Key Air, an aircraft management and charter operation based in Oxford, Conn., has received FAA authorization for use of the Apple iPad to access electronic charts in place of paper charts. Key Air previously had FAA authorization to use an electronic flight bag, and underwent a series of testing and authorizations to use the iPad. Key Air pilots will use the iPads during its commercial flight operations.
China, as almost everyone in the business aircraft industry knows, is seen as the great new sales opportunity. But how long before it will also become the great new competitor?
Constant Aviation has received FAA supplemental type certification (STC) for the installation of Aircell's Cabin Wireless Access Point (CWAP) in an Embraer EMB135LR aircraft. CWAP provides in-cabin Wi-Fi service for Gogo Biz Inflight Internet. Constant Aviation has completed the Gogo Biz Inflight Internet STC on the Gulfstream IV, Embraer 600 and EMB135 Corporate Shuttle.
Gulfstream also reported that the three Gulfstream G280 aircraft currently in the flight-test program have flown more than 1,835 hr. during more than 685 flights as of Jan. 25. The fatigue test article has completed more than 12,500 of 40,000 cycles. Serial Number 2001 recently completed rejected takeoff tests. Serial number 2003 finished all function and reliability activities and is now being transitioned to testing optional avionics features, including the Head-Up Display (HUD II) and Enhanced Vision System (EVS II).
With three new civil helicopter models set to enter certification testing or service this year, Russia's rotary-wing industry is preparing for rapid growth following almost a decade of consolidation of airframe, engine and service providers. Displaying a model of its newest Mi-171A2 at the Heli-Expo in Dallas, Russian Helicopters says it expects to deliver some 301 aircraft in 2012, up from 262 last year and 214 in 2010. The trend marks significant growth from 2006, when deliveries reached 94 helicopters, and represent a 15% year-on-year expansion, according to officials.
Hawthorne Global Aviation Services in January bought ExcelAire, an aircraft management and charter firm with an FBO at MacArthur Airport on Long Island, near New York City. The purchase price was not disclosed. Steven Levesque, Hawthorne CEO, says the ExcelAire management would remain in place and that the operation has “the capacity and the capability to do a lot more.” ExcelAire currently manages 20 aircraft. The management, charter and maintenance business will continue under the ExcelAire banner. The FBO part of the business would be rebranded as Hawthorne.
Air tour operator Papillon Grand Canyon Helicopters has incorporated the Softtech Flight & Duty TrackerT system into its operations at the South Rim of the Grand Canyon, as well as Las Vegas/Boulder City. Flight & Duty TrackerT provides FAR Part 135 flight and duty tracking for small or large flight operations, including training events.
Duncan Aviation has developed an iPad-compatible wireless interface for cabin management systems. The iCabin application connects an iPad to an aircraft's CMS, providing passengers with a remote for sound, video and cabin lighting on aircraft equipped with Wi-Fi capability. The fully customized iPad application doesn't interfere with other onboard systems or change functionality, says Duncan. It also may be used to control most audio and video equipment. A wireless cabin control application for Android devices is also being tested.
Bombardier Aerospace will open a full-scale company-owned and operated service center in Singapore in 2013. The company says the new service center will be the cornerstone of Bombardier's customer services offerings in the Asia-Pacific region. The new facility will be the second service center operated by Bombardier outside of North America, bringing the total number to ten worldwide. It will be capable of performing a variety of light to heavy maintenance tasks on all Learjet, Challenger and Global aircraft.
Bombardier is making big investments in China, both in rail — it's teaming with in-country manufacturers to develop a 280 kph train — and aviation, since Avic is supplying fuselages for both the Q400 turboprop and new CSeries airliner. However, company President and CEO Pierre Beaudoin said that the Canadian manufacturer will not be partnering with Chinese entities to build or develop a business jet there. “We have no intention of doing that,” Beaudoin told reporters at a Feb.
CB VATAmerica has launched the European Aviation Fuel Tax Advisor app for the iPad, iPhone, iPad and Android devices. The new app is part of the company's continued efforts to help business aircraft operators eliminate European VAT and excise taxes on fuel. Users can select the country of fuel uplift (all EU countries, plus Norway and Switzerland), the operator's home country, operator type, amount of fuel and the fuel cost in local currency.
The Flightstar Corp., Savoy, Ill., has purchased the assets of Bloomington Avionics based in Bloomington, Ill. Flightstar is transferring the Bloomington staff and its services to the Flightstar fixed-base operation at Champaign-Urbana's University of Illinois-Willard Airport (KCMI). A Class I and II avionics repair station, Bloomington has provided service and installation for more than 30 years. Flightstar, the sole FBO at KCMI, employs more than 120 people at a 10,000-sq.-ft. corporate terminal facility and 68,000-sq.-ft. maintenance facility.
Landmark Aviation added three aircraft to its managed charter fleet: a Hawker 800XP based at Landmark's Washington-Dulles location, an Embraer Phenom 100 based in Scottsdale, Ariz., and a King Air C90 based in Sioux Falls, S.D. Landmark has a managed fleet of 71 aircraft throughout its network. Headquartered in Houston, Landmark operates a chain of FBOs and provides charter, management and MRO services.
Phillips 66 Aviation has launched a mobile application for its WingPoints Rewards With Altitude program, providing pilots access to their WingPoints accounts and an airport dealer locator. The WingPoints Reward Card was launched in 2008, providing reward points for fuel purchases. The app is available at the iTunes store.
The FCC is withdrawing LightSquared's conditional waiver to operate its proposed 4G voice and data network in bands adjacent to those used by GPS. “The commission clearly stated from the outset that harmful interference to GPS would not be permitted,” the FCC says.
CitationAir said it will exit the fractional ownership business and focus on aircraft management and its Jet Card business. CitationAir began selling shares in 2000 and has grown into the fourth largest fractional program. It notified customers that it was suspending sales of its Jet Shares fractional program and Jet Access membership program.
In its 14th Turbine-Powered Civilian Helicopter Purchase Outlook report, released at Heli Expo, Honeywell says it expects global deliveries of new civilian-use helicopters will increase to 4,700 — 5,200 over the five-year period 2012–2016. The forecast shows slower near term economic growth prospects in key markets have added uncertainty to operator purchase plans this year, however, recent order momentum and strong purchase plans for 2012 bolster the near-term outlook.
FAA has issued an emergency AD calling for replacement of certain Bell Model 206L (and -1, -3 and -4) main rotor blades that exceed a new shortened life limit. Originally 3,600 hr. time in service, the new life limit is 1,400 hr. The AD stems from a Transport Canada report of two accidents involving failure of the main rotor blade because of fatigue cracking. Transport Canada advises that there is no reliable inspection method to detect the cracks on these blades before such failure.
Composite Technology Inc., a Sikorsky Aerospace Services company based at Dallas Fort Worth International Airport, opened one of the world's most powerful structures to dynamically balance helicopter main rotor blades. Designed by Sikorsky to test main rotor blades that rotate either clockwise or counterclockwise, the bi-directional whirl tower will enable helicopter operators and manufacturers to rebalance their rotor blades in the U.S. regardless of the rotorcraft's country of origin.
As of Jan. 25, the four Gulfstream G650s in the flight-test program had accumulated more than 2,675 flight hours over 820 flights. The aircraft is expected to enter service the middle of this year. It received a provisional type certificate from the FAA on Nov. 18, 2011, with the full FAA type certificate expected mid-year. EASA has finished its initial evaluation of the aircraft in preparation for certification. The G650 has flown for more than 14 consecutive hours, with flight-test data confirming its ability to achieve 7,000 nm (12,964 km) at Mach 0.85.
Lufthansa Technical Training's web-based training program is now available. The English-language program is divided into 16 units and all the helicopter basics are taught over 55 hr. The WBT program contains many animated system diagrams designed to be interactive. Linked video sequences introduce participants to the basics of helicopter technology and maintenance. The learning content complies with EASA category CAT B1.3 (module 12). There are online demos at www.ltt.aero/de/access-to-demoversions. Lufthansa Technical Training www.ltt.aero/en
Identity crisis: TBM700 doesn't know whether it's a single-engine turboprop or a light jet, even though it has a four-blade Hartzell on its nose. That's a fitting tribute to Alexandre Couvelaire, who created the TBM concept when he headed Mooney Aircraft in the mid to late 1980s, and had as his goal delivering a fuel-efficient aircraft with Paris Jet speeds. He and partner, Socata, delivered.
