In a market long pervaded by Bell's ubiquitous 206, along with the Hughes/ McDonnell Douglas/MD Helicopters MD500 series, why would Eurocopter bother putting forward a light single-turbine utility machine? Specifically, with more than 8,000 JetRangers delivered since its introduction in 1967 and operating in every imaginable capacity around the world, what niche did Eurocopter hope to satisfy with its EC120B? The answer to those questions is surprisingly grand.
Grob's G160 Ranger turboprop business aircraft successfully concluded spin recovery tests, marking a significant step in the aircraft's certification program, says the company. The aircraft completed over 180 spins in 13 different configurations and according to a spokesman, ``was completely controllable and always recoverable.'' The prototype completed 60 hours of flight tests on 105 sorties and achieved 165 takeoffs and landings, some of which were on grass and snow. Grob says that the G160's robust trailing-link undercarriage has proved its worth on rough surfaces.
The last day of 2004 was an auspicious one for CEO Vern Raburn and hundreds of Albuquerque-based Eclipse Aviation employees. After several 80-hour work weeks during which they hammered out software glitches, struggled with cutting-edge starter/generator technology, coped with engine start fuel scheduling woes and fought numerous avionics battles, their efforts paid off. Assigned EJT (Eclipse Jet Test) 101, test pilots Bill Bubb and Brian Mathy lifted off Albuquerque-Sunport's Runway 17 at 10:16 a.m. for a 1+29 hour test flight in s.n.
General aviation supporter Sen. Ted Stevens (R-Alaska) was named to chair the Senate Commerce Committee, taking the reins from Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.), the volatile senator who often took contrarian positions on key business aviation issues -- especially user fees. The appointment of Stevens to the Commerce chairmanship was one of several key committee leadership reshufflings due to Republican term limits on committee leadership positions. Stevens is stepping down as chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee.
Aerodynamics Inc. added James Day as a sales representative in the Southeast United States. Day, who has 25 years of sales, marketing and finance experience, previously sold the Embraer Legacy for Embraer.
Raytheon Aircraft has teamed with Aeromech to develop RVSM solutions for most King Airs. STCs were recently granted for King Air 200s, 300s and 350s equipped with an APS-65 or APS-80 autopilot and having an ADC-80 air-data computer configuration. Coupled with the manufacturer's previous solution for newer King Airs that use the ADC-85 air-data computer configuration, the majority of Rockwell Collins-equipped King Air 200s, 300s and 350s now have a factory-sponsored RVSM solution.
Bell 206 helicopters -- Conduct initial and repetitive inspections of the tail-rotor blades for a deformation or crack or a bent or deformed tail-rotor weight. Before further flight, replace each blade with an airworthy blade if a deformation, a crack, or a bent or deformed weight is found.
iviation, Memphis, appointed Peter Schouwenaars director of development and operations for the company's technical services department. Schouwenaars will oversee the company's aircraft maintenance programs, asset management, maintenance facilities and personnel. He has more than 35 years of management and maintenance experience in Parts 91, 121, 129, 135 and 145, and in military operations.
Bell Helicopter, Fort Worth, named Mike Cox interim director of public affairs and advertising. He assumed the position after the retirement of Carl Harris, who recently left the company after 38 years of service.
Lista International's wheeled ``Mechanic's Toolboxes'' feature a specially designed wide top drawer for storing long tools, and include an interlock safety system to prevent accidental tipping. The toolboxes come with a locking system and handles, as well as two rigid and two swivel heavy-duty ball-bearing casters with wheel locks. For heavier parts and tools, cabinet drawers provide a 440-pound load capacity.
For a long time, pilots have been confronted with the curious situation of having to comply with icing FARs that contain terms not defined anywhere in those regulations. For example, 14 CFR 91 Subpart F, which deals with large and turbine-powered multiengine airplanes and fractional ownership program aircraft, contains the following: 91.527 Operating in Icing Conditions
Dassault Aviation was awarded the Honeywell Bendix Trophy for Aviation Safety for the EASy flight deck at the Flight Safety Foundation's International Air Safety Seminar on Dec. 17, 2004, one year after the first EASy-equipped Falcon 900EX was delivered. The trophy recognizes contributions to aerospace safety by individuals or institutions through innovations in advanced safety equipment and equipment utilization. EASy uses Honeywell's Primus Epic, a large-format display integrated avionics system, as its foundation.
Packed onto the 2005 Pro-Flight Library CD are over 850 aviation publications and 6,000 graphics. A built-in search engine allows viewers to find the full text of all publications. Also, users can add bookmarks for reference and include personalized notes.
The twin diesel HPA TT62 Alekto completed 50 hours of engine ground runs and begun ground control tests for the German CAA in preparation for its first flight. The aircraft is designed and built by HPA (High Performance Aircraft) of Zirchow, Germany. The all-composite, pressurized five-place aircraft is aimed at the business aviation market and debuted at the Berlin Air Show in May 2004. The Alekto has two rear pylon-mounted propellers driven by two Thielert V8 TAE310 turbocharged Centurion 4.0-liter diesel engines buried in the rear fuselage behind the passenger cabin.
In B&CA's safety and security analysis report (``Holding Your Operation to a Higher Standard,'' December 2004, page 100) David Esler erroneously reported that Wyvern Consulting, Ltd. employed eight people. The actual number at the time of the interview with president Walt Lamon was 18. Since then, a 19th employee has been hired.
Thanks to their integral suspended particle device light-control technology, SPD-Smart cabin windows enable passengers to control the light and glare entering the cabin using either wired or wireless controls. The windows have no moving parts and are STC'd for many corporate aircraft. Price: Call for quotes. InspecTech Aero Service, Inc. 3475 S.W. 9th Ave. Fort Lauderdale, FL 33315 (954) 359-6766 www.inspectech.net
In October 2004, American Eurocopter and EADS North America won a competition to supply more than 55 single-engine light observation helicopters to the U.S. Customs and Border Protection Agency, a unit within the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS). The value of the award is potentially worth $75 million over the contract's five-year term. The winning aircraft was the EC120B.
One of the first aviation advocacy groups to formulate a best-practices security compendium and post it on the Internet was the National Association of State Aviation Officials (NASAO). ``When NASAO did its security white paper immediately after 9/11 and I went on the road to talk it up with our members,'' the organization's president and CEO, Henry Ogrodzinski, told B&CA, ``I told them that even though aviation was rife with acronyms, I'd come up with another one: LYDA, for `lock your damn airplane!'
THE NBAA GOT A MUCH-wanted Christmas present in December, a public acknowledgement by the head of the TSA that the agency plans to continue partnering with the NBAA and seeking ways to expand the benefits of the Transportation Security Administration Access Certificate (TSAAC). If that sounds like a sudden and surprising about-face by the federal security establishment, it is. But it's also the result of years of determined effort by the business aviation community.
Retired Coast Guard Admiral and former FAA Deputy Administrator for Security Paul Busick believes there are ways of securing business aviation other than imposing further regulation.
Rockwell Collins added seven new languages to its Airshow 4000 moving map display and flight information system for business jets. The new languages are Chinese, Hebrew, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese and Russian. The Arabic, English, French, German and Spanish languages were already available for the system.
A Pilatus PC-21 two-seat turboprop military trainer crashed on Jan. 13, killing the company's chief test pilot, Andy Ramseier. The accident occurred at Buochs airfield, Switzerland, while practicing for an air show. Eye witnesses said the aircraft banked hard before hitting the ground. The aircraft came to rest inverted and largely intact. An official enquiry has been launched by the Swiss Federal Office for Civil Aviation (FOCA) and the remaining PC-21 prototype has been grounded. Pilatus received the aircraft's Swiss Type Certificate in late December 2004. Mike Vines
Also in Indonesia, Air Serv was installing two VSAT systems (high-speed Internet access via satellite) in conjunction with Missionary Aviation Fellowship for use by humanitarian workers. One was to be located in Medan and the other in the Banda Aceh area.
Dedicated teams of flight safety researchers from the airlines, government and academia have developed a concept called ``Threat and Error Management'' which is enhancing flight crew performance measurably while at the same time minimizing the number of errors.
