Pilatus Aircraft will supply its PC-21 advanced turboprop trainer for the Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) Basic Wings Course. Prime contractor Lockheed Martin was awarded a contract by the Singapore Ministry of Defence to provide pilot and weapons system operator ground school, and both simulator and flight training for a 20-year period, commencing June 2008. Pilatus will provide 19 PC-21s and a 20-year engineering and logistics support package to Lockheed Martin Simulation, Training and Support.
The NBAA joined the National Air Transportation Association in calling for an industry-based Aviation Rulemaking Committee (ARC) to tackle the issue of runway landing distance assessments. The NBAA wrote FAA Administrator Marion Blakey that the association believes an ARC would be the best forum for tackling the issue, an industry source said. NATA also requested an ARC, saying that the agency's current policy ignores the needs of the business aviation and charter community and could create safety issues.
Each December -- especially as the clock counts down to midnight on New Year's Eve -- most of us pause for a few moments to take stock of what has transpired in the past 12 months. Looking back on 2006, particularly through the prism of a record-setting NBAA convention, this year has been a noteworthy one for business aviation. Attendance at the annual event set a new record, and Cessna and Raytheon each reported taking $1 billion in new orders at the show. It wasn't all that long ago when all the manufacturers combined didn't sell that many aircraft in a year.
THE FAA HAS PUBLISHED a great deal of information for private pilots to explain what work that they can do on a small Piper. But there is very little information available to inform a professional pilot about what, if anything, he or she can fix on a Falcon or Hawker or any other type of high-performance aircraft.
Through Advisory Circular 120-76A, the FAA recognizes three classes of "electronic flight bags." Class 1 is a portable tablet-type PC that runs off its own power supply and is completely stand-alone, including the software that drives the application. Class 2 is attached to the airframe in some way like a gooseneck and can run off aircraft power but still uses its own software and data; however, it can access electronic flight information from the aircraft's nav systems.
Rolls-Royce forecasts that 51,000 engines, valued at $70 billion, will be needed over the next 20 years to meet demand for 24,000 new corporate jet aircraft; from very light jets through business jetliners. It said the demand is being fueled by the business community's increasing recognition of the value of using business jets as a productivity tool. The forecast predicts that nearly 12,000 medium and large business jets will be delivered between 2006 and 2025.
Although Airbus remains tight-lipped about the number of its ACJ sales to China it became evident at the recent Airshow China in Zuhai that the company has taken orders for three ACJs and five A318 Elites. Insiders say that the three ACJs are for an undisclosed Hong Kong customer, with two of the aircraft already delivered to completion centers earlier this year. Counting these aircraft, Airbus has had a record year in corporate aircraft having won 22 orders, including one VIP A330-200.
NetJets Aviation and NetJets Europe have placed orders for 30 Hawker 750s and 18 Hawker 900XPs. The orders' value exceeds $500 million. Deliveries will commence in 2007 and continue through 2009. "We are excited to be the launch customer for the Hawker 750 and Hawker 900XP. This order reflects the increased demand for NetJets private aviation solutions in both the United States. and in Europe," said Richard Santulli, chairman of NetJets Inc. "The Hawker 900XP will be an integral part of our Columbus [Ohio]-based NetJets Aviation program.
Transportation Secretary Mary Peters, in one of her first addresses after taking office, and notably, in Wichita, told the FAA International Aviation Safety Forum that she plans to explore new funding options for the aviation system.
Executive Jet Management (EJM), the worldwide private jet charter and aircraft management services provider, has achieved re-certification of its ISO 9001:2000 standards granted by EAQA USA registrar, an accredited ISO 9000 certification body specializing in aviation. The company was granted its initial certification in 2003.
The day started out perfectly with an early morning flight into the picturesque Telluride, Colo., airport. Clear blue skies, cool mountain air and a dry runway are my idea of the nearly perfect day. Our four clients stepped aboard and presently we were on our way to Chicago Midway. The weather forecast predicted rather benign ceilings and visibility, with only a small chance of isolated snow showers. We were at 5,000 feet on the approach getting ready to configure the aircraft when I heard someone go missed approach at MDW.
XM Satellite Radio's XM WX Satellite Weather graphical weather service has been selected by Horizon Air as the inflight weather data-link service for its current fleet of 68 aircraft and future deliveries. XM WX Satellite Weather will be incorporated into Horizon Air's new Electronic Flight Bag Communication and Data Management System. Horizon's fleet of Bombardier Q400, Bombardier CRJ700 and Bombardier Q200 aircraft will be outfitted with Class 2 Electronic Flight Bags on the flight deck. Cabin hardware will be supplied from Flight Deck Resources.
EADS is now the sole owner of Airbus after acquiring BAE Systems' 20 percent stake in the aircraft manufacturer for €2.75 billion. The value was determined by an independent expert during the put option process launched by BAE Systems in June 2006. EADS paid cash for BAE's share.
CAE SimuFlite is expanding its business aviation training, offering Gulfstream G550 operators training on full-flight simulators at Emirates-CAE Flight Training in Dubai as well as CAE's new North East Training Center, located near Morristown (N.J.) Municipal Airport. Pilots will begin training in Dubai next spring, and in Morristown in fall 2007. The G550 for the North East Training Center is a new CAE-built full-flight simulator, while the G550 for Dubai will be an upgrade to an existing GV simulator.
NBAA Flying Safety Award -- Ford Motor Co. received the 50 Year Safe Flying Achievement Award, which recognizes member companies that have flown 50 years or more without an accident.
The National Air and Space Museum and the Smithsonian Institution Research Information System are now offering online an expanded version of the Museum's Directory of Airplanes, Designers and Manufacturers. Features of the expanded directory include: -More than 34,000 individual aircraft and more than 6,600 aircraft manufacturers; -Ability to search by model or manufacturers using full or partial names; -Additional background notes; -Cross-references to assist in finding entries more easily.
Rannoch Corp. has been awarded three patents consisting of state-of-the-art techniques for ground-based aircraft identification, tracking, and terrain alerting and warning. The patents include an advanced form of minimum safe altitude warning, based on automated tracking of an aircraft's flight path and assessment of proximity to terrain. In particular, the patented system solutions contain an automated ground-based system to warn a pilot when the aircraft approaches a minimum safe altitude.
Donald A. Baldwin, 88, former head of Texaco's flight department and a member of the NBAA board of directors from 1968 to 1978, died of heart failure Nov. 3 at Indian River Memorial Hospital in Vero Beach, Fla. Born in 1918 in Detroit, Baldwin began his flying career at the age of 14 and soloed when he was 16. He attended Purdue University and became a flight instructor in the Civilian Pilot Training Program before joining Pan American Grace Airways based in Lima, Peru, in 1940.
"It started out with Falcon refits with [TFE]731s, and by the time they got done, they had $7, 8, 9 million tied up. It didn't hold water because you were dealing with old technology. Now you have VLJs and CJs, and it's like throwing money down the toilet. A 20-year-old airplane without glass tubes in the cockpit and you're wasting your money. It might be a good idea for a low-cost entry-level airplane, a straight Citation 500 with a book value of $500,000.
At 1400 EDT, a Robinson R44 (HI-803CT) was destroyed after hitting the ground following a loss of control while maneuvering near Mano Negra, Province of Puerto Plata in the Dominican Republic. The two commercial pilots and their two passengers were fatally injured. The helicopter was owned and operated by Helicosa of Santo Domingo, and was en route to the Puerto Plata International Airport from the Playa Grande golf resort. The weather conditions in the vicinity at the time of the accident are unknown.
A Gulfstream II overran Runway 8 at Burbank-Glendale-Pasadena Airport in Burbank, Calif., carrying five passengers and two crew. The aircraft was stopped by an Engineered Materials Arresting System (EMAS). There were no injuries to those onboard and minor damage to the aircraft. The NTSB retrieved the CVR, gathered radar data and was evaluating the performance of the EMAS during this incident.
The Dassault Falcon 7X recently completed its high-altitude tests during a two-day stint in the United States. Tests included engine, pressurization and environmental systems checks on the ground and in flight. The company said that all systems met or exceeded "certification expectations." An EASA representative witnessed the tests. The U.S. portion of the test program started in Gunnison, Colo., at 7,678 feet msl and continued at Leadville, Colo., At 9,927 feet msl. Leadville has the highest airport in the United States.
