FAA issued Advisory Circular 90-114 regarding usage of Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B) technology in compliance with FAR 91.225 and 91.227. These regulations require aircraft operating in certain classes of airspace to be equipped with ADS-B Out beginning Jan. 1, 2020. The circular contains guidance on compliance, including an overview of the ADS-B system, general operating procedures and performance requirements.
Gulfstream Aerospace has enhanced the services available to operators with the addition of a mobile support vehicle and a renovated customer lobby at its Brunswick, Ga., facility. The specially outfitted truck includes an air compressor, generator and a laptop to sign off work in real time allowing technicians to perform or support many maintenance services and transport a range of replacement parts. The renovated lobby has Wi-Fi, a 52-in. HD television and new furniture, among other improvements. Brunswick's 25,000-sq.-ft.
West Star Aviation's facility in East Alton, Ill., was named an authorized service center for the GE CF34 engine. The authorization means the facility can provide service and support of the engine and supply related parts and products. West Star's facility in Grand Junction, Colo., has been an authorized GE service provider for more than 6 yr.
The FAA wants to shift most controller-pilot messages — more than 1.2 million a day — to a digital text-based network. This will be one of the key enablers of the NextGen modernization effort, which requires aircraft to fly satellite-based procedures that are too complex for current ATC communications technology. The agency's Data Communications (Data Comm) program will make it quicker for controllers to send and revise clearances, as well as reducing frequency congestion and allowing the transmission of complex flight profiles.
FAA Advisory Circular (AC) 00-24B cautions that thunderstorms contain multiple weather hazards and that pilots should never regard any thunderstorm lightly, even when radar observers report the echoes are of light intensity. Avoiding thunderstorms is the best policy. Here are the FAA's Do's and Don'ts for thunderstorm avoidance: Don't land or take off in the face of an approaching thunderstorm. A sudden gust front of low-level turbulence could cause loss of control.
Transport Canada has approved a 500-lb. gross weight increase for Bell Model 429 helicopter to 7,500 lb., the company says. As we go to press, Bell is seeking FAA and EASA validation. Responding to customer requests, Bell worked on the change for more than a year and spent the last several months validating data for the weight increase with Transport Canada. The improvement provides increases in range or longer loiter times — which the company notes can be particularly important for EMS and law enforcement, two key markets for the 429.
TSA approved a five-year extension of its partnership with National Air Transportation Association Compliance Services (NATACS) to provide a range of general aviation security programs. The partnership recognizes NATACS as a Trusted Fingerprint Facility to process biographical and biometric information. The partnership, established in 2002, has been extended through December 2016. NATACS provides all pre-enrollment, enrollment, fingerprint collection, and secure data transmission for TSA-conducted background checks of aircrew members and flight students.
A unique “helipod” single-place helicopter design uses a shroud-ring to completely enclose coaxial short-span rotors. The shroud serves to shield counter-rotating blades to overcome lift dissymmetry and increase rotor efficiency. Helipod Inc. of California, which plans to build the ship in Japan, calls it a “shielding rotating wing biplane” and says the prototype will fly this summer.
Eurocopter released improved performance specifications for its new EC175 helicopter scheduled to enter service by year-end. The company announced a baseline payload/radius-of-action with 16 passengers at 135 nm when configured for offshore oil and gas missions, a 30% increase compared with the initial performance baseline. For longer-range missions, EC175 can transport 12 passengers to a radius of action of 190 nm. An 18-passenger configuration option is under development with the goal of achieving a radius-of-action of 100 nm.
Constant Aviation LLC, Cleveland, announced that Jay Randall has been named regional sales manger for the Great Lakes region, responsible for selling the Constant Aviation services that include maintenance, avionics, interior modifications/refurbishments and parts. Dassault Falcon, Teterboro, N.J., promoted Antoine Ajarrista to senior vice president and general manager of its Little Rock Completion Center in Arkansas. He replaced Frederic Lherm, who was named senior vice president of Industrial Operations for Dassault Aviation in St. Cloud, France.
Breitling produced a special timepiece — the Naval Centennial Limited Edition Airwolf — as part of the company's year-long salute to naval aviation. Five hundred pieces were produced. The first piece traveled with Cmdr. Mark Kelly on the space shuttle Endeavour in May 2011 during his and the shuttle's last flight before retirement. The Airwolf is being sold at Breitling's flagship Manhattan (New York) boutique and through its network of authorized retailers. Breitling www.breitling.com Price: $4,500 (retail)
FAA has issued a technical correction returning 61.57(d), which explains when a complete instrument proficiency check (IPC) is required for individuals serving as pilot in command (PIC), to its original form. A PIC is instrument-current for six months following the completion of recent experience requirements. After that, the pilot has an additional six months to regain currency without a full IPC. If currency is not established in this period, a full IPC is required.
Cessna's Citation Ten prototype made its first flight Jan. 17. The flight lasted more than 2 hr. and included tests of stability and control, handling qualities, functional operations including the autopilot and autothrottle system, engine operability and avionics before landing at Wichita's Mid-Continent Airport (ICT) where Cessna's main manufacturing facility is located. Michael Voigt, Cessna's engineering test pilot flew the Ten prototype. “All systems functioned as expected including the Garmin G5000 avionics system.
Business aviation's recent post-9/11 “record” day at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) has encouraged the general aviation community that changes implemented by the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) are finally gaining some traction. Signature Flight Support, which runs the sole fixed base operation at DCA, reported that operations topped 30 in a single day, the most since before 9/11.
In the 1970s and early 1980s, this page of the magazine was in the capable hands of Arnold M. Lewis, Jr., a very good reporter who had been hired away from the Wichita Eagle newspaper to edit The Weekly of Business Aviation newsletter and write for Business & Commercial Aviation.
In 25 years, the parsing of whole aircraft into fractional shares subsequently sold through five-year management contracts featuring guaranteed accessibility and high-quality service levels grew from the company that introduced the concept — mathematician and leasing expert Richard Santulli's NetJets — into a major aviation industry comprising multiple providers collectively fielding more than a thousand business jets and turboprops.
EBAA says that the European Union has agreed to raise the threshold for smaller emitters from 10 to 25,000 tons of CO2, (a metric ton is 1,000 kg or 2,205 lb.), but was disappointed that regulators didn't go further. “This threshold certainly does not [exempt] smaller aircraft from EU ETS, but simply enables operators to benefit from a simplified monitoring and reporting procedure,” the association says.
Looking for an opportunity to expand your knowledge of business aviation and network with decision makers and key influencers in aviation maintenance? The annual NBAA MMC will be held in Nashville, Tenn., on May 1-3, 2012, and if you manage the maintenance function for your department, this is the place to be. Learn more about issues that address their aircraft and equipment maintenance needs.
“Operators Survey: Dassault Falcon 7X” (March 2011, page 46) mentions fly-by-wire controls being offered by other manufacturers. Which other purpose-built corporate jets currently offer full FBW? As for the airplane, we were fortunate in that we have a later airplane with Load 10, enhanced brakes, higher crosswind limits, etc. installed prior to initial delivery, and we have had no problems other than a faulty radar altimeter, which we replaced.
Spidertracks launched its Spider S3 Lite designed specifically for recreational pilots. The more affordable system still offers the reliability and accuracy of the company's commercial Spiders, according the James McCarthy, spidertracks operations managers. The new S3 Lite combines with Aviator (online tracking for recreational flights) allowing the user to share experiences with friends and family, and to compare notes with other pilots. spidertracks www. spidertracks.com Price: $495
Michael Toscano President and CEO, Association for Unmanned Vehicle Systems International (AUVSI), Alexandria, Va. After earning an engineering degree at the University of Rhode Island in 1976, Toscano began a 30-plus-year career with the Department of Defense that included serving as coordinator of the DOD's joint robotics program, advising on the Roles of Unmanned Vehicles, and managing R&D for Nuclear Security of weapons systems, personnel and facilities. He joined AUVSI as it chief executive in October 2008.
The European Union Emissions Trading Scheme (EU ETS), which took effect in January, is discriminatory toward business aviation and still needs substantial work to be viable, the European Business Aviation Association (EBAA) says. On Jan. 9 the association aired a number of concerns it has with the scheme, which has drawn nearly universal opposition from commercial and business aviation leaders outside of Europe.
