Becker Avionics introduced its DVC6100 digital Voice Communication System for business and commuter aircraft — particularly the Beechcraft King Air 200 and 350 series. It provides flight phone service, intercom and cabin/passenger address capabilities and is offered as a retrofit or upgrade by several completion centers. The DVC6100 includes microphone/oxygen mask switching, audio output for CVR/DVR recording, flight crew satphone over headsets, and chime and warning tone generation.
The making of light aircraft is about to undergo a complete rethinking. The U.S. Congress has overwhelmingly approved bill — likely signed into law by now by President Obama — that calls on FAA to adopt new Part 23 certification standards by the end of 2015. The move is an endorsement of recommendations from the Part 23 Reorganization Aviation Rulemaking Committee and centers on the concept of “consensus standards.” The ARC's goal was to double general aviation safety while cutting the costs of certification in half.
Colt International's online flight planning (OFP) is a “one-stop shop for all your flight planning needs,” according to the company. OFP allows operators to file domestic flight plans for free; click, drag and drop to build graphical routes; build itineraries; secure regulatory requirements; ensure trip quality with visual display of trip tasks; and modify trip details.
Two-year-old CAEA Aviation of Beijing, exclusive distributor for mainland China, has signed a contract for up to 10 extended-range Piaggio P180 Avanti II turboprops. The first two aircraft will be delivered in 2014. The eight options are destined for SR Jet, a subsidiary of Beijing-based Sparkle Roll Investment Holdings LTD. Piaggio is fitting the aircraft with a removable 400-lb.-capacity auxiliary fuel tank that mounts on one side of the lavatory. The extra fuel extends four-passenger range by 210 nm.
Banyan Air Service recently completed MagnaStar digital phone upgrades on a Challenger, Hawker and Citation, in advance of the system's phase-out this month. “With over 1,100 aircraft operating with the MagnaStar system, operators need to plan their upgrades very soon, as time is running out and the number of qualified shops and available equipment will reach capacity,” warns Brian Wilson, Banyan's director of avionics.
Zenith Aviation, Fredericksburg, Va., named Bryan Shelton director, Field Operations. Shelton recently ended a 20-year career in the U.S. Marine Corps where he retired as senior manager, Aviation Maintenance Operations for the Presidential Helicopter Squadron (Executive Division).
In 2014, Eurocopter will upgrade its American Eurocopter plant in Columbus, Miss., to become a final assembly and test center for AS350s. Production will start in 4Q 2014 and is expected to total 60 helicopters annually by 2016. The plan has two main objectives: offsetting the impact of reduced production of UH-72A Lakotas for the U.S. Army at the site, and boosting AS350 sales in the U.S. market, especially with government and law enforcement agencies.
China business aviation insiders are seeing a slowdown in the pace of growth there, driven by tremors in the economy but also by the recent change in government. Nextant Aerospace's China business development director, Jing Wei, notes that the new administration of Xi Jinping has promoted a policy of austerity that has left many previous aircraft charter customers less willing — and able — to hire private aircraft.
Not entirely unexpected — in view of the fact that they are already in the pipeline for Boeing 737 airliners — was the recent announcement from Aviation Partners' that their new Split Scimitar winglets will be available for fitment and retrofit to BBJs following their certification in about three months. Joe Clark, AP's chairman, noted that his company's winglets are now providing performance benefits to 5,000 Boeing 737/BBJs, mainly new-build but including 773 retrofits.
Even though an aircraft is just a collection of metal parts (and composites these days), pilots and maintenance technicians often form a close bond to their machine. During World War II, pilots and aircrews would name their aircraft and personalize them with nose art. Some gave their airplane names to remind them of loved ones back home, while others gave them unique monikers to represent the machines' unique personality.
The Learjet 75's Honeywell TFE731-40BR engines have essentially the same internal parts as the -20BRs that power the Model 45XR. To boost the -40BR's thrust to 3,850 lb. from 3,500 lb., virtually all that was needed was a 10% throttle push involving a software change inside the -20BR's digital electronic engine control. The -20BR already had the -40BR's 4,700-lb. thrust thermodynamic rating. That's what gave the -20BR such wide flat-rating margins.
Embraer Executive Jets President Ernest Edwards is planning to hand over the reins of the organization he helped build into one of the largest business jet manufacturers to longtime employee Marco Tulio Pellegrini. Edwards announced here that he was planning to retire at the end of the year and put his suitcases in a place where he wouldn't have to move them for a long time. Pellegrini currently is the senior vice president and COO for Executive Jets.
Bombardier is increasing the maintenance intervals across all its business jet programs and, at the same time, is launching the Challenger 605 MAX upgrade program to improve reliability. The interval evolution is based on experience and “strictly on findings as we inspect the airplanes,” says Bombardier Customer Services Vice President Andy Nureddin. The changes to the maintenance programs and all associated documents will be applied to the Learjet 40, 45, Challenger 300, 604, 605 and Global programs.
FlightSafety International, La Guardia Airport, N.Y., announced that Ron Ladnier was promoted to vice president of Flight Safety Services Corp., a division of FSI that provides military training, advanced technology devices and support.
ARINC Direct recently announced Vector SMS, a web-based quality and Safety Management System (SMS) that facilitates compliance with SMS requirements, improves operational effectiveness and enhances flight safety. When integrated with ARINC Direct's flight operations services, the new software from Polaris Aero, LLC, enables customers to implement all of the critical components of a safety management system. Vector SMS is a subscription-based service designed to meet the needs of any size flight department. ARINC Direct
A little more than a decade ago, then Chicago Mayor Richard Daley shocked the aviation community and his own city by ordering backhoes out to Meigs Field (CGX) in the dark of night to carve giant Xs, measuring two-foot-deep, along the close-in airport's 3,899-ft. runway. That March 31, 2003, assault destroyed the 55-year-old general aviation airport and took place without warning to the FAA, the FBO (Signature Flight Support) and the owners of about 16 aircraft temporarily stranded there.
Williams International has bundled many features into a new engine maintenance program called TAP Blue that it says offers “an unprecedented level of coverage.” Under the program Williams is expanding the coverage of its Total Assurance Program (TAP) to include virtually every natural and unnatural event that might occur over the life of its family of FJ33 and FJ44 engines.
Questions for Scott Smith First among mayors, he sees general aviation as part of the nation's character, and a sometimes awesome way to cover long distances quickly. You have an overfull agenda. Why did you agree to join the Alliance board as well?
Innotech Aviation's engineering department has certified the installation of the Honeywell Aspire 200 satcom system on a Bombardier Challenger 604 aircraft. The ICG Iridium 120A has been interfaced with the Honeywell Aspire 200 system to provide telephony and Internet access. The ICG handsets can be used over both Iridium and Immarsat SwiftBroadband systems. The Aspire system has been interfaced through a high-gain satcom antenna to provide broadband connectivity of up to 432 Kbps. This system provides Wi-Fi connectivity in the cabin for a very low cost airborne solution.
Aspen Avionics, Albuquerque, N.M., announced the election of Dr. John B. “Jack” Mowell as chairman of the board. Dr. Mowell, a Tallahassee, Fla., resident, is a diversified business executive in the fields of aviation, the life sciences, and oil and gas.
The SJ30 light jet, now known as the SyberJet, and which is undergoing significant improvements, was launched by Ed Swearingen back in the 1980s. The prototype first flew 22 years ago. Over the decades it's had a variety of names — mighty Gulfstream briefly promoted it as the “Gulfjet” before withdrawing from the program — and owners, including Swearingen Aircraft, the Jaffe Group, Sino Swearingen and Emivest, all of which either lost interest or came to financial grief, with the last named actually going bankrupt in 2010.
Constant Aviation, Cleveland, Ohio, announced the John Wasmund has joined the company as avionics sales manager. Lance Lajara was named regional sales manager responsible for selling maintenance, avionics, interior modifications/refurbishments, arts and composite/accessory services for customers based in the Central U.S.
The General Aviation Manufacturers Association has elected Boeing Business Jets President Steve Taylor as its 2014 chairman. In addition, Hartzell Propeller President Joe Brown becomes vice chairman and will continue serving as chairman of the Policy and Legal Issues Committee. The board also elected Aviall President and CEO Ed Dolanski to chair the Environment Committee, John Uczekaj to chair the Flight Operations Committee and Piper Aircraft President and CEO Simon Caldicott to head the Safety and Accident Investigation Committee.
Signature Flight Support says it's the exclusive FBO launch partner for Aircell's Gogo Cloud, permitting a complete and automatic update of inflight entertainment content, “all without any intervention from the flight crew.” Orlando, Dulles and Las Vegas are already equipped, “and approximately 15 key business and resort Signature locations are expected to be live by the end of 2014,” Signature said. “We are continually introducing exclusive technology and innovation,” said Signature Flight Support President and COO Maria Sastre.
