As we kick off the next decade we thought our readers might want to read what others see about our society and the impacts on the forthcoming future events. Here are a few of the articles that excited, confused, enriched, and generally caught us off guard. Good Luck!

Here is a grand view of the distribution of the worlds wealth to start off: All the World’s Wealth in One Visual

The future of weather prediction is going to just be much better and we can thank Google for it. Google AI Blog: Using Machine Learning to “Nowcast” Precipitation in High Resolution

This next generation paper by the World Economic Forum is not an easy read – rather, it is very detailed. Without considering any military issues in the next 10 years, Ms’s Gawel and Herweijer put a detailed paper together about the future that is – well, the next decade of Innovation vs Goals. It is worth a read, but and is very good because they cover prominent fourth Industrial Revolution stuff! ‎

It also looks like “leaders for life is becoming a new craze in the next 10 years. Vladimir Putin seeks to join the world’s leaders for life – Axios

Finally, artificial life can be designed as programable computers – Artificial lifeforms designed by supercomputers are fully programmable

While looking through some predicted generational changes from 2020 to 2030 we found this link from an Oxford professor – different stuff! The five tech breakthroughs set to define the 2020s | Sifted

And lastly, here is a great article on what’s happening in the space industry – How startups aim to monetize the space industry – Travel & Mobility Tech and Space startup investments continued to rise in 2018 – SpaceNews.com

Stay Tuned in the next 10 years, and as a treat, here is the History Guy showing you about the first commercial airplane flight around the world! – The IFExpress Team!

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SITAONAIR

SITAONAIR announces the acquisition of GTD Air Services – the aviation branch of Spanish software provider GTD System & Software Engineering – in an exciting expansion of its application ambition and vision. Having successfully partnered with GTD Air Services to develop the eWAS portfolio – the market-leading electronic weather situational awareness mobile applications currently in use by 50,000 pilots worldwide – GTD Air Services will join SITAONAIR under the next phase of its application portfolio strategy. The acquisition will enrich SITAONAIR’s existing Digital Day of Operations application portfolio, and reflect its belief that embracing a digital shift will help reinvent the operation of aircraft, flights and the passenger experience, making flying safer, more efficient, enjoyable and sustainable. SITAONAIR is pleased to welcome the versatile and innovative team from GTD Air Services, who have a proven record for successfully developing state-of-the-art weather and mobile applications for airline professionals, as well as a strong start-up culture of agility and co-innovation. The GTD Air Services team will continue to be based in Barcelona, Spain, and operate under a separate entity, in order to preserve its creativity and product development dynamic. It will also enhance, through its growth, the Digital Day of Operations application development capacity for SITAONAIR and be integrated within the wider SITA group ecosystem. The deal comes at a time when the number of flights is increasing, and the global fleet is set to double in size within the next 15 years. Increased congestion in the skies brings a host of challenges for airlines, and growing demand for enhanced operations. Among the challenges is a rise in severe weather conditions, which risk the safety of pilots, crews, and passengers, along with potential delays and aircraft damages. Airlines also face pressure to lessen their environmental impact, by reducing unnecessary fuel consumption and limiting turn-around times.

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GOGO

Gogo and Spanish satellite operator, Hispasat, announced a capacity agreement on Amazonas Nexus satellite to meet the growing global demand for high-speed inflight connectivity services. Gogo has leased multi-gigahertz of Ku-band capacity onboard Hispasat’s new satellite, set to launch in the second half of 2022, to provide service to its customers in the Americas and the Atlantic region. Hispasat and Gogo worked closely to optimize the satellite design to provide superior performance and capacity for inflight connectivity.

Amazonas Nexus is a High Throughput Satellite (HTS) with an innovative architecture that will replace the Amazonas 2 in the 61º West position. The new satellite will have a payload specifically dedicated to aero connectivity and will offer additional capacities oriented to vertical segments like mobile connectivity, corporate communications and cellular network deployment. It will feature an advanced Digital Transparent Processor (DTP), a technological breakthrough that will substantially increase satellite flexibility when dealing with changes in demand.

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BOEING

Boeing released the following statement today (1/21/20): As we have emphasized, the FAA and other global regulators will determine when the 737 MAX returns to service. However, in order to help our customers and suppliers plan their operations, we periodically provide them with our best estimate of when regulators will begin to authorize the un-grounding of the 737 MAX.

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AIRBUS

• Airbus successfully performed the first fully automatic vision-based take-off using an Airbus Family test aircraft at Toulouse-Blagnac airport. The test crew comprising of two pilots, two flight test engineers and a test flight engineer took off initially at around 10h15 on 18 December and conducted a total of 8 take-offs over a period of four and a half hours. “The aircraft performed as expected during these milestone tests. While completing alignment on the runway, waiting for clearance from air traffic control, we engaged the auto-pilot,” said Airbus Test Pilot Captain Yann Beaufils. “We moved the throttle levers to the take-off setting and we monitored the aircraft. It started to move and accelerate automatically maintaining the runway centre line, at the exact rotation speed as entered in the system. The nose of the aircraft began to lift up automatically to take the expected take-off pitch value and a few seconds later we were airborne.” Rather than relying on an Instrument Landing System (ILS), the existing ground equipment technology currently used by in-service passenger aircraft in airports around the world where the technology is present, this automatic take-off was enabled by image recognition technology installed directly on the aircraft. Automatic take-off is an important milestone in Airbus’ Autonomous Taxi, Take-Off & Landing (ATTOL) project. Launched in June 2018, ATTOL is one of the technological flight demonstrators being tested by Airbus in order to understand the impact of autonomy on aircraft. The next steps in the project will see automatic vision-based taxi and landing sequences taking place by mid-2020. Airbus’ mission is not to move ahead with autonomy as a target in itself, but instead to explore autonomous technologies alongside other innovations in areas such as materials, electrification and connectivity. By doing so, Airbus is able to analyze the potential of these technologies in addressing the key industrial challenges of tomorrow, including improving air traffic management, addressing pilot shortages and enhancing future operations. At the same time Airbus is leveraging these opportunities to further improve aircraft safety while ensuring today’s unprecedented levels are maintained. For autonomous technologies to improve flight operations and overall aircraft performance, pilots will remain at the heart of operations. Autonomous technologies are paramount to supporting pilots, enabling them to focus less on aircraft operation and more on strategic decision-making and mission management.
• Following its strategy to keep its overall production system at the leading edge of technology and to increase industrial capacity and flexibility, Airbus has decided to create new A321 production capabilities at its site in Toulouse. By mid-2022 the current A380 Lagardère facility in Toulouse will accommodate a digitally-enabled A321 line as a step to modernize the A320 production system in Toulouse. The new facilities will provide more flexibility for A321 production, while keeping the overall single aisle industrial capacity in Toulouse flat. Currently, the only European Final Assembly Line to assemble A321s is at Airbus’ Hamburg site. In addition, the A321 is also being assembled and delivered from Mobile, Alabama, USA. Toulouse was selected for several reasons such as: overall competitiveness, time to market, investment cost, available floor space and resources. The decision has been communicated to Airbus’ social partners. The A320neo Family is the world’s best-selling single aisle with over 7 100 aircraft sold to over 110 customers. Within this Family, the A321XLR is the latest evolutionary step which responds to market needs for even more range and payload, creating more value for the airlines. From 2023, it will deliver an unprecedented Xtra Long Range of up to 4,700nm and a 30% lower fuel burn per seat compared with previous generation competitor aircraft. For passengers, the A321XLR’s new Airspace cabin will provide the best travel experience, while offering seats in all classes with the same high-comfort as on a long-haul wide-body, with the low costs of a single-aisle aircraft.

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AIRCRAFT DELIVERIES/ORDERS

2019 Aircraft Totals: Airbus – Deliveries 863, Orders 1131; Boeing – Deliveries 380, Orders 246 (Note: The orders here are not counting cancellations) Boeing posts negative commercial airplane orders for first time in decades

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OTHER NEWS

• Some info:
  1. Here is a URL from the Twitter folks that has a ton of links for those trying to get more info on AI – @Beth_Duckett/Top AI Startups to Follow on Twitter
  2. We are very interested in the impact of youth and climate change, specifically noted by Greta Thunberg. When we saw this note in Gizmodo, we now know that there might be an impact on commercial aviation: “Lastly, as consumers, the new generation of climate crusaders will make more sustainable lifestyle choices, such as eating plant-based diets or flying less, and demand more low-carbon goods.” WEF Report Show Capitalists Fear Teens Climate Protests
• Here is the first un-tethered flight of the CityAirbus EVOTL – Airbus Begins Untethered Flights Of CityAirbus eVTOL | Aviation Week Network
• So, you have heard that David Calhoun succeeded Muilenburg at Boeing and here is a bit more about him: What to know about new Boeing CEO David Calhoun
• Keep or destroy your used boarding passes! How Hackers Can Use Your Boarding Pass To Easily Steal Personal Information | HuffPost Life
• Ever heard of a circular runway? Stupid! Stupid! Stupid! Ask Interesting Engineering and they will tell you what they think! Circular Runway Concept for Planes is a Terrible Idea, This Video Shows Why
• Here is a video on the Boeing 737 MAX made in April, 2019. The Economics That Made Boeing Build the 737 Max – YouTube and here is a summary of potential changes 737 MAX Special Committee Report Seeks FAA Workforce, Design Review Improvements – Avionics
• You probably have never heard of Gallium Nitride (We haven’t!) but it is going to replace silicon in devices like power supplies. Why? Because the devices become 40% smaller (lighter), and airplanes like that! What Is a GaN Charger, and Why Will You Want One?

Dublin | January 17, 2020–The “In-flight Entertainment & Connectivity – Global Market Outlook (2018-2027)” report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com’s offering.

The Global In-flight Entertainment & Connectivity Market accounted for $5.12 billion in 2018 and is expected to reach $12.8 billion by 2027 growing at a CAGR of 10.7% during the forecast period.

Advancement in connectivity technologies in developed regions, adoption of IFE systems by LCC operators and growth in the number of airline passengers are the major factors driving the market growth. However, the high cost associated with networking technologies and connectivity hardware is restraining market growth.

In-flight entertainment refers to the entertainment available to aircraft passengers during a flight. IFE has been extended to include in-flight connectivity (IFC) services, such as web browsing, mobile phone usage (whenever allowed), and wireless streaming. Together, they constitute the in-flight entertainment and connectivity (IFEC) systems.

Based on the aircraft type, narrow-body aircraft segment is likely to have a huge demand due to increasing narrow-body aircraft deliveries worldwide. Airlines are presently replacing the older fleet of narrow-body aircraft with the introduction of the latest aircraft like the A320neo and the 737 Max. By geography, Asia Pacific is going to have a lucrative growth during the forecast period due to rising expenditure on the deployment of air-to-ground, satellite connectivity technologies to advance in-flight connectivity other aviation products by the airlines.

What the report offers:

• Market share assessments for the regional and country-level segments
• Strategic recommendations for the new entrants
• Covers Market data for the years 2017, 2018, 2019, 2023 and 2027
• Market Trends (Drivers, Constraints, Opportunities, Threats, Challenges, Investment Opportunities, and recommendations)
• Strategic recommendations in key business segments based on the market estimations
• Competitive landscaping mapping the key common trends
• Company profiling with detailed strategies, financials, and recent developments
• Supply chain trends mapping the latest technological advancements

Key Topics Covered:

1 Executive Summary

2 Preface

2.1 Abstract

2.2 Stake Holders

2.3 Research Scope

2.4 Research Methodology

2.4.1 Data Mining

2.4.2 Data Analysis

2.4.3 Data Validation

2.4.4 Research Approach

2.5 Research Sources

2.5.1 Primary Research Sources

2.5.2 Secondary Research Sources

2.5.3 Assumptions

3 Market Trend Analysis

3.1 Introduction

3.2 Drivers

3.3 Restraints

3.4 Opportunities

3.5 Threats

3.6 Technology Analysis

3.7 Product Analysis

3.8 End User Analysis

3.9 Emerging Markets

3.10 Futuristic Market Scenario

4 Porters Five Force Analysis

4.1 Bargaining power of suppliers

4.2 Bargaining power of buyers

4.3 Threat of substitutes

4.4 Threat of new entrants

4.5 Competitive rivalry

5 Global In-flight Entertainment & Connectivity Market, By Fit

5.1 Introduction

5.2 Linefit

5.3 Retrofit

6 Global In-flight Entertainment & Connectivity Market, By Aircraft Type

6.1 Introduction

6.2 Very Large Aircraft

6.3 Narrow-Body Aircraft

6.4 Wide-Body Aircraft

6.5 Business Jets

6.6 Civil Aircraft

6.7 Turboprop

6.8 Private Plane

7 Global In-flight Entertainment & Connectivity Market, By Class

7.1 Introduction

7.2 First Class

7.3 Business Class

7.4 Economy Class

8 Global In-flight Entertainment & Connectivity Market, By Connectivity Technology

8.1 Introduction

8.2 Air-to-Ground Connectivity

8.3 Satellite Connectivity

9 Global In-flight Entertainment & Connectivity Market, By Product

9.1 Introduction

9.2 In-Flight Entertainment (IFE) Connectivity

9.2.1 Wireless

9.2.1.1 Wireless Antennas

9.2.1.2 Wireless Access Points

9.2.2 Wired

9.2.2.1 Ethernet Switches

9.2.2.2 Wires & Cables

9.2.2.3 Control Units

9.3 In-Flight Entertainment (IFE) Content

9.3.1 Streamed

9.3.1.1 In-Flight Phone/Messaging/Email

9.3.1.2 In-Flight Media

9.3.1.3 In-Flight Internet

9.3.1.4 In-Flight Information

9.3.1.5 In-Flight Online Shopping/Advertisement

9.3.2 Stored

9.4 In-Flight Entertainment (IFE) Hardware

9.4.1 Portable

9.4.1.1 Removable Storage Devices

9.4.1.2 Dockable Seatback Units

9.4.2 Non-Portable

9.4.2.1 Seat Electronic Boxes

9.4.2.2 Media Servers

9.4.2.3 Embedded Seatback Units

10 Global In-flight Entertainment & Connectivity Market, By End User

10.1 Introduction

10.2 Aftermarket

10.3 Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM)

11 Global In-flight Entertainment & Connectivity Market, By Geography

11.1 Introduction

11.2 North America

11.3 Europe

11.4 Asia Pacific

11.5 South America

11.6 Middle East & Africa

12 Key Developments

12.1 Agreements, Partnerships, Collaborations and Joint Ventures

12.2 Acquisitions & Mergers

12.3 New Product Launch

12.4 Expansions

12.5 Other Key Strategies

13 Company Profiling

13.1 Zodiac Aerospace S.A.

13.2 ViaSat Inc.

13.3 Thales S.A.

13.4 SITAONAIR

13.5 Panasonic Corporation

13.6 Iridium Communications Inc.

13.7 Inmarsat PLC

13.8 Honeywell

13.9 Gogo Inc.

13.10 Global Eagle Entertainment

13.11 Eutelsat

13.12 Collins Aerospace

13.13 Cobham PLC

13.14 BAE Systems PLC

For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/nzqkt4

Dublin | January 19, 2020–Avolon, the international aircraft leasing company, issued its 2020 outlook paper titled ‘Navigating Through Turbulence’. The paper, written by Avolon’s Jim Morrison and Steve Mason, reviews key aviation industry trends in 2019 and offers fearless forecasts for 2020.

The full paper is available at: https://www.avolon.aero/newsroom-and-thoughts

2020 ‘Fearless Forecasts’

1. The 737 is Here to Stay: Boeing’s 737 MAX will safely return to revenue service in 2020. Airlines and passengers will turn up to fly. Trading markets will re-open and values will be supported by strong demand for Boeing’s most popular product. The world needs more Boeing aircraft to support growing demand for air travel.
2. No New Major Commercial Aircraft Programs will be Launched: Manufacturers will return to their knitting: on-time deliveries. The A321XLR will compete uncontested as Boeing will not launch the NMA in 2020. Talk of single-aisle replacement aircraft will be quieted as regulators verify the strengths of the current offerings.
3. Manufacturers to Prioritise Deliveries in 2020: The mid-life space may cool as manufacturers get back on-track with deliveries and passenger traffic remains near the long-term trend. Airlines may find themselves flying fewer hours per aircraft or pushing older metal out as new A320s and 737s are injected to the operating fleet.
4. Access to Capital: Despite economic headwinds and increasing geopolitical unrest, capital markets will remain open to established players, confirming the benefit of an investment grade rating. The ABS market will see strong demand for issuances in 2020, continuing its 2019 pace.
5. Environment as a Higher Purpose: Aviation gets serious about the environment with an increasing number of concrete proposals from a variety of players to meet the 2050 industry goal of a reduction in net aviation carbon emissions of 50% by 2050, relative to 2005 levels. In 2020, urban mobility solutions will demonstrate electrification of air travel is feasible, if at first only on short sectors.

Jim Morrison, Vice President – Aircraft Evaluation commented: “The end of the decade marks a period of remarkable achievement for the aviation industry with a full decade of airline profitability. However, 2019 will be remembered as much for the lows as the highs.”

“The year was headlined by aircraft manufacturers. The aviation industry grappled with the repercussions of the tragic B737 MAX accidents while Airbus struggled with aircraft delivery delays. During 2019, we saw more than 20 carriers fail but, despite this, global airlines’ net profit remained robust at an estimated US$26 billion. These failures underpinned our previous years’ assertion that, despite high load factors, there were too many cheap seats available. These airline failures resulted in a record number of aircraft being released to the market. Lessors were able to successfully re-market and re-deploy many of their aircraft, reflecting strong market appetite for aircraft transitions and air travel demand.”

Steve Mason, Senior Vice President – Commercial added: “Looking ahead to 2020, geopolitical uncertainty and international trade tensions will define the year. Through this turbulence will emerge opportunity. While improved airline profitability is forecasted, many sizeable carriers remain on life support. The still-buoyant global economy and the expanding middle class will continue to drive long-term passenger demand, supporting airline capacity growth. For lessors, investment grade rated players with global platforms are best positioned to seize any opportunities that may be presented. While efficiency improvements have long been a hallmark of aviation, 2020 is set to be the baseline year for the sector’s carbon emission offsetting and reduction scheme which will transition air travel to carbon neutral growth.”

Six cables available to support F-35 ramp rate to full production.

Shelburne, VT | January 21, 2020– Harbour Industries LLC (Harbour), a Marmon | Berkshire Hathaway company announced today it is an approved manufacturer for a number of low-loss coax and high-speed data cables used on Lockheed Martin’s F-35 Lighting II 5th generation fighter aircraft.

Robert Canny, President said,  “We look forward to supporting the 2020 F-35 Sustainment Contract just released by the Pentagon and Lockheed Martin. Harbour has a long reputation of providing timely products to our business partners to support their ramp to full production.” Declared “combat ready” by the commander of the US Air Combat Command, this next generation aircraft provides capabilities needed on the modern battlefield. The F-35 provides air superiority, interdiction, suppression of enemy air defenses and close air support with unprecedented situational awareness of the battle space that will be more extensive than any single-seat platform in existence.

Harbour’s data and coaxial cables were chosen based on the use of a composite fluoropolymer insulation ensuring light- weight and high-speed transmission. Harbour is known as a supplier that has product and process engineering expertise that ensures the highest quality cables will be manufactured in exact accordance with Lockheed’s demanding physical and electrical requirements.

As the F-35 moves toward full rate production, Harbour is ready for the challenge to supply increased volume on-time with unmatched quality.