About this episode
Digital twins captured by aircraft, the new Boeing CEO is named, the airline fee disclosure rule hits a roadblock, the NGAD fighter is paused, the FAA approves BVLOS flights, Wheels Up continues to lose money, and the cause of the fatal CV-22 Osprey accident. Guest Ron Chapple is the VP of Global Strategic Solutions Digital Twins at NV5 Geospatial . He leads a team that works with clients worldwide to acquire, process, and analyze high-resolution lidar and imaging data to create digital twins for various industries and applications. The team uses leading-edge technologies and sensors to capture and visualize data. The digital twins created by NV5 are virtual representations of physical objects, processes, or systems that can be used for real-time monitoring, analysis, and simulation. Digital twins can have applications for many industries, including aviation, energy, education, manufacturing, construction, healthcare, and transportation. Organizations can also use them for training and emergency planning and response. Ron describes how geospatially correct digital twins are created using LiDAR, optical, and other sensors, typically with helicopters or drones, and sometimes with fixed-wing aircraft. We learn how multiple sensor data is combined for the digital twins and the requirement for precise piloting. Ron also illustrates aviation applications for digital twins by explaining some of the airport projects undertaken by NV5. These applications include obstruction analysis, real-time monitoring of ground traffic, and operations simulation. Ron has more than 10 years of experience in lidar and imaging. He founded GEO1, a company that specialized in electric utility, oil and gas, archaeology, and coastal and highway corridor acquisition projects. GEO1 was acquired by NV5 Geospatial in June 2022 and has expanded in scope to include virtual reality, virtual production, and digital twin creation. Ron got his start in aerial cinematography. He worked with USA Today and National Geographic on projects that won a Pulitzer Prize and several EMMY awards and traveled to remote and challenging locations, such as Patagonia, the Arctic Circle, Mt. Everest, Colombia, and Hawaii, to collect and document data that can help preserve and protect natural and cultural heritage. To learn more about digital twins, see Your Guide to Geospatial Digital Twins to request a free ebook. Aviation News Boeing Board Names Kelly Ortberg President and CEO The Boeing board of directors selected Robert K. “Kelly” Ortberg as the company’s next president and CEO, succeeding Dave Calhoun, effective August 8, 2024. Ortberg began his career as an engineer at Texas Instruments, then joined Rockwell Collins as a program manager, eventually becoming its president and CEO. He steered the company’s integration with United Technologies which then became RTX after merging with Raytheon. Ortberg served on the RTX Board of Directors and is the former Chair of the Aerospace Industries Association (AIA) Board of Governors. U.S. appeals court blocks airline fee disclosure rule The U.S. Transportation Department’s new rule requiring airlines and ticket agents to disclose service fees along with airfare has been temporarily blocked by a U.S. appeals court. The industry asked the court for a temporary block and the three-judge panel said the rule “likely exceeds DOT’s authority and will irreparably harm airlines.” The suit was brought by United, American, Delta, JetBlue, Alaska Airlines, Airlines for America, and the International Air Transport Association . See also A4A, U.S. Airlines Sue DOT Over Fee Disclosure Rule . Air Force ‘taking a pause’ on NGAD next-gen fighter The US Air Force pauses the Next Generation Air Dominance (NGAD) stealth fighter program while taking a “hard look” at the jet’s design. Boeing and Lockheed Martin are believed to be the primes competing for the NGAD contract. At the same time, GE Aerospace and Pratt & Whitney are competing to develop prototypes for the Next Generation Adaptive Propulsion (NGAP) program. FAA Makes Drone History in Dallas Area Generally, BVLOS (Beyond Visual Line of Sight) drone flights are not allowed. However, with advances in Unmanned Aircraft System Traffic Management (UTM) technology, the FAA has authorized Zipline International and Wing Aviation to fly commercial drones without visual observers in the Dallas-area airspace. Delta Air Lines Must Fix Its Unprofitable Wheels Up Investment – Soon Wheels Up offers members a global network of private aircraft that can be booked via a website or an app. Wheels Up was founded in 2013. Delta Air Lines took a 95% share in August 2023. The company continues to lose money. CV-22 Osprey Crash In Japan Was Caused By Gearbox Failure The Air Force Special Operations Command released its findings into the fatal crash of a CV-22 off the Japanese coast last year, where eight crew perished. The cause of the crash was determined by the Accident Investigation Board (AIB) to be a catastrophic failure of the left-hand Proprotor Gearbox. The crew diverted to an airport about 60 miles away, but on final approach at 800 feet AGL, the aircraft rolled twice and impacted the water. The AIB found the decisions made by the pilot were a significant contributing factor as they were causal, prolonged the mishap sequence, and did not consider an earlier landing at a different divert location. Mentioned Remembering Gordon Baxter: A Mentor and One of Flying Magazine’s Best Stay Safe While Building Flight Time With Max Trescott , Aviation Careers Podcast Students explore careers in aviation thanks to new program at Ashtabula County Technical & Career Campus Cleveland Soaring Society David’s Lego Concorde, and friend. Hosts this Episode Max Flight, our Main(e) Man Micah, Rob Mark, David Vanderhoof, and Max Trescott.