Latest news with #DOA
Yahoo
27-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Vertical Aerospace Makes Aviation History with Piloted eVTOL Flight in Open Airspace
First-ever piloted wingborne flight of a winged eVTOL in European open airspace Landmark flight follows approval from the UK Civil Aviation Authority, an important step on its path toward certification and commercial operation 30,000 in-flight parameters and data points measured, with the aircraft flying as expected On track to complete piloted transition flight in 2H 2025 LONDON & NEW YORK, May 27, 2025--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Vertical Aerospace (Vertical) [NYSE: EVTL], a global aerospace and technology company that is pioneering electric aviation, today announced it has made European aviation history with the first-ever piloted wingborne flight of a winged electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft in open airspace. The landmark flight of the VX4 prototype, piloted by Chief Test Pilot Simon Davies, saw the aircraft take-off, fly and land like a conventional aircraft, with lift generated by the wing. Soaring across the UK countryside from Cotswold Airport, the VX4 prototype demonstrated controlled wingborne flight in open airspace for the first time, marking a critical step toward commercial deployment as part of Vertical's Flightpath 2030 strategy. The UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) approved the flight through open airspace at Cotswold Airport, the UK's largest private airport, by extending Vertical's Permit to Fly. This followed a rigorous review of tens of thousands of pages of safety and technical documentation. Chief Test Pilot, Simon Davies, said: "Taking the aircraft beyond the airfield and cruising over the Cotswolds for the first time was truly special and a career highlight for me. Our performance predictions were absolutely spot on, and the aircraft took off as a natural extension of all the ground tests and preparation we've done. There are aircraft which are safe and capable but not always enjoyable to fly. The VX4 was not only safe but was an absolute pleasure. It is responsive, smooth, simple to operate and the sound level from the propellers is quiet and pleasant in the cockpit. An honour to fly, and a real testament to the incredible team behind it." Vertical is currently the only company globally flying a piloted winged eVTOL prototype that's been developed under a Design Organisation Approval (DOA) from the CAA – a DOA is required to hold a Type Certificate, required for commercial passenger operations. The CAA is working closely with the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) for their concurrent validation and certifying the VX4 to the highest safety standards required for commercial use. Stuart Simpson, CEO, Vertical Aerospace, said: "Achieving piloted wingborne flight in open airspace under the oversight of the UK CAA is an important moment in our certification journey. Operating under the UK's rigorous regulatory framework means we share the burden of safety with our regulator - every step must be approved, and that's by design. It amounts to a mini certification of our prototype and gives us a clearer, faster path to type certification. Our decision to put a pilot into the VX4 early was deliberate - real-world piloted flight delivers insights no simulation can. This milestone proves the capability of the aircraft and the maturity of our programme as we move toward commercial operations." Advancing the UK's world-class aerospace sector This achievement has also been supported by early UK government investment through programmes including the Aerospace Technology Institute and the Future Flight Challenge. These initiatives have contributed to the development of Vertical's technology and flight test campaign, and form part of wider efforts to advance the UK's net zero and aerospace ambitions. UK Secretary of State for Business and Trade, Jonathan Reynolds, said: "This is a fantastic milestone for Vertical and for the UK's world-class aerospace sector. Breakthroughs like this show how government and business can work together to keep the UK at the cutting edge of innovation. Our modern Industrial Strategy will double down on this success by giving investors the confidence they need to back UK advanced manufacturing for the long term, bringing good, green jobs and growth across the UK as part of our Plan for Change." What is the Significance of Wingborne Flight? In Phase 3 of testing – wingborne flight – the VX4 operates like a conventional aircraft using lift generated by its wings, rather than relying solely on rotor thrust. This low-power, quiet, and range-efficient mode of flight is key to making electric air travel practical, scalable, and economically viable. Jim Currier, President and CEO, Honeywell Aerospace Technologies, said: "This significant achievement underscores the ability of our partnership to unlock new and innovative modes of transport, and we are proud Honeywell Anthem avionics and flight control computers and software could play a key role in supporting such a defining moment for the industry." David Stepanek, EVP & CTO, Bristow Group, said: "The VX4's successful demonstration of wingborne flight marks a significant step towards commercial readiness. As the global leader in innovative and sustainable vertical lift, we look forward to continuing to partner with Vertical to unleash the disruptive advantages of this aircraft." Jill Blickstein, Vice President of Sustainability, at American Airlines, said: "This milestone is a key step toward safely scaling electric aviation, which we believe will play a key role in the future of our industry. We're proud of Vertical's progress toward sustainable travel." By achieving stable and controlled wingborne flight, Vertical has taken a significant step toward the next major milestone: a full piloted transition flight, expected in the second half of 2025. This will demonstrate the VX4's ability to shift seamlessly between vertical lift and forward cruise – the operating mode it will use in passenger service. During the wingborne flight phase, the VX4 will reach speeds of up to 150 mph (120 knots) and altitudes close to 2,000 ft under real-world conditions. Engineers captured more than 30,000 in-flight data parameters, confirming the aircraft performed exceptionally across stability, control, and energy usage. A Foundation Built on Rigorous Testing To prepare for piloted wingborne flights, Vertical completed thousands of hours of lab, simulation, and high speed ground testing, including: 7.2 million fatigue cycles on each propeller blade to simulate lifespan loads over the flight test campaign 15.2 metre battery pack drop test, comparable to fuel-tank testing in traditional rotorcraft Full-scale thermal runaway propagation test on a VX4 sub-pack, indicating safe flight and landing is possible even in the event of a battery fire Over 3,000 hours of component and integration testing on flight control computers to ensure system reliability and performance Notes to editors Vertical's piloted flight test programme explainer: Phase 1: Tethered: the VX4 prototype will perform stabilised hover while loosely tethered to the ground. COMPLETE 12 September 2024 Phase 2: Thrustborne: the VX4 prototype will take-off and land vertically and conduct low speed flight manoeuvres with lift generated by the propellers. COMPLETE 4 February 2025 Phase 3: Wingborne: the VX4 prototype will take-off, fly and land like a conventional aircraft, with lift generated by the wing. COMMENCED 22 May 2025 Phase 4: Transition: the VX4 prototype will transition between thrustborne and wingborne flight, and vice versa. Expected before YE 2025 About Vertical Aerospace Vertical Aerospace is a global aerospace and technology company pioneering electric aviation. Vertical is creating a safer, cleaner and quieter way to travel. Vertical's VX4 is a piloted, four passenger, Electric Vertical Take-Off and Landing (eVTOL) aircraft, with zero operating emissions. Vertical will also be launching a hybrid-electric variant, offering increased range and mission flexibility to meet the evolving needs of the advanced air mobility market. Vertical combines partnering with leading aerospace companies, including GKN, Honeywell and Leonardo, with developing its own proprietary battery and propeller technology to develop the world's most advanced and safest eVTOL. Vertical has c.1,500 pre-orders of the VX4, with customers across four continents, including American Airlines, Japan Airlines, GOL and Bristow. Certain customer obligations are expected to be fulfilled via third-party agreements. Headquartered in Bristol, the epicentre of the UK's aerospace industry, Vertical's experienced leadership team comes from top tier automotive and aerospace companies such as Rolls-Royce, Airbus, GM and Leonardo. Together they have previously certified and supported over 30 different civil and military aircraft and propulsion systems. Forward-Looking Statements This Press Release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Any express or implied statements contained in this release that are not statements of historical fact may be deemed to be forward-looking statements, including, without limitation, statements regarding the design and manufacture of the VX4, the features and capabilities of the VX4, business strategy and plans and objectives of management for future operations, including the building and testing of our prototype aircrafts on timelines projected, completion of the piloted test programme phases, selection of suppliers, certification and the commercialization of the VX4 and the hybrid-electric VX4 variant and our ability to achieve regulatory certification of our aircraft product on any particular timeline or at all, the potential exercise of the Tranche A Warrants following the satisfaction of the performance conditions and the proceeds issued from such potential exercise, as well as statements that include the words "expect," "intend," "plan," "believe," "project," "forecast," "estimate," "may," "should," "anticipate," "will," "aim," "potential," "continue," "is/are likely to" and similar statements of a future or forward-looking nature. These forward-looking statements reflect our current views with respect to future events and are not a guarantee of future performance. Actual outcomes may differ materially from the information contained in the forward-looking statements as a result of a number of factors, including, without limitation, our limited operating history without manufactured non-prototype aircraft or completed eVTOL aircraft customer order; our potential inability to raise additional funds when we need or want them, or at all, to fund our operations; our limited cash and cash equivalents and recurring losses from our operations raise significant doubt (or raise substantial doubt as contemplated by PCAOB standards) regarding our ability to continue as a going concern; our potential inability to produce or launch aircraft in the volumes or timelines projected; the potential inability to obtain the necessary certifications for production and operation within any projected timeline, or at all; the inability for our aircraft to perform at the level we expect and may have potential defects; our history of losses and the expectation to incur significant expenses and continuing losses for the foreseeable future; the market for eVTOL aircraft being in a relatively early stage; any accidents or incidents involving eVTOL aircraft could harm our business; our dependence on partners and suppliers for the components in our aircraft and for operational needs; the potential that certain strategic partnerships may not materialize into long-term partnership arrangements; all of the pre-orders received are conditional and may be terminated at any time and any predelivery payments may be fully refundable upon certain specified dates; any circumstances; any potential failure to effectively manage our growth; our inability to recruit and retain senior management and other highly skilled personnel; we have previously identified material weaknesses in our internal controls over financial reporting which if we fail to properly remediate, could adversely affect our results of operations, investor confidence in us and the market price of our ordinary shares; as a foreign private issuer we follow certain home country corporate governance rules, are not subject to U.S. proxy rules and are subject to Exchange Act reporting obligations that, to some extent, are more lenient and less frequent than those of a U.S. domestic public company; and the important factors discussed under the caption "Risk Factors" in the Company's Annual Report on Form 20-F filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") on March 11, 2025, as such factors may be updated from time to time in the Company's other filings with the SEC. Any forward-looking statements contained in this release speak only as of the date hereof and accordingly undue reliance should not be placed on such statements. the Company disclaims any obligation or undertaking to update or revise any forward-looking statements contained in this release whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, other than to the extent required by applicable law. View source version on Contacts For more information: Justin Bates, Head of Communications +44 7878 357 463Samuel Emden, Head of Investor Affairs +44 7816 459 904 Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Business Wire
27-05-2025
- Business
- Business Wire
Vertical Aerospace Makes Aviation History with Piloted eVTOL Flight in Open Airspace
LONDON & NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Vertical Aerospace (Vertical) [NYSE: EVTL], a global aerospace and technology company that is pioneering electric aviation, today announced it has made European aviation history with the first-ever piloted wingborne flight of a winged electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft in open airspace. The landmark flight of the VX4 prototype, piloted by Chief Test Pilot Simon Davies, saw the aircraft take-off, fly and land like a conventional aircraft, with lift generated by the wing. Soaring across the UK countryside from Cotswold Airport, the VX4 prototype demonstrated controlled wingborne flight in open airspace for the first time, marking a critical step toward commercial deployment as part of Vertical's Flightpath 2030 strategy. The UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) approved the flight through open airspace at Cotswold Airport, the UK's largest private airport, by extending Vertical's Permit to Fly. This followed a rigorous review of tens of thousands of pages of safety and technical documentation. Chief Test Pilot, Simon Davies, said: " Taking the aircraft beyond the airfield and cruising over the Cotswolds for the first time was truly special and a career highlight for me. Our performance predictions were absolutely spot on, and the aircraft took off as a natural extension of all the ground tests and preparation we've done. There are aircraft which are safe and capable but not always enjoyable to fly. The VX4 was not only safe but was an absolute pleasure. It is responsive, smooth, simple to operate and the sound level from the propellers is quiet and pleasant in the cockpit. An honour to fly, and a real testament to the incredible team behind it.' Vertical is currently the only company globally flying a piloted winged eVTOL prototype that's been developed under a Design Organisation Approval (DOA) from the CAA – a DOA is required to hold a Type Certificate, required for commercial passenger operations. The CAA is working closely with the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) for their concurrent validation and certifying the VX4 to the highest safety standards required for commercial use. Stuart Simpson, CEO, Vertical Aerospace, said:"Achieving piloted wingborne flight in open airspace under the oversight of the UK CAA is an important moment in our certification journey. Operating under the UK's rigorous regulatory framework means we share the burden of safety with our regulator - every step must be approved, and that's by design. It amounts to a mini certification of our prototype and gives us a clearer, faster path to type certification. Our decision to put a pilot into the VX4 early was deliberate - real-world piloted flight delivers insights no simulation can. This milestone proves the capability of the aircraft and the maturity of our programme as we move toward commercial operations." Advancing the UK's world-class aerospace sector This achievement has also been supported by early UK government investment through programmes including the Aerospace Technology Institute and the Future Flight Challenge. These initiatives have contributed to the development of Vertical's technology and flight test campaign, and form part of wider efforts to advance the UK's net zero and aerospace ambitions. UK Secretary of State for Business and Trade, Jonathan Reynolds, said: 'This is a fantastic milestone for Vertical and for the UK's world-class aerospace sector. Breakthroughs like this show how government and business can work together to keep the UK at the cutting edge of innovation. Our modern Industrial Strategy will double down on this success by giving investors the confidence they need to back UK advanced manufacturing for the long term, bringing good, green jobs and growth across the UK as part of our Plan for Change.' What is the Significance of Wingborne Flight? In Phase 3 of testing – wingborne flight – the VX4 operates like a conventional aircraft using lift generated by its wings, rather than relying solely on rotor thrust. This low-power, quiet, and range-efficient mode of flight is key to making electric air travel practical, scalable, and economically viable. Jim Currier, President and CEO, Honeywell Aerospace Technologies, said: 'This significant achievement underscores the ability of our partnership to unlock new and innovative modes of transport, and we are proud Honeywell Anthem avionics and flight control computers and software could play a key role in supporting such a defining moment for the industry.' David Stepanek, EVP & CTO, Bristow Group, said: 'The VX4's successful demonstration of wingborne flight marks a significant step towards commercial readiness. As the global leader in innovative and sustainable vertical lift, we look forward to continuing to partner with Vertical to unleash the disruptive advantages of this aircraft.' Jill Blickstein, Vice President of Sustainability, at American Airlines, said: "This milestone is a key step toward safely scaling electric aviation, which we believe will play a key role in the future of our industry. We're proud of Vertical's progress toward sustainable travel.' By achieving stable and controlled wingborne flight, Vertical has taken a significant step toward the next major milestone: a full piloted transition flight, expected in the second half of 2025. This will demonstrate the VX4's ability to shift seamlessly between vertical lift and forward cruise – the operating mode it will use in passenger service. During the wingborne flight phase, the VX4 will reach speeds of up to 150 mph (120 knots) and altitudes close to 2,000 ft under real-world conditions. Engineers captured more than 30,000 in-flight data parameters, confirming the aircraft performed exceptionally across stability, control, and energy usage. A Foundation Built on Rigorous Testing To prepare for piloted wingborne flights, Vertical completed thousands of hours of lab, simulation, and high speed ground testing, including: 7.2 million fatigue cycles on each propeller blade to simulate lifespan loads over the flight test campaign 15.2 metre battery pack drop test, comparable to fuel-tank testing in traditional rotorcraft Full-scale thermal runaway propagation test on a VX4 sub-pack, indicating safe flight and landing is possible even in the event of a battery fire Over 3,000 hours of component and integration testing on flight control computers to ensure system reliability and performance Notes to editors Vertical's piloted flight test programme explainer: Phase 1: Tethered: the VX4 prototype will perform stabilised hover while loosely tethered to the ground. COMPLETE 12 September 2024 Phase 2: Thrustborne: the VX4 prototype will take-off and land vertically and conduct low speed flight manoeuvres with lift generated by the propellers. Phase 3: Wingborne: the VX4 prototype will take-off, fly and land like a conventional aircraft, with lift generated by the wing. COMMENCED 22 May 2025 Phase 4: Transition: the VX4 prototype will transition between thrustborne and wingborne flight, and vice versa. Expected before YE 2025 About Vertical Aerospace Vertical Aerospace is a global aerospace and technology company pioneering electric aviation. Vertical is creating a safer, cleaner and quieter way to travel. Vertical's VX4 is a piloted, four passenger, Electric Vertical Take-Off and Landing (eVTOL) aircraft, with zero operating emissions. Vertical will also be launching a hybrid-electric variant, offering increased range and mission flexibility to meet the evolving needs of the advanced air mobility market. Vertical combines partnering with leading aerospace companies, including GKN, Honeywell and Leonardo, with developing its own proprietary battery and propeller technology to develop the world's most advanced and safest eVTOL. Vertical has c.1,500 pre-orders of the VX4, with customers across four continents, including American Airlines, Japan Airlines, GOL and Bristow. Certain customer obligations are expected to be fulfilled via third-party agreements. Headquartered in Bristol, the epicentre of the UK's aerospace industry, Vertical's experienced leadership team comes from top tier automotive and aerospace companies such as Rolls-Royce, Airbus, GM and Leonardo. Together they have previously certified and supported over 30 different civil and military aircraft and propulsion systems. Forward-Looking Statements This Press Release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Any express or implied statements contained in this release that are not statements of historical fact may be deemed to be forward-looking statements, including, without limitation, statements regarding the design and manufacture of the VX4, the features and capabilities of the VX4, business strategy and plans and objectives of management for future operations, including the building and testing of our prototype aircrafts on timelines projected, completion of the piloted test programme phases, selection of suppliers, certification and the commercialization of the VX4 and the hybrid-electric VX4 variant and our ability to achieve regulatory certification of our aircraft product on any particular timeline or at all, the potential exercise of the Tranche A Warrants following the satisfaction of the performance conditions and the proceeds issued from such potential exercise, as well as statements that include the words 'expect,' 'intend,' 'plan,' 'believe,' 'project,' 'forecast,' 'estimate,' 'may,' 'should,' 'anticipate,' 'will,' 'aim,' 'potential,' 'continue,' 'is/are likely to' and similar statements of a future or forward-looking nature. These forward-looking statements reflect our current views with respect to future events and are not a guarantee of future performance. Actual outcomes may differ materially from the information contained in the forward-looking statements as a result of a number of factors, including, without limitation, our limited operating history without manufactured non-prototype aircraft or completed eVTOL aircraft customer order; our potential inability to raise additional funds when we need or want them, or at all, to fund our operations; our limited cash and cash equivalents and recurring losses from our operations raise significant doubt (or raise substantial doubt as contemplated by PCAOB standards) regarding our ability to continue as a going concern; our potential inability to produce or launch aircraft in the volumes or timelines projected; the potential inability to obtain the necessary certifications for production and operation within any projected timeline, or at all; the inability for our aircraft to perform at the level we expect and may have potential defects; our history of losses and the expectation to incur significant expenses and continuing losses for the foreseeable future; the market for eVTOL aircraft being in a relatively early stage; any accidents or incidents involving eVTOL aircraft could harm our business; our dependence on partners and suppliers for the components in our aircraft and for operational needs; the potential that certain strategic partnerships may not materialize into long-term partnership arrangements; all of the pre-orders received are conditional and may be terminated at any time and any predelivery payments may be fully refundable upon certain specified dates; any circumstances; any potential failure to effectively manage our growth; our inability to recruit and retain senior management and other highly skilled personnel; we have previously identified material weaknesses in our internal controls over financial reporting which if we fail to properly remediate, could adversely affect our results of operations, investor confidence in us and the market price of our ordinary shares; as a foreign private issuer we follow certain home country corporate governance rules, are not subject to U.S. proxy rules and are subject to Exchange Act reporting obligations that, to some extent, are more lenient and less frequent than those of a U.S. domestic public company; and the important factors discussed under the caption 'Risk Factors' in the Company's Annual Report on Form 20-F filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission ('SEC') on March 11, 2025, as such factors may be updated from time to time in the Company's other filings with the SEC. Any forward-looking statements contained in this release speak only as of the date hereof and accordingly undue reliance should not be placed on such statements. the Company disclaims any obligation or undertaking to update or revise any forward-looking statements contained in this release whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, other than to the extent required by applicable law.
Yahoo
16-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
‘Not about money': Advocates still pushing for ‘free kill' repeal, despite governor's veto threat
Governor Ron DeSantis has claimed the proposed repeal of Florida's so-called 'Free Kill' law is DOA when it gets to his desk. After 35 years of fighting, the Florida Legislature finally approved the free kill repeal this year, and it did so overwhelmingly. But now, advocates feel they've had the rug pulled out from underneath them and are now hoping for a miracle. The Governor cited concerns over potential impacts to medical malpractice insurance rates and health care costs due to a potential increase in lawsuits when announcing he'd veto the bill. 'You have to look at the global view. What is it going to do for the overall access to healthcare, prices, the willingness of physicians to come here? And that was very clear to me in speaking with folks,' said DeSantis. The legislation would allow family members of single adults over the age of 25, who have no children under the age of 25, to sue for pain and suffering if they die due to medical negligence. The 35-year-old carveout is unique to Florida, and oftentimes people don't even know it exists until they're personally impacted. For Cindy Jenkins, it was when her 25-year-old daughter Taylor died as a result of medical negligence. 'This is not about money. It's about human lives and about an utter lack of accountability,' said Jenkins. >>> STREAM ACTION NEWS JAX LIVE <<< [DOWNLOAD: Free Action News Jax app for alerts as news breaks] DeSantis said he would have supported the bill if it had placed caps on pain and suffering damages for all medical negligence cases. It was an idea rejected by the legislature and advocates like Jenkins. 'You would not be able to kind of hit the lottery, you would be able to potentially get within the realm. So, that I think is what's missing,' said DeSantis. But Jenkins argued the fight is about equal access to justice, not money. 'The only people hitting a jackpot right now are the physicians getting away with legalized manslaughter, the hospitals who are immune from being held accountable and the insurance companies who are protected from having to pay out a claim when a physician that they choose to insure negligently kills a patient,' said Jenkins. 93 percent of lawmakers who voted on the free kill repeal supported the measure during the session. It passed with veto-proof majorities in both chambers. Jenkins is hopeful lawmakers will consider a veto override, though it would be an unprecedented move. If that doesn't happen, she said advocates may need to challenge the constitutionality of the free kill carveout in the courts. [SIGN UP: Action News Jax Daily Headlines Newsletter] Click here to download the free Action News Jax news and weather apps, click here to download the Action News Jax Now app for your smart TV and click here to stream Action News Jax live.
Yahoo
14-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Rhode Island's IT department wants a fresh install of 15 full-time roles
Rhode Island Department of Administration Director Jonathan Womer, left, and Chief Digital Officer Brian Tardiff testify before the Senate Committee on Finance on Tuesday, May 13, 2025. (Photo by Alexander Castro/Rhode Island Current) More than half of Rhode Island state government's IT workforce are contractors, Department of Administration (DOA) Director Jonathan Womer told the Senate Committee on Finance during a hearing on Tuesday afternoon. 'That's not an ideal situation,' Womer said. Now Rhode Island's state IT department thinks it's time for a little spring cleaning: It's asking the General Assembly to approve 15 new full-time hires for fiscal year 2026 to replace contractors with in-house talent. Womer appeared before the Senate committee to testify on budget amendment #10 from Gov. Dan McKee that would add the 15 positions to the DOA's technology arm, the Division of Enterprise Technology Strategy and Services (ETSS). The request is budget-neutral, Womer said, as an internal service fund would subsidize the new hires. Rather than draw from general revenue, the Information Technology Internal Service Fund grows from billing other state agencies for IT services they use. A complementary budget amendment #9 details how state agencies are charged for enterprise technology, with leftover project funds going into a restricted receipt account. 'We're not asking for any more money for this,' Womer said. 'We're going to make sure absolutely that this pays for itself.' Womer added his agency looked inward when servers holding the state's public benefits eligibility system were breached last December, compromising and leaking the personal information of an estimated 657,000 Rhode Islanders. The system, RIBridges, was built and continues to be maintained by state contractor Deloitte, which never sent a representative to any of McKee's numerous press conferences about the breach. 'One of the many things we did when we looked at the RIBridges incident was take a look at institutional and strategic things that we could change to make our IT system stronger,' Womer said, 'and one of those we looked at pretty heavily is making more of our IT personnel state employees.' Brian Tardiff, the state's chief digital officer and head of the enterprise technology division, testified beside Womer, describing an IT agency whose reliance on contractors goes well beyond the spectacular example of the RIBridges breach. There are 382 IT personnel who work for the state right now, Tardiff said. Of the 193 contractors, only 40 are working short-term assignments that will end when their contracts do. The remaining 153 workers provide daily operational support — something the state wants to bring in-house. We're not asking for any more money for this. We're going to make sure absolutely that this pays for itself. Department of Administration (DOA) Director Jonathan Womer 'The remaining balance is on full time to support normal IT operations in critical leadership roles and critical functional areas,' Tardiff said. 'Compounding our challenge, within the next 48 months, we're looking at a 33% attrition rate through retirement of the workforce.' That's why the state needs 'the agility to produce job classifications that represent a modern workforce,' Tardiff said. McKee's budget amendment would achieve that by stripping away some usual formalities involved in the state hiring process, including public hearings and other rounds of approval needed to change job classifications and pay scales. Womer explained that revising a job description can take up to nine months. 'Sometimes nine months in the IT world, things have changed completely,' Womer said. Topping Tardiff's wishlist for his department are an RIBridges technical lead, a security analyst, and project delivery management to improve coordination of major IT initiatives across agencies. Tardiff told lawmakers the average cost of a contractor is $260,000 to $280,000 per year, while the proposed full-time staff would cost around $240,000, including benefits. Ideally, some contractors could be brought in-house, which would also enlarge the state's pension fund, Tardiff said. Sen. Susan Sosnowski called the pivot from contracted labor 'refreshing.' 'Sometimes I feel like it's a sense of déjà vu, because I could remember years ago in the Finance Committee, how we were told it was the best thing to have contractors and so forth versus employees,' Sosnowksi said. Freshman Cranston Democratic Sen. Lammis Vargas was so eager to ask about the 15 IT hires that she mistakenly directed her question at the afternoon's first presenter Richard Charest, head of the Executive Office of Health and Human Services. Charest answered anyway: 'I'd love to have 15 FTEs,' he said with a smile, drawing laughter from the audience and committee alike. Once Tardiff and Womer sat down, Vargas picked up where she left off, and questioned Tardiff about high turnover in the department. Only 172 of 189 state IT positions are filled, Tardiff said, and despite actively recruiting for eight more hires, turnover is constant, with the number of vacant slots mercurial. 'That number fluctuates almost monthly,' Tardiff said. 'Last month it was five. I had three personnel retire this month. So now it's eight.' 'Might be tough for you to answer, but how long do you foresee filling these in?' Vargas asked. 'There's always going to be five or six [vacancies] for that volume of personnel,' Womer replied. 'We'll have that number of vacancies at any given point in time…We thought we could successfully do 15 in the next fiscal year, which is the reason we only asked for 15.' Vargas was also concerned that the request is not genuinely cost neutral. 'With the contractors, we're not paying health insurance,' Vargas said. Womer acknowledged there might be individual differences in pay rates for individual contractors, adding retention over time could complicate compensation for future years. But he was firm that the measure will pay for itself. Chair Lou DiPalma replied playfully to Vargas, 'Senator, we're not giving them any more money.' SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
The Hindu
01-05-2025
- The Hindu
Procedural lapse suspected in Yadadri propellant unit blast, PESO launches probe
A suspected lapse in standard operating procedures may have triggered the deadly explosion at Premier Explosives Limited in Katepalli village, Yadadri Bhuvanagiri district, on Tuesday evening, senior officials from the Telangana Factories Department said. The blast killed three workers and left at least six others injured, five of whom remain in critical condition. The incident was reported on Tuesday evening in the propellant mixing unit of the facility when two powerful propellants, including hydroxyl-terminated polybutadiene (HTPB) and dioctyl Adipate (DOA), were being mixed. The force of the blast brought down the entire structure, reducing it to rubble within minutes. 'Even slight deviations in operating protocols such as the quantity of propellant used, the mixing method, or environmental factors — can result in an explosion like this,' a senior official from the Factories Department told The Hindu. Preliminary inspections revealed no structural deficiencies in the plant. 'The facility undergoes regular checks for physical infrastructure issues. This incident appears to have stemmed purely from procedural errors during operations. A detailed probe will be conducted by the Petroleum and Explosives Safety Organisation (PESO),' the official added. Officials from PESO, based in Pune, the Telangana State Forensic Science Laboratory, the Department of Labour, and other agencies have since inspected the blast site and initiated detailed investigation. The condition of five injured workers remains critical as they are undergoing treatment in Yashoda Hospital in Hyderabad. As per the information shared by the hospital, Srikanth Barla, 35, Srikanth Rajaboina, 32 and Mahesh Yadav Nalla, 27 with 80%, 75% and 30% thermal burns respectively are on ventilator support, Lingaswamy Bugga, 30, with 25% burns and other injuries is under observation in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) and Mahesh Salendra, 21, with soft injury is in the general ward. Meanwhile, routine operations have resumed in other units of the facility, which remain unaffected by the blast. Premier Explosives Ltd. has long been engaged in the manufacture of explosives for both commercial purposes and strategic clients, including the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO). According to the company's official website, it supplies solid propellants for some high-profile missile systems such as Akash, Astra, and LRSAM, developed by the DRDO.
