The Air Transport Research Society (ATRS) and Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University released the key results of the ATRS 2017 Global Airport Performance Benchmarking Task Force report at the 2017 ATRS World Conference in Antwerp, Belgium.  This annual report provides a comprehensive, unbiased comparison of airport performance worldwide, focusing on productivity and operating/management efficiency, unit cost competitiveness and comparison of airport charges.

International, award-winning light sport aircraft manufacturer Seamax will have their Research & Development operations join Embry-Riddle Research Park’s Customized Business Acceleration Program to build on its business, technological and research capabilities as it looks to establish itself in the United States.

Earlier this month, NASA’s Juno spacecraft completed a flyover of Jupiter, resulting in some of the most detailed photos of Jupiter’s famous Great Red Spot to date. This enhanced-color image from nearly 6,130 miles above the planet. For more information about the Juno mission, visit NASA’s website.

Aurora Flying Sciences’ Aircrew Labor In-cockpit Automation System (ALIAS) reached a milestone recently as it pulled off a simulated landing of a Boeing 737. According to Aurora, the purpose of the ALIAS technology is to “function as a second pilot in a two-crew aircraft allowing for standard and even improved aircraft performance, while reducing individual crew operations and workload, lowering costs, and simplifying training.” “Having successfully demonstrated on a variety of aircraft, ALIAS has proven its versatile automated flight capabilities,” said John Wissler, Aurora’s Vice President of Research and Development. “As we move towards fully automated flight from take-off to landing, we can reliably say that we have developed an automation system that enables significant reduction of crew workload.”

A German team named HY4 which is comprised of a group of engineers, entrepreneurs and flight enthusiasts is working to develop a local network of short distance flights that are completely flown by zero-emission aircraft. The “electric air taxi” network will feature aircraft that run on sustainable electric propulsion systems using hydrogen fuel cells that can fly a maximum range of a little over 900 miles. The current HY4 body has a wingspan of 76 feet and a length of just under 25 feet. The aircraft can fir four passengers with one being the pilot.

Canadian airline Westjet got into the Guinness Book of World Records recently as they lit up a Utah desert with the world’s largest circulation projection. The airline projected a giant prize wheel on the ground, visible to passengers on flight from Toronto to Las Vegas. The prize wheel landed on a single seat number, 4A, and the lucky passenger in that seat was awarded a $2,500 shopping spree, tickets to see a Cirque du Soleil show and more. “WestJet turned 21 this year and as the international airline that brings the most guests to Las Vegas, we celebrated by lighting up the desert," said Rob Daintree, WestJet Director of Marketing. "Inspired by the brilliance, energy and wonderful experiences Las Vegas provides, we created a unique event for our guests by flying over a radiant prize wheel.” The wheel also broke the record for greatest light output in a project image.  For the record, the wheel measured 3,300-feet wide, with the light output at 4,666,000 lumens. The wheel took 61,483 feet of cable.