Business Aviation

On Aug. 18, 2014, Gulfstream issued a reminder to all Gulfstream flight crews of the importance of proper preflight checks of the flight control systems. This letter circulated as the company and NTSB investigators explored the potential failure modes of the GIV gust lock system. The notice — in part — follows:

The information below includes items from the GIV Airplane Flight Manual and the NTSB investigators’ comments. Gust Lock The Before Starting Engines checklist contained within the AFM, Section 2 — Normal Procedures included the item: (70) Gust Lock — AS REQUIRED The Starting Engines checklist included the item: (4) Gust Lock — OFF

This excerpt from the CVR recording seems to demonstrate that power-up and acceleration was normal until 80 kt. and V1. At that point, comments are heard about “. . . lock is on,” and “can’t stop.” The FDR shows no indication of a stop-to-stop control check anytime from engine start to takeoff roll.

Selected Accidents and Incidents in April 2015. The following NTSB information is preliminary.

Aergen Management Services, Bellevue, Washington, appointed Heinz Westen CFO; Michael Barry Chief marketing officer and Tom Kaluza as senior vice president. Aerion, Reno, Nevada, appointed Ernest (Ernie) Edwards as senior vice president and chief commercial officer. He joins Aerion’s senior leadership and has responsibility for all sales activity related to the company’s AS2 supersonic business jet. He reports to CEO Doug Nichols.

​1. Aviation Safety Advocacy Service Launched

The first transatlantic flight by a Lear Jet was made to Frankfurt, Germany, via Gander, Keflavik and Prestwick. Starting from Wichita, the 5,577-mi. flight took 10 hr. 17 min. Average altitude was 41,000 ft. and the average ground speed was 540 mph. There were three people aboard. FAA certification has been received for the Turbo Exec 400, Riley Aeronautics Corp. conversion of the de Havilland Dove. It cruised at 250 mph TAS at 12,000 ft., with 285 TAS at 20,000 ft. Range is 2,000 mi. Both custom and airline interiors are available.

Checking It Twice Your “Checklists and Callouts” (March 2015, page 40) is the best-written summary of operational best practices I’ve ever read. I’m printing it and giving it to my pilots. It explains the philosophy I’ve advocated during my entire career in corporate aviation, a segment of our industry that often has many opposing and far-flung ideas of how to do things right. As your article so clearly articulates, we do things right by doing the right things. K. L. Gregory, AvManager, RWBP Inc.

The Pilatus PC-24 took off on its maiden flight on May 11 from Buochs Airport. Just under 1,800 Pilatus staff, all of whom are directly or indirectly involved in the PC-24 project, were there to applaud the business jet as it taxied for takeoff. Prototype P01, (HB-VXA), flew across central Switzerland for a total of 55 min. The twin-engine business jet took off from Runway 7 in just under 600 meters and climbed to 10,000 ft. (approximately 3000 meters) in about 3 min. where the two pilots completed a series of planned tests.

Embraer plans to move all Phenom light jet assembly to its Melbourne, Florida, facility from its plant in Brazil over the next year, the company said. The ramp up of Melbourne production will occur gradually throughout 2015 and will be completed in 2016. About 300 employees now work at Embraer’s customer center, production and customer support at the site. The move is needed as Embraer begins assembly of the prototypes of its new commercial jets, the E2 airliners.

Jet-A and Avgas Per Gallon Fuel Prices May 2015

Editor’s Note: While our regular readers might think they’re seeing double, that’s not the case. The business jet specification and performance tables that follow may at first appear to be a repeat of those published last month in our May Purchase Planning Handbook, but they are not. We received quite a few changes, additions, revisions and corrections within the category after the publication deadline. Naturally, we determined to update the digital tables immediately.

Teterboro Airport in New Jersey was the most popular business aviation airport among U.S., Canada and Mexico airports in March, according to an analysis of acukwik.com traffic for May. William P. Hobby Airport in Houston, Fort Lauderdale Hollywood International Airport in Florida, Dallas Love Field and Opa-Locka Executive Airport in Miami rounded out the top five. Around the world, the most popular business aviation airport was Teterboro, followed by William P.

​Jota Aviation, a U.K. charter company at London Southend Airport, has had a successful first six months with its BAE 146-200 jet aircraft, the company reports. Since it joined the fleet in October, the aircraft has made up to eight daily flights out of the London airport to various U.K. and European destinations. Jota Aviation is looking at expanding its fleet with further additions, it said. The next step is to offer the market a 50-plus seat version of the BAE 146.

The FAA is proposing a $430,000 civil penalty against Beechcraft Corp., a division of Textron Aviation, in Wichita, for allegedly failing to maintain the required aircraft production-quality-control system, the FAA said. The agency alleges that Beechcraft Baron customers began reporting fuel leaks on 43 Barons that the company recently manufactured. Investigators determined the leaks were caused by improperly installed fuel bladders.

General aviation deliveries in all categories fell during the first three months of 2015 compared to the same period of 2014, according to a new report by the General Aviation Manufacturers Association. “The first-quarter numbers show that, while our industry has been gaining traction over the past few years, we face some renewed headwinds in several regions of the world, including Asia, parts of Europe, and Latin America,” said GAMA president and CEO Pete Bunce. The general aviation industry is focused on regaining its momentum, Bunce said.

Embraer delivered 32 aircraft, including 12 business aircraft and 20 commercial jets, during the first three months of 2015, the Brazilian-based company reports. Embraer delivered 10 light business jets and two large business jets during the first quarter of 2015, compared to 20 business jets in the first quarter of 2014. Embraer said it delivered 20 E-jets during the quarter, compared to 14 during the same time in 2014. All 20 E-jets delivered so far this year are E175s.

​The first production-conforming aircraft, dubbed P1, is coming together at Cirrus’ facilities in Duluth, Minnesota, where the pressure vessel built at the company’s Grand Forks, North Dakota, facility and shipped to Duluth is being bonded to the tail and other components. Meanwhile, three conforming prototypes — C0, C1 and C2 — are taking part in the FAA certification program and have accumulated more than 400 hr. flight time. A fourth aircraft, a proof-of-concept model called V1, is also flyable.

​The first production-conforming aircraft, dubbed P1, is coming together at Cirrus’ facilities in Duluth, Minnesota, where the pressure vessel built at the company’s Grand Forks, North Dakota, facility and shipped to Duluth is being bonded to the tail and other components. Meanwhile, three conforming prototypes — C0, C1 and C2 — are taking part in the FAA certification program and have accumulated more than 400 hr. flight time. A fourth aircraft, a proof-of-concept model called V1, is also flyable.

​The first production-conforming aircraft, dubbed P1, is coming together at Cirrus’ facilities in Duluth, Minnesota, where the pressure vessel built at the company’s Grand Forks, North Dakota, facility and shipped to Duluth is being bonded to the tail and other components. Meanwhile, three conforming prototypes — C0, C1 and C2 — are taking part in the FAA certification program and have accumulated more than 400 hr. flight time. A fourth aircraft, a proof-of-concept model called V1, is also flyable.

Cirrus Aircraft is expanding its “Vision Center” in Knoxville, Tennessee, after a site search that included 15 states and 30 airport locations, the company said.

The FAA has proposed a $150,000 civil penalty against Ameriflight, based in Burbank, California, for allegedly operating a Beech BE-99 when it was not in compliance with FAA regulations. The FAA alleges that the pilot noted in the aircraft’s maintenance log on Jan. 8, 2010, that water was leaking through a gap in the windshield above the copilot’s visor. The same day, a mechanic “patch sealed” the windshield by applying sealant over the gap , and the company returned the aircraft to service.

Com panies involved in newsgathering, agriculture and rail transport have partnered with the FAA in the hope of extending operations of small unmanned aircraft beyond the limits outlined in proposed rules unveiled in January. CNN, PrecisionHawk and BNSF Railway have committed significant resources to the FAA’s Pathfinder program, Administrator Michael Huerta announced in Atlanta on May 6 at the Association of Unmanned Vehicle Systems International’s Unmanned Systems 2015 convention.

Gulfstream Aerospace Corp. has selected GKN Aerospace to produce the wing skins for its G500 and G600 ultra-long-range business jets. In a long-term contract, GKN Aerospace will produce the upper and lower wing skins for development and production aircraft at its Wellington, Kansas, advanced machines structures facility. The skins will be constructed in a single piece, which eliminates the fasteners and joints, and lowers weight and required maintenance, GKN said.

​The FAA has proposed a $1.54 million civil penalty against Air Methods Corp., an emergency medical transport company, for allegedly operating Eurocopter EC-130 helicopters that were not in compliance with FAA regulations. The FAA alleges that Air Methods operated two helicopters on 70 flights carrying passengers for compensation or hire. The flights were over water and beyond power-off gliding distance from the shore and lacked the required flotation devices and flotation gear for each passenger.