Universal Avionics announced its new FlightAssure Extended Warranty Program at the recent Annual Aircraft Electronics Association (AEA) Convention in Las Vegas. FlightAssure removes the uncertainty and guesswork from a customer's avionics maintenance, downtime and overall cost. The program was designed to help customers budget the cost of component repairs by extending the avionics' protection plan.
“Each event is different,” Jeff Gardlin of the FAA's Transport Airplane Directorate observed concerning what can be learned from successful evacuations from stricken aircraft.
Universal Avionics and Duncan Aviation's partnership to launch a technologically advanced flight deck upgrade program for the Dassault Falcon 900B is scheduled to be completed, and the aircraft delivered, this month. The cockpit upgrade replaces 25 legacy instruments and significantly improves reliability and situational awareness, according the Universal.
There's been a lot of e-chatter lately concerning the place of pilots in aviation's future. The sentiments expressed celebrate the good old days when pilots, not engineers, were in charge and when the men at the controls were rugged individualists. In following these messages, it seems the fabled Pan American China Clippers were flown by pilots with “the right stuff.”
As part of the global refurbishment program announced in 2012, Jet Aviation Geneva is the first company facility to be transformed with a fresh new corporate look and feel. The newly refurbished Geneva FBO is nearly twice the size of the original, adding 313 sq. meters for a total of 648 sq. meters. The main floor of the FBO now offers a new reception area and three new customer lounges.
Williams International reports two new turbofan models — the FJ44-1AP-21 and the FJ44-4A-32 — received FAA certification in May and March, respectively, and production of both is underway. The former powers Cessna's new Citation M2 light jet, producing 10-15% more altitude thrust (depending on conditions) and consuming several percent less fuel at long range cruise than the preceding FJ44-1AP. The engine also provides significantly higher thrust at hot and high takeoff conditions and an increase in the time between overhaul (TBO) from 3500 to 4000 hr.
Customers also are ordering satcom phones, external cameras, HD video display systems, moving maps, LED lighting and flat-screen monitors, all controlled from a single position.
Initial and recurrent training programs for the Phenom 300 got off to a strong start in 2009 at Embraer CAE Training Services (ECTS) near Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport (DFW). But some operators complained that when several key leaders left the joint venture, the quality of training programs nosedived. Classrooms were crowded, instructor knowledge was checkered, sim schedules were packed 24 hr. per day and customers encountered substantial scheduling delays.
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.
Bell Helicopter is finalizing the design of its new Bell 525, a medium-lift helicopter that is due for first flight in 2014. The U.S. helicopter maker has completed much of the detailed design, says Bell Helicopter's chief engineer on the 525 program, David King. The helicopter's flight control computer and avionics system have already been released and are now undergoing integrated systems testing, he adds. Bell Helicopter is synonymous with smaller helicopters and until now has lacked an aircraft large enough to compete in market segments requiring larger helicopters.
An Aviation Safety Action Program (ASAP) is a reporting program that allows employees of participating air carriers and repair station certificate holders to identify and report safety issues to management and to the FAA for resolution, without fear that the FAA will use reports accepted under the program to take legal enforcement action against them, or that companies will use such information to take disciplinary action.
Thank you for your insight regarding unpredictable and violent winds that can exist in the mountains (“Handling High Terrain Airports,” April 2013, page 46). My daughter and I encountered an event during summer 2010 while flying just west of Estes Park, Colorado. The sky was clear and nearly calm when we experienced a downdraft that exceeded 6,000 fpm. We were 3,000 ft. above the mountaintops when we entered the descending wind pattern and within 20 sec. were forced to commit to a mountainside landing.
Embraer has received both FAA and Brazilian Agência Nacional de Aviação Civil (ANAC) clearances for installation of its Prodigy Touch flight deck aboard the Phenom 300. NetJets is launching the new flight deck aboard the Phenom, and Embraer is offering the suite as an option for other Phenom 300 aircraft beginning in the fourth quarter. Based on the Garmin G3000 platform, the Prodigy Touch incorporates touch-screen technology with automation designed for single-pilot operation.
The first production model of the new Citation Sovereign has begun flight tests about six months after unveiling the upgraded aircraft. The aircraft is expected to reach market in the third quarter, a few months ahead of the Citation X upgraded variant, even though that aircraft was announced two years earlier. The flight lasted about 2 1/2 hr., and involved testing the new avionics package and autothrottles, autopilot, engine systems, aircraft systems and instrument approaches. Cessna has logged over 1,300 hr. in three flight-test aircraft.
Executive AirShare is continuing its rapid expansion coming off its third consecutive year of double-digit growth in 2012. The regional fractional ownership program called 2012 its most successful year yet, increasing its shareowners to more than 140 and adding 36 more members in equity charter, lease and management programs, including Launch, Launch Premium and EMBark 32. The company has gone from 75 shareowners in 2009 to more than 130 by the end of 2012.
Argus Pros and its sister company, Prism, have released the 2012 edition of their Safety Management Systems (SMS) Audit results. The audit result report was launched in 2008 and has grown to incorporate and compare the findings from over 300 audit events. The main object of this comprehensive report is to highlight the recurring problem areas found in SMS implementation and execution.
Conklin & de Decker released the Aircraft Cost Evaluator 2013 Vol. 1 that delivers up-to-date benchmarking, operating and ownership cost data. The product addresses more than 550 business jets, turboprops, helicopters and piston aircraft. The new release includes seven more aircraft including the Citation Sovereign, the ATR 72-500 and 72-600, the Caravan 208EX, the Eurocopter AS365N+ and EC 145 T2 and the M20C Ranger. Each new version also contains updated fuel costs, maintenance parts and labor costs, and data necessary for SEC reporting.
I have finally caught up with my reading assignment — just finished the April issue of BCA. As usual you, and your team, have assembled an informative and inspiring magazine. A joy! Your “Quick Read” (Viewpoint, page 7) launched my delight. Who else, but you, could concatenate a swap meet, a Gulfstream G650, an entrepreneur's juggernaut and Lucky's book? I realized how you do it . . . so effortlessly, so smoothly month-after-month. I paraphrase you: “Turns out young Garvey is a pilot and a poet . . .”
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
Piper Aircraft handed over eight single-engine Piper Archer TX training airplanes to Florida Institute of Technology (FIT). Delivery of the aircraft follows the FAA's approval last month of the new Garmin G1000 avionics suite aboard the trainer. FIT is the launch customer for the G1000-equipped Archer, and has options for up to 16 more aircraft — either for the Archers or twin-engine Seminoles.
Keystone Aviation was named a dealer for Quest Aircraft's Kodiak single-turboprop aircraft for Colorado, Utah, Nevada and Northern California. The addition marks the fourth manufacturer that Keystone represents. Others include Piper, EADS Socata and HondaJet. Quest, meanwhile, continues to expand its reach as it remains on pace to deliver its 100th aircraft by early fall. Originally designed for mission and humanitarian work, the Kodiak has been delivered for a range of uses, including personal use, FAR Part 135 and government operations.
3M introduced a new line of masking tapes aimed at “Making Masking Simple.” Built on increasing levels of performance, the new products include: Value Masking Tape 101+ for basic jobs such as marking and wrapping; General Use Masking Tape 201+ for bundling, labeling and identifying; Performance Yellow Masking Tape 301+ for industrial paint masking, color coding and sealing; High Performance Green Tape 401+/233+ for high-performance industrial painting of aircraft trucks and other special vehicles; and Specialty High-Temperature Masking Tape 501+ for the highest degree of i
