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.
President Barack Obama signed the long-term FAA reauthorization bill Feb. 14, after the Senate approved the bill 75-20 on Feb. 6, ending a nearly 5-yr. stalemate that led to 23 short-term extensions of FAA's operating authority. Though the long-term bill was widely expected to pass the Senate by the necessary 60-vote margin, it wasn't a complete slam dunk. Labor unions lobbied against the bill in its final weeks, objecting to a House-Senate agreement over a labor rules issue. The bill passed in the House by a 248-169 margin on Feb. 3.
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).
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Most lighting projects can be accomplished with field approvals or, rarely, an STC. Your cabin completion center can likely answer any concerns you may have about lighting projects, but to be sure, FAR Part 25.812 spells out what's required for emergency lighting, while the SAE's Aircraft Cabin Illumination Standards cover the general recommendations for cabin lighting in order to provide satisfactory illumination for. Boarding and deplaning Movement about the cabin Reading Use of lavatories
The FAA has approved data link air traffic control communications over the global high-frequency data link (HFDL) network of ARINC Inc. The technology is know as FOH, an acronym for FANS Future Air Navigation System) 1/A over HDFL. The decision means that aircraft already using HDFL for long distance operational communications will eventually be capable of using the ARINC service to communicate with controllers as well.
Bombardier has rolled out its first NetJets-bound aircraft from its assembly line in Toronto. The aircraft — a Global 6000 — will be flown to Bombardier's Global Completion Center in Dorval, Quebec for completion. The Global 6000 is part of a 50-aircraft deal that Bombardier announced with the fractional ownership provider in March 2011. NetJets ordered 30 Global 5000 and 6000 aircraft and 20 more of the new Global 7000 and 8000 jets that are still in development. Deliveries of the Global 7000 and 8000s are expected to begin in 2017.
“Butte Pilatus” (Cause & Circumstance, January 2012) was right on; another winner. It should be read over and over by every instrument rated pilot. As it states so clearly, airborne radar is not for flying IN thunderstorms, it's a tool to be used for staying OUT of them.
FlightSafety International opened its new Hong Kong Learning Center, which will initially offer training programs for Gulfstream G450 and Gulfstream G550 aircraft using a new Level-D qualified full-flight simulator and advanced training devices. “We are pleased to join with Gulfstream to expand the service we provide our mutual Customers in the Asia-Pacific region by offering Gulfstream G450 and Gulfstream G550 training at our new Learning Center in Hong Kong,” said Bruce Whitman, president and CEO.
Mary “has been at DCA for decades” Miller (BBA Aviation/Signature Flight Support )
Thanks for the great article, “DCA's Slow, Steady Comeback” (February 2012). You have stayed interested in the complexities of operating our DCA location, as well as what lies ahead. For that, I am very grateful. BBA Aviation/Signature Flight Support Washington, D.C .
FlightSafety International announced that its new Level D qualified AgustaWestland AW139 simulator will feature the company's latest advanced including a 220 deg. by 60 deg. field-of-view glass mirror display. The simulator's VITAL X visual system is optimized for training low-level flight operations, offers increased scene content, improved weather features and enhanced levels of detail for optimum cueing. It will also feature Honeywell's EPIC avionics suite that integrates a 4-axis digital AFCS with the rotor systems to provide complete autopilot functionality.
Perusing the range of available cabin lighting sources, a few products seem worthy to mention here. For example, Islip, N.Y.-based Aircraft Lighting International has developed new LED lighting systems that replace fluorescent lamps directly without requiring any new wiring or connectors. Meanwhile, EMTEQ, the Milwaukee-based manufacturer, is expanding into more “intelligent” lighting systems with its Daylight and Quasar lines.
FAA will increasingly rely upon collaboration with the helicopter community to improve safety as its regulatory efforts are concentrated on the dozens of congressional mandates issued in the most recent FAA reauthorization bill and a pilot safety bill adopted 18 months ago, FAA Flight Standards Deputy Director John McGraw said during Heli-Expo 2012.
The 2012 HAI Heli-Expo wrapped up with 19,023 total attendees, 650+ exhibitors and 60 helicopters on the show floor at the Dallas Convention Center. Next year's show will be held in Las Vegas, Monday, March 4 through Thursday March 7.
CAVU's EFB-Pro for the iPhone and iPad has been selected by the U.S. Air Force for its fleet of C21A (Lear Jet 35A) aircraft. The program allows the pilot to select the aircraft from a pull-down list and then toggle the appropriate configuration. All the weight and balance information is automatically set and integrated directly into the performance calculations. Although an internet connection is not required, if one is available, current weather integrated directly into the calculations by selected from the worldwide database of airports installed in the device.
Dallas Airmotive officially opened its Singapore Regional Turbine Center (RTC) on Feb. 13. The new Center, located at Singapore's Seletar Aerospace Park, will offer authorized Honeywell major periodic inspection service on TFE731 engines and line maintenance on Honeywell TFE731, CFE738, HTF7000 engines and on 36 series, RE100 and RE220 APUs.
Jettech received FAA supplemental type certification for installation of the Garmin G600 glass panel electronic flight instrument system on legacy Cessna Citation 500 series aircraft, including Models 500, 501, 550, 551 and S550. The installation will add features such as synthetic vision, terrain awareness, traffic collision avoidance systems, digital weather radar, satellite weather radar and lightning strike information.
