The new six-place utility helicopter, Hiller “Ten 99,” was unveiled on November 16 after six months of testing. The multi-purpose ship was designed for Navy/Marine utility and all-purpose civilian use. It's powered by a 500 hp P&WC PT6 turbine. No larger than Hiller's current 12E, the helicopter carries twice the number of passengers.
Sometimes it's the simple things that make one realize how quickly technology is morphing our environment. Now there are applications aplenty for business aircraft. Want to dim the lights? Cool off? Angle that seat back? Change the DVD? Use an app — cabin management system (CMS) makers have them in spades. Need to charter a jet tonight? There's an app for that, too, thanks to London-based Air Charter, which recently announced it has developed an iPhone app for business and leisure travelers interested in flying by private jet.
Among inflight connectivity trends as observed by OnAir, the SITA/Airbus satcom connectivity provider, three key findings stand out: (1) Over 95% of passengers use the GSM network, the default for most mobile devices, for calls, text messaging, emailing and mobile data. (2) Of those passengers buying inflight Internet access, more than half use smartphones or tablet computers, reinforcing the fact that on airplanes people prefer to use mobile devices, not laptops.
You know the drill. If it's Tuesday, it must be hydraulic failures and hot-and-high takeoffs. Break out the manuals Monday night, study the systems and plan for the predictable emergency to be encountered some time after takeoff during tomorrow's sim session.
Sim training most often includes cockpit resource management or single-pilot resource management. It almost never includes passenger expectation management, a critical pilot task that can interfere with mission completion or even cause a breakdown in safety margins. “Don't forget who signs your paycheck.” That threat looms over the heads of many professional business aircraft pilots for whom every flight with the boss onboard is “mission critical.” No delays. No diverts. No excuses.
As aircraft become even more complex, the need for precise and accurate maintenance instructions increases. Back in the early days of aviation, a good mechanic could tell what was wrong with an aircraft engine by putting a long-handled screwdriver up to the cylinder and listening. Today, even the most-advanced diagnostic tools sometimes fall short. Having correct maintenance and troubleshooting guidance is essential for maintaining a safe aircraft and keeping it operational.
The Transportation Safety Board of Canada (TSB) does a great job, in my opinion, with its analyses of business aircraft accidents — those involving Part 23 airplanes typically flown by pilots whose primary business is not flying aircraft, but rather using aircraft in furtherance of their non-aviation interests. The TSB's mission in these investigations is not to assign fault or determine civil or criminal liability, but rather for the purpose of advancing transportation safety.
Nov. 3 — At about 1210 local time (1110 UTC), a Singapore Airlines Boeing 777-300 (9V-SWQ), experienced a runway excursion upon landing on Runway 08R at Franz Joseph Strauss Munich Airport (EDDM), Munich, Germany. None of the 143 passengers or 15 crewmembers was injured. The airplane sustained minor damage. The flight originated at Manchester Airport, Manchester, England (EGCC).
So what do you think would happen if a commercial entity proposed creating a new wireless communications network that threatened to disrupt the Global Positioning System, causing catastrophic GPS signal losses for military, government, industrial and private users — jamming everything from smart bombs to oil tankers to Toyotas — and undermining the foundation of the FAA's NextGen ATC system?
In recent years, I've spent a lot of time in Europe shuttling our company's customers to product demonstrations and briefings. In doing so, I've become quite familiar with navigating the region — sifting through the various accents of the controllers, deciphering the intricate arrival and departure procedures, and once on the ground, maneuvering in and out of roundabouts, and when in the U.K., bravely driving on the “wrong” side of the road.
Dennis Murphy, Elliott Aviation's aircraft acquisition manager, said his company has been successfully marketing late-model small and midsize jets, predominantly to domestic operators, and he sees some positive signs in today's market for previously owned business aircraft.
The average prices for used business aircraft are still dropping, and the average time for-sale aircraft are on the market continues to lengthen, said market research firm Jetnet. However, the used market is still better today, compared to where it has been during the past couple of years. The market for previously owned business aircraft is considered a key indicator of the general health of the business aviation industry overall. Jetnet noted that asking prices for used aircraft have fluctuated over the last several months. “By the end of the second quarter . . .
The prolonged recovery of the used business jet market has faltered in recent months, taking a “frustrating” step backward, according to market research firm Amstat. Historically high inventories of previously owned aircraft have been considered a major stumbling block to the industry's overall recovery. However, Amstat stresses that those inventories have been coming down, albeit slowly. “Over the long haul, conditions are getting better more often than they're getting worse,” said Amstat Executive Vice President Tom Benson.
Freestream Aircraft Ltd., an international used aircraft broker, has opened offices in Hong Kong and Beijing to better serve the growing market for business jets in Asia. “Business jet use is accelerating as the Asian economies continue to grow and realize their vast potential,” says Alireza Ittihadieh, CEO of Freestream. “Doing business in person is preferred in this region. Our offices here will enable business jet buyers and sellers to work directly, face to face.”
Garmin International has received European Aviation Safety Agency approval for the installation of its Electronic Stability and Protection (ESP) and Iridium data link in G1000-equipped King Air 200 and B200 aircraft.
Clint Bowyer, a Kansas native and NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver, has signed an order for upgrades to his Beechcraft Premier IA. Bowyer is the launch customer for a synthetic vision system (SVS) upgrade to his Rockwell Collins Pro Line 21 displays, addition of new aftermarket winglets by Winglet Technology and installation of an Aircell ATG 5000 system, which provides high-speed wireless Internet service in flight.
Universal Avionics has helped upgrade a low-time, privately owned DC-9 to make the VIP airliner's cockpit NextGen-compliant. The Universal flight deck package includes four EFI-890R flat-panel integrated, high-definition flight displays; two UNS-1Fw flight management systems with 5-in., flat-panel control display units; two radio control units; and two application server units. Universal Avionics officials say the STCed upgrade gives DC-9 operators “a new option for advanced flight deck upgrades for the aircraft.”
Jettech, the aviation systems design firm that specializes in developing Reduced Vertical Separation Minimum (RVSM) aftermarket solutions, has been awarded an STC for installation of a glass cockpit in Piper Cheyenne III, IIIA and 400LS aircraft. The package includes dual Garmin G600 RVSM primary instrumentation with RVSM-capable air data computers. Garmin GTN 650 and 750 instruments are available as an additional installation.
Blackhawk, the Waco, Texas, provider of turboprop engine upgrades, has received a Brazilian STC for its Cessna 208B Caravan XP42A performance package, which enables Blackhawk to install the XP42A upgrade into Cessna Caravans licensed to operate in the South American country. Blackhawk officials say Brazil has one of the largest fleets of Caravans flying in commercial, civil, military and law enforcement roles. The Brazilian approval follows certification from the European Aviation Safety Agency in September and approval from the FAA in June.
Paul Newman's estate has put the late movie star's 1981 Sabreliner 65 up for sale. The white and blue aircraft, serial number 465-56, has a total time of less than 5,000 hr., its Honeywell TFE731 engines are on the MSP Gold maintenance plan, and the aircraft was reportedly pampered by Newman, its second owner, since he acquired it in 1995.
BLR Aerospace of Everett, Wash., has earned certification of a new LED lighting system for King Air 200s equipped with the company's winglets. The FAA-certified advanced LED lighting system also is available for all King Air 200GT, 250 and 300 series aircraft. Approval of the light system from both the European Aviation Safety Agency and Brazil's Agência Nacional de Aviação Civil is expected soon, says BLR. In addition, the company expects to win an FAA STC in early 2012 for installation of the lights on King Air 90s.
Sierra Industries, the Uvalde, Texas-based company that specializes in upgrading legacy Cessna Citations, has received an STC for its Citation I glass cockpit retrofit. Developed in cooperation with Garmin International, the G501SP modification features three Garmin GDU 1040 10.4-in. LCD primary flight displays, one each for the pilot and copilot, along with a centrally mounted 10.4-in. LCD multifunction display. Sierra officials say the standard package is available at an installed price of $284,000. Typical installation time is five weeks.
From 1995 to 2005 the Hawker 800XP was the best selling Hawker model of all time, with 475 units produced. These aircraft sold new for as much as $13.5 million, but now many are available in the low $3 million to $4 million range, according to Jay Messinger Corporate Jet Sales. This classic midsize jet can fly nine passengers more than 2,400 nm and land with NBAA IFR reserves. The “XP” indeed signifies “extra performance,” at least when compared with the Model 800 that it replaced.
Based on its most recent poll of aircraft dealers, Vref Publishing Inc., the Arizona-based provider of data on the resale market, reported in the third quarter edition of its Market Leader newsletter, “There has been a surprising amount of activity. Early this summer, many dealers reported, 'they've never been busier.'”
ExecuJet Aviation Group, the Swiss-based aviation management company, reported in September that it has experienced continued growth in new and used aircraft sales since the beginning of the year. The company predicts the trend will continue well into 2012. Year-over-year figures show ExecuJet's deliveries this year increased by almost 100%, with aircraft sales revenues up by 90%.
