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How Pilots are Benefiting from Dragon Fly, The intriguing new Airbus innovation

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How Pilots are Benefiting from Dragon Fly, The intriguing new Airbus innovation

Toulouse, 12 January 2023 – A350-1000 test aircraft being used by Airbus UpNext, a fully owned subsidiary of Airbus, to test out new on- and in-flight pilot aid systems.

The technologies being demonstrated, collectively referred to as DragonFly, include automated emergency diversion in cruise, automatic landing, and taxi assistance. They are intended to assess the viability and relevance of further research into autonomous flight systems in support of safer and more effective operations.

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The technologies were able to help pilots throughout the flight test campaign when landing and taxiing, managing a fictitious disabled crew member event, and in flight. The aircraft was able to produce a new flight trajectory plan and interact with both Air Traffic Control (ATC) and the airline operations control center while taking into consideration external factors like flight zones, topography, and weather conditions.

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So how does it work? 

DragonFly could be a game-changer when it comes to derisking emergency operations. Its focus is on three key areas, each one drawing on a combination of data captured during flight and a vast corpus of flight information to promote automated yet intelligent decision-making.

DragonFly offers a solution to help ensure safe flight and landing. If the crew is unable to control the aircraft, the onboard function detects the issue and automatically selects the most suitable airport to redirect the aircraft towards.

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But of course, flight paths and external factors are complex and changing. A dragonfly scans its surroundings and adapts its journey accordingly. Our DragonFly demonstrator does much the same thing, taking into account external factors such as flight zones, terrain, and weather conditions as it chooses where to land. But unlike a regular dragonfly, our DragonFly also benefits from a constant channel of communication between the aircraft and both Air Traffic Control and the Operations Control Centre of the airline to ensure a safe and coordinated approach.

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Safe, automated landing at any airport in the world

A dragonfly’s vision works far more quickly than a human’s, which is why we have designed a system that combines sensors, computer vision algorithms, and robust guidance calculations to make a landing in low visibility or difficult weather conditions much easier.

These innovations pave the way for automated landing (if necessary), or can be customized according to the pilot’s flying skills to relieve them of additional processes in the event of an emergency or critical situation.

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In time, DragonFly’s innovations could allow the aircraft to land at any airport in the world regardless of whether it is equipped with existing ground equipment technology currently used for automatic landing.

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Airbus UpNext has also explored features for taxi assistance, which were tested in real-time conditions at Toulouse-Blagnac Airport. The technology provides the crew with audio alerts in reaction to obstacles, assisted speed control, and guidance to the runway using a dedicated airport map.

In addition to these capabilities, Airbus UpNext is launching a project to prepare the next generation of computer vision-based algorithms to advance landing and taxi assistance.

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These tests were made possible through cooperation with Airbus subsidiaries and external partners including Cobham, Collins Aerospace, Honeywell, Onera, and Thales. DragonFly was partially funded by the French Civil Aviation Authority (DGAC) as part of the French Stimulus plan, which is part of the European Plan, Next Generation EU, and the France 2030 plan.

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From Doha to the World: The Legacy of Akbar Al Baker at Qatar Airways: Honoured with APEX CEO Lifetime Achievement Award

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From Doha to the World: The Legacy of Akbar Al Baker at Qatar Airways: Honoured with APEX CEO Lifetime Achievement Award

In the organization’s five-decade history, the APEX CEO Lifetime Achievement Award has only been given six times, including the most recent award given to H.E. Mr. Al Baker. This esteemed honour is given only to visionaries and leaders in the industry who drive advancement in the aviation business while also elevating their brands.

Akbar Al Baker is a prominent figure in the aviation industry and has served as the CEO of Qatar Airways for many years. Here’s a brief overview of his story:

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On September 22, 1961, Akbar Al Baker was born in Doha, Qatar. He completed his studies in Qatar before moving to India to attend Aligarh Muslim University to study economics and business. He joined Qatar’s Civil Aviation Directorate after completing his education to start his aviation career.

Akbar Al Baker was chosen to lead Qatar Airways, the nation of Qatar’s state-owned national airline, in 1997. Qatar Airways underwent a substantial turnaround and expansion under his direction. He was crucial in making the airline into one of the top carriers in the world, renowned for its opulent service, cutting-edge aircraft, and extensive global network.

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Some key highlights of Akbar Al Baker’s tenure at Qatar Airways include:

  1. Fleet Expansion: Under Al Baker’s leadership, Qatar Airways expanded its fleet with state-of-the-art aircraft, including the introduction of the Airbus A380 and Boeing 787 Dreamliner to its fleet.
  2. Award-Winning Service: Qatar Airways has won numerous awards for its service quality, including Skytrax’s “Airline of the Year” multiple times during his tenure.
  3. Hub Development: Al Baker oversaw the development of Hamad International Airport in Doha, which has become a major hub in the Middle East for international travel.
  4. Alliance Memberships: Qatar Airways became a member of the Oneworld alliance, strengthening its global network and partnerships with other leading airlines.
  5. Crisis Management: During his tenure, Qatar Airways successfully navigated through challenging times, including the 2017 blockade imposed by neighboring countries, which led to the suspension of air travel to several destinations.

Akbar Al Baker is renowned for his hands-on leadership style and for holding the airline to a high standard. He is also renowned for making direct and occasionally controversial comments about business-related issues. In the very competitive airline sector, his leadership has significantly contributed to Qatar Airways’ expansion and success.

Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive, His Excellency Mr. Akbar Al Baker Honoured with Prestigious APEX CEO Lifetime Achievement Award

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Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive, His Excellency Mr. Akbar Al Baker was celebrated by the Airline Passenger Experience Association (APEX) as the recipient of the CEO Lifetime Achievement Award, which recognizes industry leaders for their dedication, efforts, and commitment to enhancing the passenger experience. The APEX/IFSA Awards Ceremony took place at APEX/IFSA Global EXPO in Long Beach, California on 20 September, where H.E. Mr. Akbar Al Baker also accepted three awards for the airline.

Qatar Airways was also awarded with three more APEX Awards, solidifying the airline’s status as one of the world’s leading airlines. The following titles presented to Qatar Airways were based exclusively on certified passenger votes: 2024 APEX World Class Award, APEX Award for Best Entertainment in the Middle East, and the APEX Award for Global Best Food & Beverage.

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Qatar Airways Group is a unique organization that encompasses multiple subsidiaries and works in synergy to create the smoothest travel journey including airport ground services, onboard catering, private jet travel, and more. Qatar Airways continues to work in line with its promise to provide all passengers with the most seamless and luxurious travel experience in the world, now adding an additional four prestigious awards to the multi-award-winning airline’s accreditation.

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Austrian Ministry of Defense selects the C-390 Millennium as its new military transport aircraft

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Embraer Concludes Flight Tests for Firefighting Capability for the C-390 Millennium

The Austrian Ministry of Defense announced today the decision to select the C-390 Millennium aircraft as its new tactical transport solution. Embraer is honored to be chosen to support this important Air Force in Europe.

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Austria joins Brazil, Portugal, Hungary, and the Netherlands as the future operators of the C-390 Millennium multi-mission platform, an aircraft that is rapidly redefining the standards of tactical transport in the world defense market.

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Embraer is ready to support the Austrian Ministry of Defense and Air Force in order to meet the demanding requirements of their acquisition process and is prepared to further strengthen the relationship with this nation.

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U.S. F-35 Fighter Jet Missing in South Carolina, and Asks Public for Help

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U.S. F-35 Fighter Jet Missing in South Carolina, and Asks Public for Help

A US fighter jet went missing in South Carolina during a training mishap. According to US military officials, the search for his missing aircraft was centered on two lakes north of North Charleston.

At around 2 p.m. (local time), the pilot evacuated and safely parachuted into a North Charleston neighborhood. He was transferred to a nearby hospital, where he was in stable condition.

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Military officials appealed to the public for assistance with finding the aircraft on Twitter.

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Authorities stated that they are currently looking into the cause of the pilot’s ejection. According to Salinas, the pilot of a second F-35 made a safe landing at Joint Base Charleston. The pilots and their aircraft were part of the Marine Fighter Attack Training Squadron 501, which is stationed in Beaufort, which is close to the Atlantic coast of South Carolina.

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According to base authorities, they were conducting a search over two lakes to the north of Charleston in collaboration with federal aviation authorities. Each of the aircraft, made by Lockheed Martin, cost about USD 80 million.

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