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Magazine Issue

Business & Commercial Aviation December 2014

VOL. 110 NO. 12 December 01, 2014

Operators Survey

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Operators Survey: Beechjet 400A/Hawker 400XP/Nextant 400XT

Dec 10, 2014
We asked operators if they favored keeping their aircraft in original condition or whether they thought upgrading was a cost-effective alternative to prolong their useful service lives. We also took an in-depth look at the airplane and its systems to put those views into perspective.

Viewpoint

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Generation No

Dec 01, 2014
NextGen, the FAA’s much ballyhooed satellite-based air traffic control system, is not generating much love. Or action, at least on the part of aircraft owners and operators. While most aircraft being delivered are either equipped or provisioned for Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B) Out, a key element in NextGen, the existing U.S. fleet of general aviation and turbine-powered business aircraft, along with airliners — that’s 200,000+ aircraft, by the FAA’s estimate — are not.

Readers’ Feedback

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Letters From Our Readers (December 2014)

Dec 01, 2014
It Was 50 Years Ago Dave Esler does an excellent job describing and analyzing the various jet card options in “Dealing Cards” (October 2014, page 72), and the reasons for their emergence as a popular option among turbine aircraft users. But the “jet card” was born much earlier than the 1999 Sentient or 2001 Marquis card — or even the mid-1980s charter broker “reminder card” as recalled by Fred Gevalt.

Intelligence

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Bombardier to Ramp Up BizJet Deliveries

Dec 01, 2014
Bombardier Aerospace is poised to ramp up business jet deliveries significantly in the fourth quarter to keep pace with its target set this year of…
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Mooney Unveils Two New Models

Dec 01, 2014
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Jet-A and Avgas Per Gallon Fuel Prices

Dec 01, 2014
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Sheltair Expands Reach in Florida

Dec 01, 2014
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Duncan Aviation Expands Capabilities for Embraer Aircraft

Dec 01, 2014
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Market Citation X Elite

Dec 01, 2014
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Piaggio Aerospace Plans Avanti EVO Delivery In December

Dec 01, 2014
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Baldwin Offers SMS Fatigue Measurement

Dec 01, 2014
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Lux Air to Build New FBO in Phoenix

Dec 01, 2014
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EASA Outlines Road Map for Fostering GA in Europe

Dec 01, 2014
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NBAA By the Numbers

Dec 01, 2014
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Safran Engineering, Duncan Aviation Team For ADS-B Out

Dec 01, 2014
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AMAC Aerospace Named Middle East Sales Distributor For PC-24

Dec 01, 2014
AMAC Aerospace was appointed exclusive sales distributor for the Pilatus PC-24 light jet in the Middle East. AMAC, which has served as a Pilatus…
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NetJets Begins Flights In China

Dec 01, 2014
NetJets has become one of the first Western companies to operate air charter services in China following receipt of an air operator’s certificate…
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NTSB Releases Preliminary Report On King Air Crash, FSI Reopens

Dec 01, 2014
The National Transportation Safety Board’s preliminary report on the Oct. 30 Beechcraft King Air B200 crash in Wichita traces a path in which the…
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Business Aviation Traffic Continuing to Grow, Argus Says

Dec 01, 2014
Business aviation traffic is showing strong evidence of sustained recovery, remaining on pace for the 12th consecutive month of growth and the 19th…
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Piaggio Aerospace Celebrates Villanova D’Albenga Opening

Dec 01, 2014
Piaggio Aerospace celebrated the opening of its new manufacturing plant at Villanova d’Albenga, Italy, officially recognizing the site as an…
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AT&T Cancels Inflight Connectivity Venture

Dec 01, 2014
AT&T has announced that it no longer plans to offer an inflight internet and entertainment product to compete with Gogo in the U.S., killing a…
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CAIGA Investing Heavily In Zhuhai

Dec 01, 2014
China Aviation Industry General Aircraft Company (CAIGA) has helped Zhuhai become one of the key centers in China for aerospace. The AVIC subsidiary…
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Cessna Receives Flurry Of Orders for Cessna Caravan

Dec 01, 2014
Cessna has experienced a flurry of orders for its Cessna Caravan utility aircraft, providing a welcome boost to its joint venture with China…
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Quest Gets FAA OK for TKS Tank Installation In Kodiak

Dec 01, 2014
Quest Aircraft secured FAA certification for installation of a flight into known ice TKS tank in the cargo pod of the Kodiak single-turboprop…
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Embraer VP to Launch Global Aerospace Consultancy

Dec 01, 2014
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Honda Aero Ships First Production HF-120

Dec 01, 2014
Before a room crowded with cheering, white uniformed workers, Honda Aero President and CEO Masahiko Izumi announced Nov. 12 that “after a long…
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Transportation Officials Stress Need for Predictable FAA Funding

Dec 01, 2014
Top transportation officials speaking at the National Air Transportation Association’s 2014 Aviation Business Roundtable held Nov. 5-6 stressed the…
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Nextant Aerospace Wins China OK for 400XTi Remanufactured Airplane

Dec 01, 2014
Nextant Aerospace secured Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) validation for its 400XTi remanufactured airplane, a move that opens the…
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Piston Deliveries Leading Industry Resurgence

Dec 01, 2014
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Comlux in Final Talks on Sukhoi BizJet

Dec 01, 2014
Comlux negotiations on taking delivery of a Sukhoi business Jet “are going pretty well right now,” says Comlux America CEO Jim Soleo. “Heavy…
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Commercial Helicopter Shipments Slowing

Dec 01, 2014
Global civil and commercial helicopter deliveries have dropped by nearly one-third and billings by 20% through the first nine months of this year,…
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Weaker Real, BizJet Deliveries Spur 3Q Embraer Loss

Dec 01, 2014
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Fast Five

Dec 01, 2014
Thomas L. Hendricks President and CEO, National Air Transportation Association, Washington, D.C.

Operations

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Checklist for International Flying

Dec 01, 2014
It may be hard to believe now, but the ubiquitous checklist did not evolve at the same pace as the flying machine.
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Send Us Your “Gotchas”

Dec 01, 2014
"Every experienced international pilot has things on his or her personal checklist that they assiduously take care of, that they are careful about, so every pilot who’s had a problem with the lav will never have it again, every pilot who’s been under-fueled will never be again, and so forth,” observed Gary Tucker, Ball Corp.’s flight department safety officer.
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Don’t Implicitly Trust the Automation

Dec 01, 2014
In preparation for the North Atlantic region instituting half-degree lateral separation on the organized track system in May this year, half-degree…
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International Trip Planning Checklist

Dec 01, 2014

DOM Notebook

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Blue, Gray, White — Keeping Them Right

Dec 01, 2014
If you ask maintainers what’s their most unpleasant, even disgusting, job the response is invariably working on lavatory systems. They’d prefer cleaning out the nastiest, fungus-lined fuel tank to wearing the “blue stain of courage.”
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Environmental Safety Tips

Dec 01, 2014
Handling waste material is unpleasant, but mishandling it can be even worse. You can receive heavy fines from federal, state and local government units for improper discharge and mishaps i nvolving exposure to your technicians. To learn more about waste handling safety in the U.S., go to: www.epa.gov and www.osha.gov

Accident Free: Are You Lucky or Truly Safe?

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Accident Free: Are You Lucky or Truly Safe?

Dec 16, 2014
Managing external pressures, including meeting passenger expectations, is as key to risk management as mitigating pilot, aircraft and environmental risk factors.
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Tropical Pressure Cooker — Air Freight Nightmares

Dec 01, 2014
At the time, I’d do anything to get 1,000 hr. of turbine PIC to qualify for the airlines,” said a young first officer who now flies jetliners for a commuter air carrier. “Everyone who flies for them is hungry for turbine flight time.” So, when offered a job as a twin-turboprop captain flying freight on an inter-island carrier, he jumped at the opportunity. It was a big step up from his previous assignment as a copilot in an Embraer Brasilia.

Safety

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Cabin Fire Battle Plan

Dec 01, 2014
A passenger leans into the cockpit and says, “Captain, there is smoke pouring from behind the lav. It’s getting hard to see and breathe.” As you turn to look, another voice shouts, “Fire!” These words may be the most chilling you will ever hear in flight and they are your clarion call to battle. Dealing with a cabin fire is the worst kind of aerial combat you will ever face, and to prevail, you need a plan. Fire is a deadly adversary.

Special Report

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2014 Cabin Electronics

Dec 17, 2014
Since B&CA began covering Cabin Electronics some 25 years ago, we haven't seen more promise and possibility in what can be done to keep passengers informed, connected, productive and entertained in flight than now. And there has never been greater demand for more bandwidth for cabin and crew connectivity.

Cause & Circumstance

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Fatal Balked Landing

Dec 01, 2014
Five passengers were killed and two pilots suffered serious injuries when Beech Premier 390 — N777VG —crashed during a balked landing at Thomson, Georgia on Feb. 20, 2013. NTSB has completed its investigation with a finding that the probable cause was “the pilot’s failure to follow airplane flight manual procedures for an antiskid failure in flight, and his failure to immediately retract the lift dump after he elected to attempt a go-around on the runway.
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Accidents in Brief

Dec 01, 2014
Nov. 2 — About 1456 PST, a Cessna T210M (N1593M) was substantially damaged during a forced landing following a loss of engine power near Jacksonville, Oregon. The airplane was registered to and operated by the pilot. The private pilot, sole occupant of the airplane, received minor injuries. It was VFR for the cross-country flight that was operating on an IFR flight plan originating from Grants Pass, Oregon, with an intended destination of Long Beach, California. The pilot reported that during cruise flight at an altitude of about 12,000 ft.

Washington Watch

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Champions in Caucus

Dec 01, 2014
Over the past several years, the still relatively young House and Senate General Aviation Caucuses have emerged into some of the strongest and largest on Capitol Hill. The House caucus, which exceeds 250 members, is the largest in the chamber, while the Senate caucus stood strong at 40 members.

20/Twenty

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Beechjet 400

Dec 01, 2014
For $300,000 to $450,000, you can a buy a 1986 to 1989 Beechjet 400 (RJ-0001 to RJ-0065) that climbs directly to FL 400 to FL 410, that cruises at 440 KTAS and that can carry four passengers more than 1,600 nm. While there are plenty of choices in today’s pre-owned light jet market, few offer this aircraft’s blend of speed, cabin comfort and full-tanks payload. Of the 65 units built, around 50 remain in service.

Products & Services Previews

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Products & Services Previews

Dec 01, 2014
1. Satcom Direct Exclusive Provider for SmartSky

B&CA 50 Years Ago

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December 1964 News

Dec 01, 2014
NBAA’s 17th annual convention at Bal Harbour, Florida, exceeded even the most optimistic predictions as the most successful confab in the Association’s history. Registration topped 1,400 and the aircraft on display at nearby Opa Locka was estimated at $75 million in value.