In the third quarter of 2012, Embraer delivered 27 jets to the commercial aviation market and 13 to executive aviation. Deliveries year to date, at the end of September, total 83 commercial and 46 executive jets, seven more than for the same period of 2011.
On May 11, 1996, a ValuJet Airlines DC-9 departed Miami International Airport bound for Hartsfield International Airport, Atlanta. Shortly after takeoff, the crew was alerted by an electrical problem, rapidly followed by systems dropping offline and smoke in the cockpit. While making emergency calls to the tower, voices in the background could be heard shouting that the aircraft was on fire. The aircraft was cleared for an immediate return to Miami.
Just finished you article on heliport approval (and nicely done, BTW) (Point of Law, October, page 55) and was wondering if Federal approval supersedes any local prohibition or approval of a heliport. I know in Pennsylvania townships are required to allow for all types of usage in the zoning, but if I received federal approval, first, can the locals prevent me from building a heliport? How about if I also had state approval ? Does any of this help a situation?
SoCal Jets, based at California's Van Nuys Airport, has expanded its services to include complete avionics service and support. The avionics team offers troubleshooting and maintenance, including pitot/static checks, RVSM certification and ELT inspections to installations and repair. The company's 18,000-sq.-ft. facility also offers sheet-metal work, major inspections and import/export services, among other services. The company is also an authorized Aircell dealer in Mexico.
John and Martha King will receive the prestigious Frank G. Brewer Trophy for Aviation Education “. . . for their passion and dedication in making aviation knowledge more accessible to pilots worldwide by combining elegant technology with clear, fun teaching featuring courseware that simplifies complex concepts for students.”
A full-scale mockup of the new Beechcraft Model 120 turboprop was shown to Beech distributors and the aviation press in Wichita recently. Powered by two Turbomeca Bastan VI engines, with Ratier-Figeac propellers, the prototype is slated to fly in 1964 with production to begin shortly thereafter.
Business aviation is playing a key role in helping with the economic recovery in Europe, a new study finds, saying that each passenger flown on a business aviation flight generates the same gross domestic product as nine business passengers on a scheduled flight. The European Business Aviation Association retained Oxford Economics to conduct the study to determine the value of business aviation in Europe. The study finds that contrary to popular belief, business jets and turboprops in Europe are primarily used for business purposes rather than by wealthy individuals.
The embarrassing thing about international procedures is what a tiny percentage business aviation represents in terms of flights [about 6%] but what a large percentage we are in terms of operational errors,” lamented Nat Iyengar, captain and safety officer for a major corporate flight department. “Most of that comes down to bad procedures,” Iyengar continued. “We are too casual about the crossings due to the automation of our airplanes.” By “operational errors,” Iyengar was referring to:
The all-composite Learjet 85, arguably the most ambitious of Bombardier's several business jet development programs, is incorporating new processes and moving lots of dirt as it advances steadily toward first flight. Once certified and in service, the new model will be the largest, farthest ranging and fastest ever to bear the Learjet marque, and it will be the first FAR Part 25 business jet with a fuselage and wings fashioned mostly from composite material.
Gene Condreras (President Panorama Flight Service Inc. Westchester County Airport (HPN) White Plains, N.Y. )
I'm concerned that the choice of observations attached to me in “Melbourne Muddle” (Viewpoint, October 2012, page 9) muddied my real concern about the continuing trend of airport sponsors placing private FBOs at a disadvantage through various devices.
A new FAA order provides guidance for Aircraft Certification Service personnel to accomplish certain agency responsibilities. HAI Rotor News reports that new guidelines include the evaluation and approval of production activities of manufacturers and their suppliers producing products or articles in accordance with Title 14, Code of Federal Regulations (14 CFR). The guidance details procedures for the evaluation and issuance of Production Certificates, Parts Manufacturer Approval and Technical Standard Order authorization.
The next time you publish another hysterical column, please add a warning label stating: “Read in the Privacy of Your Office or Home.” I started reading “Day Trippers” while sitting by my cement pond, and after the first paragraph, I laughed so loud and so hard strangers at the pool literally turned their heads in my direction. A neighbor came by later and I showed him “Legal Humor” (Readers Feedback, September 2012, page 10) and then “Day Trippers.” He laughed as hard as I did.
Cockpit Apps has launched iLOG, an app that provides flight crews an alternative to traditional pen and paper flight logs. According to the company, the easy-to-configure app follows a crew through a typical duty day, tracking critical components such as duty and flight time, VOR checks and RVSM altimeter settings. The app is also configured to record squawks as well as engine, airframe and component time. At the end of each day, crews can either electronically sign the documents using an iPad digital signature and email their flight logs to dispatch, or print them out.
Honda has broken ground for a 90,000-sq.-ft. factory MRO facility on a 54-acre extension of the company's headquarters and manufacturing site at the Piedmont Triad International Airport.
DART Helicopter Services has expanded its office in Hawkesbury, Ontario, consolidating all Canadian divisions under one roof. Before the construction of the new office, the sales, marketing, customer support, engineering, accounting and manufacturing teams were not co-located. The 9,500-sq.-ft. office expansion allows the functions to come under one roof next to the manufacturing facility.
Rockwell Collins' Airshow 3-D moving map is now available for download in the iTunes App store. The iPad app delivers a unique, interactive way for business jet passengers to view the world around them and stay informed during their trip. With a simple system upgrade, existing Airshow 4000 or Venue HD cabin management system users can take advantage of the new app.
Universal Aviation U.K., located at Stansted Airport (EGSS), has completely renovated its 10,712-sq.-ft. FBO. The updates include all-new crew and passenger lounges, a state-of-the-art business center and video conferencing facility, two client meeting rooms, private screening facilities and ultra-modern showers and changing rooms. The facility is home to Universal's ground-support business and its 24/7 European Operations Center, which offers trip facilitation within Europe and globally.
Thrush is shipping its newly certified 510G agricultural aircraft, the first application for GE's H80 turboprop engine. Certification followed a two-year development program with both GE and Albany, Ga.-based Thrush Aircraft and comes just a few weeks after Thrush obtained type inspection authorization from FAA. GE obtained certification for the H80 engine, earlier this year. Thrush has built 11 of the H80-powered 510G aircraft and has begun initial deliveries both within the U.S. and to Latin American nations.
The FAA has selected Harris Corp. Government Communications Systems to provide Data Communications Integrated Services (DCIS), with a subcontracting team that includes ARINC Inc., GE Aviation and Thales. DataComm supplements today's analog voice-only air-to-ground communications system with a digital system, and it will become the primary mode of communication in air traffic in the future. The FAA says DataComm will provide a two-way data exchange between controllers and flight crews for clearances, instructions, advisories, flight crew requests and reports.
Bombardier Aerospace announced September 28 that it has received orders for a total of eight Global business jets from an undisclosed customer. The firm orders are for four Global 6000 and four Global 8000 aircraft. The customer had asked to remain unidentified. The transaction is valued at approximately $500 million based on the 2012 list price for typically equipped aircraft.
Blackhawk Modifications Inc., is expected to receive an STC for its upgrade package XP42A for Cessna 208 Caravans by year-end. The XP42A Upgrade Package includes a factory-new Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-42A engine rated at 850 shp, and a new wide-chord, 100-in. diameter Hartzell four-blade propeller. Also included: new composite cowling and high-efficiency inlet duct, new 40% larger oil cooler, the existing engine mount with a modified horse collar, new engine hose kit, new Blackhawk Hawkeye DigiLog engine gauges and new Frakes exhaust stacks.
At the end of the last decade, it seemed fairly certain that a robust, seamless backup to GPS, in the form of enhanced Loran (eLoran), could be made available at a reasonable cost to GPS users in North America.
American Eurocopter has delivered its 200th AS350 helicopter manufactured in the U.S. The AS350 B3e, was delivered to the Texas Department of Public Safety in April and entered service Sept. 20. Globally, there are more than 3,300 AS350 helicopters operating in all markets and missions. The first AS350 helicopter in the U.S. was delivered in 1978, and there are now 783 AStars in the U.S.
