Aerospace

Japan completes hypersonic engine test successfully

The first flight test of an indigenous scramjet engine was successfully completed by the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), achieving hypersonic speeds while landing.

According to report The first flight test of an indigenous scramjet engine was successfully completed by the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), achieving hypersonic speeds while landing. An S-520-RD1 rocket was used for the engine testing. The one-stage sounding rocket is approximately 9.15 metres long and weighs roughly 2.6 tonnes in total. It was launched on July 24, 2022, from the southern Kyushu region of Japan’s Uchinoura Space Center.

During hypersonic flight, a scramjet engine extracts the oxygen required for burning from the atmosphere. Because a scramjet does not require liquid oxygen, it can be utilised for hypersonic aircraft as well as spaceplanes that travel between Earth and space. A 9.15-meter-long piece of testing equipment attached to the S-520-RD1 was released after the launch at 5 a.m. on Sunday, reaching an altitude of 150 kilometers.

When the device’s speed reached Mach 5.5 during its descent, a combustion test was carried out for roughly six seconds at a height of around 30 kilometers. In charge JAXA official Koichiro Tani said at a news conference, “We achieved a certain level of success. We aim to build an actual engine and do a flight test as the following phase, he added. The collected data will be put to use in ground-based wind tunnel studies. Many nations are competing to create scramjet engines, which are anticipated to aid in the creation of longer-range missiles.

The most recent test is a component of research authorized by the Acquisition, Technology & Logistics Agency under a national security technology research promotion programme associated with the Defense Ministry. About 1.8 billion was given to JAXA by ATLA to meet the expenses.

Aerospace

EASA Ends Suspension on PIA, Approves Flights to Europe

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The suspension of Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) from operating in Europe is finally over, marking a significant turning point for Pakistan’s aviation sector.

After years of scrutiny and stringent safety assessments, the European Commission and the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) have officially lifted the ban on PIA. This decision also grants Airblue authorization to operate flights to Europe, further enhancing Pakistan’s connectivity with the region.

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PIA’s suspension, initially imposed in June 2020, was a direct consequence of concerns regarding the oversight capabilities of Pakistan’s Civil Aviation Authority (PCAA). These concerns were triggered shortly after a tragic PIA plane crash that claimed 97 lives, prompting an investigation into the validity of pilot licenses issued in the country.

Now, after four years of continuous efforts and reforms by the PCAA, EASA has expressed renewed confidence in Pakistan’s aviation regulatory framework. In a statement, EASA highlighted that Pakistan has successfully addressed safety compliance issues, enabling PIA to resume its operations within the European Union.

A spokesperson for PIA expressed optimism, emphasizing the airline’s commitment to strictly adhere to EASA’s regulations and guidelines. “This milestone has been achieved after four years of relentless efforts by the PIA management,” the spokesperson said.

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The lifting of the ban is expected to have a profound impact on PIA’s future. The airline, which employs over 7,000 people, has faced criticism in the past for poor management, financial instability, and regulatory challenges.

However, the restoration of European operations is seen as a vital step toward regaining its competitive edge, improving its financial standing, and restoring its reputation on the global stage.

Pakistan’s government, which has been exploring options to privatize the debt-laden national carrier, is hopeful that this development will attract foreign investment and bolster the country’s aviation industry.

With a renewed focus on compliance and safety, PIA is now poised to rebuild its presence in Europe, offering Pakistani travelers and international passengers more connectivity and improved service.