The FAA has issued an Approved Model List - Supplemental Type Certificate for three Garmin collision avoidance system models, including the 12-mile-range GTS 800 and 40-mile-range GTS 820 traffic awareness systems and the GTS 850 TCAS I, the company announced Dec. 9. This first AML-STC covers mostly light piston-engine aircraft, STCs covering higher-end aircraft are expected in the future for the GTS 850 TCAS I.
Yes, it’s a tax. Yes, it’s confusing. Yes, it’s been poorly managed. But in the European Union, it’s the law. And if you operate an aircraft into, out of or within European airspace, you must comply. Europe’s Emissions Trading Scheme, or ETS, is one result of a European environmental policy that attributes climate change to the by-products of human activity, with special focus on so-called “greenhouse” gases such as methane and carbon dioxide.
The FAA has convened an independent panel to review the agency’s telecommunications system following the Nov. 19 outage that delayed more than 800 flights. The FAA’s Telecommunications Infrastructure (FTI) system provides 24/7 communication support for the National Airspace System. The panel will deliver two reports to Administrator Randy Babbitt. The first will focus on the November outage and will suggest any immediate changes that need to be made to the FTI system, management procedures, or oversight.
Purdue University secured a $1.35 million U.S. Air Force grant for a new facility to test aircraft engines and develop alternative fuels. The National Test Facility for Fuels and Propulsion, to be housed in the Niswonger Aviation Technology Building at the Purdue Airport, is slated to open in late 2010 or early 2011. The facility will test hardware in engines and aircraft, and accumulate fuel sustainability and emissions data.
The Curtiss SB2C Helldiver got a bad start with the U.S. Navy during World War II but went on to vindicate itself. Although more than 7,100 were built, only four survive, according to Edward Vesely. And he should know because he’s a rare bird indeed, holding all the proper paperwork to pilot the flying example of its kind at air shows and exhibitions. During his day job, he sells aircraft for Welsch Aviation at its Houston office.
Harold Hoepf died on Nov. 3, 2009 at age 87 after a brief illness in Clinton Township, Mich. He served as aviation manger/chief pilot for the Valeron Corp. for over 20 years, retiring in 1987. He oversaw Valeron’s entry into the business jet era, flying and managing their Learjet 25s and 35s at their Detroit City Airport base. Hoepf grew up one of 11 children on a farm in McCutchenville, Ohio, and as a boy dreamed of flying. He was accepted into the Navy V5 program during World War II and flew Hellcats off the USS Chenango.
Technical and operational standards for automatic dependent surveillance — broadcast (ADS-B) equipment have been approved, paving the way for April 2010 publication of the FAA’s final rule mandating ADS-B equipage in controlled airspace by 2020. Standards body RTCA has now approved the minimum operational performance standards (MOPS), and the FAA has already signed the related technical standard orders (TSO), said Vincent Capezzuto, FAA director of surveillance and broadcast services.
Dennis Andersen, the president of Florida Jet Sales, is just one of a growing number of aircraft sales experts who believe that China will be the next big market for previously owned, turbine-powered airplanes. As BCA sister publication Aviation Daily recently reported, the dam holding back Chinese business aviation is breaking, raising hopes of selling large volumes of aircraft in a market that has always had great potential but little immediate value.
Dassault Falcon has received type certification for the Falcon 7X from the Director General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) in India. The certification allows the Falcon 7X to be registered in India.
Department of Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano told the Senate Commerce Committee in December that the TSA will issue a revised Large Aircraft Security Program (LASP) rule that addresses some of the general aviation community’s concerns before the end of 2010.
The NBAA is now offering a 10-percent discount on the Complete Aeromedical Services Program (CASP) offered by Virtual Flight Surgeons, Inc. The CASP is a one-stop source for aeromedical advice and FAA medical certification assistance.
Rockwell Collins received FAA certification of its HGS-6605 Head-Up Guidance System as a head-up display for Bombardier’s Challenger 605 business jet. The HGS-6605 can display the 605s Enhanced Vision System images along with flight symbology using active-matrix liquid crystal display technology.
Metropolitan Aviation has expanded its charter aircraft fleet to include an additional Falcon 50, Hawker 400XP and Cheyenne II turboprop, and announced plans to add a managed Gulfstream GIII. Metropolitan Aviation’s new Web site, www.metropolitanjets.com, includes an online quoting tool, details on its charter aircraft and information on aircraft acquisition, sales, maintenance, and hangar services. The company is headquartered at Manassas Regional Airport, Va. (KHEF).
Edward W. Stimpson, a founder and long-time president of the General Aviation Manufacturers Association (GAMA), who went on to become the U.S. representative to the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), and finally chairman of the Flight Safety Foundation, died Nov. 25 at his home in Boise, Idaho, after an extended illness.
Wayfarer Aviation has joined the Corporate Angel Network, which arranges about 2,500 free flights per year aboard business aircraft for cancer patients in need of medical treatment. The Rye Brook, N.Y.-headquartered charter and aircraft management company joins more than 530 other corporate flight departments that support White Plains, N.Y.-based network. “Wayfarer views its Corporate Angel Network alliance as part of a long-term commitment to corporate social responsibility,” said Bill Koch, Wayfarer Aviation CEO.
Hawker Beechcraft Corp. announced it received Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) type certification for the Hawker 4000 composite construction, super-midsize business jet Nov. 30. Deliveries of the aircraft into China are scheduled to begin during the first quarter of 2010.
CitationAir announced Thanksgiving week it planned to recall 16 pilots from furlough. This leaves CitationAir with 48 captains who are still downgraded to first officer and 69 pilots on furlough. “We are gratified to be able to bring back so many of our pilots at a time when the industry needs to hear some good news,” CEO Steve O’Neill said. “The significant uptick we have seen in our jet management business during this challenging year fuels our optimism for a sustained recovery of our Jet Card and Jet Shares businesses in 2010,” he said.
The in-service decision on ADS-B surveillance services is on track for September says Vincent Capezzuto, FAA director of surveillance and broadcast services. The final rule will mandate only “ADS-B Out” equipage to support FAA surveillance services, but this will provide the infrastructure for the “ADS-B In” cockpit applications that are expected to generate safety and efficiency benefits for airlines and other operators.
Chapter 7 of the FAA Aeronautical Information Manual (AIM), “Safety of Flight — Meteorology (Section 7-1-21), details how to make pilot reports relating to airframe icing:
Pilatus Business Aircraft, Ltd. announced in November that the U.S. Department of the Interior’s Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has taken delivery of its first Pilatus PC-12. The aircraft will perform cargo, passenger, smokejumper, air tactical, aerial supervision and lead plane firefighting missions. BLM said it estimates that owning the PC-12 will cost the government $1.5 million per year less than contracting for a similar aircraft. The BLM’s PC-12s features a utility door option.
The FAA may have trouble attracting and keeping workers due to low morale and ineffective diversity efforts, according to a report from the Government Accountability Office. With 38 percent of “critical” employees eligible for retirement by 2013, the agency must do more to fix morale problems, the report suggested. In a 2009 survey of the best places to work in the federal government, the FAA ranked 214th out of 216 agencies.
The Embraer Phenom 300 light jet received type and production certificates from Brazil’s National Civil Aviation Authority, ANAC, Dec. 3. The FAA followed suit on Dec. 14. The company says customer support and services structure is in place for the Phenom 300’s entry into service. According to Embraer, the list price of the FAA-certified Phenom 300 will be $8.14 million. Embraer said the certified aircraft has exceeded several of its initial performance objectives including runway performance, climb performance, maximum range and outside noise.
The Gulfstream G250 completed its first flight Dec 11, a little over two months after its rollout. The 3:21 hour flight took off from Ben Gurion International Airport at 8:16 a.m. local time. Pilots explored the G250’s handling qualities and flight characteristics and performed initial checks of several aircraft systems. The large-cabin, mid-range aircraft flew to 32,000 feet achieving a speed of 253 knots. Chief test pilot Ronen Shapira called the flight “extremely smooth with no issues.” The G250 is planned for type certification and entry into service in 2011.
Commenting on the used aircraft market as 2009 wound down, Carl Janssens, accredited senior appraiser at the Aircraft Bluebook, said, “Something is happening out there.”
The increase in aircraft utilization is helping bolster the aviation services business, said Jay Johnson, president and chief executive of General Dynamics. GD’s services business, including Jet Aviation and General Dynamics Aviation Services, saw business erode as flight hours plunged 17 percent through the first three quarters, Johnson said. While customers continued with “must-do” maintenance, discretionary maintenance tended to get deferred. Some of this maintenance is the more high-margin work, Johnson noted.
