Page 30 - World Airnews Magazine February Edition 2021

REGIONAL JET SPACE

AEROLEASE DEAL ON HOLD POWERING UP THE ISS

he Mitsubishi Aircraft Corporation oeing will support the International
Tdeal with Aerolease Aviati on for BSpace Stati on’s growing research

the Spacejet project has been cancelled – capabilities and commercial opportunities

for now - and the two sides will “revisit” a with solar arrays to increase the orbiting
possible contract when Mitsubishi restarts laboratory’s power supply.

development of the regional jet. The modification to Boeing’s ISS sustain-

Aerolease Aviation has been a custom- ment contract with NASA calls for Boeing

er since 2016 when it signed for 10 firm to deliver six additional solar arrays to

orders and 10 options for the Mitsubishi NASA for installation beginning in 2021.
Regional Jet (MRJ), the predecessor of the The new 19-metre-by-six-metre arrays will

Spacejet that Mitsubishi has been devel- together produce more than 120 kilowatts
oping for years. of electricity from the sun’s energy, enough

With Aerolease’s cancellation, the total to power more than 40 average US homes.

number of firm orders for the SpaceJet Combined with the eight original, larger es of future deep-space exploration and make the new arrays that was successfully tested

now stands at 153, the majority of them to arrays, this advanced hardware will provide discoveries that improve life on Earth.” aboard the ISS in June 2017.

Japanese carriers. Mitsubishi Aircraft also a 20 to 30 percent increase in power, helping Most of the ISS systems, including its com- Spectrolab, a Boeing company based in

has 114 options for the type, according to to maximise the station’s capabilities for munications systems, batteries and scientific Sylmar, California, produces the arrays’ XTJ

Cirium fleets data. years to come. The arrays will provide ISS equipment racks, have been upgraded since Prime solar cells, which will be some of the

“Aerolease has been a long-time cus- with electricity to sustain its systems and humans began a continuous presence on the most powerful ever launched into space.

tomer and a major supporter of the MRJ/ equipment, plus augment the electricity orbiting laboratory in November 2000. Two They are the same solar cells that power Boe-

SpaceJet programme,” said Mitsubishi available to continue a wide variety of public International Docking Adapters, manufac- ing's CST-100 Starliner spacecraft in flight and
and private experiments and research in the

Aircraft president Takaoki Niwa. station’s unique microgravity environment. tured by Boeing, have been attached to the while docked to the ISS. Spectrolab also pro-

“We appreciate all of their support. ISS to allow commercial spacecraft to dock au- duced the station’s original solar cells, as well
“When it comes to game-changing

Aerolease has been a strong advocate “It is clear to us that the market is in tionship with them when that happens.” research and technological development, tonomously to the station. Boeing is the prime as the solar cells tested on the prototype.

of Mitsubishi Aircraft’s efforts to produce need of such an aircraft and that cre- Mitsubishi said, “Considering the prog- contractor for ISS sustainment; the company’s “The XTJ Prime space solar cells are much

a latest generation regional jet with ates a unique opportunity. Although our ress of the programme and the market the space station is currently hitting its full studies have determined that the ISS could more efficient than any of their predeces-

the SpaceJet. It has been a pleasure agreement with Mitsubishi Aircraft has situation, the SpaceJet M90 development stride,” said John Mulholland, ISS vice pres- safely operate beyond 2030 if NASA and its sors and are fit to support the cutting-edge

working with the Mitsubishi Aircraft team ended at the end of 2020, we wish the activities will be temporarily paused ident and programme manager for Boeing. international partners choose to do so. research being done aboard the Interna-

over the past five years,” said Jep team success in eventually restarting the and efforts will be made to improve the “These arrays, along with other recent Deployable Space Systems of Santa Bar- tional Space Station,” said Tony Mueller,

Thornton, managing partner of programme as soon as practicable and we business environment for the resumption upgrades to the station’s power system and bara, California, will produce the structure president of Spectrolab.

Aerolease Aviation. remain interested in resuming our rela- during this period.” Q data-transfer speed, will ensure that ISS re- of the new arrays, including the canister For more information on Spectrolab, visit

mains an incubator and business model in the and frame that will unfurl to hold the www.spectrolab.com. For more informa-
commercial space ecosystem for the coming solar-array blankets in place. Deployable tion on Boeing Defence, Space & Security,

decades. Access to this unique lab will contin- Space Systems also built the canister, frame visit www.boeing.com. Follow us on Twitter

NEWS ue to pay off as researchers study the challeng- and solar array blanket for a prototype of at @BoeingSpace Q

LYNNE JOINS BOEING BOARD NEWS
During her tenure, KPMG experienced BIEBEL APPOINTED
strong growth and made significant

ynne Doughtie has been elected investments in quality and advanced

Lto the Boeing board of directors the firm's culture and values. Lübke will move back to MTU Aero En- corporate development and in charge of
replacing Caroline Kennedy who has Doughtie has been recognised by For- gines’ headquarters and take on the role all of MTU’s mergers and acquisitions and

resigned after three years of dedicated tune's Most Powerful Women, Crain's atrick Biebel (34) has taken over of senior vice president corporate devel- business development activities - ensuring

service. New York Business' 50 Most Powerful Pthe helm of MTU Maintenance opment reporting to group CEO Reiner the future growth and success of MTU’s

Doughtie, 58, retired from KPMG in Women in New York, Accounting To- Lease Services BV - a joint venture be- Winkler. In this position, she heads up aftermarket division. Biebel joined MTU in

2020, after serving as US chairman and day's Top 100 Most Influential People, tween MTU Aero Engines and Sumitomo the strategy, business development, 2012 and has assumed various positions

CEO since 2015. She will serve on Boe- the National Association of Corporate Corporation headquartered in Amsterdam. mergers and acquisitions and innovation with increasing responsibilities within

ing’s audit and finance committees. Directors' 100 most influential people in In his role as managing director Biebel teams for the entire MTU group. MTU’s commercial MRO, finance and cor-

As the first woman to be elected US the boardroom, and Glassdoor's list of takes over from Andrea Lübke and is “We are delighted that Patrick will porate development organizations.
chairman and CEO of KPMG, Doughtie Top CEOs. responsible for MTU’s leasing business, be managing MTU Maintenance Lease MTU Maintenance Lease Services was

served as a member of KPMG's global "We welcome Lynne Doughtie's asset management activities and driving Services,” said Friis-Petersen. established in 2019 as an 80/20 joint ven-

board and executive committee. She impressive track record of advancing or- the company forward. “We are confident he will build on the ture with Sumitomo Corporation. It offers

joined KPMG's audit practice in 1985, ganisational goals through culture and “We would like to thank Andrea for strong reputation MTU has developed in a wide range of short and medium-term

before serving as the lead partner for innovation," said David Calhoun, Boeing her excellent leadership and dedication the engine leasing and trading commu- leasing solutions for a broad portfolio of

several strategic clients across in- president and CEO, and member of the over the past years and wish her the nity and continue to develop our service engines, including the popular CFM56,
dustries and holding leadership roles board of directors. global economy," said Doughtie. "I look very best in her new role,” said Martin portfolio to anticipate and meet market GE90 and V2500 engines, for operators,

including vice chairman of the firm's US "Boeing is a remarkable American forward to joining this distinguished Friis-Petersen, senior vice president and customer needs.” as well as technical support and asset and

advisory business. company serving a critical role in the board." Q MRO programmes, MTU Aero Engines. Prior to this, Biebel was vice president material management for engine owners. Q
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