Herb Knight, senior vice president of aircraft sales and acquisitions for Gama Aviation, Inc., says that the continuing large inventory of previously owned aircraft “continues to have a significant impact on pricing across the board. Except for maybe the very-long-range, high-end, late-model airplanes, I have not seen any bounce in price.” “There are two markets now,” explains Knight. “The airplanes that are the most viable and in the most demand are current-production airplanes,” particularly ultra-long-range airplanes such as the Gulfstream G550.
The major drawback in mixing UAVs with conventional aircraft today is the former’s questionable ability to see and avoid conflicting traffic, unionized air traffic controllers maintain.
The first digital NOTAMs originated from Atlantic City International Airport, May 20. Digital NOTAMs can be transmitted to all air traffic management systems simultaneously — so everyone gets the same information at the same time. Not only that, you can actually read them. Traditional NOTAMs use all uppercase lettering, arcane contractions and cryptic phrasing based on antique teletype systems. It’s about time.
Could automation provide a life-saving solution in the ultimate emergency — pilot incapacitation? Why not? responds David Vos, senior director, UAS business, at Rockwell Collins. Passenger-carrying aircraft could be fitted with a “panic button” that a crewmember or even a passenger could push if the pilots were unable to function, he believes. The button would engage automation that could safely fly the aircraft to the nearest suitable airport and land it.
US Airways Chairman and CEO Doug Parker is unwilling to invest in NextGen cockpit technology, if he has to pay for it. At the US Airways media day in Phoenix on March 28, Parker said, “There is not a capacity issue in the United States right now as it relates to air traffic control, so putting in place NextGen ATC isn’t going to save the airlines dramatic amounts. . . . So our position is so long as we have to pay for [flight deck equipment], we prefer not to have it.” US Airways estimated its investment would total $950 million.
New business jet demand is “still in the doldrums,” says market analyst JPMorgan, which adds, “New business jet demand is one of the few areas in commercial aero not to show signs of a healthy bounce.” JPMorgan expects that bounce eventually, but believes it may still be a few quarters away. Used inventory continues to drain off, reaching its lowest level in 17 months, JPMorgan also reports. Used inventory of in-production models dropped 20 bps to 12.3 percent in April. Average asking price, however, also declined 1.2 percent.
Bombardier Aerospace confirmed April 20 that the government of Manitoba, Canada, is the previously undisclosed customer that had purchased four Bombardier 415 amphibious aircraft in February 2010. Deliveries of the aircraft will begin during the fourth quarter of this year and will continue until 2012. The government of Manitoba currently operates seven CL-215 aircraft. The acquisition of the Bombardier 415 aircraft will allow the Manitoba to continue its successful aerial firefighting mandate.
FlightSafety International will build a Training Center in Wichita, Kan., dedicated to support the new MX Advantage maintenance training program developed in conjunction with Cessna. The 65,000-square-foot Maintenance Training Center will be located adjacent to Cessna’s facility. Construction is scheduled to begin this year and is expected to be completed by the end of 2011.
ATA, the trade organization of the large U.S. airlines, May 10 issued a statement in response to the National Mediation Board (NMB) issuance of a voting rule change for union representation, “We continue to believe the National Mediation Board does not have legal authority to implement this rule, one that undoubtedly will lead to more labor discord. It is quite clear to us that the NMB was determined to proceed despite the proposed rule’s substantive and procedural flaws, leaving us no choice but to seek judicial review.”
The private owner of a Dornier 328 turbo–prop based in Milan, Italy, has selected Germany’s 328 Support Services, the type certificate holder for the aircraft, to complete a VIP conversion of its airplane. The support company, which is based at Oberpfaffenhofen Airport near Munich, already has completed eight 328JET conversions over the last five years and has three more in the pipeline. This will be the first turboprop conversion the company has undertaken.
Eurocopter teamed with Mercedes-Benz to develop a special edition of the EC145 twin-engine turbine helicopter with a high-end interior, which was unveiled at EBACE 2010 in Geneva. The EC145 “Mercedes-Benz Style” was conceived in a design project led by the Mercedes-Benz Advanced Design Studio in Como, Italy, and Eurocopter says it, “bears all the hallmarks and passion of Mercedes-Benz design.” The EC145’s spacious cabin enabled Mercedes-Benz designers to take a modular approach to the high-end interior, inspired by the automaker’s new R-Class line.
How best to avoid a collision or incident with a UAV today? “Pay attention to the NOTAMs,” advises Kurt Barnhard, Ph.D., director of Kansas State University’s College of Technology and Aviation. “We are required to notify the pilot community 48 hours before we operate,” Barnhard said, referring to the test and training flights KSU students are conducting with smaller surveillance UAVs near the Salina campus.
CAE announced a contract with corporate jet operator Hangar8 for pilot training services on eight aircraft models: Hawker Beechcraft, Bombardier Challenger, Cessna Citation, Dassault Falcon and Embraer. The Hawker training will be conducted at Emirates-CAE Flight Training (ECFT) in Dubai, UAE; training on other aircraft types will occur at Burgess Hill, U.K., near London and CAE SimuFlite in Dallas.
Early in my aviation career I was eager for adventure. So, after six weeks of battling bugs and weeds with an AGtruck out of Hardistry, Alberta, I headed north — way, way north to Yellowknife, in Canada's Northwest Territories. For those unfamiliar with the geography, Yellowknife is a town of 20,000 hearty souls planted beside icy Great Slave Lake in the wide-open plains 1,000 nm east and 1,000 nm north of Anchorage, Alaska, and Grand Forks, N.D., respectively. It's pretty much the last paved place south of the Arctic Circle.
London Oxford Airport increased its visiting jet movements, year on year by 31.6 percent and saw its overall business aviation movements increase 12 percent from April 2009 to March 2010. Jet fuel sales at its oxfordjet business aviation facility during the period were up 47 percent. The airport is now handling an average of 20 business aircraft movements a day. “This will equate to approximately 6,000 business aviation movements a year, assuming continuation of the current rate — an achievement we are very pleased with,” commented Managing Director Steve Jones.
On Aug. 1, 1999, a 1968 Cherokee Six crashed shortly after takeoff from an airport in Ohio, killing the pilot and three passengers and seriously injuring a fourth passenger. The NTSB version of the crash is straightforward. The airplane had landed to refuel and once its main tanks were filled, the five people got back on board. After takeoff, the Piper appeared to have a hard time climbing out and was “hanging on the prop.”
Citing April data on the used business jet market, the financial analysts at JPMorgan say the numbers are “consistent with the trends of a gradual march downward for inventories.” However, they add there is “continued pressure on prices.” During April, the used business jet inventory fell 20 basis points, while prices dropped 1.2 percent, year over year. “While this recovery has been under way for several months, it has unfolded slowly, and we expect it to continue,” concludes JPMorgan.
Regarding “A Medevac Ends in Disaster” (Cause & Circumstance, May 2010, page 79), I have a theory that most helicopter pilots received their basic training in the U.S. Army or one of the military flight schools. In those schools the mindset is “the mission, the mission, the mission.” At their age, they are “going to live forever” and the mission — that is, to deliver the weapon, rescue the wounded, deliver the freight under fire, etc. — must be accomplished at all costs.
Many of us remember how difficult it was to get that first job. With the ink still wet on our A&P license, we thought we had a magic ticket to a good paying job. Unfortunately, while your license got you in the door, experience was what every employer wanted, even if you had a military background. Almost every employer wants civil aircraft experience on its particular model.
Hawker Beechcraft Corp. has launched the Select Pre-Owned Program, which is designed to limit the cost of operation for buyers of qualifying used turbine-powered aircraft during the first year or initial 150 hours of service. The Select Pre-Owned Program covers all scheduled and unscheduled airframe, engine and avionics maintenance, including parts and labor. The plan also includes initial flight-crew training at FlightSafety International, as well as the first-year subscription to the computerized maintenance-tracking program.
Russia’s Avia Group is about to start construction on a new business aviation terminal at Moscow’s Sheremetyevo Airport (SVO). The 2,700 square-meter facility, dubbed Terminal A, is expected to open within the next 12 months.
The Presidential Flight of Abu Dhabi has recently introduced into its fleet a second BAE Systems Avro Business Jet, a late model Avro RJ100, which joins the operator’s existing VIP RJ70. The RJ100 was converted into a VIP aircraft by Inflite Engineering Ltd. at London Stansted Airport. Over the past 12 months, three Avro Business Jets have been placed with operators, and approximately 25 of the four-engine VIP aircraft are now either in service or in the process of being converted.
While the most recent of the studies cited in “Double Standards” is several years old, the problems delineated continue to this very moment. We have received credible reports about federal public aircraft being routinely operated past mandatory inspection and overhaul limits; outside weight, altitude and temperature limitations; into known icing condition without anti-ice or de-icing equipment; and being fitted with non-approved transparencies and automotive-grade ball bearings in prop governors.
T he Phenom 100, Embraer’s first purpose-built business aircraft, is winning strong endorsements from operators, in spite of experiencing its share of entry-into-service snags. Operators laud its ramp presence, cabin comfort, baggage capacity, fuel efficiency and cockpit layout. They appreciate its modern, clean-sheet design, jetliner DNA, 12-month/600-hour maintenance intervals and its low price tag.
