AIR-TEC: A Mauritian Contribution To Aviation
Our Mission
“to engage in the encouragement and maintenance of excellence in the fields of aviation and aeronautics, leading to the general advancement of Aeronautical Art, Science and Engineering, and more particularly for promoting that sector of knowledge which distinguishes the profession of Aeronautics (which includes Astronautics) in Mauritius and the Indian Ocean area”
The Aeronautical Society of Mauritius (AeSM) received its name from the Office of the Prime Minister of Mauritius in May 2013, and its Certificate or Registration from the Registrar of Associations in December the same year, having gathered together an enthusiastic group of members over three previous formative years. The impetus for setting up this new society in Mauritius came from several people who were experienced in the aviation industry, some of whom already had links with the iconic aeronautical society the Royal Aeronautical Society (RAeS). The new Mauritian society holds regular meetings throughout the year, and on each occasion a talk or illustrated presentation is given by an expert in his/her particular branch of aeronautics.
STOP PRESS!
Every year the Royal Aeronautical Society presents Honours, Medals and Awards to outstanding aeronautical achievers. We have just been informed by RAeS that, after being proposed by two members of the Aeronautical Society of Mauritius who are also Fellows of the RAeS, the 2017 Team Gold Award has been won by Dr Bertrand Piccard’s SOLAR IMPULSE 2 TEAM for their pioneering round-the-world fuelless flight. The Presentation will be made in London in November.
Did you know … ?
SOLAR IMPULSE 2: An Appreciation
by Richard (Dick) Twomey, President of the Aeronautical Society of Mauritius
22nd February 2017
Solar Impulse 2 (credit www.solarimpulse.com)
If I had to choose the most significant and impressive Aeronautical event of 2015-2016, I would have no hesitation in nominating the Round-the-World fuelless series of flights of the “born in Switzerland” remarkable “SOLAR IMPULSE 2”, carrying its green energy message.
These were not space flights, nor by any means were they speed record contenders, (being quite the opposite), but in circumnavigating our planet Earth using only the power of the Sun the Team from Lausanne fully validated the mantra of explorer/pilot Dr Bertrand Piccard and designer/pilot Andre Borschnerg, that
“With Technology and Human Resolve we can change the World!”
Browse the official site “www.solarimpulse.com” and remind yourself of the characteristics of the sectors that they flew. With such a fragile vehicle detailed knowledge of airport and en-route weather conditions were crucial. Because of its necessarily light wing loading (mass: wing area) this aircraft flies at bicycle-speed, with the result that some long sectors and ocean crossings (like Japan to Hawaii) took five consecutive days and nights to complete. Now imagine for a moment that you are the Solar Impulse pilot, waking at dawn after a customary short nap on autopilot, to examine the sky and confirm that your only battery power source – the Sun – will again be shining on your solar-panelled wings. You are relieved to see that it will not be an Air/Sea Rescue headline today!
To have designed, constructed (and funded) this unique aircraft is a marvel. But, for me, the quality and the firmness of the human resolve which was needed to broadcast Piccard’s Clean Energy world message was what really made this adventurous innovation happen!
Hats off to Bertrand Piccard, Andre Borschberg and Team, together with their motivated and tireless supporters in Switzerland and from around the world!
Now it is up to us to change and clean the world… before it is too late.
AIRBUS PROJECT VAHANA
Hailing a flying taxi will someday be as easy as pulling out your phone and pressing a button.
Click on the following link to read the full article written by Brett Williams:
Check out how easy it’ll be to hail one of Airbus’ conceptual autonomous flying taxis
PARIS AIR SHOW 2017
Established in 1909, the Paris Air Show (Salon international de l’aéronautique et de l’espace de Paris-Le Bourget, Salon du Bourget) has been held every odd year since 1949 at Paris–Le Bourget Airport in north Paris, France. The 2015 Paris Air Show, for example, held 15–21 June 2015, was the 51st. The Paris event starts with four professional days closed to the general public and then on Friday, Saturday and Sunday the public, including children, are allowed in.
The Paris Air Show is organised by the French aerospace industry’s primary representative body, the Groupement des industries françaises aéronautiques et spatiales (GIFAS). According to GIFAS, the 2011 Paris show attracted 151,500 professional visitors and 204,000 members of the general public, and 3,250 journalists from 80 countries. It is a large commercial event, with a major purpose being to demonstrate military and civilian aircraft to potential customers. It claims to be the most prestigious aircraft exposition in the world. Major aircraft sales contracts are announced by manufacturers during the show. All major international manufacturers, as well as representatives of the military forces of many countries, attend the Paris Air Show.
The 52nd Air Show was held from 19 to 25 June 2017, with 2,381 exhibitors from 48 countries, showing 140 aircraft including for the first time the Airbus A321neo, Airbus A350-1000, Boeing 787-10, Boeing 737 MAX 9, Kawasaki P-1, Mitsubishi MRJ90 and Lockheed Martin F-35. Inaugurated by French President Emmanuel Macron, it was visited by 290 official delegations from 98 countries and 7 international organizations, French Prime Minister Edouard Philippe, 3,450 journalists, 142,000 trade visitors and 180,000 general public visitors. Announcements for 934 commercial aircraft orders and purchasing commitments were worth a catalogue value of US$115 billion.
There were 1,226 order and commitments : 352 firm orders, 699 letters of intent or memorandums of understanding, 40 options and 135 options letters of intent; plus 229 conversions of existing orders, mainly for the Boeing 737-10 MAX variant launched at the show. There were mainly narrowbodies with 1,021 orders or commitments against 76 widebodies, 48 regional jets and 81 turboprop airliners. With 766, mainly preliminary deals, Boeing led Airbus with 331, while Bombardier Aerospace had 64, Embraer 48 and ATR Aircraft 17. Nearly half of those order and commitments was from aircraft lessors with 513, and where the operator was known, 43% came from Asia-Pacific, 27% from the middle east, 10% from Europe as from South America, 7% from Africa and 3% from North America.
TIM ROBINSON and BILL READ from the Royal Aeronautical Society made a good report on the 52nd Air Show in Paris:
Paris Air Show 2017 – Preview
Paris Air Show 2017 – Day Zero
Paris Air Show 2017 – Day One
Paris Air Show 2017 – Day Two
Paris Air Show 2017 – Day Three
Paris Air Show 2017 – Day Four and Summary