin and Caribbean airline association ALTA is praising a new resolution designed to encourage the development of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) in the region. ALTA explained that at the recent ordinary general assembly of the Latin American Civil Aviation Commission (CLAC) a resolution was passed that urges the commission’s 22 member states to consider the creation of regional policies to encourage development for the production and use of SAF.

Daily Memo: If Honeywell Aerospace Thinks UAM is Real, Maybe It Is

Credit: Lilium

In 2021, Honeywell Aerospace revealed an urban air mobility (UAM) office, creating a distinct business group to pursue opportunities in what is one of the most contentious, debatable emerging markets in today’s aerospace and defense world. Much ink has been spilled over the prospects of flying taxis and pizza-delivery-by-air—or whether they are just the latest iteration of the never-delivered “Jetsons” flying car—but apparently Honeywell elders believe there is enough “there” there.

Lighter Tanks Promise Longer Range Hydrogen Fuel-Cell Aircraft

Credit: Gloyer-Taylor Laboratories

Startup HyPoint has partnered with an aerospace R&D company to combine its aircraft fuel cells with liquid hydrogen tanks and offer manufacturers the ability to carry more hydrogen for greater range. HyPoint is developing high power-density turbo air-cooled hydrogen fuel-cells for zero-emission aircraft propulsion. Now the company has partnered with Gloyer-Taylor Laboratories (GTL), which is developing carbon-composite cryotanks that allow more liquid hydrogen (LH2) to be stored with lower weight.

Airbus, Quebec Unveil A220 Mirabel Expansion Ahead Of Rate Increase

Credit: Patrick Desrochers / Airbus

Airbus said March 29 that the new 125,000-ft.² expansion of its A220 subcomponents preassembly line in Mirabel, Canada, will help double production capacity of the small airliner in coming years. “The expansion of our Mirabel site, with the addition of this new zone, is a clear signal of Airbus’ confidence in the A220 program,” Airbus Canada CEO Benoît Schultz said. “The pre-FAL is central to ensuring the success of the A220 production ramp-up.”

Study Shows Limited Benefits Of Short-Haul Flight Bans

Credit: Thierry Tronnel Corbis / Getty Images

A new study shows a shift from short-haul flying to rail travel has limited environmental benefit, airport and airline associations have said. The idea of encouraging a shift toward rail travel for shorter, especially domestic journeys, is one that has been gaining ground. The aviation industry is under pressure to cut CO2 emissions, with the EU’s Fit for 55 plan setting out ways for sectors to meet goals and the global airline industry committed to net zero in 2050.

FAA Extends Slot Waiver Protection For International Flights

Credit: Joe Pries

The FAA has extended temporary waivers of international minimum flight requirements at several major U.S. airports for the northern summer 2022 season. The agency said the decision has been made due to the “evolving and highly unpredictable situation globally with respect to ongoing impacts from COVID-19.”

Russia’s Pobeda Cuts Active Fleet As It Rations Spare Parts Stock

Credit: Russian Look Ltd. / Alamy Stock Photo

Russian LCC Pobeda has cut its active fleet of Boeing 737-800s by 40% to 25 airliners, the airline’s spokesperson confirmed to Aviation Week. According to a letter penned by the airline’s acting CEO Andrey Yurikov and published in Russian media, the other 16 737-800s will remain grounded until the end of 2022 as Pobeda now only has a limited stock of spare parts.

United Airlines invests $5M in SAF startup Cemvita Factory, Study shows limited benefits of short-haul flight bans and more. Take a look at the daily roundup of air transport news.

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