Page 41 - World Airnews Magazine June 2020 Edition

UAS UAS

FIRST FLIGHT satellite coverage can be coupled with early signs of forest fires and provide moni- will provide the technological and project
In surveillance, for example, global

toring to support fire-fighters.
management expertise needed to make

regional HALE UAV coverage and long-en- High-resolution, multispectral imaging PHASA-35 available on the market.

durance UAVs to provide practical, flexi- provides the speed, quality and coverage BAE Systems Air Sector Strategy Direc-
ble operations. needed to enhance precision agriculture, tor Michael Christie said, "Prismatic is
Small satellites and regional or local HALE which aims to optimize cultivation by a fast paced and forward-thinking com-

he first successful flight of a UAV coverage provides rapid and flexible incorporating satellite, remote sensing and pany and PHASA-35 is a great example

Tsolar-powered High Alti tude, Long communications that cannot be obtained proximal data technologies in the approach of what the team can achieve in a short

Endurance Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (HALE with existing geostationary satellites. to farm management. space of time.”

UAV) called the PHASA-35 has taken place. For environmental monitoring, solar-elec- He said, "We were keen to invest in
Expert in the design and development tric, emission-free UAVs and satellites that THE FUTURE OF PRISMATIC AND the programme as part of our long-term

of innovative aerospace products, the do not need to be launched, operated or BAE SYSTEMS' PARTNERSHIP strategy to explore new technologies and
company responsible for this feat is called recovered in sensitive environments pro- Prismatic will now continue its collabo- solutions in air and space. I look forward

Prismatic Ltd. vide the perfect platform. ration with BAE Systems, with the next to working with the team and I'm sure the

Standing for Persistent High-Altitude In regions lacking infrastructure, phase including further flight trials that will collaboration will add further strength to

Solar Aircraft or PHASA-35 could provide the deployment of solar electric UAVs enable the evaluation of longer endurance both ourselves and Prismatic."

a year-round, cost-effective service across to augment satellites can provide and other payloads. Further tests have been scheduled for lat-
a range of operations, including envi- information and communications for disas- Internationally, BAE Systems has patents er this year, with the PHASA-35 potentially

ronmental monitoring, defence, remote ter support. and patent applications for around 2,000 being made available to clients for opera-

sensing, security, resource management, Wide area surveillance helps identify inventions. In partnership with Prismatic, it tions within 12 months of the trials. Q

surveillance, and communications to

remote areas.
Running on solar energy to power the
aircraft during the daytime and to charge

batteries for night time flying, solar HALE FAA CUTS CONTROL TOWER

UAVs provide a much more cost-effective

alternative to conventional satellite sys-
tems. The electric aircraft uses ultra-light- SERVICE TO 100 US AIRPORTS

weight solar panels and long-life batteries

to power flying operations that can last for

up to one year. operations taking place in the United States vehicle is 35 m. The lifespan of the integrat-

The main features of the PHASA-35 and the UK. ed airframe is three years.
are the efficient aerodynamics, propul- Engineering Director for BAE Systems, Ian The solar electric aircraft's battery

sion and power systems that keep the Muldowney, referred to the results of the technology ensures an airborne operation he FAA has reduced air traffic control services

solar electric aircraft at high altitude PHASA-35 flight trial as "outstanding" and of one year before any maintenance is Tat 100 airports around the United States as the

for long periods, while only requiring said that to go from design to flight in less required, and the efficient, light-weight corona virus crisis has made a significant impact on the

minimal power. than two years demonstrates the pace that design enables a flying altitude of up to volume of air traffic at secondary and tertiary airports

During this first flight trial, which was can be achieved when the best of British 70,000 ft. across the nation.

conducted at the Royal Australian Air capabilities are combined. With its integrated dihedral roll rudder, “To ensure the continued resiliency of the air traffic

Force (RAAF) Woomera test range in Also commenting on the project, Founder the tail design supports smooth and contin- control system amid the COVID-19 pandemic, the FAA

South Australia, aerodynamics, propulsion and Managing Director of Prismatic, Paul uous flight control. is planning to temporarily adjust the operating hours

and power efficiency were all found to Brooks, said PHASA-35 could revolutionise Solar panels powering the aircraft during of approximately 100 control towers nationwide,” the

meet the full range of function and perfor- the way we think about Beyond Line of the day are positioned on the surfaces of regulatory body wrote in a statement.

mance standards. Sight (BLOS) communications: the wings to ensure a maximum amount of The changes were implemented on 27 April.

Furthermore, the completely autono- "It's great to have the support of a world energy is harnessed and also absorbed for The impacted facilities “have seen a significant

mous flight control ensured the robust leading technology company like BAE Sys- storage in Lithium-ion batteries that fuel reduction in flights, especially during the evening and

aircraft landed where intended in the tems. I'd like to extend a huge thank you to the vehicle during the night. Two electric night time hours, since the pandemic began”. Tower

presence of significant side winds. the team who have worked tirelessly over motors paired with high-altitude propellers operations at the sites will be reduced to core daytime

Prismatic said that the successful launch, the past two years to develop PHASA-35 ensure a flight speed of up to 78 kt. hours when traffic tends to be highest, the FAA said.

flight, landing and overall performance as a proven, cost effective and reliable BAE Systems states that, once coupled As many states implemented stay-at-home orders

of the system was precisely in line with system." with other technologies, the PHASA-35 and air travel started to crumble about six weeks ago,
design expectations. could offer capabilities not seen with traffic requiring control services sharply declined. Flight

This showed that the PHASA-35 has the PHASA-35 DEVELOPMENT, DESIGN current air and space platforms and that it schools closed, business aviation activity slowed and

potential to provide year-round ser- AND FEATURES could be used for disaster relief and border airlines reduced operations to skeleton schedules.

vices for 90% of the world's population Initial flight tests for the PHASA-35 were protection operations at a significantly “Adjusting the operating hours will further protect our

and provide global services for major performed in 2017 and 2018 using a cheaper cost compared with satellites. employees and reduce the possibility of temporary tower
applications such as precision agriculture, quarter-scale version of the system called closures from COVID-19 exposures by ensuring enough
resource management, wildfire early the PHASE-8. These tests demonstrated the APPLICATIONS OF PHASA-35 controllers are available to staff the facilities during peak

detection and mapping. vehicle's performance characteristics, such Some examples of PHASA-35's services hours,” the FAA stated. It will continue monitoring vol-

as the strength and stiffness of the wing include:

A COLLABORATION PROJECT WITH structure. • Surveillance umes at the airports and reassess as necessary.
BAE SYSTEMS Following successful completion of the • Communications In mid-March, the FAA shut several control towers,

Prismatic designed, developed and tests and the subsequent collaboration • Remote sensing including those at Las Vegas McCarran international
airport and Chicago’s Midway International airport, after

delivered PHASA-35 in collaboration with agreement between Prismatic and BAE employees tested positive for corona virus. A supervisor

BAE Systems as part of a joint development Systems, the resulting PHASA-35 incorpo- • Resource management at Indianapolis Air Route Traffic Control Centre also tested

agreement made between the two rates a structure comprised of carbon-fi- • Environmental monitoring positive, causing an evacuation and requiring rerouting of

companies in May 2018. bres-composite (CFC) materials and carries • Disaster relief

BAE Systems is one of the world's largest a payload of more than 15 kg. • Early forest fire detection aircraft above a wide swath Ohio and West Virginia. Q
defence contractors, with its largest-scale Weighing just 150 kg, the wingspan of the • Improved precision farming
World Airnews | June 2020 World Airnews | June 2020
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