Forecast International of Newtown, Conn., a provider of market data, recently released a study analyzing the projected delivery of 14,200 rotorcraft in the years 2007 through 2016. Of those, 7,311 aircraft will be turboshaft powered; of those, twin engines are expected to make up a slim majority of 3,708 compared to 3,603 single-engine rotorcraft.
Intelligence | 15 * NTSB Wants Operators to Calculate 15% Runway Distance Margin * AMI Jet's Certificate Pulled * ADS-B Mandatory by 2020 * 'Green' Debate Could Flare Up Quickly in U.S., Experts Warn Edited by James E. Swickard Commentary 9 | Viewpoint By William Garvey Emitting Credibility 88 |Washington By David Collogan The Airlines' Big Lie 90 |Point of Law By Kent S. Jackson Voluntary Disclosure Programs
Deliveries of the B200 Super XPR, Blackhawk Modifications' new engine upgrade for the King Air B200, began in October. Blackhawk of Waco, Texas installed factory-new Pratt & Whitney PT6A-61 engines and the Raisbeck's EPIC Performance Package into the B200. The package increases the aircraft's takeoff, climb and cruise performance, giving the twin turboprop the ability to cruise at speeds up to 305 knots.
Paul Lowe of Aviation International News was presented the NBAA Gold Wing Award, which recognizes insightful reporting on the most important issues and trends impacting business aviation. Lowe is noted for his thorough and well-researched series of articles on the aviation user fee issue - one of the most pressing issues facing the general aviation industry. His coverage is credited with helping readers to understand the implications of user fees and the threat posed to their businesses.
NBAA by the Numbers: The NBAA's annual convention in Atlanta in September attracted more than 32,000 visitors, down slightly from the 33,088 at the 2006 show in Orlando. The convention sold 5,200 booth spaces to a record 1,152 exhibitors. The static display at Fulton County Airport drew 115 aircraft. The association reports its gathering is now the seventh largest (in display space) convention in the United States.
In the first nine months of 2007, the U.S. business and turboprop fleet together experienced 40 accidents, 12 of them fatal, which resulted in 33 passenger and crew fatalities during routine operations, according to Robert E. Breiling Associates, Inc. of Boca Raton, Fla. Overall, this is five fewer jet and turboprop accidents than during the same period in 2006. The combined total of fatal accidents was also down slightly, with 12 fatals reported in the first nine months of this year vs. 15 in the same period in 2006.
A Short Brothers SC-7 operated by Arctic Circle Air Service, Inc., of Fairbanks, Alaska, collided with trees during takeoff and initial climb from a remote airstrip about 82 miles east-northeast of McGrath, Alaska. The director of operations for Arctic Circle Air reported that the pilot was planning to fly the airplane to the company maintenance facility in Anchorage from the Mystic Lake Lodge. The gravel surface airstrip is oriented north/south and is about 1,100 feet long and about 40 feet wide.
According to the NTSB's interim factual report, on Jan. 2, 2006, an American Eagle Saab 340B+ departed from the San Luis County Regional Airport (SBP) in California with 25 passengers aboard for a 1:26 hour flight to LAX. The captain opted to fly the initial departure and transferred control to the first officer at about 2,500 feet msl with the airplane's autopilot engaged.
At about 1510 Alaska daylight time, a float-equipped Cessna 206, N80230Z, operated by Scenic Mountain Air of Moose Pass, was seriously damaged during a forced landing when it collided with terrain following a loss of power during cruise flight, about 77 miles north of McGrath, Alaska. It was VFR. The pilot reported vibration in cruise flight and heard a loud bang and then the propeller stopped. He noted that the underside of the engine cowling had a dent near the oil dipstick inspection door.
ARINC Direct has added wireless mobile flight planning to its portfolio of services for business jet operators. The new service, ARINC Direct Mobile, is designed for pilots and flight departments who want to create and submit flight plans using Blackberries or other personal wireless devices. The service is available immediately and offers most of the features of ARINC's standard Web- enabled flight planning service.
International Water-Guard Industries Inc. recently introduced the IWG-A4, the first of a new generation of "intelligent" water treatment units. Lighter in weight than its predecessor, the new unit is electronically and physically more robust, according to the company. Ease of maintenance was a key design feature and is addressed through a new modular design. The IWG-A4 is equipped with enhanced self-monitoring capability.
Duncan Aviation, Lincoln, Neb., announced that Todd Duncan assumed his new position as chairman as current Chairman Robert Duncan retired, becoming chairman emeritus.
As a reader of B&CA since it started, I am absolutely appalled that you would grace the pages of this revered publication with a name the likes of F. Lee Bailey (Fast Five, September, page 36). If I were an advertiser, my account would be history. Let me relate a quick F. Lee lawsuit story from the 1980s.
Rockwell Collins' STC for the installation of its Pro Line 21 Integrated Display System (IDS) in Dassault Falcon 50s is now available to dealers. This STC offering is part of a broader program to make more STCs available to dealers, ultimately lowering operators' installation costs. Other Pro Line 21 IDS STCs owned by Rockwell Collins include ones for the Piaggio P-180 and Hawker 800A. Pending STCs include installations for the Hawker Beechcraft King Air 200 and C90.
Airbus, Toulouse, France, has announced its new executive committee: Fabrice Bregier, chief operating officer; Hans Peter Ring, chief financial officer; John Leahy, chief operating officer, customers; Tom Williams, executive vice president, programs; Patrick Gavin, executive vice president, engineering; and Gerald Weber, executive vice president, operations.
BLR Aerospace has begun taking orders for its King Air 90 winglets, and the Everett, Wash., company expects to win certification of the aerodynamic enhancement system in spring 2008. BLR, which has been producing winglets for the King Air 200 and 300 for the past two years, recently delivered its 100th ship set. The winglets increase the cruise speed and vertical rate of climb, reduce drag and fuel consumption, and improve handling qualities of the Beech twin turboprops.
The Hawker 900XP's Pro Line 21 package features four, 10-by-eight-inch, portrait-configuration flat-panel displays; a standard single file server that hosts electronic charts, enhanced map graphics and optional data-link weather capability; and dual, console-mounted CDUs that control the twin FMS-6000s and dual Pro Line 21 radio packages.
Chelton Flight Systems' Air Data and Attitude Heading Reference System (ADAHRS) has been added as an approved sensor on the FlightLogic EFIS STC for Bell 206 and 207 helicopters. Chelton's system is designed for both fixed- and rotary-wing aircraft and provides digital output and referencing of aircraft position, rate, vector and acceleration data. ADAHRS meets the requirements of DO-178B, Level A software and DO-160E environmental qualifications.
Zero Eight Papa Aviation Services, a corporate aviation management and consulting company, has launched www.crewyourjet.com. The site is designed exclusively for crewmembers to post their professional expertise on the Web for a nominal fee and for organizations looking for crewmembers to post their ads on the Web for a fee. Updates for crewmembers' and employers' information is also accomplished with minimal out-of-pocket expense. Payment is cleared through the convenience and security of PayPal. As of Sept. 1 the fees listed on the Web site were:
Carl Janssens, an accredited senior appraiser at Aircraft Bluebook-Price Digest, has been tracking the aircraft market since he joined the publication in 1999. He says the current market is good overall, "with the large corporate jets leading the way." Janssens says the top tier is a seller's market because "there is virtually no inventory and aircraft are changing hands at premium prices."
Innotech Aviation has added 35 designers and engineers to its facility in Montreal to meet growing demand for its business jet completion, refurbishment and maintenance services. The company also has made additional investments in capital equipment and software. Innotech specializes in completions and providing major service for Bombardier Global and Challenger aircraft, and is designated by the manufacturer as a preferred completion center and authorized service facility for those aircraft types.
Push up the thrust levers of the Hawker 900XP and you'd be hard pressed to recognize this aircraft is the direct descendent of the stately, though matronly DH 125, designed in 1960 by de Havilland but certified and put into production by Hawker Siddeley, its successor. Compared to its immediate predecessor, the Hawker 850XP, this latest Hawker needs 300 feet less runway for takeoff at sea level and has a 1,400 foot shorter takeoff field length when departing B&CA's 5,000-foot/ISA+20°C airport.
