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.
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 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.
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.
Landmark Aviation has launched a new mobile app called Landmark Connect. The new app provides customers with access to service and contact information for every FBO within the Landmark Aviation network and serves as a comprehensive source for FBO service and amenity descriptions, runway maps, current weather condition and direct-dial features. It is compatible with the iPhone and iPad, and versions for Android smart phones, BlackBerry's Storm and Torch smart phone models will be available soon. San Diego, Calif.-based Treeline Interactive assisted in the development.
The NBAA expressed strong opposition to a European court's ruling in December 2011 that a plan by European regulators to tax carbon emissions from aircraft should apply to all aircraft operators across the international aviation community, including those based in the U.S. In a decision announced Dec. 21, the European Court of Justice (ECJ) said European authorities are authorized to obligate all operators, including the airlines and general aviation, to comply with the program, known as the European Union Emissions Trading Scheme (EU-ETS).
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.
Honda Aircraft Company announced Dec. 20 that it had been flying the third FAA design-conforming HondaJet since Nov.18, 2011. Honda Aircraft has expanded F2's performance envelope as the aircraft has begun its test mission work in earnest. The first FAA-conforming HondaJet, which flew for the first time on Dec. 20, 2010, has achieved key benchmarks that meet or exceed the aircraft's designed performance goals.
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.
Cell phones have taken over so much of the world's voice communications that many people have discontinued use of their land-lines altogether and rely solely on the mobile phones for telephony. But in the U.S., these ubiquitous devices are barred from use in aircraft both by FAA Advisory Circular 91-21B and by the Federal Communications Commission. However, Europe allows cell phones on aircraft.
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
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.
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.
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.
During the Thanksgiving weekend, my eldest took his significant other — a delightful, super smart, 10,000-watt Michigander — into New York City to show her Manhattan in its most glittering season. The day's adventure included sightseeing, an overpriced meal, ice-skating in Wollman Rink and then, of course, a hansom cab ride through Central Park.
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.
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.
