Embraer’s Legacy 650 large executive jet received FAA certification in February. Brazil’s ANAC and Europe’s EASA granted their certifications last October. The Legacy 650 is an extended-range derivative of the Legacy 600, of which nearly 200 have been delivered. Embraer says the new jet has met all of its performance targets, particularly the maximum range of 3,900 nm (7,223 km) with four passengers and NBAA IFR reserves, without sacrificing payload or increasing operational costs.
ENRAM stands for Energy Resource Americas--not to be confused with a certain Houston “energy” company--and its teams will audit your airport and facilities for energy and communications costs for a half share in the savings realized and no cost of there’s no savings. But that’s happened only four times in 19 audits, the company says.
Bill McNamee is a self-described “avid” field trialer. That means he works with hunting dogs that are highly trained and bred to find and hold their position on game until the hunter flushes the animal. And this managing director of Citigroup executive services, a title that includes oversight of the company’s aviation department, is pretty good at it. Among his other activities, he is treasurer of the Northeast Field Trial Association, which operates under rules promulgated by the U.S. Complete Shooting Dog Association.
Rolls-Royce projects that new turbine helicopter deliveries will be valued at $140 billion during the 2011-2020 period and will require approximately 27,000 new turbine engines valued at more than $12 billion. The forecast says the civil market will experience modest unit growth, especially in new entry-level turbine helicopters. Rolls-Royce forecasts around 10,900 civil helicopters will be delivered during the 10-yr. period, with an overall airframe value estimated at $34 billion and associated engine value of $4.6 billion.
Jet Avionics of Saõ Paulo, Brazil, has received a Brazilian supplemental type certificate for installation of Avidyne’s EX600 multi-function display (MFD) in an AgustaWestland A109S helicopter. Avidyne previously received Brazilian approval for installation of the EX600 in more than 350 fixed-wing aircraft.
Eurocopter’s next helicopter, the X4 replacement for the Dauphin and EC155 light twins, will dispense with a cockpit, said President and CEO Lutz Bertling at Heli-Expo in Orlando, Fla. “The X4 will not have a cockpit as you know it,” he says. “The way of flying this helicopter will be completely different from any other aircraft you’ve ever seen.” Eurocopter is working with avionics companies on the new concept, which might not be fully implemented by the time the X4 is formally launched late in the first half of this year.
The National Aircraft Resale Association (NARA) is planning to hold its 2011 annual spring meeting April 6-8 at The Ritz-Carlton Golf Resort in Naples, Fla. The NARA meeting kicks off with a Wednesday evening cocktail reception for members. Thursday features a full day of meetings followed by a formal dinner at the Ritz-Carlton for members and their guests. Friday is to begin with a working breakfast, followed by a golf tournament and catamaran sailing for non-golfers.
The article on the Falcon 900LX (“Analysis: Dassault Falcon 900LX,” January 2011, page 24) was both fair and well balanced. As always you were technically accurate and your data was spot on. While you pointed out some of the shortcomings of the 900LX as it relates to some of its competitors, I thought you were also generous with some of your omissions. That said, being responsible for a 900B, 900EX EASy and a Falcon 50, I can honestly say that these are world-class aircraft.
An attempt by the FAA to adopt a substantive change in the operations of FAR Part 135 certificate holders by means of a “rules interpretation” is under attack by a broad cross section of the air charter community.
Robinson Helicopter Company has a backlog of 169 new orders. The company delivered 162 aircraft in 2010: 40 R22s, 112 R44s, and 10 R66 turbine helicopters.
I read “A Failed Culture of Safety” (Cause & Circumstance, February 2011, page 53) with great interest. Good article. I am sure you know the NTSB report on the Quest Diagnostics fatal crash was pulled from the Internet. Not good. I believe that our industry has a shared responsibility to operate safely for the benefit of all parties. Your observations regarding Quest Diagnostics are quite disappointing as it appears that Quest lacks a commitment to safe operations
BCA has opened another Safety and Ops website, this one dedicated to helicopters. This report offers a mix of articles on flying safely and profitably in locations ranging from New York to Saudi Arabia, as well as how-to and technology stories. The site also provides links to dozens of online resources ranging from the Helicopter Association International and helicopter manufacturers worldwide, to national, regional and special interest associations.
Eurocopter Canada announced at Heli-Expo that it sold six helicopters to Capitale Hélipro of Quebec City. With the delivery of three AS350 B2’s, two EC130 B4’s and one AS350 B3 helicopter, Capitale Hélipro will have a total fleet of 11 Eurocopter aircraft.
Aviation associations and avionics manufacturers have joined other transportation interests in a coalition to eliminate any jamming threat from plans to expand wireless broadband coverage of the U.S. using high-power transmitters in a band adjacent to that used for GPS. That threat emerged after the Federal Communications Commission’s January decision to grant LightSquared Communications conditional approval to provide terrestrial broadband services using frequencies previously reserved for mobile satellite communications.
On March 15, the U.S. House of Representatives’ Energy and Commerce Committee passed legislation denying the Environmental Protection Agency authority to regulate greenhouse gas emissions under the Clean Air Act. Republican leaders pledged a floor vote on the legislation before the Easter recess, reports the Helicopter Association International’s Rotor News.
GPS coordinates in Japan will need to be updated. Japan’s Geospatial Information Authority’s network of 1,200 GPS monitoring stations across that country detected a maximum displacement of 13 ft. with an average displacement of 8 ft. recorded over a 248-mi. area of the main island of Honshu after the March 11 9.0-magnitude earthquake.
It’s likely that the most challenging application of business aviation ever attempted is the corporate shuttle service operated between Anchorage and Alaska’s North Slope tundra to transport oil field and Trans Alaska Pipeline workers to their jobs.
Dulles International Airport, slated to be Washington’s jetport, won’t be ready for at least 15 months, Administrator Halaby told the committee, and the cost will be “substantially greater than previously estimated.” FAA type certification of the Lockheed JetStar is expected by June 30, with minor fuel system modifications, the latest change requested by the FAA.
As the chief administrator of the FAA, you are in the proper position, equipped with the proper perspective to put an end to a process that is about to waste more taxpayer dollars, at a time we can ill afford to do so.
Raytheon will install its Standard Terminal Automation Replacement System (STARS) at 11 major terminal radar approach control (TRACON) facilities by 2015. An initial goal calls for five systems to be operational by the end of 2013, says Raytheon Director for Domestic Automation Michael Espinola. Dallas/Fort Worth will be the first of the 11 TRACONs to receive STARS, and the New York, Chicago, Atlanta, and Northern and Southern California facilities are also among this group.
Becker Avionics and Axnes Aviation AS of Grimstad, Norway, signed a teaming agreement for sales, marketing and product support services for the Axnes Polycon Wireless Intercom System that allows rotary- and fixed-wing operators to have audio communications between crewmembers in an aircraft and away from the aircraft on the ground, as well as with ground support crews.
It was the peak of thunderstorm season as the crew completed the final preflight preparations for their eastbound flight across the United States. The aircraft was at maximum certified weight and full of fuel. The Terminal Area Forecast (TAF) for the destination, Orlando International Airport (MCO), valid for the time of arrival, was benign, and the closest NEXRAD site, located in Melbourne, Fla., showed no activity near MCO. Their filed alternate was Jacksonville International Airport (JAX) and their aircraft was equipped with airborne weather radar.
It may be America’s 49th and largest state, but to Dave Hall, Alaska could almost be regarded as an “international destination” for business aviation operators.
