In mid-August, Gulfstream Aerospace announced that FAA pilots have completed all the scheduled flying required for certification of the Gulfstream G650. In addition, the European Aviation Safety Agency test team finished the flight testing required for its validation of the FAA's type certification. The G650 received a provisional type certificate from the FAA on Nov. 18, 2011, and is in the process of completing the final certification tests with the FAA to support entry-into-service later this year. As of July, the test fleet had flown more than 3,800 hr.
Gulfstream Aerospace has delivered the 600th Gulfstream business jet equipped with the PlaneView cockpit, achieving the milestone nine years after the flight deck was first delivered. Gulfstream reached the 600th PlaneView mark with the delivery of the 362nd large-cabin, ultra-long-range G550 aircraft.
As the EPA put off potential regulations on emissions from leaded aviation gasoline, the general aviation community has stepped up its efforts to look at alternatives – from new lines of diesel airplanes to replacement fuels and even lower octane fuels. But despite these efforts, the majority of industry leaders believe that leaded aviation gasoline will remain a fixture, at least in the U.S., for some time.
As head of aviation sales for U-Fuel, a leading supplier of fuel equipment for general aviation airports, I enjoyed “Fuel Danger” (Washington Watch, August 2012). Our company also sponsors the free Aviation Fuel Club (www.aviationfuelclub.org), an organization that helps pilots and airports lower the cost of fuel and fuel equipment.
Embraer also reported that the Legacy 450's big brother, the midsize Legacy 500, is scheduled for its first flight this year with s.n. 001 continuing pre-flight testing, having completed taxi tests, ground vibration tests and fuel system tests. The first prototype rolled out in January while the second prototype, s.n. 002, rolled out in May. Serial number 003 is in final assembly with the wing-to-fuselage mating completed in June.
Weather Services International (WSI) has updated its 2012 tropical forecast to 13 named storms, six hurricanes and three intense hurricanes (Category 3 or greater). These numbers are slightly higher than the previous forecast of 12/six/three, and are quite close to the adjusted long-term (1950-2011) averages of 12 named storms, seven hurricanes and three intense hurricanes and averages from the more active recent period (1995-2011) of 15/eight/four.
In “Shoptalk with Wendi,” (Schedulers & Dispatchers, July 2012) the correct spelling of the author's surname is: Gavigan. (Apologies, Wendi and any Gavigan relatives.) In the Lima, Peru, “Destination Cities” report in the August 2012 issue, BCA incorrectly stated that the City of Los Angeles and Los Angeles County, California, were administered as a single governmental entity. Actually, they are independently governed.
Argus July 2012 TRAQPak data show business aircraft activity flat month-over-month, and year-over-year. TRAQPak data indicate that July 2012 business aircraft flight activity decreased from June 2012 at 1.1% overall. The results by operational category were all down from the previous month, with the exception of fractional activity, which posted a month-over-month increase of 3.3%. Operational categories: FAR Part 91, down 2.4%; Part 135, down 1.0%; fractional, up 3.3%.
Perhaps as the GWX design is firmed up and growth models are introduced, something will be added, making the identification of extreme intensity precipitation simple. In the meantime, here are a couple pilot's tricks to identify those “worse than bad” thunderstorms.
House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chairman John Mica (R-Fla.) and Aviation Subcommittee Chairman Thomas Petri (R-Wis.) wrote acting FAA Administrator Michael Huerta asking the agency to reconsider its recent rule to mandate what had been voluntary helicopter routes over Long Island, N.Y. They asserted that the rule was “seemingly based solely on noise complaints as opposed to safety of flight.” The mandatory routes were debated at length during the House/Senate conference on the FAA reauthorization but were rejected, the lawmakers note.
I read with great concern the accolades being used to describe former FAA Administrator Randy Babbitt (Intelligence, June 2012) in regard to his return to aviation consulting. I must take issue with the praise being given Babbitt in terms of his contribution to advancing aviation safety.
NetJets already is beginning to see possible returns from its new fleets, says Patrick Gallagher, senior vice president and head of sales for the fractional ownership provider. After announcing orders in June for midsize cabins — including the Cessna Citation Latitude and Challenger 300 series — the number of inquires on the Web and calls tripled, he says, adding that “customers are excited to see us reinvest in our business.”
Baker Aviation's new maintenance facility at Addison Airport (KADS) has been named a certified repair station by the FAA. Baker, the only certified repair station at KADS, is a full-service private aircraft charter, management and maintenance company licensed to provide professional aviation services in the U.S., Canada, Mexico, Central America and the Caribbean.
NBAA membership has topped 9,000 companies, reflecting a growth rate of 25% in recent years. “Our membership growth is testimony to the value of business aviation and the NBAA's role in representing this essential industry,” said Ed Bolen, NBAA president and CEO. “Now more than ever, businesses depend on the use of aircraft to remain nimble, competitive and successful in a highly challenging global marketplace, and we are proud to advocate for their interests.” The NBAA was established in 1947 with 19 charter members.
Aug. 7 — About 0845 CST, a Bell 214ST (N409SB) experienced a loss of tail rotor authority near Avalon, Texas. The pilots were not injured during the precautionary landing; however, the helicopter was substantially damaged. The helicopter was owned and operated by Bell Helicopter Textron of Fort Worth. VFR conditions prevailed for the local flight operating without a flight plan. An initial report from the commercial pilot to the responding FAA inspector stated that they had departed Arlington Municipal Airport (KGKY) on a test and evaluation flight.
The “bible” for operations over the high seas is ICAO Document 4444, Section 15, which delineates general oceanic contingency procedures. An accompanying reference is ICAO Document 7030, which covers supplementary (unique) procedures applying to the eight ICAO regions. These two can be purchased through ICAO's main website in paper or online subscriptions at www.icao.int/publications/catalog. (They are not presented gratis on the ICAO website as FARs are on the FAA website and must be purchased. However, the full set is included in a Jeppesen JeppView subscription.)
The business and general aviation market is gaining ground in 2012, with industry billings improving by double digits and business jet and turboprop deliveries both increasing, according to GAMA. Billings for the first half of 2012 reached $8.202 billion, a 13.2% increase from the $7.246 billion in the first six months of 2011. The jump in billings corresponds to a 13.1% increase in business jet shipments in the first half. Manufacturers delivered 294 business jets in the first half, compared with 260 in the same period in 2011.
In July, Manassas Regional Airport (HEF), Virginia's largest regional airport, began construction to extend its longest runway by an extra 500 ft., to 6,200 ft. The five-phase project is expected to be completed by Nov. 30, 2012. In the meantime, runway length availability will be reduced to 5,000 ft., with a threshold displacement of 700 ft. In the last 30 days, there will be a further reduction to 4,700 ft. Check NOTAMs.
Business jet sales continue to bolster Bombardier's aerospace business, accounting for the increase in revenues from $2.085 billion in the second quarter of 2011 to $2.265 billion this year. Revenues for the six months, however, were down from $4.273 billion in the first half of 2011 to $3.764 billion through June 30 of this year. That decline in part was attributable to the slowing of Global deliveries in the first quarter.
Signature Flight Support parent BBA Aviation is bracing for continued volatility in the market for the remainder of the year, but BBA CEO Simon Pryce maintains that “medium term” indicators look much stronger. Business aircraft traffic was softer than expected — remaining relatively flat — keeping a damper on services overall. Even so, the company reported growth in revenue of 3% to $1.094 billion, thanks to an 11% increase in aftermarket services and higher fuel prices.
Embraer Executive Jets milled the first part for its mid-light Legacy 450 executive jet last week, marking the beginning of fabrication for the new aircraft. A forward fuselage component was milled from a block of aluminum alloy by a five-axis, high-performance machining center. The fully-automated milling process drew data directly from a digital mockup of the 2,300-nm-range Legacy 450. Once completed, the part was approved by a quality control process that employs laser devices for design validation and conformity with the digital mockup.
What follows is a compilation of actual inflight emergencies experienced by business aviation flight crews in oceanic airspace. Note the follow-throughs, cockpit resource management, and adherence to ICAO contingency procedures these tales reflect.
Beginning a design exercise on a clean sheet of paper has been a rare event in general aviation. The philosophy has always been you can tinker with it but, since it ain't broke, don't try to fix it. Witness the progression of the 1945 Beech Bonanza into the 2012 Baron, the 1945 Cessna 140 into the 2012 Stationair, the King KX 160 navcom to the KX 175, the RCA Primus 40 radar into the 21st century Primus 880. Even Garmin, with its image of being the great innovator, got into airborne weather radar by upgrading an ancient design (and very successfully, it should be noted).
CAE inaugurated pilot and maintenance technician training programs in Melbourne, Australia, for the Hawker Beechcraft King Air 350 aircraft with Rockwell Collins Pro Line 21 avionics. The program features a new CAE 5000 Series full-flight simulator, qualified to Level D standards by the Australian Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA). Located in the Ansett Aviation Training facility, the CAE Melbourne location is part of CAE's expanding business aviation training network.
