Rolls-Royce has partnered with Chicago-based artificial intelligence software maker Uptake to spot possible operational issues in its Trent engine fleet ahead of time, the companies said Tuesday. Uptake provides artificial intelligence software to industrials companies to help them predict the performance of complex machines by combining data analytics and machine learning. Rolls-Royce, whose Trent engines power Boeing 787 Dreamliner jets and Airbus A330neo widebody aircraft, has been grappling with problems affecting blades on some of the engines. Uptake's software will empower Rolls-Royce with a number of disparate datasets, providing insights into the engine performance and improving the availability of the engine fleet for airline customers, the companies said. <br/>
general
Airbus confirms it has kicked off construction of two new buildings in Mirabel that will enable the company to boost production of A220s. The move precedes the Airbus's plan to open an A220 assembly site in the USA, and comes as it begins fulfilling major orders from several large North American airlines. "To support our ramp up, we need extra space in Mirabel, so we’ve started construction work for 2 new dome structures which will be ready around spring 2019," Airbus said. Airbus, and Bombardier before it, have sought to boost production of the aircraft previously known as the CSeries. Prior to Airbus' acquisition of the A220 in July, Bombardier executives talked of hiking production to between 90 and 120 aircraft annually by 2020. <br/>
A new agreement between the UK and Canada means air services between the two nations will remain intact following Brexit. The UK is scrambling to put in place bilateral aviation agreements in the run-up to Brexit, scheduled for March 29, 2019. Until now services with Canada have been governed by an EU-wide agreement. The UK-Canada agreement follows a US-UK pact securing post-Brexit transatlantic air services. “This new aviation arrangement between the UK and Canada will further strengthen the strong economic and cultural bonds shared between our countries,” UK Transport Secretary Chris Grayling said. “Since 2012, the number of passengers traveling between the UK and Canada has been steadily increasing with more than 3.5m people travelling between the two countries last year.” <br/>
Malaysia’s transport minister has reportedly said that the country plans to take back airspace over south Johor that it has delegated to Singapore. The comment, made by Anthony Loke in parliament, was in response to a question on whether the development in the areas of Pasir Gudang in Johor, including the Johor Port, would be compromised by Singapore’s plans to boost commercial flights out of Seletar airport. The member of parliament also asked Loke when the govt intends to “take back” its delegated airspace in Southern Johor from Singapore. Loke responded that the govt has opposed to Singapore’s plan to implement an instrument landing system at Seletar airport, which is just 2km from the Malaysia across the Strait of Johor. <br/>
For months, air traffic controllers and engineers have been holed up in a windowless room at Singapore’s Changi Airport. This is a prototype of the control “tower” of the future. If all goes well, Changi will be the world’s largest and most complex airport to adopt this next-generation control tower set-up. The aviation authority is also turning to artificial intelligence to help the airport run smoothly. The ultimate goal is to accommodate more planes and passengers. This is Singapore’s way of confronting a problem plaguing Asia’s hubs: a severe and worsening capacity crunch. Passenger numbers in the region are growing so fast that airports have been unable to keep up. As the middle class expands in the Asia-Pacific, 3.9b flyers are expected to be soaring over Asia annually by 2037 — an increase of 2.35b. <br/>