Eclipse Aerospace has announced the addition of an anti-skid braking system (ABS) as a new option for the Eclipse twin-engine jet. The system is available as an option on new production Eclipse 550 jets and will be offered as a retrofit to the existing fleet. In-aircraft testing is complete with certification and availability expected within six months, the company says. The new system will include two brake control valves installed in each wheel well, two axle-mounted wheel speed sensors, a computer, and a software update to the Avio Processing Center software.
Aerospace Education Corporation hosted its 4th Biennial Aviation and Aerospace Career Fair on October 4th and 5th at Republic Airport in Farmingdale, NY. The goal of the event was to educate middle and high school students about careers in aviation and aerospace and was attended by almost 2,500 people, who were able to meet with 30 exhibitors, speak with the pilots and technicians at over 10 aircraft on static display and listen to a presentation by NASA Astronaut Daniel Burbank about his time in space.
The FAA has selected Harris Corp. Government Communications Systems to provide Data Communications Integrated Services (DCIS), with a subcontracting team that includes ARINC Inc., GE Aviation and Thales. DataComm supplements today's analog voice-only air-to-ground communications system with a digital system, and it will become the primary mode of communication in air traffic in the future. The FAA says DataComm will provide a two-way data exchange between controllers and flight crews for clearances, instructions, advisories, flight crew requests and reports.
Eran Duvdevani (CEO Jet-ways Aviation Hertzlia, Israel )
A long-time subscriber, I enjoy your “operating in. . .” articles very much (e.g. “Life in the Far North: Operating in Scandinavia,” October 2012, page 26). As a Part 91 Bombardier Global 5000 pilot, I find it very helpful when planning our flights worldwide, and I keep the issues of the magazine just in case I will fly somewhere you wrote about.
Honeywell's second-generation HTF7000 series engines are more powerful and fuel efficient than the original powerplant that entered service in 2003, plus they have lower emissions. Aboard the Gulfstream G280, they're rated at 7,624 lb. thrust for takeoff up to ISA+16.7C and they produce 7,240 lb. thrust at the max continuous rating.
Robinson Helicopter received FAA certification for the R66 Turbine Police Helicopter. The R66 Police model is specially configured for law enforcement and meets the latest FAA crashworthiness regulations. The turnkey R66 Police comes standard with FAA-approved technology including the FLIR Ultra 8000 thermal imaging camera, a 10-in. fold-down color monitor, the new Spectrolab SX-7 searchlight with 30-million candlepower and a dual audio controller.
At the end of the last decade, it seemed fairly certain that a robust, seamless backup to GPS, in the form of enhanced Loran (eLoran), could be made available at a reasonable cost to GPS users in North America.
On May 11, 1996, a ValuJet Airlines DC-9 departed Miami International Airport bound for Hartsfield International Airport, Atlanta. Shortly after takeoff, the crew was alerted by an electrical problem, rapidly followed by systems dropping offline and smoke in the cockpit. While making emergency calls to the tower, voices in the background could be heard shouting that the aircraft was on fire. The aircraft was cleared for an immediate return to Miami.
Bombardier Aerospace announced September 28 that it has received orders for a total of eight Global business jets from an undisclosed customer. The firm orders are for four Global 6000 and four Global 8000 aircraft. The customer had asked to remain unidentified. The transaction is valued at approximately $500 million based on the 2012 list price for typically equipped aircraft.
Jet Source announced the addition of an Embraer Phenom 100 corporate jet to its charter fleet, based at the Jet Source FBO at McClellan-Palomar Airport (CRQ) in Carlsbad, Calif. “The Phenom 100 is proving itself to be . . . ideally suited for those quick trips to San Francisco, Phoenix or more exotic locations like Cabo San Lucas in Mexico,” says Ian Ewing, vice president of business development for Jet Source.
Rockwell Collins Pro Line Fusion avionics provide the backbone of the Gulfstream G280's PlaneView cockpit. The main instrument panel features three, 15-in., portrait configuration AMLCD adaptive flight display screens that are controlled by cursor control devices on the left- and right-side ledges and left and right standby multifunction controllers (SMCs) in the glareshield panel. Gulfstream invented the SMCs to provide each pilot with a full-function electronic standby instrument system that doubles as a display and test control box. The 3-in.-by-4-in.
The all-composite Learjet 85, arguably the most ambitious of Bombardier's several business jet development programs, is incorporating new processes and moving lots of dirt as it advances steadily toward first flight. Once certified and in service, the new model will be the largest, farthest ranging and fastest ever to bear the Learjet marque, and it will be the first FAR Part 25 business jet with a fuselage and wings fashioned mostly from composite material.
The embarrassing thing about international procedures is what a tiny percentage business aviation represents in terms of flights [about 6%] but what a large percentage we are in terms of operational errors,” lamented Nat Iyengar, captain and safety officer for a major corporate flight department. “Most of that comes down to bad procedures,” Iyengar continued. “We are too casual about the crossings due to the automation of our airplanes.” By “operational errors,” Iyengar was referring to:
Cockpit Apps has launched iLOG, an app that provides flight crews an alternative to traditional pen and paper flight logs. According to the company, the easy-to-configure app follows a crew through a typical duty day, tracking critical components such as duty and flight time, VOR checks and RVSM altimeter settings. The app is also configured to record squawks as well as engine, airframe and component time. At the end of each day, crews can either electronically sign the documents using an iPad digital signature and email their flight logs to dispatch, or print them out.
NTSB Vice Chairman Christopher A. Hart concurred with the Safety Board's findings and probable cause in this accident but expressed concern “that we are not giving enough attention to an emerging issue — the human factors issues associated with the improving reliability of automation.” What follows is excerpted from his concurring opinion.
Eurocopter and Nextant Aerospace are the newest members 0f the General Aviation Manufacturers Association (GAMA). The association now has 80 member companies worldwide.
The next time you publish another hysterical column, please add a warning label stating: “Read in the Privacy of Your Office or Home.” I started reading “Day Trippers” while sitting by my cement pond, and after the first paragraph, I laughed so loud and so hard strangers at the pool literally turned their heads in my direction. A neighbor came by later and I showed him “Legal Humor” (Readers Feedback, September 2012, page 10) and then “Day Trippers.” He laughed as hard as I did.
Honda has broken ground for a 90,000-sq.-ft. factory MRO facility on a 54-acre extension of the company's headquarters and manufacturing site at the Piedmont Triad International Airport.
Gene Condreras (President Panorama Flight Service Inc. Westchester County Airport (HPN) White Plains, N.Y. )
I'm concerned that the choice of observations attached to me in “Melbourne Muddle” (Viewpoint, October 2012, page 9) muddied my real concern about the continuing trend of airport sponsors placing private FBOs at a disadvantage through various devices.
Just finished you article on heliport approval (and nicely done, BTW) (Point of Law, October, page 55) and was wondering if Federal approval supersedes any local prohibition or approval of a heliport. I know in Pennsylvania townships are required to allow for all types of usage in the zoning, but if I received federal approval, first, can the locals prevent me from building a heliport? How about if I also had state approval ? Does any of this help a situation?
Rockwell Collins' Airshow 3-D moving map is now available for download in the iTunes App store. The iPad app delivers a unique, interactive way for business jet passengers to view the world around them and stay informed during their trip. With a simple system upgrade, existing Airshow 4000 or Venue HD cabin management system users can take advantage of the new app.
Universal Aviation U.K., located at Stansted Airport (EGSS), has completely renovated its 10,712-sq.-ft. FBO. The updates include all-new crew and passenger lounges, a state-of-the-art business center and video conferencing facility, two client meeting rooms, private screening facilities and ultra-modern showers and changing rooms. The facility is home to Universal's ground-support business and its 24/7 European Operations Center, which offers trip facilitation within Europe and globally.
