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Magazine Issue

Business & Commercial Aviation, October 2020

VOL. 116 NO. 9 September 21, 2020

Viewpoint

article

Being There: The Ineffable Power Of Presence

Sep 16, 2020
While video provides value in very many ways, the importance of actually being there is beyond measure. And that’s the gift business aviation facilitates so magnificently.

Special Report

EHang’s air taxi
article

Accelerating Autonomous Flight: Redefining Low-Altitude Aircraft

Sep 16, 2020
UAVs are already a key element serving niches poorly or ill-suited for traditional aircraft.
article

Advanced Air Mobility Developments: Interest Remains Strong

Sep 16, 2020
Some recent Advanced Air Mobility-related proposals, events and developments indicate interest remains strong in new modes of vertical flight.
EHang 216
article

EHang Develops Automated Aerial-Tourism, Firefighting Markets

Sep 16, 2020
Chinese urban air-taxi developer EHang is to expand the production capacity for its autonomous aerial vehicles as it develops markets for the passenger/medical support/firefighting-capable aircraft.

Cause & Circumstance

Textron Citation
article

Committed To Stop: Go Around Or Ride It Out?

Sep 16, 2020
The lack of accurate, timely information about the amount and nature of runway contamination has been a factor in too many accidents.
article

Accidents In Brief: Selected Accidents And Incidents In August

Sep 16, 2020
Selected accidents and incidents in August 2020. The following NTSB information is preliminary. 

Technology

Vu Cube
article

Equivalent Visual Ops: Virtual VFR In IMC, Chock To Chock

Sep 16, 2020
In 2019, more than 4.5 million people traveled by air every day worldwide and many of them arrived late because of weather. The FAA says up to 70% of air traffic delays are caused by instrument meteorological conditions.

Operations

aircraft
article

'Light snowfall' Can Hurt Anti-Ice Efforts More Than Pilots Realize

Sep 02, 2020
Researchers find lack of large flakes may give crews false sense of security in snowy takeoffs.
anti-icing
article

Anti-Icing Fluid Residue Can Cause Problems Later

Sep 02, 2020
You’ve probably noticed that a layer of sticky residue remains on an aircraft’s wing after a flight in which it was treated with anti-icing fluids…
article

Other Do’s And Don’ts For Winter Flying

Sep 02, 2020
Operate the APU only when necessary during deicing and anti-icing treatment. Do not operate the wing anti-ice system on the ground when thickened…
NavAids
article

Wither Analog NavAids? What’s Next In The NextGen Age

Sep 16, 2020
When the FAA conceived NextGen as the long-awaited modernization of the U.S. air traffic control system, it hooked its progeny to the Global Positioning System.
article

Aviation Groups Advocate For Navaid Preservation

Sep 16, 2020
Aviation groups have been actively engaged with the FAA in the development of the Minimum Operational Network of legacy navaids.
article

Third-Gen GPS Constellation Launched

Sep 16, 2020
The third Block IIIA satellite supporting the third generation of GPS was launched June 30 aboard a Space X Falcon 9 rocket.
article

U.S., European Companies In. GPS Tech Backup Study

Sep 16, 2020
The U.S. Transportation Dept. has selected nine high-tech companies to demonstrate technologies that could support air traffic movement and management should GPS become unusable.
article

Explaining The Differences Between ADS-B Vs. ADS-C

Sep 16, 2020
What is the difference between ADS-C, or FANS 1/A, the oceanic surveillance system used especially in the North Atlantic, and ADS-B?
Gulfstream G150 pilots Dan Hoyberg-Nielsen and Steven Foltz
article

Proper Checklist Design Is Key To Safe Landings

Sep 10, 2020
An ill-conceived checklist can leave pilots with too little time to carry out all the items and monitor the approach after extending landing gear.

Piloting

pilot
article

Quality Eyewear More Than A Fashion Accessory For Pilots

Aug 28, 2020
Piloting demands good vision. But the aviation environment contains numerous hazards to our eyes that can affect our ability to accomplish our tasks,…
pilot, sunglasses, polycarbonate
article

Pilot Report: SpecOps’ SpecShades

Aug 28, 2020
The select soldiers, seamen and airmen who operate in the shadows in U.S. Special Operations forces need rugged eyewear to protect their eyes against…

Fast Five

Robert Rockmaker, Flight School Association of North America, (www.fsana.com)
article

Five Questions For Robert Rockmaker Of Flight School Association

Sep 16, 2020
Robert Rockmaker is president and CEO, of the Allentown, Pennsylvania-based Flight School Association of North America

Intelligence

Beechcraft King Air 360
article

Textron Introduces King Air 360 And 360ER

Sep 16, 2020
Textron Aviation has upgraded its largest Beechcraft King Air.
article

Chicago Executive Airport Has Busiest Month Since 2015

Sep 16, 2020
Chicago Executive Airport (KPWK) recorded 9,041 takeoffs and landings in July, marking the busiest month for flight operations at the general aviation hub since July 2015
Amazon Prime Air
article

FAA Approves Amazon For Prime Air Drone Delivery Service

Sep 16, 2020
Amazon receives FAR Part 135 approval from the FAA for its Prime Air drone delivery service.
Gulfstream G650
article

Gulfstream Opens Global Parts Distribution Hub In Atlanta

Sep 16, 2020
Gulfstream Aerospace has opened an Atlanta hub dedicated to global aircraft parts distribution.
Bell Facility Wichita
article

Bell Opens First Facility In Wichita

Sep 16, 2020
Bell has opened a facility in Wichita to support multiple programs and business areas.
Garmin’s The Safe Return system
article

FAA OKs Garmin Autoland For Cirrus Vision Jet

Sep 16, 2020
Garmin’s autoland system for the Cirrus Vision Jet receives FAA certification.
article

FAA Awards Grants To UAS Center Of Excellence

Sep 16, 2020
The FAA has awarded $3.29 million in grants to its unmanned aircraft systems center of excellence.
Signature Flight Support FBO Geneva
article

Signature Acquires TAG FBOs At Geneva And Sion

Sep 16, 2020
Signature Flight Support is expanding its European presence with the acquisition of TAG Aviation’s FBOs at the Geneva and Sion airports in Switzerland.
Jetfly Aviation delivery of 1st PC12 NGX and 5th PC-24 aircraft
article

Jetfly Takes Delivery Of First PC-12 NGX

Sep 16, 2020
European fractional ownership company Jetfly Aviation has taken delivery of the first Pilatus PC-12 NGX along with its fifth PC-24.
Beechcraft King Air 360
article

Textron Introduces King Air 360 And 360ER

Sep 16, 2020
Textron Aviation has upgraded its largest Beechcraft King Air.
gogo logo
article

Gogo Sells Commercial Aviation Unit To Intelsat

Sep 16, 2020
Embattled aircraft connectivity provider Gogo will sell its commercial aviation unit to bankrupt satellite services provider Intelsat.
Textron Aviation’s Cessna 408 SkyCourier
article

Second SkyCourier Makes First Flight

Sep 16, 2020
Textron Aviation’s second Cessna 408 SkyCourier twin turboprop made its first flight in Wichita on Aug. 10.
article

Wheels Up Launches Aircraft Sales Division

Sep 16, 2020
Wheels Up forms Wheels Up Aircraft Sales, offering aircraft brokerage, acquisition, trade and advisory services.
Robinson R66 Helicopter
article

Robinson Delivers 1,000th R66 Helicopter

Sep 16, 2020
Robinson Helicopter Co. recently delivered R66 Turbine Serial Number 1000. The helicopter’s owner is Donovan Valentine of Monarch Helicopters.
Engineered Propulsion Systems Inc., diesel engine
article

Engineered Propulsion Systems Files For Chapter 11

Sep 16, 2020
Engineered Propulsion Systems files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection.
Embraer Medevac Phenom 300
article

Embraer Introduces Medevac Phenom 300

Sep 16, 2020
Embraer launches medevac version of its Phenom 300 light jet that is available as a new build or retrofit.
article

Duncan Aviation Updates Battle Creek Design Center

Sep 16, 2020
Duncan Aviation unveils a new Design Center at its Battle Creek, Michigan, MRO facility.
Gulfstream Aerospace service center, Palm Beach International Airport
article

Gulfstream, Jet Aviation Open Facilities At Palm Beach

Sep 16, 2020
Gulfstream Aerospace has opened a company-owned service center at Palm Beach International Airport, while Jet Aviation, a sister company, also opened a hangar and FBO there.
Universal Avionics, Kapture CVR/FDR
article

Universal Avionics Introduces Kapture CVR/FDR

Sep 16, 2020
Universal Avionics introduces Kapture line of cockpit voice and flight data recorders.
Textron Aviation, Beechcraft King Air 350ER
article

Special Missions King Air Delivered To Australian Police

Sep 16, 2020
Textron Aviation has delivered a Beechcraft King Air 350ER to Australian aviation service company Skytraders, which will operate and maintain it for the Victoria Police.
Textron Aviation's Cessna Denali
article

GE Expects First Delivery Of Catalyst Engine By Year-End

Sep 16, 2020
GE Aviation is progressing with engineering and certification testing on its Catalyst turboprop designed for Textron Aviation’s new single-engine Cessna Denali.
article

FXAIR Launches ‘Premium On-Demand Charter’

Sep 16, 2020
XAIR, a provider of “premium on-demand charter,” was launched in late July as owner Directional Aviation restructures its global businesses to better respond to post-COVID-19 opportunities.
Bell Textron's 505 JetRanger X
article

Bell Delivers JetRanger X To Alameda County Sheriff’s Office

Sep 16, 2020
Bell Textron has delivered its first public-safety-configured Bell 505 JetRanger X to the Alameda County Sheriff’s Office Air Support Unit in California.
connectivity, laptop
article

FAA Approves High-Speed, Dual Connectivity For G650 And G650ER

Sep 16, 2020
Gulfstream Aerospace has received FAA approval for the installation of a high-speed, dual internet system on its G650 and G650ER aircraft.

Point of Law

article

Pilot Records Redux: If Adopted, This Iteration Will Last A Lifetime

Sep 16, 2020
While nearly every state allows a felon’s records to be expunged with a showing of good behavior, a pilot will have to live with a failed check ride for the rest of his or her life.

20/Twenty

Bombardier Learjet 31A
article

Learjet 31A: Sporty Performance, Compact Interior, Short Range

Sep 16, 2020
Learjet 31/31A, with all seats filled, is about as comfortable and practical as a Porsche 911 stuffed with adults. With few people aboard, it’s about as much fun to fly as the Zuffenhausen blitz-wagen is to drive on the autobahn.

Readers' Feedback

article

Readers’ Feedback, October 2020

Sep 16, 2020
Readers comment on articles in past issues of BCA.

On Duty

article

News Of Promotions, Appointments And Honors

Sep 16, 2020
News of business aviation promotions, appointments and honors.

BCA 50 Years

Abbotsford
article

Business & Commercial Aviation News From October 1970

Sep 16, 2020
Business & Commercial Aviation News from October 1970