As with all Gulfstream large-cabin aircraft since the GII, the G650 is powered by twin Rolls-Royce turbofans. The 16,900-lb.-thrust BR725 is a growth version of the 15,385-lbf BR710 that powers the G550. The new engine has a 50-in., 24-blade fan with new swept airfoils. The core has improved compressor aerodynamics, including five one-piece blisk stages in the 10-stage axial flow compressor, a low emissions combustor adapted from the BR715 and an improved thermal efficiency, two-stage high-pressure turbine.
G650's cabin is not only one of the quietest in the sky, its architecture assures that no single failure can cause loss of functionality of essential cabin systems including fresh and waste water, air-to-ground communications, lighting, cabin power and cabin systems control. The crew and passenger vacuum toilets, for instance, have both electrical and manual flush capabilities. Vacuum is supplied by both an AC-powered suction pump and cabin pressure differential above 16,000 ft.
How to Wave at Airplanes Guiding an aircraft to a parking spot is one of those everyday tasks that few involved closely consider. The military has always had a standard set of hand/wand signals, but rarely do you find one place with the “official” guide for airside civilians. Despite that, there exists a common set of signals used at airports around the world.
The hat caught my eye. An egg white gambler, with its distinctive wide brim and handsome crown. I had to have it. “Got any more like that?” I asked the old fellow wearing it. “No, but you can have this one. I don't have cooties or nothing.”
Enstrom said it was working on STC approval to fit Garmin's G1000H integrated cockpit system into its 480B light turbine helicopter. The company is hoping to achieve certification of the upgrade before September. The upgrade cost is expected to be around $155,000.
David Velupillai ( Marketing Director Airbus Corporate Jets Blagnac, France )
I was surprised to read that “GA Manu–facturers Embrace Fly-by-Wire” (February 2013, page 33) does not mention Airbus, despite its leadership in introducing the technology. You seem to mention every other manufacturer but Airbus, and even describe Dassault as the first to use FBW in a business jet (a claim that it makes but which is nevertheless untrue, as we have pointed out before)!
Bombardier's Global 5000, the shorter version of the Global Express and fitted with smaller fuel tanks, has the best cabin of any business aircraft in its range class, along with the fastest cruise speeds and best runway performance, according to operators. They like its cockpit room, soft ride in turbulence, automated systems and three seating zones in the main cabin.
AgustaWestland is testing a fan-in-wing, electric-powered tilt-rotor demonstrator for advanced rotorcraft concepts. Measuring several meters in wingspan, the “Project Zero” subscale demonstrator has been developed and flown in secret since 2011 at AgustaWestland's Cascina Costa facility in Italy.
IMP Group Limited (IMP), the Canadian conglomerate that owns Canjet, Innotech Aviation, Execaire and Pacific Avionics, continues to expand its aviation portfolio with the acquisition of Toronto-based Image Air Charter to compliment Execaire's charter and management services. The company, which has 60 employees, manages a fleet of 20 aircraft. Execaire employs 290 workers and has a managed fleet of 53 aircraft.
The FAA's Aerospace Forecast for 2013-2033 predicts the general aviation fleet will increase at an average annual rate of 0.5%, from an estimated 220,670 in 2012 to 246,375 by 2033. This growth reflects an anticipated 2.8% increase in turbine aircraft on average per year. Business jets in particular are forecast to grow 3.5% on average per year, reaching 24,620 by 2033.
After losing the USAF Light Air Support (LAS) competition for the second time Feb. 27 to a Sierra Nevada/Embraer team, Beechcraft once again protested the loss. The LAS contract is worth up to $950 million. Once a protest is filed with the Government Accountability Office, auditors have up to 100 days to review the case and make a determination. Citing the need “to honor a critical and time-sensitive U.S.
New FAA guidance is providing FAR Part 121, 135 and 91K operators an alternate means to demonstrate compliance with initial training requirements for their contract instructors and check airmen. The guidance, released in February, after the agency met with industry groups concerned that the training requirements were forcing some Part 142 training centers to pull authorizations of their inspectors and check airman.
The emergence and strong sales of Robinson's R66 Turbine is causing helicopter manufacturers to think again about the light single-turbine market. For years, Robinson's piston R22 and R44s were considered to be in a league of their own. But the development and certification of the R66 — nearly 200 of which were delivered in 2012 — has raised eyebrows, as it begins to impinge on markets that were previously strongholds of models produced by Bell, MD, Enstrom and to some extent Eurocopter.
Piper Aircraft has adopted the most recent Garmin G1000 software supporting a three-display avionics suite as standard equipment in new piston-twin Piper Seneca V models available in 2013. The announcement was made at Airshow 2013, the Australian International Airshow and Aerospace & Defence Exposition in February.
Embraer remains cautious about the business jet market, even as the company's revenues from the segment grew 15.5% last year. Embraer has been encouraged by the growth of American corporate profits and the number of millionaires worldwide. But the company says slow growth of some economies and uncertainty in Europe, as well as lower utilization of business jets are factors “that jeopardize a full recovery of the demand for business jets.” The company, which released its fourth-quarter 2012 results on March 13, delivered the same number of jets in 2012 as in 2011 (99).
Summing It Up GAMA has advanced three major objections to the EU's Emissions Trading System for aviation that pretty much condense the worldwide industry's misgivings about the program: The administrative burden far outweighs the environmental benefit from including small operators.
Feb. 14 — About 1630 EST, a Cessna 310H (N104DR) operated by a private individual was substantially damaged during impact with terrain, following an inflight loss of control during cruise flight near Yeehaw Junction, Fla. The private pilot, pilot-rated passenger and a second passenger were killed. It was marginal VFR and no flight plan was filed for the flight that departed Sebastian Municipal Airport (X26), Sebastian, Fla., around 1600, destined for Bartow Municipal Airport (BOW), Bartow, Fla.
The FAA confirmed it has resumed its search for six unmanned aircraft systems test sites after the process stalled on privacy issues, which were not fully addressed in the original site selection criteria. The FAA Modernization and Reform Act of 2012 required the FAA establish test sites for domestic drones by the end of 2012, a deadline which the agency missed as it assessed privacy concerns. The agency is also required to fully integrate unmanned aircraft systems into U.S. airspace by September 2015.
I enjoyed Fred George's “Truly Earning That Fourth Stripe” (February 2013, page 45). As a captain with Continental/United starting my 30th year, I've had the privilege of mentoring upgrading captains both as a check airman and as a human factors instructor. The author's thoughts are spot on!
Engineered Propulsion Systems (EPS), Inc., of New Richmond, Wisc., has validated its 4.4-liter, “Flat-Vee” Vision 350 aero-diesel engine design after testing at Hartzell Propeller headquarters in Piqua, Ohio. The testing proved that Hartzell's family of propeller blades are all adaptable to the EPS engine at power levels exceeding 350 hp without the need for further engine vibration dampers, the company said.
The King Schools Online High-Altitude Weather course contains seven major subject lessons including such topics as mountain waves, jet stream turbulence avoidance, thunderstorm avoidance, coping with icing conditions, among others. The course helps pilots meet the initial and transition pilot training requirements for weather, FAR 135.345(a)(3) and recurrent training, Part 135.351, also Part 91K (91.1065). Pilot may individually order and enroll or flight departments may order multiple courses.
Despite broader economic woes and a continuing climate of fiscal uncertainty, this year's Heli-Expo convention set another record for attendance with well more than 20,393 visitors. The record marks the sixth consecutive year of growth. Matt Zuccaro, president of Heli-Expo organizer Helicopter Association International (HAI), says for the past five years “it has been trending up each year and exceeding attendance from the previous year.” Some 730 exhibitors booked 1 million sq. ft.
Soloy Aviation Solutions has engineered and received STC approval for an LED-based aircraft lighting kit for the Cessna 206G and 206H. The kit installs a second light source on the leading wedge of the right wing to complement the factory installed left wing taxi and landing lights. It further converts both sides to LED illumination and is compatible with the 50-gal. fuel tanks from Sierra Industries. The new kit includes pulse-light capability pulsing the landing light between the two wings.
The approach into Juneau, Alaska, International is infamous because the majestic mountains that tightly encircle the airport produce a complex wind-flow pattern and constrain maneuvers when arriving or departing. It is no surprise that JNU has a lengthy history of turbulence-related incidents involving passenger jets.
