There are certain flight conditions and control inputs that can overstress the main rotor mast components of a semi-rigid system, resulting in catastrophic failure. Consequently, it's vital that pilots fully understand the limitations of this type of system.
To the surprise of many, hard-pressed Cessna Aircraft introduced an all-new jet, the Citation Latitude, at the NBAA Convention in Las Vegas, and in so doing challenged those hoping to supplant its leadership in the less-than-heavy-iron market. Notably, it's the second new model to be announced by the firm in just two weeks. It unveiled the Citation M2, an evolutionary successor to the CJ1+, in late September (BCA, October 2011, page 82).
Sept. 25 — At 1341 local time a Bell 412SP, (Indonesia registry PK-OVC), crashed in a jungle under unknown circumstances 150 km east of Selaparang Airport, Mataram, West Nusa Tenggara, Indonesia. The helicopter was operated by PT Airfast Indonesia under the provisions of the Indonesia Civil Aviation Regulations and was on a cargo flight. It sustained substantial damage and both crewmembers were fatally injured in the crash. The flight originated at Dodo Camp Airport and was destined for Lemurung Camp.
The Australian Transport Safety Board (ATSB) continues to push manufacturers and operators to take a closer look at pressurization system failure warning devices, no doubt spurred in part by a remarkable incident involving an oxygen-starved pilot whose confusion may have been a lifesaver. It happened on July 16, 2009, when a string of system and human failures led to an undiagnosed pressurization system problem in Beechcraft King Air C90 (VH-TAM) while on a routine flight out of Perth Airport in Western Australia.
The Eclipse 550's Avio cockpit has left- and right-side, 10.4-in. portrait configuration PFDs, plus a 15.3-in. landscape configuration MFD in the middle. Functions are controlled by line select keys with soft labels on each display, inner and outer knobs at the corners of the displays, a few stand-alone switches in the instrument panel and slide-out multifunction keyboards in front of the pilots' knees.
Plenty of diehard Eclipse 500 skeptics scoffed at Mason Holland, chairman and CEO of Eclipse Aerospace, when he announced at the 2011 NBAA Convention that his firm intended to resume building the aircraft sometime in 2013. Cynics all but buried the very light jet (VLJ) concept after EA500 production stopped in 2008, writing it off as a misguided, overhyped folly of Vern Raburn, founder of failed Eclipse Aviation (See Fast Five, page 25.)
Fred George, senior editor at Business & Commercial Aviation and regular contributor to ShowNews and Aviation Week & Space Technology, is this year's recipient of the NBAA David Ewald Platinum Wing Award for lifetime achievement and excellence in journalism. The award was presented during the NBAA Media Breakfast.
Hawker Beechcraft Global Customer Support (GCS) has won certification of a three-display Pro Line 4 to Pro Line 21 upgrade for the Hawker/Beechjet 400. The new system replaces the existing Rockwell Collins Pro Line 4 displays and upgrades the flight management system to FMS 6100. Operators now have access to electronic charts, XM weather/data, WAAS/LPV, ADS-B out and VHF data link.
Next year, Bombardier's Global 5000 and 6000, fitted with Global Vision cockpits powered by Rockwell Collins Pro Line Fusion avionics, will be the first production business aircraft to enter service with head-up displays with synthetic vision system (SVS) background imagery.
Aero Dynamix, Inc., Euless, Texas, announced that test pilot Dwayne Williams has joined their growing team of night vision goggle professionals. The company is an industry leader in NVG cockpit modifications. Aviation Personnel International (API), San Francisco, promoted Colleen Kelly to vice president, Client and Talent Relations, responsible for the retained recruitment of aviation professionals of behalf of Fortune 500 companies and private individuals.
The September edition of J.P. Morgan's Business Jet Monthly report noted that prices rose slightly in August for used business jets that are out of production but still have derivatives being manufactured.
1. The processing times necessary for permits and visas (minimum 48 hr. and as long as seven days). 2. Utilizing the resources of your handlers to learn what they know about the destination. 3. Checking the International Operations Feedback page on the NBAA website (and not forgetting to contribute your feedback post-trip). 4 . Having a plan for securing any alcoholic beverages you may have on board. 5. Remembering that the Saudi weekend is Thursday-Friday versus the traditional Muslim weekend of Friday-Saturday.
The FAA has approved a new avgas standard for use in aircraft that now fly on 100 octane low lead (100LL). The new specification, called 100VLL (Very Low Lead), contains 19% less lead than the current specification, according to a Special Airworthiness Information Bulletin (SAIB NE-11-55) issued by the FAA Sept. 14.
In a new study by Forecast International, “The Market for General Aviation/Utility Aircraft 2011-2020,” the market research firm projects that manufacturers of general aviation and utility aircraft (not including business jets and light sport aircraft) will produce over 24,000 aircraft worth approximately $28 billion in the coming 10 years. The Newtown, Conn.-based company notes that slow economic growth in the U.S. and Europe, the two primary markets for turboprop- and piston-powered general aviation/utility aircraft, has hurt growth in those segments.
Conklin & de Decker will hold its 12th annual Aircraft Acquisition and Planning Seminar in Scottsdale, Ariz., on Dec. 6 and 7 at the Scottsdale Plaza Resort. The meeting is designed to help the aircraft buyer, owner or aviation professional understand how to make informed aircraft purchasing and owning decisions.
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%.
The city of Taegu slid behind us as we turned east for Tsushima Island, midway across 100-mi. strait separating South Korea and Japan. I was number two in the third flight of LT-6Gs, which we were handing over to the then-new Japanese Air Defense Force, near Nagoya, where they would be overhauled and returned to their intended role as training aircraft.
August 2011 statistics on the used aircraft markets contain good news, says Jetnet, the Utica, N.Y.-based provider of corporate aviation information. In the first eight months of this year, the year-to-date average asking price for business jets rose 3.5%, while the industry maintained double-digit growth (11.4%) in used business jet retail sale transactions.
A wide disparity continues to exist in today's pre-owned business aircraft market, “and just about any adjective will accurately describe some part of the market,” says Carl Janssens, editor of Aircraft Bluebook's Marketline newsletter.
Kevin Bredenbeck, Sikorsky chief test pilot, who flew the revolutionary X2 Technology demonstrator last year to an unofficial speed record for conventional helicopters, has been recognized by the Society of Experimental Test Pilots with the Iven C. Kincheloe Award for the year's outstanding professional accomplishment in the conduct of flight testing. Bredenbeck, who is also Sikorsky's director of flight operations, accepted the award at a ceremony in California in September.
Hawker Beechcraft has received a type certificate from the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) for the manufacturer's Hawker 800XPR. The performance-enhancing package for the popular twinjet received FAA approval earlier this year, and deliveries have begun.
Oliver Stone, managing director of the new London-based aircraft brokerage, Colibri Aircraft Ltd., believes the market for previously owned business airplanes is gradually recovering. In today's market “typically, the newest and largest planes are doing the best,” says Stone. “The ultra-long-range, large-cabin jets are actually doing quite well. Prices have stabilized and inventory is thinning out.”
Israel Aircraft Industries invented the super-midsize business aircraft in the mid-1990s when it launched its IAI 1126 Galaxy. These aircraft can fly eight passengers 3,200 nm and land with NBAA IFR reserves. They offer nearly Gulfstream GII cabin dimensions, but with the fuel consumption of a standard midsize jet. On a 1,000-nm trip, for instance, the aircraft actually burns slightly less fuel than a Hawker 750 or Cessna Citation Sovereign. IAI earned FAA certification for the Galaxy in December 1998, and 53 units were delivered from 1999 to 2001.
