Your comments in “Ambulatory Care” (Viewpoint, March 2013, page 7) about people still being the same while technology flies are apropos. We all worry about the delicate balance pilots seek between wanting to please the boss and stretching the hours beyond normal endurance. Unfortunately, none of us came equipped with “alertness and reaction time” meters. But wouldn't that be great?
Jet Aviation Hong Kong has received FAA approval to perform line and base maintenance on Gulfstream G650 aircraft. Jet Aviation Hong Kong is the latest Jet Aviation facility authorized to provide maintenance, alterations and repair services for the new ultra-long-range, ultra-high-speed business jet. The Hong Kong maintenance facility also supports Gulfstream 400/450/500/550 aircraft.
For several years, optimists have been predicting that a recovery in the used business aircraft market was imminent. Conversely, skeptics believe that the huge inventory of previously owned airplanes will continue to depress prices. Could both be right? As spring began, the experts seemed divided.
The FAA's proposed fiscal 2014 budget of $15.6 billion cuts $351 million from fiscal 2012's actual level largely by trimming airport grants, a move that failed in recent years — and leaving the fate of 149 contract control towers in limbo. The budget, released April 10 by the Obama administration, includes $9.7 billion for operations, $2.8 billion for facilities and equipment (F&E), $166 million for research and development, and $2.9 billion for the Airport and Airway Trust Fund-backed Airport Improvement Program (AIP).
Are you nuts? iPad airplanes!?! (“Who's Up Front?” February 2013, page 9) That would be a terrorist's dream and a national security nightmare (I assume you've heard of computer hackers). Having logged over 14,000 hr. in military fighters, airline jumbos and corporate jets, it's a fact that a computer will never replace a pilot, his judgment, his experience and his ability to adjust to a changing environment and emergencies in a passenger-carrying aircraft. I hope you live long enough to be the first volunteer on the maiden flight.
While the majority of helicopter manufacturers have focused their attention and development funds on ever heavier and technologically advanced machines, Robinson Helicopter Co. has become a significant rotary wing builder by serving the opposite spectrum.
Cessna rolled out the 400th production CJ3 light business jet Mar. 25 from its production facility in Wichita, Kan. The CJ3 is in its ninth year of service. The eight-passenger aircraft is powered by two Williams FJ44-3A engines and is certified for single pilot operations. The CJ3 can fly non-stop from New York to Miami, Los Angeles to Chicago, London to Moscow, or Beijing to Manila. Maximum range is 1,875 nm, with a ceiling of 45,000 ft.
Robert E. Breiling Associates has released the 2012 Business Turbine Aircraft Accident Review providing a comprehensive guide to business aviation safety and an in-depth analysis of turbine business aircraft accidents and incidents in 2012 involving the world fleet. For more information, or to order, visit the Breiling Associates website.
Rumors of the death of aircraft finance were greatly exaggerated. Aircraft finance is still around. Like everything else in the industry, aircraft finance has grown a little older, a little wiser and much more timid about taking risks.
The Canadian Coast Guard has a requirement for up to 16 light helicopters, with the option of an additional four. The Canadian Department of Fisheries & Oceans, the umbrella agency for the Coast Guard, issued a tender for the aircraft on April 3. It is looking for procurement proposals by June. The Canadian Coast Guard currently operates a fleet of 22 helicopters including MBB Bo105s, Bell 206L LongRangers and Bell 212s.
“Ambulatory Care” (Viewpoint, March 2013) is very timely with aircraft going longer and longer. It reminds me of my early days as a junior copilot with Pan Am on DC-6s and 7s — especially the Africa trips. We would depart Lisbon, Spain, headed for Johannesburg and as the junior pilot — we had three pilots and two engineers — I got bunk time first and during daylight. Naturally, you couldn't sleep as you came in the night before from the U.S.
Cessna offered early retirement to employees 55 years of age and over who are not involved in aircraft production. According to a company spokeswoman, Cessna does not have a target number for the voluntary retirements, but rather is seeking to decrease indirect costs, overall. Voluntary retirees had until April 12 to apply.
“Analysis: Gulfstream G650” (April 2013) was very informative and the online video was a great addition. I just wanted to bring to your attention that the cockpit photo in the article was of a G550 not a 650. Please keep up the good work on your great magazine, which I am sure all subscribers look forward to receiving each month. Northolt Airport, London
Nextant Aerospace appointed Jet Aviation Singapore as an authorized service center in Asia for its 400XTs. Jet Aviation Singapore will provide maintenance service for Nextant aircraft based in Southeast Asia. The appointment follows Nextant 's entrance into the Asian market in August. Nextant says it continues to see strong interest in the region.
Bristow will be the launch customer of the AgustaWestland AW189 medium helicopter after its March 26 contract award to take over the U.K. government's search-and-rescue (SAR) helicopter program. Bristow will receive its first AW189 later this year, according to Mike Imlach, the company's Europe business unit director. The type will be used first on North Sea oil and gas operations, replacing the aging Eurocopter AS332L Pumas — known as Bristow Tigers — before the first SAR-configured aircraft arrive in 2014 in preparation to begin SAR contract operations in April 2015.
The NATA and NBAA are hoping to convince the IRS to put a hold on audits of aircraft management companies until the agency can develop better guidance on the application of the commercial federal excise tax (FET) on aircraft management services. The IRS has conducted numerous audits, and management companies have faced a range of tax bills – some believed to be close to seven figures — after the agency last year issued guidance indicating that aircraft management services are considered commercial services and should be taxed accordingly.
After reading “Analysis: Gulfstream G650” (April 2013, page 24), I'm amazed General Dynamics and Gulfstream did not go with millimeter design and manufacture for the aircraft. More than 38 years have gone by since the U.S. auto industry changed to millimeter design and manufacture. It worked for them and led to some significant savings in inventory. Why Gulfstream would stick with an archaic, hard-to-work-with measurement system that 96% of the planet does not use seems shortsighted.
Integrated avionics suites are proliferating like rabbits. The groundbreakers — Honeywell's Primus, Rockwell Collins' Pro Line and Universal Avionics UNS series helped to spawn Garmin's string of popular “G-000” series.
Shadin Avionics announced the installation of their AIS Fuel Flow system on the Bell Helicopter 412 EPI. The 412 EPI installation includes the new Shadin AIS Fuel Flow signal converter, which allows fuel flow and additional fuel information to be display on a glass display rather than on a separate indicator. The installation package also includes Shadin's fuel flow transducer for the upgraded Pratt & Whitney PT6T engines.
Whether and where to build a new plant is one of the issues that Cessna, Avic and the Chengdu city government are negotiating as they work toward agreeing on assembly of the Citation Sovereign business jet in China. The first Citation Sovereign delivery in China may not take place by year's end, as originally planned, says a person involved in the complex talks, which also include the Civil Aviation Administration of China and the FAA.
India is about to relax rules that have severely restricted the flexibility of business jets visiting or overflying that country. The application time for a landing permit will be reduced from seven working days to three, and for an overflight, from three days to one, according to local reports. “This is a huge benefit to the whole of the business aviation industry,” says Lex den Herder, divisional vice president for government and industry affairs at flight services company Universal Weather and Aviation.
