Legislators Press for GA Focus in Plane

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Vol.50 | No.9

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SEPTEMBER 2019 | ainonline.com Conventions LABACE 2019 Business aviation put on a show at LABACE Industry Deliveries up for bizjets, down for t-props page 10 Government Senator defends ODA process page 30 eVTOL Vahana offers glimpse at future page 56 Air Transport

INTOSH Rolls Trent 1000

DAVID M c DAVID improving page 58 Aircraft Read Our SPECIAL REPORT Legislators press for Longitude clears hurdle Product Support for FAA nod page 6 GA focus in Plane Act AIN readers rate the support they received in the last 12 months for flight deck avionics and cabin electronics. by Kerry Lynch Perennial favorites topped the list.

Sen. James Inhofe (R-Oklahoma) is con- economically,” King added. “This legislation page 48 tinuing his long-running campaign to boost would make important investments in this pilot rights and address issues affecting the pillar of our nation’s transportation system U.S. general aviation (GA) community. and would cut through bureaucratic burdens.” Together with Sen. Angus King (I-Maine), Notably, the bill would roll back the “fuel he has jointly introduced new legislation, fraud” tax measure imposed in 2005 as an the Promoting the Launch of Aviation’s attempt to discourage truck drivers from Next Era (Plane) Act of 2019. purchasing aviation jet fuel to avoid paying Announced during the most recent Exper- the 2.5-cent per gallon higher tax levy on imental Aircraft Association AirVenture, the highway diesel fuel. Plane Act, S.2198, is designed to foster air- That law requires noncommercial jet fuel port infrastructure, strengthen pilot legal to be treated as highway diesel fuel: taxed at protections, and address a host of other the same rate with the dollars deposited into issues. And the bill dares to take on an issue the highway trust fund until approved avia- that Congress has shown little appetite to tion vendors demonstrate that the fuel was AirVenture 2019 address for more than a decade: fuel fraud. used for aviation purposes and seek refunds. The annual event in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, “The Plane Act truly sets a positive path The net result is a significant amount of attracted more than 10,000 airplanes, for the future of the aviation industry,” aviation revenue has been lost to the aviation where enthusiasts checked out the latest Inhofe said. trust fund as many vendors have not sought and greatest the industry has to offer. “For rural Maine communities, general the refunds, finding the process cumbersome › Page 20 aviation is a vital lifeline—both literally and continues on page 44 PRAETOR 500: THE BEST MIDSIZE JET EVER.

The Praetor 500 surpassed its design goals in range, takeoff distance and high-speed cruise.

The disruptive Praetor 500 leads the way in performance, comfort and technology. As the farthest- and fastest-flying midsize jet with 3,340 nm range and a high-speed cruise of 466 ktas, the Praetor 500 makes nonstop, corner-to-corner flights across North America. Miami to Seattle. San Francisco to Gander. Los Angeles to New York. It also connects the U.S. west coast to Europe and South America with just one stop.

The jet takes you right where you need to be with its enviable access to challenging airports. The lowest cabin altitude in the class assures that you arrive energized. The ultra-quiet cabin with home-like connectivity is perfect for work, relaxing or conversation in a normal tone of voice. Plus, Embraer is the only business jet manufacturer to offer full fly-by- wire in the midsize segment, with turbulence reduction capability. The precise union of style, comfort, innovation and technology create a sophisticated, powerful travel experience.

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LEADING THE WAY PRAETOR 500: THE BEST MIDSIZE JET EVER.

The Praetor 500 surpassed its design goals in range, takeoff distance and high-speed cruise.

Lead the way now in a Praetor 500.

Find out more at executive.embraer.com/praetor500.

LEADING THE WAY INSIDE this issue

JAMES HOLAHAN (1921-2015), FOUNDING EDITOR WILSON S. LEACH, MANAGING DIRECTOR

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF – Matt Thurber EXECUTIVE EDITOR - AIN PUBLICATIONS – Mark Phelps NEWS EDITOR - AIN PUBLICATIONS – Chad Trautvetter MANAGING EDITOR - AIN PUBLICATIONS – Annmarie Yannaco SENIOR EDITORS – Charles Alcock, Curt Epstein, Kerry Lynch Gregory Polek – Air Transport Ian Sheppard – International ASSOCIATE EDITOR – Jerry Siebenmark CONTRIBUTORS Pete Combs David Jack Kenny – Safety Gordon Gilbert Jennifer Leach English 56 34 John Goglia – Columnist Richard Pedicini Mark Huber – Rotorcraft James Wynbrandt GROUP PRODUCTION MANAGER – Tom Hurley FEATURE PRODUCTION EDITOR – Martha Jercinovich GRAPHIC DESIGNERS – John A. Manfredo, Grzegorz Rzekos Cabin safety LEAD DEVELOPER – Michael Giaimo DEVELOPERS – Nathan Douglas, Ryan Koch and emergency VIDEO PRODUCER – Ian Whelan procedures are everyone’s PRESIDENT - John Hartig GROUP PUBLISHER – Dave Leach concern, and ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER – Nancy O’Brien FlightSafety ADVERTISING SALES Georges France – Western Europe, +33 6 80 21 17 93 International Melissa Murphy – Midwestern U.S., +1 (830) 608-9888 offers a course Nancy O’Brien – W estern U.S./Western Canada/Asia Pacific, for passengers. +1 (530) 241-3534 Anthony T. Romano – Northeastern U.S./Eastern Canada/Mexico/Brazil Joe Rosone – Mid-Atlantic U.S./Southeast U.S./Caribbean, +1 (301) 693-4687 Diana Scogna – Italy/Northern Europe/Middle East, +33 6 62 52 25 47 59 28 Victoria Tod – Great Lakes U.S./United Kingdom, +1 (203) 733-4184 Yury Laskin – Russia, +7 05 912 1346 AUDIENCE DEVELOPMENT MANAGER – Jeff Hartford MARKETING AND CLIENT SERVICES MANAGER – Lisa Valladares AIRPLANES and ENGINES INDUSTRY and MANAGEMENT MANAGER OF ONSITE LOGISTICS – Philip Scarano III 6 Citation Longitude fuel tank exemption cleared 10 GAMA: deliveries mixed in first half ONSITE PRODUCTION – Zach O’Brien 8 Gulfstream G600 on show at LABACE 40 Tamarack obtains funding during reorg SALES COORDINATOR – Nadine Timpanaro 8 Embraer Praetor 500 gets ANAC nod 42 New organization champions E-Aviation SALES ADMINISTRATOR – Cindy Nesline 12 XTi selects GE Catalyst for TriFan’s hybrid core 57 SWA, CAE partner with Part 135s on pilot pipeline DIRECTOR OF FINANCE & HUMAN RESOURCES – Michele Hubert 14 Wing Spirit expands HondaJet order to 15 ACCOUNTING MANAGER – Marylou Moravec MAINTENANCE, MODS, and COMPLETIONS ACCOUNTS PAYABLE – Mary Avella 16 Honda Aircraft breaks ground on new facility ACCOUNTS RECEIVABLE – Bobbie Bing 38 Octans joins ranks of Brazilian OEMs 40 Innovation remains key at Flightdocs U.S. HEADQUARTERS 44 Gulfstream delivers first G600 61 ARSA supports ruling, questions reasoning 214 Franklin Ave., Midland Park, NJ 07432, +1 (201) 444-5075 46 First Apaches arrive in India Advertising Inquiries: +1 (201) 345-0085 [email protected] 46 RAF Typhoons intercept Russian aircraft PEOPLE Circulation Inquiries: +1 (201) 345-0085 46 Unmanned KAL MD500 flies 32 FAA Administrator Dickson draws wide approval [email protected] WASHINGTON, D.C. EDITORIAL OFFICE: 34 Chabrian to retire from WAI Kerry Lynch (business aviation) AIRPORTS and FBOs 54 Fassenden resigns from CHC [email protected] Tel: +1 (703) 969-9195 18 ‘Fuel fraud’ repeal gains traction EUROPEAN EDITORIAL OFFICE: 42 Helo operator: city reneged on FBO deal REGULATIONS and GOVERNMENT Ian Sheppard; [email protected] Hangar 9, Redhill Aerodrome, Surrey RH1 5JY, UK 1 Legislators press for GA focus in Plane Act Tel: +44 1737 821409, Mobile: +44 7759 455770 AIRSHOWS and CONVENTIONS 30 Kansas senator defends ODA process THE CONVENTION NEWS COMPANY, INC. 20 AirVenture 2019 32 FAA moving to smooth aircraft certification AIN PUBLICATIONS EXECUTIVE TEAM 38 Hydrogen power studied as battery alternative Wilson Leach Jennifer Leach English AIR TRANSPORT Matt Thurber Dave Leach 58 Rolls Trent 1000 improving, but problems persist ROTORCRAFT and UNMANNED SYSTEMS Michele Hubert Nancy O’Brien 58 Kremlin to invest in turbofan for Il-96, CR929 14 Leonardo lands orders in Brazil Aviation International News (ISSN 0887-9877) is published monthly. 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Reproduction in whole or in part 48 Product Support Survey: Avionics 55 Era profits on asset sales without permission of The Convention News Co., Inc. is strictly prohibited. The Convention News Co., Inc. publishes Aviation International News, 52 Automatic landing tested in Diamond DA42 55 USHST urges more safety training AINalerts, AIN Air Transport Perspective, AIN Defense Perspective, AINtv, 52 ICAO caps NAT region datalink altitude 56 eVTOL demonstrator offers glimpse of the future Business Jet Traveler, BJTwaypoints, ABACE Convention News, Dubai Airshow News, EBACE Convention News, Farnborough Airshow News, 56 Witness: AW139 was spinning before crash HAI Convention News, LABACE Convention News, MEBA Convention News, NBAA Convention News, Paris Airshow News, Singapore CHARTER and FRACTIONAL Airshow News, Mobile Apps: Aviation International News; AINonline. 26 NATA website takes on illegal charter DEPARTMENTS PUBLICATION MAIL AGREEMENT NO. 40649046 RETURN UNDELIVERABLE CANADIAN ADDRESSES TO: PITNEY BOWES INTERNATIONAL MAIL, STATION A, 31 Jet Linx app lets owners swap empty seats 64 Accidents | 58 Air Transport Update P.O. 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40 Sikorsky patents tech to prevent counterfeiting 67 Compliance Countdown | 60 Hot Section PUBLICATIONS 57 ALPA: single-pilot not a risk worth taking 8, 10, 12, 14, News Briefs | 68 People in Aviation 65 FlightSafety adds G550 rejected takeoff course 54 Rotorcraft Update | 18 Torqued For feedback, letters to the editor, or other editorial needs, please contact AIN’s Editors at 65 Pilot dozed at controls of medflight helicopter 62 Touching Bases [email protected]

4 Aviation International News \ September 2019 \ ainonline.com ElEvat E your ExpEctations

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PILATUS TESTING PC-12s a device attached to the bus could WITH AUTOTHROTTLE, EEC lead to incorrect engine telemetry Pilatus Aircraft appears to be working readings, incorrect compass and attitude on an upgrade to its PC-12 turboprop data, and incorrect altitude, airspeed, single that entails a higher-power Pratt and angle of attack (AoA) data. & Whitney Canada PT6E-67XP engine with autothrottle and a single power ARGUS: U.S. BIZAV FLYING lever, as well as new five-blade Hartzell SEES 2.4% CLIMB IN JULY propeller with electronically controlled Business aircraft activity rose 2.4 percent hub. Swiss aircraft registry records year-over-year in the U.S., Canada, and show that Pilatus has been flying two the Caribbean in July, as stronger-than- experimental-category PC-12s with the expected Fourth of July traffic boosted -67XP engine and at least one with the results, according to TraqPak data new Hartzell propeller system. And an from Argus International. All operating EASA PC-12 type certification data sheet categories saw increases in July, led from May 22 indicates that the European by a 6.5 percent year-over-year rise in authority has already approved the fractional flying. This was followed by new Hartzell hub with a beta feedback Part 91 and Part 135/charter activity, which mechanism that is electronic rather climbed by 1.9 percent and 1.7 percent, than hydro-mechanical.” Meanwhile, respectively, from last July. By aircraft

at press time the FAA published two category, midsize jets posted the largest INTOSH special conditions for “auto thrust” and year-over-year increase in departures,

an electronic engine control system for soaring 5.3 percent. Light-jet flying M c DAVID the PC-12. A Pilatus spokesman wouldn’t surged 3 percent year-over-year, while After an unexpected certification delay, Textron Aviation officials anticipate FAA type comment about any such upgrade. turboprops logged a modest 0.5 percent certification for the Cessna Citation Longitude by the end of this month. gain. However, large-cabin jets dropped ESPOSITO TO LEAVE slightly, falling 0.3 percent from a year ago. HONEYWELL AEROSPACE Long-time Honeywell Aerospace senior ANALYST: HEAVY JETS TO LEAD Citation Longitude secures executive Carl Esposito is leaving the BIZJETS TO 2019 GAINS company to take a new role in the Analyst Jefferies is predicting business jet automotive industry, as senior v-p deliveries to grow 8 percent overall this FAA signoff on fuel tank and president of Lear Corporation’s year, with a 30 percent leap in heavy jet E-Systems division. Esposito will join Lear, deliveries thanks in part to Gulfstream’s by Jerry Siebenmark which manufactures automotive seating G500 and G600 and Bombardier’s Global and electrical systems, on September 3, 7500 reaching the market. Business jet The FAA recently granted Textron Avi- wing, but includes a portion covered reporting to president and CEO Ray deliveries in the second quarter improved ation an exemption for the Cessna by aerodynamic fairings. The company Scott. He was president of Honeywell’s 6 percent year-over-year overall and Citation Longitude’s fuel tank, which considers the entire fuel tank to be in electronic solutions strategic business heavy jet shipments are up more than 20 is expected to resolve at least one issue a conventional unheated aluminum unit and had a nearly 30-year career percent on the quarter. Gulfstream and that has held up certification of the wing (CUAW) that meets flammability with the company. His previous roles at Embraer were drivers in the second- super-midsize jet originally expected requirements. Honeywell included v-p of marketing quarter increase, each up five units. After two years ago. Company officials antici- But the FAA disagreed, determining that and product management, v-p of a 22 percent first-quarter jump, Cessna pate Longitude type certification by the the portion covered by the aerodynamic avionics systems marketing and product saw weaker business jet shipments on end of this month. fairings is not a conventional unheated management, and v-p of business and declines in the Citation M2 and Sovereign. “We are pleased that the FAA has aluminum wing tank, which means the general aviation worldwide sales. While midsize jets have made gains affirmed the permanent fuel tank exemp- aircraft doesn’t meet the requirements of over the past few years, shipments of tion for the Citation Longitude,” Textron FAR 25.981(b), amendment 25-125. SECURITY CHIEFS: those models have stumbled this year, Aviation said in a statement to AIN. “The In its earlier exemption request, Tex- AIRCRAFT NEED CAN BUS down 7 percent through the first half. purpose of the exemption is to align the tron pointed to the safety records of other CYBER SAFEGUARDS Longitude’s fuel system compliant design jets in its fleet with similar fuel systems Certain controlled area network (CAN) HONDAJET ELITE GETS with the regulation, which did not antici- such as the Citation Sovereign and M2, bus systems aboard aircraft might be CHINA CAAC NOD pate the type of solution used. This is the as well as the Hawker 4000. A temporary vulnerable to hacking when an attacker The HondaJet Elite has received type permanent means of full compliance with exemption issued in August 2018 accepted has “unsupervised physical access to certification from the Civil Aviation the regulation.” All Longitude deliveries an interim modification and called for a the aircraft,” the U.S. Department of Administration of China (CAAC). This will will have a compliant fuel system, the long-term solution. Homeland Security’s Cybersecurity and allow Honda Aircraft to begin deliveries company added. A second appeal made by Textron Avia- Infrastructure Security Agency warned. as scheduled in China later this year via It largely puts to rest a process that tion in December 2018 was more narrowly It cited a report that an attacker with in-country HondaJet dealer Honsan began more than a year-and-a-half ago focused on the more extensive require- access to the aircraft could attach a General Aviation Co., Ltd. “Since we and a requirement by the FAA that Tex- ments that apply to the use of the flam- device to an avionics CAN bus to “inject expanded to China, we have received tron Aviation asserted at one point mability reduction means (FRM) in fuel false data, resulting in incorrect readings several orders and have prioritized sales “would result in the disruption of produc- tanks. The FAA has determined that the in avionic equipment.” Meanwhile, throughout China. We will continue to tion deliveries of the Model 700, causing aircraft’s dedicated electric recirculation IT consultancy Rapid7, stated, “After contribute to the maturity of the business [the company] to experience a significant pump is an FRM and therefore the aircraft performing a thorough investigation aviation market with the HondaJet,” loss of revenue.” must meet those requirements. on two commercially available avionics said Honda Aircraft president and CEO Textron Aviation’s initial appeal for In its June 26 decision granting the systems, Rapid7 demonstrated that it Michimasa Fujino. Honsan General exemption in February 2018 centered exemption, the FAA said: “the design was possible for a malicious individual Aviation CEO Dr. Cheng Qian added, “We around a difference in interpretation modification that Textron has incorpo- to send false data to these systems, are thrilled to begin deliveries of the between the FAA and the company on rated in the Model 700, in order to cool given some level of physical access to aircraft to our Chinese customers. The what constitutes a center fuel tank. The the fuel tanks and reduce fuel heating, a small aircraft’s wiring.” Using such market here has reached a turning point.” Longitude is designed with the fuel tank improves the overall tank flammability in a conventional unheated aluminum to a level equivalent to a CUAW tank.” n

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You’ve always wanted a flight planning platform that’s flexible, efficient and easy to use. GoDirect™ Flight Planning lets you view all available routes and create, optimize and file your best flight plan in just minutes. For more information, please visit: http://aerospace.honeywell.com/ain News Briefs LABACE 2019 First Dassault Falcon 6X Taking Shape After freezing the Falcon 6X design in G600 arrived in LABACE ready to serve May, Dassault now says its super-midsize jet program is well into the manufacturing by David Donald phase and on track to complete assembly of the first aircraft by early next year. On the heels of first delivery of the First flight is scheduled for 2021, with G600, Gulfstream displayed the aircraft deliveries expected to start in 2022. at LABACE, where it made its Brazilian The Pratt & Whitney Canada (P&WC) debut last year. It was shown alongside PW812D engine that will power the 6X a G650ER and a G280. The company has accumulated more than 1,000 hours handed over the first example of its large- on a P&WC test bench in Montreal using cabin, long-range G600 to an undisclosed five development engines. Meanwhile, U.S. customer on August 8. Dassault has selected Meggitt to supply Handing over the first aircraft is another the 6X’s wheels, brakes, brake controls, major milestone for the program, following and tire pressure monitoring system. the June 28 award by the FAA of both type and production certificates. The G600’s NBAA Eyes Policy for

smaller stablemate—the G500—also INTOSH ADS-B Privacy Protection received dual certification simultaneously NBAA is continuing its push to ensure

on July 20, 2018. The G600 certification M c DAVID the privacy of business aircraft operators effort included 100,000 hours of labora- The G600 took center stage at Gulfstream’s LABACE line-up flanked by a G650ER and G280. from real-time flight-tracking as operators tory testing and 3,200 hours in the air. transition to ADS-B with the Jan. 1, 2020 “Getting both authorizations on the Georgia-based airframer’s president. not to feature Rolls-Royce power. With deadline approaching. The association same day is evidence of the maturity of our The G500 and G600 were developed PW815GA engines, the G600 can achieve has been actively involved on that issue G600 production processes and speaks to in parallel, and both aircraft are pow- a range of 6,500 nm at its long-range with the FAA’s Equip 2020 working group, the safety and reliability of the aircraft’s ered by Pratt & Whitney PW800-series cruise speed of Mach 0.85, and 5,500 nm which last month provided an update design,” said Mark Burns, the Savannah, turbofans, the first Gulfstream products at a high-speed cruise of Mach 0.9. n to the NextGen Advisory Council on the multi-pronged effort ongoing for the ADS-B transition. NBAA president and CEO Ed Bolen encouraged the group to feet when fueled for a 1,000-nm flight. 500 is the only aircraft in the midsize class continue progress on an “opt-out” solution LABACE 2019 Unfactored landing distance is 2,086 feet. to fully employ this technology. The air- that would enable operators to obtain a This performance makes the Praetor 500 craft also has a best-in-class cabin altitude 24-bit ICAO code. Under this option, NBAA the fastest and longest-range business air- of 5,800 feet (1,768 meters), which com- explained, operators keep their permanent craft in its class, claims Embraer. The range bines with turbulence reduction technol- code tied to the N-number, but could use Embraer figures, in particular, are significant, as ogy and highly effective sound-proofing to the secondary temporary code that is not the aircraft can fly true “corner-to-corner” give a comfortable ride for passengers. tied to an N-number, shielding the identity flights within the United States between, The Praetor 500 comes with Honey- of the aircraft from outside flight-tracking receives say, Miami and Seattle, or Los Angeles and well’s Ovation Select cabin management programs. Operators could request the New York. With a single stop, the Praetor system and up to 16 Mbps airborne con- code at least once every 30 days, NBAA said. 500 can reach Europe and South America nectivity through the Viasat Ka-band ANAC from the U.S. West Coast, while it can fly satellite communications system, again Bizav Flights in Europe São Paulo to Paris with one refueling. The a unique feature for an aircraft in this Continue To Slip aircraft’s good field performance opens up class. The flight deck is based on a Collins Business aviation activity in Europe approval for some of the more challenging airfields, such Aerospace Pro Line Fusion avionics sys- continued to slow in July, falling 2.5 percent as Angra dos Reis and Jacarepaguá in Brazil. tem, with an optional head-up display with year-over-year, to 90,550 departures, Other unique features include its fly-by- enhanced and synthetic vision systems, according to data from WingX Advance. Praetor 500 wire flight control system, as the Praetor and vertical weather display radar. n Most of the decline came from midsize and light jets, with this activity down 3 by David Donald percent from July 2018; large-jet activity slid 1 percent. Year-to-date, flight activity Brazil’s ANAC handed over the type cer- slipped by 1.8 percent compared with tificate for the Praetor 500 to Embraer on 2018, while the 12-month trend is down August 13 in a short ceremony held during 0.8 percent. Most of July’s year-over- the LABACE show. Michael Amalfitano, year decline was due to a 6 percent president and CEO of Embraer Executive slowdown in flights from Germany and Jets, called it “a welcome achievement the UK, while activity in the busiest for the celebration of our golden jubilee.” European market—France, at about During its flight trials, the Praetor 500 19,000 departures—remained flat. exceeded many of its certification goals. Figures achieved during certification Honeywell Buys Autopilot flight testing surpassed those established Maker TruTrak as goals for the program. Among them Honeywell Aerospace has purchased was an intercontinental range of 3,340 nm privately owned autopilot designer and with NBAA IFR reserves and four passen- manufacturer TruTrak, which produces gers, a high-speed cruise of 466 ktas, and systems for experimental, light sport, and

a payload of 1,600 pounds (726 kg) with INTOSH certified aircraft. It will become part of full fuel. Demonstrated field performance Honeywell’s BendixKing business, with includes a takeoff distance of 4,222 feet M c DAVID TruTrak’s CEO and owner Andrew Barker (1,287 meters), a figure that falls to 2,842 Embraer showed off its newly ANAC-certified Praetor 500 last month at LABACE. joining the BendixKing executive team.

8 Aviation International News \ September 2019 \ ainonline.com 6X_8X_TECHNOCOCKPIT_275x352_AIN_uk.indd 1 18/01/2019 15:03 News Briefs Pilatus’s versatile PC-24 Preowned Bizjet Inventory light jet helped buoy Rises, Turboprops Flat business jet delivery Preowned business jet inventory inched totals for the first half up and that for turboprops remained flat of 2019. The Swiss as business aircraft sales transactions manufacturer ramped up suffered double-digit percentage year- its production from three over-year decreases in the first six months, in the first half of 2018 to according to data from JetNet. Business jet 16 in the first six months transactions plunged 21.5 percent from last of this year. Overall, June and turboprop sales eroded by 13.9 private jet airframers percent, it said. As of June 30, preowned boosted their deliveries business jet inventory climbed by 0.4 year-over-year by 35, an percent from a year ago, to 9.5 percent—

MARK WAGNER increase of 12.5 percent. or 2,099 of the 22,177 in-service aircraft. Preowned turboprop inventory increased in June by three units, to 1,015, from a year ago. However, as a percentage of the GAMA deliveries mixed in first half: in-service fleet it fell by 0.1 percent, to 6.5 percent, as 350 new-production turboprops bizjets up, t-props and rotorcraft down entered service over the past year. Ampaire Plans To Electrify by Curt Epstein Caravan, Twin Otter Ampaire has announced plans to bring Boosted by business jet and piston ship- through the first half of 2019, compared CEO Pete Bunce. “Our mid-year report hybrid-electric power to more models ments, general aviation airplane billings with four the previous year, while Airbus shows new aircraft reaching entry-into- of existing aircraft, including the Cessna and deliveries rose 12.9 percent and 7.8 had no deliveries in the first half of 2018, service milestones, with additional models 208B Grand Caravan and Viking Twin Otter, percent year-over-year, respectively, but delivered two ACJ320neos during the expected to enter service before the end as well as begin airline demonstration according to first-half 2019 statistics first six months of this year. of 2019.” runs without passengers later this year released last month by the General in Hawaii—with Mokulele Airlines on Aviation Manufacturers Association Turboprops Encounter Headwinds Rotorcraft Down Maui—with its electric-hybrid Cessna (GAMA). The turboprop and rotorcraft Turboprop deliveries, however, dropped The rotorcraft segment also experienced 337 Skymaster conversion it calls the segments declined. by 11.4 percent, with high-end pressur- a slowing of deliveries, by 15.8 percent EEL. Company CEO Kevin Noertker Total airplane billings saw a $1 billion ized models seeing an even greater ero- in the first half of 2019, with turbine- said his company’s engine conversions boost for the first six months of the year sion of 24 percent. powered helicopters down 11.3 percent. cut fuel consumption by between 70 to $9 billion as jet deliveries increased by Pilatus was the only pressurized tur- Deliveries declined from 337 in 1H 2018 and 90 percent, reduce maintenance 35 units year-over-year to 316, an improve- boprop manufacturer to not experience to 299 in the first half of this year, while expense by 20 to 50 percent, and ment of 12.5 percent. a decline as the company delivered 31 total billings decreased from $1.7 billion produce significantly quieter aircraft. Pilatus continues to ramp up produc- PC-12s in the first six months of both to $1.5 billion. tion on its PC-24 light jet, handing over 2018 and 2019. Airbus Helicopters was the lone air- FAA Notice Warns of 16 in the first half of 2019, an increase of Textron Aviation saw a drop of nearly framer to buck the trend, increasing its Damage to AOA Sensors 13 over the previous year. 50 percent in its twin-engine King Air 350 deliveries year-over-year by more than 5 The FAA has issued Information for Gulfstream boosted deliveries of its deliveries year-over-year, moving from 25 percent. The OEM boosted deliveries of Operators (InFo) 19009 to advise pilots and large-cabin offerings from 37 in the first in the first half of 2018 to 13 through the its light H125/H130 by 10, and its H145 by maintenance personnel of the potential for half of 2018 to 50 in the same period this first six months of this year, while simul- six, while its output of H135s dipped by damaging angle of attack (AOA) sensors on year as it spools up production of its taneously increasing the number of its seven in the first half of this year. aircraft. Based on continued airworthiness G500, which entered service in the sec- smaller C90GTx and 250 siblings handed Bell saw its deliveries drop by nearly activity on multiple foreign and domestic ond half of 2018. over by five and six aircraft, respectively. 20 percent in the first six months of 2019. large transport aircraft and small general Brazil’s Embraer increased overall Piper handed over 14 of its single- The Textron subsidiary is transitioning aviation aircraft, the FAA has determined deliveries year-over-year from 31 to 36, engine turboprops in the first half of from the 407GXP, which had 33 deliver- it is necessary to advise operators of the adding four Phenom 300s and four Leg- the year, compared with 23 last year. ies in the first half of 2018, to the 407GXi importance of performing proper operations acy 500s over its previous output, along While deliveries of its M500 rose from (launched last year) which had 19 through and maintenance on AOA sensors. “It is with its first Praetor 600. eight in the first half of 2018 to 13 in the the first six months of 2019. Deliveries imperative that all operators are aware of the Textron bumped up Citation output same period this year, its M600 spiraled, of the 505 also declined from 59 to 48 criticality of AOA sensors and the potential by six from 84 to 90. moving from 15 deliveries from January year-over-year. for damage during normal operations, Bombardier’s delivery totals declined through June last year, to just one this Italian manufacturer Leonardo also maintenance, and any other procedures from 65 in the first half of 2018 to 59 in year. According to the manufacturer, it experienced a decline year-over-year around an aircraft where damage to an AOA the same period this year as the Cana- saw a rise in demand for M350 and M500 of approximately 25 percent, delivering sensor could occur,” the FAA cautioned. In dian airframer handed over seven fewer models for Q1 and Q2 immediately fol- 18 fewer helicopters in the first half of addition, all pertinent personnel “should Challengers (it now groups the 350 and lowing a busy Q4 2018 M600 delivery 2019. Half that total is attributed to the review current procedures identified in their 650 together) and one less Learjet, com- period, and it expects to ratchet up AW119Kx. After handing over nine of appropriate operational, maintenance, or pared with two additional Globals. M600 deliveries again in the second half. the single-engine rotorcraft in 1H 2018, servicing manuals.” The most recent serious Honda Aircraft remained static with Daher delivered three fewer TBMs there were no deliveries in the same issue involving a malfunctioning AOA sensor its HondaJet, delivering 17 in the first six this year, due possibly to the ramp up on span this year. concerned those on the Cirrus SF-50 Vision. months of both years. its newly-introduced TBM 940, which Enstrom, which delivered three of its Three in-flight incidents of uncommanded Dassault Aviation will release its first- entered service in the second quarter of turbine-engine 480 light helicopters in engagement of the single-engine jet’s stall half Falcon deliveries this month, and the the year. Piaggio handed over one fewer the first half of 2018, also delivered no warning and/or stability protection systems current GAMA report does not reflect the twin Avanti Evo than it did a year ago. 480s through the first six months of this caused by the AOA sensor prompted the French OEM’s 2018 deliveries in its busi- “While the year-to-date aircraft ship- year. FAA in April to temporarily ground the ness jet total for the first half of that year. ments are mixed, this should not obscure California-based Robinson Helicopter fleet. In June, the FAA published a new AD Among bizliner-class aircraft, Boe- the outlook for a bright future for gen- saw its deliveries of the R66 diminish by mandating replacement of the aircraft’s ing did not deliver any private aircraft eral aviation,” said GAMA president and 25 percent year-over-year. n AOA sensors with improved ones.

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FLIGHTSAFETY TRUST AND VALUE AD - AIN - Trim: 10.8125” w x 13.875” d Bleed: 11.0625” w x 14.125” d News Briefs Operator Seeks Damages after DEF Incident Air charter provider Air Trek and its Ambulance by Air Trek aeromedical services subsidiary plans to file a lawsuit against Florida’s Punta Gorda Airport for damages after two of its aircraft fell victim to the XTI Aircraft says the latest instance of fuel contamination with TriFan 600 hybrid- diesel exhaust fluid (DEF). According to electric VTOL will a letter sent by the company’s attorney, have the speed, the May 9 incident resulted in irreparable range, and comfort damage to a pair of the company’s of a business jet Cessna Citation 550s that were fueled at and the ability to their home base before departure. One take off and land of the jets, bound for Niagara Falls, New vertically using York, suffered a dual-engine flameout three ducted fans. but landed safely in Savannah, while the other, headed to Chicago, diverted to Louisville, Kentucky, when it experienced engine failure. No injuries were reported power system, which is what the Cata- in either instance. The damages sought EAA AirVenture 2019 lyst brings to bear, and to be able to do include incurred costs, as well as loss of that at altitude,” Craig Hoover, advanced revenue from the inoperable aircraft. technology and hybrid electric pursuits leader for GE Aviation’s Business & Gen- Bell Jet Ranger X Reaches XTI selects GE Catalyst mill eral Aviation unit, told AIN. “I think the 200th Delivery Milestone first step in this is to center on the Cat- Bell on August 15 announced delivery of alyst and then to discuss the rest of the the 200th Bell 505 Jet Ranger X, with the for TriFan’s hybrid core architecture with XTI.” GE will likely use milestone helicopter going to Austria-based an existing Catalyst test engine modified operator Hubi-fly Helikopter for corporate by Jerry Siebenmark to host one or more generators to deter- transport use. The first Bell 505 was handed mine the architecture of the TriFan’s over to Pylon Aviation in March 2017. The 505 GE Aviation’s new clean-sheet turboprop analysis so that it is optimized,” XTI CEO propulsion system, he added. “I think as is being used for electronic newsgathering, engine, Catalyst, has been selected by Bob Labelle told AIN of the work ahead much as we can we’ll try to work with law enforcement, emergency medical XTI Aircraft as the core of its TriFan 600 for GE and XTI. existing assets to do probably an iron services, corporate transportation, VTOL hybrid-electric propulsion system, This is the first hybrid application for bird of some type before trying to move and utility missions, among others. GE announced at EAA AirVenture in late the Catalyst, which will make its debut into a real production unit.” July. The TriFan’s performance require- as the powerplant for the new Cessna For nearly a decade GE has been ExecuJet MRO Services ments are expected to be met as GE and Denali single-engine turboprop. “I think researching and developing hybrid- Malaysia Gets Chinese Nod XTI work toward a solution in which the the thing we see is that this XTI appli- electric technology for regional and nar- ExecuJet MRO Services Malaysia has been Catalyst will drive a generator to power cation is targeted at a real market with rowbody jets as well as general aviation granted CAAR-145 certification by Civil the aircraft’s electric motors.“We need to what we consider to be a valid aircraft and VTOL aircraft. It was after a visit to Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) do a lot more engineering work, a lot more concept that needs a megawatt-class GE’s $51 million Electrical Power Inte- to conduct line and heavy maintenance grated System Center (EpisCenter) in on Gulfstream GIV and Bombardier Dayton, Ohio, that XTI made its decision Challengers and Globals. Ivan Lim, vice to go with the Catalyst. president ExecuJet MRO Services Asia, “We did look at other smaller engines that said the company applied for the approvals U.S. bizav fleet reaches 77 percent are already certified and out there in service, from CAAC in response to demand from mainly with helicopters because they have a operators in China. According to Asia Sky ADS-B equipage ahead of 2020 deadline turboshaft engine,” LaBelle explained. “We Group fleet report, there are 62 Challenger finally came to the realization that there’s series jets and 25 Global Express family With the FAA’s mandatory ADS-B equi- King Air 300 at 90 percent. not quite enough power there. This one jets based in Mainland China. Including page deadline less than half a year Business aviation analyst Rolland Vin- gives us all the power we need.” Hong Kong and Macau, that number away now, industry data provider and cent expressed some surprise at how The six-seat TriFan 600 will have a top increases to 76 and 61, respectively. flight tracker FlightAware is report- much some popular legacy aircraft types speed of 300 knots, a range of 1,200 nm for ing that the U.S.-registered, turbine- are lagging at this point, such as the conventional takeoff and 670 nm for verti- Lower Heavy Jet Ops Hampers powered business aircraft fleet has Citation XL/XLS (69 percent), Bombardier cal takeoff, and a cruise altitude of 29,000 Signature’s Revenues achieved a 77 percent equipage rate. Challenger 300 (81 percent), and the Gulf- feet. A 65 percent scale prototype com- Signature Flight Support revenue overall The numbers in its just-released June stream IV (73 percent). He believes some pleted a first flight in May. slid 0.9 percent to $879.1 million in the first report show 13,352 of the jets and tur- owners will still wait for what they view To date, customers have placed orders six months, reflecting lower fuel prices, boprops, of the 17,319 registered, are as a more affordable option before they for 80 TriFan 600s. LaBelle expects the negative foreign exchange movements, and now compliant with the 2020 ADS-B upgrade, even if that means parking their hybrid-electric propulsion system to be a relatively flat market for business and mandate, representing a 22 percent aircraft. “I don’t see the deadline mov- ready in time for the TriFan’s type certifi- general aviation movements, according to increase over the total a year ago. ing,” he told AIN, adding that it doesn’t cation in 2023. parent company BBA Aviation. In the U.S., Among the highest percentages of mean the end of the line for noncompli- GE has completed more than 1,100 business and general aviation movements equipage are light jets such as the Cir- ant aircraft. “Obviously people who did hours of testing on the Catalyst, includ- inched up 0.3 percent in the first half, rus Vision and the HondaJet, both at not meet the deadline are going to be in ing initial altitude testing. A flying testbed but overall revenue at Signature was 97 percent of their fleet totals; Gulfst- line to get the work done in the first six for the new engine, a Beechcraft King Air, down. Organic revenue was up 1 percent ream’s G150 and G650 at 93 percent; or 12 months of 2020, but I think there will be ready by the end of the year, a GE in the first six months, offset by a dip in Cessna’s CJ4 at 92 percent and Lati- are going to be a lot of people scratching spokesman told AIN. “This is definitely a heavy jet traffic in the Signature network. tude at 91 percent; and the Beechcraft their heads on January 1.” C.E. next chapter of what we think the Catalyst However, the company still believes the can do,” he noted. n U.S. represents a long-term growth market.

12 Aviation International News \ September 2019 \ ainonline.com C

CMY

K News Briefs LABACE 2019 Senate Extends Terms of NTSB’s Sumwalt, Homendy The Senate has reconfirmed Robert Leonardo Sumwalt as chairman of the NTSB and Jennifer Homendy as a member of the Board. Sumwalt was approved for a three- lands orders year term as chairman. Meanwhile, the White House in January had renominated Homendy to a five-year term as a in Brazil member of the NTSB. Her term has now been extended until Dec. 31, 2024. The by David Donald Senate, however, has not yet acted on the nomination of Textron Aviation executive Leonardo’s helicopter division has Michael Graham to fulfill the remainder secured five new orders from Brazilian of the NTSB term in place of Earl Weener. customers, the company announced at In addition, the White House is vetting

the 2019 LABACE show last month. Val- INTOSH candidates for a final opening on the Board. ued at nearly €30 million ($33.5 million), the sales cover three AW109 Trekker M c DAVID Wheels Up Raises $128M light twins, an AW109 GrandNew, and an Among the five orders Leonardo secured at last month’s LABACE in São Paulo was one for the To Fuel Further Growth AW169 intermediate twin. The sales will AW169. The most recent order for the model will bring Brazil’s total fleet to five by year-end. Wheels Up raised $128 million in new take the number of Leonardo helicopters equity last month to help the private flight flying in the country to more than 170. orders received from other Latin Amer- power unit mode that permits climate solutions firm accelerate growth and digital Brazil has proven a good market for the ican nations, including Chile. control and onboard system use with the efforts. According to Wheels Up founder AW109 family. Two of the Trekkers have Meanwhile, the latest order for the rotors at rest. and CEO Kenny Dichter, this latest financing been ordered in VIP configuration by VIP-configured AW169 will bring the Global AW169 sales have topped 200, round will fund several business initiatives, Icon Aviation, the Brazilian distributor for number of this version operating in and in addition to VIP/corporate use, including additional potential acquisitions, the type based at São Paulo-Congonhas. Brazil to five before the end of 2019. By the type has been ordered by a range of acceleration of membership growth The third Trekker, also in VIP configura- then another eight AW169s will also be customers that fly the AW169 for EMS, through further investment in sales and tion, and the GrandNew are for private serving on VIP and emergency medi- search and rescue, offshore transport, law marketing, and significant scaling of the regional customers. cal services (EMS) duties elsewhere in enforcement, newsgathering, firefighting, company’s technology and digital platforms. The Trekker is the latest version of Latin America. and government/military missions. n the popular AW109, combining the Featuring a customizable cabin that Tamarack Returns To airframe and large cabin of the AW109 can seat up to 10 and that boasts excel- Installing Active Winglets Grand with a skid undercarriage. It is lent soundproofing and entertainment Tamarack Aerospace has returned to fitted with the latest Genesys Aerosys- systems, the AW169 has attracted a installing its Atlas active winglets following YOUR SOURCE FOR AVIATION NEWS tems avionics suite. More than 60 have good number of VIP/corporate custom- the decision of U.S. and European www.ainonline.com now been sold worldwide, including ers. One of the attractions is its auxiliary authorities to permit aircraft equipped with the winglets to begin flying again. Airworthiness Directives (AD) in the U.S. and Europe had grounded Atlas-equipped ENEWSLETTER FOR BUSINESS AVIATION Cessna Citation CJ1s, CJ2s, and CJ3s and www.ainonline.com/alerts halted further installations, leading the company to Chapter 11 reorganization bankruptcy in June. Both EASA and FAA lifted the ADs in July. Early last

AERO DEFENSE INDUSTRY ENEWSLETTER month, a CJ1 at Tamarack’s Sandpoint, www.ainonline.com/subscribe Idaho facility was receiving the first new installation of Atlas winglets.

Airbus Helo Opens Malaysian

AIR TRANSPORT INDUSTRY ENEWSLETTER Completions Center Wing Spirit upped Airbus Helicopters last month opened www.ainonline.com/subscribe its order for its new regional completion and delivery HondaJet Elites center (CDC) in Subang, Malaysia, as it from the two it streamlines its services in Asia. Previously, took in July to a the regional CDC was situated in Airbus total of 15. Helicopters’ Singapore facility in Seletar FOR NEWS VIDEO FROM HELIEXPO Aerospace Park. According to Airbus, the new center can complete and Wing Spirit expands HondaJet order to 15 custom medevac configurations—a first deliver up to 20 helicopters annually. for the HondaJet program. Hawaii-based Wing Spirit, which in early no other light jet had operated in Hawaii. “When deciding how we could best pro- JetSuiteX Transforms into JSX July celebrated the delivery of its first two We are confident the HondaJet’s efficiency, vide convenientFOR NEWS and VIDEO luxurious FROM EBACEtransporta- Growing public charter provider JetSuiteX HondaJet Elites, has expanded its order to comfort, and best-in-class performance are tion to the residents and tourists in Hawaii, has taken on a new identity—JSX, rolling a total of 15 of the light jets, Honda Aircraft well-suited to Wing Spirit’s mission to rev- the HondaJet was a natural choice,” said out the new brand, logo, livery, updated announced on July 23. It “is a realization olutionize business aviation in the region.” Wing Spirit executive v-p and COO Sal website, and ad campaign that highlights its of our goal to expand the world’s business Plans by Wing Spirit for the jets include Miwa. “We are thrilled to expand our fleet “hop-on jet service” last month. The sibling jet market,” said Honda Aircraft president inter-island charter flights and air ambu- to 15 HondaJets and for our customers of private charter provider JetSuite, JSX and CEO Michimasa Fujino. “Prior to the lance operations. HondaJet Elites serving to experience the most technologically was founded in 2016 to offer regular short- HondaJet’s entry into service in the region, as air ambulances will be outfitted with advanced jet in its class.” J.S. haul service between defined city-pairs at costs that compete with scheduled airlines.

14 Aviation International News \ September 2019 \ ainonline.com

in North Carolina. The state now Honda Aircraft breaks ground on NC facility ranks as the second-largest aerospace cluster in the U.S., with 200 by Matt Thurber aerospace companies and 400 suppliers, he said. “We’re making At a groundbreaking ceremony held on at the company’s Greensboro, North Caro- During the groundbreaking ceremony, the push for first.” July 30, Honda Aircraft president and CEO lina headquarters. The facility, set to open North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper wel- With the added wing manufac- Michimasa Fujino and local and state gov- next July, will house a new service parts comed Honda Aircraft’s $15.5 million turing capability and new auto- ernment officials celebrated the imminent warehouse and wing manufacturing opera- investment in the new facility and the mated manufacturing technology, construction of a new 83,000-sq-ft facility tion for the HondaJet. company’s $245 million capital investment Honda Aircraft will have extra space for other projects. Cooper hinted that some work is under way on possible new models, although Honda Aircraft hasn’t confirmed this. “We look forward to Honda [Aircraft’s] next breakthrough,” he said. “They’re going to have some extra space, and they’re being a little mysterious about what they’re going to do with it. We know, too, that they’re going to need a skilled workforce for their R&D, for their advanced manufacturing.” Honda Aircraft employs 1,500 in North Carolina, and as the company ramps up the HondaJet assembly line from four to five aircraft per month, Fujino hopes to add more employees. “The [new] facility will be utilized for lean production and increased production efficiency with a highly automated process,” he said. “The addition of this facility will directly translate to quicker lead times between purchase and the delivery, eventually allowing us to increase output for our customers.” The more than 130 HondaJets now in service worldwide have achieved a dispatch reliability of 99.7 percent, Fujino said. “This number exceeds industry norms. Developing an aircraft that is reliable is one of our five highest priorities. And this number is a testament to our commitment to quality and our dedication to prove the best service experience to all of our customers.” Kevin Baker, executive director of the Piedmont Triad Air- port Authority, thanked Honda Aircraft for its contributions to the local community. “We don’t go a year without having yet another announcement for a huge improvement to this facility,” he said. “Thank you to your whole team for the continued innovation, the continued partnership, and the continued commitment to this airport, this region, and the state. Our congratulations on this next important milestone, the growth of Honda Aircraft here in our airport. And we just can’t wait to see what you’ll do next.” n

YOUR SOURCE FOR AVIATION NEWS www.ainonline.com

16 Aviation International News \ September 2019 \ ainonline.com ENEWSLETTER FOR BUSINESS AVIATION www.ainonline.com/alerts

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Full-throttle opinion from former NTSB member John Goglia Fuel fraud repeal gains traction Voluntary SMS offers big benefits for small operators under Plane Act The nearly 15-year effort to repeal the The safety benefits of maintaining a Most of the companies asking me it’s likely that if Part 5 is ever expanded highway diesel fuel tax on business safety management system (SMS) in about SMS these days are the smaller to include Part 135 operators, those with aviation took a notable step forward aviation should be well known at this business flight departments and charter an approved voluntary program will be with the introduction of the so-called point. An effective SMS provides an operators. The larger ones (those that ahead of the game when it comes to Plane Act (S.2198). Jointly introduced organization with a systematic approach provide non-medical transportation) compliance. by Sen. James Inhofe (R-Oklahoma) to managing safety risks and making have—to my knowledge—all adopted I have been a big proponent of SMSs for and Angus King (I-Maine), the bill sound safety decisions. A functioning SMSs either because they are flying cus- years, decades really. Having been involved would roll back the “fuel fraud” tax SMS begins with a commitment from tomers to countries abroad that require in aircraft accident investigations for vir- measure imposed in 2005 as an the top of the corporation but engages them to have an SMS or because they tually my entire working life, I have been attempt to discourage truck drivers workers at all levels of the company in need an SMS to get a high rating from a to the scenes of far too many accidents from purchasing aviation jet fuel to identifying safety hazards so that their charter rating service, or both. For exam- that subsequent investigations have deter- avoid paying the 2.5-cent per gallon risks can be assessed, analyzed, and ple, if a Part 135 or business aircraft oper- mined were caused by lax organizational higher tax levy on highway diesel fuel. eliminated or mitigated. It will also ator wants to fly to a European Union processes and poor safety cultures. I have That law requires noncommercial ensure that risks are properly assessed country, the charter company must have spoken to far too many victims’ families jet fuel to be treated as highway over time and changing circumstances. an approved SMS program that meets distraught to learn not just that their loved diesel fuel: taxed at the same rate Of course, the point of SMS is to reduce the requirements of ICAO (the Interna- ones had died, but that the accident might and deposited into the highway trust the potential for accidents or incidents tional Civil Aviation Organization). well have been preventable. fund until approved aviation vendors but, in my experience consulting with A functioning SMS can create a safety demonstrate that the fuel was used for airlines of all sizes, it also provides eco- culture that encourages employees to aviation purposes and seek refunds. nomic benefits unrelated to safety, such identify and report hazards that exec- as improving efficiency and promoting I have been to utives in their offices would never be Lost Revenue cost-savings. the scenes of far aware of. SMSs provide a structured The net result is a significant amount approach to safety risk management of aviation revenue has been lost SMS Benefits too many accidents… that can be a significant benefit to com- to the trust fund as many vendors But because the FAA doesn’t require caused by lax panies of all sizes, even mom-and-pop have not sought the refunds, find- SMS for corporate or Part 135 oper- operators. Of course, a good SMS pro- ing the process cumbersome or too ators, I’m asked on a regular basis by organizational gram is not a one-size-fits-all solution. bureaucratic. In 2016, the Govern- these operators whether I think their processes and poor Clearly, smaller, less complex opera- ment Accountability Office estimated company should voluntarily adopt an tions can do with a properly scaled pro- that the aviation trust fund had lost SMS program, whether the time and safety cultures.” gram that’s easy for a small operator to between $1 billion and $2 billion “or cost of adopting a program is worth the manage and yet provides safety benefits. more” in tax revenue, and fuel ven- effort. Some have read something about In addition, to get a platinum rating So, even if the FAA has not seen fit dors have overpaid by as much as SMS and are curious if they will soon be from Argus, one of the major charter rat- to mandate that Part 135 or business $230 million in tax revenue as a result required by the FAA to have it. Based on ing services, or qualify for IS-BAO (Inter- operators implement an SMS program, of the then decade-old fuel fraud law. the lengthy rulemaking process and the national Standard for Business Aircraft I would strongly urge operators—espe- While the aviation system has lost fact that there’s no rulemaking proposal Operators) registration, an operator must cially air ambulance providers who have revenue, efforts to reverse the law out there, it’s pretty doubtful that any have a functioning safety management had a challenging accident record—to had been difficult, since it created a new SMS requirements would come out system. Many charter customers—espe- voluntarily adopt one that meets the windfall for the highway trust fund. for operators in the next five or even 10 cially the major corporations—require a requirements of Federal Aviation Reg- The National Air Transportation Asso- years. But some operators just want to charter company to hold a platinum rat- ulation Part 5. ciation (NATA), which has worked know whether—and how—it could ben- ing to contract for the air transportation Since SMS implementation for operators for years behind the scenes to con- efit them. A few Part 135 operators may of company employees. So, in terms of other than Part 121 air carriers is voluntary, vince lawmakers to reverse the law, have read the NTSB’s 2019-2020 Most business competitiveness, a functioning companies have a great deal of flexibility in praised the measure in the Plane Act Wanted List of Transportation Safety SMS is highly desirable for many opera- how they adopt a program. There are many to lift the tax. “[It] would undo an ill- Improvements, which includes adopt- tors, and they have chosen to voluntarily resources for help getting started, including founded policy that has taken money ing SMS to improve the safety of Part adopt an SMS program. talking to professional associations your away from the aviation system for 135 aircraft operations. company may belong to. The FAA’s website over a decade,” said NATA president The NTSB’s recommendation per- SMS Utility is a good place to start to get some back- Gary Dempsey. “This legislation will tains to Part 135 air medical service, air- At this time, the FAA’s SMS rule—14 ground on the SMS program. n enable NATA’s members to keep fuel taxi, charter, and on-demand flights and CFR Part 5—applies only to Part 121 prices competitive, and ensure the recommends that Part 135 operators be operators. So technically speaking, the The opinions expressed in this column are tax revenue from jet fuel sales sup- mandated to “implement safety man- Federal Aviation Regulations don’t those of the author and not necessarily ports aviation system users.” agement systems that include a flight require any company other than an air endorsed by AIN. While it is unclear whether the data monitoring program, and they carrier flying under Part 121 to have an Plane Act will progress as a stand- should mandate controlled-flight-in- SMS. But the FAA has been encouraging John Goglia is a safety consultant. alone bill this year, it is part of a series to-terrain-avoidance training that Part 135 and other operators for some He welcomes your e-mails at: of bills that Inhofe has introduced addresses current terrain-avoidance time to adopt voluntary SMS programs [email protected] SOURCE FOR AVIATION NEWS and been successful in shepherd- warning system technologies.” Clearly, in advance of any rulemaking. Although www.ainonline.com ing through Congress over the past the NTSB is strongly advocating for voluntary, the FAA has an approval decade to strengthen pilots rights the expansion of SMS requirements to process, which lays out that a Part 135 and correct nagging general aviation Part 135 operators. But the NTSB can operator satisfy the requirements for issues. These include two separate only issue recommendations. It takes operating in EU countries. The FAA’s Pilots Bill of Rights acts. K.L. ENEWSLETTER FOR BUSINESS AVIATION the FAA—or Congress—to make them voluntary program tracks the Part 5 www.ainonline.com/alerts mandatory. requirements for Part 121 operators so

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miles north) and heavy downpours. In all, some six inches of rain fell on Satur- AirVenture 2019 day, flooding grass aircraft parking areas and campgrounds. Even after the storms passed, arrivals were restricted to aircraft with reservations for hard-surface park- Jack Pelton, The past, present, and future ing areas and—among the more unusual EAA restrictions for a “lower-48” airport— president appeared together at the GA mecca those equipped with oversize tundra tires. and CEO Despite the resulting slow start to the show, the follow-up weather arrived on by Mark Phelps schedule and attendance broke records, EAA and all the with approximately 645,000 clicks of volunteers have As they do every year in the days leading ahead of show opening, promising cool air the turnstiles—up by 6.8 percent from up to EAA AirVenture, show organizers and clear skies for the week. But Wiscon- last year’s record showing. Other perti- responded with that were keeping a close eye on the prog sin weather can deliver a nasty curveball. nent numbers: more than 10,000 aircraft ‘how do we get it charts. After all, “Oshkosh,” the world’s The Saturday before opening day— arrived at Wittman Regional Airport and done’ attitude.” largest aviation celebration, is an almost traditionally one of the busiest for early overflow airports in the area. Wittman exclusively VFR event, and weather can arrivals—lines of much-stronger-than- saw 16,807 operations between July range from miniscule pup tents to be fickle. The forecast for this year looked expected storms associated with the 19-29—an average of approximately 127 massive luxury motor homes. He said encouraging, with a frontal system swing- front brought violent winds (a tornado takeoffs/landings per hour. Of the visiting he watched as one of the volunteers ing down from the northwest a few days touched down in Appleton, about 15 aircraft, 2,758 showplanes were on dis- “literally dove underneath” one of the play, including 1,057 homebuilts, 939 vin- swamped megabuck land-yachts to tage aircraft, 400 warbirds, 188 ultralight/ attach a chain to pull it out. Pelton said, light-sport airplanes; 105 seaplanes; 62 “I went to shake the guy’s hand. All he aerobatic aircraft; and seven that appar- said was, ‘It’s our job to make sure ently did not fit into any particular cate- everyone has a good time.’” gory. That’s Oshkosh for you. Pelton went on to review the lineup of the week’s themes starting with the A Resilient Industry 50th Anniversary of EAA’s tenure in In his show-opening remarks, EAA pres- Oshkosh. Paul Poberezny founded EAA ident and CEO Jack Pelton recounted in Hales Corners, Wisconsin, in 1954, but how EAA took the floods in stride. “We the fly-in now known as AirVenture set- all remember ‘Sloshkosh’ in 2010,” he said, tled at Wittman Field in Oshkosh in 1970. recalling another year of heavy rains. “Just This year, EAA reached out to aircraft as we did back then, EAA and all the vol- owners who flew in that year and invited unteers have responded with that ‘how them to bring their airplanes back for

ALL PHOTOS BY MARK PHELPS BY ALL PHOTOS do we get it done’ attitude.” special recognition. A handful com- With memories of “Sloshkosh” 2010 on everyone’s mind, AirVenture 2019 got Pelton recalled a visit to the camping plied. Pelton also said the organization off to a soggy start, but EAA and its scores of volunteers rose to the occasion. area, where accommodations typically would be honoring Oshkosh’s 50-year

20 Aviation International News \ September 2019 \ ainonline.com volunteers. AirVenture 2019 also paid Arguably most noteworthy was a tribute to the 50th Anniversary of the Douglas C-47 transport named “That’s Apollo moon landing, with astronaut All Brother,” serial number 42-92847, Michael Collins in attendance. the very airplane that led the first wave Moving back to more current events, of jump planes carrying American para- Pelton noted the strong presence of urban troopers on D-Day. In an amazing story, mobility technology on the show grounds C-47 s/n 42-92847 was discovered in this year. “Innovation and development in storage right at Wittman Airport in 2015. this area will generate advanced technol- U.S. Air Force historian Matt Scales ogy—a piece that will come very quickly,” was researching Lt. Col. John Donalson, he said, adding that even if aspirations for the D-Day lead pilot who flew That’s All swarms of urban air vehicles ultimately Brother that morning (the Alabama pilot fall short, the technology that the move- selected the name to paint on the C-47’s ment generates will nevertheless advance nose as a message to Hitler that the end the utility and performance of current of the Third Reich was at hand). Scales light aircraft. contacted Basler Turbo Conversions in Michael Maniatis’s 1928 De Havilland Gipsy Moth is outfitted with rare, The EAA leader further cited the orga- Oshkosh, a company that retrofits the old original instruments, including a Zenith “Height” gauge, measured in nization’s contributions toward stoking transports with turboprop engines, and hectometers. The mag switch is mounted outside the cockpit, in view of the the supply of future aviation profession- asked if they might know of the where- person swinging the prop. als, with scholarships and mentoring pro- abouts of the plane Donalson flew that grams at the local chapter level. Looking day. Lo and behold, the derelict airframe to complete the restoration in time for than those of years past, but they had ahead, he suggested that EAA could also was sitting engineless right there on the the airplane to join 14 other C-47/DC-3s brought their credit cards and weren’t help by showing students that there are Basler lot, waiting to be converted. that crossed the Atlantic to join several afraid to use them. One speculated that exciting and rewarding careers in air- The Minnesota Wing of the Commem- Europe-based transports for the 75th perhaps fears of an impending economic craft maintenance and other professions orative Air Force (CAF), spearheaded Anniversary D-Day commemorative fly- slowdown were motivating people to “buy related to things that fly. by then-CAF executive v-p of strate- over in Europe last June 6. now, while they have the money.” And as a Kansas City Chiefs fan living gic development Adam Smith, stepped Veteran CAF pilot Doug Rosendaal, To stoke sales, many companies choose in the midst of Packer-land, he couldn’t in to begin a crowdfunded restoration who also regularly flies the CAF’s “Red AirVenture to launch new products, or to resist making a comparison while pointing project to return That’s All Brother to Tail” P-51B to commemorate the Tuske- offer “show special” pricing. For exam- out that the EAA AirVenture event gen- the configuration it was in when it flew gee Airmen, was at the controls of the ple, Aspen Avionics, based in Albuquer- erates $170 million in positive economic over Normandy for the 87th Troop Car- painstakingly restored C-47 not only for que, New Mexico, offered an upgrade to impact for the region. “That’s more than a rier Squadron in 1944, complete with the D-Day commemoration flight, but synthetic vision to AirVenture customers full season for the Packers,” he said. rough brush-painted black and white also for much of the transatlantic ferry who bought its newest 2000Max system invasion stripes. The ambitious goal was flight to get there. Even with all the flying or MFD1000Max—and $100 cash back on Military History he has done in so many historic aircraft, its entry-level E5 unit. A former Boeing Prominent among the milestones being Rosendaal told AIN that retracing That’s engineer, Aspen president and CEO John celebrated was the recent 75th anniver- All Brother’s flight path over the beaches Uczekaj told AIN this year’s show was sary of the Allied invasion of Normandy at Normandy was the most moving expe- one of the busiest he could recall. “And on June 6, 1944—D-Day. Three pilots rience of his flying career. it’s not just foot traffic,” he said. from the famed Tuskegee Airmen, tri- Still freshly processing the mem- Uczekaj also discussed how the avi- ple-ace Bud Anderson, and some spe- ory of his unforgettable trip to Europe, onics industry is changing, noting the dif- cial aircraft were on hand to highlight the Rosendaal was flying That’s All Brother ferences from the consumer electronics event, including one of the prototype P-51 at AirVenture, one of a dozen C-47/DC-3s industry, where a product life cycle can Mustangs tested by the U.S. Army during at the show to help commemorate the sometimes be measured in months. Aspen World War II and the world’s only flying bravery of so many young soldiers from places priority on what he calls “worry-free P-82 twin-Mustang. three quarters of a century ago. obsolescence protection,” a growing industry trend, he said. “We focus on pro- Industry Looks Ahead viding cost-effective, upgradable avionics While history plays a giant role in AirVen- that can grow with a pilot’s needs.” ture every year, innovation is the engine To that end, pilots can “blow off some that drives EAA. It’s named the Experimen- steam” (a reference to replacing old-style tal Aircraft Association for a reason. The “steam gauges”) by starting with the sub- annual show is an incubator for new ideas $5,000 E5 display, which is designed to and products that make flying safer, more easily fit in the space left by removing the practical, and yes, more fun. mechanical gauges. As with all Aspen pri- The show is also the financial epicen- mary flight displays and multi-function dis- ter for many of the companies, large and plays, the E5 can be upgraded with more small, that cater to aircraft enthusiasts, features and performance with software, owners, pilots, homebuilders, and restor- not requiring removal and re-installation. ers. As the singular place where so many Uczekaj noted that Aspen’s new prod- like-minded aviation enthusiasts gather ucts are better than the original displays, all at once, AirVenture is one huge candy and less expensive. “The new system is store, with everything on sale from hard- $1,000 less than the legacy system,” he to-find AN nuts and bolts to complete said. “Technology is cheaper, and the Fresh from its appearance over the beaches of Normandy for the aircraft—albeit often with “some assem- price should come down.” He also noted 75th Anniversary of D-Day, Douglas C-47 “That’s All Brother” made a bly required.” A number of vendors told that the new systems generate far less homecoming of sorts to Oshkosh. AIN that not only were the crowds larger continues on next page

ainonline.com \ September 2019 \ Aviation International News 21 SPECIAL report

heat. Uczekaj said, “One of our customers joked, ‘Are you telling me I can no longer warm my hands on my panel?’” At EAA AirVenture’s Breakfast with Innovators, Dan Schwinn, founder and CEO of Avidyne, discussed how his company is helping explore autonomous flight. The daily “AI [artificial intelligence], and a full-time, airshows mission-critical data connection between over ground and the vehicle; the whole model Wittman for how they’re operated depends on full- Regional time access to connectivity.” Airport in Schwinn said Avidyne recently began Oshkosh, working with Daedalean AI, a Swiss com- Wisconsin pany developing autonomous flight con- consist of trols for “electric personal aircraft of the what has near future.” Daedalean recently mounted to be the sophisticated cameras on an Avidyne widest Cessna 180, and Schwinn flew multiple range of approaches to gather data the company aircraft will use to create algorithms for teaching types in an AI system how to pilot an aircraft. history. Short of piloting an aircraft, such AI systems “might be useful for the aftermarket as a safety-increasing retrofit” Garmin also provided updates on sev- “build-to-order” production strategy “is as a pilot’s assistant, for example, rec- eral of its other products, including new working well.” He said that within the pre- ognizing airports in difficult visual condi- approvals for its G1000NXi in Cessna 172 vious two months, the Florida OEM had tions. “Autonomy is not black and white,” and 182 models, as well as the Beech G58 signed contracts for more than 100 air- Schwinn said. “There are all kinds of Baron. Garmin also outlined upgrades to Simon craft, including 50 of its Pilot 100 and Pilot autonomy functions.” its Garmin Pilot mobile app, driven in part Caldecott, 100i (instrument) single-engine trainers. Garmin announced its latest product, by coordinating the features from FltPlan. Piper He noted that Piper has invested $3.5 the GNC 355 GPS/comm, described as com, which Garmin recently acquired. Aircraft million in upgrading its production facilities, the navigator portion of its GPS 175 GPS, Now part of the Boeing family, Fore- CEO including adding a new additive manufac- with a “modern” comm radio added. The Flight was a popular destination for Air- turing (aka 3D printing) center. Caldecott new product, which was scheduled to Venture visitors wanting to explore its is clearly enthusiastic about the prospects begin shipping last month, is aimed at 3D preview feature. Driven in part with We started for improving production through addi- the sub-6,000-pound aircraft class and imagery from Boeing sibling Jeppesen, in 2009, largely tive manufacturing. “We started in 2009, provides localizer performance with the 3D preview enables pilots to call up identifying aircraft largely identifying aircraft parts that could vertical guidance (LPV) approach capa- a destination runway ahead of arrival be manufactured using AM [additive man- bility, wireless connectivity, and voice time and get a detailed view of what the parts that could ufacturing], then working on getting FAA communications in a standard 6.25-inch approach will look like from the cockpit. be manufactured approval.” Holding up a part, he said, “This by 2-inch size. The GNC 355 sells for Released earlier in the year, the latest ver- using additive environmental duct element for the M600 $6,995—$7,695 for the European version sion of ForeFlight Performance Plus also manufacturing.” made with AM represents a 94 percent with additional frequency spacing. enables detailed fuel load planning and cost saving.” To date, Caldecott said, Piper Garmin also announced its GSB takeoff performance calculations, similar the ForeFlight booth. Important features has identified more than 200 parts that 15 USB charging hub, a high-speed to how a business jet’s flight management include a dual-band ADS-B receiver that could be manufactured with AM. charging connection for electronic system sets limits. displays weather and traffic through the devices that is available in two sizes, and At AirVenture, ForeFlight also ForeFlight Mobile app; Built-in WAAS GPS Unusual Efforts can be mounted with optional installa- announced the latest version of its Sen- that displays GPS position; and Weather The AirVenture clan breeds some of the tion kits on the flight deck or in the cabin try ADS-B In receiver. Priced at $299, Replay, which records an animated radar more interesting niche projects. One for passengers. The price is $395. the Sentry Mini was available for sale at replay. The Sentry Mini can connect with example is RDD Enterprises, which came as many as five devices, and over-the-air to the show with its sleek LX7. The air- firmware updates are available via the plane is a conversion of an existing Lancair ForeFlight Mobile app. IVP—a pressurized kit-built four-place air- Tyson Weihs, ForeFlight co-founder plane. RDD’s David McCrae told AIN, “We and CEO, said, “Every pilot should fly had heard from a lot of IV-P owners that with the benefits ADS-B has to offer. they loved their airplane, but would love With Sentry Mini, ForeFlight customers it a lot more if they could fly approaches have access to essential inflight weather, at 63 knots instead of 75 knots.” traffic and GPS information in a surpris- So the RDD business plan calls for ingly compact device.” “modifying” already-built and certified Piper Aircraft CEO Simon Caldecott Lancair IV-P kitplanes (of which there discussed the advantages of produc- are about 250 on the FAA register). The ing training aircraft at a time of great goal is less about greater speed and more demand. “Boeing forecasts there will be about refining the design for better effi- While it might sound like an odd business plan, RDD Enterprises hopes to a need for 800,000 new pilots over the ciency and low-speed handling. convert existing Lancair IV-Ps to its updated and improved version, the LX7. next 20 years,” he said, adding that Piper’s continues on page 24

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So RDD seeks out “donor” airframes, The airplane was originally owned by from which it will then remove both wings Englishman Gar Wood, a famous high- and the entire empennage aft of the rear speed boat racer. “Gar Wood was an inno- fuselage. It replaces them with a much vator and a sportsman,” Maniatis told AIN. more sophisticated single-piece wing “He also invented the garbage truck.” In its and redesigned empennage. The wing is lifetime, the airplane found its way to Can- a good example of how RDD incorporates ada, where it was involved in a fatal accident “best practices from multiple disciplines” and sat in storage until Maniatis acquired it to improve the airplane. The new wing from the estate of well-known De Havilland has dual-slotted flaps, a dual-redundant collector Watt Martin in 2014. As it sat on spar, and carries 180 gallons of fuel with the grounds at AirVenture, NC431 had about an automatic fuel leveling system. Rather six flight hours logged since restoration. than the weeping wing de-icing system While there are plenty of later Tiger on the original IV-P, the LX7 uses a lead- Moths flying, the early version is much ing edge cuff de-icing system, which more rare, and for an odd reason. Mani- On long final to Runway 27 at Wittman Regional Airport and EAA retains much greater consistency in the atis explained, “At the beginning of World AirVenture, Oshkosh, Wisconsin. The dark cloud above was part of a leading edge for improved aerodynamics, War II, England conscripted all civilian line of severe storms. particularly at the low-speed end. airplanes for the military. But the Moths “Using precision tooling, our tolerances weren’t of much use, so one of the things En Route to KOSH for the leading edge are within 30 thou- they did was to soak them in gasoline sandths of an inch, said McCrae, “compared and park them on the perimeters of air- Flying to Oshkosh is on a lot of pilots’ was also headed for Oshkosh, and sure to the plus or minus half an inch for the IV-P.” bucket lists, and I’ve flown the VFR arrival enough, he was. As we got closer to Lake Multiple other refinements are made to the procedure many times, but this year I was Michigan we started to get a little more exterior, systems, and the cabin. riding along with AIN contributor James concerned about the weather. The frontal But the big question for any ambitious Wynbrandt in his turbocharged Mooney storms had started moving eastward, and project like this is always the business 252 on an IFR flight plan. Our agenda they were picking up speed. plan. RDD’s is modest, calculating that it was to leave New Jersey early Saturday Now with a few other aircraft on the fre- can subsist on as few as three conver- morning, hoping to arrive at Wittman quency, we were looking for another plan. sions per year of the 250 existing IV-P Field before some afternoon storms that The controller was saying the heavy storms airframes, and already has commitments were expected. We would depart from had overrun Oshkosh. Sheboygan, Wiscon- for more than a dozen. Current produc- Caldwell Airport (KCDW), which involved sin, just inland from the eastern shore of tion capacity is about 10 per year, but that following the strict procedures for exiting the lake, was looking like the safe haven could double without major changes to Grandpa was in Army aviation, so the 30-mile outer ring of a Presidential of choice, and that’s where we headed. the facilities, according to McCrae. The “Alex” got his own Apache helicopter. Temporary Flight Restriction (TFR). But The gust front was visible as Wynbrandt cost of the conversion (depending on pedal car. with a flight plan on file, it shouldn’t be a turned onto final, and we were overtaken the condition of the donor airframe) is problem. We’d just need to be sure not to by the deluge before we could even taxi pegged at $980,000 for the PT6-A-pow- fields during the Battle of Britain. German bust the inner 10-mile zone over Bedmin- to the ramp. ered version; and $830,000 for a 350-hp fighter pilots would shoot at the Moths, ster, or we could expect a fighter escort to After waiting out the heaviest of the TSIO-550-powered piston model. and leave the camouflaged Spitfires and the nearest airport. weather for about an hour and a half, and For something completely different, Hurricanes alone. The Moth is made of We saddled up early and were taxi- talking things over with a weather brie- consider the project just completed by wood, so they burned very satisfyingly ing by 8:30 a.m. Wynbrandt requested a fer, it looked like we had a window to get Michael Maniatis of Milton, New York. when hit by machine gun fire.” One won- takeoff from the longer Runway 22 rather into Oshkosh, a mere 33 nm away. We His De Havilland Gipsy Moth was built ders how many Luftwaffe strafers flew than the recommended Runway 28 to be took off on an IFR flight plan, hoping to in England in 1928, serial number 910 for home thinking they had inflicted much extra sure the Mooney would have plenty get in ahead of the next wave of weather. the company that was to go on to build greater carnage than they had, in reality. of pavement. It could be my imagination, ATC vectored us for the VOR approach to tens of thousands of Tiger Moths, Rapides, Among the innumerable other niche but I thought I sensed a bit of unease in Runway 27, and between our position and Mosquito bombers, and on up to Cana- products at AirVenture, consider Wipline, the tower controller’s voice, since Runway Wittman Regional Airport, we could see an dian bushplanes and regional turboprops. the float manufacturer, which also 22 pointed us directly at the forbidden air- ugly, low-hanging cloud. reported booming sales. Its model 1300 space. But with plenty of mileage to spare, As we descended, it was clear that the floats are sold out through next year’s we were westbound and on our way. airport was in sunlight on the other side production capacity, and its 800-gal- All was routine for the next few hours, as of the cloud, and at our assigned altitude, lon-capacity Fire Boss water bomber, we kept an eye on the incoming weather we were slipping in just underneath. The based on the Air Tractor agricultural with ForeFlight’s ADS-B In display. The red ATIS was reporting winds at 21 knots, aircraft, has been so busy fighting forest and purple splotches were conveniently gusting to 41, but right down the runway. fires, it couldn’t appear at AirVenture. standing pat near the border of Wisconsin Wynbrandt kept the airspeed up to avoid As this year’s show closed, the and Minnesota, so we kept on at 8,000 windshear, and his landing was smooth. famous “airplane ghosts” were left to feet, crossing Pennsylvania and then Ohio, Not wanting to park the Mooney on grass, dot the parking areas—airplane-shaped edging into Canadian airspace for a short he had already reserved a hard-surface patches of green grass protected from while, and into Michigan. parking spot days before, so we followed the shoe traffic that browned all the Somewhere over Ohio, ForeFlight’s traf- the flagmen’s directions and taxied to surrounding turf. With the slow start fic display showed another target almost Basler Flight Service. from the heavy storms, it might have directly below us at 6,000 feet. Eaves- After shutdown, the lineman quickly seemed unlikely that the show could dropping on the ATC communications and inserted the wheel chocks and when we Southwest captain and former best 2018’s record crowds. But like the checking the ADS-B data, we could see that cracked open the door to a howling breeze, Navy fighter pilot Tammie Jo Shults can-do volunteer spirit that drives the the airplane was matching our course and he greeted us with a warm, “Welcome to chose AirVenture to launch her new organization, AirVenture attendees did speed almost exactly. It was a good bet he Oshkosh!” M.P. autobiography, Nerves of Steel. not disappoint. n

24 Aviation International News \ September 2019 \ ainonline.com WHAT NUMBER ONE REALLY MEANS TO US

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BELL.CO/AIN NATA plans to share the data with the Another key component of this effort is NATA aims to arm against FAA and the Department of Transportation working with the FAA. What started as a to provide a picture of what is happening. group of a little more than a dozen Flight “The effort really needs to be ‘we want to Standards District Office (FSDO) officials illegal charter with website keep our skies safe.’ We are all about inno- has now swelled to close to 90 that are vation. We’re all about change,” he said, but actively engaged and speaking regularly. by Kerry Lynch added, “We are a firm believer you can be NATA has collaborated with the FAA on innovative and still adhere to the regs.” gatherings between FSDO officials and Concerned that paying passengers don’t Entities are “popping up, commer- This comes back to education and operators to discuss what has been hap- understand the risks they face when step- cializing the [Part] 91 space,” Ryan resources, he said. The association a little pening. These have taken place in South ping aboard illegal charters, the National Waguespack, v-p of aircraft management, more than a year ago established a task force Carolina, Indiana, Tennessee, and Florida. Air Transportation Association (NATA) air charter services, and MROs, agreed, focused on education about illegal charter. Several more are in the works with meet- has retooled its “Avoid Illegal Charter” adding, “It is a real concern because the And the illegal charter website is designed ings targeted to possibly take place in website to “empower the market” with general flying public does not truly under- to build on that. “You can look up a char- Texas, California, and Iowa, among others. the ability to look up charter operators, stand the risks they are getting into. You ter operator, you can submit a questionable The FSDO managers also are discussing access fact sheets, and report question- are not getting into an Uber when you get operation—we’ve had a number of those— holding a larger event next year to gather able operations. into an aircraft.” or you can call the illegal charter hotline,” he all interested parties together. Rolling out the revamped site, NATA Compounding the issue is a lack of said. “We’re trying really to push out there “The operators are really enjoying executives highlighted a need to ensure clarity on not only the definition of an how charter brokers, other operators, and getting that one-on-one time with their safer skies as new models push boundar- illegal charter but on who is actually end-users can look up and see if the aircraft inspectors and the leadership within the ies of what is legal. operating them. they are engaging is on a charter certificate.” FSDOs,” Waguespack said. “But also, it is In the past, new models have come The website aggregates numerous FAA a good opportunity for the FSDOs to truly to fruition—from the advent of aircraft Unreported Incidents lists to enable a search by operator or tail learn what is happening in the 91 space— management more than 50 years ago to NATA is currently surveying operators number of legal operations. That list is what is behind these doors.” fractional ownership and more recently, on their encounters with illegal opera- updated quarterly, but NATA’s goal is to Additionally, at the behest of Con- jet cards, charter empty legs, and per-seat tions and how it is affecting their busi- update it monthly. Operators further are gress, the FAA has nearly completed models—noted Jacqueline Rosser, senior ness, Waguespack said, noting that one able to fill out a form through the website guidance on one area that has been blur- advisor, regulatory affairs–air charter, clear trend stands out: some 70 percent of to report potential illegal charter activ- ring the lines of commercial and private for NATA. “In each of those cases, the operators do not report their encounters ity. In addition, the website houses fact operations, flight-sharing, Rosser said. boundary…has been more between when with illegal operations. “That was kind of sheets with data on operations and pro- The Government Accountability Office are we crossing the line from the on- staggering to me,” he said. Those respon- vides operators with templates that they further has been working on a report on demand framework into the scheduled dents listed a number of reasons for this, can show to prospective customers that this activity. realm,” Rosser said. “We’ve managed but mostly out of concerns that the activ- explain the complexities of the industry. “As long as we continue to see cases to address all of those issues within the ity is in their backyard and, being in a of suspected illegal charter, more must industry and get clarity on how you can small industry, they know it is going to Partnering with the FAA be done to sound the alarm and educate do certain things where other certifica- come back on the legal entity. “They are NATA further took over the illegal charter the industry and public at all levels of the tions are required.” concerned about losing their consumer, hotline (888-SKY-FLT1), which it is using inherent risks and dangers of these activi- But, she added: that focus now appears they are concerned about the FAA, and to gather data and pass along to the FAA’s ties,” added Waguespack. “We are pleased to be shifting to what defines a private they don’t want to be the squeaky wheel.” special investigative team in Fort Worth, to partner with more and more FAA field operation and a commercial operation. The survey, he said, was receiving a Texas. Noting that calls in the past have offices in supporting events designed to “Our primary goal from the organizational “tremendous” response as of mid-August, been somewhat vague, he said, “The big- highlight these potentially life-saving mes- standpoint, the air charter standpoint, is and NATA said it would keep it open gest challenge is to gather as much data sages in their particular region. Together to establish clarity,” she said. through the end of the month. as possible.” we will make a greater impact.” n

LABACE 2019 S-92 OK’d for SAR in Brazil by David Donald

Brazil regulator ANAC has approved the offshore industry for some time. “For Sikorsky S-92A for use in its search-and- more than 47 years, Sikorsky helicopters rescue (SAR) configuration. The certi- have been the workhorses of the Brazil- fication was received in late March, but ian offshore oil transport market, first Sikorsky’s parent company Lockheed with the S-58T in 1972, the S-76 since Martin did not make the announcement 1979, and over the last 10 years with the until this week. larger, farther-reaching S-92 heavy air- ANAC had approved a 27,700-pound craft,” noted Adam Schierholz, Sikorsky

maximum gross weight allowance in regional executive for Latin America. MARIANO ROSALES December and, with the 2014 approval “These new certifications—along with the The S-92 is used by several SAR organizations around the world, including the UK Coast Guard. for the Rig Approach software, the lat- announcement of the forthcoming S-92 est certification permits the S-92A to be A+/B—help ensure that the S-92 will con- much closer to the principal operators: facility was expanded to include S-92 employed in all of its production config- tinue to be the aircraft of choice in Brazil Lider Aviação, Omni Helicopters Interna- work, eliminating export fees and cutting urations, which cover offshore work, SAR for safe, reliable, deep-water offshore oil tional, and CHC Helicopter. At the same around 30 days from the overall process duties, airline passenger services, and VIP exploration.” time, the company increased parts stock by removing the need for transportation transportation. In 2018 the company relocated its for- by nearly sevenfold, reducing typical to and from the United States. CTB is a Eight Brazilian operators fly 90 ward stocking location from near Rio de parts-supply times to around two hours. joint venture between Sikorsky-owned Sikorsky helicopters, and the company Janeiro’s Galeão airport to a site at Barra Also in 2018, the Composite Technol- CTI and Líder Aviação, created in 1999 to has been closely involved with the da Tijuca near Jacarepaguá airport, to be ogy do Brasil (CTB) rotor blade repair repair S-76 blades in-country. n

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customer’s home base, scheduled to Cabin safety training is not just for crews coincide with inspections of the actual aircraft’s emergency exits, providing par- by Curt Epstein ticipants with the opportunity to remove the real window panels. While corporate and Part 135 flight crew- of fires that might be encountered on be present in the classroom as the proper The simulator is equipped with func- members are typically required to take board an aircraft and how to combat procedures for its use are explained. tioning drop-down oxygen masks for cabin emergency training on a periodic them. Typically, the course instructor Other equipment demonstrated decompression training, and each seat schedule—usually every two years for will have made a visit to the company’s included smoke hoods, as approximately has an inactive inflatable life vest in its pilots and every year for flight attendants— or individual’s flight department ahead of 40 percent of business jets are currently compartment underneath. During several for the past several years FlightSafety the scheduled course date, or at the very equipped with them, and portable oxygen scenarios, accompanied by appropriate International has been offering a similar least spoken with its director of mainte- bottles for passengers. imagery on the video screens, Clement program to corporate executives and their nance, to take an inventory of what spe- played the role of crewmember, demon- assistants, as well as aircraft owners and cific emergency equipment their aircraft Putting Learning to the Test strating the proper brace position for their families. AIN was recently invited to is stocked with. Armed with that infor- The next stop was downstairs in the cabin an emergency landing, and then had me participate in one of the classes. mation, FlightSafety gathers examples of simulator. Made from the fuselage of a for- wait for the signal to unbuckle, move to The three-hour session was held at the those particular items from its collection mer Gulfstream GII, with video screens the window exits, scan for obstructions, company’s Teterboro, New Jersey train- and has them on hand in the classroom to outside each window giving the illusion remove the window, and exit. Also demon- ing center, one of only five in its network provide hands-on familiarity. of flight (or a crash landing depending strated was how to operate the main cabin (along with Savannah, Dallas, Long Beach, With the prevalence of personal elec- on the program selected), it is used for door and airstairs. The training is particu- and Paris) to offer cabin safety training tronic devices, dealing with rechargeable a variety of purposes, including teaching larly helpful for Part 91 passengers, where, as part of its curriculum. According to batteries in thermal runaway now mer- cabin service with real catering for flight depending on their personal or company Ronald Clements, the Teterboro center’s its its own close scrutiny, and Clements attendants. But in this case its mission preference, the pre-takeoff safety briefing cabin safety program manager, the exec- detailed how an immediate, aggressive was emergency evacuation. It is equipped is not required before every flight. utive version of the course is given at his response to this emergency is required, with overwing exits corresponding to Clements explained the differences facility four or five times a year, with sim- first by knocking down the flames, usu- those on Bombardier, Dassault and Gulf- between a planned emergency landing ilar numbers at the other locations. ally with a Halon fire extinguisher, and stream aircraft, and Clements demon- and an unplanned crash, giving examples It begins in an upstairs classroom then cooling the device with liquid. If the strated how the windows are removed of the types of cabin preparation that can with a brief introduction, followed by an aircraft is equipped with a fire contain- in preparation for an emergency escape. be done with advance warning, such as a assessment of the various classifications ment bag or box, a similar example will On occasion, the course is taught at the ditching at sea. Valuable emergency supplies such as uneaten catering and water bottles can be gathered, along with emergency equipment such as flashlights, blan- kets, and the airplane’s medical kit. Given enough time, passengers are even told to change their clothing to garments made from natural fibers (if not wearing such already) as added protection in case of fire. He then demonstrated the preparation of an inflatable life raft, showing where it is stored, how it is unpacked, and how it is fastened to the aircraft by a tether before being pushed out of the overwing exit and inflated. In addition to providing familiarity with this equipment, the training also helps turn the course participants into “force multipliers,” allowing them to become a resource for the flight crew in case of emergency. “Another takeaway is encouraging a conversation between crew and passengers unique to that model aircraft,” said Clements, “unique to the captain’s preference for what their role can be in emergencies.” Before joining FlightSafety, Clements served as a flight crew member in the military, and he noted similarities in the unique dynamics that can occur in an aircraft environment during an emergency. While the flight crew may be considered employees and subordinates of the company CEO or high-net-worth individual they are transporting, the passengers, much like the high-ranking officers Clements was responsible for during his service days, must understand that they need to obey the instructions of the flight crew in an emergency. We then ventured forward to the sim-

JUDYLYN LAGUARDIA JUDYLYN ulator’s cockpit. He demonstrated how, The Executive Emergency Training course at FlightSafety International’s Teterboro location features water-evacuation instruction in the in the case a pilot becomes incapacitated, facility’s pool. Here, helicopter rescue hoist equipment and techniques are being demonstrated on the author. passengers can assist by allowing the

28 Aviation International News \ September 2019 \ ainonline.com remaining pilot to concentrate on flying back, using my body as a counterweight the airplane, while they help by securing to flip the raft. the ill pilot’s harness and applying the We then moved to the “ditcher.” Meant easy-don oxygen mask. to resemble an aircraft fuselage, it is Using an oxygen tank equipped with actually a large fiberglass storage tank, such a mask, Clements demonstrated suspended at both ends above the pool what breathing supplemental oxygen is on a lift similar to those found in an auto like at altitude during a decompression repair shop. Exits and windows are cut event, and explained that flight crew into the sides, and several boat chairs are members may not be able to speak to issue bolted to the floor. It looked rather benign instructions under those circumstances. as I entered it, donned an inflatable life Clements presented those scenarios to vest, and took a seat, but as the simulation introduce the customers to the concept started, things became real when water of crew resource management, which he began flowing up through the floor and describes as “adults playing well together swirled around my legs as the simulator under duress in an expensive confined settled into the water. When Clements space with limited time and resources.” gave the evacuation order, I stepped out Last, for some in-cabin fire fighting onto the wing platform, and as previously practice, I was handed a simulated fire advised, inflated my life vest by pulling extinguisher. When activated, it emitted a down on the handle. laser-pointer-like beam, which interacted The pool area had changed. The bright with a device that was hidden somewhere overhead lights were now dark and sprays in the cabin. On cue from Clements, Part of the cabin-simulator curriculum is decompression training. The author wears a quick-don of water from sprinklers added to the illu- smoke began issuing from a floor-level mask, usually worn by the copilot. It uses bottled oxygen to simulate breathing at altitude. sion of a ditching at sea. I jumped off the storage cabinet at the back of the fuselage, platform, and unaccustomed to the sen- along with flickering orange and red lights. sation of wearing a tight, highly-inflated I grabbed the extinguisher, pulled the pin life vest, awkwardly followed the umbili- as shown, and headed back to fight the cal strap to the tethered life raft. mock blaze. Once the laser beam made I will admit I encountered some unex- contact with the sensor at the base of the pected difficulties hoisting myself up from device for the prescribed amount of time, the water and over the two-foot-high side it “extinguished” itself. of the raft, even with the rope ladder. In the parking lot behind the building, I Some due to the encumbrance of the vest, got a taste of the real thing, using a water- some due to my groping to find a proper filled extinguisher to fight a propane– handhold amidst the spray, and some fueled fire, while keeping the mantra of to being tangled in the umbilical strap PASS (pull, aim, squeeze, and sweep) in (which would remain tethered to the air- mind. This part of the training falls under craft until subject to 500 pounds of pres- the heading of what Clements described sure, or manually cut), but I eventually as life skills; abilities that could be of use flopped over into the raft like a landed fish. outside of the aircraft as well. Clements soon joined me and described the safety features of the raft, and where Preparing for a Water Landing survival equipment would be stored. The Teterboro facility is one of only two For the last part of the training, a hoist in the company’s system with its own suspended over the pool is used to simu- swimming pool (the other locations that The cabin simulator is equipped with overwing exits that correspond to those on several types late helicopter rescues. I swam away from provide cabin safety training will contract of business aircraft, and students learn to remove the windows to exit in an emergency. the raft and entered a metal lift basket with outside pools), and that was our next attached to the cable, after being shown destination for water landing and rescue the proper position. I was then lifted out drills. I was given a jumpsuit and directed of the water and lowered back down. That into the well-equipped locker room to process was repeated two more times, change. On one side of the pool area was each time demonstrating different lifting a display of the various survival items to equipment that might be encountered on be found in a life raft, again augmented the end of the rescue helicopter’s hook, by the inventory of the customer’s actual such as a sling or a lifting chair. aircraft. Clements demonstrated the use After changing back into street clothes, of emergency equipment such as signal- I finished the program with a brief recap. ing mirrors, water desalinators, and one One of Clements’s biggest surprises in his of the newer additions to the survival six years of instructing is seeing the differ- equipment roster, laser flares, which are ences in how people learn. He recalled how less dangerous and longer-lasting than one CEO seemed utterly disinterested in the former pyrotechnic variety. the classroom lesson, to the point that FlightSafety uses Winslow life rafts, he ordered the instructor to click swiftly and according to Clements, the company through the slide portion, yet he became has an upwards of 80 percent market a highly enthusiastic participant in the share in the corporate aviation market. hands-on portions, such as the cabin sim- For the first task, he placed an inflated ulator. While some executives attend the 12-person raft upside down in the water course with no intention of getting wet, and explained how to right it. I braced my Clements said they usually have a change feet on one of the loops hanging off the of heart when they see the ditcher, and side of the raft and grabbed a similar loop PASS (pull, aim, squeeze, and sweep) is the name of the game in extinguishing a cabin fire, and the company keeps spare bathing suits on on the underside of the raft and leaned the author practiced the procedure in the parking lot behind Flight Safety’s Teterboro facility. hand for just such occasions. n

ainonline.com \ September 2019 \ Aviation International News 29 Committee. He noted arguments that Kansas senator defends providing such relief would give law- Kansas senator makers less leverage to reach a compro- Jerry Moran is mise. But Moran pointed to the damage advocating for ODA, highlights GA benefits incurred in shutdowns in previous years the continued that stalled the delivery of hundreds of use of ODA, by Kerry Lynch millions of dollars worth of aircraft and pointing out left air traffic controllers and security the FAA must As a number of lawmakers continue to that, over the past 10 years, there has screeners without pay even as they came share the question the FAA’s use of delegation in been an effort to expand delegations, not to work. “I’d like to avoid all that. We are responsibility. the wake of the Boeing 737 Max accidents, contract them. “That process is critical to very interested in seeing [bill] passage.” Senator Jerry Moran (R-Kansas) is stress- the industry. We’d be in serious trouble if Moran further noted the work ahead for Kansas, he added. “I am anxious for what- ing the need to continue to support the we were relying only on the FAA,” he said. the Senate, including the need to pass 12 ever conversations to take place between organization designation authorization Moran later told AIN that there must appropriations bills before the current fis- the U.S. and China. The consequences of (ODA) program, vowing, “We do not be a considerable education effort on cal year ends on September 30. Little time the tariff battles are real,” noting that alu- intend to turn our back on that issue.” Capitol Hill on the importance of ODA. remains to accomplish that task. Congress minum plays a key role in aircraft fuselages. Speaking recently at the Aero Club of Concerning to him is the perception issue likely will group a few bills together at a He further underscored the importance Washington, D.C., Moran acknowledged that is arising out of the public dialog sur- time to get them through, he said. But while of aviation. “It’s a hugely significant com- the substantial number of conversations rounding the ODA issues. his hope is to avoid temporary measures to ponent of our state’s economy. We have now surrounding manufacturing certifi- provide time to finish the bills, “I just can’t worked hard to have Wichita recognized cation. “ODA remains an important com- Steady Stream of FAA Funding picture in my mind how you can accomplish as the Air Capital of the World.” Moran ponent of the way…we are going to meet Along with ODA, Moran is continuing to that number of bills in a month’s time,” he added that general aviation “will never technological changes and the demands push for his bill to shield the FAA from said and stressed the need to avert another leave that place in my heart and my brain. in the markets to advance innovation,” any future shutdowns. Moran in March shutdown. “When a shutdown happens, it It is so important.” he said. “The FAA doesn’t have the capa- introduced his Aviation Funding Stabil- is damaging to the country, it is damaging While conceding that the general avia- bilities to certify every new product. We ity Act of 2019 (S.762) as a companion to our economy. It is another black eye on tion industry is important to Wichita, he have to rely on the private sector with to a similar bill in the House that was the inability of Congress to do the basics also said, “I have a lot of interest in try- FAA oversight to do this correctly.” introduced by House Transportation and for which we were hired.” ing to keep rural America alive and well.” Moran, who is a senior member of both Infrastructure Committee chairman Pete Moran, further stressed the need for General aviation airports and aircraft the Senate Appropriations and Commerce DeFazio (D-Oregon). trade agreements, saying Congress needs connect those small towns to the rest of Committees, added that with any changes He acknowledged that the bill runs to approve deals with Mexico and Canada— the world. Without them, he said, “We’d that might come as facts arise, “we will counterintuitive to his role as a senior key trading partners for the state of Kan- see a greater demise of rural communities continue to be an advocate.” He added member of the Senate Appropriations sas. Tariffs also have become an issue for across Kansas.” n

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Piper_Half_Page_AIN_September_2019.indd 1 8/12/19 3:35 PM 30 Aviation International News \ September 2019 \ ainonline.com Jet Linx app lets owners Jet Linx customers can buy and sell swap empty seats | by Curt Epstein empty seats using a new feature Jet management and card mem- arrange catering and ground transport, make called OpenSeat bership provider Jet Linx has changes to the flight manifest, and view and Exchange on the introduced a new empty-seat book empty legs at discounted pricing, as well company’s app. marketing program as part of its as receive company news and updates. n revised mobile application. Called OpenSeat Exchange, it offers the company’s jet owners and members the ability to buy or sell empty seats on its flights to other Jet Linx aircraft owners or members on a per-seat basis, exclusively through the app, which allows users to search for specific city-pairs and dates. The company’s 2,000 jet card members and 115 aircraft owner clients can use the new app “to further improve, enrich, and elevate the Jet Linx private jet travel experience,” said Jamie Walker, president of the Nebraska-based company, adding that last year there were more than 40,000 empty seats on Jet Linx flights. SERVICES “Open Seat Exchange is a solution ACCESSORY OVERHAUL that gives our clients the ability AVIONICS to buy and sell these empty seats on a per-flight, per-seat basis. It’s AVIONICS SPARES a secure, trusted, peer-to-peer COMPOSITE REPAIR exchange of open seats within the ENGINEERING Jet Linx community.” ENGINES & APU Walker noted that the com- FUEL & RAMP pany had been working on a MAINTENANCE flight-sharing model for more than a decade. This solution AOG/MRT required it to get a Part 380 PAINT & INTERIOR exemption under existing PARTS & COMPONENTS Department of Transportation WINDOW REPAIR regulations. If the initial flight booker chooses to share their flight, seat availability ends AIRFRAMES 24 hours before the scheduled CHALLENGER departure. No money changes CITATION hands between the booker and CONQUEST the customer who buys the EMBRAER empty seats as the payment is FALCON handled internally, with the GLOBAL EXPRESS seller getting a pro-rated credit for the value of the seat from Jet GULFSTREAM Linx, while the buyer is charged HAWKER the per-seat price plus adminis- KING AIR trative fees. LEARJET “We’re not trying to open this PIAGGIO up to a larger audience; it’s just an opportunity that we are giving them within the membership group,” Walker told AIN. “In surveying our clients before we did this, provided it was that peer-to- peer exchange, we saw 80 percent of our clients would happily offset their costs and share some of those seats.” WESTSTARAVIATION.COM The flight-sharing program is the ALN I GJT I CHA I PCD I PWK I APA I ASE I CXO I SDL I MSP latest feature to be added to the app, which gives users the ability to book private jets in real time at guaran- teed hourly rates, quote future trips,

ainonline.com \ September 2019 \ Aviation International News 31 That is invaluable to the agency to have EAA AirVenture 2019 access to that brain trust.” Lawrence said the aircraft certification office is establishing an “industry consensus standards office” that will be focused on working with standards FAA moving to smooth aircraft certification groups like SAE, ASTM, and Institute of Elec- trical and Electronics Engineers. by Mark Huber “The new Part 23 is not the answer to all of your problems, but it is a good example The FAA is working to tear down the “We know how to certify aircraft,” Law- forming agreements with companies that of where we want to move forward from a “titanium silos” within its operating rence said. “We’ve been building vertical- are coming in…across all of those silos.” policy and regulatory standpoint,” he said, organizations in an effort to make the lift aircraft for decades. We understand that adding that inherent in the new Part 23 is a aircraft certification process more user- is not where the struggle is. A lot of people Make the Case for Safety “risk continuum” based on the aircraft/oper- friendly. That was the message from Earl who come to us are looking to change the Lawrence said aircraft builders need to ations likely activities. “We are committed Lawrence, the head of the FAA’s aircraft way the operation is conducted. They don’t make a strong safety case, first and fore- to matching the level of regulatory oversight certification organization, in July at a want pilots to have certain certificates; they most. “We really don’t care about your to the level of risk in your organization.” CAFE Foundation urban air mobility want to move around airspace differently. business case or how much money you are However, he acknowledged that the (UAM)/electric aircraft symposium at We are not good at that at the FAA. We are going to make. We look to make sure all FAA’s use of a risk continuum is not the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh. a series of titanium silos. We have aircraft the safety risks are mitigated. When you widely adopted worldwide and that has Lawrence said the agency is currently certification, we have flight standards, we come to us, start with safety. That’s our the potential to cause issues for those using its UAS office to coordinate urban have air traffic, airports, and we don’t talk focus, that’s what all our regulations are seeking multi-jurisdictional certifications. mobility activities, but that the agency to each other very well. built around. If you always come in with Lawrence counseled that the first administrator is looking at creating a “A lot of new technologies are focused safety, you will keep moving forward.” UAM/eVTOL developers who file a type new office of innovation to “focus on on the risk of mitigating risks in all those One of the best ways to bolster a safety certificate application will likely face those activities.” areas. My engineers want to mitigate all case is to liberally adopt industry standards tough sledding. “You’re never going to Lawrence said the glut of proposed the risks in your design, flight standards as embodied in the new Part 23 certifica- break through until somebody is first. It UAM/eVTOL designs—now numbering wants to mitigate the risks in your pilot. tion rules, Lawrence counseled. “The use will be harder for you than anyone else. some 175—does not present a challenge Air traffic is going to keep you away from of industry consensus standards gives us a But having a real piece of hardware and a to the FAA per se, but rather the inter- everybody and mitigate the risk by not let- huge benefit. We bring in the experts from real project forces us to bring those [FAA] agency gauntlet proposed for new aircraft ting you fly over anybody. You can see the any field from anywhere in the world who teams together.” Nevertheless, Lawrence designers, with new ideas for aircraft trend,” he said. put down their thoughts on paper and say if told UAM developers, “The FAA does operation and control, must navigate on “The FAA is working very hard to make you do it this way then it is the best way to want to support your project and we have the road to certification. sure we are talking to each other. We are address a particular design issue or approach. the resources in place.” n

have found consensus on a nominee for FAA’s new administrator the FAA, given all of the concerns the public has about flying safety.” These concerns further necessitated draws wide approval a procedural vote to prevent a filibuster Stephen and ultimately led to the final 52-40 vote by Kerry Lynch Dickson was approving the nomination. confirmed as But despite the Democratic opposition, While his nomination became controver- the FAA is key to ensuring the continued the new FAA Republicans on Capitol Hill reiterated sup- sial on Capitol Hill, the confirmation of advancement of important work being administrator. port for Dickson. “Mr. Dickson was chosen Stephen Dickson as FAA administrator done on aviation-system modernization, to lead the FAA because of his experience, drew broad support from industry lead- equipment certification, workforce devel- been under intense scrutiny in wake of the impressive qualifications, and commit- ers who have maintained that he has been opment, safety, and other top priorities.” 737 Max crashes. During his confirmation ment to ensure that safety is the agency’s a strong safety advocate with a wealth of “The industry would benefit from his hearing, Dickson was closely questioned by top priority. I look forward to working with aviation experience. vast knowledge and experience with avia- lawmakers about his commitment to safety. Mr. Dickson and expect his leadership will A former U.S. Air Force F-15 pilot who tion at all levels,” said National Air Trans- However, during the confirmation pro- provide direction for the FAA at this cru- spent 27 years with Delta Air Lines, Dickson portation Association v-p of regulatory cess, his nomination became shrouded cial time,” said Commerce Committee was confirmed in late July to a five-year term affairs John McGraw. in controversy after a complaint came Chairman Roger Wicker (R-Mississippi). at the helm of the agency, filling a position Helicopter Association International to light alleging that Delta had retaliated Elwell, meanwhile, also continued to that had been held on an acting basis by Dan president and CEO Matt Zuccaro praised after a whistleblower expressed safety capture industry support, even as he has Elwell. The last permanent administrator, Dickson’s “comprehensive understanding concerns. The events detailed in the faced the fire of Congress for the activi- Michael Huerta, stepped down at the end of of the national air transportation system.” complaint occurred while Dickson was in ties surrounding the Max. General Avia- his five-year term in early 2018. National Air Traffic Controllers Associa- senior management at the airline. How- tion Manufacturers Association president Meanwhile, the House and Senate tion president Paul Rinaldi added that his ever, Dickson was not specifically named and CEO Pete Bunce, who welcomed the approved by voice vote a waiver to allow organization would continue “our great as a party to the complaint. confirmation of Dickson, added, “GAMA Elwell to return to his previous position working relationship with him. For nearly Several Democrats expressed concerns, also strongly endorses Congress passing of deputy administrator, even though a decade, I have had the pleasure of work- including the leading Democrat on the a waiver to ensure Dan Elwell continues both Elwell and Dickson are former mil- ing with Administrator Dickson, as we have Senate Commerce Committee, which had to serve as FAA deputy administrator. Mr. itary officers. served as members on the FAA’s Manage- jurisdiction over the nomination. Elwell has proven to be a very effective Most recently senior v-p of flight oper- ment Advisory Committee..” As a result, the Commerce Commit- manager and leader at the FAA and will ations for Delta, Dickson had become Airlines for America president and tee narrowly approved the nomination provide important continuity and support known within aviation circles, particularly CEO Nicholas Calio reiterated, “He has along party lines. “It is clear to me he is as Mr. Dickson takes over as administrator.” for his involvement in NextGen initiatives. the vision, knowledge, and experience to not the right person for the safety culture Calio expressed similar sentiments, “NBAA has had a close working relation- lead the FAA at this crucial time.” that we need today at the FAA,” ranking saying “Mr. Elwell has done an outstand- ship with Steve for many years, and we’re These sentiments have been echoed by member Maria Cantwell (D-Washington) ing job as acting administrator” and confident he’s the right man for the job,” numerous other organizations, and they said. “It is distressing to me that Mr. Dick- Graves praised him “for his stalwart lead- NBAA president and CEO Ed Bolen said. all agree that he is stepping in at a criti- son advanced out of committee on just a ership and professionalism during very “Having a permanent administrator at cal time for an embattled agency that has party-line vote…I believe that we should difficult circumstances.” n

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Apply today at signatureflight.com/aviationcard cities face,” said EHang founder, chairman, and CEO Hu Huazhi. “We are in conversations with other cities, not just in China, to develop safe, efficient, and affordable autonomous air transportation.” The EHang 216 is projected to be able to fly just 22 miles at a speed of up to 81 mph and at a maximum altitude of just under 10,000 feet. According to Edward Xu, the company’s chief strategy officer, EHang it already has orders for more than 1,000 demonstrated aircraft from a variety of customers for the capability applications such as tourism, transporta- of its two-seat tion, and medical logistics (such as trans- EHang Model 216 porting organs for transplant). in early April. The EHang first presented the 184 proto- company holds type at the 2016 Consumer Electronics orders for more Show in the U.S. In November 2018, the than 1,000 of the larger 216 joined the flight-test program aircraft for various and this appears to be the main focus of operations. the company’s efforts to get an aircraft into commercial service. In the same month, EHang announced a partnership with Austrian aerospace group FACC, which will provide support with research EHang selects Guangzhou as site for and development, the regulatory/certification process, and production. FACC is owned by government-backed Aviation its autonomous eVTOL pilot program Industries of China. The partners intend to open a flight-test center in Austria. by Charles Alcock In January, CAAC announced that EHang is one of five Chinese companies Chinese eVTOL aircraft developer EHang which operations can be managed. Under its Autonomous Air Vehicle (AAV) assisting in the development of “Guidance has chosen its home town Guangzhou as Under the plans announced in August, program, EHang is developing the single- on UAV Airworthiness Certification Based the location for its first “urban air mobility privately owned EHang will support the seat Model 184 and two-seat Model 216. on Operational Risk.” This is intended to pilot city.” The company, which is already southern Chinese city to develop ground EHang will use the pilot program to test be complete by year-end, creating a regula- working with the Civil Aviation Admin- infrastructure to support urban air mobil- flight routes and locations for so-called tory framework for aircraft including those istration of China (CAAC) to develop a ity flights, including the design of safety vertiports before launching commercial carrying passengers. EHang is providing framework for regulating autonomously regulations and market entry thresholds. operations. The company has been con- flight-test data to the CAAC in support of operated aircraft, will work with Guang- The announcement did not say whether ducting trial operations carrying light this work. FACC also is in discussion with zhou government officials to develop competing eVTOL aircraft developers will freight with DHL and retailer Yonghui. European and Austrian authorities about a command-and-control center from be allowed to have input on these decisions. type certification of the aircraft and the No Certification Timeline regulation of passenger flights. According to the company, it is pursuing EHang has not disclosed which com- eventual type certification initially with panies are supplying key systems, such Chinese and European aviation author- as motors, batteries, avionics, and flight Chabrian to retire from WAI ities in accordance with the Specific controls. It said composite materials for Operational Risk Approach established the airframe are sourced in China. Peggy Chabrian, who founded and 30 years ago, to create the organization by the Joint Authorities for Rulemaking The plan for operations is that passen- steered Women In Aviation International 25 years ago, and to serve as its president on Unmanned Systems (JARUS). It has gers would select their destination via an (WAI) into an organization that has 14,000 since its inception in 1994.” not published an anticipated timeline for onboard tablet device. The AAV would members and has facilitated the award of With a vision of gathering women in type certification, but its Austrian devel- generate the pre-set flight plan autono- $12.5 million in scholarships, is planning to the industry, Chabrian first held the WAI opment and manufacturing partner FACC mously via a high-speed telecommunica- retire as president and CEO in April 2020. conference in 1990 in Prescott, Arizona. said it can be ready to begin series pro- tions connection to an EHang command Chabrian announced her impending That gathering led to the formation of the duction next year. and control center that would handle departure during EAA AirVenture in July, formal organization that this year marked “We are very excited about exploring the flight dispatch, monitoring, control, saying, “The organization is in an excel- the record membership. Its membership various meaningful ways in which AAVs can “pre-warning,” and “cluster management” lent place with record accomplishments in spans the gamut of the industry, from solve some of the stressors our congested of the aircraft. n all areas including membership numbers, pilots and astronauts to maintenance scholarship awards, and a solid financial technicians, airport technicians, and flight position. It has been a pleasure to have attendants, among many others. established the WAI annual conferences The conference, meanwhile, this year celebrated its 30th anniversary in Long Beach, California with 4,500 attendees Peggy and 174 exhibitors. During the event, Chabrian $948,000 in scholarships were awarded. founded WAI chairman Marci Veronie called and steered Chabrian “a trailblazing pioneer and an Women In industry leader” and NBAA president and Aviation Ed Bolen added: “For 30 years, Dr. Chab- International rian has been a source of inspiration to (WAI) women in aviation and a tireless advocate for educational initiatives.” K.L. Chinese developer EHang plans to open a command and control center for autonomous eVTOL flights in Guangzhou, China. It is partnering with government officials on the project.

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CHRISTOPHER PETERMANN • ENGINEER INNOVATION & RESEARCH size on traditional 300- to 500-mile regional missions.” ZeroAvia proposes a complete replacement for conventional aircraft power- trains. That would include fuel tanks to store liquid hydrogen, a fuel cell system to produce electricity from hydrogen and oxygen, and electric motors to drive propellers. Integrating suitable fuel tanks into the architecture of existing airframes stands as one of the engineering challenges it faces. Initially, the company aims to generate power in the range of 600 to 800 kWh, enough, it said, to power aircraft such as the Dornier 328, Twin Otter 400, and Pil- atus PC-12, all of which now use conventional engines such as Pratt & Whitney Canada’s PT6 family. In the longer term, Miftakhov said the technology could advance to deliver high enough power ratings to drive turbofans. Clean energy start-up ZeroAvia started flight testing its hydrogen fuel powertrain system on a Piper M350 piston single, but it plans to offer the The company continues to study ways to technology to regional aircraft operators by 2022. integrate its equipment with propellers made by MT-Propellers or any other propellers with an electric governor. ZeroAvia is conducting flight testing Hydrogen power studied as alternative to under an FAA experimental research and development certificate. The company claims the tests have so far validated the conventional or battery-powered motors powerplant’s key components and their integration with the M350’s existing engine, by Charles Alcock as well as fuel economy and maximum power delivery targets. As of August 14, the Clean technology start-up ZeroAvia has system on a modified Piper M350 piston help the air transport industry resolve its company had conducted around 10 test announced plans to provide a hydrogen- single since early 2019. It expects to start environmental sustainability challenges. flights out of a planned 50 by year-end. powered electric powertrain as an alterna- supplying the technology to aircraft man- “With land transport rapidly decarbon- ZeroAvia plans to lease its powertrain tive to both conventional aircraft engines ufacturers and operators in 2022. izing, fast-growing air transport is quickly to aircraft operators and provide fuel and and battery-based electric motors. Initially, ZeroAvia claims that flight-hour costs becoming the leading emission source, so maintenance under a power-by-the-hour it is looking to power fixed-wing aircraft for its hydrogen-based powertrain will we must find ways to make aviation more business model. Miftakhov told AIN that with 10 to 20 seats and operating up to 500 run around half of those of conventional sustainable,” said ZeroAvia founder and his company intends to partner with miles. Operators would lease the equip- turbine aircraft, taking account of lower CEO Val Miftakhov. “Using hydrogen pro- liquid hydrogen suppliers and mainte- ment on a power-by-the-hour basis. fuel and maintenance costs, as well as duced from local renewable energy is the nance providers to create the necessary The California-based company better powertrain efficiency. The com- most practical way to enable zero-emis- infrastructure. reported that it has been flight-testing its pany also argues that hydrogen fuel will sion aircraft of commercially meaningful Miftakhov cited an increase in the supply of liquid hydrogen as a by-product of renewable energy operations such as large solar energy and wind farms. He claimed that the approach already delivers clean Part 23 requirements and will start the fuel at prices fixed on 25-year contracts— LABACE 2019 path to certification in 2020 in line with offering aircraft operators an alternative ANAC’s iBR2020 program of support for to the volatility of jet fuel pricing. small aircraft certification. ZeroAvia claims it has held initial dis- Octans joins growing ranks of Brazil OEMs “Brazil doesn’t have a certified manu- cussions with several undisclosed regional facturer in this segment, and all aircraft in airline operators about adopting its alter- Brazil has the world’s second-largest civil Octans, which had operated under the this category are imported, Perreira said. native powertrain. Miftakhov maintained aviation fleet, but only two original equip- name INPAER, moved to the upstate São “Brazil has the fifth-largest territory and that the switch from conventional engines ment manufacturers (OEMs)—Embraer and Paulo city of São José da Boa Vista, and fifth-largest population of any country, and could radically change the operating eco- Helibras, the Airbus Helicopters local sub- new partners have invested more than $20 if income were in line with the developed nomics of short-haul routes in a way that sidiary. Last month’s LABACE 2019 offered million in the migration to certified aircraft, world we’d have a fleet of 120,000 aircraft. would ensure the viability of commercial the promise of adding three more OEMs, looking at both the Brazilian and export The country has an aviation tradition and services between small airports. taking the total from two to five. markets, and eventually other models has earned respect.” More than 20 engi- The ZeroAvia leadership team includes Boeing Brasil Commercial will be born besides the Cygnus. neers worked on the development of the engineers and executives from compa- fully grown, through Boeing’s upcoming Octans president Milton Roberto Cygnus project and will work on future nies such as automotive groups Tesla purchase of Embraer’s regional aircraft Perreira told AIN about the company’s Octans models. and BMW, artificial intelligence special- business. Kopter’s local distributor, Gual- plans and the Brazilian market’s pecu- The five-passenger Cygnus has a metallic ist Nvidia, eVTOL aircraft pioneer Zee ter, said the Swiss startup is scouting sites liarities. While the U.S., Canadian, and structure, high cantilevered wing, fixed tri- Aero, industrial gas supplier Air Liquide, for a factory in Brazil. Lastly, Octans Air- Australian markets each have about 13 cycle landing gear, day/night VFR and IFR and investment group SystemIQ. Miftak- craft, which has delivered more than 240 percent experimental aircraft, Brazil’s capabilities, and is powered by a 300-hp hov previously founded electric vehicle experimental aircraft since 2002, is mov- uncertified fleet is at 26 percent, twice Lycoming IO-540 engine with a Hartzell infrastructure company eMotorWerks ing into the production of certified aircraft as large. “It’s easier to produce uncerti- three-blade metal propeller. Air condition- and served as its CEO. His new company with its five-passenger Cygnus, unveiled fied aircraft,” Perreira said. The Cygnus is ing and leather seats are part of the interior has just started a funding round to raise at the show. being developed to meet ANAC and FAA designed by Studio Marcelo Teixeira. R.P. about $10 million in fresh investment for the program. n

38 Aviation International News \ September 2019 \ ainonline.com

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There are a few things Rick Heine insists just beginning powerplant training when Flightdocs never strays from as the avi- he left—such as painting houses. Later, ation software provider’s growth trajec- he started a financial services statement tory and headcount keep climbing. One processing technology company whose is never letting the phones at its Bonita first big client was Citibank. It was after Springs, Florida office ring more than he sold that business that he discovered twice. “That’s a top priority and it’s still what would become Flightdocs. instilled in every new employee,” Heine,

Flightdocs founder and CEO, told AIN. Calculated Growth FLIGHTDOCS Another is employee engagement with In the early years, Flightdocs took a cal- Flightdocs CEO Rick Heine, left, with president Greg Heine and Bonita Springs (Florida) Mayor customers—including Heine and the culated approach to growth, selling to Peter Simmons at the grand opening of the company’s technology center in August 2018. company’s other senior leaders. “If a cus- a couple of customers at a time. Heine tomer calls me at three o’clock on a Sun- wanted to make sure that “everything was announce the worldwide roll-out of what it and new projects. Equally important to day morning, I’m picking up the phone,” perfect” for Flightdocs’s new customers, calls Flightdocs Operations. Instead of pro- its longevity is a continued focus on its added Heine, who routinely gives out his and that it listened and responded care- viding and supporting separate software founding values of listening to and being cell phone number to customers. fully to each of their needs. All the while, modules, Flightdocs Operations combines hyper-responsive to its customers he was tweaking and improving its main- them into a package for corporate flight “I want to know that [customers] respect stay maintenance tracking product. “We departments and provides a platform for us and we respect them,” Heine said. I just saw, incrementally got the beachhead.” other services to tie into, such as catering, “Everything comes after them. I’m vigilant as the new Its maintenance tracking software hotel reservations and ordering aircraft on that. We’re so locked in that compla- enables owners and operators to track parts. “It really becomes the world’s first cency ain’t getting through the system.” n technology emerged, and manage the maintenance and airwor- flight department management system,” he the opportunity to get thiness of their aircraft as well as regula- said of Flightdocs Operations. “Ultimately tory compliance, including airworthiness you’ll be able to do everything on Flight- in the business and to directives. In the years since, it has added docs; everything from scheduling a flight, be able to get some inventory management, flight scheduling doing maintenance, ordering food for your Tamarack obtains momentum” and crew management software as well people on board, to getting them a hotel as an encrypted, real-time messaging room, or making sure parts are delivered financing during — Rick Heine, Flightdocs founder and CEO platform called FD Connect that enables on time, or immediately.” communication between flight crews, But the innovation won’t stop there. bankruptcy reorg Wavering from either one of those sug- maintainers, schedulers, and dispatchers Heine believes innovation is important to gests complacency, which is the greatest via the web and iPhone and iPad apps. a long path forward for the company. It’s Active winglet developer Tamarack threat the privately held company faces At this year’s NBAA-BACE, to be held why nearly a third of Flightdocs’s staff are Aerospace Group has received U.S. today. “My biggest challenge is to make from October 22 to 24 in Las Vegas, it will developers who are working on existing Bankruptcy Court approval for $1.95 sure we never lose that edge,” he explained. million in debtor-in-possession financ- That edge is the reason why Flight- ing, the Sandpoint, Idaho company docs is where it is today. It grew out of a announced last month. “This financing small, New Mexico firm offering paper- from friendly investors is now the only based maintenance tracking services to Sikorsky patents technology to prevent debt secured by our IP [intellectual prop- fewer than a handful of clients. Heine erty] and is an important step in our reor- acquired Flightdocs in 2003, and today he counterfeiting of aircraft parts ganization, which allows us to continue has 100 employees and about 1,000 cli- serving our expanding fleet,” Tamarack ents with rotorcraft and fixed-wing fleets The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office security holograms, and RFID to verify president Jacob Klinginsmith said. that include Fortune 500 corporate flight (USPTO) recently awarded Sikorsky products in a similar manner. Sikorsky’s The “friendly investors” includes departments, charter and fractional air- Aircraft a patent (No. US10286719B2) parent corporation Lockheed Martin a group of customers who have pur- craft providers, air ambulance operators, for new anti-counterfeiting technol- already holds patents in several of these chased Tamarack’s Atlas active winglet government agencies, and regional airlines. ogy. The newly patented technology areas. The new patent, however, is one of system, vendors, and other stakehold- “We were the first fully cloud-based both prevents some counterfeiting and the first that is intended to prevent dupli- ers “who are committed to Tamarack’s maintenance-tracking company,” Heine allows identification of counterfeit parts. cation of the parts in the first place. future,” the company added. In June, said. As dependence on the Internet Sikorsky originally filed for the patent on Many counterfeiters use scanning tech- Tamarack filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy grew and its functionality as a business November 4, 2015. nology involving some form of radiation to reorganization, citing FAA and EASA air- tool expanded, “I just saw, as the new The newly patented invention adds a gather an accurate image of a part they worthiness directives that effectively technology emerged, the opportunity to “radiation impacting feature on or within want to counterfeit. The feature described grounded Atlas-equipped Cessna Cita- get in the business and to be able to get the part” during the manufacturing pro- in the new patent can be configured to dis- tionJets as the primary cause. some momentum,” he added. cess. The feature is not specific to any one tort or disrupt this scanning radiation. The Those groundings have since been Heine knows a little something about material and can be made of a fluorescent, resulting image is therefore too fuzzy to lifted, with the FAA and EASA having aircraft maintenance. After high school, phosphorescent, emissive, or other mate- accurately duplicate the part. agreed that previously-issued Tamarack he began training as an airframe and pow- rial that can serve as a unique signature. Sikorsky was not able to comment on service bulletins were all that was nec- erplant mechanic around the time of air- Because of the singularity of radiation the deployment of the patented technology essary to comply with the ADs. “We’re line deregulation. “I was told I’d be lucky signatures, the impacting feature can iden- due to “market exclusivity implications.” excited to be back on track with our sales if I get 10 bucks [an hour] working third tify if a part is legitimate. Counterfeiters The company also did not elaborate on and installation process,” Klinginsmith shift on a tarmac in Anchorage, Alaska,” will be unable to exactly mimic the radi- how the technology might impact legiti- said. “We have several installations he said. “At the time, I just couldn’t afford ation signature. mate parts duplication under the FAA Parts scheduled or in process now, and we’re to be an aircraft mechanic.” So Heine went Existing anti-counterfeiting technol- Manufacturer Approval regulations and seeing strong interest. It’s going to be a off and did other things—noting he’d ogies use other forms of radiation, 3D processes (FAA Part 21 regulations). K.W.R. good second half of the year.” J.S. completed his airframe training and was

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19-MCJT23621 G5000 Upgrade Ad_Citation-10.8125x13.875-AIN.indd 1 6/13/19 4:06 PM approached at the event by representa- New organization champions E-aviation tives from several airports seeking information on how to prepare for their arrival. by Curt Epstein Toward that end, the organization is currently working on a manual for air- With a mission to promote awareness and than three decades, adding that given a Cessna 172. Bye sees a potential market for port sponsors looking to embrace electric- the early adoption of hybrid and electric hybrid aircraft’s reduced emissions, and as many as 66,000 training aircraft to meet and hybrid-powered aircraft, which will aircraft, along with the development of their complete elimination with electric anticipated pilot training demands as well describe their function and their unique infrastructure at airports to support them, aircraft, along with the quiet electric motors, as to replace older, near-obsolete aircraft. infrastructure needs, with a planned release the Eco-Aviation Foundation Interna- the technology has now arrived that would He told the audience the eFlyer2 is by the end of the year. It is also lobbying tional, a 501 C3 non-profit organization, render those arguments null. In the hopes currently in its certification configura- manufacturers to identify and adopt one launched recently with a kick-off event of many in the local aviation community, tion, and he expects certification within standard recharging technology so airports at the Museum of Flying at California’s that could perhaps be enough to stay the the next 18 months. A larger eFlyer4 wishing to attract these aircraft can quickly Santa Monica Airport. With dozens of executioner’s ax, which hangs over SMO is planned for the on-demand air-taxi/ and confidently move ahead with install- companies currently working on such and is slated to drop at the end of 2028. private pilot segments. With far fewer ing the required hardwired charging sta- aircraft, many view their eventual accep- “Our view that the opportunity to moving parts in the engine, the aircraft tions. The foundation will also advocate for tance as the biggest shift in the industry become a pioneer, to consider the possi- promises drastically reduced mainte- more widespread adoption of solar energy since the introduction of the jet engine. bilities, is combined around two factors,” nance costs over its conventionally pow- collection at airports to help power those “Twenty years from now, there will be said Bye Aerospace founder and CEO ered brethren as well. charging stations. very few, if any, petroleum-engined air- George Bye, one of the keynote speakers Those reduced operating costs would Burgess also plans for the foundation craft,” Scott Burgess, the organization’s at the July event. “One is the environ- help make flight training and on-demand to provide scholarships to help attract a president, told the audience at the event. mental benefit, the CO2 and the noise; the aviation more affordable, and perhaps even new generation of technicians to work on “In our lifetime, we will see the end of other is the disruptive ability to change spur a resurgence in local recreational fly- these next-generation aircraft. “There’s them.” He pointed out that major OEMs the equation about the cost of flying.” ing clubs. One of the near-term goals of the a whole new layer of technology that is such as Boeing and Airbus have targeted Eco Aviation Foundation is to establish a going to require training,” he told the between 2035 and 2045 as the timeframe Industry’s Next Generation flight training circuit in California between audience. “Before you certify the aircraft, for when they expect their fleets to have In addition to being a hobby or a profes- Compton/Woodley Airport (which already you have to certify how the mechanics are transitioned to hybrid propulsion, if not sion, general aviation is also the conduit has a pair of based Pipistrel Alpha Electros going to be trained and provide oversight, fully electric powerplants. through which the next generation of awaiting training approval), Santa Monica, because right now there’s nothing about “You’re not going to snap your fingers airline pilots is produced, Bye noted. A and San Gabriel Valley Airport. electric motors and these types of batter- and it’s gone,” Burgess told AIN. “You former Air Force pilot, he said that the Los Angeles-based Ampaire is aiming ies in the curriculum.” n have a good 20-year phase-in schedule, military is no longer the robust pipeline of at a different market and is taking a dif- and the small planes will come first, based pilots it once was, so civil aviation is now ferent approach for its first aircraft. The upon limitations in battery density.” carrying the load of producing the vast hybrid-electric EEL is a retrofit of the The irony of the launch event’s taking numbers of pilots required by the airlines. unique push/pull Cessna 337 Skymaster. place at the embattled airport, which With that, he pointed out that the average One of its conventional engines has been Helo operator: community leaders have lobbied to close age of the legacy training aircraft fleet is replaced with an electric powerplant, for more than a decade, wasn’t lost on 50 years, and the cost to fly and maintain while the other was upgraded with a new, city reneged many attendees. Indeed the city at the those aircraft is a great burden that gets more fuel-efficient engine from partner time had just commenced the shortening passed along to the student pilots. Continental Aerospace Technologies. on FBO deal of the runway from 5,000 feet to 3,500 As his company’s eFlyer2 electric train- According to the company, which recently feet, lopping off 750 feet of tarmac at each ing aircraft is currently undergoing FAA opened its order book for the aircraft, Less than two weeks after reaching a end, a project that concluded in August. certification, he said the current operating the EEL is currently the largest aircraft settlement agreement in federal court, All along, the major problems cited with cost per flight hour is $3. The company to fly using electric propulsion. Even as a the town of Norwood, Massachusetts, the airport were the noise and air pollu- expects the in-service costs for the aircraft hybrid it promises to more than halve fuel has apparently reneged on the signed tion. “Every neighborhood near every air- to be approximately $23 per flight hour, or burn, emissions and maintenance costs. and official accord acknowledging that port complains about the same thing,” said less than one quarter the cost for a conven- “A little over 100 years ago we had the Boston Executive Helicopters (BEH) has Burgess, a Santa Monica resident for more tionally powered training aircraft such as a dawn of powered flight; it gave us the abil- “satisfied all minimum standards” for the ity to fly,” Ampaire CEO and co-founder “prompt issuance” of an FBO permit for Kevin Noertker told the audience. “Half- Norwood Airport. way between then and now we had the According to BEH’s attorney, early last second revolution with the dawn of the jet month the Norwood Airport Commission age that enabled us to fly longer distances (NAC) declined to approve BEH’s request with more passengers and more payload, for an FBO permit, citing an alleged defi- really connecting the world. Now we’re ciency in insurance coverage. This is entering the third revolution in aviation, despite the city stipulating in the July 30 and again it’s driven by new opportunities agreement that “all minimum standards in propulsion technologies that transform and additional requirements for the the economics of aviation, and this revo- issuance of an FBO permit by the NAC lution will be electric.” to BEH have been met.” He sees the six-seat EEL receiving FAA Another issue that might threaten STC approval by the end of 2021. The air- the viability of the agreement is that craft, which will have a useful range of 200 three NAC members didn’t personally miles, is targeted to the regional airlines, sign it. The agreement shows that an and later this year, one will be flying proving attorney signed as a representative runs on commercial island-hopping routes of two members, but BEH questioned used by Hawaii-based Mokulele Airlines. his authority to do that. A third mem- Given such potential on the horizon, ber who wasn’t available to sign the CURT EPSTEIN CURT the foundation will also work to edu- agreement at the time is believed to Eco-Aviation Foundation president Scott Burgess (left) fields questions from the audience at cate communities about the benefits of have no intention of signing. “With- the foundation launch reception at the Museum of Flying in Santa Monica. Keynote speakers electric and hybrid aircraft in terms of out their actual signature[s], I do not at the event were Kevin Noertker (center), co-founder and CEO of hybrid-powered aircraft noise and pollution reduction as well as accept the agreement,” said BEH remanufacturer Ampaire, and electric aircraft manufacturer Bye Aerospace’s CEO George Bye. lowered operation costs for students and president Christopher Donovan. G.G. The two companies have actual aircraft, which they hope to bring to market soon. recreational pilots. Burgess noted he was

42 Aviation International News \ September 2019 \ ainonline.com Atlantic_Dependable_AIN_Feb_2019_Final.pdf 1 1/15/2019 3:03:31 PM

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K continued from page 1 the country,” agreed Selena Shilad, executive director of the Alliance for Aviation FAA certification in hand, Legislators on GA Across America, saying the Plane Act “would support our aviation infrastruc- or too bureaucratic. In 2016, the Govern- ture and future aviators.” Gulfstream delivers first G600 ment Accountability Office estimated that the aviation trust fund had lost between $1 Pilot Protections by Chad Trautvetter billion and $2 billion “or more” in tax rev- Paramount in the Plane Act are the numer- enue, and fuel vendors have overpaid by as ous protections aimed at the pilot. This is Gulfstream Aerospace has delivered the in a short period of time. The G600…con- much as $230 million in tax revenue as a the third in a series of comprehensive bills first G600—to an unidentified U.S. cus- tinues the emergence of a new generation result of the then decade-old fuel-fraud law. that Inhofe has authored on pilots since tomer—from its Savannah, Georgia head- of Gulfstream aircraft that started with the While the aviation system has lost rev- he faced his own entanglement with the quarters, the company announced on G500 in 2018. We have only just begun.” enue, efforts to reverse the law had been FAA after landing on a closed runway in August 8. This milestone comes a little The G600, which received FAA difficult, since it created a windfall for the Texas in October 2010. more than a month after the fly-by-wire approval on June 28, is entering service highway trust fund. The National Air Trans- As such, the Plane Act’s first title is twinjet earned both U.S. FAA type and after a design and test program that portation Association (NATA), which has named “Fairness to Pilots,” with sections production certification. included flying nearly 100,000 hours in worked for years behind the scenes to con- that would address the ability to appeal to “We always strive to exceed our cus- the company’s labs and more than 3,200 vince lawmakers to reverse the law, praised federal district court, the NTSB authority tomers’ expectations, and our first G600 flight hours. With a range of 6,500 nm, it the language in the Plane Act to lift the tax. to review an airman medical certificate delivery is a prime example of that,” said can fly nonstop from Paris to Los Ange- “[It] would undo an ill-founded policy that denial, the ability for an airman to volun- Gulfstream president Mark Burns. “Our les or Hong Kong at an average speed of has taken money away from the aviation sys- tarily surrender a medical certificate, the team enabled this technologically advanced Mach 0.90. To date, the G600 has broken tem for over a decade,” said NATA president ability to reapply for a certificate without aircraft to move from certified to delivered more than 10 city-pair speed records. n Gary Dempsey. “This legislation will enable an unnecessary wait period, and an exten- NATA’s members to keep fuel prices com- sion of FAA designee due process protec- petitive, and ensure the tax revenue from jet tions, among other aspects. fuel sales supports aviation system users.” In addition, the legislation would address rulemaking by requiring the FAA to con- Infrastructure Investment sider the number of certificate holders and Along with fuel fraud, an entire section small businesses affected by or request- of the bill is named “Forward-Looking ing the proposed rulemaking, requiring a Investment in General Aviation, Han- timely notice on each petition filed in the gars, and Tarmacs Act” and dedicated rulemaking process. Further, FAA desig- to expanding and protecting resources nees would be afforded civil liability pro- for general aviation airports. This can be tections provided to FAA employees. particularly difficult for smaller facilities Other sections are designed to improve without the means or understanding of repair station protections, including the how to access funding. restoration of the ability of a repair sta- The first Gulfstream G600 was delivered to an unidentified U.S.-based customer in early Provisions in this section would establish tion to voluntarily surrender certificates. August. Gulfstream’s new large-cabin twinjet has a range of 6,500 nm and can fly nonstop a five-year public-private partnership pilot It also extends the FAA’s ability to keep from Paris to Los Angeles or Hong Kong at an average speed of Mach 0.90. program to attract private sector invest- out bad actors. ment to general aviation airports; reduce Another area of the bill includes a number local match requirements for certain of provisions designed to foster the devel- non-primary airport projects; ensure that opment of air traffic controllers, including carryover funds designed for non-primary the ability for the FAA’s academy to remain Nexa: UAM investment could reach $318B airports are dedicated for that use; desig- open in times of a government shutdown. nate qualified general aviation airports and Unsurprisingly, the bill immediately Over the next 20 years, as much as $318 to guide prospective investors in urban develop other general aviation airports as gained support from a spectrum of avi- billion could be invested to transform urban air mobility as where capital can be put to disaster relief airports; and increase avail- ation organizations, 13 of which wrote a air mobility in 74 cities around the world, most effective use. “The report is also a first ability of funding for automated weather letter saying the bill “sets the stage for the according to a new study published August attempt to identify the cost of UAM infrastruc- observing systems (AWOS). future of general aviation by empowering 16 by Nexa Advisors and the Vertical Flight ture: $32 billion for all 74 cities by 2040,” he The provisions were particularly wel- the voices of pilots, investing in airport Society. The “Urban Air Mobility—Econom- explained. “This is very affordable as poten- comed by the National Association of infrastructure, and ensuring more oppor- ics and Global Markets” study promises a tial revenues generated from this infrastruc- State Aviation Officials (NASAO), which tunities for a trained aviation workforce.” detailed analysis of infrastructure needs ture will be in excess of $244 billion.” represents state agencies that rely on fed- Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association and opportunities in major metropolitan The anticipated $318 billion value of the eral funding support of their local projects. president Mark Baker praised the sena- areas and forecasts a projected growth urban air mobility market includes infra- “Our members were especially encour- tors for introducing the Plane Act. “Sen. path for each location in the period 2020 structure (vertiports and ATM), but also aged to see continued reform made to the Inhofe has been a longtime supporter of to 2040. aircraft that Nexa sees being operated in Non-Primary Entitlement (NPE) program. general aviation and we thank him and According to the study, the potential the following five segments: airport shuttle By easing the financial onus on states and Senator King for their relentless work.” for developing urban air mobility in each services, on-demand air taxi, emergency requiring NPE funds to stay in the cate- The path forward for the Plane Act is metropolitan area is defined by what Nexa services, business aviation, and regional gory, investment in general aviation air- yet unclear, particularly since there will calls its “DNA,” which the company defines point-to-point charters (of up to 250 miles). ports is prioritized and protected,” said not be a catch-all FAA reauthorization bill as “a complex blend of current transporta- In the first instance, Nexa sees existing Shelly Simi, president and CEO of NASAO. in the offing for several more years. But tion issues, congestion, population density, helicopter services being best placed to Simi further stressed the importance of Inhofe over the years has been a skilled existing transportation infrastructure, reg- capitalize on rising demand for urban air supporting the general aviation industry. politician, able to shepherd narrowly ulation, business aviation, gross domestic mobility. The report predicts that Vancou- “The general aviation industry, support- focused bills even without over-arching product, local politics, per capita income, ver, Miami, Singapore, and a dozen other ing 1.1 million jobs and generating an eco- must-pass legislation as a vehicle. and a host of other issues.” The study uses cities will accelerate investment in new nomic output of $219 billion in the U.S., His doggedness spans decades, partic- these factors to determine the likelihood of approaches to urban air mobility from 2020. is critical to the economic health of the ularly on general aviation issues; in the any given city being either an early or late The report also addresses the potential to nation,” she added. early 1990s, he spearheaded a procedural adopter of electric-powered vertical takeoff start testing urban air traffic management “Our nation relies on a network of maneuver that broke the logjam against and landing (eVTOL) aircraft. systems and the potential for new battery more than 5,000 airports that support product liability reform legislation and According to Nexa’s managing partner and hydrogen fuel cell technology to propel critical services, agriculture, and eco- cleared the way for the hallmark General Michael Dyment, the report is intended eVTOL growth. C.A. nomic activity in communities across Aviation Revitalization Act of 1994. n

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On the following day, Typhoons were launched again, this time to investigate Unmanned a Tupolev Tu-134 “Crusty.” The modified airliner was one of the aircraft that was KAL MD500 flies adapted with an extended nose housing radar and onboard systems as Tu-134BSh Korean Air (KAL) successfully conducted and Tu-134UBL versions to train Tu-22M the first flight of its unmanned MD500 and Tu-160 bomber crews. Some of these light helicopter, known as the KUS-VH, aircraft have been de-modified and are on July 30. The flight lasted for around used as passenger transports, but retain 30 minutes at the Korea Aerospace

ROYAL AIR FORCE ROYAL the long nose. The aircraft encountered Research Institute’s aviation center, A Typhoon of No. XI Squadron RAF (foreground) intercepted this Russian Tu-134 “Crusty” on August 6. bore Russian naval aviation titles. which is located in Goheung, South The latest scrambles brought the Jeolla Province, South Korea. Part of number of aircraft intercepted by No. XI the inaugural flight test also saw the Squadron to 19 since it took over the Bal- execution of a remote engine start, and RAF Typhoons intercept tic extended Air Policing (eAP) role on tethered hover flight tests to validate the May 3 to 19. The RAF’s mission is known flight control systems. as Operation Azotize. For the previous Russian aircraft over Baltic eight months, German Typhoons had held responsibility for the Amari detachment. by David Donald The Amari operation was begun in May 2014 in the light of increasing tensions During the first half of August Eurofighter RAF Typhoons from Amari intercepted with Russia and the need for NATO to

Typhoons intercepted a number of Russian another Tu-142, accompanied by two increase its Baltic Air Policing commit- AIR KOREAN aircraft, including five in two days. The Su-30SM fighters, while Typhoons based ments, which began in 2004 with rota- The KUS-VH is seen during its July 30 intercepts took place in international air- at Lossiemouth in Scotland intercepted tional deployments of interceptors from first flight at Korean Air’s Aerospace space over the Baltic Sea, but close to the another pair of Tu-142s NATO air forces to Siauliai air base in Research Institute aviation center. airspaces of Estonia and Lithuania. Russian Regarding the August 5 mission, a Lithuania. During 2014/15 fighters were aircraft often fly close to the coast as they Typhoon pilot from No. XI Squadron also deployed to Malbork in Poland. The First shown publicly at the 2015 transit to Kaliningrad, a Russian enclave reported that: “We were scrambled to Siauliai detachment is currently manned ADEX show, the KUS-VH has an endur- that lies on the Baltic coast between Poland intercept a Russian An-26 aircraft rout- by Spanish EF-18 Hornets and Hungarian ance of six hours and payload of 440 and Lithuania. An Ilyushin Il-76 transport ing west close to Estonian airspace. Once JAS 39C Gripens. kg (970 pounds). KAL said develop- had been intercepted on July 31. complete with this task, a second task was RAF participation began with Tornado ment will continue until 2021 and will On August 5, Typhoons launched from initiated to intercept a group of contacts F.Mk 3s in 2004, while Typhoons made continue to expand the helicopter’s Amari in Estonia initially to intercept, iden- operating to the south close to Lithuanian their first deployment to Siauliai in 2014, flight range and operational altitude. tify, and shadow an Antonov An-26 “Curl” airspace. These aircraft transiting the Bal- and to Amari in 2015. n The goal is to develop the KUS-VH into medium transport. While airborne, the tic region were not on a recognized flight an unmanned attack platform. fighters were then tasked with intercept- plan or communicating with air traffic For weekly defense news from our worldwide team “We also expect to extend this tech- ing three further aircraft, a Tupolev Tu-142 control. In the end, the intercept was of contributors, go to ainonline.com/subscribe and nology to other helicopters, including “Bear-F” long-range maritime patroller and uneventful and conducted in a profes- sign up for AIN’s Defense Perspective eNewsletter, the UH-1H and UH-60, as well as to two Sukhoi Su-27 fighters. On August 9, sional manner throughout.” compiled by David Donald. fixed-wing fighters such as the F-5,” said Jong-koo Kang, director of Korean Air’s Aerospace Research Institute in a statement. He added that the system will also be made available for export and First Apaches made to fit the clients’ requirements. KAL said sensors such as electro-optics, arrive in India search and rescue packages, and Auto- matic Identification System (AIS) can be On July 27 an Antonov An-124 heavylifter installed on the helicopter, depending of Antonov Airlines arrived at Hindon Air on its intended mission. Force Station (AFS) from Phoenix-Mesa Known as Korean Air Lines until Gateway Airport carrying the first four Boe- 1984, the national flag-carrier’s Aero- ing AH-64E(I) Apache Guardian attack heli- space Division manufactured the copters for the Indian Air Force. A second MD500 under license from 1976 to batch of four was expected in early August. 1988, but the type is now being phased According to Boeing, the deliveries are out for newer helicopters such as the being made ahead of schedule. KAI KUH-1 Surion for combat utility and

Following reassembly and air test, the INDIAN AIR FORCE scout missions. KAL took a number of eight AH-64s are due to move to Pathankot The first AH-64E(I) was handed over to the Indian Air Force at Mesa on May 10. surplus MD500s from the Korean armed AFS in Punjab, where the Indian Air Force forces and started on the KUS-VH pro- expects to formally induct the type into September 2015, also buying 15 CH-47F(I) formally handed over to the IAF in a cere- gram in 2014. In late 2012 Boeing had service this month. The operating unit is Chinooks at the same time. The first of the mony at Mesa on May 10, 2019. demonstrated its own Unmanned Little expected to be No. 125 “Gladiators” Squad- CH-47s arrived in India by sea in February. In March 2018 Tata Boeing Aerospace—a Bird MD500 variant in Korea. C.C. ron, which previously operated Mil Mi-35 The Defence Ministry approved the pro- joint venture between the two industrial “Hind” gunships. The remaining 14 AH-64s curement of six more Apaches in 2017, with giants—opened a new facility in Hyder- from the initial Indian order will be delivered these aircraft intended for service with the abad to build Apache fuselages, which are Russia’s ministry of defense recently in 2020. A second squadron is expected to Indian Army. shipped to the final assembly line at Mesa. released video of what is thought to be the form at Jorhat AFS in Assam, which currently The Air Force’s first AH-64E(I) flew at Boe- The first fuselage was delivered in June the first flight of Sukhoi’s S-70 Okhotnik (hunter) hosts An-32 transports and Mi-17 helicopters. ing’s Mesa, Arizona plant in July 2018 and same year. TBA is now the sole source for unmanned combat air vehicle (UCAV). India became the 14th customer for the Indian pilots and technicians began training AH-64 fuselages, and also supplies other To see the video and learn more, go to: Apache when it signed for 22 AH-64E(I)s in in the U.S. that year. The first helicopter was components for the program. D.D. ainonline.com/russias70flightvideo.

46 Aviation International News \ September 2019 \ ainonline.com Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) The Expert Panel

Alternative fuels are slowly but surely working their way into fuel supplies worldwide and many of the turbine-powered aircraft that will fly to Las Vegas for NBAA-BACE will burn some amount of sustainable aviation fuel. AIN’s forum will bring together a panel of industry experts to explain how this fuel is gaining ground, why it is good for engines and the environment, and how you can help move the needle on the use of sustainable aviation fuel in the aircraft that you operate.

Wednesday, October 23, 2019 | 12:00 pm NBAA Annual Convention | Las Vegas, NV

Moderated by Charles Etter Steve Csonka Keith R. Sawyer Matt Thurber, Environmental and Regulatory Executive Director Manager of Editor-in-Chief Affairs, Technical Fellow Commercial Aviation Alternative Aviation Fuels of AIN Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation Fuels Initiative (CAAFI) Avfuel Corporation

PRESENTED BY:

Registration is free but limited, and we expect to fill all seats. Lunch will be served. ainonline.com/saf2019

SPONSORED BY: SPECIAL report Part 2: Flight Deck Avionics Product Support Survey

Last year’s leaders hold their positions in the avionics Survey Rules and cabin electronics categories and Methodology As with AIN Publications’ previous annual Product Sup- Garmin held the lead in the 2019 AIN Avionics Prod- In the Cabin Electronics segment, Satcom Direct port Surveys, the objective this year was to obtain from uct Support Survey’s Flight Deck Avionics segment, maintained its first-place position from last year with the users of business jets, pressurized turboprop air- clocking an Overall Average rating by AIN readers of an 8.4, followed closely by Gogo Business Aviation at 8.3. planes, and turbine-powered helicopters statistically valid 8.5, followed in second place by Honeywell’s BendixKing Gulfstream’s Cabin Management product line took third information about the product support provided by flight division in a tie with Collins Aerospace and Universal place at 7.9, with Collins Aerospace and Honeywell tied deck avionics and cabin electronics manufacturers over Avionics at 7.9, with Honeywell in third place at 7.8. for fourth at 7.8, followed by Lufthansa Technik at 7.4. the last year and to report this information to our readers. The goal is to encourage continuous improvement in avionics product support throughout the industry. This survey was conducted via a dedicated website, created by AIN from the ground up to provide improved ease of use and to encourage greater reader participation. AIN emailed qualified readers a link to the survey website and also sent a postcard invitation with login credentials to the survey website. The survey website was open from May 1 to June 7. Respondents were asked to rate the avionics products they use. Respondents were also asked to rate, on a scale from 1 to 10, the quality of service they received during the previous 12 months in the following categories: » Parts Availability–in stock versus back order, shipping time. » Cost of Parts–value for price paid. » AOG Response–speed, accuracy, cost. » Warranty Fulfillment–ease of paperwork, extent of coverage. » Technical Manuals–ease of use, formats available, timeli- ness of updating. » Technical Reps–response time, knowledge, effectiveness. » Overall Product Reliability–how the product’s reliability and quality stack up against the competition. Respondents were also asked to recognize individuals who have provided them with exceptional product support and service. The 2019 AIN Product Support Survey results for avionics are published in this issue. The results for aircraft appeared in teh August issue. Engines will be featured next month. n FLIGHT DECK AVIONICS GARMIN

The Results weekend shifts of its U.S. pilot operations team, from recently added elearning classes include Garmin Avi- Garmin’s product support efforts consistently put the 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. U.S. central time, so pilots can get their ation Weather Radar 2.0, G5000 Essentials 2.0, and avionics manufacturer at the top in the AIN Avionics questions answered seven days a week. G5000 Essentials 2.0 Plus. New in-person classes Product Support Survey. AIN readers gave Garmin an To bolster its support for the technical side, Garmin have been added for G3X Touch installation and pilot 8.5 Overall Average, up 0.1 from last year’s first-place added a new field service team just for avionics sold training and weather radar. Pilots have also accessed finish. Garmin earned top category scores for Parts “over-the-counter” and not part of its certified prod- training for the GFC500 and GFC600 autopilots and Availability (8.8), Cost of Parts (7.8), AOG Response uct installation policy, according to Lee Moore, direc- weather radar via webinars. (8.4), Technical Manuals (8.3), Technical Reps (8.4), tor of avionics product support. Garmin provides training for dealers, aircraft man- and Overall Product Reliability (8.9). Other “infrastructure and organizational” improve- ufacturers, and technicians and created a class on ments include creating additional web-based Garmin Retrofit Autopilot, G5 Installation, and Main- The Improvements self-service options, improving aviation services tenance. A new video series offers training on data- Garmin’s product support efforts start with training management, and expediting returns processing. “We base update procedures and processes, TXi system and supporting the pilots who fly with its products in automated our customer feedback connection to our maintenance, and wiring fundamentals. At its regional their aircraft and extend to the technicians who install engineering department for faster and more accurate dealer maintenance training events, Garmin holds and service Garmin avionics in the field. response to product issues in the field,” Moore said. classes on new products and system hardware and To help pilots solve problems, Garmin launched Training options at Garmin have grown, and software upgrades.

48 Aviation International News \ September 2019 \ ainonline.com 2019 Average Ratings of Cockpit Avionics and Cabin Electronics Ratings 2019 2018 Change Overall Overall Overall from 2018 Parts AOG Warranty Technical Technical Product Average Average to 2019 Availability Cost of Parts Response Fulfillment Manuals Reps Reliability Flight Deck Avionics Garmin 8.5 8.4 0.1 8.8 7.8 8.4 8.5 8.3 8.4 8.9 BendixKing by Honeywell 7.9 7.5 0.4 8.1 6.2 8.1 8.6 8.1 8.1 8.6 Collins Aerospace (formerly Rockwell Collins) 7.9 8.0 -0.1 8.1 6.7 7.7 8.6 7.8 8.0 8.5 Universal Avionics 7.9 7.9 0.0 7.6 6.1 7.9 8.6 8.1 8.4 8.6 Honeywell 7.8 7.9 -0.1 8.0 6.4 8.0 8.4 7.9 8.0 8.2 Cabin Electronics SD (Satcom Direct) 8.4 8.2 0.2 8.0 7.3 8.6 8.7 8.5 9.0 8.6 Gogo Business Aviation 8.3 8.2 0.1 8.7 8.1 8.3 8.4 7.8 8.5 8.2 Gulfstream Cabin Management 7.9 7.9 0.0 8.2 6.4 8.7 8.5 6.9 8.8 7.8 Honeywell 7.8 7.6 0.2 7.8 6.7 7.9 8.3 7.8 7.9 8.1 Collins Aerospace (formerly Rockwell Collins) 7.8 7.3 0.5 7.9 7.2 7.6 8.5 7.2 7.9 8.1 Lufthansa Technik 7.4 7.4 0.0 8.0 5.7 7.8 8.4 6.9 7.8 7.6 *Companies listed in order of their 2019 overall average. Ties are listed alphabetically. Bold indicated highest number in each category

BENDIXKING AND HONEYWELL

(Includes Flight Deck Avionics and Cabin Electronics)

The Results In the Flight Deck Avionics segment, Honeywell’s Bendix- King division received a large bump in its Overall Average rating for 2019, up 0.4 to 7.9 and tied for second place with Collins Aerospace and Universal Avionics and also up from last year’s fourth place. BendixKing’s top category rating was Warranty Fulfillment (8.6). For Cabin Electronics, Honeywell tied with Collins Aero- space with a 7.8 rating and fourth place.

The Improvements Honeywell has expanded the ranks of its field service engineers (FSEs) and customer support managers (CSMs) to improve local support and resolution of issues at first contact. FSEs and CSMs held more than 50 events globally for Honeywell customers, along with visiting them in their facilities, for a total outreach to more than 4,000 operators. Customers can find the right contact using Honeywell’s Direct Access app or its MyAerospace website. COLLINS AEROSPACE “Our mission is to create a personalized and effective customer support experience by actively listening to our cus- (Includes Flight Deck Avionics and Cabin Electronics) tomers,” said Paco Perez, director of customer support. “We utilize feedback from our operator conferences, customer vis- The Results from surveys, advisory boards, and customer its, surveys, technical support and order management teams Collins Aerospace, the new name for the com- interactions, the company explained, “to drive to create robust and innovative customer-centric solutions.” pany following its purchase by United Tech- support strategies for both quick issue identi- Other Honeywell support efforts include a 24/7 AOG nologies late last year, tied for second place fication and creating a low effort experience.” team, with representatives based globally, and the Spares this year in the Flight Deck Avionics segment, Collins Aerospace takes the customer and Exchange Pool locations in Europe, Asia, and North and with a 7.9 ranking, along with BendixKing and feedback and adds data analytics to speed South America. Universal Avionics. Collins Aerospace received up response to customer issues. This process, To drive enhancements in its flight management system a top category ranking for Warranty Fulfill- according to the company, enables “Collins… (FMS) products, Honeywell created an FMS users forum ment (8.6). to gain visibility into customer issues that may to solicit feedback and ideas for future product roadmaps. In the Cabin Electronics segment AIN read- not be reflected in more traditional measures.” The company continues to add content to its Pilot Gate- ers ranked Collins Aerospace in fourth place Customers can access a self-help library if way website and app, which provides free access to relevant (7.8), tied with Honeywell. they wish to resolve problems on their own, technical publications, hot topics, and training videos. but they also can contact local customer “Our customers come first,” said Perez, “whether some- The Improvements support engineers based globally or Collins one has questions about their account, needs a part, or Collins Aerospace’s product support efforts Aerospace’s 24/7 Avionics Customer Support requires technical assistance, our global teams are ready combine customer satisfaction and next-issue Center. These resources are also available for to assist.” avoidance with consistent customer feedback Collins dealers.

ainonline.com \ September 2019 \ Aviation International News 49 SPECIAL report Part 2: Flight Deck Avionics

UNIVERSAL AVIONICS

The Results is to help solve database and equipment problems, Universal Avionics, which is now owned by Elbit Sys- freeing up experts who can spend their time on more tems, tied for second place this year with BendixKing complex issues. and Collins Aerospace, maintaining the same 7.9 rat- Universal has appointed a new customer training and ranking it received last year. ing manager, Amanda Grizzard, to help support the In the categories, Universal received high ratings company’s growing product line. This will include for Warranty Fulfillment (8.6) and Technical Reps Universal Avionics flight management systems technical and operational training. (8.4). Several new options are now available in Uni- head-wearable and SkyVis helmet-mounted head-up versal’s FlightAssure extended warranty program. The Improvements displays will be supported by the company’s UA tech- Designed for business aviation operators, the flat- Recent Universal Avionics product support efforts nical and field support team. The team is undergo- rate Essential and Premier programs last for three include new European offices, training for upcoming ing technical and on-the-job training with Universal years and have a fully transferable, fixed-price con- new products, new support functional roles, and enhanced flight vision system (EFVS) engineers, tract. Coverage includes removal and refit by a Uni- changes for the extended warranty program. including training on the FalconEye EFVS head-up versal authorized dealer. In Europe, operations are now consolidated under display. UA Field Support has partnered with UA The FlightAssure Premier program adds unlimited Universal Avionics Systems International (UA Inter- International to provide 24/7 first-tier for FalconEye no-fault-found coverage, counter-to-counter ship- national), including activities of ASI Aerospace & database users, including functions such as database ments, extended troubleshooting, technical publica- Innovation. UA International will serve French OEM downloads, download requirements training, and other tions, and FMS software upgrade discounts. customers as well as the European airline, business technical or administrative issues. Fleet operators can buy per flight hour with the aviation, and helicopter aftermarket. The UA Technical and Field Support team now has FlightAssure Fleet program, which covers repair, The new Universal Avionics ClearVision SkyLens a new position, technical support specialist, whose job replacement, and overhaul services and products.

CABIN ELECTRONICS

SATCOM DIRECT

The Results During the past year, Satcom Direct has enhanced Satcom Direct (SD) again ranked in first place for these capabilities. Operators who fly aircraft equipped the Cabin Electronics segment, with an 8.4 Overall with the Satcom Direct Router, for example, often Average, up 0.2 from last year’s 8.2 tie with Gogo. The will see problems fixed before they even know about strongest categories for SD this year were Warranty them and without having to download logs or notify Fulfillment (8.7), Technical Manuals (8.5), Technical Satcom Direct. Reps (9.0, the highest of any of this segment’s cate- The company has invested heavily in its Network gory rankings), and Overall Product Reliability (8.6). Operations Center in Melbourne, Florida, with new “support toolsets for machine learning and artificial SD Hub The Improvements intelligence, which help us not only identify when a Satcom Direct works closely with customers and customer is experiencing an outage, but are also smart In addition to offering network and cybersecu- because of its efforts to provide secure communi- enough to highlight a degraded user experience.” Even rity training for customers, Satcom Direct’s support cations, it is positioned to deliver proactive support, if the primary connectivity service isn’t working, Sat- team members all undergo constant training, and “predicting and addressing issues before passengers com Direct can determine a root cause for customers many are also pilots, so they understand airborne are even affected,” the company said. subscribing to the SD Xperience suite of services. connectivity issues.

GOGO BUSINESS AVIATION

The Results technicians are able to proactively detect problems Gogo Business Aviation ranked second place in this before the customer notices that there is an issue, year’s Avionics Product Support Survey, with an 8.3 according to Gogo. The percentage of these pro- Overall Average, up 0.1 from last year’s first-place tie active cases has grown to 20 percent of the total. with Satcom Direct. The company received top category Technicians are now resolving 98 percent of all tech- ratings for Parts Availability (8.7) and Cost of Parts (8.1). nical issues remotely, due to a combination of the Avance system and also improvements that Gogo The Improvements has made to the technical support team and product In October 2018, Gogo introduced its new Dash flight support systems. connectivity monitoring toolkit, and now more than As a result of continuous investments in placing field 2,000 customers are using Dash, resulting in a 25 support personnel near aircraft manufacturers and Gogo percent reduction in trouble tickets. Dash allows cus- Gogo Avance L3 dealers, Gogo’s overall trouble ticket rate has declined tomers to see more information about their Gogo further, to 3.6 percent. For installations, Gogo’s activation system, with real-time data available for onboard With the deployment of Gogo’s high-speed Avance rate has reached 94 percent within 24 hours, “a best-in- health and performance. air-to-ground network and airborne hardware, Gogo class activation rate,” according to the company.

50 Aviation International News \ September 2019 \ ainonline.com GULFSTREAM CABIN MANAGEMENT

The Results next flight. Presets include lighting, media, tempera- company said, “which provides significant improve- Gulfstream’s in-house developed Gulfstream Cabin ture, and window shades. GCMS touchscreens can ments in system responsiveness and reliability.” Management System (GCMS) ranked in third place also be used to monitor passenger electronic device The cabin controls now allow passengers to access this year with a 7.9 Overall Average and a top cate- use, when the aircraft is equipped with a Satcom a greater range of levels for lighting sources in their gory ranking of 8.7 for AOG Response. Direct Router. This can include which airborne con- seating areas. nectivity system is being used, a coverage map for Newer Gulfstream models offer optional for- The Improvements each type of system, and blocking of devices. ward or aft galleys, and the galley and vestibule Gulfstream has simplified the preset-creation process Gulfstream’s second-generation GCMS hard- touchscreen controls can accommodate both for its GCMS, and these are stored and ready for the ware is gaining more widespread adoption, the configurations.

Above & Beyond LUFTHANSA TECHNIK Survey respondents identified ndividuals who have provided them with exceptional product support and service. The Results Lufthansa Technik received the same 7.4 Overall Individual Manufactuer Location Average as last year, putting it in fifth place. BendixKing He goes the extra mile in sorting out and solving Paul Jones Phoenix by Honeywell problems on the company’s legacy equipment. The Improvements Earlier this year, Lufthansa Technik celebrated the Joe Dominguez Collins Aerospace Cedar Rapids, Iowa A guru when it comes To Collins Pro Line 21 advanced. 1,000th installation of its nice HD cabin management He goes above and beyond to support the NXi and Creighton Scarpone Garmin Olathe, Kansas and in-flight entertainment system on Airbus, Boeing, Active Traffic install in my Mustang. Bombardier, and Embraer business jets. Lufthansa Whenever we have a problem, she is really Technik is developing the fourth-generation nice HD responsive and takes care of us really quickly. She Jazmin Meza Honeywell Mexicali system, and this will offer new personalization and also monitors until the problem is fixed. She is a customization features. really good hard worker.

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ainonline.com \ September 2019 \ Aviation International News 51 AVIONICS & technology News Update Automatic landing tested in Diamond DA42 Avionics Sales Soar 14% in 1H Business and general aviation aircraft by Matt Thurber electronics sales climbed 14 percent year-over-year, to just more than $1.5 A team of researchers at the Technical billion, in the first six months, according University of Munich (TUM) and project to the Aircraft Electronics Association partners have successfully landed a mod- (AEA). Forward-fit avionics installations ified Diamond DA42 automatically and jumped 26.9 percent, to nearly $712.554 for the most part without human inter- million, while retrofit sales increased by vention using a vision-assisted navigation 4 percent, to almost $794.340 million. system to align the airplane with the run- “Avionics sales for general and business way centerline. aviation have now seen an increase in year- Unlike autoland systems in air trans- over-year sales for 10 straight quarters,” port aircraft, which have been in use for said AEA president and CEO Mike Adamson. decades, the TUM “C2Land” automatic According to the companies that landing system combines navigation separated their total sales figures between inputs with vision-assisted navigation to North America (U.S. and Canada) and fly the airplane to the airport then posi- other international markets, AEA said tion the airplane precisely on the runway. 74.9 percent of the first-half sales An advantage of vision-assisted naviga- volume occurred in the former, while tion is that it can work on any runway the remainder was in the latter. that the airplane is capable of using; there The reported data is based on net is no need for ground-based navigation sales price and includes all components facilities such as the instrument landing and accessories in flight deck, system that is needed for air transport cabin, software upgrades, portables, autoland, which in any case is available certified, and noncertified aircraft only at a limited number of runways. electronics; all hardware; batteries; and Automatic landing is necessary, accord- Vision-assisted navigation helped land a Diamond DA42 automatically, as part of a research chargeable product upgrades from ing to Martin Kügler, research associate at project at the Technical University of Munich. the participating manufacturers. the TUM Chair of Flight System Dynam- ics, because of the incipient development The DA42 made its first autolanding test pilot should do so. TUM would prefer Garmin Pilot Integrated of automated cargo and urban air mobility on November 30, 2016, but without the that the landing gear and flaps switch posi- with FltPlan eVTOL aircraft. Fly-by-wire (FBW) flight vision-assisted navigation, using GPS- tions correspond to the condition of the Garmin has added new capabilities to its controls are becoming more widespread based augmentation (GBAS). Later, satel- landing gear and flaps, instead of allowing Pilot EFB application with the integration of in airliners and business jets, and, he said, lite-based augmentation (SBAS) was added. the FBW to lower these devices without the FltPlan.com, following Garmin’s purchase “Thus, in our opinion, it’s only a question The concept of vision-assisted naviga- switches also moving to the correct position. of the flight-planning company last of time until ‘advanced autopilots’ or tion was to enable future certification of After the flight, safety pilot Thomas year. Garmin Pilot users can now access even full FBW systems become attractive C2Land, Kügler explained, as TUM believes Wimmer said, “The cameras already rec- FltPlan’s electronic Advance Passenger for general aviation aircraft. We want to that an autoland system based on GBAS/ ognize the runway at a great distance Information System (eAPIS) and Pre- showcase how that could work and what SBAS isn’t certifiable for IFR approaches to from the airport. The system then guides departure Clearances (PDC) services. the benefits are.” the typical 200-foot decision height. the aircraft through the landing approach The eAPIS and PDC services require C2Land could help recover the air- On May 21, the first autoland with on a completely automatic basis and lands paying for premium services at FltPlan. plane in case of an incapacitated pilot. vision-assisted navigation was accom- it precisely on the runway’s centerline.” Users can obtain PDCs 20 to 30 minutes Other possible applications include plished in Wiener-Neustadt, Germany. The The autoland system does not automati- before departure on Apple iPads running helping a pilot land if for some reason a FBW system does not yet automatically cally apply brakes, although it does keep the Garmin Pilot, then view routing, confirm, manual landing isn’t preferred or when lower the landing gear and flaps, although DA42 aligned with the runway centerline. and activate the flight plan in Garmin weather conditions are below instrument it does output a signal to indicate when the TUM is planning to add autobrakes. n Pilot. The app can also be used to enter approach minimums. and upload crew and passenger manifests For the C2Land project, TUM added a to U.S. Customs and Border Protection. FBW flight control system to the DA42, connected via clutch-equipped electromechan- New Android Version ical actuators to the airplane’s mechanical ICAO caps NAT region datalink altitude of WingX Released controls. The FBW system is connected to WingX Version 3 for Android is now available ailerons, elevator, rudder, and nosewheel A recently issued ICAO North Atlantic Citation X, for example, are able to climb for devices running Android 5.0 or higher. steering, and it also incorporates an auto- Systems Planning Group NAT OPS Bul- above FL410 before reaching NAT airspace, The new version adds a number of features throttle. A full set of conventional controls letin revises the North Atlantic datalink unless the outside temperature is abnor- that have been available on the Apple iOS for the safety pilot in the left seat is available. mandate, putting an upper limit of FL410 mally warmer than typical. And an airplane version of WingX. These include an improved TUM has been working on the auto- on operations in the North Atlantic Track that can achieve that performance can dis- moving map with regional selection for land program since 2013, focusing on the (NAT) region starting Jan. 30, 2020. Data- pense with having expensive FANS equip- downloads and overlays of terminal area development of the FBW flight controls link (generally FANS-1/A equipment) is now ment installed. If an operator doesn’t have charts, helicopter routes, Gulf Coast and and autoland capability. required from FL350 to FL390 in the NAT to install FANS, this could extend the lifes- Grand Canyon VFR charts, and VFR Flyaway Technical University of Braunschweig is region, and until this bulletin (revision 4) pan of older and less valuable airframes. planning charts on the moving map. Route a partner on the program and developed was released and became effective on Of course, these aircraft still require planning is improved with specific point and the navigation system, which includes the July 9, there was no cap on the altitude. ADS-B Out by midnight Dec. 31, 2019. But route summary information. And Bluetooth vision-assisted navigation. This system Starting Jan. 30, 2020, the datalink ADS-B Out provides an additional benefit connection has been upgraded along employs a visible-light camera and an mandate changes to FL290 to FL410 in for North Atlantic operations, in that Aire- with new hardware specs for connecting infrared camera connected to “image-pro- the NAT region, and this is good news for on’s space-based ADS-B network running ADS-B In receivers. WingX Version 3 is a cessing software that lets the system operators of certain airplanes. on Iridium’s Next satellite network will free upgrade, and the app is free for CFIs determine where the aircraft is relative For older airframes, Gulfstream’s GIV allow controllers to track such aircraft, and retired military aviators. In addition to the runway based on the camera data and GV, Bombardier Globals, and the even if they aren’t FANS-equipped. M.T. to Apple iOS and Android devices, WingX it receives.” also runs on Amazon’s Fire tablet.

52 Aviation International News \ September 2019 \ ainonline.com

ROTORCRAFT & unmanned systems News Update DOT IG Investigating ‘Doors Off’ Helitours The Department of Transportation Inspector General (IG) is auditing FAA oversight of the helitour industry at the request of New York’s two U.S. senators. The request was triggered by the fatal “doors off” Liberty Helicopters air tour crash in March 2018. The IG will investigate if tourists are permitted to fly with the helicopter doors off on commercial flights, how the safety restraint system used during the Liberty Helicopters

INTOSH crash received its original approval from FAA, and how the FAA reviewed,

DAVID M c DAVID tested, and approved the supplemental restraint system. Additionally, the IG will examine the FAA’s role in ensuring that helicopters in use today meet modern OEMs report mixed earnings safety standards. During the accident Fessenden resigns investigation, the NTSB discovered that the FAA had not evaluated the passenger but see brighter year-end from CHC Heli harness system used on the accident helicopter and the FAA subsequently by Mark Huber Long-time CHC CEO Karl Fessenden placed new restrictions for the restraint resigned, effective August 2, to accept systems on doors-off flights that Airbus, Leonardo, and Bell see signs of period, while backlog increased 11.4 percent a position outside the oil-and-gas indus- included requirements that operators hope for the months ahead, the compa- to €36.321 billion. try. He will be replaced on an interim obtain an FAA letter of authorization nies reported recently. Though Airbus Revenues increased by 7 percent to basis by Dave Balevic, CHC senior v-p (LOA) for the restraint systems used Helicopters reported marginally higher €5.962 billion, while EBIT (earnings before for engineering and operations. and that those restraints “can be quickly year-over-year deliveries in the first half, interest and taxes) surged by 92.5 percent released by a passenger with minimal the company still saw declines in reve- to €462 million. Net income more than tri- difficulty and without impeding egress nues, earnings, and orders, parent com- pled to €349 million. Group net debt also from the aircraft in an emergency.” pany Airbus Group announced in late increased to €4.098 billion, compared with July. First-half revenues at the helicopter €3.474 billion from the first half of 2018. Leonardo TH-119 Gets IFR OK division fell 1 percent from a year ago, to Leonardo CEO Alessandro Profumo Leonardo’s proposed U.S. Navy training €2.371 billion ($2.643 billion). said the first-half results are “in line with helicopter, the TH-119, has received IFR Meanwhile, Airbus Helicopters’ earn- expectations and we have achieved a supplemental type certification from the

ings in the first six months slid by 7 per- strong commercial performance in both CHC FAA. The TH-119 is equipped with Genesys cent from first-half 2018, to €125 million, domestic and international markets.” Karl Fessenden saw CHC through its Aerosystems avionics and a Pratt & Whitney reflecting a less favorable delivery mix Bell saw its revenue and profit slip on bankruptcy reorganization. Canada PT6B engine. It is based on the that was partially offset by an increased lower military volume and slightly fewer AW119 civil helicopter and features an contribution from services, it said. commercial helicopter deliveries in the CHC’s board has initiated a search adjustable observer seat that provides a full second quarter of 2019, parent company for Fessenden’s successor. “This was view of the cockpit, reinforced skids with Textron reported in mid-July. a difficult decision that I reached after removable shoes, and has the ability for The Fort Worth, Texas-based manufac- much reflection,” said Fessenden. “It “hot” pressure refueling without shutting turer delivered 53 commercial helicopters has been a privilege working shoul- the engine down. The Navy is expected to in the three-month period—four fewer der-to-shoulder with the best team in award a contract next year to replace its than in the year-ago quarter—partly con- the business…CHC is in a strong posi- aging fleet of Bell TH-57s. Bell and Airbus tributing to a 7 percent decline in revenue, tion both financially and competitively are also competing for the contract. If to $771 million, and a $14 million drop in in the marketplace, and the course to the Navy selects the helicopter, up to 130 Textron CEO profit. a bright future is set by continuing to TH-119s would be built at Leonardo’s FAA Scott Donnelly Textron CEO Scott Donnelly said he execute our strategy.” Part 21 production facility in Philadelphia. expects improvement in commercial Fessenden oversaw the bankruptcy helicopters in the third quarter as man- reorganization and recapitalization of Robinson Helicopter The company delivered 143 helicop- ufacturing increases to meet demand. CHC in May 2016 following the April Adds New MRO Facility ters in the first six months, up from 141 “Despite the lower commercial deliveries 29, 2016 crash of a company Airbus Robinson Helicopter has opened a new in the same period last year, while new in the quarter, we expect to see a ramp in Helicopters H225 that killed 13 after the standalone 37,000-sq-ft MRO facility in orders dropped to 123 units, down 20 deliveries in the second half of the year main rotor separated from the aircraft in Torrance, California. To maximize efficiency, from a year ago. supported by continued strong order flight. The accident led to a worldwide Robinson organized the new space Despite the 14 percent decrease in activity and increased production rates,” grounding of the fleet, a redesign of around the flow of parts at the facility. orders during this period, Airbus’s back- he explained. key elements of the helicopter’s main In addition to the steady flow of repair log stands at 7,276 aircraft as of June 30. “The demand is there. The orders are gearbox, and large multimillion-dollar and overhauled parts, Robinson performs Helicopter orders logged in the second there. It’s been a matter of getting pro- payouts from Airbus to operators. helicopter repairs and overhauls in-house. quarter include 23 NH90 military helicop- duction up and delivering at a higher rate, Subsequent to CHC’s reorganiza- The new facility is set up to efficiently ters for Spain and 11 H145 twins. and that’s where we are now,” Donnelly tion, other offshore operators also tear-down, clean, and inspect components, Driven by its defense and helicopter said. filed for bankruptcy including PHI and engines, and complete aircraft. Robinson sectors, Leonardo posted solid order gains Backlog at the end of the second quar- Bristow Group. During CHC’s reorga- said the demand for quick repair of parts in the first half of 2019. New orders for ter was $6 billion, down slightly from $6.3 nization, it slashed its helicopter fleet and component overhauls increases the period amounted to €6.145 billion, an billion at the end of March, but up $500 from 220 to 137. M.H. each year as the in-service fleet of increase of 34 percent from the year-ago million from second-quarter 2018. n more than 12,000 helicopters grows.

54 Aviation International News \ September 2019 \ ainonline.com Era profits on asset sales, EAA AirVenture 2019 as offshore ops merge Group urges more safety training by Mark Huber A marked upshift in the U.S. fatal helicop- Merger fever is coming to the offshore It also announced a new emergency ter rate in recent months has prompted at helicopter oil patch, as companies appear response contract in Suriname, support- least one member of the U.S. Helicopter Embry- to be looking toward consolidation as a ing oil and gas operations there, and a con- Safety Team (USHST) to advocate for incor- Riddle survival strategy. Meanwhile, the finan- tract with a commercial space company in porating the safety tools generated by the associate cial red tide continues, with companies the U.S. to support two full-time medium organization into initial and recurrent heli- professor using asset disposal as the chief means to helicopters and two additional medium copter pilot training. Embry-Riddle associ- and USHST improve financial performance. Helicopter helicopters during manned missions. ate professor Scott Burgess, a former U.S. member services company Era Group announced in As of June 30, the company had $88 Army helicopter pilot and current rotorcraft Scott

late July that it posted $4.9 million in net million in cash, $124 million in additional CFI, told a forum audience last month at MARK HUBER Burgess. income for the second quarter, but the pos- available revolving credit, and $81 million EAA Airventure, “We in the industry have itive results were assisted from a one-time in unfunded capital commitments largely to do our part to educate those who come training for experienced, older pilots who $10.9 million gain from the disposal of its in form of orders for Leonardo helicop- behind us. We have to implement these need to be told to “use these resources” 50 percent share in helicopter aftermarket ters—three AW189s (with 10 options) and things [safety tools] in training early on. It and given “more guided instruction.” component manufacturer Dart. five AW169s. Deliveries of the AW189s are is important for flight schools in particular.” Ultimately, Burgess said that peer per- The improved results come after Era scheduled to begin next year. Era said it Burgess said this will require a cultural formance groups like the USHST can “put posted a net loss of $5.9 million in the first “may terminate” those commitments. shift when it comes to primary helicopter a bandage on a lot of things but we are not quarter and $10.4 million in the year-ago Era announced its results days after the flight training as currently conducted. “We going to plug the whole dam.” In the wake quarter. Nevertheless, there are hints that Wall Street Journal reported that privately find ourselves so restricted timewise in of a rash of fatal accidents in the last 12 the commercial situation is improving for held competitor CHC is continuing to the training room that we just cover what months, the organization’s goal of reduc- Era, which has extensive operations in the accrue large operating losses amounting to is required by the FAA,” he said, but clearly ing fatal accidents from 0.76 to 0.61 per U.S. Gulf of Mexico. $257 million in the last two years. CHC CEO more is required. “Ab initio training is 100,000 flight hours seems largely illusory. Second-quarter revenues increased to Karl Fessenden also resigned in late July (see where we create that mindset for the new After dropping to a rate of 0.54 in 2016, $55.5 million, a $4.2 million jump from facing page), and on July 31 CHC announced pilot that safety is important and [the pilot] the fatal accident rate rose to 0.72 last year the first quarter due to higher aircraft that it had retained super law firm Paul, needs to pay attention to this. Showing… and is poised to go even higher in 2019. utilization rates and revenues from new Weiss “to explore merger and acquisition statistics is a hell of a lot better than show- But Burgess said that is not dissuading dry leasing and emergency services con- opportunities across the space.” Candidates ing…a pool of blood.” the organization from developing addi- tracts, but operating expenses increased for merger could include Era or competitors Safety tools that are easily integrated into tional safety tools and safety enhance- by $2.1 million, the company said. Era PHI and Bristow Group; the latter two filed a training program get students “chewing ments based on its analysis of accident recently signed new multi-year contracts for bankruptcy protection earlier this year. on that steak” and make it more likely that data. “Helicopter safety enhancements are with Gulf of Mexico deepwater custom- Earlier this year Era CEO Chris Brad- they will “carry that lesson forward,” Bur- the actions behind pursuing a higher safety ers Anadarko and Exxon Mobil and has shaw said the offshore helicopter industry gess said. He added that it is also import- rate, “ he said. “We just need to keep our 14 medium and heavy helicopters sup- was “not sustainable” in its current form ant to incorporate safety tools into recurrent heads down and keep plugging.” M.H. porting those contracts. and called for consolidation. n

EAA AirVenture 2019 UAM landing challenges The urban air mobility (UAM) industry How much performance do you have needs to exercise caution with regard to to have before you overtax the aircraft? building associated infrastructure, partic- I’ve seen bad infrastructure do this more ularly rooftop helipads/vertiports. That often than not because bad infrastructure was the message from heliport consultant forced the pilot to ask more from his air- and pilot Rex Alexander during the CAFE craft than it was capable of providing.” Foundation’s UAM seminar at AirVenture Alexander looked at 30 buildings in Elevated landing sites for planned eVTOL operations pose the same challeges as heliports. last month. “Airspace is attached to the downtown Los Angeles to determine environment, and how you design it has which would be suitable for passenger useless. “You don’t want passengers get- Still, operating from rooftops a great impact on aircraft performance. eVTOL aircraft operations such as Uber ting off your aircraft with a Sic-Sac every with all-electric aircraft can provide Infrastructure should not try to kill you Elevate. “Most were not,” he said. Ele- time, because if that happens they are not increased safety compared with tur- if you blink,” he said. vated pads for those aircraft face the going to come back,” he cautioned. bine-powered helicopters, Alexander “We typically test aircraft at an airport same challenges that have vexed heli- Building elevated helipads that provide said, as electric aircraft do not have the in a pristine environment with lots of copter operations for years including for airflow under the pad can mitigate same power lag. However, unlike today’s room. A lot of the work I do is up on build- local-induced turbulence and a goulash of some of the problem when on the building, helicopters, the design and physical ings, and that is a whole different environ- updrafts, downdrafts, and tailwinds that but building owners typically don’t want space requirements of the various 175 ment with a lot of other considerations to can send windsocks into simultaneous their architectural masterpieces defaced and growing eVTOL designs may make determine what is going to be safe. Once different directions at the same helipad. with what amounts to a large “top hat” constructing standard-size vertiport you go on a roof, all bets are off,” due to Even if these helipads can be operated that is not aesthetically pleasing, Alexan- surfaces problematic, Alexander said. shear and other wind anomalies that greet without draconian wind speed restric- der acknowledged, noting, “‘Aesthetically “The challenge is, what do we design to aircraft flying in urban canyons, he noted. tions, the ride quality to and from there pleasing’ is another term for what’s really today? Infrastructure can be a huge help “Some aircraft handle better than others. is so poor as to make them commercially dangerous in the aviation world.” or a huge hindrance.” M.H.

ainonline.com \ September 2019 \ Aviation International News 55 ROTORCRAFT & unmanned systems

EAA AirVenture 2019 Vahana eVTOL demonstrator offers glimpse of the future by Mark Huber

It was a sign of the times at this year’s EAA However, battery capacity is only part AirVenture. For the first time, the Airbus of the problem, Simpson said. “The chal- booth near the flight line did not exclu- lenge isn’t the energy density as it goes to sively feature one the company’s sleek weight and volume, but also the charging production helicopters on static display, challenge. There’s only so much energy but rather the second prototype of its tan- you can pump into these things over a dem tilt-wing Vahana eVTOL. A single-seat given period of time. You have to be able urban air mobility demonstrator, the futur- to recharge these vehicles when they land. The single-seat Vahana eVTOL demonstrator was on display at Airbus’s booth at EAA istic vehicle features eight 45-kW electric Does that mean swapping out batteries AirVenture in July, generating excitement about the innovative UAM market. motors. It drew more foot traffic than any or plugging it in? Where is that energy of the company’s helicopters ever did. coming from? How many times can you acceptance as it relates to autonomous However, when you look back at that age, Despite the excitement, Amanda Simpson, recharge a battery before you can’t get the air vehicles to transport passengers. The we killed a lot of people. But there was Airbus Americas vice president for research maximum utilization out of it? It’s very Vahana is designed to be operated auton- such enthusiasm that it continued, and and technology, cautions that it will be some easy to measure fuel left in a tank, not omously without a pilot in the aircraft or the fallout was that it took a long time time before such vehicles are commercially so much to determine how many mega- any accessible flight controls in the cabin. before people were willing to get on air- viable or economically sustainable in a way watt-hours are left in your battery.” A single touchscreen is used to conduct planes as part of a scheduled service.” that appeals to a mass market. Simpson, like others within the aircraft passenger safety briefings and to confirm Still, Simpson thinks UAMs have mar- “There are limitations as to what we can industry, thinks the first generation of a passenger’s destination and if he or she ket appeal, but perhaps not in the way cur- do with batteries,” she said. “If you took UAMs will have to be hybrids. “I don’t see is ready for takeoff. Simpson says some rently envisioned. Personally, she thinks the best battery today and made it five any other way around it. Remember when potential passengers who have visited the that UAMs will take hold in the Asia-Pa- times more efficient and you wanted to [electric car maker] Tesla first proposed aircraft this week at Airventure find that cific region first, where population den- make an [all electric] airliner the size of battery swap-out stations and replacing disconcerting. “People are reluctant to get sities are higher, regulatory barriers are an [Airbus] A320 [passenger jet], it would entire vehicle battery packs in like three in vehicles without visible flight controls. lower, and governments are often unfet- weigh six times as much as the aircraft of minutes so you didn’t have to wait for 25 It’s a leap,” she said. tered by the need for democratic debate today without even putting any passengers minutes or 40 minutes for a charge? It There are other safety-related issues on public policy. That is not to say that or cargo on board. The [UAM prototype] didn’t work out. What the hybrid offers as well. Simpson points out that Airbus the vehicles will not find a market in the vehicles that are out there have a range of is efficiency, either for boost or distrib- and a handful of other companies explor- U.S., but initially she thinks that could be about 30 miles. Getting more than 30 min- uted power.” ing the UAM market have solid aircraft more rural than urban, with UAM vehi- utes to an hour out of a vehicle the size [of Aside from the battery issue, there is building experience over several decades cles proving their worth and safety for the Vahana] is very challenging today. And also one of commercial viability. Simpson but that most of the market entrants do medevac and human organ transport and the battery technology is going to have to doesn’t think that urban air-taxi models, not. “It’s only a matter of time before a the delivery of expedited goods to ground come along much further if we are going which assume passenger per seat mile company new to building aircraft has an shipping hubs, before being deployed in to have 100 percent electric vehicles.” She costs will be on par with those of the fam- accident and then it will raise the bar for more populous areas. added that Airbus is continuing its explo- ily car, are particularly realistic. Then there everyone else. Here at Oshkosh, in part, Meanwhile, the lessons from more than ration into improved battery technology. is the not inconsequential matter of public we celebrate the Golden Age of aviation. 100 test flight hours of the Vahana are being evaluated by Airbus’s new urban air mobility unit in Germany. “The aircraft itself was never the objective,” Simpson said, but rather a vehicle to learning and Witness: AW139 was spinning before fatal Bahamas crash evaluating the technology. “The question is how to demonstrate the capabilities Additional factual information emerged in to locate the crash wreckage with a pri- memory, which were retained for evaluation of the aircraft and how do we work with late July on the July 4 AW139 accident that vate boat. The helicopter was reported and data download.” EASA or the FAA to develop regulations to killed American coal billionaire Chris Cline overdue by the FAA at 3:21 p.m, and the Cline’s helicopter dispatched from Palm govern these? How do you work with the and six others during a night flight in the wreckage was later found about an hour Beach International Airport (KPBI) at 12:57 cities and the urban infrastructure to pro- Bahamas. According to the NTSB’s prelim- later by local residents approximately 1.2 a.m. local time and landed on a concrete vide landing places? How do you develop inary report, an eyewitness saw a running nm from the departure point, inverted, in pad on Big Grand Cay, five nm south of the an app for your phone that will allow you light pattern that suggests the helicopter 16 feet of water. Walker’s Cay Airport (MYAW), between 1:30 to call and schedule service and the whole was spinning on its vertical axis just before According to the NTSB preliminary, the a.m. and 1:45 a.m. local. The helicopter then infrastructure behind that?” it hit the water. According to the report, the helicopter was found with the “tailboom hot-loaded the passengers, two of whom The answers to those questions will witness saw the helicopter depart and climb separated from the aft fuselage and was were being evacuated for medical treat- shape Airbus’s decisions when it comes to an altitude of 40 to 50 feet agl, “then recovered in multiple pieces. All five main ment, for a flight to Fort Lauderdale Interna- to urban air mobility. A larger Airbus shortly thereafter, he noted blue and white rotor blades were separated but recovered. tional airport (FLL). IFR flight plans were filed UAM demo vehicle, the four-passenger lights spinning to the left at a rate of about The tail rotor assembly, which was also sep- and activated in both directions. Weather at CityAirbus, began its flight test campaign one to two seconds between rotations while arated, was subsequently recovered. All the time was reported as VFR with a 2,500- in May. n descending.” He estimated that the helicop- four tail rotor blades were separated, and foot broken ceiling and visibility of 10 miles. ter “rotated to the left three to four times” one tail rotor blade was not recovered.” The Air Accident Investigation Depart- Eduardo Dominguez-Puerta, head of Airbus’s before he heard the sound of impact. The helicopter was equipped with a flight ment (AAID) of the Bahamas requested del- Urban Air Mobility division, talked with AIN At 2:05 a.m., the caretaker of Cline’s recorder, EGPWS, and “several additional egation of the accident investigation to the about the challenges and opportunities facing Bahamas estate unsuccessfully attempted components capable of storing non-volatile NTSB. M.H. those trying to bring eVTOL aircraft to market (ainonline.com/VahanaInterview.)

56 Aviation International News \ September 2019 \ ainonline.com Part 135s Through a formal training partner with agreement, Part 135 operators Jet Linx and XOJet will position themselves in SWA, CAE on the pipeline between newly- certified pilots and Southwest Airlines. Participants in the pilot pipeline Destination 225 program will remain with the Part 135 by Curt Epstein companies for a minimum of three years before receiving Acknowledging the migration of business preferential consideration aviation pilots to the airlines, aircraft with the airline. management provider and jet card provider Jet Linx has taken an “if you can’t airlines should they get recruited,” Walker in this comprehensive pilot development the airline. As an alternative to the Part beat them, join them” approach. The said. “Now we’re just offering them a clear mission designed to make a pathway to 135 pathway, which allows pilots to earn company recently announced a formal path to Southwest to take that step and becoming a Southwest pilot an attainable their experience in the cockpits of mod- pilot pipeline agreement with Southwest help them with that transition.” goal for passionate, qualified individuals,” ern business jets, newly-minted aviators Airlines, flight-training provider CAE, and Walker noted that, unlike other smaller said Alan Kasher, the airline’s v-p of flight can also earn their ATP rating by accu- other stakeholders, such as fellow Part 135 operators, his company has not yet operations. “Pilots in the Destination 225° mulating 1,500 hours as a flight instruc- operator XOJet. Other partners include encountered any significant problems in pathways will receive training customized tor at CAE’s Phoenix facility. Over the Bell Murray Aviation, U.S. Aviation, iAero filling its flight-deck seats, and he believes to Southwest from our partners and will next decade, CAE expects to train more Group’s Swift Air, Arizona State Univer- participation in this program could help be held to the competitive hiring require- than 700 new professional pilots as part sity, Southeastern Oklahoma State Uni- attract pilot talent. “This is definitely a ments for future first officer positions.” of the program. versity, University of Nebraska, and the preventive step to ensure that our clients According to Walker, the organiza- There will be no forced movement University of Oklahoma. and our company don’t experience the dif- tions will work to establish a degree of through the pipeline, and Walker expects Called Destination 225° (for the south- ficulty of the pilot shortage in the future,” commonality in their training where pos- some Destination 225° participants who west heading on a compass rose), the pro- he said. “We’re taking steps like this to sible. An additional part of the program pass through private aviation might gram will take trainee pilots through their ensure that we don’t feel that shortage by will be an ab-initio training program that decide that airlines aren’t to their liking FAA certification and then funnel them differentiating ourselves from the other CAE will administer in cooperation with and return. Likewise, pilots who age out into Jet Linx’s and XOJet’s programs, Part 135 operators in the industry.” Argus International. CAE will screen, of the airlines will be welcomed at the where they will gain a minimum three “We’re proud to partner with Jet Linx assess and train candidates selected by Part 135 carriers through the program. n years of cockpit experience. After that, they will receive preferential positioning in Southwest’s hiring queue if they desire. During the journey, they will receive men- torship from the airline. ALPA: single-pilot ops a risk not worth taking “The program represents a career life- cycle solution for pilots, facilitating entry by Gordon Gilbert into the aviation industry and providing opportunities for pilots to elevate and Part 121 of the FARs require a minimum of and small turbine airplane models are FAA incapacitation in Part 135 operations result- extend their careers,” said Jet Linx pres- two pilots in the cockpit during commer- approved for single-pilot flights, and these ing in 32 fatalities, all of which the NTSB ident and CEO Jamie Walker, adding it is cial operations, and if the Air Line Pilots approvals are expanding as new designs attributed to single-pilot operations. Under open to collegiate aviation institutions, Association continues to have anything to enter the market. NBAA says it “encour- Part 121 operations, incidences of incapaci- the military, and other smaller aviation say about that, those requirements will ages best safety practices across the board tation never led to a single fatality because companies. “Participating Destination never ever be changed to allow single-pilot for single- and multi-pilot business aircraft the second pilot took over flying duties. 225° organizations will be able to offer operations. To bolster its position, ALPA operations, noting that each embraces Although this data is from events that their most talented pilots the opportu- recently published a white paper titled unique characteristics that require tailored occurred 30 to 40 years ago (between Jan- nity to move from one organization to the “The Dangers of Single-Pilot Operations.” safety solutions, including tools such as uary 1980 and July 1989), the association next without having to leave the program.” “Those promoting single-pilot opera- duty and flight limits, augmented crews also pointed to more recent data reveal- tions argue that reducing crew size will and risk-mitigation checklists.” ing a similar situation. According to the Path to the Airlines lead to cost savings,” the document says. ALPA concedes that reducing the size of Australian Transport Safety Bureau, from Like most in business aviation, Jet Linx “However, the current body of evidence and cockpit crews would save airlines and air 2010 to 2015, there were 23 pilot incapac- has experienced churn among its pilot experience, including more than a decade transport operators money on salaries, ben- itation occurrences per year on average in ranks, with a 30 percent attrition rate. of study by NASA and the FAA, shows that efits, and other expenses, but it contends Australia, 75 percent of them happening “The large majority of that attrition is the safety risks and challenges associated that some, if not most, of those savings in high-capacity air transport operations. going toward the airlines,” Walker told with single-pilot operations far outweigh would be offset by costs associated with With multi-pilot crews, incapacitation AIN. “So rather than leave it to the pilots its potential benefits.” reduced-crew and single-pilot operations. had “minimal effect on the flight.” But for to figure that career path out, we want The paper does not identify any spe- “These costs include outfitting or retrofit- single-pilot general aviation operations, to help them with that. If they do have cific entities that are pushing for a change ting aircraft with the necessary automa- incapacitation often meant returning to a desire past [Part] 135 and they want to in Part 121 to allow single-pilot airline tion, sensor, and communications systems; the departure airport or crashing. go towards [Part] 121, we actually want to operations, but it says “efforts have ground infrastructure costs; salaries and “Even as there are discussions about partner with an organization like South- been proposed to research or introduce benefits for remote ground-based pilots… aviation in 2050 and beyond, it is clear west, which can make a clearly identified single-pilot or remote-controlled opera- and certification costs.” the high-performance innovation needed path for them.” tions to the air transportation system.” It to enable such an operation is currently Jet Linx expects to receive the first continues, “This concept is not only pre- Pilot Incapacitation beyond our reach,” concluded ALPA. pilots from the program by next year, but mature, but it would divert resources that Pilot incapacitation is one of ALPA’s chief “Even in the modern technological age, in the meantime, the aircraft manage- could be directed…to further improve the concerns about single-pilot operations. there is no safe substitute for having at ment provider has made it immediately efficiency of aircraft and infrastructure.” The white paper refers to published FAA least two human pilots in the cockpit available to its current staff. “They could Nor does the paper comment on the fact data that reported that over a 10-year of large passenger and cargo transport obviously leave today for any of the major that under Parts 91 and 135, several large period there were 32 occurrences of pilot aircraft.” n

ainonline.com \ September 2019 \ Aviation International News 57 AIR transport

Trent XWB mainly drove the average loss News Update Rolls Trent 1000 improving reduction, though cost-reduction activities across Rolls-Royce’s four big engine Air France Signs for A220s programs contributed to the improve- Air France has signed a memorandum of but some problems persist ment. The company also scaled back the understanding covering a firm order of launch discounts on the Trent XWB that 60 Airbus A220-300s, options on 30 and by Cathy Buyck powers the Airbus A350, East noted. More purchase rights on another 30, the airline than 280 XWB-powered Airbus A350s announced on July 30. The A220s will Rolls-Royce managed to further reduce the has begun. East said he expects that the operate with 27 airlines around the world, gradually replace the French carrier’s Airbus average original equipment loss per large new IPC blade for the Trent 1000 TEN to representing 11 percent of Rolls-Royce’s A318s and A319s, of which it now has 18 and engine sold to £1.3 million ($1.58 million), become available for installation before in-service fleet. East anticipates the pro- 33 units, respectively. Air France’s medium- though the UK engine manufacturer contin- the end of the year. The Pack B blade will gram will break even by the end of 2020. haul fleet—excluding regional aircraft— ues to struggle to overcome the premature follow “soon after that.” Regarding the Trent 7000, East con- consists of only Airbus aircraft; in addition to blade deterioration on Trent 1000s that Rolls-Royce delivered 257 large firmed that shipments are now running the A318 and A319s, it also flies 20 A321s and power a part of the Boeing 787 fleet. engines—239 installed and 18 spares—in smoothly after some hiccups late last year 43 A320s. In contrast, its Dutch sibling KLM “We are pleased with the progress we are the first half of the year and shipped a and questions arose about at which rates and the group’s low-cost carrier, Transavia, making on managing and fixing all of these further 14 engines to airframers, up from it would manage to deliver the sole pow- both deploy a Boeing 737 fleet on their issues, but reality is that we still have got a a total 259 shipped units in the first six erplant for the Airbus A330neo. “Rates medium-haul services, though no Maxes. lot of hard work to do before it is out of the months of last year and 209 in the first improved in the first quarter and sus- Schedules call for Air France way,” said Rolls-Royce CEO Warren East. half of 2017. It continued to make prog- tained in the second quarter,” he insisted. to take delivery of its first Wi-Fi- Speaking during the company’s first-half ress reducing large original equipment The company delivered and invoiced enabled A220 in September 2021. results presentation with analysts early (OE) engine average unit losses, down 54 Trent 7000s in the first half, whereas Air France’s fleet transformation will last month, East conceded the Trent 1000 by £200,000 year-on-year to £1.3 million. deliveries of the Trent 700 fell to seven also see the retirement of its 10 A380s blade issue continues to cause “a number Original equipment engine losses in the units, down from 41 engines in the first by 2022. Air France-KLM said it would of our customers significant disruption.” first half of 2017 averaged £1.7 million. The half of 2018. n study the replacement of the A380s by The good news, he added, is that the dis- new-generation long-haul aircraft. ruption has lessened considerably in the past 12 months, and the number of aircraft Avianca Brasil Goes Dark on ground (AOGs) today equates to about The proverbial light at the end of the tunnel half the total of a year ago. Kremlin to invest $3 billion in went out for Avianca Brasil as Brazilian While Rolls considers the reduction civil aviation agency ANAC redistributed of AOGs encouraging, the decline hasn’t 35-tonne turbofan for Il-96, CR929 its prized slots at São Paulo’s Congonhas kept pace with Rolls-Royce’s original Airport on July 31 and a majority of appeals plans, mainly owing to the reduced life The Kremlin has agreed to provide $3 bil- two years later. Specifications call for the judges voted to liquidate the carrier, in expectancy of blades in the high-pressure lion for research and development on the airplane to have a gross weight of 270 bankruptcy protection since December. turbine (HPT) of the Trent 1000 TEN, Aviadvigatel PD-35, the largest turbofan tonnes (595,240 pounds) and transport Even the name is gone, as Colombia’s the latest variant of the engine. The issue ever conceived in Russia, according to a 41-tonne payload 5,134 nm. Avianca did not renew the license. came to light in April and prompted Alexander Inozemtsev, head of the Perm- The baseline PD-35 will serve as the ANAC announced distribution of the EASA to issue an airworthiness directive based design house that oversees the foundation for a family of engines with 41 daily slots used by Avianca Brasil at mandating an engine inspection regime. project. Although news of the allocation a thrust ranging from 25 to 50 tonnes. If Congonhas, awarding 15 to number-three Inspections to date have shown faster had surfaced earlier, Inozemtsev’s con- the program proves a success, “Russia carrier Azul, 12 to MAP Linhas Aéreas, and HPT blade deterioration than the manu- firmation during a recent press tour of will not depend on anybody in long-range 14 to Passaredo, the last two being regional facturer expected, and some blades need the design house marked the first official aviation and high-end industrial turbines,” airlines that will have to prove their ability replacement a couple of hundred cycles acknowledgment of the funding. Accord- Inozemtsev said. to use the slots. Two Flex, which operates before reaching the reduced life limit of ing to him, the PD-35 and its smaller sib- Meanwhile, another proposal calls Brazil’s largest Caravan fleet, also received 1,000 cycles. “Let’s be clear, [even] a life ling, the PD-14, will keep Aviadvigatel’s for a de-rated derivative of the base- 14 new slots—using the auxiliary runway limit of 1,000 cycles is completely unac- 3,000-strong team of engineers and tech- line PD-35 to power the An-124 Ruslan. due to the type of aircraft they operate— ceptable for a typical customer,” East nicians busy for many years. Current plans call for combustor trials to subject to approval by airspace control’s acknowledged. The company anticipates The 35-tonne-thrust (77,160-pound) begin next year, completion of the first Center for Air Navigation Management. that the problem has affected about a third turbofan stands as a candidate to power gas-generator in mid-2021, and the first of the TEN engines, and it expects that the the CR929 next-generation widebody engine to test in 2023. Airbus Starts projected number of resulting AOGs will jetliner developed by CRAIC, a joint ven- Conceived as an up-scaled PD-14, from A220 Assembly in U.S. prove “much smaller” than those caused ture between China’s Comac and Rus- which it takes 16 key technologies, the Airbus has begun manufacturing the by the intermediate-pressure compressor sia’s United Aircraft Corporation (UAC). PD-35 would feature fan blades made of A220 at its U.S. assembly site in Mobile, (IPC) blade deterioration of Trent 1000 Although the manufacturer has yet to composite materials as opposed to the Alabama, the company announced on Package B/C disruption. launch an engine selection process, it hollow titanium blades on its predecessor. August 5. Airbus announced plans for the However, the HPT blade replacement has already signaled its intent to invite Another “must-have” technology involves addition of A220 manufacturing in Mobile has added to the workload of Roll-Royce’s bids from Rolls-Royce and GE, as well as the 3D printing of composite parts, using in October 2017, when it confirmed its repair and overhaul facilities—which it possibly China’s CJ-2000. Schedules call carbon-plastic thread and resin from local intention to buy the then-Bombardier C expanded to deal with the Package C and for the CR929 to enter flight tests in 2025 suppliers. According to Aviadvigatel, it has Series program. Construction began in B blade issue—and that might affect the and revenue service in 2027. already employed 3D printing for engine January on the main A220 flowline hangar pace of the overall AOG recovery on the A twin-engine version of the Ilyushin parts in the nacelle and thrust reverser, and other support buildings at the Mobile Trent 1000. “It may take a bit longer for the Il-96-400M will become the first appli- for example, using metals produced Aeroplex at Brookley, adjacent to where Package C and B fleets to return to a single- cation for the PD-35, Inozemtsev con- from additive technologies on the PD-14. Airbus builds A320s for the U.S. market. The digit AOG,” East warned. “It is possible we firmed. Under the Kremlin’s orders, UAC When applied to composites, 3D printing company said it will produce the first few get there by the end of the year, but it is will launch production of the four-engine will achieve a huge leap forward. The aircraft within some current A320 family also very possible that the polluting effect machine seating 380 to 415 passengers Aviadvigatel and its industrial partners buildings and newly built support hangars. of the TEN will cause a longer delay.” with existing PS-90A1 engines, having have already manufactured a number of It plans to deliver the first U.S.-made Rolls has been installing the new modi- ditched Aviadvigatel’s proposal to sup- prototypes and are perfecting technol- A220—an A220-300 destined for Delta Air fied and certified IPC blade designs in the ply the improved PS-90A3M. According ogy for a production specimen, first for Lines—during next year’s third quarter. The overhaul of all Package C engines since to Inozemtsev, the twin-engine derivative application on the PD-14 by 2022 and European manufacturer expects the facility early this year, and a redesign for the will fly in 2025 and acquire certification then on the PD-35. V.K. will produce between 40 and 50 A220s per Trent 1000 TEN and Pack B IPC blades year by the middle of the next decade.

58 Aviation International News \ September 2019 \ ainonline.com maintains it intends to meet a delivery Airbus warns of tariffs, goal of 880 to 890 airplanes in 2019. Last week A321neo ACF customer JetBlue expressed “disappointment” in resulting Brexit amid ACF ‘challenge’ delivery delays that forced the New York- based airline to adjust its schedules in by Gregory Polek 2020 to reflect 2 percent lower capacity growth than originally planned. Speak- Airbus CEO Airbus warned of continuing global trade can deliver to our U.S. customers are ing during the airline’s second-quarter Guillaume tensions and potential Brexit-related there,” he noted. earnings call with securities analysts, Jet- Faury supply chain and logistical disruptions in Asam added that because the custom- Blue CFO Steve Priest reported that of 13 its commercial airplanes division as the ers pay the tariffs, they would determine A321neos expected to arrive this year, the “There’s a lot happening and we are U.S. amplifies tariff threats and the UK whether or not they ultimately take deliv- airline would take just six. For 2020, a making progress,” insisted Faury about prepares to leave the EU by the end of eries of the airplanes. Given no one yet revised schedule now calls for delivery of the ACF. “It has been a very successful October. Speaking during the company’s knows the extent of the tariffs, he said, 14 A321neos rather than 15, leaving JetBlue program from a commercial standpoint, first-half 2019 earnings call on Wednes- he cannot predict the ultimate effect on with seven fewer of the model at the end and the initial ramp-up of the ACF proved day morning, Airbus CEO Guillaume Airbus. “We don’t want to speculate on of 2020 than projected during last Octo- to be more difficult than what we antic- Faury also highlighted the continued what our customers will do under such a ber’s Investor Day. ipated. So it’s the speed at ramping up “challenges” associated with production scenario,” explained Asam. “There is also First delivered to Turkish Airlines about the ACF is slower than what we had in of the Airbus Cabin Flex (ACF) version [a question of the factory in Mobile, Ala- a year ago, the A321neo ACF encompasses the plan, and this is what we had to adjust. of the A321neo, deliveries of which have bama]; to Mobile we send kits…and from modifications including a new rear sec- The complexity comes from the complex- proved slower than anticipated due to there we deliver to U.S. customers…so tion and a modification in which design- ity of the plane itself. And you know that what the Airbus boss called the “com- everything is still in the making and hard ers removed the door located forward of we had our issues in 2018 that took a lot plexities” of the design. to predict.” the wing and introduced new overwing of energy [and] focus to solve the conse- Faury raised an alarm about a so-called While Airbus believes the trade ten- emergency exits in the center section. quences of the engine crisis we had in the no-deal Brexit despite Airbus’s early sions won’t become a financial issue until Airbus plans to make the ACF configura- beginning and middle of last year. There- preparations for a UK exit from the EU next year, the A321neo ACF presents a tion standard for all A321neos some time fore, overall we have lost time in prepar- in March, by which time former UK prime more immediate concern, as the company next year. ing for ACF.” n minister Theresa May had hoped to have reached a deal for an orderly departure. Now, new UK prime minister Boris John- son promises to leave the EU by October 31, raising the likelihood of an abrupt and Airbus eyes Toulouse for further A321 production disorderly Brexit. The Airbus CEO reported that although Airbus considers its factory in Toulouse the significant portion for the U.S. market. efficient and competitive way,” said Airbus Airbus has stockpiled a month’s worth of “frontrunning” location for the addition of However, Hamburg produces all so-called COO Michael Schoellhorn. “Following the parts inventory from a majority of its A321neo manufacturing capacity, as the heads of version A321s, including those strong market response for the A321, we suppliers, logistics involving parts trans- European airframer continues to study for New York-based JetBlue, which has target more production flexibility, support- fer remains a worry. “We are preparing where it should boost production of its expressed disappointment in delivery ing Hamburg, which currently takes the again,” said Faury. “It is not fully bullet- largest narrowbody by 2022. delays resulting from challenges associ- strain of the A321 and ACF ramp up. We see proof…but with the no-deal Brexit being The deliberations come as the A321 con- ated with the production of the ACF (Air- a need to adapt our assembly capacity to more likely we see far more willingness by tinues to gain share in the overall A320 bus Cabin Flex) version. First delivered reflect our richer A321 mix within the A320 governments to prepare for this scenario, family backlog—it now accounts for 40 to Turkish Airlines about a year ago, the family from 2022 onwards.” which basically means for us the inabil- percent of all A320s on order—and Airbus A321neo ACF encompasses modifications Planning to raise overall A320-family rates ity to move parts. For the other risks or considers what to do with manufacturing including a new rear section and a mod- from 60 to 63 per month by 2021, Airbus problems with Brexit we think we have space that will open with the end of A380 ification in which designers removed the must also consider the additional complexity done the appropriate preparation with production in Toulouse in 2021. An Airbus door located forward of the wing and intro- involved in manufacturing the A321LR—par- the supply chain, but the most risky part spokesman told AIN last month that the duced new overwing emergency exits in ticularly the A321neoXLR, which the comis the logistics basically.” company plans to render a decision by the the center section. Airbus plans to make pany launched with orders for 249 copies Nevertheless, Faury added the eventual- end of this year. the Cabin Flex configuration standard for during June’s Paris Air Show. ity would not affect Airbus’s 2019 financial Airbus now builds most of its A321s all A321neos sometime next year. “The A321’s commercial success is lead- guidance but rather presents a risk for 2020. in Hamburg, Germany, while the plant “Airbus regularly reviews its industrial ing to a higher share of A321 production,” As for the tariff threats leveled by the in Mobile, Alabama, accounts for a less setup, to ensure building aircraft in the most said the Airbus spokesman. “On top of Trump administration over recent World that A321LR versions represent higher

Trade YOUROrganization SOURCE FOR findings AVIATION NEWSthat certain workload per aircraft and more complex- elements of EU support for Airbus com- ity…this is not about increasing rates; it is www.ainonline.com mercial aircraft programs contravened primarily about generating more flexibil- subsidy rules, Airbus CFO Dominik ity and efficiency within Airbus’s current Asam explained that the manufacturer industrial system.” “of course” has collected all needed data Airbus insists that political consider- aboutENEWSLETTER the ultimate FOR destination BUSINESS AVIATION of each air- ations will not play into the decision, but craft andwww.ainonline.com/ how that might affectalerts deliveries. the choice will rather wholly hinge on He added, however, that the company’s investment cost, lead times, so-called “key focus” centers on an effort to avert working arrangements, and other com- the situation. “We are doing everything mercial considerations. we canAERO to DEFENSE make INDUSTRYsure the ENEWSLETTERaircraft that we The spokesman added that although www.ainonline.com/subscribe Airbus’s plant in Tianjin, China, could potentially absorb some further capacity in the mid-term, once A380 production ends Toulouse makes the best sense in the short

AIR TRANSPORT INDUSTRY ENEWSLETTER term. Mobile, meanwhile, carries “some Airbus’s Hamburg factory now builds the majority of A321s. room to maneuver,” he added. G.P. www.ainonline.com/subscribe

ainonline.com \ September 2019 \ Aviation International News 59 FOR NEWS VIDEO FROM HELIEXPO

FOR NEWS VIDEO FROM EBACE MRO/ hot section Maintenance news by AIN Staff

BBA To Sell Ontic and winglets, and the elimination Transitional winglets on the Cessna (FANS) CPDLC. CPDLC reduces the to Private Equity Firm of the mid-aileron fences. Upgrades Sovereign. The authorization applies to requirement for voice messaging while BBA Aviation plans to sell its Ontic unit to the Garmin G3000 avionics soft- the company’s Grand Junction, Colo- improving the accuracy of commu- for $1.37 billion to CVC Capital Partners’ ware enhance situational awareness rado facility, one of its four full-service nications, as well as offers optimum CVC Fund VII, the London-based global and safety, through increased con- Textron-approved service centers, which aircraft routing and other cumula- aviation support and aftermarket services nectivity with Flight Stream 510 has already installed sets on two aircraft. tive advantages for flight operations provider announced. The sale of Ontic, a compatibility, electronic checklist, The company is also moving to add above FL285. “Installing this mod is manufacturer of OEM-licensed parts for and advanced integrated takeoff Sovereign winglet capability at its similar to having a second SIM card legacy aircraft, will allow BBA to enhance and landing (TOLD) calculations. East Alton, Illinois flagship facility. on your mobile phone for receiving and invest in its Signature Flight Support In addition to the APMG modifi- text messages in Europe,” Karl added. business, the company added. “While cations, the company’s MRO team Ruag’s business aircraft engineering maintaining a strong balance sheet, we provides a range of services including DAS Offers Warranty Option and MRO unit at Munich-Oberpfaffen- also expect to return between $750 mil- inspections, structural modifications, for Challenger 300/350 Inlet hofen, Germany, performs the kit install. lion and $850 million to shareholders and engine work, and avionics installations Dallas Aeronautical Services (DAS) has will evaluate how best to structure this for Wi-Fi and high-speed data, as well launched an inlet acoustic and structural return after consultation with our share- as repairs to its G3000 cockpit suite. inlet overhaul lifetime warranty program StandardAero Completes holders,” said BBA CEO Mark Johnstone. for the Bombardier Challenger 300/350, Learjet 45 Cockpit Upgrade Acquired by BBA in February 2006 for the Texas-based Part 145 repair sta- StandardAero has completed its first $67 million, Ontic “has grown success- SkyWest Adds Mx Base tion announced. The non-transferable installation of a Honeywell Primus fully” by way of acquisition of parts man- with ACI Jet Hangar Lease warranty covers acoustic panel and inlet Elite cockpit in a U.S.-registered Bom- ufacturing licenses and organic growth, ACI Jet will lease a 17,000-sq-ft hangar structure assembly and functionality bardier Learjet 45, the Scottsdale, Ari- Johnstone explained. “It now supports at San Luis Obispo County Regional for the life of the in-service airplane. zona-based MRO provider announced. more than 39,000 legacy aircraft Airport (SBP) to SkyWest Airlines for It “is the direct result of the quality of Work was performed at StandardAero’s through its portfolio of over 165 licenses a maintenance base that’s expected our comprehensive inlet repair, field- MRO facility in Augusta, Georgia, and for more than 7,000 parts and over to create more than 40 new jobs, tested longevity, and post-repair per- the installation was one of the first to 1,200 customers worldwide,” he added. the central California FBO operator, formance lifespan,” DAS v-p of sales use JetCity’s FAA-approved STC. The deal is expected to close in the MRO provider, charter operator, and and marketing Elias da Silva said. Primus Elite improves functionality fourth quarter, following shareholder aircraft management firm announced. Overhaul components covered by the and overall situational awareness in and regulatory approvals. “Ontic is a The hangar, which ACI acquired and warranty include wire mesh and perfo- the cockpit with the addition of charts, growing, highly resilient business and renovated, was previously an Amer- rated skin, including corrosion; bonded maps, and safety enhancements. Instal- a leading player in what we believe ican Airlines maintenance hangar. assembly to include the core and skin, as lation included removing CRT screens to be a very attractive market,” said Housing up to five regional air- well as corrosion; outer skins and ero- from the Learjet 45 that tend to get James Mahoney, senior managing craft simultaneously, the hangar sion on the graphite surface at fastener hot and replacing them with Primus director of Luxembourg-based CVC will support overnight mainte- location; and the mount/attach ring, Elite’s LCDs, which have improved Capital. “We see multiple opportunities nance of SkyWest’s fleet of nearly corrosion included. “Our OEM spec inlet visibility and are more reliable. to develop the business further and 500 regional jets. It is expected repair is comprehensive, thorough, and look forward to working closely with to be operational this month. continually recognized by Challenger 300 Ontic’s excellent management team to “ACI has been built by Californians and 350 owners and operators,” da Silva FAA AC Guides on Continuous take the company to the next level.” committed to California and this is a added. “Lifetime coverage of both inlet Airworthiness Mx Programs great example of how we work to best acoustic panel and structure repairs is the The FAA has issued a draft advisory serve the communities we support,” next logical step to support our clients.” circular (AC 120-MPTP) containing Banyan Completes said ACI Jet CEO William Borgsmiller. DAS will also continue to offer the guidelines, recommendations and First HondaJet APMG Upgrade Borgsmiller explained that his existing transferable 36-month war- suggested means of compliance with Fort Lauderdale, Florida-based company is working with community ranty for Challenger 300/350 inlet a continuous airworthiness mainte- aviation services provider Banyan colleges in the area to develop an acoustic and structural inlet overhaul. nance program (Camp). Under Camp, Air Service has completed its first aviation maintenance program to serve maintenance training, supervision, Advanced Performance Modification as a pipeline for SkyWest and others at and activities must be tailored to the Group (APMG) package upgrade SBP, as well as ACI Jet, which recently Ruag Unveils Europe user’s specific operation. Informa- on a HondaJet. It reduces the light was named an authorized service facility CPDLC Kit for Legacy 600/650 tion in this draft AC includes “reg- twinjet’s takeoff field length by 443 for Bombardier Business Aircraft. An affordable solution for controller- ulatory expectations” regarding the feet to 3,491 feet, increases forward pilot datalink communications (CPDLC) implementation of the program. baggage capacity by 200 pounds, and over the Aeronautical Telecommu- Camp authorization is a require- boosts the mtow to 10,700 pounds. West Star Aviation OK’d for nications Network (ATN) in Euro- ment for all Part 121 aircraft, as well The package includes a horizon- Sovereign Winglet Installs control airspace has been developed as Part 135 aircraft that are type tal stabilizer extension, removal of West Star Aviation has received for the Embraer Legacy 600/650 by certificated for 10 or more passen- the vortex generators on the tail approval to install Winglet Technologies’ Ruag MRO International, the Swit- ger seats. It is an option for other zerland-based company announced. Part 135 certificate holders and Part “Our ATN-assisted modification 91K fractional ownership operations. package is purpose-designed to be However, the FAA expects those straightforward and economical, who join the program voluntarily requiring downtime of five days for to follow all Camp requirements. implementation,” said Ruag head of sales for business jets Christian Karl. “We believe this is a signifi- Arrow Aviation Obtains cant step towards making CPDLC China CAAC Mx Approval technology accessible to a broad Helicopter MRO provider Arrow scope of Embraer Legacy opera- Aviation has been approved as a tors, also in the Eurocontrol area.” Part 145 maintenance organization by The solution is available as a kit the Civil Aviation Administration of and includes approved data and China (CAAC), the Broussard, Lou- Members of Banyan Air Service’s MRO crew pose by the HondaJet that they recently upgraded required equipment. But the kit does isiana company announced. CAAC with the manufacturer’s Advanced Performance Modification Group package. Among the require Embraer’s Service Bulle- certification adds to its maintenance benefits: shortened takeoff distance, and increased mtow. tin for future air navigation system approvals from the FAA, EASA, Korea’s

60 Aviation International News \ September 2019 \ ainonline.com Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, and National Airport (ICT) added four to the growing base of Citation and provide rapid and efficient response to Transport, and Brazil’s ANAC. service hangars that include an King Air customers we have acquired Excel and XLS operators who desire to Operating from an 80,000-sq-ft upgraded paint hangar and additional since adding this segment a few years upgrade to Garmin G5000 avionics.” facility, Arrow specializes in helicop- space for interior and avionics work. ago,” Yingling v-p of business devel- ter maintenance and completions for “These additions have not only opment Jerry Pickett added, “but commercial, offshore, corporate, and allowed us to provide MRO services they also give us plenty of capacity to Blackhawk Earns STC for emergency medical services operators. King Air 300 Engine Upgrade Blackhawk Aerospace has received an STC from the FAA for its XP67A engine Yingling Begins Excel/ upgrade for the Beechcraft King Air XLS G5000 Installs 300, the company announced at EAA Yingling Aviation has launched a Garmin AirVenture in July. The authorization, G5000 retrofit program for Cessna Citation which applies to both the 14,000- and Excel and XLS jets, the Wichita-based 12,500-pound gross weight versions of FBO and MRO announced. “This new the turboprop twin, replaces the stan- STC from Garmin is what the market has dard 1,050-shp Pratt & Whitney Can- been asking for,” Yingling avionics depart- ada PT6A-60A engines and four-blade ment manager Stuart Ashenden said. “It Hartzell metal propellers with facto- obviously meets the needs and desires ry-new 1,200-shp PT6A-67A engines of NextGen operators. We are already and Hartzell five-blade propellers. taking firm reservations and scheduling Blackhawk’s engineering team was installations three months in advance.” awarded the STC nine months after The new program follows FAA the first test flight. During testing, the approval of the G5000 Excel/ upgrade delivered maximum cruise XLS STC by Garmin, for which The most visible improvement in Blackhawk Aerospace’s newly certified XP67A upgrade speeds as high as 343 ktas and an initial Yingling is an authorized facility. for the King Air 300 is the replacement of the four-blade Hartzell propellers with five-blade rate to climb of up to 4,000 fpm, slash- A recent expansion of Yingling’s versions. Under the cowlings, the company swapped out the stock PT6A-60A engines with ing the climb time to FL350 by more facilities at Wichita Eisenhower new uprated PT6A-67As. than half over the stock King Air 300. n

Subsequent appeals to the NTSB had intentionally disregarded the Form ARSA backs AeroBearings resulted in the Board affirming the con- 8130-3 instruction.” clusion that Kornitzky had violated the maintenance regulations surrounding the ARSA Response ruling, questions reasoning necessary technical data. But in a reversal, ARSA, fearing the NTSB decision could the NTSB then backed the FAA’s inten- affect other maintenance providers, had by Kerry Lynch tional-falsification claim. filed an amicus brief disputing that the “The [NTSB] found that Kornitzky company intentionally falsified informa- Finding the NTSB did not follow its own Founded by the late Michael Kornitzky Group’s selective disclosure of information tion. “During the original proceedings, precedents, the U.S. Court of Appeals and Zev Galel in 2010, the company orig- rendered the [return-to-service] Form 8130- the inspector agreed there was no false for the District of Columbia overturned inally received FAA certification in 2011. 3s false because the company had excluded or incorrect information on any of the a certificate revocation of the Kornitzky In 2016, the FAA had received two com- other information in a way that gave an forms; the entries were simply incomplete” Group, which was known as AeroBearings plaints about technical data that Korni- incomplete and misleading impression of ARSA had argued, adding, “A maintenance and specialized in the maintenance of jet tzky used, prompting a review by the the work it had performed. The Board fur- release is a certification that the work per- engine bearings. While the ruling favored FAA’s Engine Certification Office. The ther found that the company acted with formed was accomplished correctly; it is the company, the Aeronautical Repair Sta- office determined the company’s data was knowledge of that falsity,” according to the not a complete maintenance record.” tion Association fears it might have been not specific enough to support the bearing appeals court, noting the NTSB then decided ARSA executive director Sarah MacLeod for the wrong reason. repair work. this warranted certificate revocation. reiterated that belief in response to the The NTSB had revoked Kornitzky’s A year later, the company was notified Kornitzky then turned to the U.S. appeals court decision. “In this case, the repair station certificate in 2018, backing that the FAA had incorrectly issued one of appeals court, arguing that the NTSB court may have come to the correct conclu- an emergency order imposed by the FAA. the company’s ratings surrounding bearing acted arbitrarily and capriciously in find- sion but for the wrong reason. There was That revocation stemmed from two pri- maintenance and that it had 10 days to sub- ing violations of the FAA’s maintenance no falsification by omission because the mary allegations: the company had violated mit to a reinspection or face suspension. and intentional-falsification regulations. FAA Form 8130-3 is the maintenance release aviation safety regulations by repairing After the follow-up inspection, the FAA However, the appeals court determined portion of a maintenance record,” MacLeod bearings without the necessary technical determined that the company had exceeded that the NTSB correctly concluded Korni- said. “The agency has stated in numerous data and Kornitzky had intentionally fal- the scope of work permitted by the OEM tzy “made a materially false representation guidance documents that a single word is sified maintenance records by recording and issued an emergency certificate revoca- by referencing some but not all of its work enough to describe the work performed.” only the engine bearing inspections with- tion, alleging the violation of several main- affecting the bearings’ airworthiness.” MacLeod added that a maintenance out indicating the disassembly and repair tenance regulations involving intentional But the NTSB failed to adequately release “does not, and never has, contained work. The FAA had said the company was falsification and lack of requisite data. address whether the company acted know- the details that the court seemed to think required to disclose any maintenance An NTSB administrative law judge sub- ingly, the appeals court added. “Under its were necessary.” Since a repair station is affecting the airworthiness of the bearings sequently found that Kornitzky had vio- own precedent, the Board was required to the only maintenance provider that has to but had only mentioned “overhauled” in lated maintenance regulations because it find that Galel, Kornitzky Group’s owner provide a “maintenance release,” the regula- certain return-to-service forms. was unable to produce the required tech- and sole principal, correctly understood tions involving maintenance recordkeeping, In a recent decision, the appeals court nical data. But the Safety Board judge also the Form 8130-3 requirements but still CFR 43.9, explains that the return-to-service upheld that the company performed main- rejected the intentional-falsification claim, instructed his company to provide a form is different from a complete mainte- tenance without the appropriate technical saying the statements on the required false response,” the appeals court said. nance record. “Those nuances got lost in data but set aside the charge of intentional forms were not false when examined alone. “Galel’s subjective knowledge, however, the court case and thus an ignorant deci- falsification. “The Board departed from its The NTSB’s administrative law judge was not addressed by the administrative sion was rendered that requires the agency own precedents when considering whether decided the appropriate sanction was cer- law judge and the Board did not make the to make clear which certificate holder has Kornitzky Group had acted with the req- tificate suspension pending compliance required factual finding…In short, the what responsibilities for creation and reten- uisite knowledge,” the appeals court said. rather than a permanent revocation. Board identified no evidence that Galel tion of maintenance records.” n

ainonline.com \ September 2019 \ Aviation International News 61 TOUCHING bases FBO and Airport news by Curt Epstein

California FBO Changes to commercial flights, allowing them FBO PROFILE: Naples Aviation Ownership, Name to bypass the airline terminal entirely. Major changes are coming to Sky Trek “Signature Flight Support’s purchase Aviation, the lone service provider at of IAM Jet Centre is a valuable addition California’s Modesto City-County Air- to our growing network of Caribbean port. The FBO has changed ownership FBOs,” said Mark Johnstone, CEO of for the first time in more than three BBA Aviation and Signature. “IAM has decades, with the business purchased an established reputation for excel- by long-time customers Matt Bosco and lence in aviation passenger and ground Dan Kimmel. They have also changed handling throughout the region, and its name to Modesto Jet Center and the addition of their five FBO locations have hired John Earl—who spent the complements our worldwide network,

NAPLES AIRPORT AUTHORITY NAPLES AIRPORT last 20 years with San Francisco-area our strategic expansion into additional Naples Aviation is the sole full-service FBO at Naples Airport and handles more than Pacific States Aviation, most recently as North American markets, as well as 110,000 general aviation aircraft each year. director—as its new general manager. the growth of our Signature Elite Class The new ownership plans to refurbish VIP passenger services division.” the Avfuel-branded facility’s 1,500-sq-ft The purchase is the largest for Signa- Facility aims to exceed expectations terminal, which includes a lobby, pilot ture in terms of FBO locations since it lounge with snooze room, 10-seat con- acquired Landmark Aviation in 2016. Year-round warm weather, white sandy self-serve tanks available. It offers volume ference room, and staff offices. Mather beaches, and sophisticated dining, shop- fuel uplift discounts, AvFuel Contract fuel, Aviation, which has had a long-standing ping, and culture, along with the recent and AvFuel AvTrip points. The FBO, which relationship with the new owners, will New Hangar Debuts at U.S. tax law changes, have attracted specializes in quick turns, is the exclusive operate the company’s Part 145 main- Dallas Love Field high-net-worth individuals—and their pri- fuel provider at the airport. tenance and avionics division. The Business Jet Center (BJC), one of five vate jets—to the Southwest Florida city of Naples Aviation’s two-story, 19,000-sq-ft complex offers more than 60,000 sq (soon to be six) FBOs at Dallas Love Naples. “Naples still has that small-town general aviation terminal includes a passen- ft of hangar space and can accommo- Field, has completed its newest and larg- charm but provides plenty of amenities and ger lounge with refreshment bar, business date aircraft up to a Gulfstream G450. est hangar, which has begun accepting allows high-net-worth individuals to remain center, conference room, fitness center tenant aircraft. The 49,000-sq-ft Hangar low profile,” said Naples Airport Authority with showers, crew lounge with snooze M is already fully leased and brings the executive director Chris Rozansky. “And the room, and flight-planning room. Amenities Signature Makes a Splash facility to more than 250,000 sq ft of recent tax changes are also driving a popu- include eight crew cars, on-site rental cars in the Caribbean total aircraft storage space. The $8.5 mil- lation shift from high-tax states to lower-tax (Go Rentals year-round; Avis, Hertz, and Signature Flight Support has greatly lion project took a year to build, features ones like Florida.” National during peak season only), and a expanded its FBO network in the 28-foot-high doors, and can accommo- Naples Aviation, the sole full-service ramp-side concierge cart for more efficient Caribbean with the purchase of IAM date the latest ultra-long-range business FBO operated by the airport authority at quick turns. It also offers a full range of Jet Centre and its affiliated compa- jets such as the Bombardier Global 7500. Naples Airport, is benefitting from this aircraft services, 208 T-hangars, and bulk nies. The BBA Aviation subsidiary will population shift, with year-to-date aircraft hangar storage. acquire bases at Barbados’s Grantley traffic surging by more than 10 percent, Additionally, on-site U.S. Customs ser- Adams International, Grenada’s Mau- according to FBO manager Mike Hushek. vices are available daily from 10:30 a.m. to rice Bishop International, Tortola’s In 2018, the general aviation-only airport 7 p.m., with after-hour services incurring Terrance B. Lettsome International, averaged more than 9,000 operations per an additional fee. Last year, 1,300 aircraft and Jamaica’s Sangster International month and totaled 110,000 for the year; cleared U.S. Customs at Naples Airport; airports. IAM, which was founded in this year, it is averaging 10,000 per month through the end of July, 1,200 aircraft did 1989, is constructing the first FBO at St. and had logged 90,000 through the end so this year, Hushek said. Lucia’s Hewanorra International Airport, of July. Notably, Rozansky said, “The airport which will also be included in the deal. As for most Florida destinations, the is 100 percent self-sufficient, and all FBO Signature will also take over IAM’s peak season in Naples is from Thanksgiving profits go back into the airport,” which VIP suite services in Barbados and Gre- The addition of the new 49,000-sq-ft Hangar to Easter, though Rozansky said it “seems celebrated its 50th year operating under nada, which will expand its Elite Class M at Business Jet Center’s facility at Dallas to be extending through the Fourth of July.” the airport authority in July. “Since then, program to five airports in the Carib- Love Field, brings the FBO to more than But its absolute peak day is December 26, all funds used for the airport’s operation, bean and the UK. It provides guests with 250,000 sq ft of aircraft storage space to when the airport can see 500 movements, maintenance and improvements have luxury lounges and expedited transfers serve private aviation in the Metroplex. with upwards of 150 aircraft—mostly busi- been generated from activities at the ness jets—parked on the ramp overnight. airport or from federal and state grants; To handle this amount of traffic during the airport receives no property tax dol- peak season, Naples Aviation—known as lars. The Florida Department of Trans- Naples Airport Authority before the facility portation values the airport’s economic was rebranded late last year—scales up to impact to the community at more than more than 60 employees during the win- $440 million annually.” ter months. All staff members receive both Rozansky and his team are currently Avfuel and NATA Safety 1st training. updating the airport’s master plan, which It is also well equipped to accommodate he said will include an expansion of the the influx of general and business aircraft general aviation terminal to accommodate during these peaks, with 10 aircraft refu- future traffic growth. Since this is just in the eling trucks (eight dedicated to jet-A), six planning stage, there are not yet any con- 28.5-volt GPUs, two 60-KVA ground-power crete plans detailing how much the facility units, air start and air conditioning cart, and will be expanded. Lektro 8850 tugs. Overall, he said, Naples Aviation and the The Avfuel-branded facility also has airport itself strives to “provide an excep- a 200,000-gallon fuel farm, helping to tional experience exceeding every flight ensure it doesn’t run low on fuel on the bus- crewmember and visitor’s expectations.” iest of days. Besides its large fleet of fueling Naples Airport is minutes from downtown Signature Flight Support has bolstered its Caribbean service network with the addition of the trucks, Naples Aviation also has two avgas Naples, the Gulf of Mexico, and I-75. C.T. four (soon to be five) FBOs in the region, including at Jamaica’s Sangster International Airport at Montego Bay, developed over the past three decades by Barbados-based IAM Jet Centre.

62 Aviation International News \ September 2019 \ ainonline.com The full-service FBO experienced a record-breaking year in 2018, with continued growth through the first half of this year. Despite the addition of Hangar M, the facility remains near capacity in terms of aircraft occupancy.

Michigan FBO Under New Management Sanderson Field Municipal Airport (ANJ) in Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan, has a new FBO operator, following the passing of the long-time proprietor of Soo An artist’s rendering shows the planned $20 million Sheltair FBO at Colorado’s Rocky Mountain Metropolitan Airport. The company began Air. Now known as Great Circle Aviation operations there in January from a temporary facility as the second service provider on the field. Services, it is run by brothers Dave and Ted Waite, who also operate an air- The FBO is situated near the airport’s Metropolitan Airport (KBJC). The the Florida-based company’s first craft repair shop at Chippewa County U.S. Customs facility, which with prior 21-acre, $20 million facility will include location outside the U.S. East Coast, International Airport. They received notice can provide clearance 24/7. Dave a 10,000-sq-ft terminal featuring and the new complex is expected an initial two-year contract from the Waite is a maintenance technician who a full slate of pilot and passenger to be completed in summer 2020. city for the lone FBO at ANJ, with an performs aircraft inspection and repairs. amenities, aircraft arrivals canopy, a “We are proud and honored to option for an additional two years. He told AIN the company is in the pro- heated 35,000 sq ft hangar—capable serve the aviation community and The FBO features an approximately cess of obtaining its FAA Part 145 repair of sheltering the latest big business the regional economy that depends 7,000-sq-ft terminal with a pilot lounge, station approval. He plans to start with jets—with 5,000 sq ft of build-to-suit on a strong and dynamic KBJC,” said kitchen, and concierge, along with a avionics install and repair and expand office space, 10 acres of aircraft ramp company founder, chairman, and CEO 10,000-sq-ft community/aircraft main- into airframe and powerplant work. space, and parking for up to 120 vehicles. Jerry Holland. “When we made the tenance hangar that can accommodate In January, Sheltair opened a tem- strategic decision to expand our com- Cessna Citation-sized aircraft. The porary facility at the Jefferson County pany’s presence westward, we quickly Avfuel-branded location offers 24/7 self- Sheltair Breaks Ground airport, the fourth busiest in the realized that Jefferson County would serve fueling for jet-A and avgas with on Colorado FBO state, which handled 171,994 oper- be a welcoming partner because its assistance from the FBO staff during Sheltair broke ground last month on ations last year, an average of 471 a public and private leadership recognizes the business hours of 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. its FBO at Colorado’s Rocky Mountain day. The Colorado FBO represents the power of general aviation.” n

Even if you can’t attend the show, be sure Tunein to to catch up on real-time coverage at AINonline.com For additional sponsorship opportunities, AIN please contact Nancy O’Brien at [email protected] NEWS TODAY at AINonline.com during NBAA-BACE for news, interviews with industry leaders, in-depth show analysis, and close-up video of the hottest aircraft Visit our AIN News Today studio at Booth C10018 Sponsored by: on the static display. at NBAA-BACE October 22 -24, 2019 in Las Vegas, NV.

AIN Video Sponsorship.indd 11 8/19/19 5:02 PM ainonline.com \ September 2019 \ Aviation International News 63 ACCIDENTS by David Jack Kenny

PRELIMINARY REPORTS was already on fire before impact. showed it climbing steadily at about 1,200 Prevenção e Investigação de Acidentes Operational details of the accident fpm through FL190 toward its assigned com Aeronaves e de Acidentes Fer- Pilot Under the Influence, flight remain obscure. At press time, altitude of FL210 when it suddenly yawed roviários (GPIAAF) concluded that dam- Lacked Credentials the Pakistani military had not released left and began to descend. Groundspeed age signatures on the left engine’s power any information on the progress of its decreased from 120 knots to 80 and then turbine showed that it was spooling down CESSNA 550, JULY 17, 2019, investigation. 20 as its descent rate increased from 663 at the moment of impact, while the right MESQUITE, NEVADA fpm to more than 7,000. Radar contact was engine was producing full power. The Retired Race Car Driver, Family lost less than one minute after the initial GPIAAF also noted that the airplane was The pilot of a Cessna Citation that Escape Burning Citation deviation, and ATC received no distress operating very close to its maximum crashed at the Mesquite airport while calls. Analysis of the radar data concluded gross takeoff weight, making failure of en route from Pasco, Washington, to Las CESSNA 680A, AUG. 15, 2019, that the airplane entered a fully developed the critical engine especially difficult to Vegas Henderson Executive Airport was ELIZABETHTON, TENNESSEE spin that progressed into a flat spin. The manage. Its center of gravity appeared to taken into custody on a charge of operat- consistency of its ground track and climb be within limits, though its exact takeoff ing an aircraft “while under the influence Former Nascar driver Dale Earnhardt Jr., rate suggested it was flying by autopilot at weight could not be determined. of intoxicating liquor” and transported his wife, and their 15-month-old daughter the time of the upset. Witnesses reported that the Cheyenne to the Clark County Correctional Facility escaped uninjured after the right main The extent of damage from both ground began banking left during a slow climb to after a brief hospital visit. The airplane landing gear of his Citation Latitude col- impact and the resulting fire precluded about 300 feet. The bank steepened and was largely consumed by a post-crash fire. lapsed following a bounced landing at definitive determination of the cause of airspeed decayed until the airplane stalled. The reason for the diversion has not yet the Elizabethton, Tennessee Municipal the loss of control. However, fragments of The 69-year-old pilot, a French national been released. Airport. Two pilots and the Earnhardts’ both horizontal stabilizers and elevators holding a Swiss passport, had a PA-31/42 FAA records show that the pilot, dog also escaped unharmed from the jet, were found in five separate locations up type rating and about 4,900 hours of flight 41-year-old Ryan Dashiell, had not been which was engulfed in flames by the time to 1,520 meters (7/8 mile) from the main time. French authorities did not track his certified for single-pilot operations in it slid to a halt. All were briefly hospital- wreckage, indicating that they had sepa- make-and-model experience. the C550. ized for examination, then released. rated in flight. Examination of the engines Witnesses said the Citation, registered and propellers suggested that both were Drag Chute Deployment Four Fatalities in B.C. to Earnhardt’s company JR Motorsports, turning at the moment of impact, though Brought Down Learjet Floatplane Accident bounced “at least twice” before sliding the right engine might have been pro- off the end of the runway, through the ducing more power. Although moderate LEARJET 25, MAY 17, 2017, CESSNA 208 CARAVAN 675, airport’s perimeter fence, and coming to to severe icing was forecast up to FL 350, TOLUDA-LICENCIADO ADOLFO LÓPEZ MATEOS JULY 26, 2019, ADDENBROKE ISLAND, rest on a highway. Photographs from the with temperatures of -17 to -19 Celsius INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT, MEXICO BRITISH COLUMBIA, CANADA scene suggest the weather was clear and at FL 180, there was no evidence of the dry. The fire consumed both engines, the type of foreign object damage indicative The accidental deployment of the air- The pilot and three passengers were killed right wing, and most of the fuselage aft of of ice ingestion. Investigators could rule plane’s drag chute after the pilots suc- and five more passengers were rescued the cabin door. out neither momentary stoppage of the cessfully managed the inadvertent with serious injuries after their Cessna left engine due to ice crystals nor a stall deployment of the number one engine’s Caravan floatplane struck a hillside on FINAL REPORTS triggered by asymmetric deposition of thrust reverser during takeoff caused the Addenbroke Island en route to a fishing airframe ice. fatal crash of a Learjet 25 on departure lodge on nearby Calvert Island. Press King Air Suffered The airplane’s pilot and owner, a 68-year- from the Toluda-Licenciado Adolfo López accounts describe weather in the vicinity Fatal Spin old Spanish citizen, held a private pilot Mateos International Airport, according as including heavy cloud cover with mod- license with instrument and multiengine to Mexican investigators. erate winds and light rain. BEECHCRAFT E90, DEC. 4, 2016, piston ratings but had not obtained the The final report of the Comisión Inves- The accident site was near a sched- SOTILLO DE LAS PALOMAS, TOLEDO, SPAIN type rating required by Spanish regulations. tigadora y Dictaminadora de Accidentes uled B.C. Ferries route, and the Northern His logbook was destroyed in the accident, e Incidentes de Aviación (CIDAIA) relied Sea Wolf remained on the scene for six The pilot of the Beechcraft E90 destroyed so his make-and-model experience could on examination of filaments in the hours rendering assistance. Survivors by an in-flight break-up lacked the type not be determined. annunciator panel’s warning lamps and were evacuated by an RCAF Cormorant rating required to command that model the indications found on the airplane’s rescue helicopter; an RCAF Buffalo patrol under Spanish regulations and was oper- Engine Failure Caused thrust gauges to conclude that the thrust airplane, three Coast Guard vessels, and ating in forecast icing conditions with an Portuguese Cheyenne Crash reverser deployed after the jet had accel- a Coast Guard helicopter also responded inoperative weather radar, contrary to the erated through V1. The crew followed the to the scene. airplane’s Master Minimum Equipment PIPER PA-31T CHEYENNE II, APRIL 17, 2017, relevant checklist, reducing thrust on List. The final report of Spain’s Comis- CASCAIS-TIRES AIRPORT, PORTUGAL engine number one to idle and continu- Nineteen Killed in Crash of ión Investigación de Accidentes e Inci- ing the takeoff. Footage from the FlyMex Pakistan Army King Air dentes de Aviación Civil (CIAIAC) also Portuguese investigators have deter- hangar’s surveillance camera captured found that several major maintenance mined that a loss of power in the left the image of the jet flying with the drag BEECHCRAFT B300 KING AIR 350I, JULY 30, operations, including replacement of the (critical) engine shortly after takeoff chute deployed. It reached a maximum 2019, MORA KALU, RAWALPINDI, PAKISTAN right windshield and left fuel tank assem- caused the pilot to lose control of the altitude of about 1,000 feet above the bly as well as the airplane’s most recent Swiss-registered turboprop twin. The ground before losing airspeed, rolling left, A Pakistan Army Aviation Corps King Air annual inspection, had been conducted pilot, three passengers, and the driver of and crashing barely one-quarter of a mile 350i crashed into a densely populated by an unauthorized provider. The pilot a delivery truck were killed when the air- (453 meters) from the departure end of section of the garrison city of Rawalpindi and all three passengers were killed after plane rolled left and crashed into the load- Runway 33. Both pilots were killed. during a training flight, claiming the lives the King Air entered an unrecoverable ing dock of a supermarket less than half a The first officer, in the right seat, was of at least 14 people on the ground as spin and its horizontal stabilizer failed in mile (700 meters) from the departure end the pilot flying on the positioning leg well as all five on board. As many as 16 overload. of Runway 17 of the Cascais-Tires Airport. to the Durango-Guadalupe Victoria Air- other civilians were reportedly injured, The purpose of the flight was to deliver A post-crash fire consumed much of the port. The drag chute deployment handle many critically, raising the prospect that the airplane to Portugal’s Cascais airfield wreckage, including the magnesium hous- is located on the right side of the central the death toll could rise. The accident so its weather radar could be repaired at ings of both engines’ reduction and acces- control pedestal and protected by two occurred at about 2 a.m. local time, ignit- a facility specializing in this equipment. sory gearboxes, and investigators were security interlocks. In the absence of a ing a fire that quickly spread to several After several hours of weather delays, it unable to pinpoint the cause of the engine flight data recorder, investigators were residences. The BBC quoted two wit- departed the VFR-only Cuatro Vientos air- failure from the parts that remained. unable to determine how the drag chute nesses as saying that the airplane’s tail port at 3:57 p.m. local time. Radar track data The final report of the Gabinete de came to be deployed. n

The material on this page is based on reports by the official agencies of the countries having the reponsibility for aircraft accident and incident investigations. It is not intended to judge or evaluate the ability of any person, living or dead, and is presented here for informational purposes.

64 Aviation International News \ September 2019 \ ainonline.com A four-hour simulator session will pres- It’s currently being offered at FSI’s recurrent G550 course ent pilots with up to 13 new scenarios in FlightSafety’s learning center in Savannah, which they have to decide whether to con- Georgia. Later, it also will be offered at the tinue or abort a takeoff. The course is also company’s centers in Dallas; Long Beach, focuses on rejected takeoffs designed to help validate an operator’s California; and Wilmington, Delaware. specific takeoff briefings by testing them Similar courses are being developed for by Jerry Siebenmark against a variety of airports, environmen- the Gulfstream G650 and G280 that are tal conditions, and weights. expected to be available later this fall. n FlightSafety International has begun this invaluable course gives pilots another offering an advanced rejected takeoff go/ opportunity to fly their aircraft in the no-go recurrent course for Gulfstream safe environment of a simulator under G550 pilots that reviews and reinforces the high stress and demands of an emer- the skills and lessons learned in its initial gency return to the airport after takeoff,” Pilot dozed off at controls of MedFlight helo course. “In addition to gaining proficiency said FlightSafety senior v-p of operations in the go/no-go decision-making process, Dann Runik. The FAA is investigating an incident in company operates several twin-turbine which a Boston MedFlight pilot briefly helicopters and airplanes. fell asleep at the controls of a helicop- Although the FAA acknowledged it is ter, believed to be an Airbus H145, while investigating the incident, the agency did transporting a patient to a Boston hos- not provide any additional details, such as pital from Martha’s Vineyard, Massa- how it became aware of the occurrence chusetts, on June 24. The pilot, whose or if certification action against the pilot identity was not immediately released, is being considered. Meanwhile, the not- overflew the designated helipad before for-profit aeromedical company said the turning around and completing the flight pilot is “no longer employed by Boston without incident. MedFlight.” “Our investigation determined that Boston MedFlight declined further com- fatigue was a factor and we are now ment beyond saying, “Throughout our working with a fatigue management con- 34-year history as a nonprofit organization sultant and a safety consultant to review providing critical care medical transport to our policies and procedures so that this over 75,000 patients in need, the safety of isolated incident does not happen again,” our patients and crews has always been Pilots will confront up to 13 scenarios in FlightSafety International’s new Advanced Rejected Boston MedFlight said in a statement. The our highest priority.” G.G. Takeoff Go/No-Go Recurrent course for the Gulfstream G550.

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FutureFlightsAd.indd 1 ainonline.com \ September 2019 \ Aviation International 8/20/19News 9:0465 AM COMPLETION & refurbishment by James Wynbrandt

LHT Converts customer, primarily for transporting Execliner to Utility Use passengers to and from super yachts INTRODUCING... Known for its VIP airliner cabins, in the Mediterranean and Caribbean Lufthansa Technik (LHT) reversed the regions. The cabins feature a bespoke JETNET FOR SALESFORCE process in June, delivering a former version of the ACH Line interior concept TWO WORLD-CLASS PLATFORMS, ONE UNIFYING APP ACJ319 execliner converted into what it designed by London’s Harrison Eidsgaard, calls the world’s most modern obser- who also created the yacht-inspired JETNET for Salesforce enables access to accurate and timely vation aircraft, for use by the German external livery. The second ACH145 is worldwide fixed and rotary wing aircraft data from within Salesforce. armed forces in Treaty on Open Skies slated for delivery in the fourth quar- Work faster, identify leads sooner, and better qualify opportunities. radiation monitoring missions. All told, ter. The same customer has on order an Move up to a faster, more accurate Salesforce integration. LHT made more than 150 modifications ACH160, the company’s in-development to the platform during the 26-month medium twin, to be outfitted with the makeover, from minor AD implemen- ACH Exclusive cabin, which includes a tation to installing digital infrared pair of wide, hinged doors and electri- sensor and optical camera systems, cally actuated, retractable footsteps. and structural modifications including Meanwhile, ACH has notched its first adding glass belly panels for cameras sale of an ACH160 in Southeast Asia, and other observation technologies. ordered by a Philippine customer, also to The cabin now sports four ergonomic be outfitted with the Exclusive interior. operating stations, and 16 additional seats for staff of the overflown state Designers Create Zen Cabins and partner nations, with maintenance A pair of European firms has introduced flaps and access doors throughout the Zen-themed aircraft interior concepts. cabin allowing immediate access to all London-based haute interior specialist systems for inspection. Three STCs Winch Design introduced for the ACJ were required for the modifications of neo and BBJ Max airframes its Yoga the aircraft, slated for approval by both cabin, an homage to relaxation and civil and military aviation authorities. meditation inspired by a yoga devotee KNOW MORE. client. Incorporating sustainable materi- Amac, Pininfarina Team on als, natural fabrics and organic textures, The World Leader in Aviation Market Intelligence 800.553.8638 +1.315.797.4420 +41 (0) 43.243.7056 jetnet.com A350-900 Interior Concept the open floor plan creates a spacious, Swiss C&R specialist Amac Aerospace airborne yoga studio, with full height

VISIT THE JETNET EXHIBIT AT THE NBAA CONVENTION and Italian design firm Pininfarina have mirror panels and foot-worn timber OCTOBER 22-24 IN LAS VEGAS, NEVADA | BOOTH #C12435 introduced a widebody cabin concept flooring. The living space opens into the for the A350-900 that they said will bathroom, intersected by a large, glass- “make passengers forget” they’re on an walled aromatherapy steam shower, aircraft—even if it’s a customized exec- allowing natural light to flood the bath- utive airliner. Drawing on architectural, room, which features green onyx walls, nautical, and aerial influences, the mul- carved stone basins, and brass fittings. tifunctional interior space is “conceived The aft cabin of the concept interior around the traveler’s desires and able features a private wellness retreat. to fulfill all his needs: relaxing, working, Meanwhile, Swiss business aircraft dining, entertaining conversations, and interiors specialist Yasava unveiled its Zen holding meetings,” with private and design concept, calling it the first “zero

working spaces joined in a seamless flow. carbon footprint/CO2 neutral” aircraft A welcoming area includes a wet interior, achieved in part by “carefully bar, and a lounge space is sculptured selecting our suppliers and materials, by a flowing band drawing passengers based on sustainability criteria and carbon to different environments such as a footprints” and closely monitoring and cocoon-like relaxing area; a dining/ auditing the completions process. Incor- meeting space; and a “green space” ded- porating features from its Astral interior icated to personal, relaxing moments. design, Zen is further refined to improve space utilization, ergonomics and comfort, Bespoke Helo and includes new OLED features. Yasava Interiors in Demand said the Zen aircraft’s final net carbon Demand for bespoke helicopter inte- footprint will be “efficiently, transpar- riors appears to be in vertical ascent. ently and securely sequestered in natural Airbus Corporate Helicopters reported carbon sinks via the [blockchain powered] delivering in May the first of a pair of Oxi-Zen,” a carbon trading platform the ACH145 rotorcraft ordered by a longtime company is currently developing. n

Winch Design is developing a yoga inspired cabin for the ACJ neo and BBJ Max. The floorplan allows for a spacious cabin for in-flight yoga practice.

66 Aviation International News \ September 2019 \ www.ainonline.com COMPLIANCE countdown by Gordon Gilbert

Within 6 Months Aug. 13, 2020 Oct. 1, 2019 EASA: Training Requirements U.S.: Interior Fire Protection Flight crew training rules for certain helicopter and airplane operations The FAA is proposing to amend would be updated under a notice of certain airworthiness regulations proposed amendment (NPA) from YOU PROVIDE THE for fire protection of Part 25 air- the European Union Aviation Safety craft interior compartments. This Agency. In addition to implementing HARD WORK, THE proposal would convert those flam- evidence-based training (EBT), this INQUISITIVENESS, mability regulations from detailed, NPA proposes to improve existing prescriptive requirements into sim- requirements covering commercial AND THE pler, performance-based standards. operations by airplanes and helicop- Comments are due on October 1. ters, specialized operations, and non- DEDICATION, AND commercial operations with complex DUNCAN AVIATION Jan. 1, 2020 4 Months to Deadline aircraft. Comments are due August 13. U.S./Taiwan/Mexico: PROVIDES THE Aug. 14, 2020 ADS-B Out Mandate OPPORTUNITY TO EU: Pilot Mental Fitness ADS-B Out equipment must be LEARN, GROW, operational starting Jan. 1, 2020, in The European Union has published aircraft that fly in the U.S. under revised air operations safety rules AND SUCCEED. IFR and where transponders are to incorporate provisions to better - BRAD WALES, ENGINE currently required, and in Taiwan identify, assess, and treat the psy- LINE ASSISTANT MANAGER IFR airspace above FL290. Mexico: chological fitness of air crew. The Requirements are proposed for a rules, applicable to commercial air start date of Jan. 1, 2020, in Class A, transport operators, go into effect B, C, E above 10,000 feet, and other Aug. 14, 2020. The requirements specified airspace. The requirement include mandatory alcohol testing could take effect earlier in some of flight crews during ramp checks. airspace over the Gulf of Mexico. Aug. 22, 2020 Jan. 1, 2020 Australia: Airport Certification Aircraft CO Emissions 2 Revised Australian airport certifica- The first international standards for tion regulations (CASR Part 139) and carbon dioxide (CO₂) aircraft emis- an accompanying revised manual of sions have been enacted by ICAO and standards (MOS) start on Aug. 22, 2020. initially apply to large subsonic jets, There will be a transition period up to including business jets, for which the two years for registered airports, due to application for a type certificate was the requirements to develop an airport submitted on or after Jan. 1, 2020. operations manual. Certified airports are expected to largely be compliant Jan. 30, 2020 with the new MOS at commencement. Datalink Com in North Atlantic

Phase 2 of the North Atlantic datalink Beyond 12 Months mandate began in February 2015, at Feb. 25, 2021 and Jan. 27, 2022 which time flights within the North 17 Months to Deadline Atlantic Tracks between FL350 and FL390 were required to be equipped Canada: ADS-B Out Mandate with FANS-1/A controller- pilot data- The implementation date of Feb. 25, link communications and ADS-C. 2021 is proposed for ADS-B use in The program expanded to these Canadian Domestic Airspace, initially altitudes in the entire ICAO NAT limited to Class A airspace. The man- region on Dec. 7, 2017, and will apply date would be expanded to include to all flights in this region between Class B airspace above 12,500 feet on FL290 and FL 410 on Jan. 30, 2020. Jan. 27, 2022. Beyond this date, expansion of ADS-B requirements mandate to other Canadian domestic airspace Within 12 Months will be based on an assessment of the Experience. Unlike any other. June 7, 2020 9 Months to Deadline safety and efficiency requirements for www.DuncanAviation.aero Europe: ADS-B Out Mandate specific airports.

The ADS-B Out retrofit requirement in Jan. 1, 2021 Aircraft Acquisition & Consignment | Airframe Maintenance Europe takes effect June 7, 2020. This EASA: Cockpit Voice Recorders Avionics Installation | Emergency Assistance (AOG) mandate applies only to aircraft with Engine & APU | Engineering & Certification Services a mtow exceeding 5,700 kg (12,566 Cockpit voice recorders with a record- Government & Special Programs | Paint & Interior pounds) or having a maximum cruis- ing duration of at least 25 hours will be Parts, Avionics, Instruments & Accessories ing speed greater than 250 knots, and required on commercial airplanes with received its individual certificate of an mtow of 60,000 pounds or more airworthiness before June 8, 2016. manufactured from Jan. 1, 2021. n

AIN_DuncanAviation_Recruiting-Brad Wales.indd 1 8/2/2019 8:14:27 AM ainonline.com \ September 2019 \ Aviation International News 67 PEOPLE in aviation Compiled by Kerry Lynch

ROMAIN TRAPP DENISE WILSON ROBBIE IRONS VALÉRIE GUILLEMET DANNY ROBAYO

Romain Trapp has been appointed president Baker Aviation named Ray Goyco, Jr. CEO Dassault Aviation as an aerodynamics engineer an engine line team leader at Duncan Avia- of Airbus Helicopters’ U.S. subsidiary, Air- of a newly formed organization, Baker Aviation in 1988, led the Rafale and Falcon-series systems tion’s Lincoln, Nebraska facility. bus Helicopters Inc., and head of the North Services Group, which will focus on strategic department, the Rafale production line, and then Arizona-based Cutter Aviation has promoted America region for helicopters. He succeeds partnerships, contract management, compliance, the Falcon 7X and 8X line before becoming dep- HondaJet and Pilatus PC-24-rated captain Jon Chris Emerson, who is assuming the role of and Hot-Stop “L” fire containment kit and parts uty manager in charge of production and most Lassak to chief pilot in its charter and flight president of Airbus Defence and Space. Trapp sales. Formerly president and COO of Baker’s recently Mérignac site manager. management department. previously served as CFO of Airbus Helicopters aviation maintenance organization, Goyco has Embraer Executive Jets appointed Pedro Allianz Global Corporate & Specialty Inc. in Grand Prairie, Texas, beginning in 2008. led Baker’s maintenance activities since 2012. Paiva director of sales for Western and South- appointed Tom Fadden global head of aviation. In addition, Airbus Helicopters is realigning Pegasus Universal Aerospace named Rob- ern Europe, based in Amsterdam. Paiva joined Miguel Gallardo joined Stevens Aerospace its executive committee beginning Septem- bie Irons CEO, working with founder and Embraer in 2002 and has since led several dif- and Defense Systems as a Gulfstream main- ber 1. Alain Flourens, currently executive chairman Dr. Reza Mia as the company pur- ferent customer services teams and has played tenance sales representative. Gallardo brings v-p of industry, will become executive v-p of sues investors for its hybrid turboshaft/elec- a role in the creation of the Embraer Executive a background in end-user maintenance and operations with responsibility for industry and tric-powered Pegasus One VTOL, branded as Jets brand. parts sales, and business aviation experience procurement. Wolfgang Schoder, currently the Vertical Business Jet. Irons previously has Roy Gioconda joined Traxxall as v-p of cus- in Latin America, to his new role. executive v-p of light helicopters and govern- held senior business development and aircraft tomer success, a newly created role. Gioconda René Changtin joined Acass as aircraft mental programs, will take the role of execu- sales roles with ExecuJet Aviation at Johannes- previously served as director of service quality sales director–Canada & Eastern U.S. Changtin tive v-p of strategy, as well as retain his duties burg’s Lanseria Airport. assurance at CAMP Systems, director of main- has a background in engineering, flight testing, as general manager of Airbus Helicopters Joshua Hebert, founder and CEO of Magel- tenance at Guardian Jet and Jet Logistics, and customer relationship management, technical Germany. Matthieu Louvot, executive v-p of lan Jets, was named chairman of the Air Char- director of quality at FlightWorks. sales support, and, most recently, business jet customer support and services, will take over ter Safety Foundation (ACSF). Herbert—who FlightSafety International promoted Michael sales and acquisitions. n light helicopters and government responsibil- founded Magellan in 2008 and has since Burger to manager of its training center in ities from Schoder in September as executive steered it into a multifaceted business with Teterboro, New Jersey, taking over for Danny v-p Airbus Helicopters programs. Beginning in charter, jet card, and other services—has been Robayo who recently became v-p. Burger January, Louvot will lead a unified Airbus Heli- vice-chairman for ACSF. He is succeeding for- joined FlightSafety in 2004 as an instructor at copters programs. In Louvot’s place, Christoph mer chairman Michael Graham, the director the Farnborough, UK center and has held a Zammert, currently head of program support, of flight operations safety, security, and stan- series of positions of increasing responsibility, will be promoted to executive v-p customer dardization at Textron Aviation who has been including assistant manager in Teterboro and support and services and join the executive nominated to the NTSB. EASA head of training. Robayo, meanwhile, committee. Mathilde Royer, head of global The National Air Transportation Association joined the Teterboro facility in 1991 and has set-up optimization project, will take the role (NATA) elected its new board of directors, nam- since held positions of increasing responsibility. of digital transformation officer and head of ing as chairman Curt Castagna, president and FlightSafety also promoted Ed Koharik from v-p FINAL FLIGHT company transformation. Royer also will join CEO of Aeroplex/Aerolease Group. Castagna, to senior v-p. A 23-year U.S. Air Force veteran, Mary Nevada-Morgan, who had left a the executive committee. Also joining the exec- who had been vice-chairman, succeeds outgo- Koharik joined FlightSafety in 2015 and has also mark for strong customer service during utive committee is Bernhard Weigl, head of ing chairman Jeff Ross, president and CEO of served as general manager, visual systems. her eight-year tenure with Million Air aviation safety and quality. Ross Aviation. Clive Lowe, senior v-p of busi- The National Transportation Safety Board Dallas, died unexpectedly on June 29 Dave Labrozzi was promoted to vice- ness development for Atlantic Aviation, takes named Dana Schulze director of the Office at the age of 35. Born Sept. 17, 1983, in chairman at Global Jet Capital. Most recently over as vice-chair. of Aviation Safety. Schulze had been deputy Dallas, she graduated from the Univer- COO, Labrozzi had more than 35 years of avia- Valérie Guillemet was named head of human director of the Office of Aviation Safety since sity of Dallas with a bachelor’s degree tion finance experience with GE, including 22 in resources at Dassault Aviation, becoming the 2012 and also recently had been acting director. in human resources and management. corporate aviation financing.Stefan Abbruzz- first female member to sit on the company’s Scott Stoki was promoted to engine over- Nevada-Morgan later joined Million ese, meanwhile, joined the aircraft finance pro- executive committee. Guillemet, who joined haul manager for Duncan Aviation. Stoki was Air and had served as a senior cus- vider as chief commercial officer. Abbruzzese tomer service representative/account brings nearly 30 years of experience in finan- specialist. In that role, company exec- cial services to his new role, including leading utives said, she worked with a number the bank loan business at GE Capital and most AWARDS and HONORS of corporate operators, many of whom recently serving as partner and COO at private became “loyal customers (fans).” Her equity firm L Catterton. The National Aeronautic Association (NAA) is thousands he has touched,” said NAA customer service earned her “Above Desert Jet has brought business aviation creating a new award, the Bruce Whitman chairman Jim Albaugh. “Over the years, he and Beyond” recognition in this year’s veteran Jared Fox on board as its new CEO, as Trophy, in honor of the late chairman, pres- gave generously of his time to promote and AIN FBO Survey. founder and current CEO Denise Wilson tran- ident, and CEO of FlightSafety International remember the sacrifices of our military.” The FBO chain said the “entire sitions to chairman of the parent company, Des- and noted philanthropist. Whitman, who The award will be presented annually to Million Air family…will truly miss her. ert Jet Holdings. Fox, who took the CEO role passed away in October 2018, will be the “outstanding individuals who have made sig- She will always be remembered for effective August 1, most recently served as a initial recipient of the trophy established in nificant contributions to aviation or aerospace her joyful heart, love for others, and regional sales manager for Epic Aviation. He his name in recognition of his contributions in the U.S., and who by working with muse- the spirit that will always be Mary.” also served with TWC Aviation, Corporate Avi- to the aerospace industry. NAA will present ums and other institutions have promoted She is survived by her husband, ation, and American Airports. Wilson founded the first trophy to Whitman’s family and col- an appreciation by students and the broader Christian Morgan, daughter, Jocelyn Desert Jet in 2007. She additionally joined jetA- leagues at the NAA Fall Awards Dinner. public of the sacrifices and legacy of mem- Nevada-Morgan, and mother, Norma viva as sales director for the Citation CJ, CJ1, “Bruce will be sorely missed by the bers of the military service.”  Reyes Nevada.  CJ1+, and M2 markets.

68 Aviation International News \ September 2019 \ ainonline.com ACCESS A WORLD OF POSSIBILITIES

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AFRICAN AIR EXPO…November 27-29, SEPTEMBER OCTOBER King Shaka International Airport, Durban, South Africa. CITATION JET PILOTS CONVENTION… CHC SAFETY AND QUALITY SUMMIT… Info: africanairexpo.com. September 4-8, Colorado Springs, CO. October 1-3, Omni Dallas Hotel, Dallas, Texas. Info: citationjetpilots.com. Info: chcsafetyqualitysummit.com. DECEMBER September 6, MEDITERRANEAN BUSINESS AVIATION… REDBIRD MIGRATION FLIGHT TRAINING CONFERENCE… MASSACHUSETTS BUSINESS AVIATION ASSOCIATION The Palace Hotel, Sliema, Malta. October 15-17, Wings Over the Rockies Blue Sky SAFETY DAY…December 4, Info: aeropodium.com/mba.html. Aviation Gallery, Englewood, CO. Marriott Burlington. Info: massbizav.org. Info: migration.redbirdflight.com. RTCA SC-216 AERONAUTICAL SYSTEMS SECURITY PLENARY…September 9,-12, 9-23, NBAA TAX REGULATORY & RISK MANAGEMENT… JANUARY 2020 rue Paul LaFargue, Saint Denis, France. October 20-21, Las Vegas, NV. Info: nbaa.org. Info: email: [email protected]; HAI HELI-EXPO…January 27-30, NBAA-BACE BUSINESS AVIATION rtca.org/content/upcoming-committee-meetings. Anaheim Convention Center, Anaheim, CA. Info: rotor.org. CONVENTION & EXHIBITION…October 22-24, INTERNATIONAL BRAZIL AIR SHOW…September 11-13, Las Vegas Convention Center, Las Vegas NV. GRU Airport-São Paulo International Airport, Info: (202) 783-9000; nbaa.org/events/bace/2019/. FEBRUARY 2020 Guarulhos, São Paulo, Brazil. MALTA AVIATION CONFERENCE AND EXPO… SINGAPORE AIRSHOW…February 11-16, Info: +55 11 97664-7750; [email protected]; October 30-November 1. Info: mace.aero/. Changi Exhibition Center, Singapore. internationalbrazilairshow.com.br/en/. Info: singaporeairshow.com. MASSACHUSETTS BUSINESS AVIATION ASSOCIATION ANNUAL SCHOLARSHIP GOLF TOURNAMENT… NOVEMBER MARCH 2020 September 12, The International, Bolton, MA. FLIGHT SAFETY FOUNDATION INTERNATIONAL AIR CHARTER SAFETY SYMPOSIUM…March 3-4, Info: massbizav.org. AIR SAFETY SUMMIT…November 4-6, Taipei. NTSB Training Center, Ashburn, VA. Info: acsf.aero/symposium/. Info: flightsafety.org/events. 2019 GWBAA GOLF CLASSIC…September 12, INTERNATIONAL WOMEN IN AVIATION CONFERENCE…March 5-7, 1757 Golf Club, Dulles, VA. BOMBARDIER SAFETY STANDDOWN…November 12-14, Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort, Lake Buena Vista, FL. Info: birdeasepro.com/2019gwbaagolf/. Omni Fort Worth Hotel, Fort Worth, Texas. Info: wai.org/conference. Info: safetystanddown.com. IS-BAO WORKSHOP: MARRAKECH, MOROCCO… NBAA INTERNATIONAL OPERATORS CONFERENCE… September 23, Marrakech Menara Airport, Morocco. IBERIAN PENINSULA BUSINESS AVIATION CONFERENCE… March 16-19, Charlotte, North Carolina. Info: https://nbaa.org/ Info: mebaa.com. November 14, Madrid, Spain. Info: ipbace.com. events/2020-international-operators-conference/. MEBAA SHOW MOROCCO…September 25-26, DUBAI AIRSHOW…November 17-21, AIRCRAFT ELECTRONICS ASSOCIATION INTERNATIONAL Marrakech Menara Airport, Morocco. Airport Expo, Dubai, UAE. Info: +97 1 4286 7755; CONVENTION AND TRADE SHOW…March 24-27, Info: mebaamorocco.aero. dubaiairshow.aero. Nashville, TN. Info: aea.net.

Indicates events at which AIN will publish Indicates events for which AIN will provide Indicates events at which AIN on-site issues or distribute special reports. special online coverage or e-newsletter. will produce AINtv.com videos.

See ainonline.com for a comprehensive long-range aviation events calendar.

70 Aviation International News \ September 2019 \ ainonline.com AIN Publications_254mmx328mm_pathed.pdf 1 7/6/2019 6:07:04 PM B:11.0625" T:10.8125" S:10.0625"

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AIN Trim Size: 10.812 in x 13.875 in Bleed: 0.125

JOB #: DAS-CS0000 WORK ORDER #: 201901118 545 Dell Road BLEED: 11.0625" x 14.125" COLOR: CMYK Carlstadt, NJ 07072 FILE NAME: DAS-CS0000774_FalconResponse_PG_AIN_IG1.indd TRIM: 10.8125" x 13.875" PROFILE: SWOP 800-468-3240 PICKUP FILE NAME: Falcon Response Fleet - AIN_Survey Snipe_Final www.imtechgraphics.com RELEASE FILE NAME: None SAFETY: 10.0625" x 13.125" PAPER: N A FOLDED SIZE: None FINISH: N A SCALE: 1" = 1" CLIENT: Dassault Aviation FILE PATH: studioPRODUCTION:Dassault:Print :Publication:DAS-CS0000774_FalconResponse_PG_AIN:DAS- CS0000774_FalconResponse_PG_AIN_IG1.indd AD TITLE: Falcon Response Page Ad for AIN COLORS: Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, Black SEASON: Fall 19 ARTIST: DBow DATE MODIFIED: 8-12-2019 1:56 PM FONTS: Helvetica Neue LT Std (57 Condensed; OpenType), Helvetica Neue (Light; True Type), BlairMdITC TT (Medium; PRODUCTION: Nicole Kerin DATE CREATED: 8-12-2019 1:42 PM CATEGORY: FalconResponse True Type) JOB TYPE: SP Print IMAGES: W-02-001IIA_141024_0442 light10.tif (CMYK; 376 ppi; Up to Date; studioPRODUCTION:Dassault:Print:Publica REGION: U S tion:DAS-CS0000774_FalconResponse_PG_AIN:PU:Falcon Response Fleet - AIN_Survey Snipe_Final Folder:Falcon Response Fleet - AIN_Survey Snipe_Final Folder:Links:W-02-001IIA_141024_0442 light10.tif) ARTIST LANGUAGE: US English AIN Survey Snipe_new.eps (Up to Date; studioPRODUCTION:Dassault:Print:Publication:DAS-CS0000774_ FalconResponse_PG_AIN:PU:Falcon Response Fleet - AIN_Survey Snipe_Final Folder:Falcon Response Fleet - AIN_ PUB / RETAILER: AIN Survey Snipe_Final Folder:Links:AIN Survey Snipe_new.eps) QA PUB DATE: N A Sign-Off PROD

AE Release - 08/12/2019 01:57 PM |DAS-CS0000774_FalconResponse_PG_AIN_IG1 | SWOP C3