With a 117.4 foot wingspan, 110.3 feet overall length, and a tail four stories high, it’s hard to miss a BBJ sitting on an FBO ramp. It’s too large to be towed into most general aviation hangars. This is one very high-profile business jet.
Iridium says it will seek a license to provide mobile satellite services via a newly formed entity: Iridium Communications Russia. The company is pushing its total global coverage, including Polar regions, as a significant plus in the Russian market. It has partnered with Khrunichev State Research and Production Space Center, which owns and operates an Iridium gateway. Iridium hopes to add still more service providers in Russia.
Honda Aircraft has pushed back first delivery of its HondaJet by a year, saying “global aerospace industry business challenges” have delayed critical components for the conforming aircraft to be produced for FAA certification testing. First flight of the light business jet has been reset for January 2010, and first customer delivery delayed to fourth quarter 2011 from late 2010.
Mike Ellis, who founded his Dallas-based aircraft acquisition firm in 2004, believes that those involved in buying or selling used, turbine-powered business airplanes need to view the current market with some historical perspective.
Gulfstream Aerospace has received FAA authorization to use Automatic Dependent Surveillance — Contract (ADS-C) capabilities built into its PlaneView avionics for oceanic and remote area position reporting. Gulfstream is the first purpose-built business jet manufacturer to receive such approval. ADS-C is part of the Future Air Navigation System (FANS) data link application, which will include Controller-Pilot Data Link Communication (CPDLC). In late 2008, Gulfstream completed a full FANS flight across the Atlantic Ocean using CPDLC with ADS-C.
The six-month-long process of converting a former Atlantic Coast Airlines Dornier 328 into a 12-passenger VIP twinjet is under way at the 328 Support Services hangar at Operpfaffenhofen Airport, near Munich, Germany.
The FAA plans to formally withdraw a controversial NPRM that has generated significant opposition from general aviation groups since 2006. The proposal would establish new classifications for repair stations, and require quality programs. Opponents have complained that the requirements did not take into account small repair stations that worked on light aircraft. FAA earlier in the decade had to shelve a previous attempt at addressing those issues after receiving a similar outpouring of opposition. So for the second time, the FAA is capitulating.
A new report from financial services company UBS indicates that the rate of the business jet market’s decline may be slowing. Analyst David Strauss, writing in the company’s March edition of Business Jet Market Index, stated that the results of a UBS survey of broker/dealers, manufacturers, fractional providers and aircraft financial specialists worldwide indicate a “slower pace of deterioration” in the market for business jets is occurring.
The Aerospace Industries Association says that with export sales exceeding $90 billion annually, aerospace represents America’s leading manufacturing export industry. The AIA has launched an outreach campaign focused on supporting aerospace as a means of stabilizing the economy. The campaign, entitled “Aerospace and Defense: The Strength to Lift America,” is supplemented by an AIA White Paper detailing the background of the movement. www.aia-aerospace.org
— At 1645 EST, a Grumman TBM-3 (N188TD) was destroyed following an inflight and post-landing fire at Millville Municipal Airport (MIV), Millville, N.J. The airline transport pilot/mechanic sustained serious injuries. The pilot was not available for interview due to his injuries. In a written statement, the owner of the airplane explained that the pilot had just completed the installation of an overhauled carburetor, and that he and the pilot/mechanic had performed test runs of the engine and completed carburetor adjustments, with no problems noted.
A AC — Advisory circular ACARS — Airline communications addressing and reporting system ACAS — Aircraft collision avoidance system ADC — Air data computer ADI — Attitude direction indicator ADS — Air data system ADS-B — Automatic dependent surveillance-broadcast AES — Aircraft earth station AFCS — Automatic flight control system AFIS — Automated flight information system (Honeywell) AHRS — Attitude-heading reference system
Dassault Falcon Jet has opened a new Dassault Aircraft Services full-service Falcon MRO facility at the Reno-Tahoe International Airport. The location offers avionics, engine and aircraft support services, including an AOG “Go Team.” The Reno facility is FAA certified to perform maintenance on the Falcon 50, Falcon 2000, Falcon 900 and Falcon 7X. The nearly 40,000-square-foot facility will eventually be staffed by more than 40 workers.
Corporations are trimming their travel budgets and sales of business aircraft are down. Fewer deliveries naturally have a rolling impact on cabin electronic manufacturers and completion centers. Nevertheless, there’s still a lot of development and innovation going on in cabin electronics simply because, well, business aviation travelers depend on inflight connectivity to be productive. On the ground or in the air we rely upon laptops, PDAs, pagers and mobile phones to keep in touch and stay current with the latest developments.
Thank you so much for publishing the article by Tom Gillespie (Flight Log, February, page 84), my old mentor at Piper Aircraft, who started me on a rewarding general aviation career. After Business & Commercial Aviation provided me with his contact information, I called him and sent articles from the October and November issues in which he received accolades for his flying the MS-760 Paris Jet at the 1958 NBAA Convention in Philadelphia.
Canada is the only country that requires noncommercial operators of turbine-powered aircraft to be certified and regularly audited for safety compliance. Even more notably, Canada’s DOT has delegated the administration of the Private Operator Certificate program to the Canadian Business Aviation Association to save government money and resources. (See Business & Commercial Aviation, April, page 42.)
Honeywell expects certification of SmartPath, its ground-based augmentation (GBAS) system that would replace traditional ILS. The company said certification could possibly come by the end of May. That will likely trigger similar moves by other national regulators, said Dan Ryan, Honeywell’s director of precision landing systems. GBAS has been used extensively in Australia, and Airservices Australia has played a major role in its development. In Australia, Airservices and Qantas have used SmartPath for more than 1,600 landings at Sydney Airport, using 737s.
— About 1340 EDT, a Cirrus SR22 (N213CP) was substantially damaged after it deployed its Cirrus Airplane Parachute System (CAPS) shortly after takeoff from the Montgomery County Airpark (GAI), Gaithersburg, Md. The private pilot was not injured. It was IFR and a flight plan had been filed for the flight destined for the Battle Creek International Airport (AZO), Kalamazoo, Mich. The airplane departed Runway 32, a 4,202-foot-long, asphalt runway. The pilot reported that he noticed air leaking from the passenger side door immediately after takeoff.
The NBAA reports that a pair of congressional aviators has sent letters to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to outline concerns about the TSA’s Large Aircraft Security Plan (LASP). In their letters, Reps. Leonard Boswell (D-Iowa) and John Kline (R-Minn.), both pilots, called for a collaborative effort between government and industry to develop security policies.
Garmin has been granted an FAA STC for installation of its G1000 avionics suite onboard Beechcraft King Air 200s and B200s. The Olathe, Kan., avionics manufacturer said the STC applies to most configurations of the popular twin turboprop, including those with Blackhawk engines.
A federal judge dismissed a lawsuit filed to block the sale of charter and management operator JetDirect Aviation Inc., to JDA Acquisition Corp. (JDAAC), owned by an investor group led by Brantley Partners of Beachwood, Ohio. The lawsuit was driven by JetDirect Aviation employees who claim that their health benefits and 401K accounts were not properly funded. Brantley Managing Partner Robert Pinkas will become chairman of JDAAC, and said the new company will hire JetDirect’s management team — which includes the former managers of TAG Aviation USA and The Air Group.
— An amateur-built Stewart S51 (N551X) was substantially damaged when it impacted trees and terrain in a recreational vehicle park in Ocala, Fla. The pilot/owner, the sole occupant, was fatally injured.
Manufacturer, Model In some cases, the airplane manufacturer’s name is abbreviated, but the company’s full name and address can be found in the “Airframe Suppliers Directory” on page 153. The model name also is included in this group. BCA Equipped Price
— At about 1253 PST, a Cessna 172N (N726RJ) collided with the water about 40 nm west of Oceanside, Calif. Golden Wings Flying Club was operating the airplane under Title 14 CFR Part 91. The private pilot is presumed to have sustained fatal injuries; the airplane was destroyed by impact forces. The local personal flight departed Montgomery Field, San Diego, about 1148. It was VFR and no flight plan had been filed.
The number of general aviation accidents increased in 2007, which is worrisome, but the number of fatalities declined, as did the rate of fatal accidents, which fell more than would be anticipated by a declining number of flight hours, indicating a real reduction, according to the nineteenth annual AOPA Air Safety Foundation Joseph T. Nall report. You can read the 40-page document or download your own copy through the AOPA Web site.
