Deliveries of the new Swept Blade Turbofan prop for Beechcraft King Air C90s, developed by Raisbeck Engineering in partnership with Hartzell Propeller, are expected to begin in January, either alone or as part of Raisbeck's EPIC Performance Package, which includes dual aft body strakes, increased gross weight, and all increased FAA-certified performance. According to founder and CEO James Raisbeck, the prop “shows a true 30-deg.
Wichita Mayor Carl Brewer has been in Beijing, China, opening an office that will work to support trade opportunities for the U.S. city's aviation industry. “There are a lot of opportunities for us to be able to sell a lot of planes in China,” Brewer said. “We need to be in the game of international trade, and this trip reflects our dedication to helping Wichita companies expand their export opportunities.” The Beijing office is a pilot project initially budgeted at $300,000-$500,000 and funded by private sponsors.
These graphs are designed to illustrate the performance of the Learjet 75 under a variety of range, payload, speed and density altitude conditions. Do not use these data for flight planning purposes because they are gross approximations of actual aircraft performance. Time and Fuel Versus Distance This graph shows the relationship between distance flown, block time and fuel consumption for the Learjet 75 at Mach 0.77 long-range cruise and Mach 0.78 high-speed cruise. Both profiles assume FL 430 to FL 470 cruise altitudes.
The group insurance program launched by the Middle East Business Aviation Association (MEBAA) launched three years ago, has attracted seven operators representing 70 aircraft. MEBAA Founder and Chairman Ali Al Naqbi says some of the operators “have already saved more than $100,000, which needless to say is having a great impact on their businesses. Members are delighted.” That pleasure could increase, he says, since “The more companies that join will bring even greater discounts.”
MedAire has launched its free MedAire Trip Ready iPad app that provides business aviation crews with information enabling them to assess and mitigate travel and safety risks for flights. It displays content based on a user's destinations and upcoming itineraries. Depending on the user's MedAire membership level, pilots and flight departments can see medical and travel risk ratings, local time, current weather and NOTAMs for each destination, along with security and travel information, including a calendar of holidays and events that may affect a mission.
Beechcraft, Wichita, named John Kearns regional sales director for the Central and West Texas region. Kearns formerly spent 15 years with Tulsa Beechcraft and is a former Beechcraft sales distributor in Tulsa. Patrick O'Connell was named regional sales director for the Upper Midwest region. He served as a demonstration pilot for Beechcraft for the past 6 years.
International Bureau of Aviation, Surrey, U.K., announced that Ken Sewell has joined the group as head of Aircraft Transactions responsible for aircraft remarketing and associated transaction management across IBA's managed portfolio.
APG Avionics and Sandel have announced an agreement for APG Avionics to install more than 30 units of Sandel's HeliTAWS on helicopters being flown for the United Nations. Effective Dec. 1, 2013, the U.N. mandated all helicopters flying under its flag to install helicopter terrain awareness and ground-proximity warning systems. In order for these Russian Mi-8 helicopters to comply, they must be equipped with the Sandel ST3400H. APG will provide installations for the systems by year-end.
You could almost hear a collective gulp within the business aviation community last August when a U.S. Bankruptcy Court ordered Chapter 7 liquidation of Avantair, the Clearwater, Fla.-based fractional aircraft ownership program.
According to business aviation consultant Brian Foley, the number of used jets up for sale is descending to normal levels, or about 15% of total fleet. He told delegates to SpeedNews “18th Annual Regional and Business Aviation Industry Suppliers Conference” conference held last month in Phoenix, Ariz., that the number of unsold new aircraft — i.e. “white tails” — is also down. Those facts, coupled with a steady rise in business jet operations around the world and a better global economy, should lead to greater business jet sales, he said.
Citation Mustang is the most successful very light in history. More than 440 have been built since 2006, but production rates now have dropped to about 12 aircraft per year because of slack demand. However, the aircraft remains an ideal entry-level twin turbofan aircraft because it's easy to fly, safe, reliable and well supported by Cessna.
Gulfstream Aerospace, Inc., Savannah, Ga., expanded the role of commercial sales representative Prestige Jet to handle Gulfstream aircraft transactions in France, Italy and Switzerland.
Piaggio investors Tata Group and Mubadala Development Co. have increased their shares in the Italian airframer to 44.5 % and 41%, respectively. Ferrari's stake in down to 2%, while HDI, a hedge fund, holds the balance. Piero Ferrari, part of the team that saved Piaggio from bankruptcy in 1998, remains chairman of the company. Piaggio CEO Alberto Galassi says the investment supports Piaggio's plans to diversify into new markets such as the unmanned and surveillance aircraft.
EQ-1 Wireless Communications, Spokane Wash., now has available the EQ-Reverse Link wireless system, which is comprised of two modules. The Reverse Link module is designed to accept input from conventional wired general aviation headset apparatus (either 2-plug GA style of single-plug helicopter style). The module is worn on the user's person and makes a wireless connection with the EQ-Link module that is plugged into the aircraft's intercom system. The system uses 2.4 Ghz TDMA protocol wireless technology instead of Bluetooth technology.
Luma Technologies, Bellevue, Wash., introduced new Luma Tech LED products for King Airs and Beechjet 400s, including annunciator panels and a master caution system. The annunciator panels for the King Air family include a 45-stations variant tailored to the C90A and such newer models as the C90GT, C90GTI and C90GTx, Luma says. The new unit is designated LT-4545 and is a one-for-one drop-in replacement for the existing incandescent annunciators.
BizJet International, a Tulsa, Okla.-based subsidiary of Lufthansa Technik, was to begin work this month on a Boeing Business Jet completion, its second for a Chinese customer. Earlier it delivered its a BBJ to Chinese Nanshan Group — the first private BBJ delivered to the Chinese market. Meanwhile, in Germany, the parent firm will shortly finalize its cabin installation work on two VIP completion projects from undisclosed customers in its Hamburg hangars.
True Blue Power, Wichita, Kan., is determined to reverse all the bad press surrounding lithium-ion batteries with its new low-weight, high-power-density technology for general and business aviation. “Every pound is worth a lot,” says Todd Winter, True Blue Power's president and CEO. A division of the Mid-Continent Instrument Co., True Blue is offering two main battery options to fixed- and rotary-wing turbine operators.
LONDON — Gulf Helicopters has signed the largest order by an offshore operator so far for the AgustaWestland AW189 eight-metric-ton helicopter. The Qatar-based operator will buy 15 of the aircraft, which is awaiting imminent certification from the European Aviation Safety Agency. The firm order, announced during the Dubai Airshow, is the second-largest for the new helicopter, behind Bristow Group’s, which has ordered six aircraft for offshore operations and a further 11 to support its U.K. search-and-rescue (SAR) contract awarded this year.
LONDON — Eurocopter has claimed two climb records for its twin-engine EC175 as it moves the aircraft closer to certification. Eurocopter’s two records for the EC175, which have been ratified by the Fédération Aéronautique Internationale, are a time-to-climb to an altitude of 6,000 meters, performed in 6 min., 54 sec., and a time-to-climb to 3,000 meters, achieved in 3 min., 10 sec. The record-setting flights were performed in February of this year and are claimed by Eurocopter’s lead EC175 test pilot, Alain di Bianca.
LONDON — Marenco Swisshelicopter is to unveil the first prototype of its SKYe SH09 single-engine light helicopter during a ceremony in Switzerland this week.
BAE Model BAe 146 and Avro 146-RJ series airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2013-0631; Directorate Identifier 2012-NM-142-AD; Amendment 39-17640; AD 2013-22-08] – requires repetitive inspections and, depending on findings, repair of the pylon pick-up brackets. This AD was prompted by a report of a cracked pick-up bracket of the forward outboard pylon of the number 1 engine due to stress corrosion.
LOR IZZARD was appointed director, sales support and technical marketing for Gulfstream Aerospace. Izzard will lead sales engineering, technical marketing and sales and design center operation. He has served with Gulfstream since 1999, beginning as an electrical engineer for Service Engineering. He has held several engineering and program manager positions, including serving as entry-into-service program manager for both the G150 and 200, along with G280 entry-into-service program director.
Quest Aircraft obtained certification for its Kodiak single-turboprop aircraft from Venezuela’s Civil Aviation Authority. The Kodiak has now been certified in 13 countries, and Quest expects more approvals this year. Quest is planning to deliver the first Kodiak to a Venezuelan customer shortly. The new owner will operate the aircraft for personal and business use. Quest began deliveries of the Kodiak in 2007 and the aircraft is in service with charter operators, small businesses, personal owners, U.S. and international governments and humanitarian organizations.
DIAMOND Models DA 42 NG and DA 42 M-NG airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2013-0937; Directorate Identifier 2013-CE-029-AD] – requires installation of the Secondary Configuration Card P/N 010-12074-02 “Additional ALTN FAIL trigger” for the alternator indication system and System Software P/N 010-00670-10 for all DA 42 NG and DA 42 M-NG airplanes. The AD also requires installation of GEA Alternator fail control cable on certain model DA 42 M-NG aircraft. This AD also prohibits installation of System Software prior to P/N 010-00670-10.
VistaJet is expanding a recently formed partnership with Jet Aviation, naming the international fixed-base operation chain its handling services provider in the Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) and Asia regions. VistaJet in early September announced a teaming agreement with Jet Aviation and newly formed membership-based private aviation company Wheels Up as part of its plans to expand in the U.S.
