Sherwin-Williams Aerospace Coatings has launched a new website to assist aircraft coatings specifiers, influencers and users. The site allows users to easily navigate or directly search via their specific market niche (general, business, commercial or military aviation markets) and/or product systems (interior, exterior coatings, primers, fillers, etc.). One highlight of the website is its detailed products and systems section that includes information specific to SKYscapes, the company's new basecoast/clearcoat exterior paint system.
Modern aircraft cabins, equipped with sophisticated arrays of electronics designed to keep passengers comfortable, entertained and in touch, are wonders to behold. But keeping all of today's cabin components in harmony requires an integrated, easy-to-use control hub.
“The most important thing with international procedures for contingencies is an equal understanding between the pilot and the controller on the actions the former is required to take,” Chris Dalton, ICAO's chief of air traffic management and a former oceanic controller, told BCA. “The pilot must have an understanding of what the controller wants him to do, otherwise the controller can't maintain separation and keep the airspace safe.”
Light-sport aircraft developer Icon Aircraft selected Cirrus Aircraft to supply a significant portion of the composite airframe for the A5 amphibious airplane. Cirrus will produce the components at its Grand Forks, N.D., plant, alongside those manufactured for the SR20 and SR22 single-piston aircraft. Icon will integrate the components at its facility in Tehachapi, Calif., where all design, final assembly, finishing and testing will occur.
Piper Aircraft continued to increase aircraft deliveries and grow revenues during the first half of 2012. During the second quarter of 2012, ended June 30, Piper delivered 39 new aircraft contributing $37,423,010 in revenue. That was up 18% from 33 aircraft in the same period in 2011, with revenue up more than 20% from $31,141,182. For the first half of this year, Piper delivered 76 airplanes, up 28% from 59 during the same period in 2011 while generating $69,001,213 in revenue, up more than 20% from $57,300,885 during the same period in 2011.
GKN Aerospace has won a contract from Triumph Aerostructures to design, build and supply composite winglets and ailerons for the Bombardier Global 7000 and Global 8000 ultra-long-range business jets. The ailerons will be developed and manufactured at GKN Aerospace's Munich wing structures operation, with the winglets work conducted by the GKN team on the Isle of Wight, U.K.
Pan Am International Flight Academy now has an agreement with Carnegie Speech to aid in the company's Aviation English training. Carnegie's patented language learning technology will be used at the Academy's training centers in the U.S. and abroad to increase English proficiency within the aviation field. To help students meet and surpass the ICAO requirements (known as Operational Level 4), Pan Am integrates Carnegie Speech's “NativeAcccent” technology and “Climb Level 4 Aviation English” software with their programs.
Breitling is offering its star model, the Chronomat 41 Limited, in a 2,000-piece limited series that will appeal more strongly than ever to enthusiasts of the original design, says the company. The original and generous lines of the steel case are enhanced by all-polished finishes, as are the bracelet and rotating bezel. The watch is water-resistant to 200 meters (660 ft.). Breitling www.breitling.com
The FAA has awarded Pro Star Aviation a Letter of Designation for the FAA Supplemental Type Certificate Organization Designation Authorization (ODA). This designation allows Pro Star to act on behalf of the FAA when approving and issuing STCs. Since 1998, Pro Star has developed nearly 50 FAA STCs in addition to managing STC projects for other applicants. As an ODA, Pro Star will manage and control the STC project from start to finish with minimal oversight from the FAA.
When your airplane is over the high seas far from a suitable alternate and something breaks especially at night or in bad weather—the elements grow to seem immeasurably large and hostile.
NBAA President Ed Bolen calls the slow progress on improving temporary flight restrictions “a tremendous frustration . . . The instruments put into place after 9/11 were dull, blunt-force instruments.” By now, Bolen told a panel during the Experimental Aircraft Association AirVenture in Oshkosh, Wis., he had hoped that those instruments would have become “precision instruments.” While the process is improving, it's slow and comes at a cost to operators.
Real Clean Aviation Products has introduced Turbine Soot Master, a carbon soot cleaner and degreaser. According to the company it is designed to effectively address carbon exhaust buildup and staining that occurs on most turboprop aircraft. The product's streak-free formula dissolves carbon, grease and oil with very little effort. Soot Master is rinse-free and does not require the use of any water. Spray it on and wipe the surface clean with a microfiber or terry cloth. View the video at www.youtube.com/RealCleanAircraft
American Eurocopter announced that California Shock Trauma Air Rescue (CALSTAR), with headquarters at McClellan, Calif., will purchase up to eight EC135 helicopters. CALSTAR operates nine full-time bases in northern and central California and is the largest nonprofit air ambulance provider on the west coast. With this order, it will replace older aircraft and become an all-Eurocopter operator.
The NBAA commended President Barack Obama for signing the “Pilot's Bill of Rights” legislation intended to provide greater protections and transparency for pilots facing federal enforcement action. The measure (S.1335) was first introduced in the Senate in July 2011 by Sens. James Inhofe (R-Okla.) and Mark Begich (D-Alaska). Similar legislation was introduced in the House of Representatives earlier this year by Missouri Republican Sam Graves and Illinois Democrat Dan Lipinski.
Bell Helicopter has received its airworthiness certificate from the Civil Aviation Administration of China for the Bell 429. The certification follows the first complete assembly and successful flight testing of a 429 in China at Kingwing General Aviation Co., a CAAC 145 service facility.
NATA is reaching into the airline industry for a successor to longtime President James Coyne, announcing July 24 that Thomas Hendricks will take the helm as of Sept. 1. Hendricks was senior vice president, safety security and operations of Airlines for America, responsible for technical and operational functions, as well as advocacy and policy positions on flight operations, safety, engineering, air traffic management and security.
Excellent article about the latency of cockpit-displayed Nexrad data (“Cause & Circumstance, August 2012). Equally important, though, is for pilots to realize that the Weather and Radar Processor (WARP) used to display precipitation data to Center controllers can be equally latent and should not be relied upon to obtain vectors that “thread the needle” between large convective cells. (Tracon weather displays more closely approximate real-time conditions.) Keep up the good work.
Citing the potential impact on the relationship between MRO providers and their customers, as well as the proposal's scope, nine associations have asked the FAA for 90 more days to comment on the agency's proposed repair station rule changes. The original comment period's closing date was Aug. 20. The trade groups say members have noted major concerns with the new rule , which would radically revamp FAR Part 145.
Cessna wants EASA to certify its Skycatcher light-sport aircraft. Tracy Leopold, business leader for the 162, says the aircraft currently is only permitted to operate in nine countries and EASA approval will provide expanded sales opportunities. Leopold stresses that the aircraft – which is not certified in the U.S., but meets ASTM standards for certification – will remain a light-sport aircraft in the U.S., even if it is certified in Europe.
ward Opportunities Each year, the NBAA's Schedulers & Dispatchers Committee promotes education and career development through scholarships and training awards supported by the generosity of industry donors. To date, the committee has awarded more than $400,000 in scholarships along with countless training awards. Applications for the 2013 scholarships and awards are available now on www.nbaa.org.
Richard Santulli's Milestone Aviation Group has placed several major orders from three helicopter manufacturers. Most recently, Dublin-based Milestone increased its orders for Sikorsky S-92s from three to a total of 22. At this year's Helicopter Association International Heli-Expo, the company announced an order for 16 Eurocopter EC225 aircraft valued at $480 million to be delivered over five years. This is in addition to five new Eurocopter EC130B4 helicopters for its airmedical business, the first of which is planned for delivery in the second half of 2012.
Cessna Aircraft is gathering market feedback on a potential 6-7 place single turboprop and developing a new version of its venerable Grand Caravan. Dubbed the ERV (engineering research vehicle), the concept plane has been flying for the past several years. But Cessna officials maintain the program is “not a go” until they are able to determine the market for such an aircraft. The aircraft is larger, though, than another concept piston that Cessna had tested and contemplated — the NGP (next-generation piston).
Sennheiser has launched the S1 Passive, a high-performance GA headset that offers pilots both excellent passive noise attenuation and optimum wearing comfort. The full-size headset was developed for pilots who want noise attenuation but do not want to use an active headset. It is also equipped with Sennheiser's ActiveGard feature that protects the pilot's hearing against extreme volume peaks that can occur during radio communications. If a signal above 110 dB is received, ActiveGard compresses the sound and everything remains clearly intelligible at a healthy volume.
