Loft Dynamics gains FAA recognition for VR flight sim
Loft Dynamics has announced that the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has qualified its virtual reality (VR) simulator, making it the first FAA-qualified VR flight simulation training device (FSTD) in the USA. Outside the USA, Loft Dynamics is the first and only VR simulator to achieve qualification from the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA). The FSTD qualification allows the simulator to be used not only for training in engine failures, abnormal and emergency procedures, and instrument approaches but also for challenging maneuvers such as sling-load operations, pinnacle operations, and more.
The FAA evaluated Loft Dynamics’ VR simulator using its Airbus-approved H125 VR FSTD at Marshall University in West Virginia. Qualified as a flight training device, Loft Dynamics’ H125 VR simulator features a full-scale virtual replica cockpit, a panoramic 360-degree view, verified flight modeling, and a six-degrees-of-freedom motion platform that accurately simulates flight visuals, movements, and scenarios. These FSTDs are smaller and significantly more cost-effective than traditional simulators. Loft Dynamics’ recent opening of its North American headquarters in Santa Monica has established a base for its continental expansion, now accelerated by the FAA qualification.
International Airline Group scraps deal to acquire Air Europa
The parent company of British Airways, International Airlines Group (IAG), has scrapped its plan to buy Spanish airline Air Europa in a deal worth €400 million. The deal had received sustained criticism from the European Commission, since it would have given IAG a virtual monopoly on domestic flights in Spain. Even a last minute offer to divest 52% of Air Europa’s routes was not enough, since there was no single competitor big enough to take them on and provide an effective challenge. The UK competition authorities had previously come out against the deal, since Air Europa competes with IAG carriers on various long haul routes via an aircraft change in Madrid. IAG had been told that the final decision from the European Commission, which would have come during August, was not going to be positive and decided to draw a line now. IAG will pay a break fee of €50m to Globalia, the parent of Air Europa. IAG will keep its existing 20% shareholding in the company.
Bizav group urge flexibility with rules guiding SAF
A business aviation coalition has called on the Biden administration to follow the approach the government uses for existing biofuel programs when it develops rules to quantify and verify greenhouse gas emissions from various feedstocks for producing sustainable aviation fuel (SAF). Those rules will determine the level of Inflation Reduction Act tax incentives available to SAF producers. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is seeking comments as it tries to encourage the use of climate-friendly farming practices to develop SAF feedstocks. The Biden administration’s SAF Grand Challenge aims to have the U.S. producing 3 billion gallons of SAF by 2030.
“The BizAv SAF Coalition encourages the department to enable as much adaptability and flexibility in its framework as is practicable and encourages the USDA to embrace a performance-based approach in its analysis,” the coalition said in its letter. When finalized, the greenhouse gas rules will impact how SAF producers can take advantage of the Clean Fuel Production Credit. That credit gives SAF producers up to $1.75 per gallon if they are creating the fuel using feedstocks that generate low or zero greenhouse gas emissions.
People: Boeing board names Kelly Ortberg President and CEO
Boeing announced that its Board of Directors has elected Robert K. "Kelly" Ortberg as the company's new president and chief executive officer, effective August 8, 2024. Ortberg will also serve on Boeing's Board of Directors. He will succeed Dave Calhoun, who earlier this year announced his intention to retire from the company, having served as president and CEO since January 2020, and as a member of Boeing's Board of Directors since 2009.
Ortberg, 64, brings over 35 years of aerospace leadership to this position. He began his career in 1983 as an engineer at Texas Instruments, and then joined Rockwell Collins in 1987 as a program manager and held increasingly important leadership positions at the company prior to becoming its president and CEO in 2013. After five years leading Rockwell Collins, he steered the company's integration with United Technologies and RTX until his retirement from RTX in 2021. He has held a number of important leadership posts in industry, including serving on the Board of Directors of RTX. Additionally, he serves on the Board of Directors of Aptiv PLC, a global technology company and an industry leader in vehicle systems architecture. He is the former Chair of the Aerospace Industries Association (AIA) Board of Governors. Ortberg holds a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Iowa. www.boeing.com
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