Max-Viz and Helijet of Vancouver, B.C. Canada are collaborating on the installation of the Max-Viz EVS-1500 enhanced vision system on three S-76 helicopters supporting emergency medical service operations under contract with the B.C. government.
Quest Aircraft received certification from Brazil's National Civil Aviation Authority (ANAC) for its Kodiak single turboprop utility aircraft. Seven countries have certified the Kodiak. The aircraft has received significant interest from Brazil, along with other Latin America countries. The aircraft last fall completed a demonstration tour in Brazil, the Caribbean and several Latin American countries.
Blue Sky Network introduced the portable HawkeyeLink Bluetooth device that enables hands-free Iridium phone calls and two-way messaging on users' smartphones in an aircraft or helicopter. After downloading the custom BSN app, HawkeyeLink uses Bluetooth technology to connect to an Android smartphone. Crew and passengers as far as 30 meters away can now use their phones over the Iridium network for communication anywhere in the air.
Gulfstream Aerospace donated $50,000 to the Corporate Angel Network, the charitable organization that arranges free flights to treatment for cancer patients aboard corporate jets. Gulfstream was one of the first corporate flight departments to join as a CAN participant in 1982. Joe Lombardo, executive vice president, aerospace for Gulfstream parent General Dynamics, serves on the CAN board of directors.
Development of LEDs began more than a century ago, but the first practical versions were produced in General Electric labs in the 1960s. Until 1968, visible and infrared LEDs cost on the order of $200 per unit, and thus had little practical use. In 1968, Monsanto mass-produced visible red LEDs suitable for indicators. Hewlett-Packard advanced the concept for uses in alphanumeric displays, which were integrated into HP's early handheld calculators.
CB VATAmerica has launched the European Aviation Fuel Tax Advisor app for the iPad, iPhone, iPad and Android devices. The new app is part of the company's continued efforts to help business aircraft operators eliminate European VAT and excise taxes on fuel. Users can select the country of fuel uplift (all EU countries, plus Norway and Switzerland), the operator's home country, operator type, amount of fuel and the fuel cost in local currency.
President Barack Obama signed the long-term FAA reauthorization bill Feb. 14, after the Senate approved the bill 75-20 on Feb. 6, ending a nearly 5-yr. stalemate that led to 23 short-term extensions of FAA's operating authority. Though the long-term bill was widely expected to pass the Senate by the necessary 60-vote margin, it wasn't a complete slam dunk. Labor unions lobbied against the bill in its final weeks, objecting to a House-Senate agreement over a labor rules issue. The bill passed in the House by a 248-169 margin on Feb. 3.
The EU is “not wedded” to its emissions trading system (ETS) and would be willing to begin negotiating a global deal to reduce aviation greenhouse gas emissions, but it will retain its much-maligned ETS while an agreement is worked out. During a sometimes contentious ETS panel discussion at the Singapore air show Aviation Leadership Summit Feb. 13, Matthew Baldwin, director general for mobility and transport (DG-MOVE) for the European Commission, spent much of his time defending ETS and the EU's motives in extending the cap-and-trade scheme to aviation as of Jan. 1.
China, as almost everyone in the business aircraft industry knows, is seen as the great new sales opportunity. But how long before it will also become the great new competitor?
Key Air, an aircraft management and charter operation based in Oxford, Conn., has received FAA authorization for use of the Apple iPad to access electronic charts in place of paper charts. Key Air previously had FAA authorization to use an electronic flight bag, and underwent a series of testing and authorizations to use the iPad. Key Air pilots will use the iPads during its commercial flight operations.
Constant Aviation has received FAA supplemental type certification (STC) for the installation of Aircell's Cabin Wireless Access Point (CWAP) in an Embraer EMB135LR aircraft. CWAP provides in-cabin Wi-Fi service for Gogo Biz Inflight Internet. Constant Aviation has completed the Gogo Biz Inflight Internet STC on the Gulfstream IV, Embraer 600 and EMB135 Corporate Shuttle.
With three new civil helicopter models set to enter certification testing or service this year, Russia's rotary-wing industry is preparing for rapid growth following almost a decade of consolidation of airframe, engine and service providers. Displaying a model of its newest Mi-171A2 at the Heli-Expo in Dallas, Russian Helicopters says it expects to deliver some 301 aircraft in 2012, up from 262 last year and 214 in 2010. The trend marks significant growth from 2006, when deliveries reached 94 helicopters, and represent a 15% year-on-year expansion, according to officials.
FAA has issued an emergency AD calling for replacement of certain Bell Model 206L (and -1, -3 and -4) main rotor blades that exceed a new shortened life limit. Originally 3,600 hr. time in service, the new life limit is 1,400 hr. The AD stems from a Transport Canada report of two accidents involving failure of the main rotor blade because of fatigue cracking. Transport Canada advises that there is no reliable inspection method to detect the cracks on these blades before such failure.
Duncan Aviation has developed an iPad-compatible wireless interface for cabin management systems. The iCabin application connects an iPad to an aircraft's CMS, providing passengers with a remote for sound, video and cabin lighting on aircraft equipped with Wi-Fi capability. The fully customized iPad application doesn't interfere with other onboard systems or change functionality, says Duncan. It also may be used to control most audio and video equipment. A wireless cabin control application for Android devices is also being tested.
Gulfstream also reported that the three Gulfstream G280 aircraft currently in the flight-test program have flown more than 1,835 hr. during more than 685 flights as of Jan. 25. The fatigue test article has completed more than 12,500 of 40,000 cycles. Serial Number 2001 recently completed rejected takeoff tests. Serial number 2003 finished all function and reliability activities and is now being transitioned to testing optional avionics features, including the Head-Up Display (HUD II) and Enhanced Vision System (EVS II).
Bombardier Aerospace will open a full-scale company-owned and operated service center in Singapore in 2013. The company says the new service center will be the cornerstone of Bombardier's customer services offerings in the Asia-Pacific region. The new facility will be the second service center operated by Bombardier outside of North America, bringing the total number to ten worldwide. It will be capable of performing a variety of light to heavy maintenance tasks on all Learjet, Challenger and Global aircraft.
Air tour operator Papillon Grand Canyon Helicopters has incorporated the Softtech Flight & Duty TrackerT system into its operations at the South Rim of the Grand Canyon, as well as Las Vegas/Boulder City. Flight & Duty TrackerT provides FAR Part 135 flight and duty tracking for small or large flight operations, including training events.
Bombardier is making big investments in China, both in rail — it's teaming with in-country manufacturers to develop a 280 kph train — and aviation, since Avic is supplying fuselages for both the Q400 turboprop and new CSeries airliner. However, company President and CEO Pierre Beaudoin said that the Canadian manufacturer will not be partnering with Chinese entities to build or develop a business jet there. “We have no intention of doing that,” Beaudoin told reporters at a Feb.
Lufthansa Technical Training's web-based training program is now available. The English-language program is divided into 16 units and all the helicopter basics are taught over 55 hr. The WBT program contains many animated system diagrams designed to be interactive. Linked video sequences introduce participants to the basics of helicopter technology and maintenance. The learning content complies with EASA category CAT B1.3 (module 12). There are online demos at www.ltt.aero/de/access-to-demoversions. Lufthansa Technical Training www.ltt.aero/en
Phillips 66 Aviation has launched a mobile application for its WingPoints Rewards With Altitude program, providing pilots access to their WingPoints accounts and an airport dealer locator. The WingPoints Reward Card was launched in 2008, providing reward points for fuel purchases. The app is available at the iTunes store.
The Dassault Falcon 7X fleet has accumulated more than 100,000 flight hours marking a significant milestone for the company's longest range aircraft. The first 7X was delivered in June 2007, and since that time 133 have entered service in 31 countries. The fleet leader has accumulated more than 3,500 flight hours.
The Flightstar Corp., Savoy, Ill., has purchased the assets of Bloomington Avionics based in Bloomington, Ill. Flightstar is transferring the Bloomington staff and its services to the Flightstar fixed-base operation at Champaign-Urbana's University of Illinois-Willard Airport (KCMI). A Class I and II avionics repair station, Bloomington has provided service and installation for more than 30 years. Flightstar, the sole FBO at KCMI, employs more than 120 people at a 10,000-sq.-ft. corporate terminal facility and 68,000-sq.-ft. maintenance facility.
The FCC is withdrawing LightSquared's conditional waiver to operate its proposed 4G voice and data network in bands adjacent to those used by GPS. “The commission clearly stated from the outset that harmful interference to GPS would not be permitted,” the FCC says.
Landmark Aviation added three aircraft to its managed charter fleet: a Hawker 800XP based at Landmark's Washington-Dulles location, an Embraer Phenom 100 based in Scottsdale, Ariz., and a King Air C90 based in Sioux Falls, S.D. Landmark has a managed fleet of 71 aircraft throughout its network. Headquartered in Houston, Landmark operates a chain of FBOs and provides charter, management and MRO services.
