Beechcraft, Wichita, named John Kearns regional sales director for the Central and West Texas region. Kearns formerly spent 15 years with Tulsa Beechcraft and is a former Beechcraft sales distributor in Tulsa. Patrick O'Connell was named regional sales director for the Upper Midwest region. He served as a demonstration pilot for Beechcraft for the past 6 years.
The Learjet 75's Honeywell TFE731-40BR engines have essentially the same internal parts as the -20BRs that power the Model 45XR. To boost the -40BR's thrust to 3,850 lb. from 3,500 lb., virtually all that was needed was a 10% throttle push involving a software change inside the -20BR's digital electronic engine control. The -20BR already had the -40BR's 4,700-lb. thrust thermodynamic rating. That's what gave the -20BR such wide flat-rating margins.
Zenith Aviation, Fredericksburg, Va., named Bryan Shelton director, Field Operations. Shelton recently ended a 20-year career in the U.S. Marine Corps where he retired as senior manager, Aviation Maintenance Operations for the Presidential Helicopter Squadron (Executive Division).
Two-year-old CAEA Aviation of Beijing, exclusive distributor for mainland China, has signed a contract for up to 10 extended-range Piaggio P180 Avanti II turboprops. The first two aircraft will be delivered in 2014. The eight options are destined for SR Jet, a subsidiary of Beijing-based Sparkle Roll Investment Holdings LTD. Piaggio is fitting the aircraft with a removable 400-lb.-capacity auxiliary fuel tank that mounts on one side of the lavatory. The extra fuel extends four-passenger range by 210 nm.
To learn more about IS-BAO, visit the International Business Aviation Council's website — www.ibac.org. There you will find information about the work that IBAC does and how to go about becoming IS-BAO registered. There is also helpful information and links to other safety related topics.
When a center controller issues an advisory of “extreme precipitation” ahead, frustration or confusion may well come into play. All professional pilots have had the experience of being in day VMC when we get the call. Yet looking out the windscreen, it's clear that the weather is simply not a factor; often it's out there, but well below the aircraft. However, get that same call at night or in IMC, or both, and the warning can be downright unnerving.
Business aviation in North Africa is growing at a rate nearly double the global average, but activity is down this year, according to the Middle East Business Aviation Association (MEBAA). MEBAA points to WingX data that shows the number of registered business aircraft is increasing at a compound annual growth rate of 6.3%, compared with the global average of 3.7%.
TrueNorth Avionics has introduced the Stylus Wi-Fi handset. It's cradle fits into both TrueNorth's Simphone legacy and Stylus corded handset cut-outs offering a simplified upgrade path. The handset charges in the cradle via Power over Ethernet (PoE) or 28V power. The handset has Nickel-metal Hydride (MiMH) batteries to make certification easier and uses smart power management technology. Smart technology allows the handset to configure itself when placed in the cradle, retaining passenger preferences, regardless of the handset's location in the cabin before takeoff.
FreeFlight Systems has developed an ADS-B Out upgrade for Garmin's GTX 330 Mode S transponder. FreeFlight, which signed a technology licensing agreement with Garmin, is interfacing its Model 1201 WAAS/GPS sensor with the GTX 330 to provide an additional 1090 MHz Extended Squitter (1090ES) ADS-B Out upgrade. The system, tested during the FAA's ADS-B Capstone Program, meets ADS-B and RNP accuracy, integrity and availability requirements worldwide.
Rockwell Collins has opened a new customer support center with increased staffing levels, expanded hours and enhanced technology that will provide commercial aviation customers with a higher level of service through a single point of contact. The center is staffed from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Central time, 365 days a year, and has staff on-call for after-hours support. Customer calls are answered by an expanded team of product support managers with specialized training tools and are equipped to answer questions immediately with a goal of resolution within 24 hr.
Jet Support Services, Inc. (JSSI) is offering a video series targeted at aircraft appraisers and the aircraft finance market that provides an in-depth look at critical maintenance issues for engines and airframes, and how they directly relate to the valuation of business jet aircraft. It's divided into five one-hour modules and is available at www.jetsupport.com.
Bombardier and the FAA are in the final stages of earning certification in fourth quarter for the Learjet 75 as an amendment to the Learjet 45 type certificate. Other than a series of weight increases and internal engine upgrades for the original Model 45, the Model 75 is the first major modification to the aircraft since it entered service in late 1997. The new derivative will fly eight passengers 1,775 nm, 4% farther than current production aircraft. Half of the improvement is due to new blended winglets that both decrease drag and increase span.
How easily we forget. “Night VFR in the Mountains” was an excellent report on a CFIT accident by Richard Aarons (Cause & Circumstance, October 2013). B&CA published an article on how a common old, low-tech radar can be used to prevent that type of tragedy, way back in March, 1996. The procedure has been picked up by a few operators around the world, but obviously too few. You would perform a major safety service by repeating advice from the mythical “Capt. Lightning” several times each year.
Air Charter Safety Foundation (ACSF), Alexandria, Va., has selected Greg Kinsella, president and CEO of Key Air, to the ACSF Board of Governors. American Eurocopter, Grand Prairie, Texas, named Samuel Adcock to the post of vice president-general manager of the company's helicopter production plant in Columbus, Miss.
As we went to press, Bloomberg news was reporting that Beechcraft is up for sale. Again. The report stated, “Credit Suisse Group AG is contacting potential suitors on their interest in acquiring Beechcraft, said the people, who asked not to be identified because the discussions are private. Beechcraft may fetch about $1.5 billion, another person said. Cessna Aircraft parent Textron Inc.
The political math is not complicated. The U.S. government and most of the states are broke. Most people don't own aircraft. So, there won't be a populist revolt if in their quest for more revenue the IRS and counterparts at the state level target business aircraft for audits.
With the emergence of a new generation of large-cabin, long-haul business aircraft, the industry could be witnessing a sea change in the traditional chicken-and-egg trade-off between airframe and engine makers. Unlike previous and current generations, which use engines derived from existing families, at least some of the new wave of large business jets will be powered by purpose-designed engines derived from the same all-new cores in development for the next-generation of single and widebody airliners.
Garmin International announced a premium GPS watch designed specifically for aviators. The D2 features Garmin's signature direct-to and nearest navigation functions, as well as a built-in altimeter with adjustable baro setting, altitude alerting capabilities, display of both local and Zulu/UTC time, and the ability to seamlessly integrate with the Garmin Pilot app, VIRB action camera, and many more functions. The price of the D2 is $449.00 and it should be available this month,
I found “NOTAMs in Transition” (January 2013) to be an excellent article. As a member of the FAA's NOTAM working group we have been pushing for NOTAM improvements for many years, in fact since 2000. Your last paragraph captures the problem perfectly: Stop-and-Go Funding. I would love to see more articles on NOTAMS particularly from the dispatcher's perspective or more importantly explaining the role of the dispatcher. Manager Dispatch Operations
Universal Avionics announced its Control Display Unit (CDU) emulator iPad application for the Flight Management System (FMS) Trainer software. It's available for the iPad and supports life-size touch-sensitive emulation of Universal's 4-in. CDU, 5-in. CDU and Multi-function CDU. The app sends the FMS trainer CDU display screen to the iPad, and key pushes from the simulated CDU are then sent back to the FMS Trainer via a wireless network. The CDU emulator app allows operators to experience realistic, hands-on training in FMS operations.
Flush with new funding, Mooney Aircraft is stepping out of its years-long malaise and reports it will return its swift piston singles — specifically, the Acclaim Type S, Ovation 2GX and Ovation 3 series — to production by January, 2014. It's a new day for Mooney. And with a new investment group that is committed to the future, we're expecting to make a strong move in the industry,” noted Barry Hodkin, CFO for the company.
These included: Ensure that unstabilized approach and go-around policies are clear, concise and unambiguous, including follow-up procedures for non-compliance. Emphasize the importance of good monitoring by both pilots since that can affect the safe execution of a go-around. Operations manuals must contain a strongly worded policy statement that no punitive action will follow a go-around.
A softening in purchase expectations in several regions led Honeywell Aerospace to scale back its 10-yr. forecast for new aircraft deliveries, but the increasing preference for large-cabin, long-range aircraft is keeping the anticipated dollar value of those deliveries at the same level as in previous forecasts. In its latest Business Aviation Outlook, Honeywell predicts a market for 9,250 new business jets valued at $250 billion through 2023. The forecast is down from last year's prediction of 10,000 new business jets through 2022.
