China's state-owned aircraft manufacturer Avic announced the first flight of its light-twin AC332 helicopter on Friday in Tianjin. Stylistically a cross between the Bell 429 and the Airbus H145, the AC332 features a four-blade main rotor system and ducted tail rotor and is designed for hot-and-high operations. It is powered by a pair of 1,800-shp Avic WZ-20 engines.
Performance targets include a capacity of up to 10 passengers and two crew, 8,487-pound mtow, 374-nm range, 140-knot maximum cruise speed, and 19,685-foot service ceiling. According to Avic, the AC332 has the capacity to take off at an altitude of 14,763 feet and transport a payload of 1,323 pounds over a distance of 324 nm.
To date, Avic reports receiving orders for 24 of the helicopters from China-based customers. Deliveries are expected to begin in 2025.
The AC332 designation was previously applied to a Sino-Russian heavy-lift helicopter joint-venture development program first announced in 2015. That design appeared to be a scaled-down version of the Mil Mi-26 and featured a seven-blade main rotor system and an 84,000-pound mtow. While the future of that program ;remains unknown, China first leased and later bought Mi-26s directly from Russia.
The Colorado Department of Transportation aims to keep a remote tower operating at Northern Colorado Regional Airport (KFNL) if a path to FAA certification surfaces. Searidge Technologies is supplying the remote tower equipment at KFNL and also at London Heathrow (EGLL), Hong Kong International (HKIA), and Singapore Changi (WSSS) airports. The FAA said the Searidge system at KFNL is “under evaluation.”
“We will be able to save it if Searidge can provide the required system design approval documents and the FAA supports the KFNL system,” said Bill Payne, who is managing the project for the Colorado DOT. “It will be a shame if the system does not complete the certification process after the state invested $8.8 million and the FAA did four years of testing.”
The FAA approved the installation of the system but later issued new requirements for increased visual acuity. In response, Searidge replaced some 1040 HD cameras and displays at KFNL with 4K models to meet these new requirements.
But now the FAA wants remote tower systems to be tested first at the FAA Technical Center in Atlantic City, New Jersey. Meanwhile, Saab pulled out of the remote tower project at Virginia’s Leesburg Executive Airport (KJYO) last month after six years of testing there when the company concluded it could not finish the FAA certification process. The FAA plans to discontinue the system at KJYO in June.
Sandhills Global Equipment Value Index shows a slowing of price increases in the preowned turbine business aircraft market and growing inventories year-over-year. However, the company reports that “values remain elevated over recent months. Inventory levels of used jets, turboprops, and on the market continue to exceed last year’s figures.” Sandhills publishes the Controller used aircraft market listings.
“Jet and turboprop markets are seeing asking values plateau,” said Controller department manager Brant Washburn.
Specifically, Sandhills reports that worldwide, “Used jet inventory numbers increased by 5.75 percent month over month in March and are currently trending upward. Levels of used inventory have rebounded dramatically over the past year, posting a 109.61 percent increase year-over-year.” Meanwhile, it added, “Asking values for used jet aircraft also continue to ascend with growth of 0.42 percent month-over-month, although the pace of the increases has cooled off lately. The jet market’s asking values remain up, posting an 11.02 percent year-over-year increase.”
For used turboprops, inventory levels have grown 12.44 percent year-over-year following an 8.12 percent month-over-month gain. Meanwhile, asking values rose 2.66 percent month-over-month in March but were still up 14.29 percent year-over-year, according to Sandhills.
Abu Dhabi Airports has awarded Jetex a concession to manage and operate the VIP Terminals at Al Bateen Executive Airport (OMAD) in the UAE capital. Since 2008, the airport has operated as an executive jet facility, focusing on fast and efficient turnarounds, no holding patterns or slot restrictions, and short taxi times, Jetex said. Located in the heart of the city, OMAD provides convenient access to Abu Dhabi’s financial, tourist, and entertainment destinations.
Jamal Al Dhaheri, managing director and CEO of Abu Dhabi Airports, said he hoped the move would reinvigorate the “tailor-made” business aviation airport. “As a dedicated FBO operator well versed with the needs and requirements of this specific market segment, we look forward to collaborating with Jetex and successfully delivering great value to all our passengers,” he said.
AIN understands that the concession involves FBO management at the airport and that a separate Royal Terminal will remain under existing supervision.
Jetex founder and CEO Adel Mardini said the chance to work at the business aviation-only facility would complete Jetex’s offering in the UAE, where it also operates at the VIP Terminal at Dubai Al Maktoum International Airport (OMDW) and an operations center at Dubai International (OMDB).
“Al Bateen is the only business aviation airport in the region,” he told AIN. “It is used only by business jets. It's a great facility and location.”
Highly Skilled Maintenance Technicians Are Vital To Aviation
For decades FlightSafety International has been the go-to name in aviation training, preparing technicians to keep aircraft airworthy and enhancing safety. The result of expert instruction shows up every day in the work you do, a vital component of the aviation industry.
The International Business Aviation Council (IBAC) has rolled out an updated Crew Card that is more secure and offers more benefits under a recent partnership with ID90 Travel. IBAC introduced the Crew Card in 1985 to provide a means of identification to ease ramp access and assist in the customs process. Recognized by airport security and facility officials around the world, the card is available to flight crew that belong to one of the 15 IBAC members, which includes NBAA and EBAA.
Its new cards are aligned with International Civil Aviation (ICAO) Document 9303 and have a bar code system with origination details to provide enhanced security. Additional benefits through ID90 Travel include special rates on hotels, all-inclusive resorts, cruises, rental cars, and certain last-minute travel offers.
“We are excited to launch the new Crew Card with its added ID90 Travel membership,” said IBAC director general Kurt Edwards. “In addition to its globally recognized identity benefits, the Crew Card now offers special travel discounts—a well-deserved perk for cardholders in the global business aviation community that work hard to provide first-class services to their customers.”
Canadian aviation services provider Skyservice has expanded its network to include all three of the country’s largest cities with the opening of its FBO at Vancouver International Airport (CYVR). In February, the company obtained the former InterDel Aviation Services facility in a lease from World Fuel Services.
The complex, one of three FBOs on the field, consists of a 14,000-sq-ft multi-story terminal with a passenger lounge offering views of the Pacific Mountain Range, business center, conference rooms, pilot lounge with snooze rooms, showers, and ramp-side vehicle access. It has three 20,000-sq-ft heated hangars that can accommodate the latest ultra-long-range business jets and 175,000 sq ft of apron parking. For Skyservice, this represents its 11th FBO in North America and its sixth World Fuel Air Elite location in Canada.
“Vancouver is an essential hub for Canadian commerce and recreation and a key location for our clients,” said company president and CEO Benjamin Murray. “We intend to make further investments at the airport, including expanding our hangar footprint, providing on-site maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) capabilities, and operating sustainability initiatives.”
Since the advent of terrain avoidance and warning systems (TAWS) installations in jets starting in the 1970s, instances of controlled flight into terrain (CFIT) accidents worldwide by this segment have declined significantly, but TAWS aural alerts can become a nuisance or a distraction to pilots when flying at altitudes below the alerting threshold. This often results in pilots deciding to mute these alerts, which the FAA cautions against doing in newly released Information for Operators (InFo) 23003.
“Inhibiting [TAWS] systems and ignoring warnings, combined with deteriorating weather conditions leading to loss of visual surface reference and situational awareness, has been found to be the cause of some CFIT accidents,” the FAA says in the communication.
“Multiple CFIT accidents have occurred when pilots, who are flying VFR at low altitudes are presented with risks associated with rapid changes in weather, resulting in loss of situational awareness,” the notice says. “Additionally, lack of familiarity with the approach or misreading the approach plate are common causal factors, particularly where the approach features step downs in altitude from the initial approach fix to the final approach fix.”
Between 2017 and 2022, the Flight Safety Foundation’s Aviation Safety Network reported 91 jet airliner accidents, of which 20 were classified as CFIT. In the same six-year period, ASN data showed that only four of 192 business jet accidents involved CFIT.
The global helicopter market is expected to reach an annual valuation of $11.5 billion by 2032, with the market expanding at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 6.4 percent from 2022 to 2032, according to a new report by Future Market Insights (FMI). The increase is calculated from a 2021 market valuation of $5.9 billion and is expected to be driven by fleet replacement and expansion needs across commercial sectors including air ambulance and offshore energy, as well as parapublic and military segments.
According to the report, the U.S. market will continue to lead demand, with a forecasted CAGR of 5.5 percent reaching an estimated $3.9 billion annually by 2032. Europe is projected to grow at a faster 6 percent CAGR, but with a lesser annual valuation of $2.8 billion within the same time frame.
Law enforcement and public safety is expected to be the most active sector, with a projected CAGR of 5.5 percent, while light commercial helicopters are expected to be the best-performing market segment, with an anticipated CAGR of 6 percent.
People in Aviation
Air charter specialist Chapman Freeborn hired Claire Geary as group marketing director, a newly created position. Geary previously served for two years as EMEA marketing director at Cirium and before that held marketing and communications management positions at South African Airways and Emirates.
Engine Assurance Program appointed Yorkk Swick director of engine solutions. Swick has 30 years of experience in the industry and, while working at Garrett Aviation (now StandardAero), created and implemented the first mobile service team for AOG support worldwide. He previously served as director of operations for StandardAero at Los Angeles International Airport.
Aviation insurance firm Global Aerospace appointed Sarah Porges v-p and aerospace client executive. Porges joins Global Aerospace from Piiq Risk Partners, where she was a senior partner in its aviation and space insurance and risk advisory division. She also has held senior broker roles at aviation and space insurer Marsh for 23 years in its New York and London offices.
Honeywell Aerospace named Dave Shilliday v-p and general manager of urban air mobility and unmanned aerial systems, replacing Stephane Fymat, who is now leading Honeywell Ventures. Shilliday has been with Honeywell for more than 15 years and most recently served as v-p and general manager for Honeywell’s power systems business.
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