Aug. 29 — About 1941 EDT, a Piper PA-28-161 (N9089N) was destroyed when it hit an antenna and terrain adjacent to Runway 2 and a post-accident fire ensued at Danville Regional Airport (DAN), Danville, Va., following a go-around maneuver. The student pilot, the sole occupant, was killed in the crash. It was VFR at the time of accident. The student pilot was flying the airport pattern on a supervised solo flight. Eyewitnesses observed the airplane attempt two landings preceding the accident landing attempt.
The Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association's (AOPA) annual Aviation Summit set for Oct. 10-12 in Fort Worth, Tex., will be its last. Mark Baker, the association's new president, is scrapping the big convention in favor of local “grassroots” events at which he can better mingle with AOPA members. The decision marks the first major shift for the association under Baker, who took the helm on Sept. 6. A pilot and former head of Orchard Supply Hardware Stores is the fifth person to lead the association, which will celebrate its 75th anniversary next year.
Dallas Airmotive, Dallas, appointed Thomas Kennedy regional engine manager representing all of the company's engine and auxiliary power unit service for customers in the New England area.
Lufthansa Bombardier Aviation Services has opened an additional hangar at its home base in Berlin-Schoenefeld. The increase in capacity has also created 12 new jobs (10 of which are technicians), bringing the number of staff currently employed at LBAS to 183. Following the renovation of a hangar taken over from Lufthansa Tecnik, the MRO provider can handle one aircraft in the Bombardier Global series and up to four aircraft the size of a Challenger 850. Expansion includes a battery shop and a wheel reconditioning worshop.
The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) Council has agreed to a compromise solution on the introduction of global market based measures to tackle aviation emissions. The global market concept is expected to be adopted at ICAO's assembly in 2016 and be implemented by 2020. The Council adopted a European proposal that allow states to implement a market plan prior to global implementation that covered aircraft emissions “for the portion of those flights within the airspace of that state or group of states.”
Business aviation leaders are encouraged by an endorsement from transport ministers at the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum of a set of core principles to foster business aviation in the region. The ministers, representing 21 economies, agreed to three core principles Sept. 5 during the forum.
While U.S. flight operations have remained flat in recent years, European operations are continuing to slide year over year, particularly in the western countries, according to the latest figures by Eurocontrol. Operations have climbed throughout the year in Europe, but when compared with the previous year's levels, traffic is down across the board. And 2012 levels were down from 2011. In July, the number of arrivals in Europe was 3% fewer. Departures were down 2.2%, internal flights within Europe were off 2.8% and overflights through Europe were down 3.3%.
Being a high-performance, true eight- to 10-passenger business turboprop aircraft with a refined cabin environment, the King Air 350i has no direct competitors. The sleek Piaggio P180 Avanti II is higher-performance turboprop, but comfortably seats four or five, and up to eight in a pinch, but only five with full fuel. So, the 350i is really in its own niche.
Cockpit Apps has released the latest version of their app, iLOG 2.0, which incorporates several new capabilities and enhancements. New in the release is an optional MEL function that alerts the crew and maintenance personnel to Category A, B, C, and D MEL items. It also tracks both hours and cycles for each log and pre-populates a crew's out/off/on/in time using the industry standard of one-hour show, one-hour-go time. Other enhancements make iLOG 2.0 viable for smaller aircraft operators including a single-pilot option and an RVSM On/Off option.
TAG Farnborough Airport, Farnborough, U.K., has been awarded Airport Carbon Accreditation at the “Optimization” level, recognizing a reduction in carbon emission under the airport's direct control between Jan. 1 and Dec. 31, 2012.
Retrix Aviation has begun construction on the company's new FBO at Worcester Regional Airport in Massachusetts. The new Worcester facility is one of two FBOs that the Retrix will be constructing as a result of a multi-million dollar contract awarded by Massport. The other facility will be at Hanscom Field, and combined, they will create almost 100 new jobs and will be large enough to accommodate business jets.
Criticized by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) for lax safety oversight, India's Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has responded in part by banning domestic business aircraft operators from conducting international flights until they demonstrate compliance with new safety standards. The DGCA's decision comes in the wake of an ICAO audit that found that operators were inadequately prepared for long-distance flights. ICAO officials also cited India as among 13 nations with the worst record for air safety oversight.
After some missteps and setbacks, there's good news for Maine's Brunswick Executive Airport (BXM). The former P-3 Orion base is getting some federal money as well as a new tenant. The Midcoast Regional Redevelopment Authority (MRRA) — the agency that is redeveloping the former Brunswick Naval Air Station — will be getting $1.1 million federal grant to help renovate a former Navy Air Operations Center and turn it into a general aviation terminal.
The Federal Communications Commission is proposing to phase out 121.5 MHz emergency locator transmitters (ELTs) and transition to units transmitting on 406 MHz since only the latter's signals are processed by a network of search satellites. However, the Department of Transportation opposes the move citing expense — about $500 million to re-equip the civilian fleet — and the “unequivocal intent” of the Congress to permit use of the 121.5 units.
West Star Aviation, East Alton, Ill., announced that Cristian Byman has joined the company as technical sales manager-Avionics at the East Alton, Ill., facility. Craig Winterrowd has joined the company as as regional sales manager in California. Awards and Honors
Surf Air, a fly-all-you-want membership airline, has begun operation in California serving three destinations with Pilatus PC-12s. Founded by brothers Wade and David Eyerly, the anti-airline sells memberships for $500 and then charges each cardholder $1,650 a month. For that investment members can ride Sur Air's three Pilatus singles as often as they like on the operations 16 daily flights linking Burbank, San Carlos near Palo Alto, and Santa Barbara. It plans to expand service to Monterey, Palm Springs, San Diego, Sacramento, Lake Tahoe, and the Sonoma/Napa area as well.
The search is on for bad players in the Avantair bankruptcy. Beth Ann Sharrer, a court appointed trustee says she is “actively reviewing the debtor's books and records to determine whether the estate has any causes of action against the Officers or other directors and officers of the Debtor, including but not limited to claims for negligence, breach of fiduciary duty, or self-dealing.” She has also filed a notification that FAA has issued emergency orders of suspension of most of the Avantair fleet.
Eurocopter expects to win certification for its EC175 helicopter early next year. Certification of the 16,000 lb., 16-18 passenger utility lifter, the first of four all-new types that Eurocopter plans to offer this decade, will be “very early in 2014” with deliveries beginning shortly thereafter, according to Faury. Eurocopter is working with the European Aviation Safety Agency, the FAA and Transport Canada to certify the EC175, which it is developing with Avicopter of China.
If you want a solid indicator of where the economy is heading in the next few years, watch the private aviation industry. From the 1980s to today, economic data shows that when the private aviation and small aircraft manufacturing industries are doing well, so is the rest of the economy. If you want to get ahead of market trends, watch and see how much money banks are loaning the leaders of industry to finance corporate jets. The spending trend here is usually ahead of the rest of the market. Think of corporate jets as a high-end stimulus package.
While the objective of the North Atlantic Data Link Mandate is safety, data link equipage is also the enabling technology for reduced lateral and longitudinal separation (RLongSM) programs that will be introduced in the immediate future in the North Atlantic Track System. As such, it is expected to facilitate increased capacity and offer operators more options for preferential flight levels and tracks. Here is a description of the separation reduction programs and phased introduction schedules:
If you're willing to dig for it, one of the great troves of information regarding operations in Europe and the North Atlantic region is ICAO's Paris website, or more formally, “The European and North Atlantic Office [EUR/NAT] of ICAO.” It can be found at www.paris.icao.int/welcome/welcome.htm
Shadin Avionics now has TSO approval on the initial release of its flyTab Aircraft Interface Module (AIM), a data converter that integrates an iPad into the cockpit accessing real time flight data for iPad applications. The AIM was developed in collaboration with the Avionics & Systems Integration Group, as a part of the flyTab Class 2 Electronic Flight Bag announced in 2012. The current model provides an ARINC 429 interface for two iPads from a single unit. Shadin Avionics St. Louis Park, Minn.
Kenneth E. Gazzola (President and CEO FlightLogix Inc. McLean, Va. )
Regarding “London's Light” (Viewpoint, July 2013, page 7), you may be half German, but it is your other half that enables you to spin such compelling yarns and repeatedly link them productively to aviation. But then again, aviation is the link to most everything and more and more business executives are realizing that. President and CEO FlightLogix Inc. McLean, Va.
