Business & Commercial Aviation

India’s Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd. plans to develop a new helicopter engine—the Hindustan Turbo Shaft Engine (HTSE) 1200. The announcement follows the first test run of the 25-kN (5,620-lb.) thrust Hindustan Turbo Fan Engine (HTFE) 25. “The HTSE-1200 can be used for helicopters of 3.5-ton class in the single-engine configuration such as the Light Utility Helicopter and for 5 to 8 ton class in twin engine configuration such as the Advanced Light Helicopter and Light Combat Helicopter,” said T.

Business aviation operators responding to a survey reported plans to refurbish and buy new and used aircraft. JSfirm.com, a Texas-based aviation job website, released its first business aviation report from a survey of more than 300 Part 91 and 135 operators. The survey was conducted to gauge the health of the industry, it said. Of those responding, 57% reported an increase in flight hours last year; 35% said they planned to refurbish existing aircraft in the next two years and 47% said they planned to buy new or used aircraft, the survey said.

It was a grim undertaking as we three accident investigators with the U.S. Forest Service started combing through the twisted metal of a Bell-Soloy 47 strewn across the side of a steep mountain in Utah. The helicopter operator had been contracted by the Forest Service to disburse grass seed over hillsides that had been badly burned months earlier in the summer of 1996. To accomplish this, the operator used a specially designed seeding bucket suspended by cables beneath the turbine-powered helicopter.

When pilots are asked to perform a tough assignment, they should be provided the tools necessary to conduct the mission safely. Assigning a single pilot to a single-engine, VFR-only helicopter with insufficient weather information and without instrument system protection certainly seems contrary to that rule and, indeed, statistics show such circumstances make such operations among the highest risk sectors in civil aviation.

The first fatal general aviation accident investigation in which I participated involved load shift. It was summer 1968. A low-time pilot was earning “free time” from an FBO by running an errand to a neighboring airport. There he picked up two cases of oil, stacked them behind the pilots’ seats in the Cessna 150 and returned to his home airport. Turning base to final, the airplane stalled.

In aviation we’ve long recognized that “scud running” is immensely dangerous, and the protection of operating in the IFR system with an IFR-certified aircraft and IFR-proficient pilot can be an effective means to avoid CFIT-type accidents. In 1997, the FAA allowed passenger-carrying operations under FAR Part 135 for single-engine airplanes, justifying the rule change because it noted that the risk of CFIT far outweighed the risk of engine failure.

The FAA is revising Advisory Circular AC 91-37A, Truth in Leasing, dated Jan. 16, 1978. Why? The regulation that the AC explains, FAR Part 91.23, has not changed.

According to a Victor private jet travel industry report, the three largest private jet travel markets in Europe are: France, with 19.2% of the flights; Germany, with 15.4%; and the U.K. with 12.8%. May 23 was the busiest day for travel in 2015, with 2,221 flights related to the Monaco Grand Prix. The top three airports for high-season private jet travel included Nice, France, with 13,250 flights; Olbia, Italy, with 6,220 flights; and Ibiza, Spain, with 5,634 flights.

The low-drag design of modern business jets makes managing aircraft energy while descending from altitude a challenge. These aircraft tend to build up speed rapidly in a descent and don’t “go down and slow down” well. Such characteristics are especially problematic when ATC issues a late descent combined with an altitude or airspeed constraint.

Dassault Aviation’s business jet unit saw reduced orders and deliveries in 2015, a disappointing year that was offset in part by new export contracts for the company’s Rafale combat jet. Dassault took in orders for only 45 new Falcon jets in 2015, just half of what the company recorded the previous year. In addition, an order for 20 Falcon Netjets was canceled last year, and Dassault fell short of its goal of delivering 66 business jets in 2015, instead recording just 55.

Italian aerospace and defense conglomerate Finmeccanica has begun operations under its new corporate structure. Under CEO Mauro Moretti’s “One Company” initiative, launched Jan. 1, Finmeccanica-owned AgustaWestland, Alenia Aermacchi and Selex ES have now been absorbed into the larger Finmeccanica entity and will operate as divisions rather than separate companies. Under the initiative, AgustaWestland becomes Finmeccanica Helicopters while aircraft manufacturer Alenia Aermacchi becomes Finmeccanica Aeronautics.

Embraer has delivered its first Legacy 450 mid-light business jet to Smart Air SA, in Europe. Smart Air, an aviation and advisory company, will manage the first European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA)-registered Legacy 450. The aircraft will be available for charter flights from Brussels. It will be operated by ASL, a business jet operator. The delivery took place in late December. It was scheduled to arrive in Belgium on Jan. 6, after departing from Embraer’s headquarters in Sao Jose dos Campos, Brazil.

Textron Aviation has signed an agreement to buy Able Engineering and Component Services and Able Aerospace for an undisclosed purchase price. The deal is subject to regulatory approvals and is expected to close in the first quarter of 2016. “Textron is working closely with Able to ensure a seamless transition with customers and stakeholders over the coming weeks,” a Textron Aviation spokeswoman said in an emailed statement. “More information will be provided when the acquisition is completed.”

Russian Helicopters has received type certification for the medium multirole Mi-38 transport helicopter. The aircraft was designed by Mil Moscow Helicopter Plant. The certification means the design complies with Russian and international aviation requirements, the company said. The Mi-38 will enter serial production and the Russian market in 2016. The helicopter’s two Klimov TV7-117V turboshaft engines were certified last year.

West Star Aviation in Grand Junction, Colorado, has been approved by the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC), putting it in compliance with the China Civil Aviation Regulation, CCAR, Part 145 Maintenance Organization. West Star’s approval includes overhauling and repairing landing gear for business aircraft and services and ultrasonic, eddy current X-Ray, liquid penetrate and magnetic particle inspections.

ExcelAire, based in Ronkonkoma, New York, has begun private jet charter service to Cuba. The charter firm has begun direct flights from 19 cities in the U.S. It completed its first trip to Cuba from John F. Kennedy International Airport on Dec. 21. U.S. citizens traveling to Cuba must comply with U.S. restrictions that require each visitor to obtain a visa/license, the company said.

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In February 1966, BCA reported that the Beech 18 was undergoing flight tests, a circular runway design was found to have great benefits for larger airports, and the Gulfstream II was in the mockup stage.

News of promotions, appointments and honors involving professionals within the business aviation community

TAG Farnborough Airport has added more space for passengers and crew at its terminal to meet growing demand. Air traffic grew 2% last year. That includes a 6% jump in the number of airliner-size business jets, which represents the highest growth in the category for the year, it said. Many of the airport carriers operate to and from the U.S., the Middle East and Asia. A new lounge accommodates up to 80 passengers. Crew facilities include a quiet lounge, a “snooze” room with flat beds, a zero gravity ergonomic chair and a complimentary gym and showers.

BCA shares the latest products and services for the business aviation industry.

EHang, a Chinese manufacturer, unveiled a drone on Jan. 6 at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas that it claims can fly a human passenger short-to-medium distances at low altitudes. The company’s EHang 184, which it describes as an autonomous aerial vehicle, includes four arms and eight propellers and takes off and lands vertically. It is built from composite materials, operates on electric power, and can be charged in 2-4 hr., according to EHang.

AMAC Aerospace has been awarded heavy base maintenance contacts for two Boeing Business Jets. A BBJ3 and a BBJ, both privately owned, will be entering the Basel, Switzerland, facility in early 2016. Last year, AMAC was selected for work on a head-of-state Airbus ACJ340-300.

Carter Aviation Technologies, plans to have its experimental CarterCopter at the Sun ‘n Fun International Fly-in and Expo at Florida’s Lakeland-Linder Airport April 5-10. The Wichita Falls, Texas, company says it is conducting demonstrations for potential joint venture partners. It hopes to create three separate joint ventures to develop three categories of aircraft from less than 2,000 lb. to 7,000 lb. gross weight. The company says it is discussing larger aircraft with major aerospace companies.

Two web-based aircraft ride sharing services have been shot down by the FAA. The “Ubers of the air” are no longer, thanks to a decision by a Federal Appeals Court panel. The concept behind AirPooler and Flytenow was straightforward. Pilots would go to either website, list an upcoming flight’s date, origin and destination, along with the aircraft’s make and model and seats available. The passengers could peruse the site and sign up for a trip that matched their planned travels.