The number of accidents involving U.S. business jets held steady through the first three quarters of the year, but turboprop accidents were up slightly over the same period in 2009, according to the latest statistics released by Robert E. Breiling Associates Inc. of Boca Raton, Fla. Breiling’s accident data compiled in the Annual Business Turbine Aircraft Review, report that business jets were involved in six accidents through September 2010, the same as in 2009, while turboprops were involved in 28 accidents, up three from the 2009 total.
Aviation market data provider, AMSTAT, of Tinton Falls, N.J., remarked on this year’s used aircraft resale activity, “While year-to-year market conditions do vary, a simple comparison of overall resale retail transactions by quarter using data from 1990 through 2009 shows that in any one given year the market will perform ‘well’ in Q1 and Q2, slow down in Q3 and then ramp back up with Q4 historically being the best quarter of each year. To date, 2010 has followed this historical pattern with Q1 and Q2 performing better than Q3.
Embraer reported it delivered 44 jets during the third quarter of 2010, 20 to airlines and 24 executive jets. The total number of jets delivered during the first nine months of the year was 154, with the firm order backlog remaining stable during the quarter, totaling $15.3 billion as of Sept. 30, the company said.
Aug. 16 — At about 0645 MDT, a Bellanca 7GCBC (N5034K) crashed approximately 10 nm south of Douglas, Wy. The commercial pilot and his passenger received serious injuries, and the airplane, which was owned and operated by Laird Flying Service, was substantially damaged. The local FAR Part 135 aerial wildlife spotting flight departed Douglas about 10 min. prior to the accident. It was VFR and no flight plan was filed. According to the FAA inspector who interviewed the passenger, the pilot was maneuvering about 300 ft.
Garmin International Inc. has launched a G1000 retrofit program for Beechcraft King Air 300s and 350s, and the Olathe, Kan., avionics manufacturer expects to receive an FAA STC for the installation in mid-2011. The G1000 package for the King Air 300 and 350 features two 10.4-in. primary flight displays and a 15-in. multifunction display. The installation can include many of Garmin’s newest G1000 capabilities, such as the company’s electronic stability and protection system and synthetic vision.
Sandel Avionics has delivered its recently TSOed HeliTAWS helicopter terrain safety system to two rotorcraft operators, MSP Aero of Minneapolis and Metro Aviation of Shreveport, La. MSP Aero is installing the safety equipment in a fleet of Agusta A109 helicopters operated by North Memorial Medical Center of Robbinsdale, Minn., while Metro Aviation will install its HeliTAWS in one of its Eurocopter AS350s.
Devices like the iPhone and iPad, along with competitors from the Blackberry to the Android phones, bring a wealth of new technology to schedulers and dispatchers who value mobility with uninterrupted situational awareness: Now you can carry your desks in your pockets (OK, so an iPad won’t fit in your pocket, but you get the idea).
I would like to add to Fred George’s “Statistics Point the Way to Safety” (September 2010, page 52) that it is surprising how few scrutinize the available data to assist in improving their operation. We, Robert E. Breiling Associates, have been compiling business turbine aircraft accident and incident data since the early 1960s, initially for a major aviation insurance underwriter, and presented the Annual Business Turbine Aircraft Accident Update at the yearly Flight Safety Foundation Corporate Aviation Safety Seminar from the mid-1960s through 2000.
Blackhawk Modifications, the Waco, Texas-based re-engining specialist, has won European Aviation Safety Agency certification of its XP engine upgrade for the Piper Cheyenne I, II and IIXL. The package involves replacing the twin turboprop’s original engines with factory-new Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-135A powerplants. The 750-shp -135A engines are flat-rated to the original airframe horsepower limit, which increases the available torque in climb and at cruising altitudes, say Blackhawk officials.
When the hangar flying discussions get around to takeoff hazards for transport category aircraft, the topics often include V1 cuts, bird strikes and even tire problems. However, the subject of losing control in gusting crosswinds rarely gains the floor. This month, we’ll focus on a Continental Airlines accident at Denver International Airport, but first — a reminder that business aviation has also contributed to the crosswind takeoff accident toll.
StandardAero officially reopened the engine shop at its Springfield, Ill., (SPI) service center on Sept 28. Due in part to its Garrett Aviation lineage, StandardAero is the largest independent provider of airframe, paint, avionics and modifications, as well as TFE731 heavy maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO). Springfield is StandardAero’s largest business aviation shop and services a significant volume of TFE731-powered aircraft. Initially, the shop is providing major periodic inspections for TFE731 engines.
If I say “Reno” and you don’t immediately picture P-51 Mustangs, F8F Bearcats and other monster recips, along with little sport biplanes, racing planes and North American T-6s, all in close proximity, at very low level, and screaming, then I say, “Put down the magazine and slowly step away from the table. You’ve wandered into a pilot area and don’t belong.”
The addition of seven FBOs brings to 10 the number of SheltAir facilities that have adopted Hiller Group Chevron network as their fuel provider. The Fort Lauderdale, Fla.-based chain of FBOs thereby adds to its three New York bases — Farmingdale, Islip and Westhampton — the following additional facilities: Daytona Beach, Fort Lauderdale, Jacksonville, Panama City and St. Petersburg-Clearwater in Florida, New York’s LaGuardia and Savannah, Ga. SheltAir operates 13 FBOs in the United States while Hiller/Air Petro serves some 600 U.S. airports.
The Medal of Honor is the highest award for valor given by the United States. Eligibility is limited to those who by “gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his or her life above and beyond the call of duty while engaged in an action against an enemy of the United States” distinguish themselves in heroic fashion. Bruce Whitman had served in the U.S. Air Force, but when a friend asked him to serve on the Medal of Honor Foundation, Whitman told him he didn’t consider himself qualified.
Lower inventory levels and stabilizing residual values are signs that there is light at the end of the tunnel, according to Mike Fahey, vice president, worldwide Learjet and pre-owned aircraft sales for Bombardier. “There is just a lot of uncertainty in the market today,” explained Fahey. “The first half of this year looked very strong, but then it slowed down in the middle of the year. But on the pre-owned aircraft side, we continue to turn airplanes, and that’s a good sign.”
AOPA fears proposed European pilot certification requirements would harm the U.S. flight training and manufacturing sectors, as well as raise trade barriers, by not accepting third-country pilot credentials. The European Commission is scheduled to hold a hearing on the flight crew licensing rules as we go to press, and subsequently vote on the packages. Under the new rules, pilots that complete flight training in the U.S.
Cold and wet winter weather is in the Northern Hemisphere again. And with it comes the most insidious and potentially hazardous icing conditions of the year, if aircraft accident statistics are an accurate indicator. Cold Weather Operations is the third in BCA’s Safety and Ops series, and contains information and resources that will help you fly safely in the coming months. Link to it through www.AviationWeek.com.
Flying magazine promoted Executive Editor Robert Goyer to editor-in-chief, replacing Michael Maya Charles. Goyer joined the magazine in 1994 as associate editor and has helped transition the magazine to evolving digital platforms, magazine executives said. He is a commercial, multiengine and instrument-rated pilot. In June, Charles replaced longtime former editor J. Mac McClellan. Charles is expected to pursue his interests as an aviation writer and photographer.
George Tsopeis (Vice President, Aviation Services)
I really enjoyed Fred George’s blog on the Super Global (www.aviationweek.com/aw/blogs/business_aviation). I read all his pieces religiously in BCA and respect his position as business aviation’s oracle.
Avinode’s Charter Demand Index showed the third quarter of 2010 began with a strong post World Cup push, leading to unseasonably strong demand in July. August gave a strong showing as well, with popularity swinging in favor of Mediterranean airports at the end of the summer season. September broke the strong upward momentum in the demand index, giving way to a weakening trend that continued through the end of the quarter.
North Flight Data Systems LLC announced its intent to acquire the OuterLink Flight Data System product line. North Flight Data Systems is a partnership between Jeffery Warner, former vice president of sales and marketing for OuterLink, and Metro Aviation Inc. of Shreveport, La. The Flight Data System product line acquisition includes the OuterLink Voice and Video Recorder, CV²R recorder and a Multifunction Data Acquisition Unit with a Quick Access Recorder.
Bell Helicopter sold 32 units at the 2010 Air Medical Transport Conference including one new EMS-configured 429 to Mercy Flight of New York. In a teleconference Oct. 12 from AMTC, Bell Helicopter Textron’s Larry D. Roberts, senior vice president for commercial business, said, “[Mercy Flight is] looking to replace its current fleet, so we expect two more orders will be coming soon.” Delivery of the first unit is expected before the end of 2011. In addition, the company announced contracts for 15 Bell 407s to Air Methods and 16 of its 206L4s, signed Oct. 11, to Air Evac.
European Maintenance Service AB has opened the first Cessna-authorized Citation Service Center in Scandinavia. Located at Gothenburg Säve Airport in Sweden, the 3,000-sq.-meter Nordic Citation Service Center will serve customers throughout Scandinavia. The center will provide maintenance for 500, 525, 550, 560, 560XL and 680 series Citation business jets and can house up to eight aircraft at a time.
Bell 407 direct operating costs have been lowered as a result of the manufacturer removing 14 life-limited parts from the rotorcraft’s maintenance manual. The removal of these items, plus an adjustment to the on-condition section, will result in a reduction of more than 12% per flight hour to the published direct maintenance cost estimate, according to Bell.
