StandardAero launched dedicated Mobile Repair Teams (MRT) conducting on-wing hot section inspections and repairs for the P&WC PW610 and PW615 series engines that power the Eclipse 500 and Cessna Mustang. “Providing on-wing services like HIS at a location of the customer's choice assures the customer of the fastest and most efficient use of the downtime,” said Rob Cords, senior vice president, StandardAero.
Banyan Air Service recently completed MagnaStar digital phone upgrades on a Challenger, Hawker and Citation, in advance of the system's phase-out this month. “With over 1,100 aircraft operating with the MagnaStar system, operators need to plan their upgrades very soon, as time is running out and the number of qualified shops and available equipment will reach capacity,” warns Brian Wilson, Banyan's director of avionics.
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.
Nov. 1— At 1742 CDT, a Beech C90 (N269JG) crashed 4 mi. southeast of the Springdale Municipal Airport, Springdale, Ark. The private pilot and passenger were fatally injured and the airplane was destroyed. The C90 was registered to J&G Aviation, LLC, and operated by the pilot, both of Camden, Ark., as a personal flight. The flight originated from Pine Bluff, Ark., about 1700 and was operating VFR with no flight plan.
ARINC Direct recently announced Vector SMS, a web-based quality and Safety Management System (SMS) that facilitates compliance with SMS requirements, improves operational effectiveness and enhances flight safety. When integrated with ARINC Direct's flight operations services, the new software from Polaris Aero, LLC, enables customers to implement all of the critical components of a safety management system. Vector SMS is a subscription-based service designed to meet the needs of any size flight department. ARINC Direct
With regards to Ross Detwiler's articlepointing out the shortcomings of HUDs (“Thumbs Down for Head Up,” October 2013, page 62), there are a couple of things that should be noted. First, in vintage HUDs the eyebox is definitely too small and requires flying “at attention.” Current generation HUDs (C130J, Kollsman AT-HUD) have a larger eyebox, allow for much more head movement and are easier to fly.
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-based Winglet Technology has completed the first flight of a Cessna Citation Sovereign with its patented Elliptical Winglets. The aircraft flew from Wichita's Mid-Continent Airport for just under two hours, as planned. Winglet Technology and the Cessna Service Center network said that they'll upgrade existing Sovereigns with the winglets, work that also will include a 350-lb. gross weight increase.
Zenith Aviation, Fredericksburg, Va., named Bryan Shelton director, Field Operations. Shelton recently ended a 20-year career in the U.S. Marine Corps where he retired as senior manager, Aviation Maintenance Operations for the Presidential Helicopter Squadron (Executive Division).
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.
In a new strategic alliance with Houston-based Starbase Jet, China's largest business jet operator, Deer Jet, is shifting seven of its aircraft to the U.S. to fly in the charter market there. The U.S.-registered jets will be operated by Starbase Jet and will be available for hire, with a particular emphasis on serving Chinese customers traveling within the United States. “The U.S. is China's most important business aviation market,” says Deer Jet chairman Xu Xin, “and this new venture is an investment in our expansion there.”
ARGUS International, Inc., Cincinnati, Ohio, announced that Justin Roberts has joined the company as marketing manager, based in the Cincinnati office. His background is in strategic multimedia management, website development and optimization, marketing research, and project and budget execution. He is an air defense officer in the Ohio Army National Guard.
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.
One advantage to flying business aircraft is that your passengers get greater throughput speeds because they're not competing for the limited in-cabin bandwidth available per passenger that can be the case on airliner aircraft. Depending on the flight department's budget, your aircraft can be equipped with the latest and greatest inflight entertainment and communications (IFEC) technology. The air carriers are catching up, however, thanks to new high bandwidth Ku- and Ka-band satcom content transmission services.
In 2014, Eurocopter will upgrade its American Eurocopter plant in Columbus, Miss., to become a final assembly and test center for AS350s. Production will start in 4Q 2014 and is expected to total 60 helicopters annually by 2016. The plan has two main objectives: offsetting the impact of reduced production of UH-72A Lakotas for the U.S. Army at the site, and boosting AS350 sales in the U.S. market, especially with government and law enforcement agencies.
Gulfstream Aerospace, Inc., Savannah, Ga., expanded the role of commercial sales representative Prestige Jet to handle Gulfstream aircraft transactions in France, Italy and Switzerland.
A Beechcraft King Air 100 piloted by a well-experienced captain crashed on Oct. 27, 2011, about a half mile short of Runway 26L at Vancouver International Airport. Observers said the airplane simply spun out on short final from a position 300 ft. above the ground. Both pilots were killed and all seven passengers were seriously injured by the impact and subsequent fire.
A little more than a decade ago, then Chicago Mayor Richard Daley shocked the aviation community and his own city by ordering backhoes out to Meigs Field (CGX) in the dark of night to carve giant Xs, measuring two-foot-deep, along the close-in airport's 3,899-ft. runway. That March 31, 2003, assault destroyed the 55-year-old general aviation airport and took place without warning to the FAA, the FBO (Signature Flight Support) and the owners of about 16 aircraft temporarily stranded there.
Jetex Flight Support in collaboration with Honeywell launched MyJETEX, an app for Apple platforms that provides operators with flight support solutions. Operators can plan and manage their worldwide trips via the app with flight planning, aircraft datalink, flight following and international trip support services. The app is one of a suite of tools used jointly by Jetex and Honeywell to expand Honeywell's Global Data Center's Flight Sentinel services worldwide.
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.
Aerostar Aircraft Corp. is flight-testing a pressurized model fitted with Pratt and Whitney Canada PW615F turbofans mounted under the wings. First flight occurred July 25 at Coeur d'Alene Airport, the company's Idaho headquarters. According to Jim Christy, Aerostar vice president, the aircraft has already achieved 380 KTAS at FL 280, and he expects an ultimate cruise in excess of 400 kt. He says the company is “proceeding with certification at the speed cash” and that outside investors are being sought. Some 500 pressurized Aerostars are in operation.
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.
Cessna Aircraft recently confirmed the Mach 0.935 speed of its new Citation X in high-speed certification flights with the FAA, taking a key step toward reclaiming the fastest business jet title. Cessna says it has now completed all testing requirements to validate the Mach 0.935 speed. The original X reigned as the fastest business jet with a top speed of Mach 0.92 until Gulfstream's Mach 0.925 G650 reached market last year.
