The FAA is formally soliciting industry to provide it with samples of unleaded fuels for testing as possible replacements to the 100LL avgas. The agency wants to assess the viability of candidate fuels in terms of impact upon the existing piston-engine fleet, production and distribution infrastructure, environment and toxicology, and economic considerations.
Eurocopter reports its X3 hybrid demonstrator reached a speed of 255 kt. (472 km/hr) in level flight on June 7, thus claiming an unofficial speed record for a helicopter. The speed mark was achieved at an altitude of around 10,000 ft. during a 40-minute flight over southern France near the Istres flight test center. The X3 configuration utilizes a pair of RTM 322 turboshaft FADEC-equipped engines to power a five-blade main rotor system with two propellers installed on short-span fixed wings.
Piaggio Aero has announced a reduced maintenance program for its P180 Avanti/II aircraft. The C and D check, due respectively at 1,500 and 3,000 flight hours, have been extended to 1,800 and 3,600 flight hours, respectively. These newly approved intervals allow the operator to match the airframe inspection schedule with that of the P&WC PT6-66A engines on the aircraft.
L-3 Aviation Recorders, Sarasota, Fla., announced the Ed Senen has been named the division's president responsible for managing the daily operations of the division. He reports to Kris Ganase, president. Senen succeeds Michael Smith, who is retiring after 15 yr. with the company.
Aeroparts de Paris is promoting alternatives to Le Bourget. The organization operates 14 airfields in the Paris area, including Orly and Charles de Gaulle, with four airports described as “major players” in European business aviation. In addition to Le Bourget, which can handle an Airbus A380, Toussus-le-Noble to the south has two paved runways; Pontoise-Cormeilles to the northwest has longer runways and an emphasis on business aviation and training; and the Heliport de Paris, in the city's 15th Arrondissement, which handled 12,222 operations in 2012.
Sabreliner Corp., delivered two highly modified UH-60M Blackhawk helicopters earlier this year bringing their total number of VVIP helicopter completions to 11. Sabreliner developed a frame-load isolation design that allows the combat-proven Blackhawk to be converted into VVIP aircraft. The company also created clam-shell doors with integrated steps maximizing the space in the cabin. The two Jordanian aircraft incorporate full entertainment systems that display iPad content and DVDs on individual and 17-in. monitors. An Iridium phone system allows conference calling.
Aircell announced that it has signed an agreement with P3 Voith Aerospace GmbH, Hamburg, Germany, to develop several new Supplemental Type Certificates (STCs) for the Aviator 200 inflight connectivity system in the European market. Under the program, Aircell will provide complete, no-cost STCs to operators installing an Aviator 200 system at an authorized Aircell dealer and activating a new SwiftBroadband service plan with Aircell. The company is seeking aircraft to be used as the certification platform for future STCs. Aircell
SyberJet says it plans to return the SJ30 light jet to production within two years and has selected Cedar City, Utah, as its headquarters and assembly plant location. MT LLC, which acquired the program from bankruptcy in April 2011, renamed the operation SyberJet. State and local officials offered MT a $43 million package to locate in Cedar City, as well as expand the facilities of SyberJet's sister company, Metalcraft Technologies, which is also based there. In the works under various owners since 1986, the Ed Swearingen-designed jet was finally certified in 2004.
FlightSafety International is expanding its Teterboro Falcon Jet Learning Center by 50%. Once construction is completed, the facility will accommodate up to eight full- flight simulators, plus emergency training accommodation that will include a pool and other specialized equipment. It will also feature advanced technology classrooms, aircraft cabin training facilities, and enhanced office areas. Construction is expected to be completed early in 2014.
During a Little Rock rally at Dassault Falcon Jet's complex, Arkansas Gov. Mike Beebe noted that some politicians in Washington had been “less than kind to the private aviation industry” in recent years even though it was auto executives who had traveled to the Capitol in business jets in search of federal bailouts that had spurred the finger pointing. “Instead of being mad at the auto industry,” Beebe said, “they got mad at the aviation industry that hadn't done a thing wrong.”
SimCom Training Centers and Eclipse Aerospace, Inc. announced a new Avio IFMS-equipped, full-motion Eclipse twin-engine simulator that is ready for training at SimCom's Orlando, Fla., center. It is an FAA certified, Level D device. The Avio IFMS is the latest avionics configuration installed in Eclipse jets. SimCom Training Centers www.simulator.com Eclipse Aerospace www.eclipse.aero
In recent years, the experimental aircraft population has increased notably, growing from an active fleet of more than 20,407 in 2000 to an estimated 24,750 this year — a 20% gain. At the same time, the active certified piston aircraft population declined 12% — from 170,513 in 2000 to 150,535 this year, according to FAA estimates.
Dubai, UAE-based United Aviation Services is offering free, all-inclusive trip planning services to existing and potential business aviation customers. The new service will provide: full route planning; full trip cost estimates, including clearance and navigation, coordination and ground handling, catering, airport and fuel charges; efficient and cost-effective fuel stops; equipment and handling availability at any station; a detailed airport brief; advisory services on immigration and Customs regulations; and general information and security/risk assessment.
Enstrom Helicopter Corp. is doubling the size of its facility in Menominee, Mich. The helicopter manufacturer last month held a groundbreaking for the project, which will add 77,000 sq. ft. to the current 85,000-sq.-ft. facility. The expansion will enable the installation of new paint, gel coat and sandblast booths for component parts, along with additional space in the manufacturing and flight line areas. The expansion will also include a second floor to house the engineering department, a new training center and space for other manufacturing capabilities.
Perhaps you remember the first time you lowered the canopy on the T-37 in the middle of that hot July sun in Columbus, Miss. Or preflighting a Piper Warrior on the Vero Beach ramp at high noon in August. Or maybe you were learning to hover in that “green house” canopy of a TH-55 at Fort Rucker, Ala., or an R-22 in mid-summer outside Sao Paulo — either way, your Nomex flight suit or cotton shirt was completely drenched in sweat. Back then we were young, eager and not about to show others that the heat was a bother.
With the right avionics, landing a large turbine helicopter by hand at night or in poor visibility could be as easy as nudging a small green target into the middle of a larger cyan diamond on the primary flight display.
May 31 — About 1310 EDT, a Diamond Aircraft Industries Inc., DA20-C1 (N176MA) was heavily damaged when it crashed shortly after takeoff from Linden Airport (LDJ), Linden, N.J. The flight instructor was fatally injured and a passenger was seriously injured. It was VFR for the introductory instruction flight. The airplane was owned and operated by Best-in-Flight, a flight school based at LDJ. The airplane was “topped-off” with fuel the night before and was flown without incident for 2.6 hr. prior to the accident.
Bombardier is confident in the strong, long-term potential of the business aircraft industry and forecasts a total of 24,000 business jet deliveries from 2013 to 2032 in the segments in which Bombardier competes, which represents approximately $650 billion in industry revenues. Bombardier's Business Aircraft Market Forecast anticipates 9,800 aircraft deliveries, worth $269 billion, during the 2013 to 2022 period, and 14,200 aircraft, worth $381 billion, from 2023 to 2032.
Women in Corporate Aviation, an organization dedicated to providing networking, education, mentoring and scholarship opportunities for women and men seeking a profession in corporate aviation, has voted Paula Kraft to its board of directors. Kraft, the founder of Tastefully Yours and Aviation Catering Consultants, joins a board of 11, which is currently chaired by Brenda Miles. Mary Ann Fash, senior flight manager for flight services at Boeing, was appointed to the board at the same time.
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.
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.
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.
Millennium International has expanded its service offerings to include Honeywell Primus avionics suite support. The move bolsters Millennium's support for Embraer ERJ 135/145 aircraft. Based near Kansas City, Millennium provides maintenance, repair and overhaul services for commercial, military and rotor-wing aircraft.
