Rockwell Collins has begun modifying a Beechcraft King Air 250 for flight testing the touchscreen embedded display system (EDS) versions of its Pro Line Fusion integrated avionics. All processing is moved from avionics cabinets to the displays themselves, allowing the system to be installed on smaller aircraft, where the screens are closer to the pilot and lend themselves to finger-on-glass interaction. The aircraft will fly later this year and supplemental type certification of the EDS as a display upgrade to Pro Line 21-equipped King Airs is scheduled for 2013.
April 23 — About 1015 PDT, an experimental League Lancair Propjet (N66HL) impacted the terrain about 4 mi. southeast of Sisters, Ore. The private pilot and his flight instructor received fatal injuries, and the airplane, which was owned and operated by the pilot, sustained substantial damage. The local instructional flight, which departed Roberts Field, Redmond, Ore., about 70 min. prior to the accident, was being operated VFR. No flight plan had been filed.
The feature “Shanghai Bound” (February 2012, page 44 ) states, “According to Jeppesen, Shanghai falls within the territory that has been surveyed, so operators using synthetic vision systems, the databases of which are WGS 84-referenced, as approach aids at Pudong will now break out aligned with the assigned runway instead of displaced 100 meters to one side as has been the case.”
A dedicated GE Aviation field service operation will be on-site at the Ocean Sky Jet Centre FBO at London Luton Airport through the Olympics. The GE mobile repair team will be available for any line maintenance needs. GE Aviation will also position new and exchange materials in the region for quick access.
It was 6 a.m. and still dark as the weary copilot lined up the Learjet 35 for final into Kansas City Downtown Airport (MKC). The crew's duty day had begun on the backside of the clock for the early morning departure out of Dallas, a fact that surely contributed to the unfolding error — the right seater was heading from the wrong runway.
NetJets Europe is poised to get into aircraft management, and its plans to quickly expand this new operation to cover a sizable number of aircraft may well startle some of Europe's existing management operations. “We already have an executive jet management scheme in the United States,” said Eric Connor, chairman and CEO, NetJets Europe, “and now we are starting one in Europe because there's a demand for it. “For the first 12 months, we will use the NetJets Europe AOC [air operator certificate] and then transition to a new operation, probably based in the U.K.
Live long and prosper. That well could be Cessna's new marketing mantra for its next generation flagship, the Citation Longitude. Unveiled last month at EBACE in Geneva, the Longitude will become the largest cabin, longest range Citation in the product lineup, with certification and initial deliveries targeted for fourth quarter 2017.
GE Aviation has continued expanding its service network for business and general aviation engines, with 28 service centers for M601 and H80 turboprop engines and five service centers for CF34-3 engines. GE has named 13 M601 and H80 Authorized Service Centers worldwide. Two CF34 Authorized Service Centers are in place: Bombardier and Jet Aviation St. Louis. Under these agreements, Bombardier's five wholly owned business aircraft service centers in the United States are included.
Great article on the IRS interpretation of the air transportation tax (Washington Watch, May 2012, page 68). No question that it is a huge overreach by IRS bureaucrats. My guess is that 90% of business aviation operators have never heard of this new ruling. Such is the value of BCA and the NBAA, otherwise we would already be priced out of the market. You do realize that you only wrote half of the article?
Rockwell Collins France is demonstrating a radar-based helicopter obstacle detection system to the French army as it talks to manufacturers about a related system to warn of rotor strikes when landing in confined spaces. Both systems use the same 13 GHz, Ku-band electronically scanned radar technology developed by the company's French operation. Other obstacle-detection systems are flying but use mechanically scanned radars or lidar sensors.
Bell Helicopter announced at EBACE that it completed deliveries of six of its newest aircraft in Europe during the month prior. Three Bell 407GX aircraft, the first of their kind in Europe, are operating in Belgium, Denmark and, most recently, Iceland. Bell also delivered three additional Bell 429 aircraft in Russia and Ukraine.
Argus TRAQPak data indicates that April 2012 business aircraft flight activity decreased from March (which is the typical annual trend), finishing the month down 4.4%. The only month-over-month increase came in the fractional turboprop sector, up 4.8%. Reviewing activity year- over-year (April 2012 vs. April 2011) TRAQPak observed a 1.3% increase in overall aircraft activity. April saw increases in most groups, with the exception of large-cabin aircraft, which finished down 4.9%.
Business jet makers are closely following Hawker Beechcraft's financial situation, and at least a few of them are saying they would be interested in picking up some or all of the company should it become available at the right terms. “We are evaluating how this thing is going to unfold,” Embraer CEO Frederico Curado told analysts during the release of the company's first-quarter results on April 27. “Maybe some of the assets could be of interest to Embraer. We just have to see how that develops.
The first prototype of the AgustaWestland AW169 4.5 ton light intermediate helicopter made its maiden flight in May at the company's Cascina Costa plant in Italy. The flight included an assessment of the helicopter's general handling and basic systems. The first prototype will be joined by two more aircraft later this year and a fourth prototype in 2013. The company says the AW169 program is on schedule to achieve basic civil certification in 2014.
Nextant Aerospace has been awarded several new STCs for the 400XT. In addition to certifying an inflight entertainment system, Nextant also received STCs for additional avionics options, many of which help to pave the way for final certification EASA. The STCs cover several major operational areas, including the Class “A” Terrain Awareness and Warning Systems (TAWS) system, and the Wide Area Augmentation System (WAAS)/Localizer performance with vertical guidance (LPV) navigational capability.
Strap into any current production military aircraft and it's likely that you'll be looking out of the windshield through a permanently mounted head-up display. Aboard military aircraft, the HUD usually is the primary flight reference because it allows pilots to fly the aircraft with unmatched precision while scanning outside the aircraft for threats, terrain and targets. Head-down displays in such aircraft perform secondary roles, functioning as moving maps, EICAS and CDUs for proprietary equipment.
The general aviation market doldrums have continued into 2012 as new aircraft billings dropped 8% and aircraft shipments dipped 2.1% in the first quarter, GAMA reported. The first quarter shipment report now includes two additional manufacturers, Thrush Aircraft and Air Tractor. Additionally, Gulfstream Aerospace deliveries are now identified when “outfitted” as opposed to “green.” The 2011 shipment report has been updated for Gulfstream Aerospace and now includes Thrush Aircraft deliveries.
Embraer made the first international delivery of a U.S.-made Phenom 100 when Canadian businessman Tasso Kostelidis took delivery on March 31. Kostelidis who is an instrument-rated private pilot received training along with his corporate pilot at Embraer's training partner, CAE in Dallas. He will use his Phenom to travel throughout his network of distribution centers in Canada.
While controversy continues regarding the pay source for equipage and practical value of operational benefits, Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B), a key technology in the FAA's move to a satellite-based Next Generation (NextGen) air traffic management system, is here and expanding steadily.
EASA has awarded a type certificate to Williams International for its FJ44-3AP engine, an improved version of the FJ44-3A model. Take-off thrust was increased 8% to 3,052 lbf, cruise thrust was increased 13%, while weight was reduced 3% and cruise specific fuel consumption improved by 1.5%. The FJ44-3AP was certified by the FAA in May 2011. The engine powers the Nextant 400XT.
Pentastar Aviation's executive terminal operation at Oakland County International Airport (PTK) has been granted approval as a Gateway FBO to Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) through the DCA Access Standard Security Program (DASSP). Pentastar is currently the only executive terminal facility in the Metro Detroit area approved for departures flying directly to DCA. In addition, Pentastar Aviation Charter, Inc., is now a TSA-approved operator for on-demand charter flights into DCA from any DCA Access facility.
Piper's international aircraft deliveries continue to outpace those in the U.S. led by vigorous sales in Europe. “We are seeing more buyers opt for new, more fuel-efficient aircraft as they downsize from twin-engine aircraft,” said Peter Winters, general manager of Winters Aviation, which has Piper sales responsibility in France and Belgium. Early in 2012, Piper delivered three new Piper Meridian turboprops into France and a Mirage pressurized single in Switzerland.
Transmitter frequency stability regulation, commonly called the “.005” rule, has been withheld from the body of ITU rules just recently put into force by the FCC. Designed to protect air-ground communications from wider band use by transmitters meeting only the present “.01” frequency stability limit, this rule has been vigorously opposed by the AOPA. Objections centered on unnecessary re-equipment of aircraft with new closer tolerance transmitters, which would be required on many light aircraft.
