A Chinese Competitor to Boeing and Airbus?

Today’s topic will discuss the Chinese aircraft manufacturer COMAC, and their C919 jet aircraft currently under development.

Will the C919 Ever Receive FAA Certification?

I could just answer this question with “Yes, as long as it complies with the FAA standards, and is deemed airworthy”; however, that would probably be deemed poor literature, and so, I will elaborate. The C919 has encountered multiple problems during development, and has been delayed, with the first commercial flight not likely till 2019 or 2020 (Powell, 2015). However, this does not necessarily mean it will never be completed. As Powell states:

It’s not unusual that a project of this magnitude experiences delays. Even the Airbus A380 had countless delays and defects to overcome before it was finally delivered. Same with the Boeing 787 Dreamliner. Both manufacturers are established and well regarded for their products while for China this is completely new territory (2015)

I think an important factor to monitor is whether or not the COMAC ARJ-21 regional jet receives certification. If COMAC is able to satisfy the FAA’s standards for the smaller ARJ-21 jet. Then I would think it is reasonable to say they may be able to do so for the larger C919. However, if they are not able to certify the ARJ-21, then I find it unlikely the C919 will be any different.

What Challenges Would this Provide for U.S. Carriers? What about Public Perception?

Initially, I don’t foresee this being a major issue for most U.S. carriers. Most of them will probably wait until the aircraft has a better safety record, rather than be the first to start flying what the media may label a “cheap, Chinese rip-off”. But, If the aircraft proves to be safe and reliable, then it could become an option for U.S. airlines since it is  “likely to be priced at £32 million (US$50 million), which [is] up to 30 percent cheaper than a Boeing 737 or an Airbus 320” (Lyme, 2015). As for public perception, unless it is brought to the general public’s attention by the media, I feel that most passengers will not even realize a change has occurred. Most passengers (myself included before becoming involved in aviation), do not know what type of plane they are flying in, so long as it has a pair of wings, and gets them from point A to point B safety. There will of course be some who will not fly on carriers using the C919, and, as I stated above, it will depend how much the media brings it to the public’s attention; but I feel it will not affect the average flyer’s decision.

Who is COMAC?

The “Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China”, or COMAC (I guess CACC was already taken) is 

a state-owned aircraft manufacturing company, who “are massively supported by the Chinese government” (Matha, n.d.); the company, as they so adequately put it, was “Summoned and inspired by the sacred mission of ‘letting China-made large aircraft fly in the blue sky’” (“Company Profile”, n.d.). As far as mission statements go, that’s probably one of the more interesting ones I’ve heard recently.

The company has orders from several Chinese airlines, among them is Chengdu Airlines, which received and completed “the ARJ-21’s first revenue passenger service” on June 28^th (Toh, 2016). Chengdu Airlines are “scheduled to take delivery of two more ARJ-21s this year… and has a further 29 examples on order” (Toh, 2016).

As for the company’s future plans, they also intend to development a widebody design (the C929, and C939). The aircraft is still in the “proposed” stage; but here are some of the possible specifications I found:

Length                         53.5
Height                         13.5
Wingspan                    55.6
Cruising                      950km / h
Seating                        300-350-seat
take-off weight           220 tons
range                           9500km
Life                             30,000 flight hours
Engine                         Using two sets of domestic engine, thrust 310 kN (Pike, 2016)

If the C919 is Certificated, Would this Encourage Other Companies to Enter the Market?

If COMAC is able to successfully produce an aircraft to compete with Boeing and Airbus, then I think it could inspire other companies to enter the market. Since COMAC is state-owned, it holds an advantage over other startup companies; however, it would still prove that it is possible to compete in the field as a new company.

Has Boeing or Airbus Responded?

I was unable to find any direct response to COMAC by Boeing or Airbus. Boeing is building its first plant (or more of a “completion center”), in China to “install interiors and paint exteriors on 737 airliners” (Thompson, 2015), and Airbus has been “delivering A320s from a Chinese plant [since] 2009”, with plans “to build a second such facility in the country” (Thompson, 2015); however, other than that, I did not find any particular actions by Boeing or Airbus.

References:

Company Profile. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://english.comac.cc/aboutus/introduction/

Lyme, C. (2015, November 02). Superjet made-in-China: First look inside the C919 passenger
            plane as the country's home-made airliner makes its worldwide debut. Retrieved from
            http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/peoplesdaily/article-3300113/Superjet-China-look-
            inside-C919-passenger-plane-country-s-home-airliner-makes-worldwide-debut.html

Matha, M. (n.d.). 5 Reasons why Chinese Aircraft Manufacturer will become a Global
            Contender. Retrieved from http://www.wcs-global.com/uncategorized/5-reasons-why-
            chinese-aircraft-manufacturer-will-become-a-global-contender/

Pike, J. (2016, January 07). COMAC C929 / COMAC C939 - Design. Retrieved from
            http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/china/c929-design.htm

Powell, S. (2015, November 09). China's COMAC C919 Aircraft Running Behind Schedule -
            First Commercial Flight Not Before 2019. Retrieved from
            http://loyaltylobby.com/2015/11/09/chinas-comac-c919-aircraft-running-behind-
            schedule-first-commercial-flight-not-before-2019/

Thompson, L. (2015, September 23). Boeing To Build Its First Offshore Plane Factory In China
            As Ex-Im Bank Withers. Retrieved from
            http://www.forbes.com/sites/lorenthompson/2015/09/23/boeing-to-build-its-first-
            offshore-plane-factory-in-china-as-ex-im-bank-withers/#16a9c7855252

Toh, M. (2016, June 28). ARJ21 starts operations with Chengdu Airlines. Retrieved from
            https://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/picture-arj21-starts-operations-with-chengdu-
            airlin-426747/

The Commercial Space Industry

Today’s topic will discuss the Commercial Space Industry, examining some of the background of “space tourism”, the rules and regulations, and where it is headed as an industry.

Background of “Space Tourism”:

The idea of civilian space travel is not a new concept. Indeed, in the late 1960s “Pan Am airlines announced plans for commercial flights to the moon” (“Pan Am and the waiting list”, n.d.). Customers were placed on a waiting list and “the ‘First Moon Flights’ Club was born – attracting more than 93,000 members over the next two decades” (“Pan Am and the waiting list”, n.d.). These dreams were a bit ahead of their time however, and, as of November 2015, “only 551 people have ever journeyed to space”, only seven of which were private citizens (Blum, 2015). These select individuals are said to have spent between 20 to 40 million for the experience, which included “a 10-day vacation in zero gravity at the International Space Station” (Blum, 2015). Prices such as these make the experience rather unobtainable for just about everyone; however, more recent efforts by companies such as Blue Origin, and Virgin Galactic hope to make the experience somewhat more accessible, with the latter currently costing about $250,000 (“Fly with us”, n.d.).

Rules and Regulations Regarding Commercial Space

The Commercial Space is currently under the US Commercial Space Launch Competitiveness Act which was passed on November 10^th, 2015. This act prevents the FAA “from issuing standards for commercial spacecraft, as it does for the commercial airline industry, until 2023 at the earliest” (Grush, 2015). This rule gives the companies conducting these space flights time to learn, without being immediately shutdown if an accident occurs. However, this “also means that people participating in private spaceflight do so at their own risks, and there are no government regulations in place specifically to keep them safe” (Grush, 2015). I think that this learning period provided by the act is a good thing, as it gives the industry better opportunities to learn and grow. The industry is also not totally without rules, as “the FAA still has some authority to regulate the commercial sector”, and their “main concern is to ensure that launch vehicles aren’t immediate threats to the uninvolved public and property” (Grush, 2015). Those involved in the flight are not forced to do so, and “must sign a document that says spaceflight is inherently dangerous and they understand the risks associated with it” (Grush, 2015). Another thing to consider, is if the FAA heavily regulated commercial space travel, it’s quite possible many of these start-up companies would just move overseas where the regulations were less demanding.

Where is Space Tourism Headed, and in what Time Frame?

As technology increases, space tourism will continue to become more and more accessible. We have already seen the price for such an endeavor drop from 20 million down to 250 thousand. As for a timeframe for “when” this will happen, that’s a little harder to pinpoint. The industry is still learning and experimenting, and where I could maybe see one or two passenger carrying flights happening within the next 8 years or so, I would not expect to see “regular” flights happening for at least another 10 years, probably more.
As for the nature of these flights, I think it will depend how “affordable” these flights eventually become. In the beginning, I feel that it will mostly be a onetime experience, with people paying high prices for the chance to say “I’ve been in space”. As the industry develops, I could see people going for repeat trips, treating it as a really expensive luxury vacation – just think really expensive cruise, but in space! Companies like Bigelow Aerospace certainly believe this is a possibility, and are currently developing space hotels, having “already launched two test vehicles” (Bastek, 2015). So, if it does happen, at least your stay will be a comfortable one.

What are the Qualifications to Work in the Industry?

There are a lot of positions available in the industry. SpaceX has openings ranging from avionics test engineers (which requires at least a B.S. degree in electrical engineering or other related technical field, and 1 year of experience in Electronics Test Engineering developing test architectures) to college and university internships and co-ops (“Open Positions”, n.d.). As for the pilots, they have a few more essential requirements. Virgin Galactic, when looking for pilots for their SpaceShipTwo rocket plane in 2011, posted these requirements:

• U.S. citizenship (to satisfy export regulations).
• A current FAA commercial (or equivalent) pilot license and FAA medical clearance.
• Degree-level qualification in a relevant technical field.
• Graduate of a recognized test pilot school, with at least two and a half years of postgraduate flight test experience.
• Diverse flying background with a minimum of 3,000 hours flying, to include considerable experience of large multi-engine aircraft and high-performance fast jet aircraft and low lift-to-drag experience in complex aircraft.
• Operational experience in an aerospace aviation project or business.
• Preference given to those with experience in spaceflight, commercial flight operations or flight instruction (“Dozens apply for space pilot jobs”, 2011).

Well, I qualify for the first point, but that’s about it.

References:

Bastek, T. (2015, June 01). Update: What Is the Going Rate and Timeline for Space Tourism?
            Retrieved from http://www.travelpulse.com/news/features/update-what-is-the-going-rate-
            and-timeline-for-space-tourism.html

Blum, S. (2015, November 25). A Brief History of Space Tourism. Retrieved from
            https://www.inverse.com/article/8528-the-space-tourism-timeline

Dozens apply for space pilot jobs. (2011, April 13). Retrieved from
            http://cosmiclog.nbcnews.com/_news/2011/04/13/6466987-dozens-apply-for-space-pilot-
            jobs

Fly with Us. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.virgingalactic.com/human-spaceflight/
            fly-with-us/

Grush, L. (2015, November 16). Private space companies avoid FAA oversight again, with
            Congress' blessing. Retrieved from http://www.theverge.com/2015/11/16/9744298/private-

            space-government-regulation-spacex-asteroid-mining

Open Positions | SpaceX. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.spacex.com/careers/list

Pan Am and the waiting list for the moon…. (n.d.). Retrieved from
            http://backstoryradio.org/2013/08/19/pan-am-and-the-waiting-list-for-the-moon/

The Current Status of UAVs

Today’s discussion will cover the topic of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs), examining some of their uses, and the regulations concerning them.

How are UAVs being used for civilian purposes in the US, and how are they Regulated?

Personal UAVs have become increasingly popular over the last few years, and with the release of DJI’s Mavic Pro, and the GoPro Karma, this trend appears to be continuing. Drones such as these are commonly used for aerial video photography, with YouTubers such as “Devinsupertramp” using them to achieve video angles previously not accessible. Other uses of drones include “surveying, real estate photography, and site inspections” (Vincent, 2016). With this increase in popularity, comes an increase in regulations and rules as well. The rules differ slightly depending if you are operating for recreational or commercial proposes.

If operating for recreational proposes, the pilot must fly “in accordance with the Special Rule for Model Aircraft (Public Law 112-95 Section 336)” (“Unmanned Aircraft Systems”, 2016), which includes:

1.     Fly for hobby or recreational purposes only

2.     Follow a community-based set of safety guidelines

3.     Fly the UAS within visual line-of-sight

4.     Give way to manned aircraft

5.     Provide prior notification to the airport and air traffic control tower, if one is present, when flying within 5 miles of an airport

6.     Fly UAS that weigh no more than 55 lbs. unless certified by a community-based organization

7.     Register the aircraft (“Unmanned Aircraft Systems”, 2016)

If operating for commercial proposes, the pilot must follow the requirements of the Small UAS rule (14 CFR part 107) (“Unmanned Aircraft Systems”, 2016). Some of the main points of the rule states:

1.     Class G airspace

2.     Must keep the aircraft in sight (visual line-of-sight)

3.     Must fly under 400 feet

4.     Must fly during the day

5.     Must fly at or below 100 mph

6.     Must yield right of way to manned aircraft

7.     Must NOT fly over people

8.     Must NOT fly from a moving vehicle (“Fly for Work/Business”, 2016)

Having dabbled in drones before (and still being interested now), I understand the frustration and difficulties having to work through these different systems and regulations have recently caused for drone operators and hobbyist. Yet, being in the aviation field, I also understand the need for some form of system to keep people out of the path of aircraft. Alas, if only people could follow the “watch-out and don’t be dumb” rule, maybe we wouldn’t require so many other regulations.

Will UAVs be integrated into the NAS?

I personally have a hard time imaging small UAVs being integrated into the NAS, and do not see them being so anytime soon. They simply do not behave, and are mostly not equipped, to operate under the same rules as aircraft. Would the “pilot’ have to be in radio contact with ATC when flying in controlled airspace? Or would the drone have to have a transponder or ADS-B system? Public perception, where maybe not crucial, may also offer some difficulty to integrating UAVs into the system as there are many people that still don’t trust UAVs.

How are UAVs used for military purposes?

The concept of unmanned aircraft dates back further than one may think, with U.S. military experiments beginning as early as 1917 with the Kettering Bug (an unmanned aerial torpedo). Modern military drones are slightly more sophisticated, such as the General Atomics MQ-9 Reaper. Besides being used in combat strikes, the MQ-9 Reaper is “also capable of supporting a wide range of operations such as coastal and border surveillance, weapons tracking, embargo enforcement, humanitarian/disaster assistance, support of peacekeeping and counter-narcotic operations (“MQ-9 Reaper”, 2015). Besides keeping the pilot out of harm’s way, the drones are also more financially efficient. The cost per-flight hour for the MQ-9 Reaper is $4,762 (Thompson, 2015). In comparison, the cost per-flight hour to run an F-16 is $22,514 (Thompson, 2015) – nearly 5 times higher. As for their ethical use, I would have to side with supporting the use of drone strikes. Surprisingly, I am not alone in this, as a study performed by Pew Research Center found that among its tested groups, “58% approve of the U.S. conducting missile strikes from drones to target extremists in such countries as Pakistan, Yemen and Somalia. [And] about a third (35%) disapprove of U.S. drone attacks (“Public Continues to Back U.S. Drone Attacks”, 2015).

What are some job opportunities available for civilian UAVs pilots?

With the growth of the industry, there has also been a growth of jobs offered. Below are just a few of the many opportunities available:

Position: UAS Operator for Airware
Link: http://www.indeed.com/viewjob?jk=87ba7c36fc7e7169&q=Uav+Operator&tk=1av1qm7jt18dd6pu&from=web
Summary: Planning flight operations, Flying and collecting aerial data, Discussing results with customers, and Performing any maintenance on aircraft if necessary.

Position: Drone Pilot for Dronegenuity
Link: http://www.indeed.com/cmp/Dronegenuity-LLC/jobs/Drone-Pilot-5651fea064565eb8?q=Uav
Summary: Independent contractor capturing aerial imagery for clients

Position: UAV Operator/Pilot for Industrial Skyworks
Link: http://www.indeed.com/cmp/industrial-skyworks/jobs/Uav-Operator-Pilot-488ccaffacc7ed4d?q=Uav+Operator
Summary: Flying drones to obtain geo-referenced data in various types of environments.

References:

Fly for Work/Business. (2016, September 19). Retrieved from
            https://www.faa.gov/uas/getting_started/fly_for_work_business/

MQ-9 Reaper. (2015, September 23). Retrieved from
            http://www.af.mil/AboutUs/FactSheets/Display/tabid/224/Article/104470/mq-9-
            reaper.aspx

Public Continues to Back U.S. Drone Attacks. (2015, May 28). Retrieved from
            http://www.people-press.org/2015/05/28/public-continues-to-back-u-s-drone-attacks/

Thompson, M. (2013, April 02). Costly Flight Hours | TIME.com. Retrieved from
            http://nation.time.com/2013/04/02/costly-flight-hours/

Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) Frequently Asked Questions/Help. (2016, October 07).
            Retrieved from https://www.faa.gov/uas/faqs/

Vincent, J. (2016, August 30). FAA regulations for commercial drones are now in effect.
            Retrieved from http://www.theverge.com/2016/8/30/12707502/drone-regulations-
            legality-us-faa