Business & Commercial Aviation

​The FAA has proposed a $1.54 million civil penalty against Air Methods Corp., an emergency medical transport company, for allegedly operating Eurocopter EC-130 helicopters that were not in compliance with FAA regulations. The FAA alleges that Air Methods operated two helicopters on 70 flights carrying passengers for compensation or hire. The flights were over water and beyond power-off gliding distance from the shore and lacked the required flotation devices and flotation gear for each passenger.

Selected Accidents and Incidents in April 2015. The following NTSB information is preliminary.

Honeywell Aerospace has introduced a new router, the CNX-250, which will allow business aircraft to connect to a cellular network while on the ground and then transition to a satellite connection while in flight. The router will enable connection to a variety of network sources instead of connecting exclusively to a satellite communications network, Honeywell said. That will give operators and maintenance personnel the ability to stay connected while in the air or on the ground.

The FAA is proposing a $430,000 civil penalty against Beechcraft Corp., a division of Textron Aviation, in Wichita, for allegedly failing to maintain the required aircraft production-quality-control system, the FAA said. The agency alleges that Beechcraft Baron customers began reporting fuel leaks on 43 Barons that the company recently manufactured. Investigators determined the leaks were caused by improperly installed fuel bladders.

VistaJet, based in London, added 10 new aircraft to its fleet during the first three months of 2015 to keep up with strong global demand, the company said. It also plans to add up to 10 new Bombardier Challenger 350 business jets for use in the U.S. over the next two years, the company said.

Aergen Management Services, Bellevue, Washington, appointed Heinz Westen CFO; Michael Barry Chief marketing officer and Tom Kaluza as senior vice president. Aerion, Reno, Nevada, appointed Ernest (Ernie) Edwards as senior vice president and chief commercial officer. He joins Aerion’s senior leadership and has responsibility for all sales activity related to the company’s AS2 supersonic business jet. He reports to CEO Doug Nichols.

Mason Holland, Chairman of the Board, ONE Aviation, Charleston, S. Car., discusses the Eclipse 550 and Kestrel Aircraft development and what CEO Alan Klapmeier brings to the organization.

General aviation deliveries in all categories fell during the first three months of 2015 compared to the same period of 2014, according to a new report by the General Aviation Manufacturers Association. “The first-quarter numbers show that, while our industry has been gaining traction over the past few years, we face some renewed headwinds in several regions of the world, including Asia, parts of Europe, and Latin America,” said GAMA president and CEO Pete Bunce. The general aviation industry is focused on regaining its momentum, Bunce said.

Chairman of the Board, ONE Aviation, Charleston, South Carolina

​ Diamond Aircraft has received European Aviation Safety Agency type certification for its DA62 twin-engine composite aircraft, the company said. It is the largest aircraft in its lineup to date. The DA62 is powered by two 180 hp AE330 Jet-A piston engines from Austro Engine. It is available in two versions, one that will accommodate five people and one that will carry seven passengers. The aircraft has a maximum speed of 201 kt. and a maximum range of 1,314 nm. The order book officially opened at the AERO Friedrichshafen show in April.

​1. Aviation Safety Advocacy Service Launched

Embraer delivered 32 aircraft, including 12 business aircraft and 20 commercial jets, during the first three months of 2015, the Brazilian-based company reports. Embraer delivered 10 light business jets and two large business jets during the first quarter of 2015, compared to 20 business jets in the first quarter of 2014. Embraer said it delivered 20 E-jets during the quarter, compared to 14 during the same time in 2014. All 20 E-jets delivered so far this year are E175s.

Two California charter/management companies with certified repair stations have earned STCs for installations of ADS-B and C equipment aboard legacy Gulfstream models. KaiserAir in Oakland and Clay Lacy Aviation in Van Nuys were awarded the authorizations in March, each based on using Universal Avionics equipment.

Landmark Aviation has begun operations at Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport through an equity purchase of Era FBO, a subsidiary of Era Group. The former Million Air facility has been rebranded to “Landmark Aviation.” The 26,400-sq.-ft. facility has the largest heated hangar at the airport as well as pilot and passenger lounges, an executive conference room and 7,000 sq. ft. of office space for rent.

The first transatlantic flight by a Lear Jet was made to Frankfurt, Germany, via Gander, Keflavik and Prestwick. Starting from Wichita, the 5,577-mi. flight took 10 hr. 17 min. Average altitude was 41,000 ft. and the average ground speed was 540 mph. There were three people aboard. FAA certification has been received for the Turbo Exec 400, Riley Aeronautics Corp. conversion of the de Havilland Dove. It cruised at 250 mph TAS at 12,000 ft., with 285 TAS at 20,000 ft. Range is 2,000 mi. Both custom and airline interiors are available.

​The first production-conforming aircraft, dubbed P1, is coming together at Cirrus’ facilities in Duluth, Minnesota, where the pressure vessel built at the company’s Grand Forks, North Dakota, facility and shipped to Duluth is being bonded to the tail and other components. Meanwhile, three conforming prototypes — C0, C1 and C2 — are taking part in the FAA certification program and have accumulated more than 400 hr. flight time. A fourth aircraft, a proof-of-concept model called V1, is also flyable.

It’s been over 33 years since the late Hubert Naimer, Chuck Edmondson and Karl Frudenfeld unveiled the UNS-1, the first FMS for business aircraft. Although it focused primarily on the after-market, over the years, their Universal Avionics led by President and Chairman Joachim (Ted) L.

Honeywell, Inmarsat and satcoms technology specialist Kymeta are developing a Ka-band antenna for business and commercial aviation that should offer better broadband service and suit installation in smaller aircraft. It will be the first truly flat-panel antenna for aviation, says Leo Mondale, president of the aviation business at Inmarsat. “The smaller and more compact design will allow the antenna to be installed on a wider variety of aircraft, including smaller business aviation aircraft,” Honeywell says.

Checking It Twice Your “Checklists and Callouts” (March 2015, page 40) is the best-written summary of operational best practices I’ve ever read. I’m printing it and giving it to my pilots. It explains the philosophy I’ve advocated during my entire career in corporate aviation, a segment of our industry that often has many opposing and far-flung ideas of how to do things right. As your article so clearly articulates, we do things right by doing the right things. K. L. Gregory, AvManager, RWBP Inc.

​The first production-conforming aircraft, dubbed P1, is coming together at Cirrus’ facilities in Duluth, Minnesota, where the pressure vessel built at the company’s Grand Forks, North Dakota, facility and shipped to Duluth is being bonded to the tail and other components. Meanwhile, three conforming prototypes — C0, C1 and C2 — are taking part in the FAA certification program and have accumulated more than 400 hr. flight time. A fourth aircraft, a proof-of-concept model called V1, is also flyable.

The real challenge to modernizing the ATC system in the U.S. isn’t the ADS-B infrastructure but the equipage of the system users, General Aviation Manufacturers Association (GAMA) Chairman and Hartzell Propeller President Joe Brown said at the GAMA State of the Industry presentation earlier this year.

The Pilatus PC-24 took off on its maiden flight on May 11 from Buochs Airport. Just under 1,800 Pilatus staff, all of whom are directly or indirectly involved in the PC-24 project, were there to applaud the business jet as it taxied for takeoff. Prototype P01, (HB-VXA), flew across central Switzerland for a total of 55 min. The twin-engine business jet took off from Runway 7 in just under 600 meters and climbed to 10,000 ft. (approximately 3000 meters) in about 3 min. where the two pilots completed a series of planned tests.

The Pilatus PC-24 took off on its maiden flight on May 11 from Buochs Airport. Just under 1,800 Pilatus staff, all of whom are directly or indirectly involved in the PC-24 project, were there to applaud the business jet as it taxied for takeoff. Prototype P01, (HB-VXA), flew across central Switzerland for a total of 55 min. The twin-engine business jet took off from Runway 7 in just under 600 meters and climbed to 10,000 ft. (approximately 3000 meters) in about 3 min. where the two pilots completed a series of planned tests.

​The first production-conforming aircraft, dubbed P1, is coming together at Cirrus’ facilities in Duluth, Minnesota, where the pressure vessel built at the company’s Grand Forks, North Dakota, facility and shipped to Duluth is being bonded to the tail and other components. Meanwhile, three conforming prototypes — C0, C1 and C2 — are taking part in the FAA certification program and have accumulated more than 400 hr. flight time. A fourth aircraft, a proof-of-concept model called V1, is also flyable.

Most maintenance technicians appreciate the value of monotony. We enjoy a day with no surprises. Unfortunately, those are far and few between. Over time, as we become familiar with both our aircraft and its OEM support network, we gain confidence in knowing what to do, and where to find help when problems arise. That assurance helps one cope with the inevitable crises that are sure to come.