PUBLICATIONS

Vol.49 | No.9

$9.00

SEPTEMBER 2020 | ainonline.com

« From a glimpse at Supersonic’s AS3 airliner (pictured in contrast to the AS2 ) to NASA’s and Lockheed Martin’s research on low booms and ’s ambitions to proceed with a Mach 3 jet, the field of supersonic research is fast growing. Meanwhile, regulators hope to keep up with the advances. (See report on Pages 26-36 and 44.)

Finances Aviation posts launches next quarterly loss page 12 OEMs generation of King Air family Bombardier orders, shipments drop page 14 by Chad Trautvetter

Textron Aviation announced the King Opinion Air 360/360ER, an upgrade of the Model How Covid is affecting 350/350ER that includes autothrottles, digital pressurization system, and a rede- flying safety page 16 signed cabin. The new twin models—priced at $7.9 million and $8.795 Air Transport million, respectively—are currently in production, with customer deliveries More rate cuts at Boeing expected to begin in the fourth quarter. page 38 The Innovative Solutions & Support (IS&S) ThrustSense autothrottles on the King Air 360/360ER—which reduce pilot Read Our SPECIAL REPORT workload by automatically managing engine power from the takeoff roll through the climb, cruise, descent, go-around, and Product Support landing phases of flight—are also being made available as a retrofit for 300-series AIN readers rate the support they King Airs with Collins Pro Line Fusion avi- Textron Aviation’s upgraded King Air 360/360ER features a completely redesigned cabin with received in the last 12 months for flight onics, Textron Aviation said. Likewise, the better aesthetics and comfort. It includes new seats; more refined cabinetry, partitions, and deck and cabin electronics. digital pressurization system on the new side ledges; higher work tables; LED lighting; lower profile air and light components; new King Air models lowers pilot workload via switches; and power outlets and USB charging stations. There are also five new interior page 18 continues on page 44 schemes: lava saddle, new pewter, latte, buttercream, and alpaca. PRAETOR ff""# CERTIFIED OUTPERFORMANCE.

The Praetor 600 — the world’s most disruptive and technologically advanced super-midsize aircraft that leads the way in performance, comfort and technology.

Unveiled at NBAA in October 2018 and now certified by ANAC, FAA and EASA, the Praetor 600 did not just meet initial expectations, it exceeded them. Named for the Latin root that means “lead the way,” the Praetor 600 is a jet of firsts. It is the first super-midsize jet certified since 2014. The first to fly beyond 3,700 nm at M0.80. The first with over 4,000 nm range at LRC. The first with full fly-by-wire. The first with turbulence reduction capability. The first with a cabin altitude as low as 5,800 feet. The first with high-capacity, ultra-high-speed connectivity from Viasat’s Ka-band. And all of this, backed by a top-ranked Customer Support network.

Learn more at executive.embraer.com/praetor600

LEADING THE WAY PRAETOR ff""# CERTIFIED OUTPERFORMANCE.

The Praetor 600 — the world’s most disruptive and technologically advanced super-midsize aircraft that leads the way in performance, comfort and technology.

Unveiled at NBAA in October 2018 and now certified by ANAC, FAA and EASA, the Praetor 600 did not just meet initial expectations, it exceeded them. Named for the Latin root that means “lead the way,” the Praetor 600 is a jet of firsts. It is the first super-midsize jet certified since 2014. The first to fly beyond 3,700 nm at M0.80. The first with over 4,000 nm range at LRC. The first with full fly-by-wire. The first with turbulence reduction capability. The first with a cabin altitude as low as 5,800 feet. The first with high-capacity, ultra-high-speed connectivity from Viasat’s Ka-band. And all of this, backed by a top-ranked Customer Support network.

Learn more at executive.embraer.com/praetor600

LEADING THE WAY INSIDE this issue 12 8 JAMES HOLAHAN "1921#2015$, FOUNDING EDITOR WILSON S. LEACH, FOUNDER & CEO EDITORffINffCHIEF – Matt Thurber NEWS EDITOR ff AIN PUBLICATIONS ff Chad Trautvetter SENIOR EDITORS ff Charles Alcock, Curt Epstein, Kerry Lynch Gregory Polek – Air Transport ASSOCIATE EDITOR ff Jerry Siebenmark CONTRIBUTORS David Donald – Defense Mark Huber – Rotorcraft Jennifer Leach English David Jack Kenny – Safety Gordon Gilbert Richard Pedicini John Goglia – Columnist Ian Sheppard James Wynbrandt PRODUCTION MANAGER ff Martha Jercinovich SPECIAL GRAPHIC DESIGNERS ff John A. Manfredo, Grzegorz Rzekos REPORT DIGITAL SOLUTIONS MANAGER ff Michael Giaimo 38 18 DEVELOPERS ff Nathan Douglas, Ryan Koch AIN’s DIRECTOR OF VIDEO ff Ian Whelan Avionics CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER ff Dave Leach Product VICE PRESIDENT SALES & MARKETING ff Karl H. Elken Support ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER ff Nancy O’Brien Survey ADVERTISING SALES Melissa Murphy ff Midwestern U.S., +1 (830) 608-9888 results Nancy O’Brien ff W estern U.S./Western Canada/Asia Pacific, +1 (530) 241-3534 Joe Rosone – Mid-Atlantic U.S./Southeast U.S./Caribbean/Brazil, +1 (301) 693-4687 Diana Scogna ff Europe/Middle East, +33 6 62 52 25 47 Victoria Tod ff Northeastern U.S./Eastern Canada/Great Lakes U.S./ United Kingdom, +1 (203) 733-4184 AIRPLANES and ENGINES AVIONICS and TECHNOLOGY Yury Laskin ff Russia, +7 05 912 1346 1 Textron Aviation launches next 18 AIN Product support survey AUDIENCE DEVELOPMENT MANAGER ff Nicole Bowman generation of King Air family 23 Aspen Avionics joining new MARKETING AND CLIENT SERVICES MANAGER ff Lisa Valladares aerospace/defense group SOCIAL MEDIA MARKETING ff Zach O’Brien 8 Gulfstream hits triple digits on G700 flight testing SALES ADMINISTRATOR ff Cindy Nesline 10 PC-12 NGX gets Canadian nod, deliveries start in UK INDUSTRY and MANAGEMENT DIRECTOR OF FINANCE & HUMAN RESOURCES ff Michele Hubert 12 Second SkyCourier completes 8 Gulfstream 2Q deliveries up, but ACCOUNTS PAYABLE ff Mary Avella first flight, joins test fleet sales dogged by Covid ACCOUNTS RECEIVABLE ff Bobbie Bing 14 Historic 28 makes final 10 AEA: GA/bizav avionics sales U.S. HEADQUARTERS flight to museum fall 23.6 percent in first half 214 Franklin Ave., Midland Park, NJ 07432, +1 (201) 444-5075 Advertising Inquiries: +1 (201) 345-0085 26 Supersonic AS2 only a starting 12 Textron Aviation posts loss, [email protected] point for Aerion’s ambitions delivery drop during Covid Circulation Inquiries: +1 (201) 345-0085 14 Bombardier sees bizjet delivery drop [email protected] 27 GE tackles environmental WASHINGTON, D.C. EDITORIAL OFFICE: challenges with supersonic- 16 Argus report details bizav activity erosion Kerry Lynch (business aviation) adept Affnity engine 26 Racing to the supersonic market [email protected] Tel: +1 (703) 969-9195 30 NASA, LockMart move toward trials 31 Covid crisis hits GippsAero EUROPEAN EDITORIAL OFFICE: of supersonic X-59 X-plane Charles Alcock 32 NASA X-plane provides new vision MAINTENANCE, MODs, and COMPLETIONS [email protected] 6 With growing bizjet mx, C&L expands interior shop Tel: +44 +44 7799 907595 32 Boom readies rollout of XB-1 third- 10 Embraer rolls out medevac Phenom 300 THE CONVENTION NEWS COMPANY, INC. scale supersonic demonstrator AIN PUBLICATIONS EXECUTIVE TEAM 22 Western Aircraft to double MRO footprint 34 Spike building team for supersonic jet Wilson Leach Jennifer Leach English Karl H. Elken Matt Thurber Dave Leach 34 Russia moves forward on Michele Hubert Nancy O’Brien supersonic development REGULATIONS and GOVERNMENT 25 IRS proposal to clarify no tax Aviation International News (ISSN 0887-9877) is published thirteen 44 Virgin aspires to Mach 3 future on management fees times per year (monthly plus a special NBAA Convention News issue in November). Periodicals postage paid at Midland Park, N.J., and 28 FAA supersonic regulations proposal additional mailing o ffces. Postmaster: Send address changes to Aviation AIRPORTS and FBOs draws praise and protest International News, P.O. Box 8059, Lowell, MA 01853 USA. Allow at least eight weeks for processing. Include old address as well as new, and an 6 Orange County selects FBOs at SNA, shuts out 28 FAA striving for balance in developing address label from a recent issue if possible. Subscription inquiries: +1 (201) Atlantic new supersonic regulations 345-0085 or email: [email protected]. Aviation International News is a publication of The Convention News Co., Inc., 214 Franklin Ave., Midland Park, NJ 07432; Tel.: +1 (201) 444-5075. AIR TRANSPORT ROTORCRAFT and UNMANNED SYSTEMS Copyright © 2020 All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part 38 Boeing sees more rate cuts, studies 24 RoadRunner certified on Bell 212/412 models without permission of The Convention News Co., Inc. is strictly prohibited. The Convention News Co., Inc. publishes Aviation International News, AINalerts, plans for consolidating 787 production 36 Rotorcraft industy downwash continues AIN Air Transport Perspective, AINtv, Business Jet Traveler, BJTwaypoints, ABACE Convention News, Dubai Airshow News, EBACE Convention News, 38 Rolls-Royce finds new wear Farnborough Airshow News, FutureFlight.aero, HAI Convention News, problems with XWB-84 DEPARTMENTS LABACE Convention News, MEBA Convention News, NBAA Convention 42 Accidents | 38 Air Transport Update News, Paris Airshow News, Singapore Airshow News, Mobile Apps: 39 Latest IBA data sees MRO spending cut in half Aviation International News; AINonline. PUBLICATION MAIL AGREEMENT 39 FAA proposes AD for Max service return 45 Compliance Countdown | 41 Hot Section | 8, NO. 40649046 RETURN UNDELIVERABLE CANADIAN ADDRESSES TO: PITNEY 10, 12, 14 News Briefs | 46 People in Aviation | 36 BOWES INTERNATIONAL MAIL, STATION A, P.O. 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Important Events Note While there have been many cancellations and postponements of important events during the Covid-19 crisis, AIN remains PUBLICATIONS committed to covering the business aviation industry. Please send any news and press releases, especially related to For feedback, letters to the editor, or other editorial needs, events you had been planning to attend, to [email protected] and we will endeavor to help share your news. please contact AIN’s Editors at [email protected]

4 Aviation International News \ September 2020 \ ainonline.com 6X_StepInto_275x352_AIN_uk.indd 1 18/06/2020 09:36 As We Go To Press

FINANCING CLEARS PATH Embraer’s light jet. Embraer delivered FOR OPERATIONS the first enhanced 300E in June. Piaggio Aerospace, which entered extraordinary receivership in late WHEELS UP LAUNCHES 2018, has lined up ff30 million ($35.79 SALES million) in new financing, clearing Wheels Up launched a new business the way for the Italian manufacturer unit last month that o"ers aircraft of the Avanti Evo pusher turboprop brokerage, acquisition, trade, and to fully resume operations and advisory services. With the addition continue the e"ort to find a buyer. of City-based Wheels Up The agreement will allow Piaggio Aero Aircraft Sales, the company now o"ers Industries and Piaggio Aviation “to be comprehensive private aviation services, The Orange County board of supervisors has selected ACI Jet and Clay Lacy as the two full- fully operational,” said Vincenzo Nicastro, including private jet membership, aircraft service FBO operators that will receive new long-term leases at California’s John Wayne-Orange the extraordinary commissioner for management, and whole aircraft sales. County Airport (SNA). Atlantic Aviation, which currently operates an FBO at SNA, wasn’t awarded Piaggio, “thus gradually recalling the Former Jetcraft senior v-p one of the two leases despite it receiving the highest score in the request for proposal process. workers still in temporary layo"s.” of sales for the Americas Chris Nicastro is hoping to find a new Brenner and co-founders of NetJets owner for Piaggio by the end of the aircraft sales division QS Partners year. Piaggio in late February formally John Odegard and Seth Zlotkin are Orange County selects FBOs issued a call for expressions of interest leading Wheels Up’s new business. and received 19 responses, 11 of which have been undergoing further review. HOUSE BILL INTRODUCED TO at SNA, shuts out Atlantic HELP PRESERVE AVIATION JOBS PHILLIPS 66 GOES IN ON House aviation subcommittee chairman by Curt Epstein SUSTAINABLE AVIATION FUEL Rick Larsen (D-Washington) and Rep. Phillips 66 is planning to fully convert Ron Estes (R-Kansas) jointly introduced The Orange County (California) board of scoring 475 points out of a possible 500 in its San Francisco Refinery in Rodeo, a bill in the U.S. House to establish a supervisors on July 11 selected ACI Jet and the RFP—the highest score of any of the California, from crude oil processing cost-share program that would help Clay Lacy as the two full-service FBO opera- applicants—compared with Clay Lacy’s to renewable fuels, using feedstocks preserve aviation jobs at tors that will receive new long-term leases at score of 393. such as used cooking oil, fats, greases, risk of furloughs during the pandemic. John Wayne-Orange County Airport (SNA) Other major FBO chains Jet Aviation and soybean oils. Once the plant Similar to the bill (S.3705) introduced in in response to a request for proposals (RFP) and Million Air also responded to the RFP, is reconfigured, it would no longer the Senate by Jerry Moran (R-Kansas) that the county issued last September. which closed on June 1, after an adden- be able to produce conventional and Mark Warner (D-Virginia) in May, the Under the airport’s redevelopment and dum to the original request was added. petroleum fuels, the company said. Aviation Manufacturing Jobs Protection rezoning plan, San Luis Obispo, California- AIN reached out to the Orange County If approved by Contra Costa County Act of 2020 (H.R. 8002) would enable based ACI Jet, which had replaced Signa- board of supervisors about why Atlantic o#cials and the Bay Area Air Quality federal assistance for up to 50 percent ture Flight Support in 2017, was selected Aviation, as the highest-scoring company Management District, the refinery of compensation for “at-risk” aviation to remain as the service provider on the in the RFP process, wasn’t awarded a lease, could produce as much as 680 million manufacturer employees, as long as the northeast side of the field. On the north- but the board had not yet responded at gallons of renewable diesel, renewable company covers the remaining portion. west side, Clay Lacy Aviation, which is press time. gasoline, and sustainable aviation fuel a Under the program, the Department headquartered in Van Nuys, California, “We are very surprised that we were not year. Combined with the production of of Treasury would enter into six- and also has a private hangar in Maui, awarded the bid based on our score and renewable fuels from an existing project month renewable agreements with Hawaii, was chosen to replace incumbent our 17-year tenure at SNA,” Atlantic Avia- in development, the output could surpass manufacturers. Compensation assistance Atlantic Aviation. This is despite Atlantic tion CEO Lou Pepper told AIN. 800 million gallons a year, making it the is limited to 25 percent of the workforce. largest such facility in the world, with production slated to begin in 2024. FAA UPHOLDS AIRPORT FUNDS USE FOR HTO LAWSUITS EMBRAER DELIVERS FIRST BOSSA The FAA recently upheld an earlier agency C&L expands interior shop NOVA EDITION PHENOM 300E determination that the town of East Embraer has delivered its first enhanced Hampton, New York, can use airport Phenom 300E with a Bossa Nova edition funds to pay for legal fees associated to handle growing bizav mx interior since announcing the refreshed with its attempt to restrict access to East aircraft in January. The first customer Hampton Airport (HTO). NBAA and local by Jerry Siebenmark copy of the Bossa Nova edition—an aviation interests had appealed the 2018 interior that was first designed for determination, calling such use of airport Bangor, Maine-based C&L Aviation C&L is focusing its corporate aircraft the Praetor 600—was delivered in money a “misappropriation of funds.” Group has broken ground on a 12,000-sq- MRO, paint, and interiors business largely August to Joe Howley, co-founder of But in July, the FAA’s O#ce of Airport ft building housing an expanded interior on four models and brands of business Patient Airlift Services (PALS), at a Compliance and Management Analysis shop operation that CEO Chris Kilgour aircraft—Bombardier Challenger, Hawker, ceremony at Embraer’s Global Customer said the previous determination was said will triple its current capacity and Beechjet, and / Center in Melbourne, . supported by law and precedent. In is the result of an increased emphasis on XLS—with plans to add Bombardier The twinjet will be used to the 2018 determination, the agency had business jet maintenance. “We’re really Global Expresses. promote the group’s mission to found that “nothing exists in FAA policy growing our corporate aircraft mainte- The new interiors shop is one of sev- organize free air transportation to restrict a sponsor from using airport nance business…and we continue to get eral ongoing construction projects at for people requiring medical revenue to pay for legal obligations….and work on the interiors side,” he told AIN. C&L. Work is underway to upgrade its diagnosis, treatment, or follow-up. further…nothing in law specifically requires The interior shop’s capabilities include corporate aircraft MRO hangar, includ- The Bossa Nova edition features a ‘benefit to an airport or its users.’” soft goods—seats, carpets, and sidewalls— ing remodeling offce space and adding carbon fiber accents, piano black The aviation groups, however, said using and cabinets and trim created in its wood- 5,000 sq ft, and C&L is building a 27,000- surfaces, and Embraer’s Ipanema airport revenues in this way is “contrary shop. “At this point, we’re bursting at the sq-ft parts warehouse and has converted sew style. It’s part of an enhanced to agency precedent, is bad policy, and is seams—pardon the pun—and really need another building for sheet metal work for package of improvements to at odds with congressional instructions.” the extra space,” Kilgour explained. The large parts such as bulkheads, panels, and new building should open by year-end. leading edges.

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FLIGHTSAFETY TRAIN SAFELY, FLY SAFELY AD - AIN - Trim: 10.8125” w x 13.875” d Bleed: 11.0625” w x 14.125” d Live: 10” w x 12.875” News Briefs Global 5500 Enters U.S. Market The first U.S.-bound Global 5500 was handed over to longtime Bombardier For the first half customer Unicorp National Developments of this year, of Orlando, Florida, in late July. This Gulfstream delivery comes within a month of entry-of- delivered 55 service for the latest edition of the Global aircraft, down line, a follow-on to the Global 5000 that from 65 during the joins the Global 6500 and 7500 in the ultra- same period last long-range family. Bombardier delivered year. This year’s the aircraft at its facility in Wichita, where total included 5500s are completed. The delivery comes nine G280s and 16 years after Unicorp accepted the first 46 large jets. The that was completed in Wichita. company expects this year’s total 1H Falcon Deliveries Flat, but to reach between Will Be Down for 2020 125 to 130 jets. Dassault Aviation delivered 16 Falcons

CY CYR in the first half, one fewer than a year ago, but now plans to deliver only 30 business jets this year, down from its was “di"cult” in the second quarter due original guidance of 40. According to Gulfstream 2Q deliveries up, to the inability to travel and demonstrate Dassault chairman and CEO Eric Trappier, aircraft to customers. “It’s impossible the company has not experienced any to sell—everything has to be done over order cancellations for Falcons in the but sales dogged by Covid the telephone due to travel restrictions,” first half of 2020, but some customers Novakovic lamented during the compa- have delayed deliveries to next year. In by Chad Trautvetter ny’s second-quarter investor call. the first six months, Dassault took in net This led to a 0.54:1 book-to-bill ratio orders for five Falcons, two fewer than in Gulfstream Aerospace deliveries in the six months, it shipped 55 aircraft (nine in the second quarter, which she deemed the same period last year. At the end of second quarter slightly outpaced those G280s and 46 large jets), down from 65 (15 fairly good given the current challenges. June, the company’s backlog for Falcons from the same period a year ago, but fell G280s and 50 large jets) in the same period Novakovic is more optimistic about sales stood at 42 aircraft, down from 53 at the 15 percent in the first six months as the of 2019. According to General Dynam- in the second half of the year, especially if end of 2019. Dassault has postponed this Covid-19 pandemic continues to stall ics chairman and CEO Phebe Novakovic, the pandemic comes under better control year’s planned announcement of its “next international shipments, parent company Gulfstream will meet projected deliveries and travel restrictions further lift. Falcon,” dubbed NX, due to the pandemic. General Dynamics announced July 29. of between 125 and 130 jets, which it down- “The second quarter was the low point In the quarter, Gulfstream handed over graded three months ago from 150 units of the year for Gulfstream,” she added. Cirrus Launches Jet Owner 32 airplanes (six super-midsize G280s and due to the Covid-19 crisis. “We entered the pandemic in a strong Management Program 26 large-cabin jets) versus 31 (eight G280s While she said that interest in new position and expect to emerge from it Cirrus Aircraft has rolled out the VisionAir and 23 large jets) a year ago. For the first Gulfstreams remains steady, sales activity even stronger.” program to provide participating Vision Jet owners with pilot, maintenance, and other aircraft management services. The program is designed as a turnkey program to provide participants “everything needed to own, Gulfstream operate, and manage” the single-engine jet, the company said. VisionAir includes an on-demand professional pilot, concierge hits triple services, complete maintenance coverage, aircraft management oversight, and storage. In addition, participants can receive digit flights options for insurance coverage options and professional tax advice referrals. on G700 Triumph Transfers More G650 Work To Gulfstream Triumph Group is shifting more G650 and testing G700 work to Gulfstream as it continues to divest itself of non-core operations. by Curt Epstein Under a definitive agreement, Triumph With its flight test program passing the 100-flight milestone, Gulfstream’s new G700 is is selling program work that includes Gulfstream is reporting progress in the reaching new heights. supply chain management, engineering testing program for its new flagship services, and related tooling, inventory, G700, completing more than 100 flights maximum operating speed of Mach 0.925 a 100 percent fresh cabin air system, and facilities, personnel, and warranty to date. The Savannah, Georgia-based and a maximum cruising altitude of the option for a master suite with shower. obligations. This hand-off follows the aircraft manufacturer also has con- 51,000 feet, but as part of the test regime, “These accomplishments at this stage transfer of Triumph’s G650 wing assembly ducted flutter testing and expanded the aircraft exceeded both, reaching Mach in flight testing point to the impressive lines in Nashville, Tennessee, and Tulsa, the flight envelope at both low and 0.99 and an altitude of 54,000 feet. The maturity of the G700 program,” said com- Oklahoma, to Gulfstream’s Savannah, high speeds. In early May, the company G700 will be able to fly at least 7,500 nm pany president Mark Burns. “We designed Georgia, facility. Meanwhile, Triumph announced that a third had at a long-range cruise of Mach 0.85, Gulf- and developed the G700 for our custom- has negotiated price adjustments for joined the flight-test program. stream said. ers to fly safely, securely, and e"ciently critical G600 composite parts work Powered by a pair of Rolls-Royce Pearl The large-cabin jet offers up to five liv- while enjoying the same level of comfort that Triumph Aerospace Structures has 700 engines, the G700 has an intended ing areas, the largest galley in the industry, as they do on the ground.” retained at its Red Oak, Texas plant.

8 Aviation International News \ September 2020 \ ainonline.com The Avflight family looks forward to welcoming you to its new Grand Rapids location, now open for operations with full FBO amenities. As a world-class FBO serving both and commercial airlines, we’re proud to serve as your premier gateway to west business, tourism and culture as you fly and fuel in the Avflight Network. Make Your Reservation at Avflight.com

• 10,001-Foot Runway • Quick Access to Runways • De- & Anti-Icing (Type I, IV) • GPU/Power Cart • Planeside Vehicle Access • New Option for CAA at GRR • Aircraft Disinfection • 30,000 SF Heated Hangar • Multiple Catering Vendors • Avfuel Contract Fuel • 24/7 Personal Concierge • AVTRIP Points on All Uplifts Embraer rolls News Briefs NetJets Reinstates Europe Fleet, Plots Growth Course out medevac With a steady increase in flight activity and a promising outlook for growth in the post- Covid-19 era, NetJets has reinstated most Phenom 300 of its fleet in Europe that was previously planned for disposal, as well as all NetJets by Curt Epstein Europe pilots and cabin crew who were furloughed in April. Further, NetJets plans On August 4, Embraer announced the to add more than 60 additional aircraft launch of an aeromedical version of its across the fleet worldwide between now popular Phenom 300 light jet. Developed and the end of next year, the company in partnership with cabin specialists said. These moves undo “decisions made umlaut and Aerolite and also available amid unparalleled economic uncertainty, through retrofit, the Phenom 300MED when it was unclear how long the period is designed to be quickly configured to of restricted international flying would meet the needs of operators and patients. last and how the pandemic would It features hospital-grade trim and fin- impact the broader economy,” NetJets ishing, with either one or two stretchers, added. Since then, it noted, private and the ability to carry an incubator and The medevac-equipped Phenom 300 can accommodate one or two stretchers and an aviation has fared much better and additional medical equipment. incubator and other medical equipment. rebounded faster than the airlines. “We are honored that Embraer and umlaut have selected Aerolite’s innova- Since deliveries of the Phenom 300 positioned for medevac operations,” Gulfstream Introduces tive aeromedical equipment for the new series began in 2009, Embraer has handed said Embraer Executive Jets president New Global Parts Hub Phenom 300MED,” said Aerolite CEO Ron- over 550 of the twinjets. The twinjet offers and CEO Michael Amalfitano. “Given Gulfstream Aerospace has opened a new ald Hengartner. “From providing the most a cabin altitude of 6,000 feet, which the the current health crisis, we are proud global aircraft parts distribution hub near modern EMS interior solutions to offering airframer said contributes to a healthier to be working with two world-class Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson International customer-specific support and training, flight experience for medical staff and medevac-solutions partners, and we are Airport. Developed in partnership with Aerolite is uniquely positioned to help patients alike. primed to immediately start taking orders warehousing and logistics specialist deliver the ultimate medevac solution.” “The Phenom 300 platform…is uniquely for this air ambulance solution.” Crane Worldwide Logistics, the facility houses an inventory of approximately $23 million in spare parts. The company’s primary customer support distribution center is in Savannah, with additional AEA: GA/bizav satellite locations in Van Nuys, California; Teterboro, ; Amsterdam; avionics sales fall Basel; Hong Kong; and Singapore. 37.3% in Q2 FAA Grants Production Certification to Epic for E1000 Worldwide business and general avi- Epic Aircraft received FAA production ation avionics sales plunged 37.3 per- certification for the E1000, clearing the cent, to $490.7 million, in the second way for the Bend, Oregon company to quarter as the market hit its expected ramp up manufacturing of its carbon-fiber, pandemic-induced low point, accord- six-seat turboprop single. Approval was ing to the Aircraft Electronics Associa- the culmination of a process that began tion’s latest Avionics Market Report. In years ago in tandem with the certification

ORIENS the first six months of 2020, avionics of the E1000. The company was awarded The upgraded Pilatus PC-12 NGX has received type certification from Transport sales amounted to $1.15 billion, down type certification in November of 2019. Canada, and Canadian Pilatus dealer Levaero Aviation said it will soon start deliveries 23.6 percent from the same period a The FAA worked with the manufacturer to of C-numbered NGXs. Meanwhile, British Isles Pilatus dealer Oriens Aviation just year ago, it added. develop new processes, including the use delivered its first NGX to a customer. During the first half, 53.3 percent of of remote technologies, to complete as those sales came from the retrofit mar- much advance review and audit work as PC-12 NGX gets Canadian nod, deliveries start in UK ket, while forward-fit sales accounted possible before the final onsite assessment. for the remainder. According to the The upgraded Pilatus PC-12 NGX has and we look forward to the NGX joining companies that separated total sales Jet Linx Introduces New received type certification from Transport those ranks in short order.” figures by world region, 74.6 percent Jet Card for Businesses Canada. Levaero Aviation—the Pilatus In related news, in late July Oriens of the first-half sales occurred in the Jet card and private jet management sales and service center for the U.S.’s Aviation—the Pilatus sales and service U.S. and Canada, while 25.4 percent provider Jet Linx has rolled out a new northern neighbor—said it will imminently center for Pilatus Aircraft in the British took place in the rest of the world. jet card membership program aimed at begin deliveries of C-numbered turboprop Isles—delivered its first PC-12 NGX. The “Realizing a substantial decrease businesses. Membership in the program will singles to customers. Levaero will also new airplane went to a private customer in worldwide avionics sales during the offer customers guaranteed availability of begin a Canadian demonstration tour of based in North West England. second quarter was the expectation in up to four aircraft per day at guaranteed, the aircraft in September. With Pilatus Aircraft’s PC-12 NGX light of the pandemic,” said AEA pres- fixed hourly rates with no per-passenger “The NGX is the latest iteration of Pil- manufacturing capacity sold out for ident and CEO Mike Adamson. “The fees. In addition, there is a 24-hour lead atus’s class-leading PC-12 and will find 2020, Oriens said its next NGX delivery economic impact of the disease has time required with no short-notice fees, a welcome home in Canada’s diverse is scheduled for mid-2021. been significant, and the business and guaranteed Wi-Fi, and preferred access operational environment,” said Levaero As of the end of July, 20 NGXs had general aviation electronics industry is to the company’s fleet of more than 100 Aviation v-p of sales and business devel- been delivered by Pilatus, boosting the not immune to the crisis. However, I aircraft ranging from light to large-cabin opment Stan Kuliavas. “Canada is now number of PC-12s flying worldwide to remain optimistic that our industry will jets. Two flexible payment options include home to more than one hundred PC-12s, more than 1,750. C.T. be poised for recovery.” C.T. incentives such as flight credits, confirmed upgrades, and a rewards program.

10 Aviation International News \ September 2020 \ ainonline.com Elevate the in-flight connectivity experience. Wi-Fi for business jets just got faster.

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Read the case study: Learn more: viasat.com/bizav-AIN +855.490.0486 six months, compared with a $211 million News Briefs Textron Aviation posts loss, profit a year earlier. Citation deliveries totaled 46 in the first six months, down Directional Launches from the 90 shipped in the first half of Premium Air Charter FXAir delivery drop during Covid 2019. Commercial turboprop deliveries Directional Aviation in late July launched similarly fell from 78 in the first half of FXAir as a premium product that by Kerry Lynch 2019 to 31 in the most recent period. “redefines and rescopes on-demand air Donnelly conceded “We know we’re charter.” New York City-based FXAir Textron Aviation posted a $66 million loss The segment loss marks a significant going to be off considerably this year, will complement Directional’s other and a 50 percent drop in Citation deliver- turn from the $105 million profit last year, given the fact that the factories were on-demand air services—including ies in the second quarter as the Covid-19 reflecting a lower private jet volume of $178 shut for several months” and production Sentient Jet and PrivateFly—while pandemic spurred production stoppages, million and a lower aftermarket volume adjustments were made. However, he said offering customers the same onboard slower sales activity, and delivery delays. of $120 million, more than a 30 percent he expects improvement in results as the experience and safety of its Flexjet However, Scott Donnelly—chairman, decline as flight utilization plummeted. year progresses. fractional program. It is now flying a CEO, and president of parent Textron Further erasing profit was $53 million of “The sales team is back in the field fleet of 17 former Flexjet aircraft—12 Inc.—told analysts on Thursday that he “idle facility” costs. Backlog, meanwhile, meeting with customers and arranging super-midsize Bombardier Challenger expects improved results moving forward, eroded by $500 million from the end of the demonstration flights,” Donnelly said. 300s and five ultra-long-range Global noting that sales activity has picked up second half of 2019, to $1.4 billion. “We saw a pick-up in business jet flight Expresses—but plans to add Nextant and production has resumed. For the first half, Textron Aviation rev- activity in the latter part of Q2, and we 400XT light jets in the coming months. Textron Aviation delivered 23 Citation enues dropped to $1.62 billion, compared expect to see higher new aircraft deliver- FXAir has no membership fees and jets in the second quarter, down from 46 in with $2.26 billion in the first six months ies and aftermarket revenue in the second offers pay-as-you-go charter, but it does the same period in 2019, and 15 commercial of 2019. The Wichita-based manufacturer half of the year.” have an Aviator debit card program that , compared with 34 last year. posted a $63 million loss through the first Most of the manufacturing operations adds benefits such as priority scheduling, are back up, and sales activity is picking fixed-cost coast-to-coast flights, and a up in particular for turboprops and light more lenient cancellation policy, as well jets, he said, adding this activity has been as included catering and deicing. FXAir is encouraging. “There’s a lot of dialog going intended for Continental U.S. customers. on,” he said. He specified strong activity for the King Spirit Aero To Expand Air 250 and Citation M2, saying interest is Work on Aerion AS2 coming more from private businesses and Aerion Supersonic continues to fill high-net-worth individuals. out the supplier team for its Mach 1.4 Also encouraging, Donnelly added, AS2 business jet, expanding the role was increased interest in private avia- of Wichita-based Spirit AeroSystems tion in general. “Lots of customers that to cover design and production of the have not been in the private aviation forward fuselage. This builds on the space before are inquiring and looking existing relationship between Aerion at using private aviation,” he said. While and Spirit that began in 2019, initially it might not translate into immediate involving preliminary design work. sales—he noted there’s typically a pro- Aerion anticipates Spirit will build 36 gression from charter and membership forward fuselage assemblies annually at

BARRY AMBROSE BARRY programs before reaching whole aircraft full rate. The company further anticipates Despite seeing deliveries cut in half in the second quarter of 2020, Textron Aviation began to sales—the interest bodes well for the building 300 AS2s in the first decade of see improved sales dialogue, particularly with the M2 and King Air 250, Textron chief Scott future. “In the mid- to long-term, this production at its final assembly facility in Donnelly told analysts. is a very healthy thing.” Melbourne, Florida. Aerion is targeting a 2025 first flight and a 2027 service entry.

GECAS Slashes Milestone’s Value by $729M Second Cessna SkyCourier completes first flight, joins test fleet The continuing decimation of the depressed offshore market writ A second Cessna SkyCourier 408 flight- reaching a maximum altitude of 14,200 v-p of engineering and programs Chris large anew when GECAS wrote down the test aircraft—P1—completed its first flight feet and a speed of 210 ktas. Hearne. “Since the debut flight for the pro- value of its Milestone Aviation helicopter on August 10, some 2.5 months after the “This flight is another important step for totype aircraft, the team has rapidly moved leasing unit by $729 million. Milestone initial flight of the prototype on May 17. the Cessna SkyCourier program as it will be through testing and has accomplished its holds the world’s largest fleet of Sikorsky Piloted by Peter Gracey and Todd Dafforn, used primarily for testing aircraft systems goals of initial envelope expansion and han- S-92 heavy , used primarily in the first conforming production flight test such as avionics, environmental control, dling, including stalls. When you consider support of the offshore energy market. airplane flew for one hour and 35 minutes, and anti-icing,” said Textron Aviation senior they have achieved all these milestones The write-down represents a 41 percent despite the many disruptions caused by devaluation of the $1.775 billion GECAS a global pandemic, it’s quite remarkable. paid to acquire Milestone in 2015. The Cessna SkyCourier program is head- Milestone was founded by former ing through the second half of 2020 with a NetJets chief Richard Santulli in 2010 with great deal of momentum.” an initial capitalization of $500 million P1 is the first airframe configured as a and based in Dublin, Ireland. It would go Textron Aviation’s freighter and will be used primarily for on to draw substantial investment from SkyCourier flight systems—propulsion, environmental, and global financial powerhouses and built test program is avionics—testing. It joins the prototype, one of the world’s largest helicopter accelerating as which has completed 38 flights and logged lease fleets that over the course of the second aircraft more than 76 flight hours. The high-wing, its first five years grew to 168 aircraft begins propulsion, twin-turboprop SkyCourier will be offered valued at $2.8 billion. It was quickly environmental, and as a freighter, a 19-seat passenger version, joined in the market space by a variety avionics testing. and as a combination freighter/passenger of new competitors, including Waypoint airplane. J.S. Leasing, LCI Aviation, Lobo Leasing, and Macquarie Rotorcraft Leasing.

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www.amacaerospace.com/amac-sales/ Bombardier sees bizjet delivery drop News Briefs LABACE 2020 Latest Bizav by Kerry Lynch Show To Be Cancelled Latin America business aviation fair Bombardier’s business jet deliveries LABACE, which traditionally takes place dropped by 15 units for a total of 20 in the in mid-August in São Paulo but was second quarter and associated revenues postponed to later this year, has been plummeted 28 percent as the company con- cancelled, organizer Brazilian Association tinues to recover from Covid-19 pandemic- of General Aviation (ABAG) has announced. related factory shutdowns, albeit at a lower “Due to the global pandemic situation, production rate. In the second quarter, ABAG’s board of directors and the Bombardier delivered nine Globals, includ- exhibitors have decided that this would ing five 7500s, along with nine Challengers be the best course of action. We tried... and two . This compares with 16 assessing the possibility of putting the Globals, 17 Challengers, and two Learjets event off or holding a smaller one, but handed over in second-quarter 2019. we got to the conclusion that neither While the five Global 7500 deliveries of the alternatives were feasible,” said provided a boost to revenues, Bombar- ABAG CEO Flavio Pires. The next dier’s business aircraft revenues fell from LABACE is planned for August 2021. $1.38 billion in the second quarter of 2019 to $998 million in the most recent New Bizav Coalition To Share quarter. A decline in new sales during the While Bombardier’s results were down as expected in the second quarter, deliveries of its Covid Safety Practices pandemic helped contribute to the slide Global 7500 are anticipated to pick up in the second half of the year. The CleanFlying Coalition, a non-profit in backlog from $14.4 billion at year-end group of private aviation companies 2019 to $12.9 billion as of June 30. that Bombardier delivered 11 of its flagship Bombardier also shored up its cash committed to promoting and implementing The drop in results was largely expected 7500s in the first half and expects to at least position, recently lining up a $1 billion best health practices in the Covid-19 after the Montreal-headquartered manu- double that amount in the second half. This secured loan. The company expects to era, has launched. Organized by industry facturer announced in June that it was would approach Bombardier’s ramped-up draw $750 million of that in part to help data provider FlightAware, founding laying off 2,500 workers and adjusting Global 7500 production goals of between its effort to realign production to market members include Atlantic Aviation, production as the industry braced for an 35 to 40 annually but assumes no further demand, the company said. FlightSafety International, ForeFlight, estimated 30 percent decline in shipments. interruptions of manufacturing operations. Company-wide, Bombardier posted an Global Appearance Partners, Go Rentals, Speaking to analysts on August 6, recently Despite the down results, “We are cau- adjusted EBIT (earnings before interest Keystone Aviation, Simcom, and Tac Air. appointed Bombardier president and CEO tiously optimistic about some of the early and taxes) loss of $427 million for the The group’s mandate is to share health Eric Martel said he was comfortable with the positive trends we are seeing across our quarter. This loss reflected a $435 mil- safety measures adopted by the business lowered rate for the time being. “We expect industries,” Martel said, citing improving lion charge in its transportation unit. The aviation community, which will help drive the next few quarters to be challenging and business aviation tra"c levels in Europe divestitures of its non-business aviation demand and utilization for private aviation. di"cult to predict as it is still unclear how and the U.S. He further noted that pre- entities are progressing, with the sale the pandemic will unfold and what the eco- owned business jet inventory remains of the aerostructures business to Spirit NATA: Charter Community nomic recovery will be.” healthy, cancellations have been “very lim- AeroSystems anticipated in the third quar- Must Collaborate Martel also was hesitant to predict rates ited,” and new interest in private travel is ter and recent European approval for the As the Covid-19 pandemic steers a new heading into 2021. However, he did say generating sales activity. sale of the rail business to Alstom. crop of customers towards private aviation, the National Air Transportation Association is stressing that it’s more important than ever for charter brokers, operators, and Historic Learjet 28 FBOs to collectively become engaged in efforts to provide a seamless, elevated makes final flight to level of service to be able to retain those travelers. “It’s really challenging to the Ohio museum operators right now because they’re trying to make these new customers that The first Learjet 28 Longhorn (S/N 28-001)— are surging into the market happy,” said which as a prototype was famously flown Ryan Waguespack, senior v-p of aircraft by Neil Armstrong and Learjet test pilot management, air charter services, and Pete Reynolds in 1979—will have a perma- MROs for NATA. One operator told NATA nent home in its retirement. The speedy that charter is “no longer a luxury way of twinjet, which has had several owners travel. This is an essential form of travel.” and registrations since it notched five

FAI and NAA time-to-climb and altitude BURNS ANDREW Daher Certifies HomeSafe records with Armstrong (a Gates Learjet The first Learjet 28, flown by aviation legend Neil Armstrong to five class records back Autoland in TBM 940 board member at the time) at the con- in February 1979, will be enshrined in the Armstrong Air & Space Museum in the late Daher has received both FAA and EASA trols, was donated to the Armstrong Air & astronaut’s home town of Wapakoneta, Ohio. It made its final flight on August 5th, the approval of its HomeSafe emergency Space Museum in Wapakoneta, Ohio (the 90th anniversary of Armstrong’s birth. autoland system on its TBM 940 turboprop late pioneering astronaut’s hometown) by single. The option is priced at $85,000 and Kevin Hayward, president and CEO of Ox Armstrong Airport in New Knoxville, Ohio historic Lear 28 to its new home. can be retrofitted to TBM 940s already Industries. Among the factors in his deci- on Wednesday, August 5, which would It will remain at the airport on dis- in service. Based on ’s Emergency sion, Hayward noted that modifications to have been the first man to walk on the play until ready to be transported to the Autoland system and part of the G3000 the aircraft to bring it in compliance with Moon’s 90th birthday. Serving as copilot nearby museum, capping a five-year flight deck, the system can be activated current noise restriction standards would on the twinjet’s final flight was former effort by its board of directors to obtain it. manually via an orange button atop the have involved making significant changes NASA astronaut and two-time space shut- The Longhorn will be installed outdoors cockpit instrument panel. The TBM 940 to its historically-correct configuration. tle pilot Col. Gregory Johnson (USAF Ret.). at the facility, which also houses a 1946 is the latest aircraft to receive a variation Registered as N128LR, the jet, one Citing Armstrong as a personal hero, John- Aeronca 7AC Champion, the first aircraft of this Garmin-based technology. Piper of the five Lear 28s built, arrived at Neil son said it would be an honor to copilot the Armstrong ever flew. C.E. previously announced its incorporation into the M600 turboprop single.

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U.S. business aviation activity was Thoughts on safety during the time of Covid-19 down by 30.8 percent through the first six months, according to the sta- Like many of you who have spent your and the additional regulatory burdens of in his flying aptitude and stress response tistics from Argus‘s TraqPak 2020 Mid- lives in aviation, looking at the devastating overseeing both unmanned aircraft and that further degraded his ability to accu- Year Business Aviation Review, while effects of Covid-19 on the industry, espe- commercial space operations with just a rately assess the airplane’s state and overall flight hours declined by just cially its workers, has been heart-wrench- few thousand inspectors. respond with appropriate procedures under 30 percent. Due to disruptions ing for me. And if things do not improve While the impact of Covid-19 on the after the inadvertent activation of the from the global Covid pandemic, the soon, the worst fallout is yet to come as aviation industry is disastrous, per- go-around mode,” said the NTSB. industry has seen declines over 2019 the government assistance that has kept haps the one area where there might The Board found contributing factors numbers for each month, with a rapid many of our aviation workers employed be a safety benefit is in the availability to the accident to include “systemic downturn in mid-March and the start runs out. Without another bailout, the of qualified pilots. Until now, the ever- deficiencies in the aviation industry’s of a recovery a month later. layoffs from the largest airlines to the increasing pilot shortages might have led selection and performance measurement smallest mom ‘n pop repair shops will to hiring practices at some airlines that practices, which failed to address the first be staggering, along with similar conse- appear not to have been rigorous enough o"cer’s aptitude-related deficiencies and quences at all the industries large and to ferret out pilot deficiencies or to keep maladaptive stress response.” Another small that rely on aviation to generate unqualified or marginally qualified pilots factor was the FAA’s failure to implement their own revenues. out of the cockpits of air carrier aircraft. the Pilot Records Database in a “su"-

While some private flying has seen The recent National Transportation ciently robust and timely matter.” INTOSH c a resurgence—and that’s a wonderful Safety Board analysis of the 2019 Atlas So while the Board’s investigation

thing—that resurgence in a limited part Air Flight 3591 crash in Trinity Bay, Texas, found that the first o"cer had repeat- DAVID M of the aviation industry is not enough is indicative of this problem, one that edly lied deliberately to and at to maintain an industry critical to large has been highlighted by other accidents, least one other air carrier about his past Part 91 activity has shown the big- swaths of the population that cannot including the Colgan Air crash in Febru- deficiencies, those shortcomings could gest drop, down 33.4 percent for the afford to fly privately. The airline industry ary 2009. In the Colgan accident, four have been uncovered by more stringent first half of 2020, while fractional activ- needs to come back for all of aviation and crew members and 45 passengers were actions by the air carriers reviewing pilot ity, which had been riding a streak of the country to prosper again. killed plus one person on the ground. In applicant backgrounds, although the 18 consecutive months of year-over- Of course, one way to help get the air- the Atlas Air crash, a Boeing 767 cargo FAA’s proper implementation of the Pilot year increases coming into March, line industry back on better financial foot- flight for Amazon, both pilots and the Records Improvement Act was also cited saw that streak snapped starting that ing is to lower the rate of infections across deadheading pilot of another airline as a contributing factor. month, with activity off by nearly 31 the country and make passengers feel were killed when the aircraft crashed as All fatal accidents are, of course, tragic percent. The Part 135 segment fared safe traveling. Without a vaccine or bet- it descended to land at Houston George to the families and friends of the victims. slightly better, down only 27.1 percent ter treatments, for passengers to feel safe Bush Intercontinental Airport. They are particularly dismaying when for the first six months of the year, as traveling the most critical requirements I factors contributing to the accident have compared to 2019. see are standardized regulations for pas- been called out in earlier accident reports. Broken down by aircraft category, senger travel. Those should include man- The National In this case, the Colgan crash a decade due to severe restrictions on inter- datory masks, appropriate distancing in earlier highlighted the problem of pilot national travel, large-cabin jets suf- the terminals and in the aircraft, as much Transportation deficiencies that were not adequately fered the worst atrophy with activity as possible by, for example, loading from Safety Board’s revealed in the hiring process and not levels down by more than 36 percent the back of the airplane and blocking mid- properly acted upon when revealed subse- in the first half. As the size of the jet dle seats. Hodgepodge, unenforceable investigation found quent to hiring. As in the Atlas case, in the decreased, those numbers improved, guidelines that vary from airline to airline that the first offcer Colgan crash, the Board found the prob- with small cabin jets down by 26.4 do not make passengers feel safe. There had repeatedly lied able cause of the accident to include the percent. Turboprop activity was dimin- are too many photos on and captain’s inappropriate response. In the ished by nearly 30 percent versus the other social media of unmasked individ- deliberately to Atlas Colgan case, the inappropriate response first half of 2019. uals—including now a U.S. Senator—on Air and at least one related to the activation of the stick Geographically, Florida, which has crowded flights and those photos are not shaker, which led to an aerodynamic stall. become one of the infection hotspots exactly encouraging to many would-be other carrier about his The NTSB investigation indicated a his- in the U.S., saw the most flight depar- flyers, whether leisure travelers or the past deficiencies...” tory of the Colgan captain’s failed check tures during the first half of the year at economically critical business flyers. rides and training failures dating back 128,385, followed by California, Texas, I hope that by the time you read this, While the NTSB’s final report is not over a period of almost 18 years. Colorado, and Georgia. the U.S. Department of Transportation yet out as I write, this abstract has been One of the NTSB’s recommendations While those levels are expected (DOT) has done the right thing and issued by the Board. The summary con- related to the Atlas crash includes having to rise, Argus expects to see Covid- issued mandatory regulations binding on cludes that the first o"cer—the flying a subject matter expert, not just human related impact through the remain- both the airlines and the passengers to pilot—incorrectly responded to the air- resources personnel, involved in the der of the year, with Part 135 activity promote uniformity during this crisis. Of craft’s inadvertent go-around mode acti- review of a pilot’s background history. expected to outpace fractional and course, Congress could step in and write vation and the captain failed to recognize This makes a lot of sense to me and could Part 91 activity. For July, TRAQPak a law, as it did to prohibit smoking and what had occurred and take appropriate eliminate the hiring of pilots with a his- analysts anticipate a dip of 17 percent imposing mandatory penalties. Whether action in a timely manner. The Board sur- tory of flying deficiencies. year over year, while August is fore- it is Congress or the DOT, someone mises that the copilot became disoriented casted to drop by 17.1 percent. Sep- needs to do it as soon as possible. And, and made “nose-down control inputs that The opinions expressed in this column are tember is anticipated to finish down no, I do not think it should be the FAA placed the airplane in a steep descent those of the author and not necessarily 11.5 percent. The company noted that setting or regulating these health safety from which the crew did not recover.” endorsed by AIN. October, which is typically the busiest standards. The FAA is understaffed “Although compelling sensory illusions, month for business aviation, will be a enough in normal times, dealing with stress, and startle response can adversely John Goglia is a safety consultant. good bellwether with which to gauge the myriad safety issues, including the affect the performances of any pilot, the He welcomes your e-mails at: the level of recovery. C.E. fallout from the two 737 Max crashes first o"cer had fundamental weaknesses [email protected]

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MNT-20-0077 AIN Airport solutions ATM ATC.indd 1 30/07/2020 15:49:54 SPECIAL report Part 2: Flight Deck Avionics and Cabin Electronics Survey Rules and Methodology As with AIN’s previous annual Product Support Surveys, the objective this year was to obtain from the users of business jets, pressurized turboprop airplanes, and turbine-powered helicop- ters statistically valid information about the product support provided by flight deck avionics and cabin electronics manu- facturers over 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, cre- ated 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. The survey website was open from May 4 to June 17. 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. AIN Product Support Survey » Technical Manuals–ease of use, formats available, timeli- ness of updating. » Technical Reps–response time, knowledge, effectiveness. Garmin and Gogo receive top ratings from AIN readers » Overall Product Reliability–how the product’s reliability and quality stack up against the competition. In AIN’s 2020 Product Support Survey, readers again gave In the Cabin Electronics segment, Gogo Business Avia- Respondents were also asked to recognize individuals who have Garmin the top rating in the Overall Average for Flight Deck tion matched first-place with Satcom Direct, both with an provided them with exceptional product support and service. Avionics support, but last year’s second-place finishers are Overall Average of 8.5. Gogo climbed 0.2 points this year, The 2020 AIN Product Support Survey results for avionics closing the gap. Garmin’s rating this year was 8.4, a 0.1 drop while Satcom Direct added 0.1. Gulfstream’s rating for its are published in this issue. The results for aircraft appeared in from 2019, with Universal Avionics now in a close second Cabin Management product line saw a significant 0.4 jump the August issue, and engines will be featured next month. n place at 8.3, followed by Collins Aerospace at 8.1. Both Uni- this year to 8.3 and second place, followed by versal and Collins are up from 7.9 last year. Honeywell saw also with a strong 0.3 rise to 8.1 and third place. Collins a 0.1 improvement from last year to 7.9, with its BendixKing Aerospace retained the same 7.8 rating as last year, while UNIVERSAL AVIONICS division down 0.1 to 7.8. Lufthansa Technik saw a 0.2 drop to 7.2. The Results FLIGHT DECK AVIONICS Universal Avionics scored second place in Overall Average with 8.3 and received high ratings in three categories, including GARMIN AOG Response and Technical Manuals (both 8.6) and Technical Reps (8.7). The Results an order, a repair, or an exchange,” Moore explained. Garmin, with an 8.4 Overall Average, rated highest in Another project was a new Returns Center of Excel- The Improvements Overall Product Reliability (9.0) as well top ratings for lence, designed to help customers get faster service Universal Avionics promoted Robert Clare Warranty Fulfillment and Parts Availability (both 8.7). from Garmin’s technical experts by freeing them up to a new position as director of customer to spend more time troubleshooting and helping cus- services. Formerly director of sales, Clare is The Improvements tomers. Certain customers can also now work directly responsible for all aspects of customer ser- During the past year, Garmin’s product support team has with Garmin to facilitate troubleshooting, exchanges, vices, including executing support require- implemented new projects to continue improving the repairs, and minor modifications under Garmin’s Ser- ments, resolving issues, developing growth product and service experience for Garmin customers, vices Training and Resources (STAR) program. STAR strategies, and implementing process according to Lee Moore, director of avionics product is available for small and medium-sized fleet owners. improvements to enhance the overall cus- support. “These projects are designed to optimize the To help customers manage their operating costs, tomer experience, according to Universal. speed and efficiency of our customer service capabilities Garmin now offers a cost-of-operations program for As a member of the Elbit family, Uni- from end-to-end and to continue leveraging customer forward-fit business aircraft applications. The program versal Avionics and Elbit field service relationships to drive continuous improvements into our is designed “to help customers reduce or eliminate engineers have cross trained on both products and services,” he commented. potential variability in the cost of operating Garmin companies’ products, and this is designed One of the most significant changes was the move into equipment throughout its service life,” Moore said. to expand regional availability and capa- Garmin’s new $100 million operations buildings next to For pilots and technicians unable to travel for training bilities, according to Universal Avionics. company headquarters in Olathe, Kansas. The new facility at Garmin headquarters, the company has expanded At the repair station level, repair tech- houses Garmin’s manufacturing and distribution centers. distance-learning, adding six original e-learning courses, nicians have been cross-trained to maxi- As part of the upgrade to the distribution center, new videos, and more than 100 webinars. Many are mize repair station coverage and improve Garmin incorporated more automation to improve available for free on Garmin’s YouTube channel. Pilots turnaround times. These have since efficiency and accuracy of order fulfillment, speed can also try out some new avionics using Garmin’s iPad improved to four to seven days, down up turnaround times, and enhance customer com- apps, including the most recent new navigator series from seven to 10 days. munication. This eliminates “the need to call us on (GNX 375, GNC 355/355A, and GPS 175). report continues on page 20

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20-MCJT30378 Citation Jet TXi_GTN Ad-10.8125x13.875-AIN.indd 1 3/30/20 12:39 PM SPECIAL report Part 2: Flight Deck Avionics and Cabin Electronics

2020 Average Ratings of Flight Deck Avionics and Cabin Electronics

Ratings Overall 2020 Overall 2019 Overall Parts AOG Warranty Technical Technical Change from Cost of Parts Product Average Average Availability Response Fulfillment Manuals Reps 2019 to 2020 Reliability

Flight Deck Avionics Garmin 8.4 8.5 -0.1 8.7 7.4 8.3 8.7 8.4 8.5 9.0 Universal Avionics 8.3 7.9 0.4 8.3 7.1 8.6 8.6 8.6 8.7 8.5 Collins Aerospace 8.1 7.9 0.2 8.4 6.9 8.1 8.4 7.9 8.5 8.6 Honeywell 7.9 7.8 0.1 7.9 6.4 8.0 8.5 8.0 8.1 8.4 BendixKing by Honeywell 7.8 7.9 -0.1 8.1 7.7 7.6 7.4 7.7 7.4 8.7

Cabin Electronics Gogo Business Aviation 8.5 8.3 0.2 8.7 7.6 8.7 8.7 8.4 8.7 8.4 Satcom Direct 8.5 8.4 0.1 8.5 6.6 9.4 9.0 8.2 9.1 8.5 Gulfstream Cabin Management 8.3 7.9 0.4 8.4 6.2 9.0 9.1 8.1 9.0 8.0 Honeywell 8.1 7.8 0.3 8.0 7.4 8.3 8.4 8.0 8.5 8.2 Collins Aerospace 7.8 7.8 0.0 7.9 6.7 7.7 8.0 7.6 8.3 8.3 Lufthansa Technik 7.2 7.4 -0.2 7.4 6.9 7.8 8.0 6.2 6.2 7.5 *Companies listed in order of their 2020 overall average. Ties are listed alphabetically. Bold indicated highest number in each category.

COLLINS AEROSPACE HONEYWELL AND HONEYWELL BENDIXKING The Results regulations. Virtual support is also available when on Collins Aerospace placed third in the Overall Aver- site visits are not possible, and these efforts were part age for Flight Deck Avionics with a rating of 8.1. of Collins’s flexible field support travel policies. The Results In the Cabin Electronics segment, the company To support aircraft operators, Collins worked Honeywell saw a 0.1 point improvement over scored a 7.8 rating, matching its fourth-place per- with aircraft manufacturers on cleaning guidance last year’s Flight Deck Avionics rating, putting it formance from last year. for avionics and cabin equipment. At the same time, in fourth place, followed closely by its BendixKing Collins was able to keep its MRO facilities open and division at 7.8. The Honeywell BendixKing unit saw The Improvements complete repairs on customer units by establishing its highest category score in Cost of Parts (7.7). Collins Aerospace adapted quickly to manage strict procedures for ensuring employee health. In the Cabin Electronics segment, Honeywell product support during the pandemic. “During In one example of how Collins has adapted to the ranked third place, with a solid 0.3 jump to an these difficult days for our customers and partners, restrictions created by the pandemic, the support Overall Average of 8.1. it’s more important than ever to deliver extraor- team deployed a graphical user interface preview dinary customer support,” Craig Bries, v-p and tool so customers can participate in testing of new The Improvements general manager, avionics service and support Venue cabin management/entertainment system Honeywell has spent the last year refining its for Collins Aerospace, told AIN. installations, without the need for in-person visits product design, usability, and how it services its Recent efforts included deploying technology so to Collins facilities or to the dealer/installer. products, according to Todd Owens, who leads that Collins employees could be effective in working “Despite the many challenges we face in 2020,” the group’s electrical and mechanical product remotely to continue providing 24/7 technical support, Bries concluded, “customers can continue to support for the Americas. repair support, and spares availability, he explained. expect Collins Aerospace to deliver quality prod- With limited availability to travel, Honeywell Where necessary and possible, on site customer sup- ucts on-schedule and provide timely and effortless has shifted to online interaction with customers, port is available by complying with local government problem resolution.” via webinars, virtual classrooms, and with self- serve delivery of information on the Honeywell aerospace portal, which contains more than 10,000 technical knowledge publications and Above & Beyond: Reader Comments many training videos that are free to access. “We’ve had positive feedback from our Joe Megna (Garmin) Lee A. Kirchhofer (Honeywell) steering committees, channel partners, and Joe has been there for us for many years. He always picks up his He turned around the relationship between the operator/customer customer advisory boards,” Owens said. “When phone on the first ring and works hard to come up with elegant and Honeywell. He restored confidence in Honeywell by giving the offering a new product or making an improve- solutions to some of our most difficult problems. If we could have operator assistance and even incentives as well as information. A ment, we look at how we can create a video a complete Garmin cockpit, we would because of Joe. He is a rare person that was truly committed to both his employer (Honeywell) instead of a 100-page manual.” diamond in the rough when it comes to avionics support. Our oper- and his customer (operator). I’m certain that he saved money—and Honeywell is also employing video confer- ations would suffer without his number in our address book! headaches—to Honeywell. I know he did for us (the operator). Win- encing to meet with customers remotely during win situation. If only there were more people like him. Kudos! He is the pandemic, as well as webinars that expand John Dano (Honeywell) now retired, but he deserves a ceremony. access to customers all over the world. John has supported operators with some difficult avionics prob- “The goal is to say, ‘how can we use this as an lems over the years. He has been a proactive focal point to raise Tom Kuchno (Satcom Direct)) improvement [in helping customers],” said Megan issues within Honeywell when needed and also to communicate to Tom has been a vital part of our operation and is always available Towne, Honeywell’s director of customer and the operators as needed. No problem is too big or too small; he helps when we need support. Tom has a wealth of experience and knowl- product support for the Americas for business/ with his extensive knowledge or knows where to get it. Definitely edge and is available at a moment’s notice when we need support. general aviation. “This is not to replace face-to- the type of person you like dealing with on technical issues in the Thank you Tom. face, but to augment it. With so many operators, avionics world. we can’t [physically] get to every one of them. continues on page 35

20 Aviation International News \ September 2020 \ ainonline.com Atlantic_Gateway_Been Fueled_AIN_September_2020_Final.pdf 1 8/7/2020 3:30:08 PM

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K “We’re also doing a tremendous amount Western Aircraft to double MRO footprint of Citation work,” said Western director of sales and marketing Kerry Heiss. He by Jerry Siebenmark added that Western recently hired a key lead from Textron Aviation’s Sacramento, Looking to broaden the types of aircraft California service center. it maintains, repairs, and overhauls as Over the past couple of years, Western well as meet the current demand for its has been doing some work on large-cabin services, Western Aircraft is expanding Gulfstreams. “Our limiting factor on that at Boise Airport (BOI) in Idaho with the is just hangar space,” Heiss explained. construction of a 93,000-sq-ft facility that “That’s a big part of the impetus for build- will double the size of its footprint. The ing this new hangar.” new facility will comprise a 52,000-sq-ft Shontz said the new hangar will accom- hangar and 40,000 sq ft for avionics and modate up to five or six G650s. “We interior and finish shops as well as admin- looked at the market…and that’s how we istration offces. ended up going that route,” said Shontz, Greenwich AeroGroup, which also who prior to joining Western spent 16 operates a full-service FBO and o"ers years at Gulfstream. new aircraft sales, charter, and parts, cur- Western provides MRO services on the rently occupies eight buildings and han- Citation 525, 550, and 560 series including gars totaling 90,000 sq ft on 18 acres at the XL, Heiss explained. With the expansion southwest corner of BOI. “The business he expects Western to expand its Citation has been growing pretty steadily here at Western Aircraft’s current MRO operations comprise about 90,000 sq ft at Boise Airport in Idaho. service to add the 680 series. Western to the point where we basically Shontz noted that it’s an “ongoing dis- have just flat run out of space at this facil- Western also sees the new facility as Western expects to add 100 more work- cussion” in terms of Western pursuing a ity,” said Western v-p and general manager a means of boosting its aircraft interi- ers with the expansion, which is expected more formal means of MRO recognition Austin Shontz. “While we’re looking at our ors work. “As we get additional prod- to be complete in May 2021. Its MRO with Gulfstream and Textron Aviation. future and trying to analyze what product uct and larger product, we’re seeing a operation currently employs about 125. “Neither one of them really has a formal lines to continue to grow into, our analy- big demand for interior work on these Western is an authorized service center [authorized service center] program to sis pointed us to Gulfstream products and things,” Shontz said. “We’re going to for Dassault Aviation, Embraer Executive date but my plan has been trying to get Cessna Citation products. With that and have new paint booths put in, new finish Jets, Pilatus, and Piper and it provides them to understand the benefits of having the current space shortage we had, we said, booths put in, numerous things to sup- authorized service on the King us as part of their team on both of those ‘Okay, it’s time to add [more space].’” port that e"ort.” Air, Daher Kodiak, and Cessna Caravan. product lines,” he added.

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AIN_PrintAd_10x6.5_6.20.indd 1 6/2/20 3:56 PM 22 Aviation International News \ September 2020 \ ainonline.com only is the market timing right, but the Aspen Avionics joining new aerospace technology being developed in the group is on point,” said Chris Gidden, leader of the global aerospace and defense practice and defense technology group | by Matt Thurber for Stephens. “Our goal is to bring this to the public market, to leverage the strong Airo Group has come together as provider Valqari; and Glocal Healthcare, banking firm Stephens, Inc. to raise funds sentiment around autonomy, [to make a growing mid-tier aerospace and a joint venture with Airo that provides for the Airo Group acquisitions, and the this] a platform for growth and continue defense (A&D) company aiming advanced healthcare services. two companies have been working on to expand.” Gidden also noted that Airo to fill a void left by the mergers Airo Group has hired private investment this effort for the past two years. “Not continues on next page of midsize companies with larger A&D players. The group plans to bring nine companies together under Airo’s Project Jupiter after launching with founding compa- nies Airo Drone and AgileDefense. Six other companies are targeted Your Airframe. TM for acquisition under signed let- TM ters of intent, including urban air mobility (UAM) vehicle developer Our Expertise. VRCO and avionics manufacturer Aspen Avionics, and one company as part of a joint venture. According to Airo Group CEO Joe Burns, the new company’s goal is to target three key growth areas in aerospace and defense: drone tech- nology and UAM; advanced avion- ics; and defense and training. Plans call for going public with an initial public offering or through the pur- Falcon chase of a special acquisition stock company (SPAC). Citation “We think the public market value should cross over $1 billion when we’re merged into a SPAC Gulfstream or do an IPO,” said Chirinjeev Kathuria, executive chairman of Airo Group. “There is a void for Learjet mid-tier aerospace and defense companies after [recent merg- ers],” he said. The roll-up of the Hawker companies forming Airo Group brings a balanced portfolio of Challenger both A&D and high-growth oppor- tunities, he explained. “Drone ser- vices, cargo delivery, adverse-air Global are all growing, and autonomous UAM technology is very import- ant. We already have this, and it’s Embraer being integrated into everything we’re doing. We have a strong set King Air of advisors, and we can acceler- ate growth as a public company. I think we’re well positioned.” Conquest Two companies are the core of Airo Group and serve the drone detection, remote sensing, and Piaggio unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) markets (Airo Drone) and Maintenance aircraft leasing and consulting services to all aviation segments (Agile Defense). The other com- Avionics panies that are joining Airo Group, in addition to Aspen Avi- onics and VRCO, include Airgil- Paint ity, an unmanned UAS company; Coastal Defense, which provides contract air services and tar- Interiors get-simulation services for mil- itary organizations; Sky-Watch, weststaraviation.com a developer, manufacturer, and systems integrator of unmanned aircraft systems; drone-delivery

ainonline.com \ September 2020 \ Aviation International News 23 continued from preceding page RoadRunner certified on Bell 212/412 models holes as the original instruments. Pilots can take advantage of the AFI4700’s localizer Aspen Avionics The FAA has issued an STC to Rotorcraft installation kit for the RoadRunner. performance with vertical guidance IFR Services Group (RSG) for installation of the The all-glass AFI4700 replaces older approach capability to fly approaches to being acquired Astronautics RoadRunner AFI4700 elec- electromechanic attitude directors and many more airports than they could with tronic flight instrument on Bell 212 and horizontal situation indicators and is the older avionics. Group’s existing contracts in 412 series helicopters. RSG also obtained relatively easy to retrofit with no major The AFI4700 is already approved in the defense markets will help the FAA parts manufacturer approval for the wiring changes, fitting into the same panel Leonardo A109/119 series helicopter. M.H. company grow during the down- turn in other sectors. While the acquisition of Aspen Avionics might raise questions about how a general aviation avion- ics manufacturer fits into an A&D company, it makes sense in terms of growth opportunities, according to Aspen president and CEO John Uczekaj. “The general aviation mar- ket is still growing, and we have a good position,” he said. But for an independent avionics manufacturer, gaining a presence on new aircraft with original equipment manu- facturers (OEMs) is critical, and Aspen has specialized in the retrofit market. “To attract investment dol- lars, you have to have growth,” he explained. “We need investment to create flight controls and integrated avionics. The drone world is help- ing to attract investors for us to be a true competitor.” In 2015, Aspen Avionics acquired Accord Technology, which manufactures GPS sen- sors, and this helps Aspen expand into the drone and UAM markets. “General aviation is a good, solid business, but not high growth,” Uczekaj said. “We see all that [drone and UAM technology] as part of the growth cycle, and we want to accelerate that.” The plan is for Aspen to expand beyond its expertise in display manufactur- ing into other avionics products for the UAM market. “Airo gives us the platform to grow,” he said. Burns explained that the Valqari acquisition targets the rapid growth of last-mile package deliv- ery with drones that can land on a target and automatically signal a door to open for secure delivery. “It’s a fascinating prospect,” he said, “and solves a lot of last-mile issues.” VRCO, a UK-based UAM devel- oper, is competing with well-fi- nanced players such as Joby and Lilium. “This is an opportunity to develop transportation craft,” said Burns. “We’re working with auto manufacturers to make the flying car of the future.” Airo’s Airgility acquisition will also contribute artificial intel- ligence technology for in-flight autonomous decision- making. This will be useful for tasks such as gas-line leak detection, pow- er-outage monitoring, and other functions, all of which Airgility’s technology enables in a GPS-de- nied environment.

24 Aviation International News \ September 2020 \ ainonline.com services as those assisting the owner with In addition, the tax agency outlines the IRS proposal to clarify no administrative and support services, such legislative approach to fractional ownership as scheduling, flight planning, and weather and refers to the pro-rata share of taxes that forecasting; obtaining insurance; mainte- are applied in cases involving charter, among tax on management fees nance, storage, and fueling of aircraft; hiring, other issues highlighted in the proposal. training, and provision of pilots and crew; The National Air Transportation Asso- The IRS released a much- management services related to mainte- establishing and complying with safety ciation, which has worked with Congress anticipated proposed rule nance and support of the aircraft owner’s standards; and “such other services as are and the IRS on the issue, said it was designed to update and clarify aircraft or flights on the aircraft owner’s air- necessary to support flights operated by an reviewing the rules and expects to provide the treatment of aviation excise craft. It further defined aircraft management aircraft owner.” further analysis. taxes surrounding aircraft man- agement services. The proposal follows a direc- tive from the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, which essentially exempted certain management fees from the application of the commercial air transportation federal excise tax. While the Jobs Act measure was HOW DID WE MAKE THE welcomed, subsequent IRS guid- ance left open many questions on the application of the taxes. NEW M600/SLS THE Slated for publication in the July 31 Federal Register and open to comments for 60 days, the NEW STANDARD IN SAFETY? notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) attempts to address the numerous requests for clarifica- We taught it everything you know. tion and outlines definitions sur- rounding aircraft management as required by law. The NPRM focuses on ques- tions surrounding five areas: use of a possession, command, and control test for amounts paid for aircraft management services; treatment of aircraft management services payments made by people closely related to the owner, but not the owner; the effect of the choice of flight rules (Part 91 ver- sus Part 135); certain situations involving charter use; and the effects of how payment arrange- ments are made. The IRS outlines the legislative directive to exempt amounts paid by an aircraft owner for aircraft

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M600SLS_AIN_ April_2020_JuniorTabloid.indd 1 3/10/20 11:34 AM ainonline.com \ September 2020 \ Aviation International News 25 SPECIAL report

Racing to the supersonic market Almost two decades affer the ceased operations, the civil aviation market remains without a viable supersonic aircraff. However, recent supersonic development activity has significantly expanded and is rapidly advancing. A snapshot of some of this activity follows.

engine, saying it has “made significant next in multiple disciplines. Supersonic AS2 only a starting progress” in the last two years. How- Plans call for use of five flight-test air- ever, preliminary design review has been craft for the program with production point for Aerion’s ambitions pushed into 2021 and the first flight time- kicking off in 2023. Aerion Supersonic, line has slid on the $120 million, 12-place meanwhile, has continued to build out its As Aerion Supersonic targets the middle high temperatures and stresses of near- aircraft with plans to fly it from the compa- supplier partners for the program, recently of this decade for the first flight of its AS2 hypersonic and hypersonic flight while ny’s new complex that will be built in Mel- adding Collins Aerospace to the lineup. and service entry being able to withstand the rigors required bourne, Florida, in 2025, with certification Collins Aerospace’s Actuation Systems by 2027, the company is taking a multi- for commercial flight and propulsion sys- following within two years. “The pandemic centers in Wolverhampton, UK, and Ver- decade view of its business plan with aspi- tems and fuel technologies that will provide has slowed us down a bit,” he said. non, France, will design and develop flight rations to build an AS3 that would dwarf the necessary specific energy at the nec- The company added in a statement control actuation systems, including for the the size of the business jet, move into essary energy density while meeting the that “In light of the impact of COVID-19 AS2’s leading-edge, elevons, horizontal sta- hybrid and all-electric power, and eventu- company’s carbon neutrality plans. on our industry…we have taken proactive bilizer, and rudder. ally offer hypersonic aircraft. All the while, Describing supersonic as Aerion’s measures on reprioritizing workflow to “The very nature of supersonic travel its Aerion Connect initiative would enable “starting point,” Vice updated the efforts maintain continuity on the AS2 program.” presents some unique challenges when an ecosystem approach for the customer on the Mach 1.4 AS2 business jet, which Even so, Vice indicated plans to step up it comes to designing reliable and precise to reach the destination from door-to-door, is powered by GE Aviation’s new Affinity engineering hiring later this year or early systems to guide the aircraft—and we are rather than airport-to-airport. eager to address them head-on as a part Speaking during the American Institute of the Aerion team,” said Ed Dryden, v-p of of Aeronautics and Astronautics Aviation Actuation Systems for Collins Aerospace. Forum in June, Aerion Supersonic chair- “Collins Aerospace has a long history in man, president, and CEO Tom Vice outlined advancing complex actuation systems for this vision, saying, “We believe that we are both commercial and military platforms, building a future where humanity can travel and we look forward to continuing this between any two major city pairs within legacy with the AS2.” three hours. We know this is going to take Collins Aerospace joins a supplier team a multi-decade approach [involving] hard for the AS2 that includes GE Aviation, Hon- technical challenges…It’s about building an eywell, Safran, GKN Aerospace, Aernnova, entire ecosystem not just the airplane from and Potez Aeronautique. In addition, Spirit point to point.” AeroSystems has collaborated on the pro- To achieve that goal, Vice told AIN in gram, as has Boeing, which in 2019 made a statement, “there are several technical an undisclosed investment in Aerion. inventions and new mobility innovations Aerion anticipates beginning produc- we are working on.” These involve new Aerion considers its Mach 1.4 supersonic AS2 business jet to be first in a product tion in 2023, with first flight in 2025 and airframe materials that can withstand the line that will one day foray into all-electric technology and hypersonic speeds. entry-into-service in the 2027 timeframe.

26 Aviation International News \ September 2020 \ ainonline.com The company expects to manufacture models rather than whole ownership. not detailing its next product, he did show Our goal is to solve the whole travel time 300 of the Mach 1.4 business jet in the first Aerion, citing a potential $40 billion an overlay of the AS3, likely a much larger problem.” decade of production. market for the AS2, now has a $3.18 bil- commercial airplane. Aerion also is in dis- Aerion took a step toward building such While now shorter, the recent redesign lion order backlog and is in discussions for cussions about military applications. infrastructure through a partnership agree- of the AS2 preserved cabin space, which orders valued at another $6.2 billion, he Much further out, Aerion sees possibili- ment with international business aviation he said will equate to that of a Bombardier said. Plans call to build 300 of the type in ties for hypersonics and said progress has services provider Jetex. As a preferred Global 6500 or a Gulfstream G600, have its first decade of production. been made on reaching near-hypersonic partner, Jetex will coordinate with Aerion to the “quietest cabin in the industry and low- With a strong emphasis on sustain- in the Mach 4 to 4.5 range. This speed is provide personalized travel arrangements at est cabin altitude,” and will be equipped ability, the aircraft will be built to run 100 the ultimate vision of getting passengers its private terminals to ensure a “seamless with amenities such as OLED surfaces, percent on synthetic fuels, as well as tra- anywhere around the world within three experience” for AS2 customers. The com- immersive high-fidelity sound with 4K/8K ditional fuels. On the synthetic side, Aerion hours, Vice said. panies will also collaborate on efforts to video, large dimmable windows, and “ultra- is focused on the use of direct air capture As far as the ecosystem, Aerion has encourage broad adoption of synthetic fuels. fast” connectivity. technology that converts carbon dioxide established an Aerion Connect strategy Working with Aerion, international flight Aerion already sees a sizeable market from the air into usable fuels. “The technol- that looks at transportation means such support and FBO group Jetex plans to unveil for the airplane, particularly from large ogy really is huge,” he said. This approach as the use of eVTOLs to get customers to a suite of services tailored specifically for fractional and other business aviation ser- enables factories to have smaller footprints and from the airport to provide a smoother, the launch of the AS2. “Since the retire- vices providers, including Flexjet, its larg- and to be built and accessible anywhere, faster experience from beginning to end. ment of the Concorde in 2003, the world est and launch customer. Vice also sees a Vice said, but conceded the cost of the final “Through our Aerion Connect strategy has been eagerly waiting to return to the market from NetJets, VistaJet, and Wheels product is still an issue. we are building out a point of departure supersonic skies,” said Jetex founder and Up, along with high-net-worth individuals, Longer range, Aerion would like to to point of destination ecosystem,” Vice CEO Adel Mardini. “Two decades later, we heads of state, and corporations, although push into full electric for its product lines, said. “It isn’t enough to solve the flight time look forward to welcoming the first passen- he said that he believes the latter is trend- but Vice said a hybrid-electric approach between two airports if the travel time from gers traveling aboard AS2 at Jetex private ing now more toward fractional and other would likely be the next logical step. While a city’s downtown to the airport is an hour. jet terminals around the world.” K.L.

GE tackles environmental challenges with supersonic- adept Affnity engine

GE Aviation has provided a glimpse into maker is partnering “across the board” design challenges that the company on technology development for the next is working through as it progresses on wave of supersonic flight and the AS2 is the twin-shaft, medium-bypass Affinity a “major driver for our strategy.” engine selected to power the Aerion AS2 The initial design review with Aerion supersonic business jet. Aerion Super- was completed in the fall of 2018 and GE sonic and GE announced plans in Octo- says it is remaining on track with the AS2 ber 2018 to move forward with the Affinity schedule, now targeting a first flight in Anticipated to be part of a family in the 16,000- to 20,000-pound-thrust range, for the AS2, saying it would be designed 2025 and entry-into-service in 2027. Fur- the GE Affnity engine will be certified to operate at altitudes up to 60,000 using a “proven engine core adapted from ther, some component testing has been feet and capable of providing effcient supersonic and subsonic transport. GE’s commercial airline portfolio” with completed this year with more lined up the latest technology full authority digi- over the next year, GE said, adding that enabler to open up the design spaces exhaust. “Those technologies are being tal engine control, an advanced twin-fan, trials have included “a first-of-its-kind solutions to help make this airplane developed and matured,” Kirk said. durable combustor, and advanced acous- engine acoustics test to give us sound friendlier relative to noise and friendlier The ability to run on 100 percent biofuel tic technology that would meet or exceed references for the multi-stage fan design.” relative to emissions and performance.” has further involved several considerations, regulatory requirements. Kirk outlined some of the differentiat- He added that GE’s objective “is to including with the fuel system, combustion, While GE has not specified beyond ing factors required for Affinity, much of burn as little fuel as possible and burn as and the turbine, he said. “The biggest chal- saying the engine pulls from its commer- which surrounds supporting the mission clean as possible. But we have other con- lenge is the fuel system,” he said. GE Avia- cial engine core expertise, it is believed of making the AS2 and other supersonic siderations around how to get to super- tion has taken a close look at how biofuels to borrow from the CFM56. But GE does aircraft as environmentally friendly as sonic speeds and also how to do that in would impact the system in areas such as say the Affinity adopts features from its possible. This is critical because the main a noise-friendly environment.” sealing. Biofuels typically lack key aromat- new Passport business such as obstacle to the return of supersonic flight These goals are requiring a “series of ics that are important for the seals. the front fan blisks and slimline composite is environmental regulations. Kirk called compromises” the company has to make “We’ve done a lot of work around that core ducting. this an “imperative” for the engine. around the installation of the engine on and we think we have solutions around Anticipated to be part of a family in the The Affinity requirements include the the aircraft, he said, adding, “integrating that now,” Kirk said, adding that he 16,000- to 20,000-pound-thrust range, goal of being able to run 100 percent on that has been a key part.” GE Aviation believes the system now could “enter- the Affinity will be certified to operate at sustainable fuels and meet or exceed introduced new technologies around tain both jet-A and sustainable fuels. That altitudes up to 60,000 feet and capable international levels for noise and emis- the fan and the “special, non-augmented technology has really been matured and of providing efficient super- and subsonic sions. To honor those promises—including supersonic exhaust system” to mitigate developed to the point where we think it’s transport. meeting Stage 5 noise levels—Kirk said emissions and fan noise. in a good position for introduction.” Speaking during the American Institute it has been “real important for us to have “We’re working on reduced fan size,” and GE Aviation also had to examine capa- of Aeronautics and Astronautics Aviation this good partnership earlier on in the eying technologies around acoustics for bilities and material systems involved with Forum in June, Joel Kirk, GE Aviation’s development of the aircraft so we can fan noise, he said. In addition to completing the turbine to minimize reaction with executive leader of advanced systems work through interfaces and integration baseline testing for fan acoustics, GE also combustion byproducts. design and technology, said the engine with Aerion together. That has been an has completed initial testing around the continues on next page

ainonline.com \ September 2020 \ Aviation International News 27 SPECIAL report

continued from page 27 He said by engineering a new technol- FAA supersonic ogy engine, GE Aviation is able to incor- porate materials and designs that would regulations not necessarily fit with a legacy engine but that enables them to solve some of proposal draws these issues. “We think we’re in a good position for that.” praise and Heat is also one of the key differentia- tors required for the supersonic-capable protest engine, Kirk said. This includes running the core hot for maximum efficiency. In The FAA is laying a foundation for the An FAA proposed rule would for the first time establish subsonic landing subsonic designs, he explains, hottest return to supersonic flight with its and takeoff cycle noise standards for supersonic airplanes other than the temperatures would be set at a takeoff notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) Concorde, such as the Mach 1.4 Aerion AS2. or “severe climb point” and then at cruise to develop a certification pathway for “it would fall out.” such aircraft, but that effort is drawing representatives such as the Aerospace NBAA, meanwhile, also said it sup- But Kirk added that with temperature a mixed bag of responses. Drawing com- Industries Association (AIA) and the Gen- ports the FAA’s data-driven approach “in supersonic super-cruise condition, ments from industry, community, regula- eral Aviation Manufacturers Association and added, “This proposed rule strikes the cruise point is nearly at [that of the] tors, and environmentalists, the proposal (GAMA) commended the effort, partic- a balance between protecting against takeoff point. So…GE is designing an has received strong support from many, ularly for taking a data-driven approach. significant impacts on people and the engine that can sustain that environment while others have called the effort prema- “AIA and our members view this rule as environment and a regulatory system throughout the entire flight or at least the ture, and still others expressed absolute a crucial step to enabling the next gen- that supports innovating new technolo- entire super-cruise portion of the flight.” opposition. eration of environmentally responsible gies that can thrive.” This has required technologies drawn Released in April, the NPRM would for and commend the However, environmental organizations from both its military and commercial the first time establish subsonic landing FAA for its leadership in ensuring the coalesced in their opposition, with more programs, he said. “We’re leveraging over and takeoff cycle noise standards for U.S. encourages innovation to transform than 60 of the groups calling for the with- and inserting new technologies…so we supersonic airplanes other than the Con- how we move, travel, and experience our drawal of the proposal and charging that it can run the engines hotter, using best-in- corde. The lack of standards has been a planet,” AIA said. They both stressed a would enable such aircraft “to be noisier class materials.” Central to all of that, he major stumbling block to the development goal of aligning the regulations with those at takeoff and landing than new conven- added, is “our combustor and how we are of supersonic aircraft. Initially, the proposal of the international community through tional jets.” maximizing the heat extraction.” would address aircraft with a maximum the International Civil Aviation Organiza- “The Trump administration’s plan to At the same time, GE Aviation must takeoff weight no greater than 150,000 tion (ICAO). revive these super-polluting planes is a ensure efficiency. To maximize the pounds and a maximum operating cruise Operator representatives such as NBAA huge threat to our climate and the air airflow velocity, subsonic commer- speed of Mach 1.8. That category of air- and the Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA) we breathe,” said Clare Lakewood, legal cial engines have continued to pursue craft would constitute “Supersonic Level similarly offered support. With the FAA’s director at the Center for Biological Diver- higher-bypass ratios with larger fans 1,” accommodating most of the current approach of capitalizing on the existing sity’s Climate Law Institute. on smaller cores. “However, Aerion development activity, the agency said. framework and testing requirements in “This proposed rule would provide the doesn’t really want us to strap 100-inch The NPRM would set a threshold that place for subsonic aircraft, ALPA said it means to certificate hundreds of civil fans onto the airplanes when they are would exceed Stage 4, which most aircraft believes “the FAA will be able to maintain supersonic aircraft, resulting in emis- trying to do super-cruise. So there are currently meet, but would provide flexibility the same level of rigor for new aircraft sions of enormous volumes of carbon compromises that have to be made to in how those standards are met, including designs and new certification applicants, dioxide (COff) and other greenhouse fly supersonics,” he said. the use of variable noise-reduction systems. which will allow the advancement of new gas emissions far in excess of emissions Even so, GE Aviation promises the The comment period on the proposal technologies while maintaining the same from equivalent subsonic aircraft and far engine will have the highest bypass ratio ended July 13 and more than 280 com- level of understanding of the aircraft being beyond what the planet can support [and] ever for a supersonic engine. K. L. ments have been posted. Manufacturer certified with respect to noise generation.” continues on page 30

FAA striving for balance in developing new supersonic regulations consistent with the majority of aircraft cur- rently in production. The FAA is placing a priority on supporting exploded in terms of the types of regulations and market to allow continued development “On emissions, it’s going to be very diff- the emergence of supersonic technologies, we are doing…It is a lot of work for govern- while also addressing considerations about cult,” he conceded. “It’s going to be some- but the agency must apply appropriate reg- ment agencies to catch up with innovation. noise exposure,” Welsch said, adding the thing that the industry needs to address very ulatory and environmental safeguards, said a That’s one of our major focuses,” Welsch said. agency is “trying to find a balance.” seriously.” Regulatory requirements need key agency offcial. Welsch pointed to the two primary reg- Assessing environmental tradeo"s against to address that as well. However, there are “Our focus…has been how we can support ulatory activities underway on supersonic, aircraft technologies “is at the core of what options, Welsch added, such as carbon o"- the reemergence of supersonic aircraft from a one involved with enabling certification my offce does,” he said. “We spend a lot of sets and sustainable fuel use. regulatory perspective to ensure that, as tech- flight testing and another establishing cer- resources in modeling those impacts and Those rulemakings must “connect back” nology advances, the FAA is putting in place tification noise landing and takeo" stan- assessing them.” He acknowledged that in to international standards. “Ultimately, any the necessary regulatory changes,” said Kevin dards. The agency is now sorting through the supersonic realm, there will be organiza- standards that we put in the U.S. are good Welsch, executive director of the FAA’s Offce comments on both proposals as it shapes tions that simply have the policy to oppose domestically, but these aircraft…need to of Environment and Energy during a recent a final rule development, and said it is diffcult to work be able to fly to other places,” he said. The American Institute of Aeronautics and Astro- The proposals have been in the works through issues with those who are not open rules must be harmonized, he added, noting nautics Aviation Forum. for several years, he said, and will mark “a to dialogue. the agency is working intensively with the For years, certification projects remained really big step” for supersonic aircraft devel- However, the FAA is looking at how to mit- International Civil Aviation Organization on steady and “looked similar,” he said. But in the opment. “The challenge was to both provide igate e"ects and hopes to communicate that a standards-setting process that could gain last few years, “all of a sudden that space has enough flexibility to this emerging industry what is proposed from a noise standpoint is global acceptance. K.L.

28 Aviation International News \ September 2020 \ ainonline.com How does CAE elevate your training experience?

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continued from page 28 as it would give a leeway for supersonic incorporates the best data available at the new-generation of supersonic airlin- none of which the FAA proposes to reg- standards to depart from existing sub- completion of the current CAEP studies is ers and business jets. “By establishing ulate,” the center added in its comments. sonic aircraft standards, thus potentially necessary,” the engine maker said. a reasonable set of noise certification The environmentalist organization distorting the market by unfairly compet- Nevertheless, Rolls-Royce said it standards for supersonic airplanes added the proposal is inconsistent with ing with subsonic aircraft.” “applauds the diligent effort” and supports through this rulemaking process, the the agency’s obligation to protect public Bombardier agreed. “Because neither the approach. FAA is serving the public interest by health and welfare from noise effects as an LTO [landing and takeoff] noise stan- Other manufacturers, including helping to unleash the considerable it sets standards. “Departing from the dard nor a COff emission standard for those with announced intensions to economic benefits of a new generation firmly established principles of reasoned supersonic airplanes have been defined by develop supersonic aircraft and engines, of supersonic airplanes, while creating decision-making, the FAA bases the pro- ICAO, Bombardier believes it is premature expressed further support for the effort. an operational environment that pro- posed rule on data and information that for the FAA to propose LTO noise certifi- “GE considers the proposal appropriate tects the environment and minimizes it refuses to disclose to the public,” the cation rules for civil supersonic airplanes for supersonic airplanes and believes noise impacts on airports and sur- center further said while citing a lack of at this time and that priority should be the proposal furthers the FAA’s stated rounding communities,” Aerion noted. consultation with the Environmental Pro- given to the development of such inter- objectives to protect public health and Joining others in the stressing the tection Agency. “We urge the FAA not to national standards within the established welfare while developing a rulemaking importance of harmonization, Boom proceed with the proposed rule.” framework of the ICAO, where the U.S. is that is economically reasonable, techno- also commended the FAA for taking a The European Union also expressed actively engaged and highly regarded.” logically practical, and airplane appropri- leadership role on the issue at ICAO. The reservation with the FAA moving forward Rolls-Royce also asked the FAA to sup- ate,” said GE Aviation, which is developing agency, the company said, “has consis- independently on rulemaking. “Priority port the ongoing work of ICAO’s Commit- an engine family for supersonic aircraft, tently advocated for supersonic aircraft should be given to the development of tee on Aviation Environmental Protection including the Affinity for the Aerion AS2. and engine certification standards that international standards within ICAO over (CAEP) before finalizing its proposal. “To Supersonic aircraft developers are data-driven, technically feasible, any initiative taken by a state,” it said in facilitate global harmonization of a super- Boom and Aerion both said the FAA economically reasonable, and take into a statement. “In this regard, the EU con- sonic noise standard, prior agreement of appropriately recognizes the inherent account interdependencies among envi- siders the notified standard as premature the limit at the international level which design differences of the upcoming ronmental objectives.” K.L.

NASA, LockMart move toward trials of supersonic X-59 X-plane

NASA’s quest to reshape the landscape so that it can be used to conduct a series for supersonic aircraft remains on track of trials over communities in the U.S. to as assembly progresses on the X-59 assess the public’s sense of noise. Quiet SuperSonic Technology (QueSST) But unlike the Concorde, the X-59 demonstrator. Developed by Lockheed will not emit what is commonly known Martin under contract with NASA, the as a . Instead, the partners partners will use the X-plane to test pub- hope to demonstrate that new designs lic perception of a sonic “thud” that new and technologies will result in a softer, supersonic designs create. quieter sonic “thud,” or low boom, that In recent months Lockheed Martin had might prove more acceptable to the pub- Assembly of the wing and forward section of the NASA/Lockheed Martin X-59 begun to build the wing and flight deck lic and pave the way for supersonic flight Quiet SuperSonic Technology (QueSST) demonstrator is underway as NASA sections of the X-59 QueSST at its Skunk over land. strives to demonstrate the feasibility of quiet supersonic travel over land. Works factory in Palmdale, California, and The effort is “all about” the ban on program officials say the aircraft is on supersonic flight over land, Iosifidis said. supersonic aircraft will represent “amaz- an aircraft that could meet the necessary schedule to fly toward the end of 2021. “All of us are flying commercially slower ing technological achievements,” Coen noise requirements. “We found results of “The aircraft is looking like the X-59,” today than we were decades ago,” he said. added. “They will be very unlike the Con- [wind-tunnel tests] were in lockstep with said Peter Iosifidis, who recently retired as “Across the globe…technology has moved corde in their impact on the environment predictions we had made for that design,” Lockheed Martin’s program manager for forward and faster, but we seem to have and their impact on the communities in Iosifidis said. “Having that knowledge and X-59 QueSST, at the American Institute of gone backward.” which they operate.” our confidence in those design methods Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) Avi- “The idea is a future where simple The developers envision supersonic is what really started the wheels of full- ation Forum in June. The forward fuselage supersonic flight contributes to the trans- travel that is not only fast, he said, “but scale effort to go build what ultimately is and empennage were “coming together,” formation and the decrease in the time available to a broad spectrum of people known as X-59 now.” he said, adding that all the structure was required to travel to distant places around and that is also efficient, affordable, and completely installed on the wings, includ- the globe,” added Peter Coen, the low environmentally responsible.” However, to X-59’s Aggressive Schedule ing some of the skins. boom flight demonstration mission man- get there, the aviation community must NASA awarded the contract in April of “We’re very far along with the aircraft,” ager for NASA’s Aeronautics Research overcome public perception barriers. 2018 and Lockheed Martin has worked on Iosifidis said. “Everything has gone pretty Mission Directorate. If successful, the X-59 would prove that a “very aggressive schedule” since then, much as we had planned—nothing has NASA’s vision is to research possibil- low boom does exist and at levels that said Iosifidis. A lot of factors have played happened thus far on this effort that has ities to make supersonic available to all will be acceptable to the general public, into the ability to keep a quick turn-time jeopardized any of our critical milestones.” segments, Coen said. But such travel suf- Iosifidis said. from contract to first flight in 2021. Once complete, the X-59 will mea- fers a perception issue. “We hear often “We’ve been working on this type of They include taking unusual approaches sure 96 feet long, have a span of 29.5 that supersonic aircraft…being described technology—low-—for to the manufacturing of a one-off vehicle. feet, reach speeds of Mach 1.4, and fly at as the son of the Concorde. That fuels a decades now,” he said, noting the “aha Lockheed Martin began cutting metal on an altitude of 55,000 feet. A key design misconception on some people’s part that moment” came in 2011 when a joint effort its first parts by November 2018 and loaded requirement of the X-59 is to replicate the future aircraft will be like the Concorde.” with NASA demonstrated the feasibility the first parts into the jig by June 2019. But noise effects of larger supersonic aircraft While like the Concorde, future of design methods to move forward with continues on page 32

30 Aviation International News \ September 2020 \ ainonline.com GippsAero’s GA8 has filled a need for reasonably priced, well-performing . Covid crisis hits GippsAero Ultra-fast by Neelam Mathews

Like the rest of the aviation business, Aus- One business with orders for GA8s tralian aircraft manufacturer GippsAero pending told AIN that it is scheduled (formerly Gippsland Aeronautics) has to receive some of those this year, but it USB-PD been impacted by the downturn following doesn’t expect the remainder to ever be the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic. The delivered. However, a Mahindra spokes- company, a subsidiary of India’s Mahin- man said that the company plans to com- dra Aerospace since 2009, builds the plete all outstanding orders. Last year, single- engine utility piston-powered Air- Mahindra sold 10 GA8s to China, mainly POWER van GA8 and employed about 80 people for skydiving operations. at Latrobe Regional Airport in the state During 2019, Mahindra reported deliv- of Victoria, although news reports suggest eries of 12 GA8s, according to the Gen- that some layoffs have occurred. The tur- eral Aviation Manufacturers Association. boprop GA10 Airvan was certified in 2017 There were no reported deliveries during but serial production does not appear to the first quarter of 2020. have commenced. According to a July 23 article in Aus- GippsAero may pause its operations tralian Flying magazine, GippsAero for a few months until economies start CEO Keith Douglas has confirmed that to bounce back. In a statement, Mahindra the company “shed 25 percent of its said, “The duration of the crisis and the employees at the beginning of June but degree to which demand recovers versus attributed [the layoffs] to the impacts of pre-crisis levels is still yet unclear. Gen- the pandemic.” eral aviation operators have been hit hard Two years ago, Botswana’s Major Blue by the crisis, and it has brought many Air was announced as the first customer operations to a halt.” for the GA10 turboprop, but it appears the “Aviation, in general, has been severely delivery never took place as Major Blue impacted due to lockdowns across the Air does not list the GA10 in its fleet. world,” said Arvind Mehra, executive A GA10 crashed during spin testing director and CEO for global operations with an under-development cargo pod at Mahindra Aerospace. “Every industry, in June 2018 at Mohave, California. Both including GippsAero, is in the process of pilots were able to eject after they were determining the impact. Since [it is] part unable to recover from a spin with full of a large corporation, we have enough landing flaps selected, a configuration not support in hand.” authorized by GippsAero’s chief design Mehra refused to comment on the engineer for the testing. number of aircraft in production in Mahindra had also planned to resurrect Australia but said that the company’s the Australian twin-turboprop Govern- Mahindra Aerostructures facility “is ment Aircraft Factories Nomad as the GA18, doing well.” but those plans never came to fruition.

ainonline.com \ September 2020 \ Aviation International News 31 SPECIAL report

continued from page 30 expand the envelope. Those tests will the company has been doing concurrent take place initially out of the Palmdale engineering and manufacturing, Iosifidis facility and then at NASA’s Armstrong said. “You have to start building a lot of Flight Research Center at Edwards Air your parts before the final design is com- Force Base in California, Coen said. Once plete,” he explained. “Otherwise, the pro- the aircraft has demonstrated it has met gram could take an additional few years the performance characteristics, it will to bring it to completion. That is really not undergo tests for acoustics to ensure the the kind of program NASA wanted. That noise signals are as expected in various increases cost.” atmospheric conditions. This is important In addition, Lockheed Martin has for the validity of the planned community applied technologies typically used in trials, he said. large-scale manufacturing efforts, such The partners expect those tests to last as the use of robots capable of drilling between 15 to 18 months. Plans call for thousands of holes rapidly, to gain cost initial noise trials to begin near Armstrong and schedule benefits. The robots are by late 2022 or early 2023, before the “not typically used on one-off aircraft,” vehicle flies trials over different commu- NASA’s X-59 supersonic aircraff is being built without a forward-facing he added. nities throughout the U.S. The trials will window. It instead uses an eXternal Vision System to allow for a more In an effort to further help with the involve general public surveys to measure contoured, slender nose that reduces the sonic boom. timeline, NASA established the require- response to sound exposure. NASA has ments early on for the X-59 and has staged a “dry run” in Galveston, Texas, “remained steadfast on those require- using an F-18 jet to test its survey and NASA X-plane provides new vision ments,” Iosifidis added. “We have not had data collection methods. a lot of changes and certainly no major The goal is to complete the trials before In addition to testing sound signatures of to or better than forward-facing windows,” change in requirements for the aircraft the end of Fiscal Year 2026, in time to new supersonic airplanes, NASA’s X-59 said Randy Bailey, XVS subsystem lead. since the actual beginning of X-59.” have data prepared for delivery to the Quiet SuperSonic Technology (QueSST) However, the aircraft does include a Substantial high- and low-speed wind International Civil Aviation Organization experimental demonstrator is breaking traditional canopy and two portal win- tunnel testing, conducted in advance, also (ICAO) by early 2027, Coen said. The ground in another area: flight without a dows so the pilot may see the horizon. kept the program on schedule. “All these partners hope ICAO would be ready for forward-facing window. But NASA said XVS is one of the tech- tests validated the fact that the design offering a proposal on supersonic flight The NASA/Lockheed Martin X-plane nologies to ensure the X-59 shape reduces was sound and the aircraft was safe and it by early 2028. will come with an eXternal Vision System the sonic boom and “may represent the was going to achieve all the performance The effort fits with the central role that (XVS) in lieu of a forward-facing window. future architecture of supersonic com- requirements that were established for national research agencies and policy The technology already has been tested mercial passenger and cargo aircraft.” The the program,” Iosifidis. “It reduces risk as agencies play in developing new markets, in NASA’s UC-12B in technology allows for the slender, con- you move forward through the design and he said, “providing fundamental data— preparation for the X-59’s first flight in 2021. toured aircraft nose design, which then the manufacturing cycle of the aircraft.” scientifically validated fundamental data XVS uses real-time imagery from two enters supersonic airflow more gently and Work has continued despite the that can underlie the development of new externally mounted cameras that are results in smaller shockwaves, NASA said. complexities involved with operating rules and new standards that enable inno- overlayed with terrain data on a 4K mon- XVS hardware was installed in the King during the Covid-19 pandemic, he added. vation in the market but also protect the itor in front of the pilot, NASA said. That Air cabin, enabling a comparison of sight Although Lockheed Martin has encoun- public both traveling and on the ground.” monitor will serve as “the central window,” through forward-facing windows and the tered some delays, particularly in some That’s why NASA chose the X-plane the agency noted, adding it enables pilots monitor. The tests, in Hampton, Virginia, parts delivery, none have affected any approach, he said. “[Validation] could to safely “see” traffic in the flight path and measured the pilot’s ability to detect traf- of the critical milestones, he said. “Every only be achieved through flight,” noted provides other visual aids for approach, fic in challenging trajectories. delay we’ve been able to accommodate Coen. “By using an X-plane, we can focus landing, and takeoff. “I’ve continued to get more and more by shifting work around.” our efforts on defining a minimum set of “Our goal is to create an electronic means comfortable with the XVS through flight Once the airplane takes to the air, it requirements so we can achieve our goals of vision for the X-59 pilot that provides tests and our [X-59] flight simulators,” Nils will undergo a series of flight tests to in a cost-effective, timely fashion. K.L. performance and safety levels equivalent Larson, NASA X-59 test pilot. K.L.

Boom readies rollout of XB-1 third- scale supersonic demonstrator

Boom Supersonic will mark a signifi- completion of the vertical stabilizer. The cant step towards the development of a structure weighed just 125 pounds and supersonic airliner with a planned virtual withstood up to 4,800 pounds of force rollout event for its XB-1demonstrator during testing, Boom said. on October 7. Powered by three GE J85- While work was ongoing with the tail, 15 engines, the XB-1 is a one-third scale Boom also was assembling the aft fuse- demonstrator that will pave the way for its lage using Stratasys 3D-printed drill blocks planned Mach 2.2 55-passenger Overture. to install the titanium panels. And in May, Boom Supersonic’s XB-1 demonstrator is near completion and will be rolled The announced rollout date comes as the company celebrated the installation out publicly on October 7. Flight testing is scheduled to begin in 2021. the XB-1 neared completion of assembly of XB-1’s ogival to the forward in preparation for ground tests begin- fuselage, saying this “effectively trans- Work was continuing over the summer aft fuselage, and systems and simulated ning later this year and flight trials in formed the aircraft from a simple canoe on the joining of the forward and aft fuse- flight tests. 2021. Recently, Boom highlighted the shape to nearly assembled jet.” lages, attachment of the engines to the continues on page 34

32 Aviation International News \ September 2020 \ ainonline.com WEBINAR October 6, 2020 • 1:30pm Eastern SEPARATING FACT FROM FICTION A BUSINESS AVIATION UPDATE FROM TRUSTED ADVISORS

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continued from page 32 including the development of an instru- XB-1 development is the culmination of mented flight test control room and the years of research, including wind tunnel use of an FRI hangar for reassembly and and structural testing, and hundreds of maintenance of the XB-1. simulations, Boom said. As for rollout, The flight test program will be 100 the entire event will be broadcast online, percent carbon-neutral and the goal is plans designed to align with CDC-recom- to have the full-scale Overture fly 100 mended social distancing measures. percent on sustainable fuels. “Boom inte- “Our experiences in the COVID-19 grates sustainability considerations into pandemic underscore for all of us the every major company decision and is the fundamental human need for personal first commercial airplane manufacturer to connection. Faster travel enables us to commit to a carbon-neutral test program,” experience the world’s people, cultures, said the company. and places, and XB-1 is the first step in While the XB-1 will be a demonstrator Spike Aerospace is planning a window-less cabin for its S-512 supersonic bringing supersonic back to the world,” used in experimental flights, the full-scale business jet. Instead, a series of cameras will bring the outside view to said Blake Scholl, Boom founder and CEO. certification program for the Overture cabin-length screens to provide a panoramic feel for passengers. “With XB-1, we’re demonstrating that we is anticipated to kick off in 2025 with are prepared to bring back supersonic.” an entry-into-service target in the 2030 with major customers around the globe.” The XB-1 will be used to demonstrate timeframe. Spike building Spike has outlined initial plans for a 12- technologies for the Overture such as With the aircraft still in the conceptual to 18-passenger, Mach 1.6 jet—the S-512— carbon-fiber composites, computer-op- design definition phase, Boom is evalu- team for that the company says will cut destination timized high-efficiency aerodynamics, ating key components for the Overture time by 40 percent while meeting Stage 5 and supersonic propulsion systems. This and in July announced a partnership with supersonic jet noise compliance and offering low sonic includes “one of the highest- efficiency Rolls-Royce to explore propulsion pos- boom over land. Plans call a 6,200-nm civil supersonic intakes ever tested,” sibilities. The partnership will consider Boston-based Spike Aerospace has range that would be capable of connect- Boom said. “More than a scale replica, whether existing architecture can be brought former Virgin Airlines group exec- ing London to Hong Kong or Dubai to New XB-1 provides insights into future adapted and look at key aspects of the utive (CEO) John Thomas on board as it York nonstop. cost-savings, safety, efficiency, and sus- propulsion as Boom continues on air- seeks to bring its supersonic jetliner to Unique to the S-512 is a windowless tainability for Overture.” frame development. market. Thomas brings an extensive air- cabin that instead will be fitted with dig- Boom partnered with Flight Research, “We share a strong interest in supersonic line and business aviation background to ital display views. Similar to a concept Inc. (FRI) on the flight test program. Plans flight and in sustainability strategies for his role of helping Spike realize its vision. that NASA is exploring for the forward call to incrementally expand the envelope aviation with Boom,” said Simon Carlisle, “Spike Aerospace’s vision for super- “window” of its X-59 X-plane, the S-512 of the XB-1 to supersonic speeds. Ground director of strategy for Rolls-Royce. “We’re sonic flight is tremendously compelling “Multiplex Digital Cabin” will use multiple and low-speed taxi testing will occur at now building on our valuable experience and ideally suited for all the major inter- cameras to provide cabin-length pan- Centennial Airport in Colorado, while in this space as well as our previous work ,” said Thomas, a commer- oramic views of the outside or offer pas- high-speed taxi and flight are planned at together to further match and refine our cial pilot who also has launched a regional sengers the ability to watch movies. The Mojave Air and Space Port in California. engine technology for Boom’s Overture.” airline and advised many top airlines and elimination of windows will reduce cabin Supersonic flights will take place over The goal is for the $200 million airliner business and general aviation organiza- noise by 20 dB, Spike estimates. a supersonic corridor stretching across to be “environmentally and economically tions, along with serving on the boards of Spike has struck up collaborations with the Mojave Desert. FRI is providing a two- sustainable,” Scholl said. “We’ve learned directors of Icelandair and Sky Service. technology and engineering specialists, seat, twin-jet supersonic trainer to serve that the demand for supersonic has “The Spike Jet with a low-sonic boom, has conducted subsonic demonstrator as a chase plane during the flight test grown even faster than we anticipated.” long range, and seating capacity will flight tests of handling and range of the program. Boom is subleasing a portion Boom has raised $160 million from work well in airline operations. I’m look- S-512 design, and is targeting mid-2020s of FRI’s headquarters to support the tests, investors thus far for the program. K.L. ing forward to helping build relationships to have an aircraft developed. K.L.

Russia moves forward on supersonic development

Russia’s ministry for industry and trade “Therefore, there is a high technological Last year, the manufacturer completed is moving forward on civilian supersonic risk further worsened by the absence research and development work on the jets, including opening a tender soliciting of [international] requirements to the assessment of the SSBJ shape, targeting technological innovation proposals. The sound boom levels in the vicinity of air- an 8,000-km range at Mach 2. ministry is allocating an initial 213 million ports, as well as theoretical and exper- believes it could complete rubles ($2.9 million) in 2020 and 505 mil- imental data to do with engineering technical specification for a technology lion rubles in 2021 for the tender. solutions and technologies.” demonstrator within the next two years. Opened in April and with proposals due The research supports other ongo- The demonstrator would be used to con- Dec. 15, 2021, the competition is seen as a ing efforts, including by Russia’s United duct “field observations” with design and tool to stimulate the development of tech- Aircraft Corporation (UAC). The state- documentation for production following nologies and engineering solutions that backed group’s July 2019 annual report in the 2022 to 2026 timeframe. would facilitate a bigger supersonic busi- calls next-generation supersonic passen- Earlier, the ministry for industry and Russia is addressing civilian ness jet effort and overcome current obsta- ger jets one of the promising activities for trade awarded TsAGI contracts worth supersonic travel on a number of cles to the return of civilian supersonic flight. its member enterprises. 1.4 billion rubles for supersonic studies. fronts, including with concepts “The existing scientific-technical base UAC member Tupolev has outlined a TsAGI has formulated a technical pro- from Tupolev and TsAGI and most is insufficient to commence full-scale future 30-passenger SSBJ that would posal codenamed Strizh (Swift) on an recently soliciting proposals for R&D work on the next-gen supersonic weigh 70 tonnes (154,320 pounds) and airframe measuring 38 meters 125 feet innovations. jet,” according to tender documentation. cruise at 2,000 km/h (1,080 knots). long, seating six passengers. V.K. report continues on page 44

34 Aviation International News \ September 2020 \ ainonline.com SPECIAL report Part 2: Flight Deck Avionics and Cabin Electronics

CABIN ELECTRONICS Honeywell continued from page 20

GOGO BUSINESS AVIATION

The Results service, which will require new onboard hardware Gogo Business Aviation received an Overall Aver- and antennas, but these will fit in the same foot- age of 8.5, climbing 0.2 this year for a first-place print and with the same mounting scheme, so no tie with Satcom Direct. Gogo made a strong show- modifications will be needed. ing in three categories this year, with top ratings In 2018, Gogo launched its Dash app and portal, for Parts Availability (8.7), Cost of Parts (7.6), and which gives customers device-level access to their Technical Manuals (8.4). Gogo system and helps speed up problem resolu- tion. Dash will work with the new 5G service. Using The Improvements Dash, Gogo Avance or classic air-to-ground cus- Gogo remains the sole air-to-ground airborne con- tomers can also check network availability, system nectivity provider in the U.S. and manufactures all health status, and availability of services such as of its onboard hardware and operates its network. Gogo Vision or Gogo Text & Talk through an app “Because we operate and manage our systems or the Dash web portal. end to end, we can monitor and analyze the per- This year, Gogo launched a new, lower service level We found this to be a really effective means to formance, and the security, of our network and so customers can now access Gogo from 3,000 feet get a more personal touch. We’ll return to face- onboard systems, and quickly deploy corrections instead of 10,000 feet in most areas of Gogo cover- to-face where it makes sense, but we do plan when and where needed,” the company stated. age, which includes the U.S., large areas of Canada, to standardize some of the video for operators.” Next year, Gogo plans to implement its new 5G part of the Gulf of Mexico, and a large swath of Alaska. As well, Honeywell sees the benefit of remote interaction even without the pandemic keeping people distanced. “It allows me to save time,” she explained, “and allows interaction at my SATCOM DIRECT [and the customer’s] convenience.” This doesn’t just apply to end-user customers but also Hon- The Results environment well before the coronavirus pandemic, eywell dealers, installers, and technicians. Satcom Direct’s Overall Average of 8.5 gave it a the timing has helped the company ensure high lev- In mid-August, Honeywell launched a new first-place tie with Gogo. Satcom Direct also scored els of service while employees and customers work section on its portal that allows customers more highest in AOG Response (9.4), Technical Reps (9.1), remotely. The lab resources are now fully available participation in design improvements. The new and Overall Product Reliability (8.5). to remote employees, including support personnel, “product improvement” or “service revealed” sales team members, and entry into service teams. section addresses design improvements, espe- The Improvements The latter can now provide demonstrations and cially those that customers have requested, and The Satcom Direct (SD) support team has devel- training without needing access to the aircraft or allows them to see the status of the change and oped tools with internet of things (IoT) and machine having to run an APU or ground-power cart. when Honeywell expects it to become available. learning technology to analyze the high volume of The SD Private Network (SDPN) has become an “We’ll be more transparent with improvements,” data generated by customer aircraft for which it is important tool for customers that need the highest Owens said. “Historically we got feedback that the airborne connectivity service provider. These levels of security. Rather than choosing high speeds we’re not as transparent as we should be. tools “provide SD with the insights to proactively and less security or vice versa, SD customers can “We’ve learned from this experience, through identify issues and resolve them, often times in enjoy the highest network speeds available while the crisis,” he said. “This has allowed Honeywell flight,” the company said. “We started with very still securing their traffic with the SDPN. Accord- to partner more efficiently with its other business binary monitoring methods, but with heavy invest- ing to SD, “Using the data insights we have while units.” For example, the Safety and Performance ments in artificial intelligence tools we are now working closely with our customers’ corporate IT division developed personal protective equip- able to layer our data to efficiently detect even departments, we are able to build custom solutions ment, including safety packs for business aviation. the slightest degradations.” to fit your mission using SD’s backbone and SD For the BendixKing division, Roger Dykmann, Although SD began investing in its lab Data Center infrastructure.” director of offering management for the Bendix- King team, has also focused on serving custom- ers and technicians remotely. “We’ve been forced to think differently,” he said, “and now we go to Satcom Direct the airplane with our phone in hand with video. This is a shifting support model, and it’s going to evolve in a good way. We’re delivering real-time support in a way that people will accept.” BendixKing continues its relationship with avionics manufacturer Avidyne, by providing support for Avidyne products that BendixKing sells. Dykmann sees this relationship growing stronger, especially as BendixKing has stronger international capability to support those prod- ucts. “It’s a great partnership,” he said. While the pandemic has affected product development, he added, “We continue to invest in current and new products.”

ainonline.com \ September 2020 \ Aviation International News 35 ROTORCRAFT & unmanned systems Rotorcraft industry downwash continues News Update NHV Airbus H175 Fleet Industry experts and OEMs cite serious drop in sales Tops 40,000 Hours NHV Group’s fleet of Airbus H175 helicopters has surpassed 40,000 flight By Mark Huber hours earlier this summer. NHV, which services primarily offshore oil markets in “It’s the worst helicopter market in 40 Europe’s North Sea and West Africa, was years.” That’s the blunt appraisal of Jason the launch customer for the model in 2014 Kmiecik, president of aircraft pricing and flies a fleet of 13 of the super-medium specialist HeliValue$, who told AIN that twins. NHV’s fleet accounts for more than second-quarter 2020 transactions were 60 percent of the H175’s 66,000 flight down “drastically” from the first quar- hours to date. According to NHV, the H175 ter. The leader of the rotorcraft appraisal is capable of flying with a full payload to 90 and consulting firm blamed the plunge percent of North Sea offshore installations. on a terrible trifecta of industry troubles, including Covid-19 pandemic prolifera- AW139 Avionics Upgraded tion, collapsing oil prices, and evaporating EASA has granted certification for operator credit. Honeywell’s Primus Epic Phase 8 software Times are particularly tough for the and EGPWS with offshore modes, and OEMs. Civil new helicopter deliveries Leonardo will offer the new software in plunged during the first half of 2020 due the AW139 intermediate twin. Phase 8 to the pandemic, but financial results features an advanced synthetic vision released earlier this summer indicate system (SVS) tailored to helicopter that the three leading helicopter OEMs operations and improved 2D maps and got lifelines from increased military sales. wireless data loading. The SVS assists with navigation and landing approaches Drepressed Demand to challenging terrain and oil rigs via 3D Airbus Helicopters saw deliveries, orders, presentation of the external environment,

and revenues drop during the first six MARIANO ROSALES including surrounding terrain, obstacles, months of 2020, results its parent com- 39 Sikorsky S-92s, comprising 19 percent of the global market, remain parked. runways, and helipads within the pany largely attributed to the impact of background of the primary flight display. Covid-19. Deliveries plunged to 103 from the same period last year. Deliveries of against the backdrop of one-quarter of A 2D interactive navigation feature 143 for the year ago period, bookings for the AW139 intermediate twin fell from the world’s mobile o"shore oil rigs being displays the helicopter’s position and the period amounted to 75, down from 26 to 14, the AW169 medium twin from scrapped since 2015. The largest concen- flight plan on the multifunction display. 123 from the year-ago period, a 39 per- 15 to three, the AW189 from four to two, tration of based S-92s continues to be in cent decline. While revenues declined and the AW109/119 family from eight to the UK, with 41, but only 29 are active. Wysong Keeps First by two percent, to $2.75 billion, earnings seven. However, orders spiked by 48 per- Separately, Chris Bradshaw, CEO Responders Flying before interest and taxes rose by 23 per- cent, to $3 billion in the first half, driven of offshore operator Bristow Group Helicopter MRO Wysong Enterprises said cent to $179 million, which the company by military programs including the U.S. (formed via the merger with Era in June) it has worked on more than 20 aircraft attributed to a more favorable delivery Navy’s TH-73A trainer. Leonardo's first- revealed in August that the company during the Covid-19 pandemic over the mix skewed toward military helicopters half revenues fell 10.7 percent, to $2 bil- was prepared to write down its entire course of three months to keep essential and increased services revenues. lion; earnings before interest, taxes, and investment in Brazil’s Lider to zero and law enforcement and air medical aircraft Results at Textron unit Bell and ’s amortization fell by 30.5 percent, from possibly exit other unprofitable global in operation. The work includes large- Leonardo were mixed. Like Airbus, Bell $237 million in first-half 2019. markets. Bradshaw also said that the scale overhauls, completions, routine reported fewer commercial deliveries company was taking a hard look at lease maintenance and repairs, and inspections for the quarter from the year-ago period, Used Glut Remains returns and had no plans to deploy any on more than a dozen air medical ships, down to 27 from 53, largely due to dra- Sales of new civil helicopters are unlikely new capital expenditures beyond what six law enforcement, and five government matically lower deliveries of the model to improve until the glut of used aircraft is was needed to keep its current fleet of service aircraft. Recently, Wysong 505 light single and delivery diffculties absorbed by the market—and there is no 307 aircraft flying. Bradshaw’s remarks completed an MD 530 for the Kentucky attributed to pandemic travel restrictions. indication that will happen anytime soon. came the same week Bristow announced state police and performed repair and Bell’s military business, however, drove a In July, GECAS wrote down the value major base consolidations in Louisiana refurbishment on an Airbus Helicopters 7 percent revenue increase to $822 mil- of its Milestone Aviation helicopter leas- and layo"s both there and in Nigeria H130T2 from Memphis-based Hospital Wing. lion from $771 million and propelled ing unit by $729 million. Milestone holds that amounted to over 200. Unions for profits to $118 million, a $15 million gain the world’s largest fleet of Sikorsky S-92 Bristow’s Louisiana workforce claimed Precision Does Remote Annuals over second-quarter 2019. Bell delivered heavy helicopters, used primarily in sup- that the eventual layo"s there could Precision Support Services has completed 13 H-1 aircraft in the first half, up from 11 port of the o"shore energy market. The total more than 350. Bristow currently is multiple remote annual inspections on from the year-ago period, and eight V-22 write-down was revealed in GECAS par- holding 15 aircraft for sale including 10 Guimbal Cabri light helicopters. Oregon- tiltrotors, up from three last year. How- ent GE’s second-quarter 2020 10Q SEC Airbus H225 heavies. based Precision operates a Part 145 facility ever, deliveries of civil models were down filing in the form of a goodwill impair- Against the downwash, there are pock- in McMinnville and is the exclusive North sharply in the first half compared to the ment. It represents a 41 percent devalu- ets of optimism including more demand American distributor for the Guimbal Cabri same period last year: 17 Bell 505s as ation of the $1.775 billion GECAS paid to for light and medium twin-engine air G2 helicopter components and the sole opposed to 48; 14 Model 407s compared acquire Milestone in 2015. ambulances from operators who have distributor for new aircraft in the U.S. The to 21; and two 412s versus four in the first The writedown occurred as consulting seen flight hours stabilize and the prom- group completed the remote maintenance six months of 2019. firm Air & Sea Analytics revealed in a new ise of future o"shore tenders in emerg- on two Cabri G2s in Texas and California. Leonardo saw a 50 percent drop in report that 39 Sikorsky S-92s, comprising ing energy markets. Still, HeliValue$’s The Texas client, Kapa Air, required 100- first-half deliveries year-over-year. “For 19 percent of the global market, remain Kmiecik counsels caution, noting that hour and annual inspections while Los civil helicopters, demand will not get back parked. Among the active fleet, flying what few buyers there are remain gun- Angeles-based Anthelion Helicopters to 2019 levels for some time,” said com- hours are down 27 percent. The report shy about the future and are o"ering needed an annual and 500-hour inspection, pany CFO Alessandra Genco. During the notes that o"shore helicopter services depressed prices. “There’s just a lot of the most comprehensive required on the first six months of 2020 Leonardo deliv- companies Babcock, Bristow, CHC, and bad things going on. It’s a bad time for G2. In addition to the required inspections, ered 30 helicopters, down from 61 from Lider are returning aircraft to lessors everybody,” he said. several upgrades were installed.

36 Aviation International News \ September 2020 \ ainonline.com WEBINAR September 23, 2020 | 1:30 pm EDT

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SPONSORED BY: Register at: ainonline.com/interiors AIR transport Boeing sees more rate cuts, studies News Update United To Consolidate All ERJ145 Flying with CommutAir plans for consolidating 787 production sent notice on July 31 to its ExpressJet regional unit that it by Gregory Polek will not renew its flying contract and will consolidate all Embraer ERJ145 Boeing will delay delivery of the 777X by flying with its CommutAir regional roughly a year and again cut production affliate starting “later this year.” rates of the 787 and 777 programs to “We have been communicating reflect the effects of the Covid-19 pan- for several months that we expect demic while studying the feasibility of to be a smaller airline in response consolidating Dreamliner production into to the unprecedented impact the one plant, the company said in late July. Covid-19 pandemic has had on our Further plans call for ending production business,” United said in a statement. of the 747 in 2022, the company reported. In February United said it would Last scheduled for first delivery in early add 36 ERJ145s at ExpressJet over the 2021, the 777X will enter service in 2022 next 12 months, raising the number under the new schedule, while the com- of 50-seat Embraer jets at that United bined production rate for the 777ER/777X Express carrier to 125. At the time, the falls from five to two per month next year. sides planned to extend their multi- Boeing also has decided to cut production year capacity purchase agreement to of the 787 from the current 10 per month allow for the growth at ExpressJet. The to a total of six per month, either at its move e"ectively removed Trans States two Dreamliner plants in Airlines from the United Express system and Washington state, respectively, or at a and resulted in a decision to close single factory depending on the outcome production rates in Everett, Washington, will fall to two per month next year. that St. Louis-based airline on April 1. of its consolidation studies. For its part, ExpressJet expressed The rate adjustment marks the second previously anticipated. Speaking during off the ramp will really inform the produc- disappointment in United’s decision and an production cut this year. In April Boe- the company’s second-quarter earnings tion rate,” explained Smith. intent to “explore options” for next year. ing said it would cut 787 rates from 14 call on July 29, company CEO David Meanwhile, the company also expects a month to seven in 2022, and 777/777X Calhoun added that Boeing anticipates further employee cuts beyond those Boom, Rolls Sign Overture rates from five this year to three next year. a return to service of the 737 Max in the announced in April. “More hard decisions Propulsion Pact Boeing also expects a slower-than- fourth quarter of this year. Separately, are likely ahead of us,” said Calhoun. Some Boom Supersonic and Rolls-Royce have expected increase in narrowbody pro- CFO Greg Smith reported that Boeing 6,000 out of 16,000 employees already entered into a so-called engagement duction in Renton, Washington, and expects to deliver “the majority” of some slated for layoff had left the company as of agreement to explore the pairing it now sees a gradual rise in the rate to 450 grounded Maxes in inventory in the June 30 as part of a plan to reduce the total of a Rolls-Royce propulsion system 31 by early 2022 rather than in 2021, as year following certification. “The delivery workforce by 10 percent, said Smith. with Boom’s proposed supersonic passenger aircraft called Overture. In a statement, Boom said the progress” on fixing durability problems agreement calls for the companies to Rolls-Royce finds new wear with that troubled engine, adding that work together to identify the propulsion it has achieved the target of single-digit system that would complement Boom’s numbers of aircraft grounded by the end Overture airframe. Specifically, the teams problems with Trent XWB-84 of the second quarter. will investigate whether Rolls can adapt an Rolls said it has introduced certain solu- existing engine architecture for supersonic Rolls-Royce has identified premature wear Just over 100 Trent XWB-84s have tions on a “fast-track basis” to improve flight, while Boom’s internal team continues in the intermediate pressure compres- operated in scheduled service for four to the Trent 1000’s in-service durability. to develop the airframe configuration. sor (IPC) in a “small number” of Trent five years. After inspecting most of them, More than 99 percent of the flying fleet XWB-84 engines following inspections Rolls found signs of wear on an average has received an improved intermediate Second-quarter Deliveries performed during regular shop visits, the of one or two IPC blades in a minority pressure turbine blade. Meanwhile, engi- Sink to Historic Low company said on August 11. Approaching of the , the company reported, neers continue to fit Trent 1000 TEN and Manufacturers saw commercial aircraft their first scheduled shop visits after four adding that it took the precaution of sam- Package C engines with redesigned IPC orders virtually evaporate and deliveries or five years of service on the Airbus A350, pling a number of younger Trent XWB-84 blades, which the company expects to amount to what UK aerospace trade none of the engines have experienced any engines and found no unexpected wear. make available for the Package B engines association ADS called their lowest total abnormal in-flight operation, said Rolls. “The Trent XWB-84 has experienced in the fourth quarter. Rolls also reported on record during the quarter ending However, the company added it would the smoothest entry into service of any that it should complete the Trent 1000 June 30. Aircraft deliveries during the inspect all other Trent XWB-84 engines widebody engine we have developed,” TEN and Package C blade roll program second quarter totaled 94, compared that have flown a similar number of hours said Rolls-Royce civil aerospace president by the end of next year. For the Package with 317 during the same period a year “as a precaution.” Chris Cholerton. “Engines now coming in B and C engines, it has upgraded more earlier, reported ADS, while manufacturers Rolls-Royce insists it does not expect for overhaul have traveled the equivalent than 50 percent of the fleet with improved collected total orders for just 19 airplanes, the problem to create “significant” cus- of 350 times around the world, with no high-pressure turbine blades. representing an 88 percent decline on tomer disruption or material cost, given unplanned maintenance. It is reassur- Rolls continues endurance testing a the April-June quarter in 2019. ADS’s the limited scale of additional work ing to see that our proactive inspection final durability issue with the Trent 1000 numbers did not include regional aircraft. needed to address the wear during exist- regime has enabled us to identify and TEN’s high-pressure turbine blades, iden- Airbus delivered 64 single-aisle ing shop visits, together with the avail- swiftly address this issue and minimize tified during a “rigorous root cause inves- airplanes and 10 widebodies, while Boeing ability of replacement parts and spare any potential impact on our customers.” tigation and design process,” according shipped just four single-aisle jets and engines. The company noted it decided Rolls-Royce said the IPC blade prob- to the company. “We are now over 16 widebodies during the period, said to issue its statement to address any lem in the XWB-84s bears no relationship three-quarters of the way through this ADS. Airbus collected orders for nine potential speculation that might result with the much-publicized travails of the test and remain on track for its incorpo- narrowbodies and no widebodies while from an upcoming EASA airworthiness Trent 1000 engine powering the Boeing ration into the fleet by the end of H1 2021,” Boeing, conversely, took orders for no directive (AD). 787. The company in July reported “good the company reported. G.P. narrowbodies and 16 widebodies.

38 Aviation International News \ September 2020 \ ainonline.com Latest IBA data sees MRO spending cut in half by Charles Alcock

Airline spending on maintenance, repair, company concluded, based on the latest and overhaul (MRO) services could be data from its IBA.iQ platform. In some less than half the $90 billion that had cases, “later stage” MRO tasks will never been projected by aviation data and advi- take place as opertors remove equipment

sory group IBA before the Covid-19 pan- from revenue service, but the company AMBROSE BARRY demic. Reduced aircraft utilization, early also sees a possibile convergence of The FAA Max review passed a key milestone with an proposed AD outlining software, lease returns, and accelerated fleet retire- demand for powerplant MRO around the training, and other changes required for the aircraft family’s return to service. ment are all driving down MRO demand, mid-2020s. the company said at the Changing Land- In the short term, IBA’s analysts order, issue airworthiness certificates, and scape of the Aftermarket Industry webi- estimate that around 800 airliners are FAA proposes AD for approve operator training programs. nar on August 4. expected to be withdrawn from airline Max service return The FAA designed the proposed fleets and some 450 might never return to changes to address aircraft controllability. service. For the most part, it expects air- The Max family inched closer to The agency pointed to flight data record- craft aged more than 20 years to account return to service following the FAA’s release ings that showed “if a single erroneously for around half of the anticipated retire- on August 3 of a proposed airworthiness high AoA sensor input is received by the ments, but some younger models might directive calling for four key design changes flight control system, the…MCAS can com- also be withdrawn, including types such surrounding the maneuvering characteris- mand repeated airplane nose-down trim of as the Airbus A380 and A340-600 and tics augmentation system (MCAS) and the the horizontal stabilizer.” Boeing 777-200LR. Generally, widebody angle of attack sensors. Specifically, the NPRM would require equipment has seen a significantly steeper The notice of proposed rulemaking updating flight control software with decline in utilization than narrowbody (NPRM) stems from the ongoing review new control laws; incorporating new and Lufthansa Technik recently started 240 aircraft as long-haul routes have been of the Max family in the aftermath of the revised flight crew procedures in the air- new apprentices on its training program, harder hit by the Covid emergency. Ethiopian Airlines Flight 302 and the Lion plane flight manual to ensure the flight despite the steep downturn in demand for The dramatic shift in market condi- Air Flight 610 fatal accidents and came with crew can recognize and respond to erro- maintenance, repair, and overhaul services. tions seen since around March 2020 is the release of a Preliminary Summary of the neous stabilizer movement; installing new also resulting in reduced pricing and FAA’s Review of the Boeing 737 Max. Max display system software to ensure According to IBA’s analysis, the engine residual values for aircraft parts. While the FAA called the release of the the pilots are alerted if the aircraft’s AoA MRO sector could be hit hardest by the “The MRO industry needs to take a NPRM a key step, the agency cautioned a sensors disagree by a certain amount and fallout from Covid’s effect on air trans- more creative approach to maintenance number of further tasks remained before indicate a potential failure; and changing port demand. “IBA expects engine shop solutions,” commented IBA president the aircraft can return to service, includ- the horizontal stabilizer trim wire routing visit demand to collapse for the next two Phil Seymour. “That includes OEMs and ing multiple operations and flight train- installations to bring them into compliance or three years as both utilization and regulators devising safe and flexible ways ing reviews. In addition, the FAA must with the agency’s latest standards. maintenance expenditure see massive to prevent aircraft having to undergo such still review and sign off on Boeing’s final In addition, it would require operators to reductions,” the company said. extensive and expensive checks, so that design documentation, issue a continued complete an AoA sensor system test and per- Demand for work on more mature savings can be made at a time when cash airworthiness notification to the interna- form an operational readiness flight before engines is especially vulnerable with preservation is vital, without safety being tional community, rescind the grounding returning each airplane to service. K.L. scheduled shop visits being deferred, the compromised.”

options at Virgin Australia Regional Air- The U.S. filing is tied to a separate Virgin Australia to become lines (VARA), including different operat- action filed in the UK High Court on ing models to support continued regional August 4 and is part of the legal processes and charter flying. Virgin Australia said Virgin Atlantic must go through to be a short-haul carrier it will discontinue the Tigerair Austra- recognized as “a solvent restructuring” lia brand due to insu"cient customer of an English company, a Virgin Atlantic by Cathy Buyck demand, though it plans to retain the spokeswoman told AIN. “The solvent LCC’s air operator certificate to support recapitalization process is proceeding Virgin Australia is set to become a mainly result of this plan and the investment of “optionality” to operate an ultra-low-cost with the support of the majority of our domestic and short-haul international Bain Capital we are going to be in a much carrier in the future when the domestic creditors,” she stressed. airline operating an all-Boeing 737 main- stronger position to continue that legacy,” market can support it. The halting of Tig- The U.S. Chapter 15 case opened after line fleet as part of its restructuring under said Virgin Australia Group CEO Paul erair means that Jetstar, operated by rival the airline obtained an order from the new owner Bain Capital. The overhaul, Scurrah. airline Qantas, now remains the only low- UK court to convene meetings of affected announced on August 5, will result in The reset of Virgin Australia as an cost carrier flying out of Australia. creditors to vote on the restructuring the loss of 3,000 jobs, about a third of its “iconic Australian airline” will initially While Virgin Australia’s restructuring plan on August 25. “With support already workforce, and the suspension of its low- focus on its core domestic and short-haul is underway, the future of Virgin Atlan- secured from the majority of stakeholders, cost brand Tigerair Australia. networks. Long-haul international flights tic Airways appears less secure as that it’s expected that the restructuring plan Burdened with long-term debt of more remain suspended until the global travel unit awaits approval from creditors for and recapitalization will come into effect than A$5 billion ($3.6 billion), the com- market recovers and the airline plans to its £1.2 billion ($1.6 billion) refinancing in September. We remain confident in the pany entered voluntary administration remove its six Airbus A330-200s and five package, arranged in July, and its cash plan,” the Virgin Atlantic spokeswoman- in April. It was bought by the U.S. private Boeing 777-300ERs from the fleet. Also, reserves continue to quickly dissipate. said. At a court hearing in early August, equity firm in June after failing to secure its 14 ATR72s and Tigerair’s 13 Airbus On August, 4, the UK-based long-haul Virgin Atlantic stated it could run out of a loan from Australia’s government. “Vir- A320s will cease operations. airline filed Chapter 15 bankruptcy pro- money in the second half of September gin Australia has been a challenger in the The group’s regional and charter fleet ceedings in New York to seek protection if the restructuring deal does not win Australian market for 20 years, and as a will remain, while the company reviews from creditors in the U.S. approval, Bloomberg reported.

ainonline.com \ September 2020 \ Aviation International News 39 TOUCHING bases FBO and Airport news by Curt Epstein

Signature Expands European state’s DoT added, “During very chal- Network with TAG FBO Buy lenging times in aviation across the Signature Flight Support expanded its country and especially in European network with the acquisi- due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the tion of the two Tag Aviation FBOs in unveiling of Hangar 11 is an encourag- Switzerland. Marking the global service ing story that still shows the continued provider’s first entry into the Swiss mar- strong economic growth at [ABE].” ket, the deal includes the former TAG FBO at Geneva International Airport, long a coveted market for Signature. New Hampshire FBO Wraps The move signals the end of FBO Port City Air refurbished another hangar at Portsmouth Int’l Airport in New Hampshire. Hangar Renovation Project TAG’s more than half-century run Port City Air (PCA), the lone FBO at New as an FBO operator at Geneva, and Hampshire’s Portsmouth International leaves it with just a lone FBO in Airport (PSM), has completed a nearly Macau, following the sale of Farn- $300,000 renovation of its hangars. borough Airport in September. The majority of the work involved the Located in the airport’s general avia- reconditioning of the floors with new tion terminal, the facility includes three epoxy coating, while the FBO’s security private passenger lounges, two crew camera system was also upgraded. rest areas, and an eight-seat conference The company told AIN that it expects room. As the airport sits astride the to add another renovated 28,000-sq-ft border between Switzerland and France, former USAF hangar by the end of the both Swiss and French customs clear- The airport-operated FBO at Pennsylvania’s Lehigh Valley Int’l Airport opened a new hangar. year, bringing the Shell-branded facility ance are available on site, along with to 120,000 sq ft of aircraft storage space dedicated fueling capability. During the and a nearby hangar will be used to hangar that can accommodate aircraft capable of sheltering the largest business winter deicing is available in-house. house an aeromedical/ambulance up to a . That brings jets, spread over five hangars. Over the The purchase also includes the operator. Amenities will include a pilot the CAA-preferred FBO to 110,000 past year, PCA has also worked to add FBO at Sion, which includes a pri- lounge, snooze room, TV room, shower sq ft of hangar space at the airport. solar power to its hangars, having already vate terminal and hangar complex facilities, flight planning area, 35-seat A full-service facility, open 6 a.m. to outfitted two with two others awaiting with on-site Swiss customs. A/V-equipped conference room, refresh- 10 p.m. every day, the Avfuel-branded airport approval. As a U.S. entry point “Europe continues to be an area of ment bar, and crew car. The airport location specializes in quick turn- with on-field 24/7 customs, the FBO spe- strategic opportunity for our global will retain most of the FBO’s sta". arounds and o"ers a Part 145 repair cializes in international quick turns. PCA business,” said Signature CEO Mark As part of the $4 million overall station, ramp-side vehicle access, also operates a Part 145 repair station, Johnstone. “TAG Aviation’s tenured expenditure, which also includes the and on-site car rental. A self-serve which now o"ers 24-hour AOG dispatch presence in Geneva presented an installation of a self-serve 100LL pump 100LL pump was added last month. covering the entire New England area. excellent means to enter the second- and new ground service equipment, the Located minutes from Boston Logan busiest general aviation market in airport acquired Aero-Smith’s Part 135 International and Laurence G. Hanscom Europe, and its operations in Sion are a charter certificate and flight school Pennsylvania Airport Field, PSM has begun a $24 million source of valuable seasonal traffc. We along with a King Air B200 and a pair of Debuts New Hangar reconstruction of its 11,322-foot runway. look forward to building on the exten- Cessna 172s, all of which will be operated Lehigh Valley International Airport The project will remove and replace sive reputation for service excellence under the new name of MRB Aviation. (ABE) introduced its newest hangar all the concrete pavement, paint and that TAG Aviation has cultivated.” with a ribbon-cutting ceremony. The groove the new surface, replace runway $16.3 million, 54,000-sq-ft Hangar 11 lights and signs, and improve drainage. FBO Opens at Indiana’s brings the airport-operated FBO to West Virginia Airport Buys FBO Clark Regional Airport more than 250,000 sq ft of hangar Eastern West Virginia Regional Airport/ Aircraft Specialists (ASI) has opened space. This project marks the first Oshkosh Airport Breaks Shepherd Field (MRB), the state’s oldest an upgraded FBO at Clark Regional hangar addition at the Eastern Penn- Ground on New GA Terminal airport and largest general aviation Airport in Indiana. The company sylvania airport, which is currently Wittman Regional Airport in Wisconsin gateway, has acquired the Aero-Smith relocated from its three-decade- home to 137 aircraft, since 2006. held a ceremonial groundbreaking in FBO, the field’s lone service provider. old, 1,800-sq-ft terminal, which is “If you search the Northeast corridor, July for its new general aviation termi- The purchase makes MRB one of the last now occupied by a flight school. hangar space is extremely limited, “ said nal after the Winnebago county board airports in the state to bring FBO ser- ASI’s new $2.2 million facility features Thomas Stoudt, executive director of the approved its construction in December. vices inhouse. Concurrently, the airport a 4,400-sq-ft terminal with a glass- Lehigh-Northampton Airport Authority, The Oshkosh airport is home to EAA’s has purchased a 23,000-sq-ft hangar on sheathed, double-height lobby to allow which received an $8.8 million grant annual AirVenture weeklong fly-in, its south side, giving it the capacity to ample natural light. Other amenities from the PennDoT Bureau of Aviation billed as the world’s largest aviation shelter large business jets. Overall, the include a full kitchen, complimentary to complete the new structure. “We gathering, and the groundbreaking two transactions bring 83,000 sq ft of snacks and beverages, concierge ser- are confident that Hangar 11 delivers ceremony would have taken place hangar space under airport control. vice, a 10-seat conference room, pilots’ a competitive advantage in attracting during this year’s event if it weren’t Airport manager Neil Doran told lounge with shower facilities, and crew new tenants that strengthens economic canceled due to the Covid-19 pandemic. AIN that the move gives MRB—which cars. The construction project also growth within the Lehigh Valley.” The $6.8 million project replaces two normally sees about 30,000 operations incorporated an adjoining 18,200-sq-ft Anthony McCloskey, director of the structures: the 33,000-sq-ft commercial a year—more control over the fuel terminal built in 1971 (the airport has revenue stream. In 2014, Aero-Smith been without commercial airline service relocated the FBO from the airport’s since 2003) and existing 6,254-sq-ft GA main terminal to a 4,320-sq-ft building terminal built in 1958. This includes on the southwest side of the field. It demolition of both existing facilities, a will be moved back into the original new parking lot, construction of the new 12,500-sq-ft, two-story brick building on terminal, and an improved access road. the southeast side, which also houses The single-story, 12,500-sq-ft building airport offces, a small aviation museum, will be home to Basler Flight Service, the and a restaurant on the second floor. airport’s sole FBO, along with airport That structure will undergo a renova- offces, car rental, and public-use confer- tion, while the former FBO terminal A depiction of the new GA terminal under construction at Wittman Regional Airport in Oshkosh. ence rooms.

40 Aviation International News \ September 2020 \ ainonline.com MRO/ hot section Maintenance news by Jerry Siebenmark

maintenance interval improvement and is dramatic,” said Constant v-p of AOG a result of the Phenom 100 and 300 fleet line stations Paul Witt. “As flying has performance in the model series’ first 10 increased, our AOG division has been years. High- volume operators, such as working at 120 percent capacity. That’s charter and fractional companies, are the a big turnaround from March, when we ones to benefit most from the extension. were working at 30 percent capacity.” More than 1.7 million flight hours and Witt added that “significant hot spots” 1.4 million cycles have been accumulated for the company have been in the San by the Phenom fleet since the first deliv- Francisco Bay Area, U.S. Southeast, and ery of a Phenom 100 in December 2008. Chicago. Constant also added techni- cians in Teterboro and Portland, Oregon. Additionally, Constant became the first Gulfstream Aerospace’s new 225,000-sq-ft/20,903-sq-m facility in Farnborough, UK, can SkyBridge Plans Bizjet MRO provider outside an Embraer service simultaneously accommodate up to 13 ultra-long-range Gulfstream G650s or G700s. Complex at Miami Opa-Locka center to acquire the needed tool kits to Construction could begin next year address the Brazilian airframer’s service on a 24-acre logistics, MRO, and bulletin on an update of the landing gear Gulfstream Opens New massive loss of technical talent is going business jet support facility at Miami and hydraulic control unit on Legacy Farnborough Service Center to haunt aviation for years to come.” Opa-Locka Airport (OPF). SkyBridge 450/500 and Praetor 500/600 twinjets. Gulfstream Aerospace’s new service ARSA v-p of operations Brett Levanto Miami acquired rights to the site for center at Farnborough Airport is told AIN the majority of responses $12 million from an entity controlled now open. The 225,000-sq-ft/20,903- came from commercial aviation repair by Airside International Business Park. StandardAero Launches Bizjet sq-m facility can simultaneously stations. According to the survey, 46.9 The proposed 500,000-sq-ft facility Engine Trading Division accommodate up to 13 ultra-long- percent of member companies reported is expected to include hangars, o"ces, a StandardAero has launched a business range Gulfstream G650s or G700s. declines in employment while 43.2 hotel, and support buildings. The hangars unit to support business aviation opera- The Farnborough center is able percent reported no change. For the 54.1 will fill 350,000 sq ft of the total space tors with comprehensive engine trading to provide maintenance, repair, and percent of member companies receiving and have room for up to 19 jets, accord- solutions (ETS) that offer options to overhaul services, as well as interior Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic ing to a schematic provided to AIN by help extend lifecycles for legacy aircraft. refurbishments and aftermarket mod- Security (CARES) Act Paycheck Pro- SkyBridge. SkyBridge’s site is on the east Due to market interest in these services, ifications. To complement the site, tection Program (PPP) funds, just 5.8 side of the airport, adjacent to the new the company is now providing OEM- Gulfstream’s Field and Airborne Support percent saw employment declines. 300,000-sq-ft Bombardier business jet aligned engine trading solutions for Teams (FAST) continues to maintain “The CARES Act and other recent service center. This is the second major business aircraft on which the company a presence at London Luton Airport. legislation have saved repair station airport development for SkyBridge, already performs MRO services, as well The Farnborough facility has been jobs, but it was clearly a mistake to make which opened a logistics hub facility at as for other major engine platforms. designed with the environment in mind, relief unavailable to small companies Phoenix- Mesa Gateway Airport in 2017. The new ETS offerings involve air- including rainwater harvesting, hangar with unique ownership structures and to Development partner and CEO Ron- craft engine sales, lease, exchange, and radiant heating, intelligent lighting larger companies that employ the most ald Vogel said SkyBridge Miami would consignment options for major engine controls, and heat-recovery systems. people—particularly those not located at be an aeronautical campus complete models, with consignment services also Gulfstream also expects the complex airports,” Klein said. “To prevent more with “recreational facilities that have including buy, sell, and lease options for to achieve a “very good” Building job losses, as Congress gears up for the sports fields and other open space third parties for all engine applications. Research Establishment Environ- next round of stimulus, lawmakers must facilities.” SkyBridge said the facility Additionally, the company’s trading solu- mental Assessment Method rating. ensure that any company that needs help would generate hundreds of jobs. tions include OEM engine parts, acces- In addition to Farnborough, Gulf- can get it. That means continuing the sories, and used serviceable materials. stream Customer Support recently PPP, loosening the strings, and making expanded in the U.S., with new facil- changes to eligibility for payroll support.” Constant’s AOG Teams ities in Savannah, Georgia; Appleton, See Surge in Work Bombardier Broadens Wisconsin; and Van Nuys, California. MRO provider Constant Aviation is Structural Repair Support An expansion project is underway in Embraer Extends seeing an uptick in its AOG business Bombardier has bolstered its struc- Palm Beach, Florida, and in February Phenom Mx Intervals as more idle business aircraft return tural repair offerings for its fleet of Gulfstream announced an upcoming Embraer Executive Jets is extending the to service. The increase has prompted business jets. The enhanced offerings expansion in Fort Worth, Texas. scheduled maintenance requirements the Cleveland, Ohio-based MRO to will be offered through a collaborative for its Phenom light jets from every 600 expand the capabilities of its mobile effort with aircraft structural repair flight hours or 12 months, whichever response team and add technicians. specialist The Mobile Repair Team. Covid-19 Impact on Mx Will comes first, to every 800 hours or 12 “We’ve witnessed the business aviation The Canadian manufacturer’s Cus- ‘Haunt Aviation,’ ARSA Says months. The extension marks a 33 percent rebound firsthand, and it has been tomer Response Center (CRC) will Revenue for more than two-thirds of remain the point of contact for the Aeronautical Repair Station Associa- repair work. Equipped with the latest tion (ARSA) members has declined an tooling and engineering support, CRC average of 45.9 percent in the first five teams will work with The Mobile Repair months of 2020, mostly from the eco- Team specialists on structural repairs. nomic effects of the Covid-19 pandemic, The additional capabilities are part according to results of a survey by the of a larger effort to retain as much fleet trade group. What’s more, aggregate support in-house as possible. “Our employment at the surveyed companies customers are at the heart of every- fell nearly 27 percent—from 11,879 to thing we do, and this extended part- 8,699—between January 1 and June 1. nership with The Mobile Repair Team “Maintenance companies are desper- will allow us to provide worldwide ate to hold on to the technical talent skilled and proficient structural repairs they’ve worked so hard to cultivate,” directly through our customer response said ARSA executive v-p Christian center alongside the outstanding ser- Klein. “It’s extremely disheartening vice experience that our distinguished to watch all these layoffs happen in an Bombardier customers expect,” said industry that just a few months ago was Operating costs of the Phenom 100 and 300 will drop thanks to fleet reliability and Embraer's Andy Nureddin, v-p of customer sup- facing severe worker shortages. This efforts to increase maintenance intervals by 33 percent. port for .

ainonline.com \ September 2020 \ Aviation International News 41 ACCIDENTS by David Jack Kenny

PRELIMINARY REPORTS helicopter veered right and began descend- the one commonly used before the 2003 surface of Stephens Lake while attempt- ing. FAA radar data showed it descending publication of Supplement 7 to the RFM: ing to divert to Manitoba Gillam Airport Astra Damaged in through 750 feet agl at 6,800 fpm with a the instructor initially depressed the HYD after the left engine flamed out at FL250. Rejected Takeoff groundspeed of 30 knots. A combination TEST button to make the hydraulic cir- The airplane rolled onto the shore and of security camera footage and witness cuit bypass the main rotor servo actuators. came to rest 190 feet from the threshold IAI 1125 ASTRA SP, APRIL 24, 2020, accounts suggest that the aircraft initially After slowing the helicopter to a safety to Runway 23, shearing off the lower sec- FORT LAUDERDALE, FLORIDA came to a hover, then “entered a rolling speed of 40 to 60 knots, the student then tions of both main gear legs but causing oscillation, began to spin about its vertical activated the HYD CUTOFF switch to no injuries to the two pilots or two flight No injuries resulted when the Venezuelan- axis, and descended in a 45 degree nose- depressurize the servos before the HYD nurses on board. The accident occurred registered corporate jet overran the depar- down attitude while continuing to spin.” TEST button was released. Supplement during a positioning flight from Winnipeg ture end of Fort Lauderdale Executive’s The crew of a Fairfax County Police Depart- 7 calls for releasing the HYD TEST but- to Churchill en route to its base at Nun- Runway 27 following an apparent loss ment helicopter witnessed the crash and ton before the HYD CUTOFF switch avut’s Rankin Island Airport. of elevator authority. The pilot reported landed nearby, but was unable to reach the is engaged so that a single switch can The flight crew consisted of a line that the airplane did not respond when VSP crew due to heavy black smoke and fire. restore hydraulic pressure at any point in indoctrination captain and a candidate he pulled back the at rotation speed. The NTSB’s probable cause report pub- the maneuver. This might take up to three training for upgrade to captain. Accord- After a second unsuccessful attempt at lished on July 13 describes vortex ring state, seconds when the switch functions nor- ing to the Transportation Safety Board’s 130 knots, he applied maximum braking also known as settling with power, as “…an mally. The accident helicopter’s switch July 27 final report, they were unable and full reverse thrust. The jet passed aerodynamic condition that occurs when “had a level of wear, corrosion, contami- to find a lineman to refuel the airplane through the runway overrun into the the helicopter descends at the downward nation, and internal damage.” However, after arriving the day before. Mainte- grass, pivoting left and collapsing nose speed of its own vortex wake. The vortex there were no reports of it having mal- nance staff replaced the right engine’s and right main landing gear. system accumulates, building in strength functioned before the accident. fuel nozzles and performed the required and producing increased downwash engine runs before the crew returned for Erosion Barrier Brings through the main rotor. The rotor, operat- TAWS Disabled During Fatal duty at 3:00 p.m. The candidate would Down Helicopter ing in a high downwash field, is unable to Low-Altitude Night Flight serve as captain and the senior captain arrest the helicopter’s descent rate, even as first o"cer (FO) on the return flight. EUROCOPTER MBB BK117, JULY 4, 2020, with increased collective.” BELL 206, NOV. 3, 2018, UVALDE, TEXAS They calculated the flight to destination, WOOSTER, OHIO The 48-year-old, 5,830-hour pilot had diversion to alternate, and additional nearly 800 hours in type and had served TAWS on the helicopter that hit a hillside 45-minute reserve required by the Cana- As it began its takeoff run, the air ambu- as commander of the VSP aviation unit 100 feet below its top was set to “inhibit” dian regulations would require 2,465 lance’s rotor wash dislodged a poorly since December 2012. He was a helicopter and an incorrect barometric pressure set- pounds of fuel. During his preflight, the secured silt fence obscured by tall grass and instrument helicopter flight instructor, ting would have caused its altimeter to read FO determined that about 1,600 pounds adjacent to the ramp. The fence blew into so was necessarily familiar with vortex ring 80 feet higher than its actual altitude. The was already on board and went to the the main and tail rotor systems, requir- state. However, his training records since 76-year-old pilot, a Vietnam veteran with FBO’s fuel o"ce, but found no one there ing the crew to make a forced landing that 2001 showed no evidence of practicing more than 23,400 hours of flight experience, to take the order. caused substantial damage to the fuselage, recoveries in the accident make and model, was ferrying a newlywed couple from their After the delayed arrival of one flight tail boom, and tail rotor blades. There and the VSP aviation unit’s training man- reception at a private ranch to board an nurse, the FO confirmed that the airplane were no injuries to either pilot or either ual classified this maneuver as optional. airline flight in San Antonio. All three were was ready for flight and the crew boarded. of the medical crew. The fence’s presence killed when the helicopter crashed less than The captain replied to the FUEL QUAN- was not disclosed by notam or any other Tasmanian Crash Caused By five miles from its point of departure. TITY item on the after-start checklist with publication available to the pilots. Inappropriate Emergency Drill The accident occurred shortly before the printed entry of “SUFFICIENT/BAL- midnight. Sky conditions were reported to ANCED” without checking the gauges. One FINAL REPORTS EUROCOPTER AS350BA, NOV. 7, 2017, be clear, and the pilot held an instrument hour and 34 minutes into the flight, the left HOBART, TASMANIA, AUSTRALIA helicopter rating, but data downloaded engine’s fuel pressure warning light illumi- Lack of Recurrent from the helicopter’s primary and mul- nated and the engine began to surge. Notic- Training Cited in Virginia In a final report published on July 20, the tifunction displays indicate that it never ing that the fuel gauges read zero pounds, State Police Crash Australian Transport Safety Bureau deter- climbed above 1,900 feet msl before begin- the captain asked about their fuel status, mined that the 1,200-hour commercial ning a gradual descent. The debris path and the FO realized that he’d forgotten to BELL 407, AUG. 12, 2017, pilot receiving transition training failed stretched about 100 yards at an elevation return to the FBO o"ce to order more. CHARLOTTESVILLE, VIRGINIA to follow the procedure prescribed by of 1,400 feet msl. There was no evidence of The crew declared an emergency and the AS350 rotorcraft flight manual (RFM) any mechanical anomaly before impact. requested a diversion to Gillam. The left Training records suggest that the pilot of during a simulated hydraulic failure, The NTSB’s probable cause report, pub- engine stopped two minutes later and the the Virginia State Police (VSP) helicop- leading to a catastrophic loss of control. lished on May 19, notes that the pilot had crew performed the emergency engine ter that crashed while monitoring politi- Rather than continuing into a low-speed previously reported a diagnosis of early cat- shutdown procedure, but the propeller cal demonstrations had not received any run-on landing, he attempted to enter aracts, but could not determine the extent would not feather. The captain reduced recurrent training in recovery from vortex a high hover contrary to the explicit to which either might have compromised power on the right engine and for the next ring state during his 16 years in the VSP warning in the RFM’s Emergency Proce- his night vision. three minutes they descended through aviation unit. The pilot and observer were dures section: “DO NOT ATTEMPT TO the clouds at 3,000 to 6,000 fpm while killed when the helicopter struck trees at CARRY OUT HOVER FLIGHT OR ANY Overlooked Fuel Order Caused turning right toward the extended cen- a high descent rate and low forward speed LOW SPEED MANEUVER.” The opera- Double Engine Flameout terline of Runway 23. The crew initially while rapidly spinning clockwise, which tor’s chief flight instructor was killed and extended the landing gear, but retracted the NTSB attributed to its having entered the pilot receiving instruction seriously BEECHCRAFT B200, APRIL 24, 2019, it again when the airplane dropped below vortex ring state; lack of recent practice in injured when the aircraft pitched for- GILLAM AIRPORT, MANITOBA, CANADA the Vnav descent profile. The left engine recovery techniques was cited as a con- ward, rolled 80 degrees left, and crashed stopped windmilling at an altitude of tributing factor. onto the front left side of the cabin. The A combination of di"culty locating line 2,800 feet msl. They broke out and made The helicopter was initially dispatched ATSB also faulted the instructor for not crewmen, a delayed departure, and the visual contact with the runway at 2,000 to provide the VSP command center with conducting a preflight briefing to review exchange of piloting assignments resulted feet. The right engine lost power at 835 a video downlink of a rally and then was the details of the simulated emergency in the air ambulance departing without feet above ground level. The crew shut it reassigned to accompany the governor’s procedure ahead of time. loading the fuel assumed in the pilots’ down, feathered the propeller, and again motorcade. Five minutes after joining The operator’s technique for simulat- flight-planning calculations. The King Air extended the landing gear 50 feet above the motorcade at about 1,500 feet agl, the ing a hydraulic failure was found to be subsequently touched down on the frozen the surface.

The material on this page is based on reports by the offcial 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.

42 Aviation International News \ September 2020 \ ainonline.com OCTOBER MEANS BUSINESS AVIATION AIN IS CELEBRATING THE INDUSTRY BY HIGHLIGHTING ITS RESILIENCE, NBAA Convention News VALUE, AND INNOVATION

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44 Aviation International News \ September 2020 \ ainonline.com COMPLIANCE countdown by Gordon Gilbert

Within 6 Months airworthiness (C of A) starting last Sept. 28, 2020 NEW June 7. Aircraft that obtained their U.S.: Noise C of A between June 6, 1995 and June 6, 2020 must meet the ADS-B Compatibility Program Out mandate by June 7, 2023. Both On July 30 the FAA started reviewing a deadlines apply to aircraft with an proposed noise compatibility program mtow exceeding 5,700 kg (12,566 for San Carlos Airport, a reliever facility pounds) or having a maximum for San Francisco International Airport. cruising true airspeed capability This program was submitted subsequent greater than 250 knots. Aircraft with to a determination by the agency that C of A’s dated before June 6, 1995 are associated noise exposure maps for exempt from ADS-B requirements. the airport were in compliance with applicable requirements. The proposed Dec. 31, 2020 to Dec. 31, 2022 2019 noise compatibility program will be Mexico: approved or disapproved on or before January 2021. The proposal’s public CVRs and FDRs comment period ends September 28. Cockpit voice and flight data equip- ment requirements for commercial Sept. 29, 2020 NEW turbine aircraft operations (including U.S.: Excise Tax on air taxis) that were adopted in 2011 by Mexico’s aviation authority will Aircraft Management become e"ective and go into force The U.S. Internal Revenue Service incrementally from Dec. 31, 2020 has issued proposed rules relating through Dec. 31, 2022 based on the to the excise taxes imposed on air number of aircraft in an operator's transportation of persons and property. fleet. Generally, the rules apply to tur- Specifically, the proposed regulations bine airplanes with 10 or more passen- relate to the exemption for amounts ger seats and large turbine helicopters paid for certain aircraft management flying in Mexico airspace under an services. The proposed regulations also international air operator certificate. amend, revise, redesignate, and remove provisions of existing regulations that Jan. 1, 2021 are out-of-date or obsolete and gen- Saudi Arabia: erally update the existing regulations to incorporate statutory changes, case ADS-B Out Mandate law, and other published guidance. Saudi Arabia delayed the start of ADS-B requirements in Class A and B New technology. Regulations. Mandates. Sept. 30, 2020 airspace by a year from the previously Acronyms. Lots of acronyms. Business ICAO: NAT Data Link published original date of this past aviation can be confusing and noisy. January. According to a recent notam, International regulators further suspended the new start date is Jan. 21, 2021. Duncan Aviation continuously strives to be the North Atlantic datalink mandate from the voice of clarity by providing information June 30 to September 30 to provide more about important topics in business aviation flexibility for traffc that flies through the Beyond 12 Months in clear, concise, no-nonsense language. Our region during the Covid-19 crisis. The Dec. 31, 2021 goal is to educate customers so they can mandate, which went into e"ect Janu- New Zealand: make the most informed decisions possible ary 30, requires aircraft to be equipped for their aircraft, passengers and company. with FANS 1/A controller-pilot datalink ADS-B Out Mandate communications and ADS-C (contract) New Zealand is expected to adopt its Download our books, podcasts, and equipment to transit through the North proposal to make ADS-B mandatory webinars, all highlighting Duncan Aviation’s Atlantic tracks from FL290 to FL410. for all aircraft in controlled airspace technical experts whom operators can below Flight Level 245 starting on call and speak with whenever they need Oct. 1, 2020 Dec. 31, 2021. clarification or more information. Australia: Rest and Duty Times Jan. 1, 2022 New fatigue rules apply to holders of Mexico: commercial air operator certificates (AOCs), including charter, on-demand ADS-B Out Mandate air taxis, and Part 141 flight schools. According to government officials, Operators who select the prescribed when ADS-B requirements take effect, Experience. Unlike any other. limits must be in compliance by June 30, they will apply to operations in Mex- www.DuncanAviation.aero/straighttalk 2020. Operators who develop their own ico Class A, B, C, E airspace and Class fatigue risk management system must E airspace above 10,000 feet. ADS-B be in compliance starting October 1. is required now in Class E airspace over the Gulf of Mexico, at and above SORTING THROUGH THE Dec. 7, 2020 and June 7, 2023 3,000 feet msl within 12 nm of the AIRCRAFT READINESS FACTS OF COVID-19 AND European ADS-B Out Mandate Mexican coast. PODCAST IONIZATION SYSTEMS Available Now WEBINAR The ADS-B Out requirement in For the most current compliance status, see: Available Now Europe is Dec. 7, 2020 for aircraft https://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/ receiving their certificate of compliance-countdown

AIN_DuncanAviation_Aug2020.indd 1 8/12/2020 11:54:01 AM ainonline.com \ September 2020 \ Aviation International News 45 PEOPLE in aviation by Kerry Lynch

TIM ROLFE JOSH THOMPSON TIMOTHY SPIHLMAN JENNIFER PICKEREL ERIKA INGLE

Offshore helicopter safety association HeliOff- Stearns, director of sales and marketing for FreeFlight Systems has promoted Ashley JEH Enterprises and also served with Hurricane shore appointed Tim Rolfe as CEO. For the Stevens Aerospace and Defense Systems, Ring to v-p of sales and marketing. Previ- Aerospace Solutions and LEKI Aviation. past 30 years, Rolfe has worked for Bristow remains co-chair of the committee. ously director of sales, Ring has served with The International Aircraft Dealers Associa- Helicopters, starting as a helicopter pilot and Leviate Air Group has appointed Chad FreeFlight Systems for nine years. tion (IADA) has named Erika Ingle director of rising to the position of director of safety for Beaulieu as managing partner of aircraft Jennifer Pickerel has been promoted to operations. Ingle brings a background in small the EAMEA region and global safety assur- sales and Eric Dufay v-p of fleet sales, both vice president at Aviation Personnel Interna- business, startups, branding, marketing, sales, ance. Rolfe succeeds Gretchen Haskins, who based at the company’s headquarters in Dal- tional (API). Pickerel most recently was director event management, philanthropy, and video stepped down as CEO at the end of April and las. Beaulieu has 20 years of aircraft sales of client and candidate services at API and also production to the new role. has remained a board member of the group. experience with Bombardier and Gulfstream has held roles at MedAire. Keystone Aviation has added J. Dan Gova- Gulfstream has appointed Josh Thompson to Aerospace, as well as with aircraft brokerage Bombardier Aviation has appointed Marc tos as director of operations in Salt Lake City. A serve as CFO and promoted Wayne Oedewaldt and consulting companies. Dufay has 10 years Rivest as general manager of its Dallas service commercial pilot for more than 30 years, Gov- to regional senior v-p of international sales for of aircraft charter experience. center. Rivest has held customer-facing roles atos has held roles as director of operations, Asia-Pacific and Kirsten Krueger to regional v-p Thales has named Yannick Assouad execu- within Bombardier, including as a customer director of safety, director of training, and chief of sales for California’s central coast. Moving tive v-p of avionics, effective October 1. Assouad account manager, manager of preowned air- pilot for Part 121 and 135 operations. over from the CFO post at General Dynamics will step into the role held by Gil Michielin, who is craft maintenance in Dallas, and most recently, Fargo Jet Center (FJC) has hired Anthony Ordnance and Tactical Systems (OTS), Thomp- retiring. Formerly CEO of Latécoère, she has held manager of field service for Western North Manzella as a maintenance service adviser son succeeds longtime company executive Dan senior-level posts at Thomson-CSF’s Radars & America and Latin America. and promoted Bill Berg to assistant chief Clare, who is retiring at the end of September. Countermeasures business, SECAN, and Zodiac. Elliott Aviation has hired Brian Leitschuck inspector and Keith Lowe to aviation mainte- Thompson has served as OTS CTO since 2018 Stevens Aerospace and Defense Systems as Midwest regional sales manager. Leit- nance technician lead. Manzella has a 24-year and has held various positions with that and the has named Dendall Wood general manager schuck brings nearly 20 years of aviation maintenance background in civil and military parent company since 2004. of its mobile division. experience to his new role, having previously aviation. Berg, who joined FJC in 2014, has 36 West Star Aviation has named Timothy Spihl- Wood has served with Stevens since 2005, held positions with Duncan Aviation, Engineer- years of aviation experience, beginning with man CFO. Spihlman brings more than 25 years of initially as a quality assurance inspector and ing Resources, and Constant Aviation. the U.S. Marine Corps in 1984. Lowe, who men- financial and operational leadership experience then as accountable manager/chief inspector C&L Aerospace has appointed Javier Hernan- tors other aviation maintenance technicians, to his new role, having served with companies at Stevens’s location at Greenville-Spartan- dez as regional sales manager for Central and has served with FJC since 2012 and also has a such as Vi-Jon and Solutia, and held roles as a burg International Airport. South America. Hernandez previously founded military background. board member, CEO, president, and CFO. Todd Anderson, previously Sheltair’s senior v-p of real estate and development, has been promoted to COO. An employee of the Florida- FINAL FLIGHT based aviation real estate developer and FBO operator for two decades, Anderson will now Long-time aviator and Duncan Aviation service company, to support Boeing during “Jim was a highly respected member of oversee its day-to-day operations. partner Harry Barr died on July 1 at the construction of the Atlas Missile site, the rotorcraft community, and we will miss The Air Charter Safety Foundation (ACSF) his home in Raymond, Nebraska. Barr and an FBO at Cheyenne, Wyoming. his knowledge and leadership,” said HAI has named Bob Rufli, v-p and director of flight was born in 1935 in Clarinda, Iowa, and “Harry…was a friend and mentor to president and CEO James Viola. “He was operations of , as the new shared both a hometown and a passion people at Duncan Aviation for more than an advocate for safe flying, training, and chairman. Rufli succeeds Magellan Jets founder for flying with Duncan Aviation founder 60 years as well as throughout the aviation mentorship, and he was always willing to and CEO Joshua Hebert, whose term expired Donald Duncan, Duncan Aviation said. community…I had the greatest respect and share his experience and passion for flying.” June 30, 2020. Rufli brings more than 35 years Once Duncan purchased a Beechcraft admiration for this man who lived his life so Born June 17, 1949, in Racine, Wisconsin, of experience in Part 135, 121 supplemental, and distributorship in 1956, Duncan and Barr well and so fully. He will be terribly missed,” Wisecup grew up in Houston, flying there for 125 corporate operations to his new role. Also partnered on various business endeavors, said Duncan Aviation chairman Todd Duncan. the first time in 1966. Wisecup attended the elected to the board of governors were Todd the company added. Barr also remained He was an active member of numerous University of Houston but left after a year to Weeber, Bill Kolstad, and Ryan Waguespack. a pilot for Duncan Aviation from shortly groups, including the Midwest Aerobatic become a helicopter pilot for the U.S. Army. In addition, Weeber was named vice-chairman after the company was founded until Club, the IAC International Aerobatic He served as a member of the Coman- of the association for the 2020-2021 term. he died and maintained an o"ce at the Club, the Experimental Aircraft Associ- cheros in the 101st Airborne Division from Weeber has more than 30 years of aviation company’s Lincoln, Nebraska, facility. ation, and the Warbirds of America. 1969 to 1970 and was “shot down” three leadership experience, most recently as COO Barr became a private pilot at the age James Wisecup, chairman of the Heli- times. HAI noted that Wisecup remarked of Magellan Jets and previously as v-p of opera- of 17 and flew a gamut of aircraft, from copter Association International for a term he had three engine failures caused by tional and quality standards for NetJets. Kolstad, aerobatics and experimentals to helicopters spanning from mid-2018 to mid-2019, died on foreign-object damage—the first caused by director of safety for Northern Jet Management, and jets. He joined Clay Lacy in obtaining July 30 following a battle with cancer. He was a mortar round, the second by an artillery previously served in the U.S. Air Force, as well a type rating on the in 1964 and 71. Wisecup, who amassed 16,000 hours as a shell, and the third by a rocket-propelled as for RavnAir Group. Waguespack is senior v-p Duncan Aviation became one of six U.S. dual-rated pilot and was recognized with the grenade. For his combat service, he was for the National Air Transportation Association. distributors of the then-new jet. He met Lacy FAA Wright Brothers Master Pilot Award in awarded the Silver Star, Purple Heart, Bronze The National Air Transportation Associa- during the first Learjet distributor meeting in late June for 50 years of safe flight, retired as Star, and Air Medal with 25 oak leaf clusters. tion has appointed Jason Tepool as chair- Wichita and the two became lifelong friends. assistant chief pilot for in 2019. Discharged in 1971, Wisecup obtained man of its Aircraft Maintenance and Systems In addition to their collaborations at Dun- He also had just completed requirements for fixed-wing ratings but began his Technology Committee. Tepool, a business can Aviation, Donald Duncan and Barr jointly a bachelor’s degree in aviation science from commercial flying career as a line pilot development executive for Boeing, has launched Panhandle Aviation, a helicopter Southern Utah University, according to HAI. in 1974 for Offshore Helicopters. served on the committee for two years. Phil

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