Lessons learned from the fatal crash of a Gulfstream G650 test aircraft in Roswell, N.M., could bolster safety for airframe manufacturers and flight test departments globally. Along with determining a probable cause for the accident, which killed two test pilots and two flight test engineers, the NTSB issued 10 recommendations, many of which called for the dissemination of information about the underlying reasons for the accident, and program countermeasures that may eradicate errors made during the G650 test program.
Eran Duvdevani (CEO Jet-ways Aviation Hertzlia, Israel )
A long-time subscriber, I enjoy your “operating in. . .” articles very much (e.g. “Life in the Far North: Operating in Scandinavia,” October 2012, page 26). As a Part 91 Bombardier Global 5000 pilot, I find it very helpful when planning our flights worldwide, and I keep the issues of the magazine just in case I will fly somewhere you wrote about.
Need help navigating the rules of hazardous material? The International Air Transport Association has a dedicated website to help you understand and comply with the rules for dangerous goods. Their training material has been accepted by the FAA and other government agencies. Many of the large carriers use the IATA handbook as the source data for their training courses. To learn more visit IATA's website: http://www.iata.org/whatwedo/cargo/dangerous_goods/Pages/index.aspx
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?
New Zealand-based Altitude Aerospace Interiors is beginning work on a Boeing Business Jet (BBJ) based on a 737-700, the first interior completion of a new BBJ in the Australasian region. A Boeing spokeswoman says that no BBJ completions have been done in Australia, and while Altitude has previously performed BBJ refits, this will be the company's first “green” BBJ. The BBJ is owned by Samsung Electronics, Boeing says. Altitude is a wholly owned subsidiary of Air New Zealand.
ETS Aviation has formed a carbon trading partnership with CF Partners (U.K.) LLP, a London commodities trading house that specializes in the trading of carbon emissions credits. ETS Aviation's “Carbon Exchanger” will provide airlines and aviation operators with access to the carbon market regardless of their size or the volume of credits they are looking to trade. www.etsaviation.com
Rockwell Collins Pro Line Fusion avionics provide the backbone of the Gulfstream G280's PlaneView cockpit. The main instrument panel features three, 15-in., portrait configuration AMLCD adaptive flight display screens that are controlled by cursor control devices on the left- and right-side ledges and left and right standby multifunction controllers (SMCs) in the glareshield panel. Gulfstream invented the SMCs to provide each pilot with a full-function electronic standby instrument system that doubles as a display and test control box. The 3-in.-by-4-in.
Since many pilots, even some very experienced ones, admit they are not completely aware of the real nature of the Wide Area Augmentation System (WAAS) and its ground-based counterpart Local Area Augmentation System (LAAS), we offer a brief primer. WAAS is a Space-Based Augmentation System (SBAS), as is Europe's EGNOS, India's GAGAN and Japan's MSAS. All are intended to be compatible and even interoperable.
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.
Jack Pelton, the retired Cessna CEO, sent an email to Carl Brewer, Wichita's Democratic mayor, immediately after the debate, urging his intervention with the leader of his party. According to Pelton, Obama's anti-business jet comment — only the most recent of a continuing criticism of business jet owners — was “damning to the great people who work on the production lines here in Wichita.” The missive continued, “We cannot afford to have our industry held out as an example of excess. The facts simply do not support this.
Preferential Treatment? by Chris Coombs, Ore., (Readers' Feedback, October, page 11) demands a comment. Yes, there are a few older pilots that should not be flying, the same as there are a few younger pilots that should not be flying. There are also a lot of highly experienced older pilots that are damn good flyers, the same as there are a lot of younger pilots that are good pilots. I can't help wondering which category Mr. Coombs is in. Portland, Ore.
Argus TRAQPak data indicates that September 2012 business aircraft flight activity decreased from August 2012 by 7.1% overall. The results by operational category were all down from the previous month, with fractional flight activity posting a 11.6% month-over-month decrease.Reviewing activity year-over-year (September 2012 vs.September 2011) TRAQPak recorded a decrease of 2.9% in overall aircraft activity. Results by operational category were led by fractional activity, down 6.2%.
Robinson Helicopter received FAA certification for the R66 Turbine Police Helicopter. The R66 Police model is specially configured for law enforcement and meets the latest FAA crashworthiness regulations. The turnkey R66 Police comes standard with FAA-approved technology including the FLIR Ultra 8000 thermal imaging camera, a 10-in. fold-down color monitor, the new Spectrolab SX-7 searchlight with 30-million candlepower and a dual audio controller.
NTSB Vice Chairman Christopher A. Hart concurred with the Safety Board's findings and probable cause in this accident but expressed concern “that we are not giving enough attention to an emerging issue — the human factors issues associated with the improving reliability of automation.” What follows is excerpted from his concurring opinion.
I had a nice chuckle over the first paragraph of “Day Trippers” (Viewpoint, September 2012, page 9). I know what I would've done with my shoe if that smart-!@# said the same to me. It sounds like a great journey to the West Coast. Your story is just another reminder of why I am happy I took the corporate route for my career. Thanks for sharing and thanks for the laugh! Captain/Safety Advisor SCANA Corp. Columbia, S.C.
I love aircraft and I love dogs. Your “Sound of Silence” (Viewpoint, August 2012, page 9) is beyond compare . . . poignant. Thank you. As for Boomer, he'll be with you always, but may you have the courage to adopt another. San Diego, Calif.
Berlin Brandenburg Airport (BER) has confirmed its new opening date will be Oct. 27, 2013, the beginning of the winter 2013/2014 schedule. Multiple delays in opening the city's new airport has been a source of embarrassment to Germany's capital.
The NTSB, citing a dozen incidents since 1993 involving large-aircraft wingtip collisions during taxiing, is urging the FAA and EASA to mandate anti-collision aids such as cameras that enable pilots to see their aircraft's wingtips from the flight deck without opening a cockpit window. The NTSB does not say which aircraft models need such systems, although it mentions Boeing's 747, 757, 767 and 777; McDonnell Douglas widebodies; and the Airbus A380 as likely candidates.
European business aviation traffic continued its downward trend in July, as the region grapples with the lingering effects of the economic downturn and casts a wary eye toward global anxieties and other concerns. According to the July 2012 Business Aviation Traffic Tracker, published by the European Business Aviation Association (EBAA), business aviation traffic throughout the European Union slipped 4% from July 2011 figures. That decline also contributed to a 2.6% drop in year-to-date traffic numbers compared with 2011 figures.
Argus TRAQPak data indicates that August 2012 business aircraft flight activity increased from July 2012 at 5.7% overall. The results by operational category were all positive from the previous month, led by Part 91 flight activity posting a 6.6% month-over-month increase. Part 135 charter activity was up 4.3%. Fractional activity was up 5.1% over July. Comparing August 2012 to August 2011, TRAQPak recorded a modest increase of 2.0% in overall aircraft activity. Results by operational category were once again led by Part 91 sector activity up 2.7%.
