SmartSky Networks has been busy. First, the company announced their collaboration with Snowflake Software in early April. The collaborative effort between the two companies will occur through SmartSky’s Skytelligence Aviation Data Marketplace. In case you don’t know about Skytelligence, it is an open marketplace for shared data and services that powers transformation by eliminating the need for multiple contracts, complex integrations, and high upfront capital costs. Snowflake Software provides secured data access to the latest fused and validated aviation data from its Laminar Data Hub cloud platform through Skytelligence, which facilitates application developers to rapidly deploy and simplify the support of aviation-based applications.

The continued growth of available aviation data has software developers and service providers eager to deliver innovative services, optimize operations and improve the inflight experience. Skytelligence is an open marketplace for shared data and services that powers this transformation by eliminating the need for multiple contracts, complex integrations, and high upfront capital costs. Snowflake Software has provided secured data access to the latest fused and validated aviation data from its Laminar Data Hub cloud platform through Skytelligence. This access allows application developers to rapidly deploy and simplify the creation and support of aviation-based applications.

Through comprehensive data ownership and privacy controls, Skytelligence promotes and enables widespread access to external data and algorithms across platforms which had previously remained elusive due to the lack of standards and inflexibility of legacy aviation IT systems. This lack of common standards results in extensive normalization efforts increasing both the time and cost for application developers getting to market. Skytelligence accelerates innovation through efficient access to the industry’s leading APIs and data, enabling application developers and service providers to capture new revenue opportunities and reduce costs through enhanced passenger experiences and optimized operations.

“Providing access to Snowflake’s Laminar Data Hub through Skytelligence supports our goal of connecting the aviation ecosystem to an integrated set of public, private and proprietary data, as well as services through the network-independent software framework. Now the brightest minds in the aviation community are empowered to build applications that transform the flying experience, mitigating flight delays and minimizing maintenance costs,” said one SmartSky representative.

Furthermore, they have announced that they have initiated the final site completion phase of its next generation Air-to-Ground (ATG) network for business and commercial aviation, launching later this year. SmartSky’s airborne network, which began its nationwide deployment a few years ago, incorporates many 5G wireless technologies that have been experienced during a large number of highly successful inflight demonstrations for the media and market. The company’s unique technology has received the critical threshold regulatory certifications from the Federal Aviation Administration and the Federal Communications Commission.

SmartSky uses 5G technology broadly and the network’s future-ready design can incorporate advancements appropriate for ATG as those technology upgrades become available. We were told that their aviation network already includes many 5G components/features like those being used in new terrestrial network builds. Here are some examples: Software Defined Radios, Network Slicking, Low Latency Architecture, Network Function virtualization, Beam-forming, Primary Internet Gateway Relocation.

SmartSky states that they offer the most compelling user experience to the aviation traveler because of the dedicated secure signal to each aircraft from their patented single-beam-per-aircraft network architecture that eliminates the noise and congestion other networks typically experience.

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EUROPEAN AVIATION NETWORK
The European Aviation Network (EAN), the fastest inflight broadband service in Europe, is now being offered by airlines to more than 30,000 passengers across the continent each day, allowing them to seamlessly browse the internet, stream videos, check social media, enjoy real-time interactive gaming, and more during flights. Currently under a ‘soft launch’ phase with initial airline customers, the award-winning connectivity solution can already be accessed on more than 100 routes from key destinations such as London, Madrid, Barcelona, Athens, Lisbon, Prague, Rome and Vienna. To date, almost two million passengers have traveled on flights with access to EAN. Building upon unique European infrastructure, EAN marks a paradigm shift in the airline passenger experience for the continent, with incomparable speeds, uninterrupted coverage and significantly lower latency than any other inflight broadband network in the market. Philip Balaam, President of Inmarsat Aviation, said: “EAN has established an unprecedented new benchmark for inflight broadband, not only in Europe but on a global basis. It combines the expertise of Europe’s most innovative companies to provide best-in-class connectivity unmatched by any other solution. We have been working with our initial airline customers to monitor and fine-tune the service during their soft launches before it’s rolled out on their wider fleets. We are extremely pleased with the initial response from both the airlines and their passengers, which is testament to the important role EAN is already playing in the European aviation industry. This vision of a unique, pan-European high-speed inflight connectivity network is being deployed with advanced infrastructure in the skies and on the ground.”

Developed by Inmarsat and Deutsche Telekom (DT) in partnership with leading European companies such as Thales, Nokia, Airbus, Cobham and EAD Aerospace, EAN has been designed from scratch specifically for the needs of European aviation. It delivers consistent inflight broadband across Europe, one of the world’s most congested airspaces, with more than one billion passengers and 11 million flights per year. For airline customers, EAN also offers the fastest ever installation time for a connectivity solution, requiring under nine hours per aircraft, meaning significantly less downtime. Combined with the system’s low weight, low drag and low maintenance, this results in lower overall operation costs.

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AIRBUS
Indonesian carrier Lion Air received its first A330-900, becoming the first airline from the Asia-Pacific region to fly the A330neo. The aircraft is on lease from BOC Aviation and is the first of 10 A330neos set to join the airline’s fleet. The A330neo will be used by Lion Air for non-stop long-haul services from Indonesia. These include pilgrimage flights from cities such as Makassar, Balikpapan and Surabaya to Jeddah and Medina in Saudi Arabia. The flight time for such routes can be up to 12 hours. Lion Air’s A330-900 is configured for 436 passengers in a single-class configuration. The A330neo is the true new-generation aircraft building on the most popular wide body A330’s features and leveraging on A350 XWB technology. Powered by the latest Rolls-Royce Trent 7000 engines, the A330neo provides an unprecedented level of efficiency – with 25% lower fuel burn per seat than previous generation competitors. Equipped with the Airbus Airspace cabin, the A330neo offers a unique passenger experience with more personal space and the latest generation in-flight entertainment system and connectivity.

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BOEING
Boeing announced it will recognize an impact to earnings when it releases second-quarter 2019 results on July 24.
Boeing will record an after-tax charge of $4.9 billion1 ($8.74 per share) in connection with an estimate of potential concessions and other considerations to customers for disruptions related to the 737 MAX grounding and associated delivery delays. This charge will result in a $5.6 billion reduction of revenue and pre-tax earnings in the quarter. While the entire estimated amount will be recognized as a charge in the second quarter, the company expects any potential concessions or other considerations to be provided over a number of years and take various forms of economic value. Additionally, Boeing’s estimated costs to produce the aircraft in the 737 accounting quantity increased by $1.7 billion in the second quarter, primarily due to higher costs associated with a longer than expected reduction in the production rate. The increased 737 program costs will reduce the margin of the 737 program in the second quarter and in future quarters.

Boeing continues to work with civil aviation authorities to ensure the 737 MAX’s safe return to service, and these authorities will determine the timing of return to service. For purposes of the second-quarter financial results, the company has assumed that regulatory approval of 737 MAX return to service in the U.S. and other jurisdictions begins early in the fourth quarter 2019. This assumption reflects the company’s best estimate at this time, but actual timing of return to service could differ from this estimate. The second-quarter financial results will further assume a gradual increase in the 737 production rate from 42 per month to 57 per month in 2020, and that airplanes produced during the grounding and included within inventory will be delivered over several quarters following return to service. Any changes to these assumptions could result in additional financial impact.
“We remain focused on safely returning the 737 MAX to service,” said Boeing Chairman, President and CEO Dennis Muilenburg. “This is a defining moment for Boeing. Nothing is more important to us than the safety of the flight crews and passengers who fly on our airplanes. The MAX grounding presents significant headwinds and the financial impact recognized this quarter reflects the current challenges and helps to address future financial risks.”

Boeing Chief Financial Officer and Executive Vice President of Enterprise Performance and Strategy Greg Smith added, “We are taking appropriate steps to manage our liquidity and increase our balance sheet flexibility the best way possible as we are working through these challenges. Our multi-year efforts on disciplined cash management and maintaining a strong balance sheet, in addition to our strong and broad portfolio offerings, are helping us navigate the current environment.” Boeing’s previously-issued 2019 financial guidance did not reflect impacts related to the 737 MAX. Due to the uncertainty of the timing and conditions concerning 737 MAX return to service, new guidance will be issued at a future date.

Boeing will issue its full second-quarter earnings release on July 24 and discuss the company’s financial results and outlook, including impact of 737 MAX grounding, during a conference call that day.

On another note, Boeing also announced that it has dedicated $50 million of a previously announced $100 million fund to provide near-term financial assistance to families of the victims of the Lion Air Flight 610 and Ethiopian Flight 302 accidents. Boeing also announced that it has retained Kenneth Feinberg and Camille Biros, renowned experts in establishing and overseeing victims’ compensation funds, to design and administer the fund. The $50 million fund represents the initial expenditure of a $100 million pledge by Boeing to address family and community needs of those affected by the accidents. All monies distributed by Mr. Feinberg and Ms. Biros will be independent from any resolution provided through the legal process.

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OTHER NEWS

• Approximately 50 years ago, the Apollo 11 Mission ran into a computer problem on the moon lander module. A glitch that, at the time, was unclear as to the cause. However, we now know why.  Neil Armstrong manually landed the module and we now know what happened! An Engineer On Apollo 11 Explains What Really Caused The Infamous Computer Error – Digg
• Airport food too expensive? Here is why – Why is airport food so expensive?
• You had probably better learn about neurotrophic systems as they are 100 times faster than standard CPU’s and 10,000 times more efficient. And no, we really don’t understand the technology yet, but you had better. Intel’s Neuromorphic System Hits 8 Million Neurons, 100 Million Coming by 2020 – IEEE Spectrum And if you find out some better information, we would be interested!
• Flight bumped? Here are some benefits – What to Ask For When You’re Bumped From a Flight
• You probably thought Artificial Intelligence was most important? Well, perhaps, Artificial General Intelligence is more important. Microsoft’s CEO Staya Nadella said: “The quintessential characteristic for any application being built in 2019 and beyond will be AI.” Microsoft said that it would invest $1 billion in artificial-intelligence startup OpenAI LP, as the software giant seeks to enhance its Azure cloud-computing platform. Perhaps, aviation will benefit from the cloud solutions–we will see. Microsoft wants to build artificial general intelligence: an AI better than humans at everything – Vox