Air Ledger is a new “cloud”-based package from Aero Management Solutions of Fort Lauderdale, Fla., designed to improve communication and relations between aircraft owners and managers. Version 1.0, launched in early June, enables owners to review financial data transparently without requiring a dedicated application but via simple Internet access allowing online review as well as submittal of invoices. The company says that with this scalable solution, owners can configure reports to their liking and that use of the system reduces risk of loss of records.
The ability to maneuver is severely restricted around many business jet airports in mountainous terrain, such as Aspen-Pitkin County/Sardy Field, Colo. (ASE) and Truckee-Tahoe, Calif., Airport (TRK). Often such airports are served by rather infamous instrument approach procedures with missed approach points (MAP) that terminate at significant heights and/or a long way from the runway.
Hubbard Aviation Technologies has thrown a lifeline to operators of European-registered Gulfstream II, II-SP, II-B and III aircraft, winning EASA certification of its QS3 Hush Kit System that brings the jets to compliance with Stage 3 noise standards. The company says a QS3-equipped Gulfstream not only meets Stage 3 noise requirements but maintains the aircraft's performance, allowing max gross weight takeoffs, using Gulfstream-approved flap settings with no reduction of EPR, the company says, and is the only such system with EASA certification.
So what was Barack Obama doing 24 hr. before his now infamous June 29 press conference in which he repeatedly bashed “the tax break for corporate jets?”
I've been in the business aviation world for over 37 years and greatly look forward to the arrival of my BCA magazine monthly. The May edition is my favorite for obvious reasons. So, I was 'just slightly' disappointed this year when I flipped back to the avionics section and 'lo and behold' it was missing. Perhaps that field is expanding so rapidly you thought it best not to include it. Aviation Manager
China's Minsheng Bank to buy 50 Gulfstream and 20 Embraer business jets. Minsheng's website said a non-binding MOU was signed June 28, covering Gulfstream G650, G550, G450 and the newly renamed G280 (see below) jets. The bank signed a similar agreement with Embraer for 20 unspecified executive jets July 19. It's notable that Embraer is in the process of gaining approval to convert its ERJ135 China production facility to the manufacture of Legacy 600 and 650 super midsize business jets. Minsheng Financial Leasing Co. Ltd.
I have read Ross Detwiler's articles for years and particularly enjoyed his “Aviation Computers Part II” (June 2011, page 58). It was a very informative and enjoyable article, as my company is currently bringing iPads on line.
Hawker Beechcraft will open a new maintenance facility at New Castle Airport in Wilmington, Del. The facility, expected to open in second quarter 2012, will be a full-service repair and overhaul operation offering airframe, engines, avionics and mobile service support for the company's entire product line, from the single-engine Bonanza to the super-midsize Hawker 4000.
In your June edition we printed a RUAG ad with wrong information (page 14). “In reference to RUAG's advertisement that appeared in the June issue of Business & Commercial Aviation magazine, RUAG would like to clarify that RUAG is not an official OEM partner and/or approved major service center for Twin Otter. RUAG holds a EASA Part 145 base and line maintenance approval with respect to Twin Otter DHC-6 Series. RUAG regrets any confusion and inconvenience caused to its customers and partners.”
I was disturbed to see that “Illegal Charter” cited Nick Sabatini [former FAA associate administrator for Aviation Safety] and Jim Ballough [former FAA director Flight Standards Service] as industry experts. Their testimony before the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee [in 2008, regarding FAA's Customer Service Initiative] was an affront to all of the hard working FAA personnel who had to work for them and an embarrassment to the FAA as a whole.
Bahrain-based MENA Aerospace Enterprises' MAE Aircraft Management division has been awarded a certificate of registration for compliance with IS-BAO (International Standards for Business Aircraft Operations).
Aviation Research Group/US reported that June U.S. flight activity showed a slight increase over May activity. ARGUS TRAQPak data indicate that June business aircraft activity was up 0.4% over May. By operational categories, the FAR Part 135 and Part 91 segments both posted a positive month, up 1.6% and 0.2%, respectively. The fractional segment was the only operational category to drop, down 1.5% from April. By aircraft category, only turboprops managed to stay positive from the previous month, up 4.2%.
President Barack Obama reopened barely healed wounds and drew an outcry of protests from the general aviation community and elected officials when he pushed for increased taxes on millionaires, billionaires and corporate aircraft users, saying their tax breaks could compromise health, education and safety programs.
Jim D'Agostino (JAR auditor ), Via e-mail (JAR auditor )
I thought Fred George's article, (July 2011, page 52) was excellent. As far as I know high-altitude upset recovery and high-altitude stalls are no part of regular recurrent or initial training. I was an instructor and examiner at Flight Safety on the Falcon 900 series of aircraft. If time permitted, during a recurrent session, I always had crews demonstrate a stall and a recovery at altitude, above FL 370. Most stall and usual attitude training is accomplished at 10,000 ft. in the simulator.
GE Aviation is developing a 2,000-shp class CT7-2E1 commercial turboshaft engine to power the recently announced commercial AW189 helicopter as well as its military AW149 variant. The latest version of the CT7 family is being designed with an emphasis on low-fuel consumption, low cost of operation and other technical features to ensure the aircraft's requirements for long-range, high-speed and “Category A” performance.
Dassault Falcon recently received certification for the Falcon 900LX from the General Administration of Civil Aviation of China (CAAC). The 900LX joins the rest of the Falcon 900 family already certified in China. The Falcon 7X and the Falcon 2000 family are also CAAC-certified. The first Falcon 900LX will be delivered in China by year-end.
Two important vacancies at the FAA and TSA have now been filled. FAA Chief Counsel David Grizzle has been appointed COO of the agency's Air Traffic Organization. He replaces Hank Krakowski, who resigned in April. The TSA has tapped Kerwin Wilson to serve as acting general manager for general aviation. Wilson succeeds Brian Delauter, who left the agency in May to accept a corporate security position. Wilson had been Delauter's assistant general manager at the TSA.
EBAA announced that Fabio Gamba will become CEO of the association, effective Sept. 1. He will take over the CEO role from Brian Humphries who remains president of the association. Gamba will run the business side of EBAA from the association's Brussels headquarters. He will also take on the role of actively liaising with EBAA members. Gamba was most recently the Deputy Secretary General of the Association of European Airlines (AEA). Gamba began his professional career at the Civil Air Navigation Services Organization (CANSO).
Rockwell Collins, in collaboration with helicopter operators Bristow, CHC, and Dancopter, the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), Eurocontrol and the Netherlands Civil Aviation Administration, has completed an operational evaluation to successfully validate ADS-B Out airworthiness requirements for helicopters operating over the North Sea. The multi-year project, consisted of flight tests using a Rockwell Collins TDR-94D transponder and, in some instances, a Rockwell Collins GPS-4000S GPS sensor.
My fourth and final scholar enters college this month. Four years to go, and we're done. Hallelujah. He was accepted at a number of schools that were relatively close to home, so predictably, he chose the farthest, one located in a small town in upstate New York. He and I participated in an orientation program there last month, and when he was off with his fellow freshmen learning the rules, rights and ropes, I wandered into town to look about.
Cessna in June marked 15 years since opening its manufacturing facility in Independence, Kan., where the company has produced nearly 9,500 single-engine pistons and more than 350 Citation Mustang business jets. Work at the Cessna Independence facility includes assembly, paint, installation of interiors and delivery of seven single-engine piston aircraft models — the 172R Skyhawk, 172S Skyhawk SP, 182T Skylane, T182T Turbo Skylane, 206H Stationair, T206H Turbo Stationair and the Corvalis TTX — as well as the Citation Mustang entry-level business jet.
GE Honda Engines said the HF120 engine for the HondaJet has amassed about 2,000 ground and flight test hours and 1,860 starts. Certification testing is on schedule for completion by the end of this year. Eighteen engines have been built for “certification testing and customer flight tests,” including several that were “rebuilt multiple times with instrumentation to support unique certification tests.” GE Honda Engines has embarked on product support and services infrastructure development “to assure a flawless entry into service,” according to a company spokesperson.
NBAA and AOPA are concerned that in the tumult of federal debt reduction and searches for new revenue sources, the issue of general aviation user fees may reappear. Most reports suggest that no decision on that contentious issue has been made, but on the heels of recent hot rhetoric about the use of private aircraft, general aviation has much to worry about, writes Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association President Craig Fuller.
