I enjoyed “Oh, for a Good Night's Sleep” (July 2013). I think that Part 91 should start to think about adhering to the Part 121 flight/rest limitations and requirements, especially now that we monitor ourselves through an SMS. I hate the fact that more regulation is required, but unfortunately there are too many flight departments nowadays that will operate “as ordered” by their manager or principal. This would at least give them something to hang their hat on.
Gulfstream Aerospace released its new PlaneBalance application, a weight and calculation tool. The app complements the company's PlaneBook iPad application. PlaneBalance is available from the App Store on iPad or at www.itunes.com/appstore. Gulfstream's PlaneBook Software Version 2.0 must be downloaded onto the iPad prior to downloading PlaneBalance. For question or comments go to [email protected]
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Daytona Beach, Fla., selected Dr. Brent Bowen as dean of the College of Aviation at the Prescott, Ariz., campus. He comes to ERAU from Purdue University, where he was professor and head of the Aviation Technology department.
AVIC International, which acquired Continental Motors from Teledyne in 2011, has now added bankrupt Thielert Aircraft Engines of Germany to its collection of general aviation businesses and is integrating their product lines. Going forward, Thielert's diesel power plants will be known as Continental Centurion engines, and Continental President Rhett Ross says the company could begin shipping units soon. Continental's product line will now include the Centurion 2.0 series of 135-hp and 155-hp Jet A engines, in addition to 4.0 series 350-hp engines.
To no one's surprise, Richard Santulli is a major force in aviation once again. Before founding NetJets, the former Goldman Sachs wunderkind had begun RTS Helicopter Services, a leasing operation that grew to become among the largest such organizations in the world. RTS wound down as Santulli turned his focus to NetJets, but after severing relations with the fractional operation in 2009, the following year he founded Milestone Aviation Group.
The FAA has certified the Gulfstream G280's Enhanced Vision System (EVS) II and Head-Up Display (HUD) II. The systems enable pilots to see terrain, runways, taxiways and possible obstructions in low-visibility conditions and provide operational credit, enabling the super-midsize aircraft to land in weather conditions prohibitive for non-equipped aircraft.
Ontario, Canada-based Flying Colours has been appointed by Raisbeck Engineering as an Authorized Sales and Installation Centre for the entire King Air product line. Previous accreditations from Beechcraft and Blackhawk will allow the company to undertake King Air maintenance, refurbishments, modifications and paint work in additional to full completions all under one roof.
Nextant Aerospace, Cleveland, appointed James Immke to vice president of Quality and Safety. He joined the company in 2010 and has over 20 years of quality and safety experience in highly regulated industries, including aerospace and defense.
Hangar Ten Aviation Services is expanding its complex at the Charles B. Wheeler Downtown Airport in Kansas City (MKC) with a new 11,000-sq.-ft. multi-use hangar. The new facility, which will join Hangar Ten's existing 55,000-sq.-ft. hangar, will house aircraft the size of a Citation X, along with adjoining offices. Hangar Ten expaned because it has seen an increase in transient traffic fuel volume over the past three years.
The long economic downturn notwithstanding, PlaneSense, the Pilatus PC-12 fractional aircraft operation, is still putting up some strong numbers. Since beginning operations with a single aircraft in September 1995, the company — which now operates a fleet of 30 Pilatus singles — has completed 200,000 sorties into 1,140 different strips ranging in length from 1900 ft. to 10,000 ft. In 2012, its on-time departure record (excluding weather, passenger or ATC delays) was 99.5% and its busiest day ever was July 7, 2013, when it logged 156 sorties, a record that stood until Aug.
Commuter Air Technology, Inc., (CAT), Midwest City, Okla., appointed Juan “Johnny A” Alverez as director of Special Operation Forces and Latin America Business Development responsible for procurement and management of active commercial and para-public aviation, training, integration and ISR projects.
The grudge match is on. The upgraded Citation X completed its first flight recently with the clear intention of reclaiming the crown as the world's fastest civilian production aircraft. The Cessna speedy jet had assumed the title once the last Concorde was retired, but Gulfstream's G650 subsequently nosed it out with an Mmo of Mach 0.925, which is Mach 0.01 faster. The upgraded Citation X has a target redline of Mach 0.935. The new X is equipped with Garmin's G5000 platform with an auto-throttle system and two 7,034-lb.-thrust Rolls-Royce AE 3007C2 turbofans.
Jet Aviation and Sao Paulo-based C-Fly Aviation have signed a strategic alliance agreement by which C-Fly will exclusively provide Jet Aviation Flight Services referral on charter and aircraft management in Brazil. C-Fly currently manages 16 aircraft and provides a wide range of consulting services to corporate and individual clients. Jet Aviation manages over 250 aircraft worldwide.
In the early days of aviation, one of the major technical struggles for achieving flight was finding the sweet spot between the center of balance and the center of lift. Otto Lilienthal steered his gliders by shifting his body. The Wrights developed wing warping, whereby simple metal cables twisted the wings to produce roll. As aircraft complexity increased, the relationship between engine torque and prop wash (known as the P-factor) was taken into account to maintain balanced flight.
B. Coleman Aviation will develop a new Chicago-based FBO and general aviation facility at Chicago-Gary International Airport. Features include more than 25,00 sq. ft. of terminal and hangar area, and a 12,500-sq.-ft. airside canopy large enough to provide year round shelter for a Gulfstream V or Bombardier Global Express aircraft. Completion is scheduled for spring 2014.
Turbine business aircraft are so reliable, passengers are so predict–able and ATC services are so dependable that it's easy to slip into a cozy cocoon within which you're completely isolated from possible weather, mechanical, operational or physiological contingencies. In reality, though, “what if” contingencies pop up with alarming regularity. Some result in fatal consequences.
Rockwell Collins' largest acquisition to date — purchasing communications and systems engineering provider, ARINC, for $1.39 billion from the Carlyle Group — will give the avionics maker its own end-to-end communications link between the ground and the flight deck, a connection that is fundamental to the FAA's Next Generation Air Transportation System (NextGen). The companies announced the “definitive agreement” for the purchase on Aug. 11, with the deal expected to be finalized within 90 days.
Steven J. Twist (Vice President and General Counsel Services Group of America Scottsdale, Ariz. )
Your article “Command Presence” (Cause & Circumstance, June 2013) is grossly one-sided, is contradicted by every single eyewitness, omits reference to critical physical evidence, and as a result, has done a disservice to your readers. We trust in the future if you write about this horrific tragedy, you will attempt to be fair and balanced out of respect to the victims. Vice President and General Counsel Services Group of America Scottsdale, Ariz.
The FAA has issued its first type certifications for unmanned aircraft systems (UAS). The milestone event occurred July 19 when the agency presented restricted category papers under FAR 21.25 for the Insitu ScanEagle and AeroVironment Puma AE. A Boeing subsidiary, Insitu is based in Bingen, Wash. Headquartered in Monrovia, Calif., AeroVironment was founded by the late Dr. Paul MacCready, the father of human-powered flight.
The founders of Marquis Jet have struck a potential $1.4 billion deal with Beechcraft to launch new “private membership” venture, Wheels Up, which will be anchored around a fleet of King Air 350i's. The agreement includes firm orders and maintenance for 35 aircraft, with options for up to 70 more. Deliveries will begin this year with the remaining firm orders to be delivered at a rate of 1-1.5 per month, running through 2015. The options would then continue over the next few years.
A “disabled” passenger today can range from someone on crutches after a skiing accident to renowned astrophysicist Stephen Hawking, who has managed to survive amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig's disease) decades longer than his doctors predicted.
Jetcraft Corp., a major business aircraft broker with headquarters in Raleigh, N.C., has acquired the aircraft sales division of ExecuJet Aviation Group, of Zurich, Switzerland. The combined Jetcraft sales force comprises 20 senior sales executives, and another 20 sales, technical and marketing support staffers, located in offices worldwide. Chad Anderson remains president of Jetcraft and Andrew Hoy, formerly managing director of the ExecuJet group, will oversee sales in Europe, Africa and the Middle East.
Surf Air, a membership airline that began operations between three California cities in June using three Pilatus PC-12s has placed 25 pilots on its roster and is adding more. Meanwhile, FlexJet, Bombardier's Dallas-based fractional program, says sustained growth is prompting it to hire more front-seaters. Interested applicants should have at least 2,500 hours of total flight time, 500 of which should be multiengine and 500 turbine, plus an ATP and a First Class medical.
