Honda Aircraft, facing further delays in the certification of the GE Honda HF120 engine, is pushing back its target for certification of the HondaJet until the end of 2014. The program already has encountered series of delays, including one after problems with the HF120 surfaced during ice testing in 2011, forcing changes in the engine fan design. The company had hoped the redesigned engine would receive certification by mid-2013, clearing the way for certification and the first deliveries of HondaJet later this year.
While industry leaders focus on potential aviation tax changes, such as proposals for new business jet depreciation schedules or aviation user fees, one analyst believes a tax change that took effect earlier this year is eroding sales. “We believe the income tax hike at the start of the year was a material driver of the fresh weakness [in the light jet market],” says J.P.Morgan. The analyst calls the latest detractor to the market “another leg down,” but says it is not a sign that the industry is impaired. Some industry indicators are improving.
King Schools has released a free online non-towered airport operations course designed to take customers through the paces of arrival and departure from airports without an operating control tower, and show customers how to use skillful communication together with situational awareness to help manage collision risk. “With the closing of towers at many airports, it is more critical than ever to brush up on non-towered operations. This course provides a wealth of pointers on issuing clear and professional communications,” said Martha King.
There now are 260+ Phenom 100 aircraft in service. The aircraft went through some teething pains as first deliveries began in December 2008, but operators say it has evolved into a highly reliable means of business transportation in the last 30 months.
FAA has no studies on the possible toxicity of pilots' breathing 100% oxygen for prolonged periods, but Jeffrey Sventek, executive director of the Aerospace Medical Association, co-authored just such a study using rabbits in the mid-1980s. The goal was evaluate the possible side effects of breathing almost pure oxygen on the rabbits' cardiovascular systems. Significant changes in the rabbits' responses to certain enzymes that regulate blood pressure and heart rate were recorded after 72 hr. of almost continuous exposure to pure oxygen at normal atmospheric pressure.
L-3 Aviation Products announced that Sikorsky Aircraft Corp. selected the GH-3001 Electronic Standby Instrument System (ESIS), Stormscope WX-500 Lightning Detection System and the PS-885 Emergency Power Supply (EPS) for its H-60 and S-70i helicopter platforms. This follow-on award is a five-year contract that spans from 2013 through 2017. Designed with military platforms in mind, the night vision goggle (NVG)-compatible GH-3001 ESIS provides accurate attitude, altitude, airspeed and heading cues in a compact unit.
In April a Gulfstream G650 set a city-pair speed record between Shanghai and Newark, N.J., by covering more than 6,855 nm (12,695 km) in 13 hr. and 32 minutes. The manufacturer said the aircraft departed Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport at 10:38 p.m. local time on April 18 with five passengers and four crewmembers on board. Once airborne, ATC held the aircraft below 31,000 ft. for an hour before it could climb to its normal cruising altitude of 41,000 to 51,000 ft. (12,500-15,500 meters).
Jamie McIntyre (President Romeo Oscar Inc. Montreal, Canada )
I just finished “Quick Read” (Viewpoint, April 2013). I also have a copy of We and started and finished it a few weeks ago. I, too, was amazed at the matter-of-fact recall of the Atlantic voyage, as well as the lack of detail in getting his aeroplane designed and built (“. . . and then I flew it to Paris. . . .”). Your copy must be in terrific shape — mine is marked less than a tenner, and includes a jacket. President Romeo Oscar Inc. Montreal, Canada
Cessna has begun providing AOG maintenance for Cessna 208 Caravan aircraft in Europe, building on the service that the Wichita airframer recently rolled out in the U.S. Cessna's Citation Service Center in Zurich will perform the unscheduled AOG maintenance, providing services Caravans throughout the region. The Zurich center's Mobile Service Unit, one of three Cessna has in Europe, will be certified on the Caravan, along with Citation aircraft.
During a small gathering of aviation business leaders in Teterboro, N.J., in March, National Air Transportation Association (NATA) President Tom Hendricks asked the attendees to state their top concerns. FlightSafety International Chairman, CEO and President Bruce Whitman was among the first to answer: FAA's recent training interpretation. It is giving FlightSafety all sorts of problems, he told the group. Heads nodded in agreement. The FAR Part 135 operators at the gathering knew firsthand the problems that the interpretation was causing.
Piaggio Aero is already planning to open an authorized service center (ASC) in China, even though it has just two Piaggio Avanti II turboprops in the country. The ASC will be set up as a joint venture with Chinese distributor CAEA (Beijing) Aviation Investment Co. Ltd., at the Zhuhai operating base of CAE's Free Sky Aviation, which makes the aircraft available to private members. Li Xuefeng, president of CAEA, says the ASC will begin to provide services to customers as early as this year.
April 26 — About 1835 CDT, a Beech G36 (N222GL) experienced a loss of engine power and performed an emergency landing near Hoxie, Kan. The airplane was registered to and operated by Garmin International Inc., Olathe, Kan., as a business flight. It was VFR for the flight, which operated on an IFR flight plan. The flight originated from Centennial Airport (APA), Englewood, Colo., about 1605 MDT, and was en route to New Century AirCenter Airport (JCI), Olathe, Kan. According to a statement provided by the pilot, while flying at 11,000 ft.
Alex Bruzzano (Chief of Safety Nebraska Air National Guard Offutt AFB, Neb. )
Thank you so much for the kind words in “The List, Please” (Viewpoint, May 2013, page 11). One small point, however. I have never been (unfortunately) a Gulfstream pilot — King Airs, Barons and TBMs have been my forte in that department. Again, thanks so much for your help. If we do get a chance to improve our checklist design I'll be sure to let you know. Chief of Safety Nebraska Air National Guard Offutt AFB, Neb.
FAA Flight Standards Director John Allen wants to change the agency's approach to enforcement regarding minor issues, but is getting slowed by the agency's attorneys. Speaking at the recent Regional Air Cargo Carriers Association Spring Meeting, he said his office had hoped to move away from a punitive system to one that enables inspectors to help operators correct small problems before immediately jumping into an enforcement action.
In reference to your editorial comments in “Who's Up Front?” (Viewpoint, February 2013), as I recall, years ago United Airlines tried the approach of hiring individuals who had at least at least a Private Pilot certificate. Then at the airline's expense, they were provided additional training to achieve certification as Commercial/Instrument pilots who met the airline's first officer qualifications. I don't recall how long this plan remained in effect, but I suspect it didn't prove to be a viable avenue to provide qualified pilots to meet the airline's needs.
David Esler's “Euro ETS Reconsidered” (April 2013, page 36) was very politically correct. Esler does a great job of describing all the players, but does not point to any benefit to the global aviation community by implementing this ridiculous program.
Dassault Aviation's Mystere 20 s.n.1 took to the skies for the very first time on May 4, 1963, and the French planemaker is holding celebrations and displays throughout the year to commemorate the 50th anniversary of that signal event. The centerpiece of the moveable feast is s.n. 1 itself. The aircraft has undergone a three-year restoration by a team of former airline and Dassault employees.
I read the instructions carefully and double-checked my passport to be sure it contained two consecutive blank pages. Good to go. All that remained was to get a mug shot and then send the package to the facilitator to obtain a visa. I well understood the importance of those empty pages.
Bell Helicopter has begun offering the Max-Viz-1500 enhanced vision system as an option on new Bell 429s, as well as a retrofit installation on the helicopter. Bell and Astronics collaborated on the integration of the system, which they say will maximize visibility in poor weather and operating conditions. The EVS is installed at the factory on new helicopters and offered as a retrofit at Bell's service facility in Piney Flats, Tenn.
Ametek Sensors & Fluid Management Systems (SFMS) was selected by Embraer as a supplier for the recently awarded U.S. Air Force Light Air Support (LAS) contract. Embraer teamed with Sierra Nevada Corp. on the program and is producing the Super Tucano for the LAS contract. Ametek was selected to provide products including advanced triaxial accelerometers and Amphion solid-state relays.
FlightSafety International's first AgustaWestland AW139 full-flight simulator has entered service at the company's Learning Center in Lafayette, La. The first Initial Pilot course using this new Level D qualified simulator is now underway. The simulator is equipped with a Honeywell Primus Epic avionics suite configured for single- and dual-pilot operations. It features a four-axis autopilot, GPS with Wide Area Augmentation System (WAAS) capabilities, a Traffic Collision Avoidance System (TCAS), and an Enhanced Ground Proximity Warning System (EGPWS).
Solid growth in West Star Aviation's key markets is fueling significant expansion plans. To meet its business demands, it plans to invest roughly $15 million this year on facilities in Grand Junction, Co., East Alton, Ill.), and Columbia, S.C. Plans call for adding approximately 160,000 sq. ft. at West Star's two largest locations (Grand Junction and East Alton) and at its location in Columbia. All facilities will be new with the exception of the maintenance facility in Grand Junction. That facility will be housed in a hangar that previously belonged to Mesa Airlines.
Alpha Air Center of Joplin Regional Airport (KJL) in Webb City, Mo., plans to open a new 5,000-sq.-ft. executive terminal this summer. The new terminal will include a range of amenities, including showers, conference rooms, flight-planning equipment and dedicated pilot and passenger amenities. The fixed-base operation is an Avfuel dealer that participates in Avfuel Contract Fuel and Avtrip points programs.
Hawthorne Global Aviation Services is adding its third location in a little more than a year with the recent acquisition of development rights at Chicago Executive Airport. Hawthorne, which teamed with Moelis Capital Partners in 2010 to build a nationwide fixed-base operation (FBO) chain, closed on a deal May 6 to acquire the rights from Sovereign Development Group and hopesto begin construction later this month on a nearly 40,000-sq.-ft. terminal and hangar facility.
Just a quick one to say how much I enjoy your pieces each month and to ask that y'all not let BCA evaporate into a non-paper effort given its still-important role and the value of a paper-based magazine that does what you do.
