News & Press

AeroSystems Course Graduation

Wed, 2 Aug 2023 20:34:00 GMT

On 27 July the Director presented the Institute's Award to the best graduate in Navigation- & Integration-related subjects.

The year-long AeroSystems Course (ASC) was formed in 1968, having replaced the Specialist Navigation Course (SpecN). The Course - currently the 52nd - now takes place at The Defence Academy of the United Kingdom at Shrivenham, Wiltshire, having recently moved from RAF Cranwell via a year at the Empire Test Pilots' School, Boscombe Down. The Course is sponsored by the Air & Space Warfare Centre at RAF Waddington, Lincoln.

The Course can accommodate up to 16; 4 RN and 8 RAF students graduated this year, 3 of them female. The resulting Qualified AeroSystems (QAS) award indicates that graduates can undertake roles in test and evaluation, flight trials, requirements management and capability development, as well as provide systems acquisition advice to their Service commands.

Eight external associations and companies make awards to graduates; our Institute specifies that the chosen student be assessed as having achieved the highest overall standard in the Navigation- and Integration-related modules. The aim is to promote knowledge in navigation and its associated sciences, whether on, in, over or under land, sea, air or space.

Almost 100 people, many from graduates' families, attended the graduation ceremony and RIN Director, John Pottle, presented the RIN Trophy, a beautiful astro-compass enclosed in a glass dome, to Flt Lt Mark Ashton, an RAF pilot. The Institute has also offered all graduates one year of free membership.

Further details from the: Defence Academy

Vulcan Repaint Fund Raising Boost

Wed, 6 Jul 2022 10:12:00 GMT

Newark Air Museum News Release
Vulcan Repaint Fund Raising Boost

The trustees and volunteers at the Newark Air Museum (NAM) have received a fund raising boost thanks to the generosity of the British Aviation Research Group (BARG). Having been advised about the museum’s much needed refurbishment and repainting work on Avro Vulcan XM594, members of the BARG DVD Implementation Team have kindly agreed to meet the cost of the paint and associated materials.

In December 2021 the museum took ownership of Vulcan XM594 and this was undertaken in the knowledge that some significant structural repairs and repainting work was required on the huge delta winged aircraft.

During spring 2022, the museum received a letter from BARG asking if they had any military aircraft preservation projects that required financial support. In response the museum submitted an application to BARG in relation to the materials required for the Vulcan repaint.

BARG’s history dates back to the 1950s, which is longer than the museum’s. This is when a group of young enthusiast started a monthly publication reporting aircraft sightings at Blackbushe Airport (then London’s second airport). The group expanded and became a byword for military aviation enthusiasts. Eventually BARG transferred their publications and research data onto searchable DVDs, which were sold around the world. The proceeds from these sales have enabled BARG to support projects like NAM’s Vulcan repaint project.

“We are extremely grateful to BARG for their generous support of the repainting work on Vulcan XM594.” Said Newark Air Museum trustee Howard Heeley, he concluded, “Their contribution is being made as and when we purchase the paint, and it allows us to proceed at a steady pace that makes the most of the sometimes changeable British weather.”

19-year-old is youngest woman to fly solo around the World

Sat, 22 Jan 2022 11:05:41 GMT

On 20 January 2022, Zara Rutherford landed in Kortrijk-Wevelgem, Belgium, after her 155-day 60-stop solo trip.

Adverse weather caused the flight to take over 2 months longer than planned, including delays of a month in Alaska and even longer in Russia. She flew about 27,500 NM (~51,000 km), spending ~260 hrs airborne.

Zara's Czechoslovak Shark ultralight aircraft has a tandem 2-seat cockpit. Composite-built, its maximum weight is 600 kg - the maximum for an ultralight; wingspan is 7.9 m and the undercarriage retracts. The Rotax 100 HP engine and variable-pitch prop give an optimum cruising speed of around 140 kt (260 km/hr). Fuel capacity is 100 l and economic cruise uses around 15 l/hr.

Both British/Belgian-born Zara's parents are aviators and she considers them and her grandparents to be role models. She has 4 A-levels in maths, physics and economics subjects and hopes to go to university to study computer science/engineering. Her aims are to encourage girls and young women to pursue their dreams and to promote aviation and science, technology, engineering, mathematics (STEM) subjects. She points out that only 5% of commercial pilots and 15% of computer scientists are women. She holds FAA and UK private pilot licences plus Slovakian and French microlight licences and is a member of the Honourable Company of Air Pilots. She apparently dreams of becoming an astronaut.

The challenge was made possible by sponsors, including her former school, St Swithun's School, Winchester, and others depicted on her aircraft. She was closely monitored by a team back home.

We congratulate Zara on her remarkable achievement.

Further details and image from FlyZolo

5G phones may cause radalt problems

Mon, 10 Jan 2022 21:07:24 GMT

The CAA, FAA and others have alerted operators to the danger of the 5G telecomms system interfering with radio/radar altimeter (radalt) systems.

Radalts are used in aircraft for the likes of autoland, automatic pilots, terrain awareness, Ground Proximity Warning Systems (GPWS) and Traffic Collision Avoidance Systems (TCAS). They are basically downward-looking very accurate radars.

Radalts operate in the range 4.2-4.4 GHz, with 5G frequencies already in use or up for auction currently covering 3.3-4.2 GHz. With possible interference from out-of-band frequencies, the European Organisation for Civil Aviation Equipment (EUROCAE) and Radio Technical Commission for Aeronautics (RTCA) are attempting to ensure compatibility within the adjacent-band spectrum environment.

The CAA advises the following actions to operators:

- Ensure crews are aware of implications of possible malfunctions.
- Look out for possible NOTAMS.
- Ensure especially that mobile phones are in ‘flight mode’.
- Report all malfunctions.
- Be aware that operations could be impacted.
- Don’t assume that malfunctions are due to 5G.

Further details from the CAA
and FAA

RAF makes World's first flight using synthetic fuel

Thu, 18 Nov 2021 17:47:58 GMT

On 2 November an Ikarus C42 microlight aircraft completed a short flight powered by synthetic gasoline at Cotswold Airport (ex-RAF Kemble).

The "UL91" fuel, from Zero Petroleum, is manufactured by extracting hydrogen from water and carbon from atmospheric carbon dioxide, using energy generated from renewable sources like wind or solar. The two are combined to create the synthetic fuel.

The fuel supplier explains that ZERO SynAvGas was developed in just 5 months and ran successfully in the aircraft as a whole-blend without any modification whatsoever to the aircraft or engine. The engine manufacturer Rotax’s measurements and the test-pilot’s observations showed no difference in power or general performance compared to standard fossil fuel.

This innovation is part of the RAF’s "Project MARTIN" and has the potential to save 80-90% of carbon per flight, supporting the RAF’s vision that synthetic fuels will have a major role in powering the fast-jets of the future.

The flight has just been awarded a Guinness World Record and the Chief of the Air Staff has stated: "I am determined to tackle this head-on and have set the Royal Air Force the ambitious goal to be Net Zero by 2040." Minister for Defence Procurement, Jeremy Quin, added: “This is a world first ‘innovation’. It shows the determination of UK Armed Forces to drive forward creative ideas on Net Zero alongside meeting operational commitments.”

Image and further information from JOINT-FORCES.com

Graduation of No 50 Aerosystems Course

Thu, 29 Jul 2021 21:08:38 GMT

The Institute Director presented the RIN Aerosystems Guidance Trophy on 30 July.

Director John Pottle attended the Graduation Ceremony of the Course at the Defence Air & Space Technology School, Defence Academy of the United Kingdom, Shrivenham. The Course, of almost a year’s duration, prepares selected Service personnel and Civil Servants for positions in trials and acceptance into service of complex equipment. Graduates also receive a MSc from Cranfield University.

The Institute Trophy is awarded to the top student in guidance subjects. The Trophy itself is a beautifully mounted astro-compass on a turned wood base, covered by a glass dome. The Director also handed all graduates invitations for a period of Guest Membership of the Institute.

The Institute plans to be very much involved with the next course, running at least one workshop session on PNT and hoping to host a visit in London. Other sponsors and supporters include QinetiQ, Rolls Royce and the University of Strathclyde.

Incidents at Heathrow as a result of aircraft storage

Sat, 12 Jun 2021 20:42:13 GMT

The UK CAA and AAIB have been advised of 3 dangerous incidents occurring between 9 and 11 June.

It appears that aircraft have suffered pitot blockages that resulted in airspeed discrepancies on the first take-off after storage. The pitot tube measures the forward dynamic pressure on the aircraft, giving pilots and systems the ‘indicated air speed’ (IAS).

It appears that insect infestation during storage may have caused the tubes to be blocked, giving incorrect readings of vital airspeed. The aircraft involved were of different types and had been in low utilisation operation and parked for periods of 3-7 days at various locations within the airport.

We join the CAA in advising flyers and maintenance personnel to check pitot tubes on all aircraft returning to flying after prolonged inactivity due to Covid restrictions.

Further details from the CAA

London City first major airport with remote digital tower

Sun, 2 May 2021 20:19:14 GMT

London City Airport has become the first major international airport in the world to be fully controlled by a remote digital air traffic control tower.

All flights in the heart of the London Docklands are being controlled by air traffic controllers 115km away at National Air Traffic Services’ (NATS’) air traffic control centre in Swanwick, Hampshire, using an ‘enhanced reality’ view supplied by a state-of-the-art 50m high digital control tower mast.

Sixteen high-definition cameras and sensors mounted on the mast capture a 360-degree view of the airport. This is relayed through a fibre connection to a new control room at NATS Swanwick. A dedicated team of controllers use the live footage, an audio feed and radar to control aircraft movements.

The airport’s digital control tower, pioneered by Saab Digital Air Traffic Solutions, was completed in 2019 and has been through an extensive period of testing before becoming fully operational. The 30-year-old analogue tower will be redeveloped for other purposes as part of City Airport’s modernisation programme.

Juliet Kennedy, Operations Director at NATS, comments: “This is the UK’s first major digital control tower and represents a significant technological and operational achievement, especially against the backdrop of COVID-19.”

Further details and image from: NATS

EUROCONTROL concern over GNSS interference

Wed, 3 Mar 2021 17:30:29 GMT

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New mail

EUROCONTROL, of which UK remains a member, has expressed it’s concern over the level of radio frequency interference (RFI) to GNSS operations.

Its Aviation Intelligence Unit has published a ‘Think Paper’ whose main findings include that:

- A massive >20-fold rise in GNSS RFI incidents occurred in 2018 and has been sustained ever since.

- 38.5% of European en-route traffic operates through regions intermittently but regularly affected by RFI.

- 5% of traffic in these disruption zones could, given current RFI levels, need special assistance, measurably increasing pilot and controller workload and overall safety risk.

- RFI jamming by state or proxy actors damages network efficiency and risks undermining safety.

- The aviation industry has significantly invested in GNSS as a global utility essential for providing air services safely and efficiently: RFI undercuts that investment.

- While EUROCONTROL and partners have actively enlarged their ability to identify RFI in real-time and take prompt mitigation action, additional awareness and action needs to be taken at State level.

- RFI jamming is disproportionate: while the majority of RFI hotspots appear related to conflict zones, they affect civil aviation at distances of up to 300km, reflecting a use of jamming that appears to go well beyond simple military mission effectiveness.

- States need to be aware of the problem and increase internal cooperation between their civil and military aviation bodies.

The Think Paper makes interesting reading and may be downloaded from EUROCONTROL

RAF Aerosystems Course Graduation

Tue, 20 Aug 2019 22:03:17 GMT

On 25 July, a graduation ceremony for 49 Aerosystems Course was held in the Officers’ Mess at RAF Boscombe Down, Salisbury.

Past-President, Norman Bonnor, stood-in for our President, Prof Terry Moore, to present the Royal Institute of Navigation Trophy.

Norman Bonnor, himself a graduate of the course, reports:

Yes, you read correctly - the Course is now resident within the Air Warfare Centre enclave at Boscombe Down, having moved from RAF Cranwell last year. The course length is 42 weeks, and of the 16 students who joined last September, 13 graduated with an MSc awarded by Kingston University; another should graduate in November after re-submitting his dissertation. Graduates included 4 from the RN, 6 from the RAF and 3 from Australian forces.

The RIN Trophy is awarded to the student who achieves the highest overall standard in the Navigation module. The winner on 49 Course was Lt James Clark RN, who is posted to 744 Naval Air Squadron, which was re-commissioned at Boscombe Down in October last year to introduce the RN’s ‘Crowsnest’ radar on the Merlin helicopter and upgrades to the RAF’s Chinooks.