Pratt & Whitney Canada's PW210 engine has been selected by Eurocopter to power the next-generation X4 helicopter. The PW210-powered X4 is expected to enter into service by 2017. The engine will also power three other unspecified helicopters.
Embraer made the first international delivery of a U.S.-made Phenom 100 when Canadian businessman Tasso Kostelidis took delivery on March 31. Kostelidis who is an instrument-rated private pilot received training along with his corporate pilot at Embraer's training partner, CAE in Dallas. He will use his Phenom to travel throughout his network of distribution centers in Canada.
For less than one-quarter of the price of a new single-engine turboprop, you can fly a Mitsubishi MU-2B that will cruise close to 300 KTAS and consume about the same amount of fuel. Mitsubishi Heavy Industries built eight short-body models between 1965 and 1985 under two type certificates. Most desirable are the MU-2-26 “M”, -26A “P” and -40 “Solitaire” because they have the highest MTOWs.
In aviation, maintainers face conflicts every day — in scheduling, resource access and prioritization, to name a few examples. Regardless, the end goal is to provide a safe and fully functioning aircraft in time for the mission. So, resolving conflicts quickly and equitably within the department is key, and the solution inevitably revolves around teamwork. The concept is easy, but the execution can be a challenge even for the best of managers.
CAE is the first independent training provider to be qualified as a Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) approved training organization (ATO) for maintenance training for Dassault Falcon aircraft under China's CCAR-147 regulation. The approval enables CAE to deploy maintenance training courses in China for all in-production Dassault Falcon aircraft, including the Falcon 7X, Falcon 900EX EASy, 900DX, 900LX, and Falcon 2000EX EASy, 2000DX, 2000LX aircraft models.
Great article on the IRS interpretation of the air transportation tax (Washington Watch, May 2012, page 68). No question that it is a huge overreach by IRS bureaucrats. My guess is that 90% of business aviation operators have never heard of this new ruling. Such is the value of BCA and the NBAA, otherwise we would already be priced out of the market. You do realize that you only wrote half of the article?
Laura Hillenbrand's superb book “Unbroken,” recounts the life of Louis Zamperini. A blazing fast Olympian, with the attack on Pearl Harbor, he traded track shoes for flying boots. The young bombardier's most daunting contest came after his jinxed B-24 ditched and disappeared in the wide Pacific. What followed is a testament to human endurance, spirit and courage.
Dassault has approval from the FAA for steep approaches on all Falcon 900 EASy and Falcon 2000 EASy series aircraft. Both models had already received steep approach certification from EASA. With the most recent approvals, the entire current production Falcon fleet is now certified for steep approaches, which permits aircraft to operate at restricted airports with approach angles of up to 6 deg.
While controversy continues regarding the pay source for equipage and practical value of operational benefits, Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B), a key technology in the FAA's move to a satellite-based Next Generation (NextGen) air traffic management system, is here and expanding steadily.
The American Association of Airport Executives (AAAE) has recognized three individuals and one company for their contributions to the airport industry with awards presented at the association's 84th Annual Conference and Exposition in Phoenix. Bob Bogan, deputy executive director of Morristown Municipal Airport (N.J.), and Jim Rice, director of Michigan's Bishop International Airport, received the 2012 and 2013 Distinguished Services Awards, respectively. The Chair's Award was presented to Jim Elwood, director of Colorado's Aspen/Pitkin Country Airport.
In today's business aviation world and that includes civil government operations such as law enforcement — strict safety management is required to balance the risks versus benefits of any tactical operation.
While modern business aircraft cabins offer superlative levels of comfort, they can be relatively noisy environments. Loud noise levels or even sporadic low-level noise over time can cause hearing impairment, hypertension, ischemic heart disease, annoyance, sleep disturbances and overall decreased performance. Obviously, operators should take steps to mitigate passenger noise exposure in their aircraft cabin.
Rockwell Collins France is demonstrating a radar-based helicopter obstacle detection system to the French army as it talks to manufacturers about a related system to warn of rotor strikes when landing in confined spaces. Both systems use the same 13 GHz, Ku-band electronically scanned radar technology developed by the company's French operation. Other obstacle-detection systems are flying but use mechanically scanned radars or lidar sensors.
Hawthorne Global Aviation Services has opened an FBO at Long Island MacArthur Airport (ISP) in Islip, N.Y., co-located with ExcelAire, a provider of aircraft management, charter and maintenance services. The Hawthorne-branded FBO, the largest private jet facility on Long Island, is the cornerstone of its developing FBO network across North America, the company says.
I enjoyed your article on second-grade math (Washington Watch, April 2012, page 61). The only thing you could have added was the name of the culprit who caused this problem in the first place. That person would be the Un-Honorable Sen. Charles “Chuck” Grassley from Iowa. The aviation community in Iowa needs to spread the word about this scoundrel and get him voted out of office.
EASA has awarded a type certificate to Williams International for its FJ44-3AP engine, an improved version of the FJ44-3A model. Take-off thrust was increased 8% to 3,052 lbf, cruise thrust was increased 13%, while weight was reduced 3% and cruise specific fuel consumption improved by 1.5%. The FJ44-3AP was certified by the FAA in May 2011. The engine powers the Nextant 400XT.
Cessna unveiled the super mid-size Citation Longitude at EBACE. The Longitude will share its fuselage cross section with the Citation Latitude. Cessna is targeting FAA type certification and initial customer deliveries in the fourth quarter 2017. Some aero design features developed for Columbus will be incorporated in the Longitude, including its huge T-tail empennage, area-rule loft contours and moderately swept wing. The new aircraft will be powered by the Snecma Silvercrest, a clean-sheet 8,500- to 12,000-lb.
When an aircraft crash catches the public eye, such as the 2005 Bombardier Challenger overrun in Teterboro, N.J., the long-term ramifications can be wide-ranging and costly to the entire industry.
Thus far, we've talked about eliminating or minimizing sound. But for some operators, maximizing a cabin's audio qualities is of great importance. For those whose key passengers expect nothing less than an airborne symphony hall, IMAX theater, arena event or just some quiet meditation, a fourth way may be the path to audio bliss.
Hawker Beechcraft has secured initial court approval that the company says will enable it to continue its ordinary business while the company proceeds with its prearranged Chapter 11 bankruptcy proceedings. The court approval enables the Wichita manufacturer to pay employees, vendors and suppliers, using $400 million in debtor-in-possession (DIP) financing to meet its obligations. The plan will eliminate $2.5 billion in debt and about $125 million in annual interest expense, Hawker Beechcraft says.
The European Business Aviation Convention & Exhibition (EBACE2012) concluded as one of the strongest EBACE shows yet. Organizers noted that as the third and final day of the show concluded May 16, 12,638 attendees had participated, representing 99 countries — both numbers on par with last year's show. 491 exhibitors were on hand, occupying a record-breaking 2,280 booth spaces across Halls 5, 6 and 7 of the Geneva Palexpo convention center. EBACE2012 featured 60 aircraft on static display.
Pentastar Aviation's executive terminal operation at Oakland County International Airport (PTK) has been granted approval as a Gateway FBO to Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) through the DCA Access Standard Security Program (DASSP). Pentastar is currently the only executive terminal facility in the Metro Detroit area approved for departures flying directly to DCA. In addition, Pentastar Aviation Charter, Inc., is now a TSA-approved operator for on-demand charter flights into DCA from any DCA Access facility.
With ground vibration tests complete, on Prototype No. 1, the Embraer Legacy 500 is moving toward its first flight in the third quarter and the beginning of its flight-test campaign. The Legacy 500 is scheduled to enter service between fourth quarter 2013 and first quarter 2014. Embraer expects to roll out Prototype No. 2 soon followed by engine run and ground tests of the 500's Honeywell HTF-7500E engine. The Prototype No. 3 fuselage is complete.
Rockwell Collins has begun modifying a Beechcraft King Air 250 for flight testing the touchscreen embedded display system (EDS) versions of its Pro Line Fusion integrated avionics. All processing is moved from avionics cabinets to the displays themselves, allowing the system to be installed on smaller aircraft, where the screens are closer to the pilot and lend themselves to finger-on-glass interaction. The aircraft will fly later this year and supplemental type certification of the EDS as a display upgrade to Pro Line 21-equipped King Airs is scheduled for 2013.
