Business Aviation

CNN has launched its first unit using unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) for newsgathering, called CNN Aerial Imaging and Reporting (CNN AIR). With two full-time UAS operators, the unit will use tethered and free-flying small UAS to integrate drone imagery into reporting for CNN news services, Turner Broadcasting System and parent company Time Warner. Since 2015, CNN has been developing uses of UAS for newsgathering in partnership with the Georgia Tech Research Institute (GTRI).

The Quest Kodiak recently received type certification in Chile, its 23rd such approval. The company reports several additional certifications are imminent.

Carlo Logli, the CEO of Italy's Piaggio Aerospace, resigned in late August, just weeks after masterminding the company's restructuring.

Platinum Air Center has opened at Jack Edwards Airport in Gulf Shores, Alabama. The new FBO, owned by Arve and Emily Henricksen, is temporarily operating out of a 3,500-sq.-ft. modular complex. Construction of a $5 million facility and hangar, to be located adjacent to the modular facility, will begin in early 2017 with plans for completion by mid-2019. Plans include a 44,000-sq.-ft. FBO containing a 140 x 160-ft. hangar with 28-ft.-high doors.

The Bell 429 light-twin helicopter fleets of Turkish National Police and Turkish General Directorate of Forestry have reached a 95% operational availability rate, Bell says. The model continues to be successful supporting public safety and assisting to prevent fires and preserve Turkish forests, it says. Turkey has been a successful market for Bell, garnering more than 50% of the total market for the past five years. Twenty-six Bell 429s are in use in Turkey for parapublic, EMS and corporate missions.

Russia's TsAGI aerohydrodynamic research institute has completed initial wind tunnel tests of an agricultural unmanned aircraft developed by Tatarstan's Aviaresheniya design bureau. The tests at airspeeds up to 72 kph (45 mph) were conducted in TsAGI’s full-scale wind tunnel in Moscow. The vertical-takeoff-and-landing UAV has two lifting propellers mounted side-by-wide within an open framework. What appear to be vanes under the two-blade props likely provide flight control.

Bombardier celebrated 40 years of operations in Tucson, Arizona, where it occupies nearly 1 million sq. ft. of hangar space. The Tucson Air Center is the largest of Bombardier’s nine service centers and employs more than 900 engineers, technicians and staff. The site opened in 1976 at the Tucson International Airport, where it is one of the largest tenants. The facility provides services for Learjet, Challenger and Global business aircraft and CRJ Series regional jets and Q400 turboprops.

There's a new campaign underway to fully restore the Burgess-Wright Model F Aircraft that landed on the White House lawn a century ago and put it on permanent display at Reagan National Airport’s Historic Terminal A. Designed by the Wright Brothers and manufactured under license by Starling Burgess, the Model F landed on the South Lawn of the White House on July 14, 1911.

After years of criticism for foot-dragging, the FAA on Aug. 29 instituted Part 107, which regulates unmanned aircraft systems (UAS). And industry has expressed satisfaction with the rules which enable routine commercial drone operations. The so-called Small UAS Rule, “represents a low and reasonable barrier to entry,” says Brendan Schulman, vice president of policy and legal affairs at DJI, by far the largest maker of small drones, which by definition weigh less than 55 lb.

Bombardier Aerospace's first Global 7000 ultra-long-range business jet has been registered on Transport Canada's Canadian Civil Aircraft Register. The aircraft was registered August 29. The company is concentrating on preparations for first flight, planned to take place this year. “We’re focused on flying as soon as possible,” said Bombardier spokesman Mark Masluch, who declined to give further details.

Business aviation flight activity was positive during the first half of this year, with activity up in five of the six months compared to the same period a year ago, according to Argus International TraqPak data. April was the only month to post a decrease over 2015 flight activity, with a 0.6% decline. Flight activity is expected to rise 3.4% in August, September and October when compared to the same period in 2015, TraqPak analysts predict.

European business aircraft brokers and operators have been the victims of cyberattacks in increasing numbers, said London-based BACA, the Air Charter Association. It appears a “sophisticated criminal community” is targeting the business aviation sector and has hacked into broker and operator internal communication systems to gain access to bank accounts and trading information, BACA said. Attacks have taken place throughout the UK and Europe, it said. The rise in attacks was reported during the 438th meeting of the BACA Council, it said.

A Comlux ACJ319 has been retrofitted with sharklets, becoming the first Airbus Corporate Jet to undergo the replacement process—and the first of any version of the A319. The work was conducted by TAP Maintenance and Engineering and managed by Airbus Corporate Jets. The manufacturer says the extended winglets can produce fuel savings of as much as 4%, and thus a corresponding improvement in range.

TrueNorth Avionics has introduced Simphone Pro, its latest cabin communications system, with a special upgrade program for legacy Simphone installations. The company says upgrading requires no more than pulling out the old system and plugging in the new. The upgraded unit is a 4MCU offering Wi-Fi, high-fidelity telephony, with a full-featured VoIP PBX, enterprise email and seamless connectivity for smartphones and other personal electronic devices. The system is available with and without dual Iridium voice and data channels.

Gulfstream Aerospace has developed the first phase of a mobile application to help Gulfstream operators streamline flight operations, the company says. The Performance iPad app, a companion to Gulfstream’s PlaneBook electronic suite of flight crew information, allows Gulfstream G650 or G650ER flight crews to calculate performance data for takeoffs and landings, replacing paper charts and manual calculations.

Rockwell Collins has received authorization to sell satellite connectivity services in Brazil, the company said. The license, authorized by Anatel, gives Rockwell Collins the ability to sign distribution and service agreements with companies and customers operating in Brazil, the company said. Rockwell Collins is a reseller for Inmarsat and Iridium satellite services.

Icon Aircraft is shifting production of major components for its A5 sport amphibian from subcontractor Cirrus Design to its own 300,000-sq.-ft. facility in Tijuana, Mexico, that will be up and running by November.

Jet Linx Aviation, a private jet company in Omaha, Nebraska, has formed a partnership with ProJet Aviation to assume ProJet’s managed fleet of aircraft, including a Challenger 604, a Hawker 800XP and a Piaggio Avanti II.

Jean Christophe Gallagher, Bombardier Business Aircraft’s former vice president of strategy, marketing and innovation, has been named vice president and general manager of its customer experience team.

Sikorsky says utilization of its S-92 helicopter has increased by a fifth, due in part to the grounding of the Airbus H225/EC225.

GCS Safety Solutions MD, Michael Grüninger, believes education is important in providing safe air transport, and that supporting AfBAA is a positive step in the right direction.

Risk of injury from drones falling on people’s heads appears to be less than expected, but a small UAS hitting an aircraft will not be the same as a birdstrike, initial research indicates.

The world’s most exclusive executive transport is getting a replacement. While it’s technically a military aircraft, Air Force One sports the perks that you’d find on the largest corporate aircraft — a private bedroom, office and high-end galley among them.

A solid-state sensor designed to warn pilots of the danger of high-altitude engine-core icing is in development by a Canadian company and is attracting interest from aircraft and engine manufacturers.

AviationManuals has acquired Maximum Manuals of Carlsbad, California, a move that allows it to expand its product line, the company said.