General aviation manufacturers now are riding the wave of the improved economy. Billings increased to $24.5 billion and deliveries exceeded 2,400 airplanes.
In April 2015, air charter customers and brokers requested more quotes for flights terminating at and originating from McCarran International Airport in Las Vegas than any other airport, according to an analysis of Air Charter Guide Worldwide Trip Builder data.
Attendees and exhibitors are expected to grow at EBACE 2015. Plus, a NetJets vice president acted alone when he inappropriately blogged and tweeted about the pilots’ union activities and positions, the company said. And the first contracts signed for Dishwashair, Lufthansa Technik's inflight diswasher, have been from owners of larger executive VIP business jets, according to the Hamburg-based interiors and MRO specialist.
Fly airplanes long enough and you’ll misidentify something sooner or later — a visual reporting point, a taxiway that looks like a runway, a lighting matrix that seems to be an airport, a waypoint that’s been fat-fingered, and so forth. Recently, the Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) had cause to research incidents in which flight crews misidentified ground features as an airport environment or runway. Here’s what the bureau’s incident review revealed: Australian Occurrences
Built-for-comfort, not-for-speed has been the design mantra for 90 series King Airs for more than half a century. The roomy 179-cu.-ft. main cabin, measuring section 4.8 ft. tall, 4.5 ft. wide and 7.5 ft. long, seats four passengers in club. Some aircraft have an additional seat or two in the 48-cu.-ft. aft baggage compartment. In the aft cabin, there is a full-width, internally service lavatory with privacy curtain.
These graphs are designed to illustrate the performance of Citation Latitude under a variety of range, payload, speed and density altitude conditions. Do not use these data for flight planning purposes because they are gross approximations of actual aircraft performance.
The Citation Latitude is the latest proof that Textron Aviation is back on its feet, largely recovered from the Great Recession and fully competing for its historic share of the business jet market. For more than four decades, Citation engineers have been business aviation’s undisputed masters of iteration and the Latitude embraces this low-risk design approach to perfection.
Looking for opportunities to advance your career, or for the technicians who work for you? There are plenty of ways to help build the skills and confidence to become better technicians, and better leaders, while improving the safety and effectiveness of your operation. Consider the NBAA’s Professional Development Program (PDP) and Certified Aviation Manager (CAM) Program. Both provide the skills and leadership training necessary for managing and developing a well-run flight department.
Years ago, advancing from being a hands-on mechanic, to technical supervisor and, ultimately, to the director of maintenance (DOM) position was actually kind of easy. That’s because few wanted the top job. So, whoever was standing in the right (or wrong) spot when the old DOM quit, retired or was fired would get the title . . . and the headaches.
1. Lightspeed Adds Capability to Sierra Headset Lightspeed Aviation added Bluetooth audio capability to its entry level Sierra headset, making the company’s entire line of headsets compatible with Bluetooth cell phone, music and audio alerts from aviation apps installed on Bluetooth-capable devices. It is also compatible with FlightLink, the first inflight cockpit recording application for the Apple iPad and iPhone. Lightspeed positions Sierra as a value-priced entry into its premium ANR aviation headsets. Five-year warranty.
Aergen Management Services, Bellevue, Washington, announced Heinz Westen has been appointed chief financial officer. Michael Barry has been appointed as the company’s chief marketing officer and Tom Kaluza has been named senior vice president. Westen most recently served as chief financial officer of Dubai Aerospace Enterprises, while Kaluza served as senior vice president of marketing for DAE Capital Advisors.
Butler Aviation will spend $3 million to improve and expand its facilities at La Guardia Airport, New York, under the terms of a 15-year operating agreement with the Port of Authority. New tanks and piping will be installed, along with passenger waiting areas, a pilots’ lounge and operations office.
We seldom see so many exciting new developments in our annual avionics listings. For example, there’s a try-n-buy synthetic vision system, several electronics countermeasure offerings, some promising wearable tech, rebate programs, several new FANS-1 offerings, avionics for meeting FAR Part 135 rotary-wing rules, new flight and cockpit voice recorders, plus a wide variety of new avionics packages available to meet on-coming U.S. and European Automatic Dependent Surveillance - Broadcast (ADS-B) mandates.
By William Garvey, Jessica A. Salerno, Molly McMillin
Gulfstream’s 5,000-nm G500 and the 6,200-nm G600, unveiled with great showmanship last October, are well along in their development cycles with more than 1,800 hr. of wind-tunnel work completed. First flight of the $43.5 million G500 is to take place this year, with certification targeted for 2017 and entry into service the following year. The $54.5 million G600 is to trail by about a year. The G500 is powered by two 15,144-lb.
By William Garvey, Jessica A. Salerno, Molly McMillin
JetTech is amending its Garmin GTN autopilot, coupled with LPV FAA Supplemental Type Certificate, for the Citation 500 series, to include all Primus 1000-equipped Bravo, Ultra, Encore and Excel aircraft. With the amended STC, JetTech will soon offer installation data packages and AIU for its expanded line of Citation aircraft through approved Garmin-authorized dealers along with a complete documentation package to support the installation process.
By William Garvey, Jessica A. Salerno, Molly McMillin
Dassault plans to roll its first Falcon 5X s.n. 1 through the doors at its Bordeaux production facility early next month, with first flight expected not long thereafter. The aircraft, also powered by 11,450-lb. thrust Snecma Silvercrest turbofans will eventually be joined by two other 5X in the flight test program. A large aircraft, stretching 82.6 ft. from nosecone to tail, and rising 24.5 ft. from ground level to the top of its fin, its flat floor cabin is 78 in. high, 86 in. wide and nearly 40 ft. long from cockpit bulkhead to the rear of the lav.
By William Garvey, Jessica A. Salerno, Molly McMillin
Bell Helicopter’s Model 505 Jet Ranger X is making good headway — in both development and the marketplace. The helicopter began its flight trials at its Mirabel, Quebec manufacturing site last November, the same month that China’s Reignwood Investment, Ltd., signed for 50 of the light singles. The aircraft features a Garmin G1000H integrated flight deck and is powered by a Turbomeca Arrius 2R turboshaft engine rated at 504 shp (takeoff) and 457 shp (max continuous) and fitted with a dual channel FADEC.
