Aerospace

UK industry reveals advanced technologies for next-generation flying combat air demonstrator

Engineers from the UK’s top combat air industry partners have revealed more details about the work being done to create the UK’s first flying combat air demonstration of its generation.

To develop the technology required to deliver the UK’s next-generation supersonic stealth combat aircraft, Tempest, experts from BAE Systems, Rolls-Royce, Leonardo UK, MBDA, and the Ministry of Defence (MOD) are working with a variety of British small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).

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The UK government first announced the Flying Technology Demonstrator in July 2022. It is expected to take flight within the next four years and is being created employing a variety of cutting-edge digital techniques and transformative processes, as well as the know-how of the UK’s top-tier defence sector.

Test pilots from BAE Systems, Rolls-Royce, and the Royal Air Force (RAF) have flown the demonstration aircraft for more than 150 hours in a new, custom simulator at BAE Systems’ brand-new facility in Warton, Lancashire, giving vital data to assist flight testing.

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Engineers have also been testing aerodynamic engines, using cutting-edge manufacturing techniques to create an engine duct that is specially designed to reduce air speed at the engine face from supersonic to subsonic. Because there are fewer moving parts in the intake than in a conventional fighter jet design, the aircraft is more stealthy. The Concorde Olympus engine’s test was done in the 1960s at the same facility now used by Rolls-Royce, in Filton, Bristol.

A group of engineers from BAE Systems have overseen ejection seat demonstrations using a rocket-propelled sledge moving at more than 500 mph while collaborating with UK crew escape expert Martin Baker. Junior team members and seasoned engineers collaborated to transfer important skills that can be applied moving ahead.

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The Global Combat Air Programme, which will be supplied by the UK, Italy, and Japan, will produce Tempest, an aircraft, and this variety of unique technologies will demonstrate and test important parts of the next-generation combat air design as well as skills, tools, processes, and procedures.

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.