When Deborah Hersman, chair of the NTSB, addressed the international media in the initial days after the Asiana Airlines Flight 214 accident at San Francisco International Airport (SFO), there was a sense of shock within the professional pilot ranks when she announced that the Boeing 777 was “significantly” below its final approach speed shortly before it struck the seawall short of Runway 28L. After all, if the aircraft was that unstabilized, why didn't the pilots go around?
Constant Aviation recently secured a supplemental type certificate for installation of a Wi-Fi system, along with Aircell's Gogo Biz inflight Internet system, on an executive configured Boeing 737-200. The installation marked an expansion of the facility's in-house capabilities and STCs. Constant already has STCs for the installation of Gogo Biz inflight Internet aboard Gulfstream, Embraer, Beechcraft, Hawker and Cessna Citation aircraft.
ADB Airfield Solutions has introduced AD-light Low Protrusion Taxiway Lights. The improved lights overcome drawbacks of older versions wherein no part of the prism is located below the surface of the ground, avoiding loss of photometry. They can be used in CAT I, II and III, as taxiway centerline lights, in straight and curved runway sections, on rapid exit taxiways, as stop bars and intermediate holding position lights, among other applications.
As winter approaches, flight crews are gearing up for the heart of the icing season. Virtually all of them are aware of the potentially lethal consequences of attempting to take off with airframe ice contamination. But some pilots think that minor ice contamination has little, if any, effect on aircraft performance.
Version 3.0 of AIRNC Direct's iPad app is now available. It includes an ARINC Direct website component that allows pilots to schedule documents for upload, and a component that give users access to all of their files on iPads and on the web. Documents can be assigned to a specific leg, aircraft or user, and can also be copied from one location to another. The app is available in the Apple App Store. ARINC Direct www.arinc.com
Years ago as an Associated Press reporter covering the Florida legislature, I witnessed debate over a bill involving television. While I've forgotten the details, I do recall it centered on the future availability of hundreds of channels. At the time, the maximum available was 13. Seriously. I was astounded by the scale. After all, what kind of programming could possibly fill all those channels?
“A lot of the places you go, you might have to talk people through the process, but these guys knew what they were doing, very competent and impressive.” This was the appraisal of a long-range business jet captain employed by a major U.S. technology company about the quality of ground support he'd received at Gimpo International Airport during a recent trip to the Republic of South Korea.
RUAG Aviation is now authorized to perform the full range of maintenance, repair, overhaul and upgrade services for the McDonnell Douglas MD 500, 600 and 900 series helicopters. The Maintenance Organisation Exposition (MOE) rating was received earlier this year and supplements the company's established helicopter maintenance and modernization services. RUAG has begun upgrades for MD helicopters including the integration of an advanced avionics suite in an MD 520N and the installation of modern TV broadcasting equipment on an MD 900. RUAG Aviation
Beechcraft Corp. completed a demonstration of a Single Channel Ground and Airborne Radio System Situational Awareness (SINCGARS SA) Waveform capability, using its AT-6 light attack aircraft in concert with the U.S. Air Force Air National Guard and Georgia Tech Research Institute.
Dassault's third-generation enhanced avionics system (EASy) mainly uses Honeywell Primus equipment. The layout is similar to EASy cockpits in legacy Falcon Jets, featuring four flat-panel screens arranged in a T configuration. There also will be left- and right-side EFBs outside of the PFDs, a next-generation FMS with 4-D navigation and a solid-state RDR 4000 with volumetric scanning. Available functions will include CPDLC, ADS-B out, RNP 0.3 and LPV approach, along with synthetic vision.
Magellan Jets has introduced a new 25-hr. Wi-Fi Jet card, underscoring the importance of Wi-Fi capabilities on charter aircraft. The card guarantees flights aboard later model midsize or super-midsize jets that are equipped with Wi-Fi. “Wi-Fi is arguably the biggest market driver in charter today, and the 25-hr. Wi-Fi Jet Card addresses that demand perfectly,” says Magellan CEO Joshua Hebert.
Pan Am's service and engineering support for the Mystere 20 will not include the crews, Alvin P. Adams told the NBAA. “We are not going to crew or man these airplanes with Pan American people. We've always been misquoted on this.”
To learn more about IS-BAO, visit the International Business Aviation Council's website — www.ibac.org. There you will find information about the work that IBAC does and how to go about becoming IS-BAO registered. There is also helpful information and links to other safety related topics.
If possible: (1) Put the aircraft in a heated hangar. If left outside: (2) Park facing the wind and clamp on the covers. (3) Put liquids, gels, sauces, etc. in a warm place. (4) Drain potable and gray water systems (don't forget the self-filling coffee pot). Once operating: (5) Apply brakes several times while taxiing out. (6) Refer to braking action reports. (7) Use deice/anti-ice fluids, as appropriate.
These included: Ensure that unstabilized approach and go-around policies are clear, concise and unambiguous, including follow-up procedures for non-compliance. Emphasize the importance of good monitoring by both pilots since that can affect the safe execution of a go-around. Operations manuals must contain a strongly worded policy statement that no punitive action will follow a go-around.
Business aviation in North Africa is growing at a rate nearly double the global average, but activity is down this year, according to the Middle East Business Aviation Association (MEBAA). MEBAA points to WingX data that shows the number of registered business aircraft is increasing at a compound annual growth rate of 6.3%, compared with the global average of 3.7%.
When a center controller issues an advisory of “extreme precipitation” ahead, frustration or confusion may well come into play. All professional pilots have had the experience of being in day VMC when we get the call. Yet looking out the windscreen, it's clear that the weather is simply not a factor; often it's out there, but well below the aircraft. However, get that same call at night or in IMC, or both, and the warning can be downright unnerving.
As we went to press, Bloomberg news was reporting that Beechcraft is up for sale. Again. The report stated, “Credit Suisse Group AG is contacting potential suitors on their interest in acquiring Beechcraft, said the people, who asked not to be identified because the discussions are private. Beechcraft may fetch about $1.5 billion, another person said. Cessna Aircraft parent Textron Inc.
A softening in purchase expectations in several regions led Honeywell Aerospace to scale back its 10-yr. forecast for new aircraft deliveries, but the increasing preference for large-cabin, long-range aircraft is keeping the anticipated dollar value of those deliveries at the same level as in previous forecasts. In its latest Business Aviation Outlook, Honeywell predicts a market for 9,250 new business jets valued at $250 billion through 2023. The forecast is down from last year's prediction of 10,000 new business jets through 2022.
Bombardier and the FAA are in the final stages of earning certification in fourth quarter for the Learjet 75 as an amendment to the Learjet 45 type certificate. Other than a series of weight increases and internal engine upgrades for the original Model 45, the Model 75 is the first major modification to the aircraft since it entered service in late 1997. The new derivative will fly eight passengers 1,775 nm, 4% farther than current production aircraft. Half of the improvement is due to new blended winglets that both decrease drag and increase span.
Universal Avionics announced its Control Display Unit (CDU) emulator iPad application for the Flight Management System (FMS) Trainer software. It's available for the iPad and supports life-size touch-sensitive emulation of Universal's 4-in. CDU, 5-in. CDU and Multi-function CDU. The app sends the FMS trainer CDU display screen to the iPad, and key pushes from the simulated CDU are then sent back to the FMS Trainer via a wireless network. The CDU emulator app allows operators to experience realistic, hands-on training in FMS operations.
Rockwell Collins has opened a new customer support center with increased staffing levels, expanded hours and enhanced technology that will provide commercial aviation customers with a higher level of service through a single point of contact. The center is staffed from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Central time, 365 days a year, and has staff on-call for after-hours support. Customer calls are answered by an expanded team of product support managers with specialized training tools and are equipped to answer questions immediately with a goal of resolution within 24 hr.
TrueNorth Avionics has introduced the Stylus Wi-Fi handset. It's cradle fits into both TrueNorth's Simphone legacy and Stylus corded handset cut-outs offering a simplified upgrade path. The handset charges in the cradle via Power over Ethernet (PoE) or 28V power. The handset has Nickel-metal Hydride (MiMH) batteries to make certification easier and uses smart power management technology. Smart technology allows the handset to configure itself when placed in the cradle, retaining passenger preferences, regardless of the handset's location in the cabin before takeoff.
