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^ P IL A T U S ^

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Contact Pilatus PC-12 Centre Southern Africa, your nearest Authorised Pilatus PC-24
Sales Centre for further inform ation on
Tel: +27 11 383 0 8 0 0 , Cell +27 82 511 7312
or Email: aircraftsales@ pilatuscentre.co.za

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G L O B A L A V IA T O R I Vol. 1 6 / N o 3 / M A R C H 2 0 2 4 3
 6 G e ra ld in e "Jerne" F re d ritz M ock
A ro u n d th e W orld

8 U p d ates o n A lask a A irlin es flig h t 1282 a n d th e B737-9

10 RTX's P ra tt & W h itn ey e x p a n d s o p eratio n s w ith
o p e n in g of n e w In d ia D ig ital C ap ab ility C en tre

12 T he jo u rn e y of a v iatio n m arv els:

E xp lo ring iconic a irp o rts a n d fu tu re tre n d s

16 First N ew So u th W ales A m b u lan ce PC-24 in Service

Cover Pic by Piper

4 ONMLKJIHGFEDCBA
V 0 I J 6 /N o 3 / M A R C H 2 0 2 4 | G L O B A L AVIATOR
18 CROATIA - Pearl of th e
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a n d th e co m p an y offers re tro fit k it at a d isc o u n te d rate
28 P ip er a n n o u n c e s th e M700 FURY 40 W earC heck LUBE TIPS V olum e 4
32 A n e w carg o d ro n e is u n v eiled
42 R ecord n u m b e rs for a u n iq u e railw ay
m u se u m in P ietrasa, N aples
33 R w an d a a cq u ires Polish a n ti-d ro n e sy stem s
46 G en eral A v iatio n C osts
34 Saean G rou p's W iD-Sky
49 BOOK OF THE MONTH SPACE - A th rillin g h u m a n h isto ry
36 S m ith M yers & A g u staW estla n d A v iation
Services a n n o u n c e p a rtn e rs h ip 56 IN CLOSING: W ill it? - W on't it?

G LO B A LA V IA TO R I Vol. 1 6 / N o 3 / M A R C H 2 0 2 4 5
INDUSTRY NEWS
Geraldine
"Jerrie" Fredritz Mock
Around the world
Geraldine "Jerrie 11 Fredritz M ock
w as a rem arkable w om an w ho
achieved an incredible feat by
becoming the first w om an to
fly solo around the world. Her
journey began on 19 March,
1964, at Port Columbus Airport
in Columbus, Ohio, and ended on
17 April, 1964, at the sam e place.
She fle w a single-engine Cessna
180 called the Spirit of Columbus,
nicknamed "Charlie,11 and covered
a distance of alm ost 2 2 8 6 0 miles
(36 7 9 0 km ) w ith 21 stopovers.
During her journey, she travelled
over several countries, including
the United States, Bermuda, the
A zores, Spain, A frica, the M iddle
East, Southeast A sia, and the Pacific
Ocean. She faced several challenges
during her trip, including technical
issues w ith her plane, thunderstorms,
and cultural barriers. However,
she persevered and completed her
journey successfully, making her a
trailblazer for w omen in aviation.
H er expedition w as also part of
a "race" that developed betw een her
and Joan M erriam Smith, w ho had
flow n from a field near San Francisco,
CA, on 17 M arch, 1964, w ith a similar
mission. A lthough they w ere not in
direct competition w ith each other,
media coverage soon began tracking
the progress of each pilot, fascinated
w ith w ho w ould complete the journey
first. M ock w as the first to finish, and
she w as subsequently aw arded the
Louis Bleriot medal from the Federation
A eronautique Internationale in 1965.
M ock's journey w as full of
memorable experiences. In M orocco, she
w as greeted by the president of the A ero
Club of M orocco and stayed the night
in a French home, w here she danced in
6 V o l.1 6 / N o 3 / M A R C H 2 0 2 4
XWVUTSRQPONMLKJIHGFEDCBA
red satin and enjoyed the hospitality of
her hosts. In Saudi A rabia, she landed
at Dhahran A irport, w here she became
quite a spectacle as w omen w ere not
allow ed to drive cars until 2017, much
less fly a plane. In Egypt, she mistakenly
landed at a secret off-the-map military
base instead of the Cairo A irport.
M ock's journey is a testament
to her courage, determination,
and love for flying. A lthough
she faced many challenges, she
never gave up and completed her
journey, inspiring generations of
w omen to pursue their dreams.
Accomplishments and
Recognition
Jerrie M ock's Spirit of
Columbus, a Cessna 180
Official world aviation records: 1964-69
(Sanctioned and accepted by the
N ational A eronautic A ssociation and the
Federation A eronautique Internationale)
1964 - Speed around the
world, Class Cl-c
1965 - Speed over a closed course
of 500 km, Class Cl-b
1966 - Distance in a straight
line, Feminine
1968 - Distance in a closed
course, Class Cl-c.
1969 - Speed over a recognized course
• First w oman to fly solo
around the w orld
• First w oman to fly around the
w orld in a single-engine plane
• First w oman to fly U.S. -
A frica via N orth A tlantic
• First w oman to fly the
Pacific single-engine
• First w oman to fly the
Pacific West to East
• First w oman to fly both the
A tlantic and Pacific
• First w oman to fly the Pacific
in both directions
| G LO BAL AVIATOR

Gerald ine "Jerrie" Fred ritz
M ock's legacy is a testam ent to
her rem arkable achiev em ents
as a pioneering av iatrix. H er
contributions to av iation have been
recognized through v arious tributes
and honours, such as a life-size
bronze scu lp tu re of M ock unv eiled in
the courty ard of The Works M useum
in N ew ark, Ohio, in Septem ber 2013.
The sculpture, created by Renate
Burgy an Fackler, captures the essence
of M ock's d aring spirit and features
her younger sister Susan Reid
m od elling her k nit sk irt, sw eater, and
leather shoes that she w ore on her
round-the-w orld flight. The clothing
item s w ere car efu lly selected by
M ock to be socially acceptable,
especially in the M iddle East.
M ock's Cessna 180, k now n as
the Spirit of Columbus, is displayed
LEGACY
at the N ational A ir and Space
M useum of the Sm ithsonian in
W ashington, D.C. The air cr aft is an
im portant piece of av iation history
and sy m bolizes M ock's ground­
br eak ing achiev em ent as the fi r st
w om an to fly solo around the
w orld. In June 2007, M ock v isited
the m useum to see her plane once
again after m any years, and she
w as pleased to see it "airborne" once
again. Prev iously in storage, the
Spirit of Colum bus is now back on
display at the U dv ar-H azy Centre.
The U nited States A ir Force also
honoured M ock's legacy by nam ing a
street in her honour at Rickenbacker
A ir N ational Guard Base and
Rick enback er International A ir p or t in
L ock bourne, Ohio. Sim ilarly, a plaque
highlighting M ock's achiev em ents
can be found in the Tallahassee
GLOBALAVIATOR
Awards and honours
• Ohio Governor's Aw ard
• Louis Bleriot Silver M edal(World-
Wide aw ard of Federation
A eronautique Internationale)
• A merican Institute of A eronautics and
A stronautics Distinguished Service A ward
• Columbus A rea Chamber of
Commerce Aw ard of the Year
• Experimental A ircraft
A ssociation Special Award
• Ohio A viation Trades
A ssociation Sparky A ward
• A melia Earhart M emorial A ward, 1964
• A ero Classic A viation Progress A ward, 1965
• N ational A viation Trades A ssociation
Pilot-of-the-Year Award, 1964
• Glenn H ammond Curtiss Silver
M edal, Pittsburgh OX-5 Club
• M ilestones in M anned Flight
Trophy, Trans World A irlines
• Wadsw orth, Ohio, A ero Club Special A ward
• Kansas 99's Special Recognition M edallion
• Special A w ard of Bexley Civic A ssociation
• Women's A ero A ssociation
of Wichita A ward
• A ward of A ppreciation,
Licking County (Ohio)
• Columbus Transportation
Club Special Award
• Sports Woman of the Year,
Columbus Citizen-Journal, 1969
• Citation of Wichita, Kansas,
Chamber of Commerce
14 September, 2013 w as declared Jerrie
M ock Day by an official proclamation
from N ewark, Ohio M ayor Jeff H all. •
International A irport's A viation Wall
of Fame in Tallahassee, Florida.
M ock's contributions to av iation
w ere fu r ther r ecognized w hen
she w as posthum ously inducted
into the N ational A viation H all
of Fame in Dayton, Ohio, in 2022.
This ind uction is a fi tti ng tribute
to M ock's pioneering spirit and her
significant achiev em ents in aviation.
M ock passed aw ay in
Septem ber 2014 at her home in
Quincy, Florida, w ith her daughter
by her side. In a fi tti ng tribute to
her love for fly ing, her ashes w ere
tak en to the skies during her fi nal
flight in a Cessna 180, thank s to the
help of a v olunteer pilot. M ock's
legacy continues to inspire and
m otivate w om en around the w orld
to pursue their dream s and break
bar riers in the field of aviation.
I V o l. 1 6 / N o 3 / M A R C H 2 0 2 4 7
AIRLINE AND TRAVEL NEWS

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W O R L D A IR L IN E a n d
TR AVEL N E W S UPDATE
M arch 2024 - By M ike Wright BCom, LLB and Cesare de VilliersXWVUTSRQPONMLKJIHGFEDCBA

Boeing continues to prioritize safety,

accountability, and transparency
in the w ake of the 5 January,
accident and has been providing
detailed updates on the actions
they are taking to support the U.S.
National Transportation Safety
Board (NTSB) and Federal Aviation
Administration (FAA) investigations.
Boeing President and CEO,
Dave Calhoun, has stressed that the
company is accountable for w hat
happened, and has committed to
cooperating fully and transparently
w ith the N TSB and FAA investigations.
The company has implemented a
comprehensive plan to strengthen the
quality and the confidence of their
stakeholders, w hich includes a control
plan to ensure proper installation
of all 737-9 mid-exit door plugs.
To ensure compliance w ith the
control plan, Boeing has instituted new
inspections of the door plug assembly
and similar structures at their supplier's
factory and on their production
line. They have added signage and
protocol to fully document w hen the
Updates on Alaska
Airlines flight 1282
and the B737-9
door plug is opened or removed in
their factory, ensuring it is reinstalled
and inspected before delivery
In addition to these measures,
Boeing is implementing plans to
improve overall quality and stability
across the 737 production system.
This includes layering additional
inspections further into the supply
chain and collaborating w ith suppliers
on production enhancements.
They are also performing more
w ork on airplanes at their assigned
positions, dedicating multiple days
for their 737 teams to focus on and
implement quality improvements.
Boeing is also launching an
independent assessment to bolster
the quality management system at
Boeing Commercial A irplanes. This
assessment w ill be conducted by a
highly experienced safety expert.
To further enhance transparency
and accountability, Boeing is opening
their factory to 737 customers to
conduct their additional reviews.
They w ill also fully and transparently
support the FA A s investigation, audit,
and oversight actions. The company
believes that the added scrutiny from
themselves, their regulator, and their
customers w ill make them better.
A laska A irlines Flight 1282 w as
a scheduled U.S. domestic flight
operated by A laska A irlines from
Portland International A irport, to
Ontario International A irport in
Ontario, California. Shortly after
take-off on 5 January, 2024, a door
plug on the Boeing 737 M A X 9 aircraft,

8 V o l.1 6 / N o 3 / M A R C H 2 0 2 4 | G L O B A L A V IA T O R
w hich w as not bolted in place due to a
manufacturing error, blew out causing
an uncontrolled decompression of
the aircraft. The aircraft returned to
Portland for an emergency landing.
A ll 171 passengers and six crew
members survived the accident, w ith
three receiving minor injuries
The door plug w as manufactured
by Spirit A eroSystems in M alaysia on
24, M arch, 2023. It arrived at Spirit's
factory in Wichita, Kansas on 10 May,
2023, w here the fuselage is assembled.
It w as installed on the fuselage before
it w as shipped by train on 20 A ugust,
2023, for final assembly at the Boeing
Renton Factory in Renton, Washington
A fter the fuselage arrived at
the Boeing Renton Factory on 31
A ugust, 2023, five damaged rivets
w ere found on the fuselage near the
door plugs. The plug w as removed so
that Spirit A eroSystems employees
could fix the rivets. Once the repair
w as made, the door w as reinstalled,
but not bolted into place.

Accident
The 5 January accident involving a w as blow n into the cabin. The first The aircraft had climbed to
Boeing 737-9 occurred approximately six officer's headset w as pulled off, about 16 000 feet (4 900 m) w hen
minutes after take-off w hen the factory- and the captain's w as dislodged. the accident happened, according
installed door plug filled the port-side Interior non-structural damage to flight trackers. The pilots made
opening for the optional emergency exit w as observed at row s 1 through an emergency descent to 10 000
door separated from the airframe. This 4,11 and 12,25 through 27, and 31 feet (3 000 m) and returned to
caused an uncontrolled decompression through 33, including damage to seat Portland, w here they successfully
of the aircraft and the oxygen masks 25A , w hich lost its headrest and w as made an emergency landing at
w ere deployed. No one w as in seat tw isted, and seat 26A , w hich lost its 5:27 p.m. Firefighters boarded
26A, w hich w as immediately next to headrest and seatback cushion as the aircraft to check for injuries
the hole. However, three passengers w ell as the tray table on its rear side. among the passengers. •
experienced minor injuries that
required medical attention, and some
passengers' belongings w ere lost w hen
they w ere sucked out of the opening.
A teenage boy seated in row 25 had
his shirt ripped off and blow n out of
the aircraft, and his mother had to hold
onto him to prevent him from being
blow n out during the decompression.
A passenger seated in exit row seat
16F heard a loud boom, follow ed by a
gust of w ind, w hich w as repeated by
another passenger w ho heard a loud
bang, follow ed by the oxygen masks
deploying and a loud gust of w ind.
One passenger said that others closer
to the opening in the plane w ere able
to move to other seats further away.
The decompression event caused
the cockpit door to fly open and hit
the lavatory door, w hich initially
became stuck. A fter several attempts,
a flight attendant w as able to close
the cockpit door. The cockpit door
is designed to open in the event of
an uncontrolled decompression, but
the crew w ere not aw are of this. The
laminated Quick Reference Checklist
stow ed below the cockpit w indow s

G L O B A L A V IA T O R I V o l. 1 6 / N o 3 / M A R C H 2 0 2 4 9
BUSINESS XWVUTSRQPONMLKJIHGFEDCBA
DHL Global Forwarding, a leading
provider of international air, sea,
and road freight services, has
initiated the construction of a new
airfreight centre a t the Frankfurt
Airport. The forw arder anticipates
inaugurating the air cargo centre
in m id-2025, and it has leased the
property space from Fraport, the
owner and operator of Frankfurt
Airport. Fraport is w orking closely
w ith DHL Global Forwarding
on the development project.
The new airfreight centre w ill
cover approximately 55 000 sq m of
property space, and the building is
expected to take around tw elve months
to complete. The complex w ill feature
freight yards, 25 truck parking spaces,
and 185 car parking spaces. Upon
completion, the hall w ill have a total of
54 gates and cross-docks w ith driving
Pratt & Whitney, an RTX (NYSE:
RTX) business, announced the
establishm ent of its new India
Digital Capability Center (IDCC) in
Bengaluru, India. The new center
w ill accelerate innovation and drive
digital and business transform ation
for Pratt & W hitney worldwide.
Rahul Dharni, Vice President
& Chief Information Officer, Pratt &
Whitney, along w ith Pratt & Whitney's
Senior Digital Transformation and
India Leaders at the inauguration
of the Pratt & Whitney India Digital
10 V o l. 1 6 / N o 3 / M A R C H 2 0 2 4
DHLGFbegins construction
of Frankfurt Airport airfreight centre
and shunting areas and additional,
separate outdoor parking for trucks.
The primary objective of the
airfreight centre is to handle airfreight
for DH L Global Forw arding's German
and international customers and
manage charter flights w ith its in­
house service provider StarBroker.
The centre w ill also offer additional
transhipment space, supplementing
the existing airport location,
and provide room for the new
StarBroker European headquarters
of DH L Global Forw arding.
Tobias Schmidt, CEO of DH L Global
Forw arding Europe, and A nke Giesen,
Fraport executive director of retail
and real estate, led the official ground­
breaking ceremony at CargoCity South.
The new air cargo centre is a significant
milestone for DH L Global Forw arding
RTX's Pratt & Whitney expands
operations with opening of new India
Digital Capability Center
Bengaluru facility will be co-located with other centers of excellenceto amplify collaboration
Capability Center in Bengaluru, India
The facility w ill be co-located
w ith Pratt & Whitney's engineering
and supply chain operations centers
of excellence. The location w ill also
facilitate close collaboration w ith other
| G L O B A L AVIATOR
in its efforts to expand and transform
its airfreight business in Europe.
Schmidt expressed his enthusiasm,
stating, "Located in the heart of
Europe, Frankfurt A irport is of central
importance as an international hub
for our global air freight netw ork.
W ere very pleased that w e w ere able
to develop a larger, more sustainable
site in close cooperation w ith Fraport.
The new ly created space w ill enable
us to handle greater transport
volumes for our customers even
more quickly and efficiently."
A nke Giesen, executive director
of retail and real estate at Fraport
AG, emphasized the importance of
the project, stating, "Today's ground­
breaking of this first-class air cargo
centre is part of the continuous
development of Frankfurt A irport
as Europe's leading air freight hub.
This building w ill m eet the strictest
ecological and economic requirements
for modern freight handling facilities.
A s such, it w ill put our future tenant
DH L Global Forw arding in the best
position to take its airfreight business
to the next level. The realization of this
complex project is also a testament to
the extraordinarily broad portfolio
and proven expertise of Fraport's
real estate development team."
The new airfreight centre is a
significant step tow ards revolutionizing
the logistics industry, and DH L Global
Forw arding is confident that it w ill
transform the airfreight market,
enabling the company to handle greater
transport volumes more efficiently
and quickly for its customers. •
RTX businesses and functions in India
including Collins A erospace and RTX
Enterprise Services, respectively.
"The expansion of Pratt &
Whitney's digital technology
presence in Bengaluru w ill allow
 Pratt Whitney India Digital Capability Center -mRahul Dharni, Vice President & Chief Information Officer, Pratt & Whitney, along with Pratt & Whitney's
Senior Digital Transformation and India Leaders at the inauguration o f the Pratt & Whitney India Digital Capability Center in Bengaluru, India
us to leverage India's aviation and
technology talent and accelerate our
digital transformation," said Rahul
Dharni, vice president and global chief
information officer, Pratt & Whitney.
Pratt & Whitney has begun
recruiting its first tranche of employees
for the IDCC and is expected to grow
to over 300 employees by 2027. The
centre w ill focus on delivering multiple
digital technology capabilities across
various priority areas of Pratt &
Whitney's digital transformation. and its research and development
With $40 million already invested collaboration w ith the Indian Institute
in engineering and supply chain of Science also in Bengaluru. Pratt &
operations centres in the past tw o Whitney sourced over $500 million in
years, Pratt & Whitney continues engineering services in India over the
to grow its presence in India w ith past tw o decades, to include nearly
this additional multi-million- $55 million in the past 10 years from
dollar investment in the IDCC. leading aerospace suppliers in India.
Pratt & Whitney's other With an Indian w orkforce of
investments in-country include more than 5,000 employees, RTX has
a state-of-the-art India Customer one of the largest footprints amongst
Training Center in H yderabad aerospace and defense firms in India. •
Condition Monitoring is at the
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G LO B A LA V IA TO R I V o l. 1 6 / N o 3 / M A R C H 2 0 2 4 1 1
FUTURE AIRPORTS
THE JOURNEY OF AVIATION MARVELS
EXPLORING ICONIC AIRPORTS
AND FUTURE TRENDS
By Rudy Rademan
Chengdu Tianfu International
Airport in Chengdu City, Southwest China
In today’s fast-paced world of travel, airports serve as vibrant
hubs, connecting people, cultures, and destinations. Yet,
beyond their practical function, airports have morphed
into captivating architectural wonders, reshaping the very
essence of the travel experience. Let's embark on a journey
through the past, present, and future of these aviation
marvels, exploring their design, cultural significance,
technological innovations, and sustainability initiatives.
Historical evolution of airports
The historical evolution of airports traces a remarkable
journey from humble beginnings to the awe-inspiring
structures of today. Initially, airports emerged as simple
airfields, little more than patches of land adapted for
aircraft landings and take-offs. However, the rapid
advancement of aviation technology in the 20th century
spurred the development of more sophisticated airport
infrastructure. Key milestones such as the introduction of
paved runways, the construction of terminal buildings,
and the implementation of air traffic control systems
transformed airports into organised hubs of transportation.
These developments not only facilitated the growth of
commercial air travel but also laid the foundation for the
modern airport experience we enjoy today. As airports
evolved from functional necessities to architectural marvels,
they became symbols of human ingenuity and progress,
shaping the current landscape of air travel with their
blend of functionality, innovation, and aesthetic appeal.
To grasp the significance of today's iconic airports,
it's essential to trace their evolution over time. From
humble beginnings as makeshift landing strips to the
emergence of commercial air travel in the mid-20th century,
airports have undergone remarkable transformations.
Key milestones, such as the introduction of jet aircraft
and the development of modern terminals, have
shaped the airport experience as we know it today.
Case studies of iconic airports
Delving deeper into the design and features of renowned
airports, we uncover their secrets. For instance, Incheon
International Airport in South Korea impresses with
its striking architecture and seamless passenger flow.
Interviews with architects reveal the meticulous planning
behind this world-class travel hub. Similarly, Heathrow
Airport in London showcases innovative terminal designs
and amenities catering to millions of travelers annually.
12 V o l. 1 6 / N o 3 / M A R C H 2 0 2 4 | G L O B A L AVIATOR
A
Cultural significance of airports
Airports go beyond their basic functions to reflect the
cultures they serve. They act as cultural gateways, offering
intriguing glimpses into the identity and heritage of their
host regions. Think about the vibrant murals at Mexico
City's Benito Juarez International Airport, which vividly
showcase Mexico's history and culture. Or consider Tokyo's
Haneda Airport, where travelers can unwind in traditional
tea houses amidst the hustle and bustle. And now, in
Delhi, India's first global hub airport is taking shape, set to
introduce the world to India's diverse cultural heritage.
These cultural elements not only make the airport
experience more enjoyable but also remind us of the
rich diversity of communities worldwide. Moreover,
the art and design within airports provide a peek into
local culture. By exploring the stories behind the murals,
sculptures, and architectural features, travelers gain
deeper insights into the cultural tapestry that shapes their
journey. Through these encounters, airports become more
than just places to catch flights—they become immersive
cultural hubs, fostering connections and appreciation
for the myriad expressions of human creativity.
Technological innovations in airport design
The future of airport travel is on the brink of a significant
transformation, driven by cutting-edge technologies aimed
at enhancing the passenger experience. Think about it:
from hassle-free check-ins to swift security screenings,
biometric authentication systems are shaking up airport
routines by confirming travelers' identities faster and more
accurately than ever before. And let's not forget about those
autonomous baggage handling robots, ready to revolutionise
the luggage process by whisking bags from check-in to
boarding gates with minimal human intervention.
But as airports embrace these technological marvels,
they're also grappling with a host of challenges and
opportunities. Privacy worries surrounding the gathering
and storage of biometric data have sparked intense
discussions, pushing industry experts to brainstorm
ways to protect passengers' sensitive information while
keeping security measures intact. Plus, while the aim
of all these tech innovations is to make travel easier for
us, ensuring that they seamlessly fit together across
different airport systems is a big consideration.
So, what insights are emerging from research
conducted by top industry minds? Well, our exploration
has led us to delve into a range of topics, spanning from
airport management to aviation tech development and
passenger experience design. Together, we're uncovering
 An artist's redition of Chengdu Tianfu International Airport
in Chengdu city, southwest China's Sichuan province
Pic by: ChinalmagesXWVUTSRQPONMLKJIHGFEDCBA

G L O B A L AVIATOR I V o l. 1 6 / N o 3 / M A R C H 2 0 2 4 13
FUTURE AIRPORTS

the nuances of adopting these groundbreaking technologies in

airport design, w eighing their advantages and disadvantages. A young boy looking through VR glasses
Pic by: addictivestock
When it comes to biometric authentication systems, experts
are w eighing up the benefits of beefed-up security and smoother
passenger processing against w orries about data privacy and
cyber threats. Through real-life case studies and emerging
best practices, w e’re shedding light on the complex dance
betw een tech progress and regulatory rules, giving airport folks
practical tips on navigating this ever-changing landscape.
A nd those autonomous baggage handling robots?
Sure, they promise efficiency and savings, but w e’re also
digging into the nitty-gritty of getting them to play nicely
w ith existing airport setups. Our in-depth discussions
and scenario-based chats are giving us a fuller picture of
how automation could impact everything from airport
logistics to job roles and passenger satisfaction.
Draw ing on the insights of seasoned professionals,
w e're gaining valuable perspectives on the multifaceted
issues shaping the future of airport travel. Their collective
expertise is informing innovative solutions, fostering
collaborative efforts, and driving continuous improvements
to enhance the flying experience for all, in line w ith the
rapidly evolving demands of our interconnected world.XWVUTSRQPONMLKJIHGFEDCBA

Sustainability Initiatives
In today's world, w here environmental concerns are at the forefront
of our minds, airports around the globe are stepping up their
efforts to be more eco-friendly, and Singapore's N ew Jew el Changi
A irport is leading the charge. H ere, they've implemented a range
of initiatives aimed at reducing their environmental impact. For
instance, they've installed solar panels to harness the sun's energy,
pow ering various operations throughout the airport. Additionally,
they've introduced advanced w ater recycling programs to Volocopter electric aircraft
Photo by Foto-VDW

14 V o l. 1 6 / N o 3 / M A R C H 2 0 2 4 | G L O B A L AVIATOR
 efficiently manage w ater usage, preserving precious resources
and minim izing w aste. By delving into detailed case studies and
engaging in insightful interview s w ith sustainability leaders, w e
gain a deeper understanding of the diverse strategies employed by
airports like N ew Jew el Changi, highlighting their crucial role in
promoting a more sustainable aviation industry and establishing
new standards for eco-conscious development worldwide.

Future Trends in Airport Design

Looking ahead, airport design is poised to embark on an exciting
journey of innovation and creativity. Envision airports of the
future w here imagination know s no bounds. Picture vertical
airports tow ering over bustling urban landscapes, efficiently
accommodating the ever-grow ing throngs of travellers. A nd w hat
about modular terminals, flexible spaces that seamlessly adapt
to changing passenger needs and technological advancements?
These futuristic concepts aren't just flights of fancy; they're the
next frontier in airport design. But perhaps most intriguing
of all is the potential of virtual reality to transform the w ay
w e experience airports. Envision stepping into a virtual
w orld w here boarding gates become portals to adventure and
terminals are gatew ays to immersive destinations. Through
conversations w ith architects and industry experts, w e catch
a glimpse of this bold new future, w here innovation and
imagination converge to redefine the airport experience.

Conclusion
A s w e reflect on the journey of aviation marvels, one thing
is clear: airports are symbols of progress and connectivity.
By celebrating their history, embracing innovation, and
prioritizing sustainability, airports w ill continue shaping the
travel experience. Join us on this journey w here the sky is
not the limit, but only the beginning of our adventures. •

G L O B A L AVIATOR I V o l. 1 6 / N o 3 / M A R C H 2 0 2 4 15
FROM THE DESK OF PILATUS

First New South Wales

Ambulance PC-24 inservice

About the PC-24 Air AmbulanceVUTSRQPONMLKJIHGFEDCBA

For th e la st 30 y e a rs P ila tu s h a s b e e n m a n u fa c tu rin g a n d d e liv e rin g
a irc ra ft to so m e of th e m o st w id e ly re c o g n ise d a n d p re s tig io u s
a e ro m e d ic a l o p e ra to rs a r o u n d th e w o rld - in c lu d in g c u sto m e rs su c h
as th e R oyal F ly in g D o cto r Serv ice in A u stra lia , O rn g e in C a n a d a
a n d K o m m u n a lfo rb u n d e t S v en sk t A m b u la n sfly g (KSA) in S w eden.
" T h e PC-24 is n o s tr a n g e r to
T h e PC-24 is th e w o rld 's firs t a ir a m b u la n c e je t w ith a p a tie n t lo a d in g
th e a e r o m e d ic a l s p a c e , it's a h ig h ly
door. P atien ts c a n b e lo a d e d a n d u n lo a d e d fro m th e S u p e r V ersatile s o u g h t a f te r p la tf o r m fo r m a n y of
Jet b y m e a n s of a n ele ctric ally p o w e re d lo a d in g d evice o r a lte rn a tiv e ly th e to p a e r o m e d ic a l o r g a n iz a tio n s
w ith a ra m p - p a tie n t lo a d in g h a s n e v e r b e e n safer, fa ste r o r easier. XWVUTSRQPONMLKJIHGFEDCBA
a r o u n d th e w o rld . L ik e th e a irc r a f t,
th e a e r o m e d ic a l c o n f ig u r a tio n h a s
p r o v e n its e lf i n s o m e o f th e h a r s h e s t
The New South Wales I n 2021, A u s tr a lia 's N e w S o u th o p e r a tin g c o n d itio n s a n y w h e r e .
W a le s A m b u la n c e d e c id e d to W e 're e x tre m e ly p r o u d t h a t th e
Ambulance Fixed Wing p u r c h a s e tw o s ta te - o f - th e - a r t PC -24s N e w S o u th W a le s A m b u la n c e h a s
Aeromedical Operations brings to f u r t h e r in c r e a s e th e o r g a n iz a tio n 's c h o s e n o u r a ir c r a f t to s a v e liv e s a n d
o p e r a tio n a l c a p a b ilitie s . T h e o p e r a to r s e rv e t h e ir c o m m u n ity " , s a id P ila tu s
its first PC-24 into service, w ill u s e th e PC-24 to p r o v id e A u s tr a lia 's C EO , S e b a s tia n L ip.
dem onstrating how this a e r o m e d ic a l s e rv ic e s to th e p e o p le " T h e PC-24 in c r e a s e s th e
o f N e w S o u th W ales, c o v e r in g a n c a p a b ility o f o u r a e r o m e d ic a l
aircraft continues to live up to o p e r a tio n s a n d is id e a l fo r th e
a r e a o f a p p r o x im a te ly 800 000 s q u a r e
its nam esake as the w orld’s k ilo m e te rs . It is a n tic ip a te d th a t lo n g d is ta n c e s w e h a v e to c o v e r in
th e S u p e r V e rs a tile J e t w ill c o n d u c t A u s tr a lia , it w ill b e a g r e a t a s s e t to
only Super Versatile Jet.
a r o u n d 800 flig h ts , t r a n s f e r r i n g o u r c lin ic a l s ta f f a n d p a tie n ts " , s a id
a p p r o x im a te ly 6,500 p a tie n ts , N S W A m b u la n c e C o m m is s io n e r
d u r i n g its f ir s t y e a r o f s e rv ic e . D r D o m in ic M o rg a n . •

1 6 V o l. 1 6 / N o 3 / M A R C H 2 0 2 4 | G L O B A L A V IA T O R
 New Perth-Johannesburg
direct route opens a myriad of African
experiences for Australian travellers
Gauteng, South A frica’s
economic hub and gatew ay
to Africa, is preparing to
give travellers aboard the
inaugural SAA flight from
Perth to Johannesburg, a
traditional w e t w elcom e
when it lands a t O.R. Tambo
International Airport at
the end of April 2024.
T h e n o n - s to p t h r e e tim e s
a w e e k f lig h t ta k e s - o f f fr o m
J o h a n n e s b u r g o n 28 A p ril, 2024
a n d h a s s e e n a k e e n u p ta k e o f s e a ts
p a r ti c u la r l y in th e e c o n o m y c la ss.
"W e a r e r e a lly e x c ite d t h a t th is
f lig h t h a s r e c o m m e n c e d a f te r a th r e e -
y e a r h ia tu s . T h e r o u te p r o v id e s a n
e a s ie r a n d d ir e c t p a s s a g e fo r b o th
le is u r e a n d b u s in e s s tr a v e lle r s a n d
p r o m o te s tr a d e a n d c u l tu r a l e x c h a n g e
b e tw e e n S o u th A fric a a n d A u s tr a lia ,"
s a id M s S th e m b is o D la m in i, C E O
G a u te n g T o u ris m A u th o rity .
T h is is th e s e c o n d in te r o c e a n ic
r o u te to b e r e o p e n e d f o llo w in g
th e la u n c h o f th e S ao P a u lo , B ra z il
r o u te in O c to b e r 2023 a n d p r o v id e s
a n a lte r n a tiv e it in e r a r y fo r th o s e
tr a v e llin g to S o u th A m e ric a w ith
f lig h ts a v a ila b le to S ao P a u lo , f r o m
e ith e r J o h a n n e s b u r g o r C a p e T o w n
w ith S o u th A f r ic a n A irw a y s .
T h e r e o p e n in g o f th e
J o h a n n e s b u r g to P e r th d ir e c t r o u te
is a b o u t c o n n e c tin g tw o c itie s a n d
b r id g i n g d iv e rs e c u ltu r e s a n d
e x p e rie n c e s . It g iv e s A u s tr a lia n
tr a v e lle r s e a s ie r a c c e ss to th e r ic h
ta p e s t r y o f e x p e r ie n c e s t h a t G a u te n g
o ffe rs - f r o m its v ib r a n t u r b a n
life s ty le to its s t u n n i n g n a t u r a l
la n d s c a p e s . It is a n in v ita tio n
to e x p lo re th e # G P L ife s ty le
- a u n iq u e b le n d o f a d v e n tu r e ,
c u ltu r e , a n d g a s tr o n o m y t h a t
th e p r o v in c e is r e n o w n e d for.
G e t b a c k to m a n k in d 's r o o ts
w ith a v is it to M rs P le s s a t th e
C ra d le o f H u m a n k i n d , e x p lo re th e
c a v e s w h e r e e a rly m a n liv e d ; v is it
S o w e to , th e h o m e to w n o f tw o S o u th
A f r ic a n W o rld le a d e rs , N e ls o n
M a n d e la a n d B ish o p D e s m o n d
T u tu , s o a k u p th e a tm o s p h e r e ,
m e e t th e p e o p le , a n d ta s te lo c a l
c u is in e a n d fe e l th e v ib e .
T h e re 's p le n ty to t h r i l l th e
o u td o o r a d v e n t u r e r a n d th o s e
h o o k e d o n a d r e n a l in e f ro m
b u n g e e ju m p in g , th e w o rld 's
lo n g e s t S c a d fre e fa ll, k a y a k in g ,
m o u n t a in c lim b in g , c y c lin g ,
w a te r s p o r t a n d so m u c h m o re .
G a u te n g o ffe rs b e a u tif u l
s c e n e ry , p a r k s a n d w ild lif e
e x p e rie n c e s . T h e W a lte r S is u lu
N a tio n a l B o ta n ic a l G a r d e n is
r e c o g n is e d a s o n e o f th e m o s t
b e a u tif u l b o ta n ic a l g a r d e n s in th e
w o rld ; th e r e a r e n a t u r e r e s e r v e s
a n d a g a m e r e s e r v e o f f e r in g a
B ig fiv e s a f a r i e x p e rie n c e .
In ju s t a 1 0 -h o u r f lig h t y o u
c a n e x p e rie n c e a n e w v ib r a n t
w o rld , tic k o ff m a n y b u c k -lis t ite m s
a n d lis te n to th e s o u n d s o f th e
b u s h v e ld u n d e r c le a r n ig h t sk ie s.
T h e d ir e c t f lig h ts (SA 280)
d e p a r t O R T a m b o I n te r n a tio n a l
A ir p o r t, J o h a n n e s b u r g o n T u e s d a y s ,
T h u r s d a y s , a n d S u n d a y s a t 20h55
a n d a r r iv e a t P e r th I n te r n a tio n a l
A ir p o r t, th e fo llo w in g d a y a t
12h20. F lig h ts f r o m P e r th (SA
281) a r e s c h e d u le d o n M o n d a y s ,
W e d n e s d a y s , a n d F rid a y s a n d
d e p a r t a t 14h40, a r r iv i n g th e s a m e
d a y a t 19h35 in J o h a n n e s b u r g . •
18 V o l. 1 6 / N o 3 / M A R C H 2 0 2 4
ONMLKJIHGFEDCBA | G LO BAL AVIATOR
GLOBAL AVIATOR I V o l. 1 6 / N o 3 / M A R C H 2 0 2 4 19
WORLD DESTINATIONS XWVUTSRQPONMLKJIHGFEDCBA
Im m erse yourself in the world
of Game of Thrones, the hit
series which has captivated
millions of view ers. Explore
a host of ancient UNESCO-
listed cities and breath-taking
national monum ents w here
scenes from GOT have been
film ed. From Kings Landing and
Qarth to the City of Meereen
and M ineeta Tower, there are
some incredible places to visit.
Dubrovnik's walls and forts
feature prominently in the series.
Fort Mineeta was used for the
exterior shots of Qarth's House
of the Undying, Tyrion Lannister
commanded the defence of King's
Yachts at waterfront
o f the historical centre ofTrogir.
Photo by joym sk
2 0 V o l.1 6 /N o 3 /M A R C H 2 0 2 4
Landing from the seaward-facing
walls during the Battle of the
Blackwater and, if you can look
past all of the CGI enhancements,
you'll recognize Fort Lawrence
as the core of the Red Keep.
A small, crescent shaped
country in south-eastern Europe,
Croatia was chosen as the setting
for the series because of its rich
history, stunning natural beauty,
and charming coastal towns
with their impressive forts and
breathtaking views of the beautiful
Adriatic Sea. Whether or not GOT
holds great interest for you, no visit
to Dubrovnik is complete without
a walk around the spectacular city
walls that encircle its core. They're
among the finest in the world and
are the city's defining feature.
From the top, the view over the old
| G L O B A L A V IA T O R
town and the Adriatic is superb.
From the sea, the juxtaposition
of pinkish-grey stone and azure
waters is mesmerizing, while from
above the tight maze of church
steeples and terracotta roofs is
the setting for a fairy tale.
History
Europe is a continent rich in history,
and Croatia especially so, from the
9th century when the first set of
walls to enclose the city were built
to the present. In the middle of the
14th century the 1.5m-thick defences
were fortified with 15 square forts.
The threat of attacks from the Turks
in the 15th century prompted the
city to strengthen the existing forts
and add new ones, so that the entire
old town was contained within a
stone barrier 2 km long and up to
 Banje beach in Dubrovnik, Croatia
Photo by gsafarek

25m high. The walls are thicker on

the land side - up to 6m - and range
PRIMOSTEN, CROATIA - July 21,2023: People on the beach in Primosten,
from 1.5m to 3m on the seaside. Croatia. — Photo by tanya.rozhnovskaya@gmail.com
Entrance to the city was viaA
two elaborate gates: the Pile Gate
to the west and the Ploce Gate to
the east. Both have drawbridges
that were raised at sunset when
the doors were locked and the
keys handed to the rector. A third
entrance, the Buza Gate, was added
to the northern wall at the top
of Boskoviceva street in 1907.
The most impressive is the
Pile Gate, built in 1537, which
remains the main entrance to the
town. There is a stone Statue of St
Blaise - the 4th-century Armenian
martyr is Dubrovnik's patron saint
- holding the city in his hands.
After passing through the outer
gate you'll enter a large court with
a ramp and stairs heading down to
the inner gate, dating from 1460.

Makarska, Croatia, September 12,2023. Croatian beaches are fu ll o f tourists in mid-September,

which heralds a good tourist season in Croatia. — Photo by JureDivich

G L O B A L A V IA T O R I V o l. 1 6 / N o 3 / M A R C H 2 0 2 4 2 1
WORLD DESTINATIONS XWVUTSRQPONMLKJIHGFEDCBA

The forts VUTSRQPONMLKJIHGFEDCBA

R o u n d Fo rt M in ceta p ro te c ts
th e la n d w a rd ed g e of th e city
fro m a ttack . F o rt B okar is th e
w e ste rn m o st to w er, b u ilt to p ro te c t
Pile G ate. Fo rt L aw ren ce, a larg e,
fre e -s ta n d in g fo rtre ss, w a s b u ilt to
g u a rd th e city's w e s te rn a p p ro a c h
fro m in v a sio n b y la n d a n d sea,
w ith w a lls fro m 4m to 12m thick.
It is p o ssib le to w a lk a lo n g th e
city w alls, alw ays in a n a n tic lo c k w ise
d ire c tio n . D u rin g p e a k tim e s it
c an be v e ry f ru s tra tin g d u e to
th e v a st n u m b e r of p eo p le o n th e
w alls, b u t th e ex p e rie n c e is w o rth
ev e ry sin g le m u tte r a n d fru s tra te d a rc h ite c tu re . A t its cen tre, in U p p e r m a in sq u a re , B an Jelacic, p lu s
th o u g h t a b o u t th e tim e it tak es. T ow n is th e site of th e G oth ic, sho ps, m u se u m s a n d p ark s.
tw in -s p ire d Z a g reb C a th e d ra l a n d O rig in a lly k n o w n as St.
Zagreb 1 3 th -c e n tu ry St. M ark 's C h u rch , S tep h en 's C a th e d ra l, Z a g reb
C ro atia's n o rth -w e s te rn c ap ital, w ith a c o lo u rfu lly tile d roof. N e a rb y C a th e d ra l of th e A ssu m p tio n
is d is tin g u is h e d b y its 18th- a n d is T ka lciceva S treet, lin e d w ith of th e B lessed V irg in M a ry is a
1 9 th -c e n tu ry A u s tro -H u n g a ria n o u td o o r cafes. L ow er T ow n h a s th e city la n d m a rk a n d is th e m o st

2 2 Vol. 1 6 / N o 3 / M A R C H 2 0 2 4 | G L O B A L A V IA T O R
m o n u m e n ta l sacra l b u ild in g in N e o ­
G o th ic sty le so u th e a st of th e A lps.
T he c a th e d ra l is th e ta lle st b u ild in g
in C ro a tia a n d its o rg a n is a m o n g th e
to p te n fin e st in th e w orld . Priceless
tre a s u re is k e p t in th e C a th e d ra l's
tre a su ry , in c lu d in g item s d a tin g
b ack to th e 11th to 19th ce n tu rie s.
If y o u o n ly h av e tim e to v isit
one m u se u m in C ro atia, th e n
let it m u st be th e M u se u m of
B roken R elatio n sh ip s in Z agreb.
It fe a tu re s objects th a t re p re s e n t
p a in , love a n d loss, m a p p in g th e
u p s a n d d o w n s of re la tio n sh ip s,
w ith each on e a c c o m p a n ie d b y a
story. D o n 't fo rg et tissu es, th e y
w ill a lm o st s u re ly be n e e d e d . View o f city Dubrovnik - Pic: kanuman

Breakaway from Yugoslavia

T he M u se u m of C ro a tia n W ar of
In d e p e n d e n c e lo cated in Z ag reb ,
th is m u se u m tells th e sto ry of
C ro atia's w a r for in d e p e n d e n c e
fro m Y ugoslav ia in th e 1990s.
E x hibits exp lo re th e cau ses of
th e w ar, th e ke y eve nts, a n d
th e lives of th o se affected.
V u k o v ar M em o ria l P ark
c o m m em o rates th e B attle of V ukovar,
one of th e b lo o d ie st b a ttle s of th e
C ro a tia n W ar of In d e p e n d e n c e .
E xplore th e p a rk 's m o n u m e n ts,
m em o rials, a n d m u se u m exh ib its.

Split city
Split d a te s ba ck to th e tim e th e
R o m an E m p ero r D io c le tia n w h o
so m e 1 700 d e c id e d ago to b u ild h is Cathedral and Museums in the old town o f Dubrovnik a prominent travel destination o f Croatia.
Palace rig h t o n th e p e n in s u la n e a r Dubrovnik old town was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Sites in 1979 - Pic: BiancoBiue
th e g re a t R o m an city Salon a, w h e re
he w a n te d to sp e n d th e la st y ears
of h is life. D io cletian Palace a n d
th e e n tire h isto ric a l core of Split
h av e b e e n o n th e W orld H e rita g e
U N E SC O list eve r since 1979. E xplore
th e p alace's v a rio u s b u ild in g s,
in c lu d in g th e Peristy le, th e
m a u so le u m , a n d th e Ju p iter Tem ple.
A m b lin g th ro u g h Split is to
ta lk a w a lk th ro u g h histo ry , a lo n g
th e g re a t e x am p les of a n c ie n t
a rc h ite c tu re like Peristy le, th e
m id d le ag ed R o m an esq u e C h u rc h
a n d G o th ic Palace, R en aissan ce
p o rta ls of th e n o b lem en 's
h o u se s, B aroq ue facade s a n d
m o d e rn a rc h ite c tu re m erg e
to g e th e r in th e ric h he rita g e.
Split is m u c h m o re th a n
a rc h ite c tu ra l scenery. It is also A

The Changing o f the Guards Ceremony, a weekend attraction at St Mark's Square in Old Town in Zagreb - Pic: e l e p h o t o s

G L O B A L A V IA T O R I Vol. 1 6 / N o 3 / M A R C H 2 0 2 4 2 3
WORLD DESTINATIONS

a venue for excellent gourmet in limestone canyon with partially through the property area of 84
and vine experiences, cultural steep shores. The lake system is ha of old-growth forest of beech
happenings like film and theatre the result of millennia of ongoing and fir. The tufa barriers provide
festivals, exhibitions, excellent geological and biochemical habitat for diverse and highly
museums and concerts, a city processes creating natural dams specialised communities of non-
which offers eclectic modes of known as tufa barriers formed vascular plants. Brown Bear, Grey
entertainment starting with by the deposition of calcium Wolf and Lynx along with many
numerous clubs and bars, through carbonate from the waters flowing rare species roam the forests.

Adriatic town Trogir Croatia - Pic: dreamer 4787

street festivals to events such

as Ultra Europe Festival visited
each year by up to 100 thousand
young people from around one
hundred countries of the world.
Split has had excellent sports
results and is home a dozen
Olympic medal winners.

Plitvice Lakes National Park

Croatia's largest national park
covering almost 30 000 hectares,
is situated in the lower elevations
of the Dinarides in the central
part of the country. Within
a beautiful karst landscape
dominated by a mix of forests
and meadows, the Plitvice Lake
system stands out, fascinating
scientists and visitors alike.
Interconnected by many waterfalls
and watercourses above and below
ground, the lakes are grouped
into the upper and lower lakes.
The upper lakes are formed
on dolomites, with not so steep
shores and enclosed by thick
forests, whereas the lower lakes,
smaller and shallower, are situated

2 4 V o l.1 6 /N o 3 /M A R C H 2 0 2 4 | G L O B A L A V IA T O R
 There are eight national parks
in Croatia and another that is
worth a visit is Krka National Park
situated along the Krka River in
southern Croatia. It's known for a
series of seven waterfalls. In the
south, Skradinski Buk waterfall is
flanked by traditional watermills. To
Old Istrian town in Rovinj - Pic: motoroika
the north, a nature trail passes
another striking cascade, Roski Hvar
Slap, and the Krka Monastery, Hvar is a Croatian island in the
built above ancient Roman Adriatic Sea, best known as a
catacombs. Visovac Island is home summer resort. Highlights of
to the 15th-century Franciscan the port town include its 13th-
century walls, a hilltop fortress
Monastery of Our Lady of Mercy.XWVUTSRQPONMLKJIHGFEDCBA
and a main square anchoredA
Pula Amphitheater or Coliseum o f Pula is a well preserved Roman amphitheater, Istria
Pic: bennymarty
View at amazing archipelago with
boats in front of town Hvar
Pic: DaLiu
G L O B A L A V IA T O R I V o l. 1 6 / N o 3 / M A R C H 2 0 2 4 2 5
WORLD DESTINATIONS

by the Renaissance-era Hvar
Cathedral. This is an ideal area for
those who enjoy the beach as the
island also features beaches such
as Dubovica and inland lavender
fields. The nearby Pakleni Islands,
which have secluded beaches and
coves, can be reached by boat.XWVUTSRQPONMLKJIHGFEDCBA
Myths, legends and beaches
No country with such an ancient
history could exist without the
dark legends and mystery. Step off
the beaten path and explore the
hidden gems of Trogir, an ancient
town founded by Greek colonists
in the third century BC. Wander
through narrow, gloomy streets and
paths, while black clothed guides
illuminate the way and transport
you way back in time. Discover
the enchanting beauty of Trogir by
night, listen to tales of the myths
and legends of Old Trogir with its
rich history and hidden treasures
just waiting to be explored.
By day the sun dispels any
dark thoughts. Croatia is famed for
its scenic pebbled beaches, lapped
by crystal-clear waters. One of the
most well-known is Braczs Zlatni
Rat, also referred to as the Golden
Cape. The tip of the beach is ever­
changing with the wind, so one is
never quite sure what shape it'll take
when you visit. Those who prefer
to escape the crowds, it is easy to
hire a boat in Hvar an visit Stiniva
Beach on Vis Island, Dalmatia.

2 6 V o l.1 6 /N o 3 /M A R C H 2 0 2 4 | G L O B A L A V IA T O R A
 Concealed by two towering trails, go on cellar tours and meet Croatian roast of octopus with potatoes,
cliffs the beach offers a quiet, the people behind the bottle. onions, garlic, tomato and spices.
relaxed area to enjoy your visit. Straight out of the Adriatic Sea,
the seafood served across Croatia Getting there
Wine, w ine, and seafood will be some of the freshest you've Turkish Airlines, KLM, South
The Ancient Greeks were the first ever tasted. Sample oysters and African Airways, Lufthansa and
to grow grapes and produce wine octopus served as part of a stew Virgin Atlantic have flights
on the islands of Dalmatia, and or risotto, or partake of octopus from Johannesburg OR Tambo
it's since become one of Croatia's prepared and cooked in the Airport - Zagreb Franjo TuDman
most popular outputs. Although traditional Balkan Croatian Greek Airport and Johannesburg OR
the majority of the wine is white, Mediterranean meal, Peka, in metal Tambo Airport - Dubrovnik Airport,
there are also some extremely pots called sac sach or sache or a to There are no direct flights from
good reds to try. Follow vineyard lid. Alternatively enjoy a traditional Johannesburg to Croatia. •

Above: Mirogoj cemetery. Zagreb - Pic: silverjohn Above: A street festival held every year since 1999 in Varazdin lasts fo r 10 days - Photo by deymosd

Below: A view o f the new airport building with air traffic control tower in Dubrovnik - Pic: by GoranJakus Below: Croatian Maritime Museum in Split - Pic: nokoia@gmaii.com

G L O B A L A V IA T O R I V o l. 1 6 / N o 3 / M A R C H 2 0 2 4 2 7
 iper anno ONMLKJIHGFEDCBA

The fastest single-engine Piper Aircraft ever built

2 8 V o lJ 6 /N o 3 / M AR C H 20 2 4 | G L O B A L A V IA T O R
On 6 February Piper Aircraft Inc. announced a new
model in its PA46 line of high-perform ance aircraft,
the Piper M 700 FURY, a single-engine, 700 shaft
horsepower, cabin-class turboprop
The Piper M 700 FURY represents cruise speed, 1,424 nm at normal cruise
the first step tow ards a new generation of speed) w hile maintaining its Basic M ed
the M -Class family, outperforming past compliant 6,000- pound M GTOW limit.
PA46 models and several competitive A t a 301-knot max cruise speed,
aircraft in performance, operational cost the M 700 FURY stands alone as the
efficiencies, and overall value. Pow ered fastest single-engine aircraft in Piper's
by the Pratt & Whitney PT6A-52 engine, enviable 87-year, 134,000 unit production
the M 700 FURY boasts a maximum history, and it's the second fastest model
cruise speed of 301 ktas w ith a max of all time. Only the mighty Piper
range of 1,149 nm / 1,849 km (at max Cheyenne 400LS turbine tw in is faster.

Key performance highlights in different phases of flight include:

Take-off Performance - TOFL distance
over a 50' obstacle at SL, STD day
M GTOW is a class-leading 1 994 ft.,
representing a 641 ft., 24 percent
improvement w hen compared
to the M 600 SLS that it replaces.
That TOFL performance is also
1,198 ft. (38 percent) shorter than
a competing single-engine jet.
Initial Climb - after a M GTOW
departure, the M 700 enjoys a class­
leading 2 048 fpm climb rate, 32
percent better than the M600.
Climb to A ltitude - settled into the
climb, the M 700 FURY reaches a
comfortable FL250 in 13.9 minutes
(34 percent quicker than the M600)
after covering a short 34-mile distance
(35 percent less distance than prior)
w hile only burning 97 lbs. of fuel
(25 percent less fuel than the M 600
and nearly 50% less fuel than a
single-engine jet competitor).
• Cruise - 301-knot max cruise speed.
• Landing Performance - Landing
over a 50 ft. obstacle, the M 700 FURY
continues its class-leading performance,
achieving a 26 percent reduction versus
the M 600 and w ithin half the ground
roll distance of some competitors.

G L O B A L A V IA T O R I Vol. 1 6 / N o 3 / M A R C H 2 0 2 4 2 9
PIPER FURY XWVUTSRQPONMLKJIHGFEDCBA

3 0 V o l. 1 6 / N o 3 / M A R C H 2 0 2 4 | G L O B A L A V IA T O R
 "T h e M700 FURY is a
b e a u tifu lly efficien t, c ro ss­
c o u n try th o ro u g h b re d th a t gives
o u r c u sto m e rs a p e rfo rm a n c e ­
b a se d flig h t e x p e rie n c e w ith
econ om ics n e v e r se e n before,"
sa id P ip e r P re sid e n t a n d CEO
Jo h n C alcag no. "W e liste n e d , a n d
w e d eliv ered . T he M700 FURY
en co m p asses po w er, p e rfo rm a n c e
a n d th e m o st a d v a n c e d sa fe ty
m e a su re s av ailab le to d a y a n d
a n o v erall v a lu e p ro p o sitio n
th a t is ex trem ely co m p e llin g
to in d iv id u a ls a n d c o rp o ra te
flig h t d e p a rtm e n ts alike."
A irfra m e c h a n g e s to
acco m m o d ate th e m o re p o w e rfu l
e n g in e in c lu d e a re d e sig n e d ,
m o re efficien t in ta k e p le n u m th a t
im p ro v e s ra m a ir recov ery, n ew
e n g in e m o u n t a ssem b lies a n d a n
im p ro v e d e x h a u st sta ck d e sig n
th a t m a x im iz e s re sid u a l th ru s t.
T he M700 FURY fe a tu re s
G a rm in 's G3000® av io nics
s y ste m —a to u c h sc re e n -c o n tro lle d
g lass flig h t deck. T he G3000
avion ics su ite is th e m o st
so p h istic a te d G a rm in te c h n o lo g y
av ailab le a n d offers th e m o st
co m p reh en siv e, in tu itiv e a n d
tech n o lo g ic a lly a d v a n c e d p ack ag e
in to d a y 's m a rk e t. It all com es
s ta n d a rd in th e M700 FURY
a lo n g w ith th e H A L O S afety
Sy stem (in c lu d in g G a rm in 's
A u to la n d tech n o lo g y ) th a t w as
G L O B A L A V IA T O R I Vol. 1 6 / N o 3 / M A R C H 2 0 2 4
firs t c e rtifie d in th e M 600/SLS.
T he n e w m o d el w ill
r e ta in G a rm in 's PlaneSync™
te ch n o lo g y , w h ic h in c lu d e s a
4G LTE C e llu la r a n d Wi-Fi®
d a ta lin k th a t e n ab les n e w av io nics
cap a b ilitie s to s tre a m lin e a n
a irc ra ft o w n e r's p re -flig h t a n d
p o st-flig h t a ctiv itie s. P ip e r is also
first-to -m a rk e t w ith G a rm in 's
re m o te a irc ra ft sta tu s cap a b ility
e n a b lin g o w n e rs to re m o te ly
ch eck th e fu e l q u a n tity , a irc ra ft
lo catio n , oil te m p e ra tu re , b a tte ry
voltage, th e c u rre n t METAR a t th e
a irc ra ft's lo catio n a n d m o re v ia
th e G a rm in Pilot™ ap p licatio n .
PlaneSync™ te c h n o lo g y also
a u to m a tic a lly d o w n lo a d s
d a ta b a se s w ire le ssly w h ile th e
a irc ra ft is p o w e re d d o w n a n d th e
o w n e r is aw ay fro m th e a irc ra ft.
T h is n e w a irc ra ft in c lu d e s
six (6) n e w in te rio r schem es,
fe a tu rin g n e w le a th e rs a n d
a e sth e tic a lly sty le d seats th a t
ha v e b e e n th o u g h tfu lly c ra fte d
w ith th e c u sto m e r in m in d .
FAA c e rtific a tio n for th e
a irc ra ft w ill b e a c h iev ed b efo re
th e e n d of Q I, 2024 w ith d eliv eries
s ta r tin g im m e d ia te ly th e re a fte r.
In te rn a tio n a l v a lid a tio n s for
C a n a d a , EASA, th e UK, a n d
B razil w ill b e a c h iev ed in th e
seco n d h a lf of 2024, w ith cu sto m e r
d eliv eries in th o se re g io n s
b efo re th e e n d of th e year. •
3 1 VUTSRQPONMLKJIHGFE
CARGO DRONES XWVUTSRQPONMLKJIHGFEDCBA
MightyFly, a pioneering and
innovative autonomous drone
company, has recently unveiled
the Cento eVTOL, its third-
generation cargo aircraft, w hich
is a significant breakthrough in
the world of expedited logistics.
This hybrid eVTOL cargo aircraft
has been designed to carry a
payload of up to 4 5 kg over a
distance of m ore than 9 5 0 km .
The expand ed cargo bay of the
Cento eVTOL is si gnifi cantl y l arger
th an its pred ecessor, m ak i ng it capable
of car r y i ng l arger pack ages, inclu d ing
cooler boxes r equ ir ed for the safe
tr ansp or tation of donor or gans and
blood bags. The Cento eVTOL w i ll
benefit a w id e range of ind ustries,
i nclu d ing logistics, m anu factu r i ng,
healthcar e, p harm aceu tical, r etail,
autom otiv e, and oil and gas, as
w ell as or ganizati ons w ork i ng i n
hu m ani tar i an and d isaster r elief
and gov er nm ent d efence team s.
One of the m ost rem ark able
featu res of the Cento eVTOL is its
ad v anced autonom ous technol ogy
that enables the ai r cr aft to p er for m
sev eral task s, incl u d ing autonom ously
op eni ng and cl osi ng its cargo bay door,
r ecei v ing and ejecti ng p ack ages into
and f r om the car go bay, m ov i ng and
secu r i ng pack ages w i th an inter nal
p osi ti oning and l ock ing sy stem , and
sensi ng and com p u ting w eight and
3 2 V o l. 1 6 / N o 3 / M A R C H 2 0 2 4
balance. Th i s ad v anced autonom ous
technol ogy is d esigned to im prov e
the ai r cr aft's efficiency, m ak i ng it
easier to operate and m aintai n.
M ighty Fly 's A utonom ous L oad
M aster i ng Sy stem (A LM S) is a si gnifi cant
ad v ancem ent i n the Cento eVTOL,
enabli ng the ai r cr aft to autonom ously
m anage car go operations, inclu d ing
d eter m i ni ng w eight and bal ance w ithout
operator i nterv ention. Th i s featu re is
a r esu l t of M ighty Fly 's collaboration
w i th A gi li ty Pr im e and A i r M obility
Com m and to ad d ress the U.S. A i r Force's
autonom ous aerial l ogistics needs.
The Cento eVTOL's car go bay is
notably l arger th an its predecessor,
accom m od ating a d iv erse range
of payloads' centr e of gravity. This
featu re m ak es the ai r cr aft v ersatile,
cater i ng to v ar iou s ind u stries su ch as
logistics, m anu factu r i ng, healthcare,
p harm aceu ti cal , r etai l, autom otiv e,
oil and gas, as w ell as hu m ani tar i an
and d isaster rel i ef organizations.
M ighty Fly has r eceiv ed approv al
fr om the U S Fed eral A v iation
A d m inistr ation for an ai r corrid or
betw een By r on and N ew Jer u salem
ai r p or ts i n Califor nia. Th i s w i l l facilitate
ai r cr aft qu al i fi cati on tests and f li ght tests
betw een the tw o ai rp orts, m ar k i ng a
si gnifi cant m ilestone for the company.
M ighty Fly i s set to debut its
autonom ous cargo ai r cr aft d eliv ery
fli ghts i n M i chi gan i n the fal l of
2024, show casing point-to-point
autonom ous d eliv ery u se cases,
and the ai r cr aft's cap abilities to its
p ar tner s and p otential custom ers.
The com pany 's m ission is to prov id e
| G L O B A L A V IA T O R
fast, affordable, and env ir onm entall y
consciou s exp ed ited d eliv eries to
bu sinesses and gov ernm ents. W i th a
cargo cap acity of up to 45 k g, a r ange
of m ore t h an 950 k m , and ad v anced
autonom ous technology, M ightyFly's
Cento eVTOL is a si gni fi cant step
tow ard s r ev olu tionizing the logistics
i nd u str y and tr ansfor m i ng the
exp ed ited logistics m arket.
M ake it more detailed
M ightyFly, a p ioneer i ng autonom ous
d rone com pany, has r ecently u nv eiled
its thi r d -gener ati on cargo ai rcraft, the
Cento eVTOL. The Cento eVTOL is an
innov ativ e hy brid eVTOL cargo ai r cr aft
that can tr ansp or t a payload of up to 45
k g ov er a d istance of m ore t h an 950 k m .
M ighty Fly has stated that the expand ed
car go bay of the Cento eVTOL is
si gnifi cantl y larger th an its predecessor,
m ak i ng it capable of car r y i n g larger
pack ages, incl u d ing cooler boxes
r equ ir ed for the safe tr ansp or tation
of d onor or gans and blood bags.
The com pany has em p hasized that
thi s enl ar ged car go bay w i l l benefit
m ultiple i nd u stries, i nclu d ing
logistics, m anu factu r i ng, healthcare,
p harm aceu ti cal , retai l, autom otiv e, and
oil and gas, as w ell as or ganizations
w ork i ng i n hu m ani tar i an and d isaster
r el i ef and gov ernm ent d efence team s.
One of the m ost i m pressiv e
featu res of the Cento eVTOL i s its
ad v anced autonom ous technol ogy
that enables the ai r cr aft to p er for m
sev eral task s, incl u d ing autonom ously
op eni ng and cl osi ng its car go bay door,
r ecei v ing and ejecti ng p ack ages into
Rwanda's efforts to bolster its national security against the potential
misuse of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) have resulted in the adoption of
cutting-edge anti-drone solutions th at utilize sta te -o f-th e -a rt technology.
The country has collaborated w ith Advanced Protection Systems (APS), a
renowned defence technology provider from Poland, to deploy advanced
anti-drone measures th at have set a benchm ark in airspace protection.
SKYctrl and FIELDctrl are tw o A PS
system s that have been integrated into
Rw anda's airspace protection measures.
SKYctrl is a m odular system that can
Rwanda acquires
Polishanti-drone systems
and fr om the cargo bay, m ov i ng and
secu r i ng p ack ages w i th an i nter nal
p osi ti oning and l ock ing system , and
sensi ng and com p u ting w eight and
balance. M ighty Fly 's A utonom ous L oad
M aster i ng Sy stem (A LM S) is a si gnifi cant
ad v ancem ent i n the Cento eVTOL,
enabli ng the ai r cr aft to autonom ously
m anage car go operations, i nclu d ing
d eter m i ni ng w eight and bal ance w ithout
operator i nterv ention. Th i s featu re is
a r esu l t of M ighty Fly 's collaboration
w i th A gi li ty Pr im e and A i r M obility
Com m and to ad d ress the U.S. A i r Force's
autonom ous aerial l ogistics needs.
The Cento eVTOL's cargo bay is
notably l arger th an its predecessor,
accom m od ating a d iv erse r ange
of payloads' centr e of gravity. This
featu re m ak es the ai r cr aft v ersatile,
cater i ng to v ar iou s ind u stries su ch as
logistics, m anu factu r i ng, healthcare,
p harm aceu ti cal , r etai l, autom otiv e,
be custom ized to m eet specific security
requirem ents, offering users the flexibility
to integrate diverse 3D radars, sensors,
and effectors to counter potential threats
oil and gas, as w el l as hu m ani tar i an
and d isaster r el i ef organizations.
M ighty Fly has receiv ed approv al
fr om the U S Fed eral A v iation
A d m inistr ation for an ai r corrid or
betw een By r on and N ew Jer u salem
ai r p or ts i n Califor nia. Thi s w i l l facilitate
ai r cr aft qu al i fi cati on tests and fli ght
tests betw een the tw o ai rp orts, m ar k i ng
a si gnifi cant m ilestone for the company.
M ighty Fly 's Cento eVTOL
introd u ces sev eral k ey featu res,
incl u d ing a tand em w i ng d esign,
str u ctu r al cond uctors for i ncr eased
reliability, a com posite str u ctu r e
for red uced w eight, and a m od u lar
d esign for op ti m i zed m aintenance.
These featu r es m ak e the Cento
eVTOL a gam e-changer i n the
w orld of exped ited logistics.
M anal H abib, co-founder, and CEO
of M ightyFly, exp r essed her enthu siasm
for the com pany's achiev em ent, stating,
G L O B A L A V IA T O R
effectively. It has an integrated automated
jam m er, w hich severs com m unications
betw een d rones and their operators,
rendering them ineffective. This feature
adds an extra layer of protection,
ensuring that unauthorized drones
are detected and neutralized.
The FIELDctrl radar is equally
impressive, com bining advanced
algorithms, artificial intelligence (Al),
and m achine l earning enhancem ents
to differentiate betw een natural av ian
objects and artificial aerial objects. It
excels i n real-tim e track ing of multiple
targets, including complex drone sw arms,
and has earned the seal of approval from
the Centre for the Protection of N ational
Infrastructure (CPN I) in the U nited
K ingdom for its precision and reliability.
This v alidation underscores the ability
of A PS system s to protect critical
infrastru ctu res across v arious regions
i n Europe, the M iddle East, and A sia.
Rw anda's proactive approach to
addressing the potential m isuse of
UAVs through the adoption of A PS's
anti-drone technology is commendable.
The inv estm ent highlights the country's
com m itm ent to enhancing its defensive
capabilities to counter m od ern aerial
threats effectively. It also positions
Poland as an exporter of advanced
defence technology, further cem enting
its place on the global stage.
Overall, Rw anda's adoption of
advanced anti-drone technology signifies
its w illingness to embrace technological
advancements to tackle m odern-day
challenges. This move sets an example for
other countries to follow , dem onstrating
that technology can be harnessed to
protect national security effectively. •
"We are v er y excited to show case the
2024 Cento, w hi ch com bines i nnov ation
w i th operational efficiency. It has
the p otential to tr ansfor m exped ited
l ogistics across m ultiple industries."
M ighty Fly is set to debut its
autonom ous cargo ai r cr aft d eliv ery
fli ghts i n M i chi gan in the fal l of
2024, show casing point-to-point
autonom ous d eliv ery u se cases,
and the ai rcraft's cap abilities to its
p ar tner s and p otential custom ers.
The com pany 's m ission is to prov id e
fast, affordable, and env ir onm entall y
consciou s exped ited deliv eries to
bu si n esses and gov er nm ents. W i th a
car go cap aci ty of u p to 45 k g, a r ange
of m or e t h an 950 k m , and ad v anced
au tonom ou s technol ogy , M i ghty Fly 's
Cento eV TOL is a si gn i f i can t step
tow ar d s r ev ol u ti on i zi n g the l ogi sti cs
i n d u str y and t r an sf or m i n g the
exp ed i ted l ogi sti cs m ar k et. •
I V o l. 1 6 / N o 3 / M A R C H 2 0 2 4 3 3
DRONES
Saean Group is a pioneering South Korean company
that was established in 2013 and is headquartered
in Hanam-si, Gyeonggi-do. The company has gained
recognition for its cutting-edge production of electric cars,
batteries, and heavy industry vehicles. In early 2024, the
company announced its plan to design and manufacture
hybrid-electric vertical take-off and landing (VTOL)
passenger aircraft for advanced air mobility (AAM).
3 4 V o l. 1 6 / N o 3 / M A R C H 2 0 2 4 | G L O B A L A V IA T O R
Saean Group's WiD-Sky passenger
hybrid-electric VTOL aircraft is a marvel of
modern engineering and design. The aircraft
is designed to hold up to five passengers and
their luggage, w ith tw o gull-w ing doors on
each side. The doors open to reveal a small
staircase that deploys, making it easy for
passengers to board and exit the aircraft.
The WiD-Sky is pow ered by a hybrid­
electric pow er source that includes 32 electric
ducted fans (EDFs) and 32 electric motors.
The eight EDFs are arranged in a circular
pattern inside each ducted housing, w hich is
fixed on the four corners of the aircraft. The
fuselage is made of carbon fibre composite
material, w hich provides a high strength-
to-w eight ratio. The aircraft has a rear

vertical stabilizer and tinted panoramic
w rap-around w indow s that provide
passengers w ith a breathtaking view. The
fixed tricycle strut landing gear reduces
the w eight and complexity of the aircraft,
contributing to the safety of passengers.
Saean Group's objective is to create a
passenger-grade aerial vehicle that is safe,
reduces noise, and has a realistic package
and capability. The company's patented
jet turbine design aims to introduce a
new mobility solution for the future.
The WiD-Sky's design is the result of a
comprehensive analysis of the limitations
of existing passenger aircraft and drones.
Saean Group has filed several
patents related to its VTOL aircraft,
including a multi-jet propulsion system,
a manned drone w ith a jet engine cluster
as its propellant, a multi-direction jet-
propelled drone, and more. These patents
demonstrate the company's commitment to
innovation and developing technologies that
w ill revolutionize the aviation industry.
The WiD-Sky's specifications include
piloting by one person, a capacity for four
passengers, an unknow n cruise speed, a
short-range w ith batteries only, and a hybrid­
electric range of 1,200 km. The aircraft has
32 electric ducted fans (EDFs), w ith eight
EDFs arranged in a circular pattern w ithin
each ducted housing. It has a hybrid-electric
pow er source that includes a hydro-LPG
system and an electric dual system. The
aircraft is equipped w ith distributed electric
propulsion (DEP), w hich means that it has
multiple redundant systems, ensuring the
safety of passengers and cargo. It also has a
w hole aircraft emergency ballistic parachute
in case of unexpected inflight emergencies.
These features demonstrate the company's
commitment to safety and innovation
and its vision for the future of air travel.
Related Patents
• S. Korea Patent 10-2021-0148470
M anned Drone w ith Jet Engine
Cluster as its Propellant
2021.11.02. SA EA N NewTech
Inc. (under examination)
• S. Korea Patent 10-2021-0148471
M anned Drone w ith Jet Engine
Cluster as its Propellant
2021.11.02. SA EA N NewTech
Inc. (under examination)
• S. Korea Patent 10-2416848
M ulti-Jet propulsion system
and Jet propulsion vehicle
2022.06.30. John Lee
• S. Korea Patent 10-2385180
M ulti-direction Jet propelled drone
2022.04.06. John LeeXWVUTSRQPONMLKJIHGFEDCBA
S p e c if ic a t io n s
A ircraft type: H ybrid-electric VTOL concept design aircraft
Piloting: 1 pilot
Capacity: 4 passengers
Cruise speed: Unknow n
Range (batteries only): Short range
Range (hybrid-electric): 1,200 km
Propellers: 32 electric ducted fans (EDFs) (8 EDFs
are arranged in a circular pattern
w ithin each ducted housing)
Electric motors: 32 electric motors
Power source: H ybrid-electric pow er source (hydro-
LPG system and electric dual system)
Fuselage: Carbon fibre composit
G L O B A L A V IA T O R I V o l. 1 6 / N o 3 / M A R C H 2 0 2 4 3 5
LEONARDO HELICOPTERS XWVUTSRQPONMLKJIHGFEDCBA

Smith Myers and AgustaWestland

Aviation Services (AWAS) have
form ed a partnership to bring Smith
Myers aw ard-w inning ARTEMIS
mobile phone detection, location
and communication systems to
existing Leonardo’s helicopter
users in the Middle East and
North Africa (MENA) Regions.

A bu Dhabi-based AWAS provide

a combination of engineering and
maintenance expertise that w ill
offer current Leonardo's helicopter
users a one-stop-shop for the
procurement, integration, certification,
commissioning, training and
support of A RTEM IS onto existing
Leonardo's helicopter offering
retrofit programs in the region.
"W ith over 200 Leonardo
helicopters in service in the region
and w ith AWAS involvement in
comprehensive upgrade programs
w ith major customers in the region, the lives around the world. M ost M aritime Patrol, Border Control, A erial
partnership w ill provide Leonardo's recently selected for major UK, Firefighting and N atural Disasters.
operators simplified access to this European and N orth A merican SA R "This partnership w ill build
unique technology. We see the and Coast Guard Programs. The on the success of the UAE N ational
M EN A region as a significant market N ational Search and Rescue Centre Search & Rescue Centre program,
for our airborne A RTEM IS suite (NSRC) of the United A rab Emirates w here AWAS installed the A RTEM IS
of systems," said A ndrew M unro, (UAE) also selected A RTEM IS for systems onto the existing fleet of
M anaging Director of Smith Myers. installation across their fleet of Search N SRC A W139s" explained A ngelo
Smith M yers A RTEM IS suite & Rescue H elicopters. A RTEM IS is Vincenzo Carlino AWAS M anaging
of SA R products has been saving also deployed around the world in Director, w ho added "We are excited

3 6 Vbl. 1 6 / N o 3 / M A R C H 2 0 2 4 | G L O B A L A V IA T O R
 With members of the National Search & Rescue Center (NSRC) are, (l-r) Angelo Vincenzo Carlino
- Managing Director Augusta Westland Aviation Services, Andrew Munro, Managing Director
- Smith Myers, Fabio Frenguelli - New Products Business Development - Leonardo S.p.a.

to bring this transformational
technology to our customers."
With nearly 1200 AW139s in service
w orldw ide nearing 4 million flight
hours for multiple roles w ith around
190 customers in over 80 countries, the
bestselling intermediate-tw in type has
proven a major force also in the M iddle
East, w ith a number of aircraft dedicated
to emergency medical service and search
and rescue duties across the region.
The addition of the A RTEM IS system
as a customer option w ould further
enhance the impressive capabilities of
the AW139 to carry out critical life­
saving missions in this geography.
A RTEM IS has been designed to
accurately locate mobile telephones in
the challenging airborne environment
using only tw o small antennas.
A RTEM IS can detect a phone at extended
ranges up to 35Km and provides unique
capabilities such as mass-mapping and
geofencing to minimise crew w orkload.
The system is automated, quick
and accurate. Leading to more rapid
positive outcomes, even in low light/
IM C conditions and operates stand-alone
w ith no requirement for involvement
of the M obile N etw ork Operators. •

G L O B A L A V IA T O R I Vol. 1 6 / N o 3 / M A R C H 2 0 2 4 3 7
 HELICOPTER INDUSTRY NEWS

Airbus partners with Tata Group to set up

India's first helicopter final assembly
line in the private sector XWVUTSRQPONMLKJIHGFEDCBA

In a major boost to ‘M ake in India’, A dvanced Systems Limited (TASL), a
subsidiary of Tata Group, w ill set up the
Airbus Helicopters has announced
facility along w ith A irbus H elicopters.
th at it is partnering w ith the Tata The announcement w as made
Group to establish a Final Assembly during the tw o-day visit of French
President Emmanuel M acron to
Line (FAL) for helicopters in the
India as Chief Guest at the Republic
country. The FAL w ill produce Airbus’ Day celebrations on January 26.
best-selling H125 helicopter from The FAL in India w ill undertake
its civil range for India and export to the integration of the major component
assemblies, avionics and mission
some of the neighbouring countries. systems, installation of electrical
harnesses, hydraulic circuits, flight
The FAL w ill be the first instance of controls, dynamic components, fuel
the private sector setting up a helicopter system and the engine. It w ill also do
manufacturing facility in India, providing testing, qualification, and delivery of
a major boost to the Government of India's the H125 to customers in India and the
A atmaN irbhar Bharat' (self-reliant India) region. The FAL w ill take 24 months to
programme. Under this partnership, Tata set up and deliveries of the first 'M ade in
India' H 125s are expected to commence in
2026. The location of the FAL w ill be jointly
decided by A irbus and the Tata Group.
"H elicopters are crucial for nation
building. A 'M ade-in-India' civil
helicopter w ill not only be a symbol of
the confident N ew India but w ill also
unlock the true potential of the helicopter
market in the country," said Guillaume
Faury, A irbus CEO. "This helicopter
final assembly line, w hich w e w ill build
together w ith our trusted partner Tata, is
a reaffirmation of A irbus' commitment
to developing the full spectrum of the
aerospace ecosystem in India. This w ill be
the second final assembly line A irbus is
building in India after the 'M ake in India'
C295 military aircraft manufacturing
facility in Vadodara, Gujarat."

---- H125
I n d ia ’s f i r s t
H 1 2 5 - a m u lt i- m is s io n w o r k h o r s e ,
h e l i c o p t e r F in a l s e r v in g m is s io n s lik e :

A s s e m b ly L in e (F A L ) P a s s e r ig e r t r a n s p o r t - C o n t n b u t in g
t o G o v e r n m e n t o f In d ia ’s v is io n f o r

in t h e p r iv a t e s e c t o r ’ U d e D e s h k a A a m N a a g r ik ’

E m e r g e n c y m e d ic a l D is a s t e r
s e r v ic e s ( H E M S ) m anagem ent

‘M a ke in In d ia ’ L a w e n fo rc e m e n t A e r ia l w o r k

p r o g r a m m e f o r h e lic o p t e r s
f o r I n d ia & e x p o r t t o
n e ig h b o u r i n g c o u n t r ie s
U p to 6 p a s s e n g e r s

L e a d in g t h e s in g le - e n g in e h e lic o p t e r
m a r k e t , t h e H 1 2 5 is a m e m b e r o f A ir b u s ’
U n r i v a l e d in h o t and
E c u r e u il fa m ily , w h ic h h a s a c c u m u la t e d
n av e la n c jo u o n
3 8 m illio n f l i g h t h o u r s w o r ld w id e
M o u n t tv e re s t

T h e F A L in I n d ia w ill in c lu d e :
P a r t n e r s h ip b e t w e e n :
I n t e g r a t i o n crt t h e A v io n ic s In s t a ll a t io n H y d ra u h c
m ayor c o m p o n e n t a n d m is s io n o f c ie c tn c a i c i r c u it s
a s s e m b lie s s y s te m s h a rn e s s e s

A IR B U S TATA

3 8 V b l. 1 6 / N o 3 / M A R C H 2 0 2 4 | G L O B A L A V IA T O R
Robinson Helicopter Company,
has secured FAA approval for a
new empennage design for its
R44 aircraft. This accom plishment
follows the FAA’s prior approval
of the sam e configuration for the
Robinson R66 Turbine in Septem ber
2023. The development and testing
of the new em pennage design
spanned several years, resulting in
enhanced handling characteristics
during high-speed flight.
This new empennage design
includes a symmetric horizontal
stabilizer and tailcone and is now
standard on all new ly manufactured R44
helicopters registered w ith the FAA.
Robinson H elicopter Company
now offers a retrofit kit for existing
R44 ow ners. The KI-285-2 retrofit kit,
N. Chandrasekaran, Chairman,
Tata Sons, said, "The Tata Group
is delighted to set up India's first
helicopter assembly facility in the
private sector. This facility w ill have
the final assembly line in partnership
w ith A irbus for the world's bestselling
A irbus H 125 single engine helicopter for
the Indian as w ell as export markets."
Undisputed in its class, the H125
produced in India w ill catalyse the
use of helicopters in the country.
This multi-mission w orkhorse w ill
revolutionise passenger and goods
transportation and w ill also be used
for segments such as emergency
medical services (HEMS), disaster
management, law enforcement, tourism
and aerial w ork missions. Providing
last mile connectivity to remote areas,
Symmetrical stabilizer now standard on all
new R44s and the company offers retrofit
kit at a discounted rate
originally priced at $7 050, is available
at a discounted rate of $3 600 until
the end of December 2024, w hich
can be purchased at a substantial
discount through your authorized
Robinson Dealer, Service Center, or by
calling Robinson H elicopter customer
service. The retrofit kit allow s for the
installation of the new symmetrical
stabilizer on the existing tailcones
in the field w ithout the need for a
complete tailcone replacement.
"Robinson continues to invest
in engineering enhancements that
make our aircraft more accessible
the H125 w ill significantly contribute
to the Government of India's regional
connectivity scheme - Ude Desh ka
A am N aagrik (UDAN) that w ill further
promote the tourism sector in the country.
The H125 is the world's best-selling
single-engine helicopter that outclasses
other helicopters in its category. This
high-performing versatile helicopter is
a member of A irbus' Ecureuil family,
w hich has accumulated more than 38
million flight hours w orldwide. It can
operate in high-and-hot and extreme
environments and can be easily
reconfigured for various missions,
including aerial w ork, firefighting, law
enforcement, rescue, air ambulance,
passenger transport, and many others.
The H125 is the only helicopter
to have landed on M ount Everest,
G L O B A L A V IA T O R
and easier to fly," said Kurt Robinson,
President of Robinson H elicopter
Company. "Our aim is to
deliver unrivaled safety and
reliability so pilots can accomplish
their mission w ith confidence."
Robinson H elicopter Company
is actively collaborating w ith civil
airw orthiness authorities w orldw ide
to secure foreign validations for
this empennage configuration.
A s these regulatory approvals are
obtained, foreign-registered R44
helicopters w ill be delivered w ith
the new empennage as standard. •
demonstrating its agility in operating in
high altitude, extreme environments.
The proposed helicopter
manufacturing facility w ill be the
second FAL to be established in
India by A irbus, leveraging TASL's
capabilities in aerospace and defence.
The tw o companies are building
the C295 military transport aircraft
FAL in Vadodara, Gujarat.
The latest announcement is
part of A irbus' efforts to develop a
holistic aerospace ecosystem in India,
w here the company is expanding
its industrial footprint w ith aircraft
assembly, component manufacturing,
engineering and digital design and
development, M RO support, pilot and
maintenance training as w ell as academic
collaboration to foster human capital. •
I V o l. 1 6 / N o 3 / M A R C H 2 0 2 4 3 9
INDUSTRY NEWS XWVUTSRQPONMLKJIHGFEDCBA
W e a rC
LUBE TIPS Volume 4
ByWearCheck
• Lube tip: identifying com m ercial oil brands
QUESTION: Why can't my condition monitoring
lab specify w hich brand of oil is in use?
A N SWER: Specific tracers can be found in many commercial
products - they are included in order to help oil companies
to make their ow n products identifiable. However, w hen
conducting oil analysis, the properties that are routinely
monitored by a condition monitoring company, the properties
that are usually monitored are elementally generic, and
often incorporate elements that are commonly included in
many lubricants w ith the same classification and purpose.
A n oil analysis laboratory can determine w hether or
not the same product is being used as your referenced
4 0 V o l.1 6 /N o 3 /M A R C H 2 0 2 4 | G L O B A L A V IA T O R
oil, as w ell as w hether it is typical of the type of oil
(application) that is required. However, it can be virtually
impossible to identify a specific brand name, due to
many factors, including fluctuations betw een batches,
similarities to other oils, and formulation changes.
• Lube tip: afterm arket oil additives can backfire
Be careful w hen adding additives to oil - in some cases,
w hen the amount of a particular additive is increased, it
may enhance one property of the oil, and simultaneously
cause another property to be less effective.
Oil quality can be affected in instances w here the
recommended concentrations of additives are no
longer accurate. Some additives may be in competition
w ith other additives for the same space on a metal surface.
For example, the addition of a high concentration of an
anti-w ear agent may result in the corrosion inhibitor
being restricted in its effectiveness in the oil. This may
lead to a grow ing number of corrosion-related issues.
• Lube tip: oil filtration systems - then and now
Oil filtration w as not a feature in the earliest car engines. Purolator
invented the oil filter in 1923, w hen Ernest Sw eetland and George
Greenhalgh patented the first automotive oil filtration system.
They named their invention "Purolator", short for "pure oil later".
Follow ing this, full-pressure lubrication systems became available.
Fast forw ard many decades to the present day, w hen the
modern full-flow filter is standard on all automotive engines.
Prior to this, filtration systems began to be incorporated
into mass-produced vehicles in the 1940s, follow ed by a
revolutionary change in the 1960s, w hen oil filter changes
became more convenient as disposable filters (also
know n as 'spin on' filters) made their appearance.
From the 1970s and w ell into the follow ing few decades, the
efficiency of filters w as overhauled. This w as achieved by
making changes to the internal construction of the filters.
In the 2020s, current automotive engines, regardless of
w hether they are petrol or diesel, are equipped w ith filtration
that can improve the cleanliness of oil - a major factor in
extending the life of the engines, and the oil. Visit w ww .
w earcheck.co.za for more condition monitoring information.
• Lube tip: hydraulic fluid maintenance
It is important to ensure that hydraulic fluids are
kept cool. Importantly, the bulk oil temperature at the
reservoir's exterior should at no time exceed 60°C.
Essentially, hydraulic fluids should alw ays be kept clean.
H ydraulic experts agree that fluid contaminated w ith
w ear particles, dirt and other matter results in betw een
75% and 80% of hydraulic failures. M ost high-pressure
systems have very small clearances betw een w ear
surfaces, w hich means that contamination control is a
critical part of maintenance and machine longevity.
Fluid leaks should be fixed immediately. If oil can find a w ay
Visit w w w .w earcheck.co.za for more condition monitoring inform ation
G L O B A L A V IA T O R
out, that means that dirt and other contaminants can
find a w ay in. Furthermore, a w orrying statistic is that a
leak of one drop per second leads to 1,500 litres in a year
- this can lead to an expensive loss, if left untreated.
• Lube tip: synthetic oils vs. mineral oils
Query: "Relating to gearboxes on trucks, if the ow ner/
driver doesn't know if the gear lubes are synthetic, is there
a fool-proof w ay to determine this w ithout having to send
a sample to the lab? Some oil manufacturers colour their
synthetic oils, w hile others don't. What w ould happen if the
oils w ere to be mixed or topped up w ith the w rong oil?"
WearCheck's answ er: The colour of the lube is simply a
dye. There are no standards, and manufacturers can and
do change colours w henever they please. Unfortunately,
there is no reliable w ay of differentiating betw een mineral
and synthetic in the field. However, because synthetic
base oils are w hite (meaning transparent) as compared to
mineral oils, w hich have a darker natural colour (due to
aromatics, sulphur and other impurities), this may be a
distinguishing factor. N ote, however, that despite the fact
that the base oil of a synthetic is w hite, the additives can
add considerable colour (darkening) to the finished oil.
In the laboratory, you could distinguish synthetics from
mineral oil by looking at a combination of physical properties
including VI, flash point, pour point and aniline point.
There may also be different elemental additive chemistry.
Generally, in the type of application you are talking about,
the synthetic gear oil w ill likely be polyalphaolefin (PAO)
based. PAOs are very similar chemically to mineral oils, so
mixing the tw o should not cause a compatibility problem,
especially if both oils are the same A PI classification.
However, if a synthetic is required, such as for
cold-temperature operation, using a mineral
by mistake may cause other problems.
A lso, be aw are that in industrial applications, some
synthetic gear oils are polyglycol (PAG) base stocks, w hich
are chemically incompatible w ith both PAO synthetics
and mineral oils. In this case, m ixing w ill result in
serious incompatibility issues. Visit w w w .w earcheck.
co.za for more condition monitoring information. •
I V o l. 1 6 / N o 3 / M A R C H 2 0 2 4 4 1
 MUSEMS OF THE WORLD A

T he re c o rd tu r n o u t co in cid ed w ith
th e te n th a n n iv e rs a ry of F o n d azio n e FS,

Record th e b o d y fo u n d e d o n 6 M a rc h 2013 to
resto re, c o n serv e a n d e n h a n c e th e leg acy
of th e Ita lia n railw ay s, F erro v ie Italian e.
T he N a tio n a l R ailw ay M u se u m in

numbers for a P ie tra rsa , w h o se co llectio n of h isto ric

lo com otiv es a n d c a rria g e s is u n iq u e in
E u ro p e, is lo cated on th e firs t ra ilw a y
tra c k lin e b u ilt in Italy: a n o u ts ta n d in g

unique railway lo catio n th a t o p e n e d its d o o rs to th e

m e d ia for a g u id e d to u r w ith th e G en eral
M a n a g e r of F o n d azio n e FS a n d CEO of
T reni T u ristici Ita lia n i, L u ig i C a n ta m e ssa ,

museum in w h o k n o w s ev ery se c re t c o n cealed th ere.

M r C a n ta m e ssa e x p la in e d th e key
ro le of th e P ie tra rs a m u se u m n o t o nly

Pietrasa, Naples
2 0 2 3 w a s a r e c o r d y e a r f o r t h e It a li a n
N a t io n a l R a il w a y M u s e u m in P ie t r a r s a ,
N a p le s , w i t h 2 6 5 0 0 0 p e o p le v is i t in g t h e
e x h ib it io n r u n b y F o n d a z io n e F S It a li a n e . VUTSRQPONMLKJIHGFEDCBA
in h ig h lig h tin g th e sp le n d o u rs of th e
p a st, b u t a lso as th e n e rv e c e n tre of
ex p erien ces fo c u se d on th e p re se n t a n d
f u tu re of F erro v ie Italiane : a p e rfe c t lin k
b e tw e e n th e w o rld of F o n d azio n e FS a n d
th e w o rld of T ren i T u ristici Ita lian i.
H e also ta lk e d a b o u t th e o p e n
"b e lv e d e re " c a rria g e s th a t w ill tra v el
o n sp ecial lin e s th ro u g h n a tu re : th e
firs t jo u rn e y is p la n n e d d u rin g 2024,
th ro u g h th e F ra n c ia c o rta v in e y a rd s.
T he N a tio n a l R ailw ay M u se u m

Old steam locomotives produced

between 1912 and 1916
Photo by sansa55XWVUTSRQPONMLKJIHGFEDCBA

4 2 V o l.1 6 /N o 3 /M A R C H 2 0 2 4 | G L O B A L A V IA T O R
 An old steam locomotive, 875.039, produced
between 1912 and 1916
Photo by sansa55

G L O B A L A V IA T O R I V o l. 1 6 / N o 3 / M A R C H 2 0 2 4 4 3
INDUSTRY NEWS

Ahoto m axjifem ax
Visit to the railway museum ofPietrarsa - P

in Pietrarsa is Ferrovie Italiane's
memory lane. Located in the place
where it all began, it really is
unique among railway museums in
Europe. A marvellous building with
its architecture from the Bourbon
Restoration period, located exactly
at the centre of Italy's first railway
line, the Naples-Portici. In front of
it is the sea, and behind it Mount
Vesuvius. Ingredients that together
make Pietrarsa the most attractive
railway museum in Europe.
But this isn't a static vision. A
dusty museum where you look at
trains that no longer operate. No,
Pietrarsa today boasts perfectly
restored and well maintained rail
structures, with high-level services
and trains with shining brass fittings
which visitors can board to go back
in time. So it is the natural link with
Treni Turistici Italiani. You have to
come to Pietrarsa by train: it has
a small internal station built from
Vesuvius lava stone. Think of one
of our historic "treni azzurri" trains

Pietrarsa Railway National Museum, important centres fo r the conservation D iesel railcar, also known as Littorina, on display at the National
and restoration o f the first steam locomotive up to the present day - Photo by jackiondon Railway Museum ofPietrarsa - Photo by Lucamato

4 4 V o l.1 6 /N o 3 /M A R C H 2 0 2 4 | G L O B A L A V IA T O R
 The National Railway Museum ofPietrarsa, Italy - Photo by sansa55

Train carriage on the Napoli Portici line in 1839 - Photo by sansa55 An old railway trolley - Photo by sansa55

leaving from Rome, from Reggio
Calabria, and you have a complete
railway experience culminating
in Pietrarsa. The past, present and
future of Ferrovie dello Stato are
unmistakeably bound together by
this wonderful, unique creation. An
indissoluble binomial of Fondazione
FS, with its museums and historic
trains, and FS Treni Turistici
Italiani, with its new tourist routes.
I think this new sector will have a
huge market in the future and will
make a significant contribution
to raising our national GDP.
Through Fondazione FS' ten years
of activity, we have built up important
restoration knowhow to return these
old trains to efficient service. The
ultimate and most exciting goal of this
adventure will be the construction
of completely open carriages.
"Belvederes", in railway jargon.
These are carriages without roofs,
fitted with wooden seats and side
panels up to elbow-height, which will
travel on lines immersed in nature.
The first service will begin
operating in 2024 on a small railway
in Lombardy, the Palazzolo Paratico
Sarnico. This is a 12 km branch
of the Bergamo-Brescia line, and
travels through the first Franciacorta
vineyards. It runs close to the river
Oglio, the main tributary of Lake Iseo.
A unique adventure in 12 kilometres,
a 30 km round trip in an open carriage
breathing in the scents of nature. It
will be the first open-air railway, but
we are sure it won’t be the last. •
For further information:
https://www.fondazionefs.it/
content/fondazionefs/en.htmlXWVUTSRQPONMLKJIH

G L O B A L A V IA T O R I V o l. 1 6 / N o 3 / M A R C H 2 0 2 4 4 5
AONMLKJIHGFEDCBA
PILOT'S LOG XWVUTSRQPONMLKJIHGFEDCBA
That tim e of the year comes around
w hen there are renewals to be
done, flight license and aircraft
documentation plus maintenance
alike. I try to combine them to be
in line w ith each other to m ake life
easier but keeping four licenses
alive isn’t the easiest of tasks.
This year I travelled southbound
from H arare to Lanseria for the annual
on my C210. Being a foreign registered
machine, the availability of maintenance
organisations narrow s somew hat, and
the cost is more palatable dow n South.
The application for a landing permit
number in South A frica took a long time
and w as only issued the day before my
flight. In Zimbabw e, the same permit
w ill take from 24-48 hours to issue.
Flight plan in and the aircraft
prepared, off w e set on our journey
tow ards Johannesburg. Cruising
through Zimbabw e is easy enough,
the VH F communications are basic,
and one loses contact once out of the
H arare TM A quite quickly, leaving
you on blind calls or chatting to
other aviators for position advice.
Entering South A frica near Beit
Bridge I had expected to obtain tw o-w ay
contact fairly soon but, to my surprise, I
w as only able to pick up Johannesburg
Information near Polokw ane. A nyhow
once established I w as again asked, as
on previous flights, to arrange my trip
to be below the TM A . I w as on an IFR
plan and yet again, the uncanny trait
4 6 V o l.1 6 /N o 3 /M A R C H 2 0 2 4
of South A frican ATC to protect their
TM A space from anything other than
familiar aircraft surfaced. I replied
saying I'd be calling Top of Decent for
Lanseria next, and this w as approved.
Once handed over to Lanseria I
w as cleared into a right visual pattern
but told to leave 6500' on the final slope,
meaning 2500' to lose in that short
segment, for no reason. A nother oddity.
Landed, parked and put to bed,
w e left the aircraft for the terminal
and formalities w hich w ere all
processed very simply and so a coffee
w as enjoyed before renting some
w heels for a trip north to the bush.
I decided to pay all my dues then
General
Aviation
Costs
By Richard Browne
| G L O B A L A V IA T O R
and thus save time on the return,
so I headed off to the Parking Desk
and presented my details to the very
friendly lady w ho then took to some
tables and penned my invoice.
I w as aghast at the sums, just to
approach and land a Cessna 210 at
Lanseria A irport w ill now cost you
ZAR1350. There is no parking included
in that yet, despite me leaving the
aeroplane at a supposedly low -cost
zone called A lpha-plus. These costs
1w as asked to pay w hen 1collect the
machine and hence 1don't have them
to hand at the time of w riting.
Perhaps I'm out of touch or things
have gotten out of hand but it used to
be pretty easy to fly to South A frica and
cheaply at that. The higher amounts
w ere generally reserved for territories
north of the Republic w here currencies
used are foreign and rates are higher.
Perhaps it is just Lanseria
A irport enjoying a distorted cost
structure as a private facility. I sure
don't recall paying such amounts at
Kruger or Polokw ane in the past.
Anyhow, luckily, w e all have
choices and mine w ill be to land
somew here else rather as I've learnt from
experience that most often comments
and criticisms are dismissed if in the
w ay of corporate policy. Consumer
fightback is best w hen dealing w ith
things like this and fortunately, w e
are all consumers in some way.
Preserve your freedom to fly is
becoming more paramount around the
World and it w ould be remiss to think
it w ouldn't happen close to home. •
B e s p o k e t o u r s in S o u t h e r n A f r i c a , l e t u s h a n d l e y o u r m e m o r i e s
w w w .a fr ic a fo c u s to u r s .c o .z o | in fo @ a fr ic a fo c u s to u r s .c o .z a | +27 (0 )7 2 377 4237
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W e p r o v i d e f o r th e e s ta b lis h m e n t
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p ro p e rty in se c tio n a l title s sc h e m e s
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beloved astronaut Tim Peake Hardcover
b y T im P eak e

F ro m b e s ts e llin g a u th o r a n d B ritish a s tro n a u t T im

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Peake, a n in s p ira tio n a l h u m a n h is to ry of sp ace
trav el, fro m th e A p o llo m issio n s to o u r fu tu r e fo ray s
to M ars. T h e R ig h t S tu ff fo r a n e w ge n eratio n .

A s se e n in th e m a jo r TV serie s S ecrets
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A s tro n a u t T im P eak e tra c e s th e lives of th e

re m a rk a b le m e n a n d w o m e n w h o h a v e
fo rg e d th e w a y fo r h u m a n ity b e y o n d E a rth ,
fro m Y uri G a g a rin to N e il A rm s tro n g , fro m
V a len tin a T eresh k o v a to P e g g y W h itso n .
F ull of fa s c in a tin g in s ig h t in to o u r g re a te st p io n e e rs
a n d u n s u n g h ero es, a n d a s to n is h in g d e ta il o n ly a n
a s tro n a u t w o u ld kno w , P e a k e ’s b o o k is th e firs t of
its k in d to ch ro n ic le th e h u m a n e v o lu tio n of sp ace
e x p lo ra tio n o v er six ty y ears, fro m o u r firs t fo rays to
now . In th e p ro cess, P eak e re v e a ls w h a t sp aceflig h t
is re a lly like: th e w o n d ro u s v ie w of E a rth , th e
s u rre a l w e ig h tle ssn e ss, th e e x tra o rd in a ry d a n g e r,
th e s u rp ris in g h u m d r u m , th e u n e x p e c te d h u m o u r,
th e n e w -fo u n d p e rsp e c tiv e , th e y e a rs of tra in in g , th e
p sy ch o lo g ical p re s s u re s, th e g ru e llin g p h y sic a l toll,
th e th rill of la u n c h a n d th e tre p id a tio n of re-en try .
In th e n e x t fe w y ears, N A SA w ill s e n d th e first
w o m a n a n d th e firs t p e rs o n of co lo u r to ste p o n th e
lu n a r su rface. W h a t w ill se p a ra te th e se u p c o m in g
m o o n w a lk e rs fro m th e le g e n d a ry A p o llo crew s?
D o es it still ta k e a d e rrin g -d o a ttitu d e , s u p e r-h u m a n
fitn ess, in te llig ence, p lu s 'th e rig h t stu ff' - a fa b le d
g race u n d e r p re ssu re ? A n d h o w w ill a s tro n a u ts
tra v e l e v e n f u r th e r - to M a rs a n d b ey o n d ?
A b o u t th e A u th o r
T im is a fo rm er A pache p ilo t, flig h t in stru cto r, te st p ilo t a n d
c u rre n t E u ro p ean Space A gency astro n au t. In 2015, T im becam e th e
firs t B ritish ESA a stro n a u t to w o rk o n b o a rd th e In te rn a tio n a l Space
S ta tio n a n d to con du ct a spacew alk.
A v eteran o f e ig h teen y ears o f m ilita ry service, T im h as flo w n
over 3 000 h rs o n m u ltip le airc raft ty p es, g ra d u a tin g to p o f h is class
fro m th e p re stig io u s E m p ire T est P ilo t's School. H e co m m an d ed
a p lato o n o f so ld iers in N o rth e rn Ire la n d d u rin g th e T roubles a n d
deploy ed o n o p eratio n s to B osnia a n d A fg h a n ista n .
F o llo w ing a y ear-lon g selectio n process, T im w as ch o sen fro m
over 8000 ap p lican ts to b e on e o f six n ew astro n a u ts as p a rt of th e
E u ro p ean A stro n au t C orps. D u rin g a stro n a u t tra in in g , h e sp e n t seven
days liv in g in a cave a n d tw elve days liv in g u n d erw ate r.
T im 's six-m onth m issio n 'Princip ia' to th e ISS in s p ire d a n atio n ,
e n g a g in g w ith m ore th a n 2 m illio n stu d e n ts as p a rt of a hu g ely
successful o u treach p ro g ra m m e. W h ilst in space, h e co nd ucted over
250 scientific ex p erim en ts, oversaw a n em erg ency sp acew alk a n d also
ra n th e 2016 L ond on m ara th o n .
T im 's au to b io g rap h y L im itless, te lls th e o ften v ery am u sin g
sto ry of h o w a sh ort, g in g e r la d w ith a p assio n fo r flig h t a n d all th in g s
o u td o o rs w e n t fro m Soldier, Pilot, P are n t to A stro n au t.
N ow b ack on E arth T im co n tin u es to w o rk to p ro m o te o p p o rtu ­
n itie s fo r y o u n g p eop le as a n am b assad o r fo r STEM edu cation , T he
Prince's T ru st a n d T h e Scout A ssociation. H e is th e b est-se llin g
au th o r o f H ello is th is P lan et Earth?, A sk a n A stro n au t a n d
T h e A stro n au t Selection Test Book. T h e pro ceed s fro m th is
w ere d o n ated to su p p o rt th e w o rk of T h e Prince's T ru st
(h ttp s://w w w .p rin c e s-tru st.o rg .u k /).

G L O B A L A V IA T O R I V o l. 1 6 / N o 3 / M A R C H 2 0 2 4 4 9
IN CLOSING VUTSRQPONMLKJIHGFEDCBA
W ill it? - W on ’t it?
T h e S A A / T a k a t s o d e a l is s t a r t i n g
t o lo o k l i k e t h e c h i l d r e n ’s
r h y m e o f E e n y , m e e n y , m in y ,
m o e . Is i t g o in g a h e a d o r w i l l
P r a v in G o r d h a n ’s r e f u s a l t o
p r o v id e t h e d e t a i l s o f t h e
S h a re S a le a n d P u rc h a s e
A g re e m e n t to th e P a r lia m e n t
P o r t f o li o C o m m it t e e o n P u b lic
E n t e r p r is e s s e n d t h e d e a l in t o
N e ve r N e v e r Land? N o w th e SA A
R e p e a l b ill h a s b e e n w ith d r a w n
‘d u e t o c o n c e r n s t h a t i t w i l l
n o t b e f in a l i s e d o n t i m e ’, s o
m o r e d e l a y s . In J u n e i t w i l l b e
t h r e e y e a r s a n d c o u n t in g .
In th e m e a n tim e , th e a irlin e
c o n tin u e s to e x p a n d its o p e ra tio n s
a n d a d d in g to its fle e t of a irc ra ft,
b u t ju st w h o is fo o tin g th e bill?
T he p a ltry su m th a t T akatso
w ill p a y for 51% sh a re of SAA is b u t
50 V o l. 1 6 / N o 3 / M A R C H 2 0 2 4
by Charmaine de Villiers - Travel EditorXWVUTSRQPONMLKJIHGFEDCBA
a d ro p in th e o cean of e x p e n se s a n d
th e n th e n a tio n a l a irlin e to o k on th e
re sp o n sib ility of se rv ic in g th e h isto ric
debt! T h re e b illio n ra n d to b e p a id
ov er tw o y e a rs is n o t su c h a g re a t s u m
w h e n co n sid e rin g th a t b illio n s are
sw allo w ed w h e n ru n n in g a n a irlin e.
G id o n N ovick, fo u n d e r of Lift,
re sig n e d fro m th e T akatso b o a rd
b ecau se of "possible confllict',
th e n S y ran ix a n d G lob al a g re e d to
w ith d ra w . T his left th e q u e stio n of
w h a t th e v a lu e of th e ir co m b in ed
20% sh a re s of T akatso w o u ld be.
F u rth e r sc ep tic ism a ro se a fte r
th e D e p a rtm e n t of Pub lic E n te rp rise s
e x p re sse d a n in te re s t in b u y in g
th e sh a re s of G lob al A v iatio n a n d
Sy ran ix. O b ed B apela, d e p u ty
M in iste r of P ub lic E n te rp rise s sa id in
P a rlia m e n t th a t th e g o v e rn m e n t w as
in te re s te d in once a g a in b e c o m in g a
m a jo rity sh a re h o ld e r in th e airlin e.
A n d so th e n o o se d ra w s tig h te r - if
g o v e rn m e n t b u y s 20% sh a re s p lu s
th e 49% it w ill h av e th e m ajo rity
sh are s. T axpayers w ill be u s e d to
b a ilo u t SAA. S h o u ld th is be th e e n d
re su lt on e m u st c o n g ra tu la te th e
| G LO B A LA V IA TO R
A
m a s te rm in d for once a g a in d u p in g
th e sm a ll tax p a y in g sector.
Singapore Airshow
C h in a h a s d isp la y e d a scale m o d el
of its GJ-11 S h a rp Sw ord u n m a n n e d
co m b at a e ria l vehicle (UCAV) at
th e o n g o in g Sin g ap o re A ir Show.
T he GJ-11 h a s b e e n h y p e d as
th e J-20's "loyal w in g m an " d ro n e
a n d is also sla te d to fly fro m th e
la te st Type 004 F ujian carrier.
W h e th e r C h in a is lo o k in g
to a ttra c t p o te n tia l c u sto m e rs -
w h y else w o u ld C h in a 's av ia tio n
in d u s try d isp la y its a d v a n c e d
te c h n o lo g y in Sin g ap o re - o r h e re is
a m o re su b tle re a so n fo r th e display,
o n ly tim e w ill tell. T he People's
R epub lic of C h in a h a s alw ay s
d is p u te d v a rio u s Pacific islan d s,
esp e c ia lly T aiw an, a n d sh o w casin g
th e GJ-11 c o u ld b e th e stro n g e st
in d ic a tio n th a t th e UCAV w ill p lay
a sig n ific a n t role in C h in a 's n a v a l
w a rfa re , esp e c ia lly as th e C h in ese
N a v y is ag g ressiv ely p u s h in g
to beco m e th e firs t n a v y w ith a
c a rrie r-la u n c h e d n a v a l UCAV. •
A CLEAR EXAMPLE OF EXPERIENCE PAYING OFF. n f i L V I
LITERALLY. *1 Z -' ,
Passing the milestone of eight m illion flight hours has firm ly established the Pilatus PC-12 as the
world's greatest single. Refunding on this experience, the new PC-12 NGX now offers 600-hour
scheduled maintenance intervals, reducing operating costs and providing owners with more up-time.
This proves the theory that time really is money.

pilatus-aircraft.com

Contact Pilatus PC-12 Centre Southern Africa, your nearest Authorised Pilatus PC-12
NGX Sales Centre for further inform ation on
Tel: +27 11 383 0 8 0 0 , Cell +27 82 511 7312 or
Email: aircraftsales@ pilatuscentre.co.za
FROM THE DESK OF ROSTEC

The missile is designed to be

launched from a v ariety of helicopters,
including the M i-28N M and Ka-52M

ROSTEC attack helicopters, as w ell as the M i-

8A M TSh-VN transport helicopter,
w hich is specially designed for special

improves
operations forces. The missile is
equipped w ith a 25 kg high-explosive
fragmentation w arhead and an optical
therm al im aging hom ing head,
w hich enables it to engage a w ide

Izdeliye 305 range of targets, including armoured

vehicles, buildings, air defence
systems, and artillery systems.
The Izdeliye 305 missile has a
guaranteed flight range of up to 14.5

guided missile T h e I z d e li y e 3 0 5 l i g h t m u l t i p u r p o s e A
kilom etres and can reach speeds of
up to 230 m /s, m aking it ideal for a
w ide range of missions. The missile
XWVUTSRQPONMLKJIHGFEDCBA
is capable of being fired from beyond
the line of sight tow ard specified
coordinates, and can then use its
therm al imager to find and lock onto
targets in the final stage of flight.
A dditionally, the missile is equipped
w ith a tw o-w ay communication
channel, allow ing for real-time
control and m anual guidance, w hich
increases its flexibility and accuracy.
The missile has been deployed in
combat situations in Syria and Ukraine,
w here it has demonstrated its high
efficiency and reliability in various
scenarios and environments. The
missile's long range and high speed
enable helicopters to rem ain outside of
enemy fire range, w hile its pow erful
w arhead makes it a lethal w eapon that
can strike w ith precision and reliability.
The missile is a key component
of the M i-28 and Ka-52M attack
helicopters, providing them w ith a
significant advantage over enemy
defences and forces. The Ka-52M
variant, in particular, is a heavily
modified aircraft that has been
informed by Russia's experience in
Syria and can carry up to six Izdeliye
305 missiles, as w ell as other types
of rockets and missiles. The missile's
cousin, the M i-28N H avoc attack
helicopter, has also been praised for
its combat performance, particularly
in the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.
Rostec is continuously w orking
to improve the performance of the
Izdeliye 305 missile, as w ell as other
sr
high-precision w eapons systems, to
iel
li
ensure the superiority of the Russian
V A rmed Forces and meet the evolving
e
d
ek demands of modern w arfare. The
i
M
missile's versatility, reliability, and
:y
b lethality make it a formidable w eapon
ci system that can adapt to a w ide range
P
of situations and environments. •

5 2 V o l. 1 6 / N o 3 / M A R C H 2 0 2 4 | G L O B A L A V IA T O R
 □marines

lU r iL Y

A single-engine, delta wing, light

multirole fighter aircraft

n Jong-un
^oversees t t o_laievrf
^ N igefia , sAHr1Z^:l
surfacerto-seamissiles Viper acquisition 5|

US Army cancels
Improves Izdeliye 305 ~ FARA helicopter
guided missile programme
 Inthis issue
U.S. A rm y cancels N orth Korea's K im Jong Un
FA RA helicopter ov ersees test of new
program m e surface-to-sea m issiles

Progress on RTX's Pratt & W hitney receiv es a $355

N igeria's A H -1Z Viper m illion F100 engine sustainm ent
acquisition contract for South K orea’s F-15s, F-16s

w o deadly
The H A L Tejas is a single-engine,
subm arines:
delta w ing, light m ulti­
H IGH LY CA PA BLE
role fighter aircraft

Portsm outh-based Type 23 frigate

A Turkish special forces sniper engages
H M S K EN T at Sea, south
long range targets at night w ith a Rem ­
of the Isle of W ight
ington M k 21 Precision Sniper Rifle

H av elsan Sancar
autonomous u nm anned W estland
surface v ehicles W hirlw ind

Leonardo k ick off for the

Tiirkiye and project of the fi r st space
Som alia sign pact cloud system for defence

5 4 V o l. 1 6 / N o 3 / M A R C H 2 0 2 4
ONMLKJIHGFEDCBA | G L O B A L A V IA T O R
 AFRICA’S PREMIER EXHIBITION OF
LAND AIR AND SEA TECHNOLOGIES

^ I F R I C A I
AEROSPACE &DEFENCE
1 8 -2 2 SEPT 2 0 2 4

18-22 SEPT
A IR FO R CE B A SE W ATERKLO O F
CITY OF TSHWANE | SOUTH AFRICA

WWW.AADEXP0.C0.ZA

PARTNERS:XWVUTSRQPONMLKJIHGFEDCBA
A M D ARMSCOR SUPPORTED BY:
INDUSTRY NEWS
U.S. Army cancels FARA
helicopter programme
The US Arm y has recently m ade
a surprising decision to cancel
its Future A ttack Reconnaissance
A ircraft (FARA) program, despite
already spending a t least $ 2 billion
and requesting an additional
$ 5 billion budget to sustain the
program over the next five years.
The A rmy leaders have cited a
"change in priorities" as the main
reason for the program's cancellation,
stating that they w ill invest more in
existing rotary aviation platforms
and new unmanned systems.
The FA RA programme w as
launched in 2018 to produce an
advanced reconnaissance helicopter
to replace the Vietnam-era OH-58
Kiow a Warrior helicopter. The A rmy
had initiated several efforts dating
back to 2004 for an armed scout that
could meet the requirements of the
demanding battlefield. However,
the first program, the Comanche,
w as terminated despite the service
spending $9 billion for tw o prototypes.
In A pril 2019, the US A rmy
5 6 V o l.1 6 /N o 3 /M A R C H 2 0 2 4
XWVUTSRQPONMLKJIHGFEDCBA
aw arded contracts w orth approximately
$15 million each to five companies
for the development of conceptual
designs under the FARA program:
AVX A ircraft (in partnership w ith L-3
Communications Integrated Systems),
Bell (a Textron subsidiary), Boeing,
Karem A ircraft (with involvement
from N orthrop Grumman and
Raytheon), and Sikorsky (a Lockheed
M artin Corporation subsidiary). In
M arch 2020, the US A rmy selected the
Sikorsky (Lockheed M artin) Raider
X and Bell 360 Invictus helicopter
concepts for the second round of
the FA RA program competition.
The Sikorsky Raider X (S-102)
helicopter project w as a dow nsized
single-engine version of the
experimental high-speed S-97 Raider
helicopter, w ith Sikorsky's new ly
developed coaxial counter-rotating main
rotor system and a pusher propeller
driven by the main rotors' gearbox.
The Bell 360 Invictus helicopter, on the
other hand, w as designed to provide
improved lethality and survivability
to soldiers on the battlefield.
Both FA RA helicopter designs w ere
supposed to be pow ered by the General
| G L O B A L A V IA T O R
Electric T901 turboshaft engine, w hich
had a pow er rating of 3 000 horsepow er
and w as developed under the Improved
Turbine Engine Program (ITEP).
A ccording to the plans, during the
second phase of the FA RA program, the
tw o selected competition participants
w ould build flight prototypes, w ith
testing set to commence in the first
quarter of the fiscal year 2023. Follow ing
the final selection of one model,
serial production w as considered
possible beginning in 2O28.Despite the
significant investment and progress
made, the FA RA program has now
been terminated, and the ITEP (T901)
engine program has been temporarily
suspended. However, the US A rmy
aims to complete the FA RA program by
the end of the fiscal year 2024, allow ing
the A rmy and industry to complete
the development of technologies that
can be applied to other programs.
It is unclear w hether this means
that rival prototypes w ill still be
airborne, at least during the early stage
of flight testing. The decision to cancel
the FA RA program is significant,
especially as it w as once tagged as
a top modernization priority.
In the w ake of the cancellation
of the FARA program, the US A rmy
w ill shift its focus tow ards building
new reconnaissance UAVs. The US
A rmy plans to hasten the retirement
of outmoded tactical reconnaissance
UAVs RQ-7 Shadow and small
reconnaissance UAVs RQ-11 Raven.
To replace the RQ-7 Shadow UAVs,
it is intended to hasten the second
stage (Increment 2) of the Future
Tactical Unmanned A ircraft System
(FTUAS) program, w ith brigade-level
serial unmanned complex deliveries
beginning in the fiscal year 2025.
M oreover, the US A rmy has
also decided to end the program for
modernizing operational Sikorsky
UH -60L Black H aw k helicopters into
the UH -60V variant. Instead, serial
acquisitions of the UH -60M Black
H aw k helicopter w ill continue. The
acquisition of Boeing CH -47F Chinook
Block II transport helicopters w ill also be
extended and expanded. Furthermore,
the Future Long-Range A ssault A ircraft
(FLRA A) program, w hich aims to
replace the US A rmy Aviation's UH -
60 Black H aw k family helicopters
w ith the Bell V-280 Valor tiltrotor by
the end of 2022, w ill move forw ard.
While both competing companies,
Sikorsky-Lockheed M artin and
Bell Textron, have expressed
disappointment w ith the decision
to cancel the FA RA program, they
vow ed to apply all they have learned
to future aircraft development. •
 Progress on
Nigeria's
AH-1Z Viper
acquisition
The United States Departm ent
of Defence (DoD) has recently
announced the purchase of 12 Bell
AH-1Z Viper atta c k helicopters
by the Nigerian government. The
procurem ent includes related
equipment, spares, weapons,
training, and support, w ith a total
estim ated value of $ 9 9 7 million.
The deal also involves N orthrop
Grumman, w hich has been aw arded
a $7.7 million contract to produce and
deliver 32 H -l tech refresh mission
Hungary's C-390
Millennium makes
its maiden flight
The Hungarian Air Force recently
achieved a significant milestone
w ith the successful maiden flight of
the first C -390 Millennium aircraft.
The Embraer Defence & Security
team flew the aircraft for approximately
computers to support the AH-1Z aircraft.
The AH-1Z Viper attack helicopters
are highly advanced military aircraft
designed to provide aerial support for
ground troops in combat zones. They
are equipped w ith various state-of-
the-art features, including M 197 20
mm guns, sighting systems, night
vision equipment, and technical and
logistics support. In addition, the
helicopters come w ith 28 T-700 GE 401C
engines, w hich allow them to fly at
high speeds and cover long distances.
This procurement marks a
4 hours, during w hich they carried
out a comprehensive assessment
of the aircraft's capabilities and
performance. The H ungarian A ir Force
w ill now subject the aircraft to a test
campaign before it enters service.
The C-390 M illennium is w idely
recognized as a highly capable and
versatile military airlift solution, w ith
remarkable operational performance.
Embraer is ramping up production to
meet the increasing market demand
for the aircraft. The H ungarian
Defence Forces' aircraft w ill be the
first in the w orld to have an Intensive
Care Unit in its configuration, w hich
is a critical resource for carrying
out humanitarian missions.
G L O B A L A V IA T O R
significant shift in policy, w ith the
previous administration having
curtailed arms sales to N igeria due to
concerns over human rights violations.
However, the current administration has
approved the sale of these helicopters,
as w ell as 12 M D 530F Cayuse Warrior
helicopters from M D H elicopters
and six T-129 A TA K helicopters from
Turkish A erospace Industries. These
aircraft w ill help N igeria in its efforts
against terrorist factions and provide
much-needed support to ground troops
in the fight against insurgency. •
Embraer signed a contract w ith the
H ungarian government in N ovember
2020 to acquire tw o C-390s. The
aircraft's multi-mission capabilities
and reliability make it a highly sought-
after platform. H ungary is the third
country to have chosen the C-390 after
Brazil and Portugal. The N etherlands,
A ustria, the Czech Republic, and South
Korea have also selected the aircraft.
The C-390 can carry an impressive
payload of 26 tons, w hich is more than
other medium-sized military transport
aircraft. It can fly faster at 470 knots and
reach greater distances, making it ideal for
a w ide range of missions. These include
transporting and launching cargo and
troops, aeromedical evacuation, search
and rescue, firefighting, and humanitarian
missions. The aircraft can even operate
on unpaved runw ays, on surfaces such
as compacted earth and gravel.
The C-390 is redefining military air
transport and challenging the logic behind
current and future generation platforms.
The aircraft's design offers multi-mission
capability, reliability, and interoperability.
The aircraft has already proven its
capacity, reliability, and performance
since entering service w ith the Brazilian
A ir Force in 2019 and more recently
w ith the Portuguese A ir Force in 2023.
Embraer is keen to deepen its partnership
w ith the H ungarian Defence Forces and
support them w ell into the future. •
I V o l. 1 6 / N o 3 / M A R C H 2 0 2 4 5 7
SUBMARINES
Twodeadlysubmarines:
H IG H L Y
CAPABLE
The Seawolf Class submarines
and the Los Angeles Class
subm arines are tw o of the
most advanced and capable
subm arines in the world.
Both classes of submarines
have been designed to
m eet the operational
requirements of the US Navy,
w ith each having unique
strengths and capabilities.
The Seaw olf Class submarines are
w idely regarded as the most advanced
and expensive hunter-killer submarines
in the world, designed to operate
under the polar ice cap and at greater
depths than existing US submarines.
These submarines are a marvel of
modern engineering, costing a total of
$7.3 billion. The class comprises three
submarines, w ith the USS Seaw olf being
the first completely new A merican
submarine design in three decades.
The US N avy reduced the number of
Seaw olf class boats planned to just
three, due to the end of the Cold War.
One of the most remarkable
features of the Seaw olf class design
is its exceptional quietness, w hich
allow s the boats to make a stealthy
approach to enemy coasts. The boats
are credited w ith the ability to cruise
at high tactical speeds of up to 20 kts
w hile remaining undetectable. The
US N avy has described the Seaw olf as
being 10 times as quiet as an improved
Los A ngeles and 70 times as quiet
5 8 Vbl. 1 6 / N o 3 / M A R C H 2 0 2 4
XWVUTSRQPONMLKJIHGFEDCBA
as the original Los A ngeles boat.
These submarines are equipped
w ith a range of advanced w eapons
systems, including Tomahaw k cruise
missiles, heavyw eight torpedoes, and
Sub H arpoon anti-ship missiles. They
also feature state-of-the-art electronic
systems, including a BSY-2 sonar suite,
a w ide-aperture passive flank array,
and a Raytheon M k.2 w eapons control
system. The boats are pow ered by a
single nuclear reactor that generates 38.7
M W of pow er and tw o steam turbines.
The third and last unit of the
class, the USS Jimmy Carter, w as
commissioned in December 2001. This
boat w as extensively modified and
incorporated a dry deck shelter for
subsea and seabed w arfare and spy
missions. The alterations to the design
included modifications to the ballast
control, mission management spaces,
and the creation of a flexible ocean
interface know n as a zw asp waist'.
Compared to previous Los
A ngeles Class submarines, Seaw olf
Class submarines are larger, faster,
and significantly quieter. The boats
also have extensive equipment to
allow for "littoral," or "shallow -w ater"
operations. The class uses the more
advanced A N /BSY-2 combat system,
w hich includes a new, larger spherical
sonar array, a w ide aperture array
(WAA), and a new tow ed-array sonar.
The Seaw olf has a submerged
displacement of 9,137t dived (12139t for
the Jimmy Carter) and 8,060t surfaced. It
has a maximum speed of 35k dived and
a 'silent' speed of 20k. The submarine
is armed w ith both the land-attack and
anti-ship version of the Tomahaw k
missile from Raytheon. The land-attack
Tomahaw k has a range of 2 500km.
| G L O B A L A V IA T O R
G L O B A L A V IA T O R I Vol. 1 6 / N o 3 / M A R C H 2 0 2 4 5 9
SUBMARINES
Tomahawk can be fitted with a nuclear
warhead. Block III improvements
include an improved propulsion system
and Navstar global positioning system
(GPS) guidance capability. Seawolf
has eight 660mm torpedo tubes for
launching torpedoes and missiles.
50 missiles/torpedoes are carried.
Countermeasures include the
6 0 V o l. 1 6 / N o 3 / M A R C H 2 0 2 4
Northrop Grumman WLY-1 torpedo
decoy system and a GTE WLQ-4(V)1
electronic countermeasure (ECM)
system. The submarine's sonar suite is
the BQQ 5D with bow-mounted active/
passive arrays and wide aperture passive
flank arrays. The Seawolf submarines
were upgraded with the AN/BQQ-
10(V4) sonar processing system under
| G L O B A L A V IA T O R
the acoustic-rapid commercial-off-
the-shelf insertion (A-RCI) program.
The nuclear-powered Seawolf has
a GE PWR S6W reactor system, two
turbines rated 52 OOOhp (38.8MW), a
pumpjet propulsor, a single shaft, and
one secondary propulsion submerged
motor. The combat data system is a
Lockheed Martin BSY-2 with a network

of Motorola processors. It was
replaced by the Raytheon AN/
BYG-1 combat system. Weapons
control is managed by the Raytheon
mk2 fire control system.
The Los Angeles Class
submarines have been the backbone
of the US Navy's submarine force
for decades. With 36 submarines
of this class on active duty and 26
retired from service, the Los Angeles
Class has more nuclear submarines
in it than any other class in the
world. The Los Angeles Class was
preceded by the Sturgeon Class and
followed by the Seawolf Class.
The final 23 boats of the Los
Angeles Class were designed
and built to be quieter than their
predecessors and also to carry more
advanced sensor and weapons
systems. These advanced boats
were also designed for operating
beneath the polar ice cap. Their
diving planes were placed at their
bows rather than on their sails,
and they had stronger sails for
penetrating thick ice. Los Angeles
Class submarines carry about 25
torpedo tube-launched weapons and
all boats of the class are capable of
launching Tomahawk cruise missiles
horizontally (from the torpedo tubes).
The last 31 boats of this class also have fire or explosion from this process.
12 dedicated vertical launching system
(VLS) tubes for launching Tomahawks.XWVUTSRQPONMLKJIHGFEDCBA
Los Angeles Class submarines
The Los Angeles-class submarines
are an impressive feat of engineering,
built to improve upon the previous
Sturgeon-class submarines. With 41
submarines now on active duty, they
are known as the backbone of the
U.S. Navy's submarine force. These
submarines incorporate improved
sound quieting and a larger propulsion
plant, making them even more
capable than their predecessors.
The submarines are capable of
numerous wartime functions, including
undersea warfare, surface warfare,
strike warfare, mining operations,
special forces delivery, reconnaissance, and payload-carrying capabilities. The
carrier battle group support and escort, Seawolf Class submarines, in particular,
and intelligence collection. They are
versatile and effective, making them
ideal for a variety of missions.
The last 23 submarines of the Los
Angeles class, known as "Improved
688s" (1688s), are even more impressive
than their predecessors. These
submarines are quieter than previous
G L O B A L A V IA T O R I V o l. 1 6 / N o 3 / M A R C H 2 0 2 4
models and incorporate an advanced
combat system. They are designed for
under-ice operations and have diving
planes that have been moved from the
sail to the bow. The sails have been
strengthened to allow the submarines
to break through ice. Additionally, these
submarines have twelve vertical launch
tubes for Tomahawk Cruise Missiles,
giving them even more firepower.
The submarines have two
watertight compartments, which
are essential for crew living spaces,
weapons-handling spaces, and control
spaces. The forward compartment
contains these areas, while the aft
compartment contains the bulk of
the submarine's engineering systems,
power generation turbines, and
water-making equipment. Some
submarines in the class are capable
of delivering SEALs through either
the dry deck shelter system or the
advanced SEAL delivery system.
It's fascinating to learn about the
submarine's atmospheric control devices,
which allow the vessel to remain
submerged for long periods without
ventilating. The electrolytic oxygen
generator, nicknamed "the bomb,"
produces oxygen for the crew and
hydrogen, which is pumped overboard.
However, there is always a risk of
The submarine is powered by a
26MW nuclear pressure water reactor
that generates 35 000 shp. This reactor
is a model GE PWR S6G, developed
and supplied by General Electric. It's
fascinating to learn that the life of the
fuel cells is approximately ten years.
Additionally, the submarine's propulsion
is delivered through the submarine's
steam-driven main turbines. These
turbines drive the submarine's
propeller through a reduction gear
system, allowing for precise control
of speed and manoeuvrability.
In summary, both the Seawolf
and the Los Angeles Class submarines
are remarkable achievements in naval
engineering, combining advanced
technologies and weapons systems with
exceptional stealth, manoeuvrability,
are designed for operations under the
polar ice cap and have exceptional
quietness, making them well-suited for
stealthy approaches to enemy coasts.
Their armaments, electronic systems,
and advanced sensors make them a
potent force on the high seas, capable of
carrying out a wide range of missions. •
6 1
 Portsmouth-based
Type 23 frigate HMS KENT
at Sea, south of the Isle of Wight
H M S Kent is one of the new est of the Type 23 frigates w ithin the
Royal N avy arsenal. Built by BA E Systems on the Clyde, she w as
launched on 27 M ay 1998 by Princess A lexandra of Kent.
Incorporating stealth technology to reduce her acoustic, magnetic and radar
profile, she presents a formidable force w hen deploying both her highly
capable sonar systems and embarked helicopter to detect opposing forces.
A uthor Luron C WrightXWVUTSRQPONMLKJIHGFEDCBA

6 2 V 0 IJ 6 /N o 3 / MARCH 2024 | G LO B A LA V IA TO R
G LO B A LA V IA TO R I Vol. 1 6 / N o 3 / M A R C H 2 0 2 4 6 3
UNMANNED SURFACE VEHICLES XWVUTSRQPONMLKJIHGFEDCBA
T h e develo p m en t o f autonom ou s
unm an ned s u rfa c e veh icles w ith
advanced tech n o lo g y to en h an ce
m ilita ry units is a fascin atin g topic.
HAVELSAN and th e Yonca Shipyard
have collab o rated to c re a te th e
SANCAR A rm ed U nm anned S u rfa c e
V ehicle (AUSV), w h ic h boasts an
im p ressive m o d u lar design th a t
en ab les add ition al payloads to
be se am lessly integ rated into th e
p latfo rm to fu lfil exp ected tasks .
T h e SANCAR AUSV also has an
un in terru p ted co m m u n icatio n
in fra s tru c tu re , w h ic h uses a
com b in atio n o f RF/G SM /SAT
system s, allo w in g it to c a rry
o u t o perations e ffic ie n tly and
e ffe c tiv e ly over long d istances. VUTSRQPONMLKJIHGFEDCBA
6 4 V o l. 1 6 / N o 3 / M A R C H 2 0 2 4
T h e A D V EN T ROTA m issio n
sy stem , w h ic h is th e firs t u n m a n n e d
sy ste m to u s e th is sy stem , is u s e d to
c o n tro l SA N C A R AUSV. T h e p la tfo rm
c a n b e c o n tro lle d fro m a m o b ile g ro u n d
c o n tro l s ta tio n e q u ip p e d w ith a n
A D V EN T m issio n sy ste m th a t a d h e re s
to N A TO in te ro p e ra b ility sta n d a rd s .
T h is m e a n s th a t it c a n b e d e p lo y e d o n
o th e r n a v a l p la tfo rm s th a t u s e ADVENT,
m a k in g it a h ig h ly v e rsa tile p la tfo rm .
SIDA (A rm ed U n m a n n e d S urface
Vehicle) w ill b e th e firs t a u to n o m o u s
u n m a n n e d n a v a l v eh ic le in te g ra te d
w ith th e A D V EN T C o m b a t M a n a g e m e n t
S ystem (CMS). H A V ELSA N aim s to
b eco m e on e of th e w o rld 's le a d in g
c o u n trie s in th is fie ld b y d e m o n s tra tin g
th e ex p e rie n c e a n d su ccess it h a s
HavelsanSancarautonomous
unmannedsurfacevehicles
| G L O B A L A V IA T O R
g a in e d in a rm e d u n m a n n e d ae ria l
v eh ic les in n a v a l v eh ic les as w ell.
It w ill p e rfo rm re m o te contro l,
a u to n o m o u s n a v ig a tio n a n d
a u to n o m o u s m issio n s th r o u g h th e
G ro u n d C o n tro l S ta tio n (GCS).
SANCAR SIDA w ill perform the
following tasks and functions:
• H a rb o u r/B a s e P ro te ctio n ,
S e a rc h a n d R escue, Intelligence,
R eco n n a issa n ce, S u rv eilla n ce,
Patrol, Su rface W arfare, M in e
C o u n te rm e a s u re s (M CM ) m issio n s,
• R em ote co ntro l, a u to n o m o u s n a v ig a tio n ,
C O L R E G -com pliant collisio n avoidance,
a u to n o m o u s r e tu r n to b a se a n d
a u to n o m o u s m issio n ex ecution ,
• E m erg en cy scen ario s.
 S A N C A R A U S V h a s a te c h n o lo g ic a l
i n f r a s t r u c t u r e t h a t s u r p a s s e s its g lo b a l
c o m p e tito rs a n d c a n tr a n s f e r ta s k s b e tw e e n
d i f f e r e n t s h ip s , c o n d u c t n e t w o r k - c e n t r i c
o p e r a tio n s w ith m a n n e d / u n m a n n e d
p l a t f o r m s a s a te a m , a n d o f f e r e a s y
a d a p ta b ility fo r s w a r m o p e ra tio n s . T h e
p l a t f o r m w a s d e v e l o p e d to a u t o n o m o u s l y
p e r f o r m a w id e r a n g e of ta s k s , in c lu d in g
h a r b o u r a n d b a s e p ro te c tio n , s e a rc h
a n d r e s c u e , ISR, p a t r o l , s u r f a c e w a r f a r e ,
a n d m i n e c o u n t e r m e a s u r e s . W i t h its
m o d u la r p a y lo a d s , S A N C A R A U SV
c a n m i n i m i z e t h e r i s k s to h u m a n life
a n d e n a b l e m a n y t a s k s to b e p e r f o r m e d
m o r e c o s t a n d t i m e e f f ic ie n tly .
T h e d e v e lo p m e n t o f S A N C A R A U SV
w a s m a d e p o s s ib le th r o u g h th e u s e o f
a u to n o m o u s s y s te m s te c h n o lo g ie s su c h
a s a r t i f i c i a l i n t e l l i g e n c e a n d d a t a f u s io n .
W i t h a l e n g t h o f 1 2 .7 3 m e t e r s , a w i d t h o f 3 .3
m e t e r s , a n d a d i s p l a c e m e n t o f 9 to n s , t h e
p l a t f o r m c a n r e a c h a s p e e d o f o v e r 411 k n o t s
a n d h a s a r a n g e o f o v e r 740 k i l o m e t r e s .
A d d itio n a lly th e S A N C A R A U SV o ffe rs
th e p o s s i b i l i t y o f i n t e g r a t i n g w e a p o n s a n d
e le c tro n ic s y s te m s of d if fe re n t ty p e s a n d
u s e s , m a k i n g it a h i g h l y a d a p t a b l e p l a t f o r m .
T h e p l a t f o r m 's M i n i S h i p D a ta
D is tr ib u tio n S y s te m a n d th e in te g ra tio n
o f a te l e s c o p i c m a s t w i t h a n a v i g a t i o n
r a d a r c a m e r a a n d a c o llis io n a v o id a n c e
s y s t e m f u r t h e r i n c r e a s e its m o d u l a r
d e s ig n a n d fle x ib ility w h e n u s in g n e w
s y s te m s . S A N C A R A U SV a ls o b o a s ts
a s t a b i l i z e d 1 2 .7 m m w e a p o n s y s t e m
a n d its d e f e n s i v e c a p a b i l i t i e s c a n b e
i n c r e a s e d b y i n t e g r a t i n g a t a c ti c a l m i s s i l e
s y s t e m . W i th its i m p r e s s i v e f e a t u r e s
a n d c a p a b ilitie s , th e S A N C A R A U SV
is s e t to b e c o m e a n i n d i s p e n s a b l e f o r c e
m u ltip lie r fo r m o d e r n n a v ie s , r e s p o n d in g
e f f e c t iv e ly to a s y m m e t r i c t h r e a t s .
H A V E L SA N S o lu tio n s d e v e lo p e d
fo r S A N C A R SID A :
• H A V E L S A N is d e v e l o p i n g C o m m a n d
a n d C o n tro l in te g ra tio n s o ftw a re ,
F l a t f o r m S p e c i f ic I m a g e P r o c e s s i n g ,
P l a t f o r m C o n t r o l , P l a t f o r m A u to n o m y ,
M i s s i o n P l a n n i n g a n d P o s t­
M is s io n E v a l u a t i o n a n d A n a l y s i s
s o ftw a re fo r S A N C A R S DA.
• G r o u n d C o n tro l S ta tio n h a r d w a r e
c o n s is tin g o f e a s ily p o r ta b le u n its h a s
b e e n p ro d u c e d . T h e G ro u n d C o n tro l
S ta tio n c o n s is ts o f p la tfo r m c o n tro l a n d
m o n ito rin g u n its , a n A D V E N T C M S
u n i t , a p o w e r d i s t r i b u t i o n / b a t t e r y u n it,
a c o m m u n ic a tio n u n it a n d a n te n n a s .
• H A V E L S A N 's n e w d e s i g n M i n i -
G V D S ( S h ip D a ta D i s t r i b u t i o n
S y s te m ) a n d , H A V E L S A N G N S S
S y s te m w ith A n ti-J a m f e a tu r e w ill
TiirkiyeandSomaliasignpact th e A f r i c a n c o n t i n e n t . T h e S o m a l i
Tiirkiye and Somalia recently
c o m m a n d o s h a v e b e e n d e p l o y e d to
signed a defence and economic k e e p th e p e a c e , fig h t te r r o r is m a n d
cooperation fram ew ork agreement e n s u r e th e s e c u r i t y o f t h e c o u n t r y .
aimed at strengthening their T i i r k i y e h a s b e e n o n e o f th e m a i n
d o n o r s a n d i n v e s t o r s in S o m a l i a 's
partnership and contributing re c o n s t r u c tio n a n d d e v e lo p m e n t,
to the stability of the region. p ro v id in g m u c h -n e e d e d h u m a n ita ria n
The agreement covers various a id , i n f r a s t r u c t u r e , a n d c a p a c i t y -
aspects of cooperation, including b u ild in g s u p p o rt. T h e c o u n try
o p e r a te s a m ilita r y b a s e in M o g a d is h u ,
the fight against terrorism, w h e r e it t r a i n s S o m a l i s o l d i e r s a n d
m ilitary-financial assistance, and c o n t r i b u t e s to t h e f i g h t a g a i n s t
joint training and exercises. th e a l - S h a b a a b t e r r o r i s t g r o u p .
In a d d i t i o n , T i i r k i y e h a s d o n a t e d
D u r i n g th e s i g n i n g c e r e m o n y , a r m o u r e d v e h i c l e s lik e t h e K i r p i ,
T iirk iy e D e fe n c e M in is te r Y a sa r lo g i s t i c s t r u c k s , a n d o t h e r e q u i p m e n t
G u le r a n d h is S o m a li c o u n te r p a r t to S o m a l i a to h e l p s t a b i l i z e th e
A b d u lk a d ir M o h a m e d N u r d is c u s s e d c o u n t r y . T h e K ir p i is a m i n e - r e si st a n t
b ila te ra l a n d re g io n a l d e fe n c e a n d a m b u s h - p r o t e c t e d v e h ic le , w h i c h
s e c u r i t y is s u e s . T h e y e x p r e s s e d m u t u a l h a s b e e n u s e d in o p e r a t i o n s to
s u p p o r t f o r e a c h o t h e r 's s o v e r e i g n t y p ro te c t m ilita ry c o n v o y s a n d c a rr y
a n d te rrito ria l in te g rity a n d p le d g e d o u t o t h e r s e c u r i t y - r e l a t e d ta s k s .
to w o r k t o g e t h e r t o w a r d s a c o m m o n T h e la t e s t a g r e e m e n t b e t w e e n
g o a l o f r e g i o n a l p e a c e a n d s ta b ili ty . T i i r k i y e a n d S o m a l i a is e x p e c t e d to
T h e T iirk iy e D e fe n c e M in is te r f u r th e r s tr e n g th e n th e ir p a r tn e r s h ip a n d
p r a i s e d S o m a l i a 's e f f o r t s to b u i l d a c o n t r i b u t e to t h e s t a b i l i t y o f th e r e g io n .
n a t i o n a l a r m y w i t h th e S o m a l i G o r g o r It w ill e n a b l e b o t h c o u n t r i e s to c o o p e r a t e
c o m m a n d o s , a s p e c ia l fo rc e tra in e d m o r e c l o s e ly i n th e a r e a s o f d e f e n c e a n d
b y T i i r k i y e h i n s t r u c t o r s , a n d s a id e c o n o m ic s , p r o m o t i n g m u t u a l i n t e r e s t s
th e y w e r e a s o u r c e o f in s p ir a tio n fo r a n d a d d r e s s in g c o m m o n c h a lle n g e s . •
t a k e p la c e o n t h e p l a t f o r m . (42 ft) lo n g , h a s a d i s p l a c e m e n t
• A r e d u n d a n t a n d in d ig e n o u s t o n n a g e o f 4 0 lo n g t o n s (41 t) a n d
c o m m u n ic a tio n s y s te m s o lu tio n w ith a a p a y lo a d o f 9 lo n g t o n s (9.1 t). It is
" b o n d i n g ' 1 f e a t u r e w i t h t h e ta c tic a l r o u t e r p o w e r e d b y t w o D ie s e l e n g i n e s a n d
u n i t o v e r R F L O S a n d s a t e l l i t e (K u B a n d t w o p u m p - j e t s . S h e c a n o p e r a t e at
& L -B a n d ) u s i n g d o m e s t i c p r o d u c t s s e a c o n d i t i o n s u p t o B e a u f o r t s c a le
h a s b e e n d e s ig n e d a n d d e v e lo p e d . 4. S h e i s a r m e d w i t h a 1 2 .7 m m
re m o te -c o n tro lle d w e a p o n s ta tio n
Characteristics A s e l s a n S T A M P -2 , l o n g - r a n g e g u i d e d
T h e v e s s e l f e a t u r e s C O L R E G - c o m p li a n t m is s ile s 2 x2 U M T A S a n d la s e r
a u t o n o m o u s n a v i g a t i o n a n d is 1 2 .7 m g u i d e d L -U M T A S . S h e i s e q u i p p e d
w i t h s i d e - s c a n s o n a r , a n d a n u p to 4
m (13 ft) e x t e n d a b l e te le s c o p ic m a s t
M IL M A S T fo r n a v ig a tio n ra d a r,
c a m e ra , a n d a n ti-c o llis io n s y s te m s .
S a n c a r SI D A is t h e f i r s t p l a t f o r m
SANCAR SIDA featu res
to b e d e p l o y e d w i t h P h a s e 1 o f t h e
Fu ll le n g th : 1 2 .7 3 m N a v a l C o m b a t M a n a g e m e n t S y s te m
W idth: 330 m A D V E N T ROTA. T he A D V E N T
M ax S p ee d : 4 0 + k n o ts
K A L Y O N M i s s i o n S y s t e m is
A w ay: 9 tu n s l o c a t e d a t t h e c o n t r o l s t a t i o n . It w a s
Fuel C ap: 820 L iters. a n n o u n c e d o n 19 N o v e m b e r 2 0 2 3
R ang e: +400 N M ra n g e ® 10 k n o ts t h a t it c o m p l e t e d th e a c c e p t a n c e
Boat T ype: D e e p V, S in g le H u ll t e s t s a t s e a . S h e is c o m p l i a n t
S lid in g T ype
w ith N A T O In te ro p e ra b ility
M a te ria l: V ac u u m in fu s io n S t a n d a r d s a n d P r o f ile s .
a d v a n c e d c o m p o site T h e p r o j e c t a i m s to p r o d u c e
C lass: T u rk ish L loyd, P atro l Boat a n u n m a n n e d s u rfa c e p la tfo rm
re a d y fo r m a s s p ro d u c tio n . a
G L O B A L A V IA T O R I V o l. 1 6 / N o 3 / M A R C H 2 0 2 4 6 5
INDUSTRY NEWS
North Korea's Kim Jong-un
oversees test o f
new surface-to-sea missiles
North Korean leader Kim Jong
Un has reportedly supervised the
successful test of the new surface-
to-sea missiles, the Padasuri-6.
The Korean Central News Agency
(KCNA) reported th at Kim expressed
his "great satisfaction" over the
results of the test-fire. The missiles
hit their intended targets after flying
over the East Sea for 1,400 seconds.
This m arked Pyongyang's sixth
missile launch event of the year.
The testing of new missiles came
a day after South Korea's military
reported that N orth Korea had fired
multiple cruise missiles in w aters
off its eastern port of Wonsan. In
response, Kim ordered his military
to strengthen its readiness near the
w estern maritime border w ith South
Korea. H e accused South Korea of
RTX's Pratt & Whitney
receives a $355 million
F100 engine sustainment
contract for South Korea's
F-15s, F-16s
Funding will support streamlined
operations, better fleet readiness
Pratt & Whitney, has been
aw arded an F100 engine
perform ance-based logistics
(PBL) sustainm ent contract by
South Korea's Defence Acquisition
Programme Administration.
The contract, w ith a base value of
$355 million, is the third consecutive
PBL contract Pratt & Whitney and
DAPA have signed since 2012, offering
on-going maintenance support for the
Republic of Korea A ir Force's (ROKAF)
F-15 Eagles and F-16 Fighting Falcons.
"For just over a decade, w e
have w orked w ith DAPA on these
6 6 V o l.1 6 /N o 3 /M A R C H 2 0 2 4
XWVUTSRQPONMLKJIHGFEDCBA
Kim Jong Un
violating N orth Korea's sovereignty by
insisting on a "N orthern Limit Line"
(NLL), the maritime demarcation
line betw een the tw o Koreas. Kim
ordered his military to be on high alert
in the w aters north of Yeonpyeong
Island and to the w est of the Korean
peninsula, in the region of the NLL.
performance-based logistics contracts to
establish a more strategic sustainment
solution for the ROKA F fighter fleet,"
said Chris Johnson, vice president
of Fighter and M obility Programs at
Pratt & Whitney. "These contracts are
a w in-w in for both customers and
industry because they offer more
efficient affordability and availability."
| G L O B A L A V I A T O R VUTSRQPONMLKJIHGFEDCBA
The maritime demarcation line
has been the site of previous clashes
betw een the tw o Koreas. In 2010, N orth
Korea torpedoed a South Korean
w arship in the Yellow Sea, killing
46 sailors, and fired a barrage of
artillery shells at Yeonpyeong Island,
killing four others. In his statement,
Kim referred to the de facto border
as a "ghost one w ithout any ground
in the light of international law".
Kim pledged that Pyongyang
w ould "thoroughly defend our maritime
sovereignty by force of arms and
actions, not by any rhetoric". Earlier
this year, Kim announced in a speech
to his country's parliament that he
w ould no longer recognize the NLL.
H e also declared that Pyongyang w as
abandoning its longstanding goal of
reconciliation w ith Seoul. H e w arned
that even the slightest violation of N orth
Korea's territorial land, air, and w aters
w ould be considered a w ar provocation.
In a separate report, KCNA said
that Kim inspected a "major" munitions
factory and learned in detail about the
modernisation of production. During
his visit, he stressed the factory's role in
bolstering N orth Korea's armed forces
and laid out tasks to improve the quality
of munitions and increase production
as "required by the prevailing situation
and the developing revolution". •
This contract is the latest initiative
in an enduring partnership betw een
Pratt & Whitney, DAPA and ROKAF,
and it w ill support more efficient depot
planning and improve overall fleet
readiness through long-term material
forecasting. Sustainment w ork began
in December of 2023 and w ill run
through the second half of 2027. •
Geared towards A rm scor is an acquisition agency

fo r the South African D epartm ent

providing unmatched of Defence and other state organs.

Its m andate is to provide arm ed

sustainable defence forces w ith th e s ta te -o f-th e -a rt

defence m ateriel required to

provide safety and security for

solutions South Africa, its citizens and the

continent.

It has extensive experience in

product developm ent, technology

developm ent, enhancem ent and

sustainm ent, and disposal of

products.
A rm scor has capability to perform

independent, centralised co­

ordination and m anagem ent roles

fo r technology acquisition and

technology com m ercialisation.

F o r m ore inform a tio n co n ta ct: C o r p o r a t e C o m m u n ic a tio n D iv is io n

P r iv a t e B a g X 3 3 7 , P r e to r ia , 0 0 0 1 ,
A D lU I D R e p u b lic o f S o u th A f r ic a

A r m a m o n t s C o r p o r a t io n o f S o u t h A f r t c o S O C L t d T e l I + 2 7 (0) 1 2 4 2 8 1911

E - m a il: ln f o @ a r m s c o r .c o . z a

w w w .a rm s c o r.c o .z a

© G lobal A viator
The HAL Tejas is a single-engine, delta wing, light multirole fighter aircraft that
w as designed by the Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA) in collaboration w ith
A ircraft Research and Design Centre (ARDC) of Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL)
for the Indian Air Force and Indian Navy. It w as developed from the Light Combat
A ircraft (LCA) program me, which started in the 1980s to replace India's ageing
MiG-21 fighters, but later became part of a general fleet modernisation programme.

6 8 V o l. 1 6 / N o 3 / M A R C H 2 0 2 4 | G L O B A L A V IA T O R
G L O B A L A V IA T O R I V o l. 1 6 / N o 3 / M A R C H 2 0 2 4 6 9
FIGHTER AIRCRAFT
The Tejas is the second fighter
developed by H A L to attain supersonic
performance, after the H A L HF-24
M arut. The aircraft is equipped w ith
a state-of-the-art avionics suite that
includes an advanced glass cockpit, a
digital fly-by-w ire flight control system,
and a modern radar. It also features a
composite structure, w hich makes it
lightw eight and highly manoeuvrable.
The Tejas has undergone extensive
testing and development over the
years, w ith the aircraft achieving initial
operational clearance in 2011 and final
operational clearance in 2019. The first
Tejas squadron became operational in
2016, as No. 45 Squadron IA F Flying
Daggers w as the first to have their
M iG-21s replaced w ith the Tejas.
Currently, there are three
production models of the Tejas - the
M ark 1, M ark 1A , and a trainer version.
The Indian A ir Force has placed
orders for 32 Tejas M ark Is, 73 Tejas
M ark lA s, and 18 Tejas Trainer aircraft.XWVUTSRQPONMLKJIHGFEDCBA
F u r th e r d e v e lo p m e n t
In M ay 2015, the Comptroller and
A uditor General of India (CAG)
7 0 V o l.1 6 /N o 3 /M A R C H 2 0 2 4
released a report that identified
some shortcomings in the Tejas
M ark 1 standard aircraft that had
been delivered up to that point.
The CAG report highlighted that
the aircraft's performance w as
impacted by issues such as increased
w eight and reduced speed.
To address these issues, H industan
A eronautics Limited (HAL) has been
w orking on the development of the Tejas
M ark 1A aircraft, w hich is an upgraded
version of the Tejas M ark 1. The M ark
1A w ill feature several improvements
over the previous version, including
an increased use of composites in
manufacturing, w hich w ill make the
aircraft lighter and more manoeuvrable.
The supersonic drag w ill be reduced
by using more aerodynamic pylons,
w hich w ill improve the aircraft's
speed and overall performance.
In addition to these upgrades,
the Tejas M ark 1A w ill be equipped
w ith advanced avionics, an electronic
w arfare suite, a self-protection jammer,
and an A ESA radar. These upgrades
w ill significantly enhance the aircraft's
combat capabilities, making it a highly
| G L O B A L A V IA T O R
capable multirole fighter aircraft.
The CAG report also noted some
shortcomings that require redesign
and structural modification, such as
increasing the internal fuel capacity.
The Tejas programme is a
significant achievement for India's
aerospace industry. The aircraft
is designed to operate in a variety
of roles, including air superiority,
ground attack, and reconnaissance.
T e ja s M a r k 1 A
The Tejas M ark 1A is the upgraded
version of the Tejas M ark 1 aircraft,
w hich has undergone extensive
improvements to enhance its
performance and capabilities. The
upgraded version has more than 40
improvements over the previous
variant, including an advanced avionics
suite, an expanded w eapon suite, and
enhanced survivability features.
The Tejas M ark 1A w ill retain
the basic M ark 1 airframe, but it w ill
feature a new avionics suite that
includes the EL/M -2052 A ESA Radar
and Uttam A ESA Radar, DARE Unified
Electronic Warfare Suite (UEWS), and
an externally mounted self-protection
jammer (SPJ). These upgrades w ill
significantly enhance the aircraft's
combat capabilities, making it a highly
capable multirole fighter aircraft.
The upgraded Tejas M ark 1A
w ill also have an instrument flight
rules (IFR) capability, an Onboard
Oxygen Generation System (OBOGS)
developed by Defence Bioengineering
and Electromedical Laboratory (DEBEL)
for endurance, and an upgraded IFF+
from the older identification friend or
foe system. To better accommodate
the pilots, the cockpit floor w ill be
reshaped, and the turnaround time
of the aircraft w ill be reduced.
T e ja s M a r k 2
The upcoming Tejas M ark 2, slated for
rollout in 2022, has been meticulously
crafted to offer an array of enhanced
capabilities compared to its predecessor.
The aircraft boasts a pow erful GE
F414-INS6 engine that can propel the
jet to speeds beyond M ach 1.8 and
operate at altitudes exceeding 55,000
feet. Its extended airframe, closely
connected canards, and advanced
sensors make it a highly agile and
versatile aircraft, w hile the redesigned
cockpit and sophisticated avionics
suite allow for superior situational
aw areness and mission effectiveness.
The Tejas M ark 2 is expected to
replace several IA F fighters, including
the Jaguar, Dassault M irage 2000, and
M ikoyan MiG-29, and is set to feature
numerous technological advancements
from the A dvanced M edium
Combat A ircraft (AMCA) program.
The aircraft w ill be constructed
predominantly from lightw eight
composite materials, maximizing its
strength w hile ensuring agility and
fuel efficiency. The delta w ing design
enhances both manoeuvrability and
stability, meeting a diverse range
of operational requirements.
The Tejas M ark 2‘s w eapon­
carrying capacity has been significantly
increased, w ith a payload capability
of 6,500 kg (14,300 lb) and an internal
fuel capacity exceeding 3,400 kg (7,500
lb), granting the aircraft the ability to
carry more w eapons w ith an extended
range. The aircraft w ill feature an
integrated electro-optic electronic
w arfare suite, a missile approach
w arning system, and an infrared
search and track (IRST) system, further
bolstering its combat capabilities.
M oreover, the aircraft w ill
have an integrated aircraft health
and usage monitoring system,
developed by the Defence Institute
of A dvanced Technology (DIAT),
w hich integrates various sensors
onboard the Tejas M ark 2.
Overall, the Tejas M ark 2 represents
a significant leap forw ard in indigenous
aerospace technology, and its impending
rollout is eagerly aw aited by aviation
enthusiasts and military strategists alike.
N a v a l v a r ia n t
The N aval Light Combat A ircraft
(N-LCA) programme w as instituted
in 2003 w ith the primary objective
of developing an indigenous carrier­
based multirole fighter aircraft. The
programme w as envisioned to consist
of tw o phases, w ith the first phase
involving the development of tw o naval
prototypes - the tw o-seat NP-1 and the
single-seat NP-2, both based on the Tejas
M ark 1 design. These prototypes w ere
developed to carry out carrier suitability
certification and w eapons integration.
Phase 2 w as planned to include
the construction of tw o single-seat
prototypes based on the Tejas M ark 2
design, w ith further design optimization
and integration of the General Electric
F414IN S6 engine. The NP-1 naval
prototype w as rolled out in July 2010
and made its first flight on 27 A pril
2012. The naval LCA features stronger
G L O B A L A V IA T O R
landing gear designed to absorb
the forces generated during carrier
take-off and arrested recovery.
Despite the setbacks, test flying
for the N -LCA programme continued,
as the technologies developed for the
Tejas programme w ere to be carried
over to other platforms currently
being developed by the ADA.
In July 2020, the DRDO announced
that the plan to develop an LCA M ark
2 N avy had been dropped, and instead,
they w ere w orking on a new carrier-
borne fighter to replace the current fleet
of M IG-29K/KUB carrier-based fighters.
A t A ero India 2021, a new tw in-engine
naval fighter w as unveiled, the Twin
Engine Deck Based Fighter (TEDBF). The
experience gained during the N -LCA
programme is expected to be beneficial
in the development of the TEDBF.
Finally, in February 2023, the
naval prototype completed its
maiden landing and takeoff from the
indigenous aircraft carrier IN S Vikrant,
m arking a significant m ilestone in
the development of a carrier-based
fighter aircraft for the Indian Navy.
The achievement paves the w ay for
further advancements in indigenous
aerospace technology and strengthens
India's defence capabilities.
D e s ig n
The Tejas aircraft has a total of eight
hardpoints, w hich can carry a variety
of missiles. One hardpoint is dedicated
to carrying sensor pods such as FLIR,
IRST or laser rangefinder/designator,
and the aircraft has an aerial refuelling
probe on the starboard side of the
forw ard fuselage. The Tejas w eapon
suite consists of I-Derby ER and
A stra beyond visual range air-to-
air missiles and R-73, Python-5 and
A SRA A M close combat missiles.
The Tejas aircraft is a single­
engine multirole combat aircraft
w ith a tailless, compound delta w ing
design for enhanced manoeuvrability
and agility. The naval LCA variant
has a nose droop for improved view
during carrier landings, and w ing
leading-edge vortex controllers
(LEVCON) for better low -speed
handling and increased controllability
at high angles of attack (AoA).
The Tejas M ark 1 uses the Elta
EL/M -2032 radar and has an electronic
w arfare (EW) suite domestically
developed by the Defence A vionics
Research Establishment (DARE). The
upgraded Tejas M ark 1A w ill have an
A ESA radar, a new digital flight control
computer, a new EW suite, and updated
avionics, making it a highly capable
and versatile aircraft that significantly
enhances India's defence capabilities. •
I V o l. 1 6 / N o 3 / M A R C H 2 0 2 4 7 1
7 2 Vol. 1 6 / N o 3 / M
ONMLKJIHGFEDCBA A R C H 2024 | G L O B A L A V IA T O R
A Turkish special forces sniper engages long range targets
at night with a Remington M k 21 Precision Sniper Rifle at
the International Specialty Training Center (ISTC) Alpine
Sniper Course, in Hochfilzen training area, Austria.
The Alpine Sniper Course lasts two weeks and is
designed to teach and train sniper teams the necessary
skills to operate in mountainous terrain.
(U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Patrik Orcutt)XWVUTSRQPONMLKJIHGFEDCBA

G L O B A L A V IA T O R I Vol. 1 6 / N o 3 / M A R C H 2 0 2 4 7 3
INDUSTRY NEWS XWVUTSRQPONMLKJIHGFEDCBA
The W estland W hirlw ind w as
a British tw in -e n g in e d fig h ter
a irc ra ft th a t w as developed
by W estland A irc ra ft during
the Second World War.
It w as designed to be a single-seat,
tw in-engined, cannon-armed fighter
for the Royal A ir Force (RAF), and w as
a contemporary of the Supermarine
Spitfire and H aw ker H urricane. The
aircraft w as notable for being the first
tw in-engined fighter to be produced
by the RAF, as w ell as for its impressive
armament of four 20 mm H ispano-
Suiza H S.404 autocannon in its nose.
The Whirlw ind w as first flow n in
1938 and w as one of the fastest combat
aircraft at the time, w ith a top speed
of over 360 mph (580 km /h). However,
the development of the aircraft w as
protracted due to problems w ith its
Rolls-Royce Peregrine engines. A s
a result, only 114 Whirlw inds w ere
built, and during the Second World
War, only three RA F squadrons w ere
7 4 V o l. 1 6 / N o 3 / M A R C H 2 0 2 4
equipped w ith the aircraft. Despite
its success as a fighter and ground
attack aircraft, it w as eventually
w ithdraw n from service in 1943.
The design of the Whirlw ind w as
state-of-the-art for its time. It had a
monocoque fuselage that w as tubular
and a T-tail at the end. The original
design featured a tw in tail, but this
w as discarded w hen large Fowler flaps
w ere added that caused large areas of
turbulence over the tail unit. By using
the T-tail, the elevator w as moved up
out of the w ay of the disturbed airflow
caused w hen the flaps w ere down.
The engines used in the Whirlw ind
w ere developments of the Rolls-Royce
Kestrel K.26, w hich w ere later renamed
as the Peregrine. The prototype used
long exhaust ducts that w ere channelled
through the w ings and fuel tanks,
exiting at the w ing's trailing edge.
However, this configuration w as
quickly changed to more conventional,
external exhausts after Westland's
chief test pilot H arald Penrose nearly
lost control w hen an exhaust duct
broke and heat-fractured an aileron
control rod. The engines w ere cooled
|
G L O B A L A V IA T O R
by ducted radiators, w hich w ere set into
the leading edges of the w ing centre
sections to reduce drag. The airframe w as
built mainly of stressed-skin duralumin,
except for the rear fuselage, w hich used
a magnesium alloy stressed skin.
The Whirlw ind exhibited excellent
handling characteristics and proved to be
very easy to fly at all speeds. However,
it faced inadequate directional control
during take-off, w hich necessitated
an increased rudder area above the
tailplane. The Whirlw ind w as quite
small, only slightly larger than the
H urricane but w ith a smaller frontal
area. The landing gear w as fully
retractable, and the entire aircraft had
a very clean finish w ith few openings
or protuberances. Radiators w ere in
the leading edge of the inner w ings
rather than below the engines, w hich
contributed to the overheating problems.
Production orders for the Whirlw ind
w ere contingent on the success of the
test program. A lthough the A ir M inistry
and the RA F w ere impressed by the
design, the highly experimental design
needed careful examination. Delays
caused by over 250 modifications toA

Whirlwind Mark I, P7116 HE-F Bellows Argentina No. 2,
flow n by the Officer Commanding 263 Squadron RAF based at Colerne, Wiltshire,
on the snow-covered airfield at Charmy Down, Somerset.
Pic by Royal Air Force
Westland Whirlwind in a rare Second World War colour photograph - Royal Airforce.
the tw o prototypes led to an initial
production order for 200 aircraft being
held up until January 1939, follow ed by
a second order for a similar number.
Deliveries to fighter squadrons w ere
scheduled to begin in September 1940.
Despite the Whirlw ind's promise,
production ended in January 1942, after
the completion of just 112 production
aircraft (plus the tw o prototypes).
Rolls-Royce needed to concentrate on
the development and production of the
M erlin engine, and the troubled Vulture
engines, rather than the Peregrine. By
late 1940, the Spitfire w as scheduled to
mount a 20 mm cannon, so the "cannon­
armed" requirement w as being met.
By this time, the role of escort fighters
G L O B A L A V IA T O R I V o l. 1 6 / N o 3 / M A R C H 2 0 2 4
w as becoming less important as RA F
Bomber Command turned to night
flying. The main qualities the RA F
w ere looking for in a tw in-engine
fighter w ere range and carrying
capacity, w hich required the Bristol
Beaufighter could perform just as w ell
as or even better than the Whirlw ind.
Operational history
The Whirlw ind had a state-of-the-art
design that included a monocoque
fuselage that w as tubular and a T-tail
at the end. The engines used in the
Whirlw ind w ere a development of
the Rolls-Royce Kestrel K.26, w hich
w ere later renamed as the Peregrine.
It had a top speed of over 360 mph
(580 km /h), making it one of the
fastest combat aircraft at the time.
However, the development of
the Whirlw ind w as protracted due
to problems w ith its engines. The
Rolls-Royce Peregrine engines used
in the aircraft had performance issues
at altitude, and the Whirlw ind w as
most often used in ground-attack
missions over France, attacking
German airfields, marshalling
yards, and railw ay traffic. Despite
its success as a fighter and ground
attack aircraft, only 114 Whirlw inds
w ere built, and during the Second
World War, only three RA F squadrons
w ere equipped w ith the aircraft.
The Whirlw ind proved to be
a controversial aircraft during its
time, w ith some pilots finding it
underpow ered and disappointing,
w hile others regarded it w ith absolute
confidence and affection. Despite its
limitations, it w as used to great effect
in ground-attack missions and as a gun
platform for destroying locomotives.
The Whirlw ind's success in these
roles w as due in part to its impressive
armament of four 20 mm H ispano-
Suiza H S.404 autocannon in its nose.
The first Whirlw inds w ere
delivered to 25 Squadron based
at N orth Weald and then to 263
Squadron, w hich w as reforming
at RA F Grangemouth. However,
deliveries w ere slow, and despite the
urgent need for fighters during the
Battle of Britain, 263 Squadron
remained in Scotland. The Whirlw ind's
first confirmed kill occurred on 8
February 1941 w hen an A rado A r 196
floatplane w as shot dow n, and from
then on, the squadron had considerable
success w ith the Whirlw ind w hile
flying against enemy aircraft.
Despite its limitations and
relatively short service life, the Westland
Whirlw ind remains an important part of
British aviation history and a testament
to the ingenuity of its designers. •
7 5
 FROM THE DESK OF LEONARDO
LEONARDO
KICK OFF FOR THE PROJECT
OF THE FIRST SPACE CLOUD
SYSTEM FOR DEFENSE
Supercomputers, artificial
intelligence, and cloud are
aboard a constellation of
cyber-secure satellites orbiting
the Earth this is the objective
of the "M ilitary Space Cloud
Architecture" (MILSCA) study
project assigned to Leonardo by
the Italian Ministry of Defense
(through the contractual agency
Teledife), as part of the National
M ilitary Research Plan (PNRM).
For the first tim e in Europe,
sim ilar to w hat happens w ith the
terrestrial cloud, the project intends
to define a space architecture
capable of providing government
and national A rmed Forces w ith
high-perform ance computing and
storage capacity directly in space.
The system, designed w ith
integrated cyber security models,
w ill guarantee greater speed
and flexibility in the processing
and sharing inform ation. The
Space Cloud, w hich w ill be tested
by creating a digital tw in of
the architecture, w ill be able to
store over 100 Terabytes of data
generated on Earth and in space on
board each constellation satellite.
It can perform processing w ith
a pow er exceeding 250 TFLOPS
(250 thousand billion operations
per second) at single precision,
adopting advanced algorithm s
w hich use artificial intelligence,
m achine learning techniques, and
extensive data analysis. They can
also communicate and exchange data
7 6 V o l.1 6 /N o 3 /M A R C H 2 0 2 4
19194085
autonomously w ith other satellites.
A cyber-secure supercomputer
and archive system in space w ill
guarantee users access to strategic
data such as communication,
earth observation, and navigation
data, anyw here, even in the most
remote places, and at any time.
Furthermore, a Space Cloud
system significantly reduces
data processing times, w hich
is processed directly in orbit,
providing real-tim e inform ation,
and thus facilitating m ulti-dom ain
and m ulti-nation operations. The
transm ission netw orks w ill be left
free for other connections thanks
to the only transfer of inform ation
of interest to Earth. In addition,
storing data in orbit w ill also
represent a useful back-up of the
Earth centers, w hich are most
exposed to natural disasters.
The project sees Leonardo at
the forefront w ith the participation
of the joint ventures Telespazio
(67% Leonardo, 33% Thales) and
Thales A lenia Space (67% Thales,
33% Leonardo). W ith a duration of
24 months, the study includes a first
phase for defining the architecture
and a second phase that w ill end
w ith developing a digital tw in of
the satellite w ith the H PC and the
m ulti-constellation satellite term inal
demonstrator. The goal is to simulate
the different application scenarios
in a digital environment. These
tests w ill be carried out thanks
to Leonardo's supercomputer, the
davinci-1, among the first aerospace
and defense H PCs in the w orld
in term s of computing pow er and
performance. The study w ill be a
precursor to a further experim ental
phase, w hich, if confirm ed,
| G L O B A L A V IA T O R
w ill involve the deployment
in orbit of a demonstrative
constellation of satellites.
Space Cloud is a hi-tech and
m ulti-dom ain project, w hich takes
advantage of Leonardo's combined
capabilities in data acquisition,
management, and cyber protection,
as w ell as artificial intelligence
and supercomputing w ith the
H PC davinci-1; the development
of M ILSCA is the first project
in the Space domain that fits
w ithin the grow th guidelines of
Leonardo's new Industrial Plan.
"In a m ulti-dom ain scenario,
management, security, and rapid
exchange of an ever-increasing
amount of data, much of w hich
is tactical, become strategic
elements for the country's defense.
We w ill be the first in Europe to
develop a Space Cloud project,
dem onstrating feasibility and
benefits deriving from the use of
an architecture of this type and
enabling a new paradigm of cloud
& edge com puting," said Simone
Ungaro, Leonardo's Chief Innovation
Officer. "Leonardo's know -how
w ill allow the development of a
Space Cloud netw ork to contribute
to digitalization and technological
innovation processes, responding
to future challenges to guarantee
the needs of government and
national A rmed Forces."
The Space Cloud for Defense
project also sets the basis for
future uses to support civ il Earth
observation program s and space
exploration missions to the M oon
and M ars, w hich could benefit
from an in-orbit cloud computing
architecture to dow nload and
process data more quickly. •
 EGYPTz Z A
INTERNATIONAL II 2-5
S E PT
AIRSHOW 2024
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El A la m e i n In t e r n a t i o n a l A i r p o r t

DEFENCE SPACE I COMMERCIAL

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2-5 September 2024
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In te r n a tio n a l A ir p o r t
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D IS C U S S Y O U R P A R T I C I P A T I O N :
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F y GLOBAL

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