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.
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.
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.
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.
Jet Aviation Dubai is working with Dassault to secure base maintenance approval for Falcon 7X aircraft. Maintenance engineers at Jet Avation Dubai have completed training and are Dassault Falcon 7X type-rated for base maintenance and the required tooling is enroute to Dubai.
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.”
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 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.
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 . . .
Nav Canada, the Air Navigation Service Provider (ANSP) for Canada, is deploying Saab subsidiary Saab Sensis Corp.'s multilateration system for surface surveillance at Calgary International Airport. Sensis will provide complete coverage of the runways, taxiways and terminal areas of the airport for improved all-weather surface situational awareness. In addition, Nav Canada will be deploying Saab Sensis VeeLo NextGen vehicle locators for surveillance of vehicles operating on the airport surface.
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.
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.
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).
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.
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.
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.”
The recent legal victory scored by environmentalist groups in their attempt to end the sale, distribution and use of aviation gasoline in California has captured the attention of several federal agencies. FAA Administrator Randy Babbitt told attendees at the NATA Aviation Business Roundtable that the Department of Justice is weighing whether it should get involved in the matter. Under consideration is whether California-imposed fines and/or restrictions would overstep the state's jurisdiction and conflict with federal regulation.
India's business aircraft operators have formed the Business Aircraft Operators' Association (BAOA), to position the industry for what they believe will be exponential growth over the next decade. “The business aviation industry is growing at an encouraging rate, and India is all set to be the third largest aviation market by 2020,” says Rohit Kapur, president of the new association and managing director of Arrow Aircraft, which sells Gulfstream aircraft in India.
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.
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.
Embraer has delivered the first Phenom 300 light executive jet to Baruna AG, with a ceremony at Embraer's headquarters in São José dos Campos, Brazil. The aircraft will be managed by Jet Aviation Business Jets' aircraft charter division and will be based in Zurich to serve the European market.
With overwhelming evidence of severe interference, the FCC should promptly rule that LightSquared can never use its frequencies closest to those used for GPS, says a coalition opposed to the company's plans to use the satellite communications spectrum for a terrestrial broadband wireless network.
Gulfstream and FlightSafety International are offering a complimentary preview of FlightSafety's Gulfstream G350/G450/G500/G550 Ground Handling and Servicing eLearning course for FBO managers for the rest of this year. The course reinforces how ground handlers should move and service Gulfstream aircraft. Best practices developed and used by Gulfstream employees are emphasized to help mitigate risks.
