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Magazine Issue

Business & Commercial Aviation, November 2016

VOL. 112 NO. 11 November 01, 2016

Viewpoint

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Aviation’s Flying Humanitarian Organizations To The Rescue

Oct 19, 2016
Post-hurricane helping hand: It’s hard to know its worth until you need one.

Readers' Feedback

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Reader's Feedback (November 2016)

Oct 25, 2016
BCA readers share their opinions on articles we published.

Intelligence

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Longitude Flies For The First Time

Oct 25, 2016
The Citation Longitude, Cessna Aircraft's entrant into the super-midsize business jet category, flew for the first time Oct. 8. The flight from Beech Field on Wichita’s east side where the aircraft was assembled occurred less than a year after the jet was publically detailed. “Today’s successful first flight of the Citation Longitude was performed exactly as we anticipated,” said Scott Ernest, president and CEO, Textron Aviation.
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5000th Cessna LIght Jet Delivered

Oct 25, 2016
Meanwhile, days earlier Cessna delivered a Citation M2 to Helitrip Charter, which is leasing it to Catreus Ltd. a British charter operator.
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Dassault Delivers First Falcon 8X To Amjet Executive

Oct 25, 2016
Dassault Aviation delivered its first Falcon 8Xon Oct. 5 to longtime Falcon operator Amjet Executive, marking the entry into service of the company's new top-of-the-line, ultra-long- range flagship. The delivery occurred at Dassault’s Bordeaux-Merignac facility. The 6,450 nm (11,945 km) Falcon received its EASA and FAA certification in June and, Dassault noted, is entering service precisely on schedule, two years after it was first announced.
article

TRU Simulation Expanding

Oct 25, 2016
TRU Simulation + Training has entered the second phase of expansion for its Pilot Training Center in Lutz, Florida. It is enlarging its facility by 30,000 sq. ft. to accommodate four additional flight simulators in order to diversify its training programs. TRU Simulation is a Textron Aviation company headquartered in North Charleston, South Carolina.
article

Embraer Cuts Brazil Workforce

Oct 25, 2016
Embraer is cutting 1,463 employees from its workforce in Brazil as it moves to reduce costs in the midst of a challenging market. The departing workers represent 99.5% of those who applied for a Voluntary Dismissal Program, the company reported.
article

TBM Number 800 Rolls Off Tarbes Assembly Line

Oct 25, 2016
Daher recently completed its 800th TBM single-engine turboprop, a TMB 930 that rolled off the assembly line at Tarbes-Lourdes-Pyrenees Airport in France.
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FAA Tells Santa Monica To Explain Airport Actions

Oct 25, 2016
The long-running fight over Santa Monica Municipal Airport (SMO) entered a new phase recently when the FAA initiated an investigation requiring the California city to explain its rationale for issuing eviction notices to two FBOs at the key business and general aviation facility after the municipality declared its policy included closing the place.
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Gulfstream Announces G150 Production Will Cease

Oct 25, 2016
Gulfstream says it will cease production of the G150, the smallest aircraft in its lineup, after a 10-year run; the last G150 will be delivered in mid-2017.
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Sterling Acquires Destin Jet, Forms FBO Network

Oct 25, 2016
The Sterling Group, a middle-market private equity firm based in Houston, has acquired Destin Jet and formed a new fixed-base operator network.
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Rockwell Collins Flight Deck For 400X/XP

Oct 25, 2016
Nextant Aerospace, which builds the 400XTi, and Constant Aviation, which offers MRO services, have partnered with Rockwell Collins to offer a Next Gen flight deck package for Beechcraft 400X/XP aircraft.
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Raisbeck Sold To Acorn Growth Companies Of Oklahoma

Oct 25, 2016
Acorn Growth Companies, an Oklahoma City private-equity firm, announced Sept. 26 that it has acquired Seattle-based Raisbeck Engineering from founder and Chairman James D. Raisbeck. Founded in 1982, Raisbeck's company has developed dozens of modification systems for general aviation, utility and jetliner aircraft.
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General Aviation In China To Grow

Oct 25, 2016
The number of general aviation aircraft in China will total 10,000 in 2020, according to a new research report called "Development and Market of General Aviation in China 2015-2020." The figure comprises 7,500 fixed-wing aircraft, 2,000 helicopters and 500 other aircraft. The industry compound growth rate will total 30%, and the market size will hit $225 billion, the report predicts.
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Bombardier WAVE Internet Now Option On Global Aircraft

Oct 25, 2016
Bombardier WAVE (Wireless Access Virtually Everywhere) Ka-band high-speed internet is now available for Global business aircraft at all Bombardier Service Centers, the company said. Bombardier was awarded a supplemental type certificate for installation on all Bombardier Global 5000 and Global 600 aircraft and previous Global aircraft as a retrofit, the company said. A Global 5000 aircraft was the first customer aircraft to feature a retrofit installation of the Bombardier WAVE at Bombardier's Singapore Service Center.
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NTSB’s Robert Sumwalt Wins Safety Standdown Award

Oct 25, 2016
Robert Sumwalt from the National Transportation Safety Board has won Bombardier's 2016 Safety Standdown Award, which was presented at the event held Sept. 27-29 in Wichita.
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2017 May Not Be Much Better For Avionics Makers

Oct 25, 2016
Citing slower business jet engine aftermarket shipments and defense and space business declines, Honeywell International said early last month it expected to report up to 2% lower core organic sales for the third quarter of 2016.
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European Charter Operators Continue Consolidation

Oct 25, 2016
The consolidation of Europe's business aircraft charter operations continues apace. The most recent pairing is the takeover of UK's Blink by Wijet of France, to create a single fleet of 15 Citation Mustang light jets.
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Blackhawk Offers King Air 350 Engine Upgrade

Oct 25, 2016
Blackhawk Modifications has announced details of its new engine upgrade for the King Air 350. Blackhawk is developing the STC to permit installation and operation of the Pratt & Whitney 1,200-shp PT6A-67A to replace the 1,050-shp PT6A-60A.
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First Legacy 450 Assembled In Florida Facility Takes Flight

Oct 25, 2016
The first Legacy 450 mid-light business jet assembled in Embraer's Melbourne, Florida, facility made its first flight in early October and is on track for delivery to a customer in December.
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Helicopter Operator CHC Secures Investment

Oct 25, 2016
Offshore helicopter operator CHC has secured $450 million from investors to rebuild the company once it emerges from Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection.
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West Star Aviation To Install AvFab Belted Lavatory Mod For Hawkers

Oct 25, 2016
West Star Aviation and Aviation Fabricators are nearing completion of a cooperative effort to develop an STC for a belted lavatory modification for the Hawker 800 and XP series aircraft.
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Zetta Jet Adds Global 6000

Oct 25, 2016
Singapore-based Zetta Jet has added a Bombardier Global 6000 jet to its fleet, which will operate out of Zetta's North America hub in Los Angeles. It is the first Global equipped with Ka-band high-speed inflight internet connectivity.
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Comlux Retrofits First Airbus ACJ319 With Sharklets

Oct 25, 2016
Comlux, The Aviation Group, has become the first to retrofit an Airbus ACJ319 with Sharklets, the company said. The sharklets give the aircraft a fuel savings of up to 4% and a corresponding range improvement. The retrofit was performed by TAP Maintenance and Engineering as part of the first turnkey project managed by Airbus Corporate Jets.
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NBAA Flight Department 2016 Survey: Salaries Rise

Oct 25, 2016
The National Business Aviation Association's annual compensation survey of members shows all Part 91 flight department positions enjoyed an increase in average salaries in 2016.
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XOJET, JetSmarter Partner In Real-time Booking App

Oct 25, 2016
On-demand private jet charter operator XOJET and JetSmarter, a private jet mobile marketplace charter consolidator, have formed a partnership, saying it signals the continued evolution of private access.
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Jet-A And Avgas Per-Gallon Fuel Prices October 2016

Oct 25, 2016
Jet-A And Avgas Per-Gallon Fuel Prices October 2016
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Gogo To Overhaul Its Ground-Based System

Oct 25, 2016
Gogo is overhauling its ground-based connectivity system over the U.S. and Canada to bring inflight speeds in line with its satellite-based offering.

Fast Five

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Questions For Boeing Business Jets President David Longridge

Oct 25, 2016
Questions for Boeing Business Jets President David Longridge.

Pilot Report

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Pilot Report: Gulfstream G500

Oct 21, 2016
Gulfstream’s newest aircraft is setting a new benchmark in business aviation technology. BCA Senior Editor Fred George strapped into the left seat of the new $44.65 million G500. Read his pilot report.
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Symmetry Flight Deck Powered By Honeywell

Oct 19, 2016
When pilots first belt into the cockpit of the G500, they will discover a Honeywell flight deck that has little in common with any Gulfstream they have flown.
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GE Aviation’s Data Concentration Network

Oct 19, 2016
The G500's electrical distribution and data communication network is far more advanced than found in previous Gulfstreams. Taking advantage of the latest Avionics Full-Duplex Switched Ethernet architecture, introduced on the Airbus A380 and the latest military fighters, it uses distributive processing and ARINC 664 communications protocols to slash wire count, reduce weight, decrease power consumption, boost reliability and increase system redundancy. Virtually every component on the data concentration network (DCN) has a redundant communications link.
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Pratt & Whitney Canada PW814GA

Oct 19, 2016
Rated at 15,144 lb. thrust for takeoff up to ISA+15C, Pratt & Whitney Canada's PW814GA is the most advanced general aviation turbofan in its thrust class. Up front, it has a single-piece, wide-chord, 50-in.-diameter damper-less titanium fan and a two-stage, axial-flow, low-pressure booster with single-piece rotors that are powered by a three-stage low-pressure turbine.

Cause & Circumstance

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NTSB: Aggressive Application Of Reverser A Cause In Delta LGA Accident

Oct 26, 2016
As winter approaches in the Northern Hemisphere, pilots turn their thoughts to braking action performance and procedures.

Accidents in Brief

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Accidents In Brief

Oct 26, 2016
Selected accidents and incidents in September/October 2016. The following NTSB information is preliminary.

Maintenance

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How To Avoid Aviation Maintenance Malpractice

Dec 07, 2016
The ability to quickly diagnose a problem and come up with a solution is a valuable skill, even when you earn your living working on multimillion-dollar aircraft.

Avionics Review

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Flying Universal’s InSight Flight Deck

Oct 27, 2016
Universal Avionics' InSight Integrated Flight Deck system allowed the writer to instantly form a mental image of our proximity to terrain and obstacles.
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Preparing For NextGen

Oct 27, 2016
Despite the seemingly glacial-pace of air traffic management evolution, the FAA has begun upgrading its services and capabilities, including controller-pilot data link communications to help make the flow of traffic safer and more efficient.
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Universal Origins

Oct 27, 2016
The enduring innovation of Universal Avionics products is closely tied to its core characteristics of designed by pilots, and built by pilots for pilots.
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Universal Avionics Factory Tour: Insight To Making Cockpit Electronics

Oct 27, 2016
Going behind the scenes to see how much work is involved in creating an avionics product and bringing it to market gives one an appreciation and respect for the work of the designers, engineers and technicians who make this happen.

Operations

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Honeywell’s Super-Midsize HTF7000 Engine

Oct 27, 2016
According to Honeywell, there are 700 HTF7000-powered aircraft in service with 1,400 engines that have collectively logged more than 2.6 million hours.
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Honeywell’s Other Engines

Oct 27, 2016
While Honeywell Aerospace's forward view is firmly fixed on the super-midsize business jet market, the Phoenix-based OEM continues to produce its stable of smaller turbine engines.
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HTF7000 From The Cockpit

Oct 27, 2016
Rick Stoulil, chief pilot for Hormel Foods Corp., says: "The way the HTF7000 is set up, it works great. It is equipped with autothrottles and is very responsive [on spool-up] with very little lag. And it's really fuel efficient.
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One DOM’s Tale

Oct 27, 2016
The director of maintenance of a large U.S. charter/management company with experience with HTF7000 turbofans half jokes that, while the engine runs well, you do not want to borescope it.
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Whatever Happened To The F109?

Oct 27, 2016
The turbofan for the USAF Fairchild-Republic T-46 advanced trainer was rated at 1,330 lb. thrust and was assigned the designation F109. But the program was canceled after the first 28 F109s were delivered.

DOM Notebook

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DOM Profile: Mark Jones, Director of Aviation

Oct 27, 2016
Mark Jones's deep expertise on Hawker series aircraft has proven to be invaluable to his employers, fellow maintainers, pilots and the jet’s manufacturer.

Safety

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Single-Pilot CRM

Oct 27, 2016
How to master automation, communications, navigation, systems and the rest when you are a crew of one.
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Managing Checklist Interruptions

Oct 27, 2016
Many of the checklists designed for business aircraft are lengthy, especially when addressing critical phases of flight, and they can increase a pilot's workload, thereby detracting from the primary task of managing the aircraft's trajectory. The challenge becomes compounded whenever the list is temporarily halted for whatever reason.
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Ground Prep Preferred

Oct 27, 2016
Especially as a single pilot, organizing items you will need for the flight while still in the chocks or the planning room just makes good sense.

Point of Law

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Navigating Rules For Personal Flights In The Company Aircraft

Oct 26, 2016
Flight departments must walk a narrow path to satisfy all regulatory requirements.

On Duty

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News Of Promotions, Appointments And Honors (November 2016)

Oct 26, 2016
News of promotions, appointments and honors involving professionals within the business aviation community.

20/Twenty

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Used Airplane Report: Gulfstream G450

Oct 26, 2016
If you are interested in stepping up to a long-range, large-cabin G500, it could be a real bargain.

BCA 50 Years Ago

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Business & Commercial Aviation News From November 1966

Oct 26, 2016
The first prototype of the $2 million Gulfstream II business jet took off Oct. 2 from Grumman's Bethpage, New York, airfield. It flew for 52 min. at 200 kt. and landed at the company's Peconic River Airport in Calverton, New York. Learn what else was news in November 1966.