Customers also are ordering satcom phones, external cameras, HD video display systems, moving maps, LED lighting and flat-screen monitors, all controlled from a single position.
Thank you for your insight regarding unpredictable and violent winds that can exist in the mountains (“Handling High Terrain Airports,” April 2013, page 46). My daughter and I encountered an event during summer 2010 while flying just west of Estes Park, Colorado. The sky was clear and nearly calm when we experienced a downdraft that exceeded 6,000 fpm. We were 3,000 ft. above the mountaintops when we entered the descending wind pattern and within 20 sec. were forced to commit to a mountainside landing.
I have finally caught up with my reading assignment — just finished the April issue of BCA. As usual you, and your team, have assembled an informative and inspiring magazine. A joy! Your “Quick Read” (Viewpoint, page 7) launched my delight. Who else, but you, could concatenate a swap meet, a Gulfstream G650, an entrepreneur's juggernaut and Lucky's book? I realized how you do it . . . so effortlessly, so smoothly month-after-month. I paraphrase you: “Turns out young Garvey is a pilot and a poet . . .”
Aircraft Electronics Association, Lee's Summit, Mo., has appointed Kevin Bruce, who is the director of airworthiness and quality for Diamond Aircraft, as the new regulatory consultant for Canada.
Executive AirShare is continuing its rapid expansion coming off its third consecutive year of double-digit growth in 2012. The regional fractional ownership program called 2012 its most successful year yet, increasing its shareowners to more than 140 and adding 36 more members in equity charter, lease and management programs, including Launch, Launch Premium and EMBark 32. The company has gone from 75 shareowners in 2009 to more than 130 by the end of 2012.
ViaSat Inc. and the L-3 Platform Integration Division (L-3 PID) have signed a memorandum of agreement to provide private transport-class aircraft with inflight connectivity services. Under the agreement, the companies will collaborate on a complete broadband satellite communication system for airline-size aircraft that are custom-fit for use by heads of state and “VVIP” customers.
Universal Avionics announced its new FlightAssure Extended Warranty Program at the recent Annual Aircraft Electronics Association (AEA) Convention in Las Vegas. FlightAssure removes the uncertainty and guesswork from a customer's avionics maintenance, downtime and overall cost. The program was designed to help customers budget the cost of component repairs by extending the avionics' protection plan.
Argus Pros and its sister company, Prism, have released the 2012 edition of their Safety Management Systems (SMS) Audit results. The audit result report was launched in 2008 and has grown to incorporate and compare the findings from over 300 audit events. The main object of this comprehensive report is to highlight the recurring problem areas found in SMS implementation and execution.
As part of the global refurbishment program announced in 2012, Jet Aviation Geneva is the first company facility to be transformed with a fresh new corporate look and feel. The newly refurbished Geneva FBO is nearly twice the size of the original, adding 313 sq. meters for a total of 648 sq. meters. The main floor of the FBO now offers a new reception area and three new customer lounges.
An Aviation Safety Action Program (ASAP) is a reporting program that allows employees of participating air carriers and repair station certificate holders to identify and report safety issues to management and to the FAA for resolution, without fear that the FAA will use reports accepted under the program to take legal enforcement action against them, or that companies will use such information to take disciplinary action.
Bell Helicopter is finalizing the design of its new Bell 525, a medium-lift helicopter that is due for first flight in 2014. The U.S. helicopter maker has completed much of the detailed design, says Bell Helicopter's chief engineer on the 525 program, David King. The helicopter's flight control computer and avionics system have already been released and are now undergoing integrated systems testing, he adds. Bell Helicopter is synonymous with smaller helicopters and until now has lacked an aircraft large enough to compete in market segments requiring larger helicopters.
“Each event is different,” Jeff Gardlin of the FAA's Transport Airplane Directorate observed concerning what can be learned from successful evacuations from stricken aircraft.
Long known for its high-performance single-engine civil and military turboprops, Pilatus Aircraft is entering an entirely new segment with the PC-24, its largest civil aircraft yet and powered by twin Williams FJ44-4A turbofans. Unveiled at the European Business Aircraft Convention and Exposition in Geneva in May, the pressurized aircraft has a cabin larger than the PC-12, but like that single will be able to operate from unimproved strips. With a 3435 lbst takeoff rating, the FJ44 engines are expected to deliver a cruise speed in excess of 400 kt.
Keystone Aviation was named a dealer for Quest Aircraft's Kodiak single-turboprop aircraft for Colorado, Utah, Nevada and Northern California. The addition marks the fourth manufacturer that Keystone represents. Others include Piper, EADS Socata and HondaJet. Quest, meanwhile, continues to expand its reach as it remains on pace to deliver its 100th aircraft by early fall. Originally designed for mission and humanitarian work, the Kodiak has been delivered for a range of uses, including personal use, FAR Part 135 and government operations.
Freshly free of bankruptcy constraints, Beechcraft exhibited surprising strength in the first quarter, delivering a total of 56 civilian aircraft, plus nine military trainers. Beechcraft Chairman & CEO Bill Boisture attributes his company's positive performance to a restoration of customer confidence in the brand — “They're no longer worried about whether we'll be here or not,” he says — rather than “sea state change” indicating an improved market overall.
Piper Aircraft handed over eight single-engine Piper Archer TX training airplanes to Florida Institute of Technology (FIT). Delivery of the aircraft follows the FAA's approval last month of the new Garmin G1000 avionics suite aboard the trainer. FIT is the launch customer for the G1000-equipped Archer, and has options for up to 16 more aircraft — either for the Archers or twin-engine Seminoles.
Williams International reports two new turbofan models — the FJ44-1AP-21 and the FJ44-4A-32 — received FAA certification in May and March, respectively, and production of both is underway. The former powers Cessna's new Citation M2 light jet, producing 10-15% more altitude thrust (depending on conditions) and consuming several percent less fuel at long range cruise than the preceding FJ44-1AP. The engine also provides significantly higher thrust at hot and high takeoff conditions and an increase in the time between overhaul (TBO) from 3500 to 4000 hr.
Universal Avionics and Duncan Aviation's partnership to launch a technologically advanced flight deck upgrade program for the Dassault Falcon 900B is scheduled to be completed, and the aircraft delivered, this month. The cockpit upgrade replaces 25 legacy instruments and significantly improves reliability and situational awareness, according the Universal.
Avjet has added a Gulfstream IV to its fleet of charter aircraft. The plane will be based at Avjet's U.S. charter headquarters in Burbank, Calif. The GIV has seating for 13 passengers, with four berthable beds, a full-service forward galley and a non-smoking enclosed lavatory and is equipped with AirCell GoGo Biz Wi-Fi. The aircraft has a range of 4,100 nm. Visit [email protected]
Conklin & de Decker released the Aircraft Cost Evaluator 2013 Vol. 1 that delivers up-to-date benchmarking, operating and ownership cost data. The product addresses more than 550 business jets, turboprops, helicopters and piston aircraft. The new release includes seven more aircraft including the Citation Sovereign, the ATR 72-500 and 72-600, the Caravan 208EX, the Eurocopter AS365N+ and EC 145 T2 and the M20C Ranger. Each new version also contains updated fuel costs, maintenance parts and labor costs, and data necessary for SEC reporting.
Dassault Falcon Jet's Little Rock, Ark., completion center, which is already the largest facility operated by the French manufacturer, is about to get considerably larger. In late May, the company unveiled plans to add several large outfitting hangars, presumably to accommodate a new, not-so-secret model that is expected to be unveiled at this fall's NBAA convention. Current production model Falcons are manufactured in France, then flown in “green” condition to the completion center where optional avionics and custom interiors are installed, and the aircraft are painted.
King Schools has released a free online non-towered airport operations course designed to take customers through the paces of arrival and departure from airports without an operating control tower, and show customers how to use skillful communication together with situational awareness to help manage collision risk. “With the closing of towers at many airports, it is more critical than ever to brush up on non-towered operations. This course provides a wealth of pointers on issuing clear and professional communications,” said Martha King.
Jamie McIntyre (President Romeo Oscar Inc. Montreal, Canada )
I just finished “Quick Read” (Viewpoint, April 2013). I also have a copy of We and started and finished it a few weeks ago. I, too, was amazed at the matter-of-fact recall of the Atlantic voyage, as well as the lack of detail in getting his aeroplane designed and built (“. . . and then I flew it to Paris. . . .”). Your copy must be in terrific shape — mine is marked less than a tenner, and includes a jacket. President Romeo Oscar Inc. Montreal, Canada
Initial and recurrent training programs for the Phenom 300 got off to a strong start in 2009 at Embraer CAE Training Services (ECTS) near Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport (DFW). But some operators complained that when several key leaders left the joint venture, the quality of training programs nosedived. Classrooms were crowded, instructor knowledge was checkered, sim schedules were packed 24 hr. per day and customers encountered substantial scheduling delays.
