Business & Commercial Aviation

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.

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

Cessna recently completed the mating of the wing and fuselage of the first production unit Citation M2. The light jet, a step up from the company's Mustang very light jet, is on track for certification in the second half of this year. Wing mating clears the way for engine installation and preparation for function testing of the aircraft systems, including avionics, hydraulics and flight controls. The M2, powered by Williams FJ44-1AP-21 engines producing 1,965 lbst, will have a maximum cruising speed of 400 kt., a 1,300-nm range and the ability to take off in 3,250 ft.

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.

AgustaWestland is planning a final assembly line for its new twin light-intermediate category AW169 at its Philadelphia facility. Assembly of the helicopter is to begin there in May 2014, with first customer delivery in early 2015. The Italian/British manufacturer expects to ramp up Philadelphia production to 20 helicopters per year by 2017. The new line will be scalable based on demand. AgustaWestland's facilities in Vergiate, Italy and Yeovil, U.K., will also be involved in AW169 production.

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.

Fokker Services VIP Completions and DynamicSource AB have developed an iOS application to run Fortran Takeoff and Landing SCAP modules on the iPad. The app allows an operator to make the performance calculation shortly before takeoff thereby allowing the incorporation of last minute changes such as aircraft loading or runway conditions. The app is being used by commercial operators with the performance calculation and is now available for large cabin and airline-class business aircraft operators. Price: Free Fokker Services

Becoming a professional aircraft maintenance technician is a long and difficult process. The price is also very high. Many of us struggled for years to save enough money to afford A&P School, or gave years of our lives serving in the military. Many did both. But earning that license was just the price of admission, an opportunity to get your foot in the door. Finding that all-important first job was the next hurdle.

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.

There's a showdown underway in the Silicon Valley involving big names, big jets, and big FBO chains. Business aircraft alighting at Norman Y. Mineta San Jose International Airport (SJC) use Atlantic Aviation, a part of Australia's Macquarie Group. Atlantic says it has invested $60 million in upgrading the facility in the past five years. Nevertheless, on April 16 the city council voted 10-1 to accept a proposal by rival Signature Flight Support, owned by BBA of Britain, to develop a second FBO at the city-owned airport.

Qatar Executive, a division of Qatar Airways, has received approvals from the Qatar Civil Aviation Authority to conduct base maintenance services for Bombardier Challenger 604, 605 and Global series aircraft. The business jet subsidiary can now perform heavy maintenance checks at its 6,400-sq.- meter hangar at Doha International Airport. Their licensed engineers and technicians can also be dispatched throughout the region to resolve AOG issues. The Maintenance Service Center operates 24/7. Qatar Executive Doha International Airport

Gulfstream enhanced its Field and Airborne Support Teams (FAST) replacing two Gulfstream G100s with two G150s. A G100 serves as a backup. Other enhancements include adding a third shift of two pilots and naming a new chief pilot, Tenille Cromwell. Gulfstream FAST has made more than 3,400 mission flights and surpassed 10,000 flight hours. The team uses more than 20 vehicles throughout the U.S. and Europe, including a pair of specially outfitted rapid response trucks.

London Gatwick Airport has reopened a helicopter landing site after a 12-year absence. Based at the end of taxiway Uniform on the west side of the airport, the helicopter aiming point (HAP) reopens after two years of feasibility discussions and joint planning between Gatwick officials and Signature Flight Support.

The private aviation industry hasn't improved much in Western Europe over the past year, says aviation advisor Brian Foley. Amid austerity measures and weak economic news, there has been a cautious hesitance to take on the discretionary costs associated with private air travel. “The situation will drag on a bit longer,” notes Foley. “But one shouldn't lose perspective that Europe still remains the second largest business aviation market.” According to aircraft data base provider AMSTAT, the Western European business jet fleet has shrunk 2% since this time last year.

EmptyLegMarket, an online marketplace for empty-leg flights, launched a mobile version of its website. The mobile website has the same listings that are on the full version of the company's website, however the mobile version has been optimized for viewing on various mobile devices.

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.

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.

Embraer has received both FAA and Brazilian Agência Nacional de Aviação Civil (ANAC) clearances for installation of its Prodigy Touch flight deck aboard the Phenom 300. NetJets is launching the new flight deck aboard the Phenom, and Embraer is offering the suite as an option for other Phenom 300 aircraft beginning in the fourth quarter. Based on the Garmin G3000 platform, the Prodigy Touch incorporates touch-screen technology with automation designed for single-pilot operation.

House lawmakers are pushing for a dramatic overhaul of certification regulations for small aircraft. Reps. Mike Pompeo (R-Kan.), Dan Lipinski (D-Ill.), Sam Graves (R-Mo.), Todd Rokita (R-Ind.) and Rick Nolan (D-Minn.) have introduced the Small Airplane Revitalization Act of 2013 that essentially calls for rewriting FAR Part 23 with the intention of halving certification costs while more than doubling safety. The rewrite has strong support from the highest levels of FAA and a number of international aviation authorities.

Think the unthinkable. Consider the grimmest of scenarios. Contemplate a crash. What's your contingency plan for handling an accident or a ditching with survivors on board? Could you execute it, if necessary? Have you ever thought about it?

NetJets is taking a cautious approach toward its operations in China, beginning with its management of whole aircraft for clients there, says Chairman and CEO Jordan Hansell. He acknowledges other companies have announced plans to begin fractional operations in China, and says he's interested in watching how that develops. But the nature of the Chinese regulatory structure “does not lend itself to the flexibility” of fractional operations, he tells Aviation Week.

CSI Aviation launched a more innovative and customer friendly website in support of its growing marketing efforts. The website enables customers to clearly view the company's value-added aviation management services from arranging charter, managing aviation programs, to using mission-specific aircraft for mapping and data collection and surveillance. The company also has a new logo. CSI Aviation Albuquerque, N.M. www.csiaviation.com

EASA has a far different requirement for supplemental oxygen aboard high flying jets. EU-OPS 1.770 (b)(iii) and (iv) only require that O2 masks “be within immediate reach of flight crew members” and that “quick donning” masks be installed for flight crewmembers in pressurized aircraft flying above 25,000 ft. Similarly, the ICAO Annex 6 3.4.4.2.2 rule for supplemental oxygen use essentially is the same as the EASA regulation. Canada, in contrast, requires one pilot to use an oxygen mask above FL 410, according to CAR 605.32.

Thank you so much for your detailed, informative and comprehensive analysis of the Gulfstream G650 (April 2013, page 24). I do not know how long it took me to read it, but I was impressed with the facts that, as a professional pilot, I demand in an article. I read about six periodicals a month about flying and after reading a terrible article on the Bombardier 6000 in another magazine I decided to write to you. Excellent work and this is why I subscribe to BCA.

Garmin has an updated version of the Garmin Pilot app for the iPad and iPhone that incorporates Garmin's dynamic navigation maps. With the new dynamic maps, pilots can now choose between track-up or north-up moving map orientation. They will also have the option of track-up orientation on static sectionals on en route charts. Enhancements to Garmin Pilot's cloud computing technology enable seamless connectivity and information sharing between all Garmin Pilot-enabled devices.