Bell LongRanger Crashes into Hudson River, Killing Six

A Bell 206L4 LongRanger helicopter crashed into the Hudson River at about 3:15 p.m. yesterday, killing all six on board. A video that captured the accident appears to show the airframe, without its tail boom, descending into the river also without its main rotor blades, which can be seen still rotating but separated from the rest of the helicopter, along with other parts. The main portion of the helicopter crashed into the water near Pier 25, followed by the main rotor blades further west but still in the river.

AirNav Radar flight tracking captured the final ADS-B signal showing the helicopter descending at 3,456 fpm.

The helicopter is registered to Meridian Helicopters in Broussard, Louisiana, according to the FAA’s registry database. It was operated by New York Helicopter Charter, according to the Private Aviation Safety Alliance’s database of charter operators.

Meanwhile, the FAA issued a statement saying that it and the NTSB will investigate the accident and that the NTSB “will lead the investigation and provide any updates.” The NTSB also plans to hold a media briefing about the accident this afternoon.

AINsight: Cancer and Flying, Part 1

Receiving the diagnosis of any type of cancer will usually lead to a period of uncertainty and concern. Other than for a “simple” skin cancer, for example (and even those cancers are not always quite so simple), most cancer diagnoses cause strong emotional responses. This is completely understandable and expected. The good news is that most cancers are survivable.

For a pilot, of course, the big question is always whether or not they will be able to continue flying. Usually, the answer to that question is “yes.”

I often have pilots contact me to discuss whether they should even embark on the treatment program recommended by their physician, worrying that it might impact their ability to fly. That is a reasonable question for a pilot, and it requires a tactful and compassionate discussion on my end.

I usually lead off with the disclaimer that in the case of any major medical setback (cancer or otherwise), a patient should always strongly consider the advice given to them by their treating specialists. As an AME, I am not a cancer specialist, but I can certainly advise the pilot on the protocols that will be followed to comply with the FAA medical standards and expectations.

A corny reminder that I use with pilots: “It is easier for me to keep you flying if you are still alive.”

Citation CJ4 Marks 15th Anniversary of Service Entry

Textron this week marked the 15th anniversary of bringing its Cessna Citation CJ4 to market, having achieved type certification and first delivery in April 2010. The U.S. manufacturer celebrated the occasion on Wednesday and confirmed that the newest member of the family, the CJ4 Gen3, is on track to enter service in 2026.

Over the past decade and a half, Textron has delivered more than 450 CJ4s. According to the manufacturer, the light jet has operating costs that are 10% lower than its closest rivals.

“There is no doubt that pilots around the world consider the Citation CJ4 as the premier single-pilot business jet,” said Lannie O’Bannion, Textron’s senior v-p of sales and marketing. “We continue to invest in our aircraft to ensure pilots and passengers have the latest technology and comfort in the air. The CJ4 Gen3 brings a new level of confidence and an elevated experience for owners and operators based on customer feedback.”

The CJ4 Gen3 features Garmin’s G3000 Prime avionics suite, as well as Garmin’s Emergency Autoland system and autothrottles. It can seat up to 11 people with a 1,040-pound baggage capacity, with a maximum range of 2,165 nm.

HondaJets Experience Runway Overruns in Oregon, Florida

Two HondaJets experienced runway overruns in the past week, with one ending up in the water at Coos Bay, Oregon, and another in the grass at Florida’s Naples Airport (KAPF). According to AIN research, there have been 20 HondaJet runway excursions, including eight since publication in September 2023 of a story comparing excursions between aircraft types.

The Naples HondaJet, N48HM, departed from Shenandoah Valley Regional Airport (KSHD) in Virginia on Wednesday and landed on 6,600-foot-long Runway 05. Photos of the HondaJet appear to show no damage, and the sole occupant was uninjured.

On Monday, HondaJet N826E took off from St. George Regional Airport (KSGU) in Utah and touched down at North Bend Airport (KOTH) at 6:12 a.m. on 5,980-foot-long Runway 05. A person who claimed to be a passenger on that flight commented on a YouTube video about the accident. He wrote: “I was one of the passengers in this accident. We touched down. I felt the brakes come on briefly after touch down. After that it was absolutely nothing and into the water we went, after the pilot narrowly threaded the needle and steered us off the right between the runway lights and a building. Both would have killed us if we hit them.”

Climbing Fast Campaign Climbs to the Top

Climbing Fast—business aviation’s awareness effort that lays out the industry’s benefits to society—has earned recognition for its use of digital media. In its annual awards, PRNews selected the program for top honors in its Cause-related Campaign category, and it also earned an honorable mention among the thousands of entries for excellence as a unified, branded effort supported by multiple organizations.

Launched at NBAA-BACE 2023, the program educates policymakers and opinion leaders about business aviation’s vital role in supporting jobs and economic activity, connecting communities, providing humanitarian support, and serving in the vanguard of aviation sustainability.

In a recent example, the campaign mobilized business aviation advocates from across the country for face-to-face meetings on Capitol Hill to discuss legislation critical to the industry and to emphasize to lawmakers the industry’s role in supporting 1.3 million jobs and nearly $340 billion in economic output.

“The success of Climbing Fast is attributable to the support of more than a dozen aviation associations and their member representatives worldwide who share the passion for business aviation’s value to citizens and companies globally,” said Kurt Edwards, director general of the International Business Aviation Council. “Business aviation is climbing fast toward a sustainable future and playing an essential role in efficiently connecting communities, creating economic opportunities, and fostering innovation.”

Galaxy FBO at Houston Hobby Starts New Hangar Build

Galaxy FBO, one of six service providers at bustling Houston Hobby Airport (KHOU), has broken ground on a new hangar. The 29,000-sq-ft structure—which will be able to accommodate ultra-long-range business jets—is expected to be completed by the end of the year. In the meantime, the company noted, operations at its other three hangars (totaling 108,000 sq ft) will be uninterrupted during the construction process.

Operating three FBOs in Texas, the company established its nine-acre facility at KHOU in 2020. It features a 20,000-sq-ft two-story terminal with offices, a snack bar, conference rooms, pilot lounge with snooze room and shower facilities, covered vehicle parking, and crew cars.

“We are thrilled to expand our presence at Houston Hobby Airport with the addition of our fourth hangar,” said John Bridi, Galaxy’s regional manager. “This project reinforces our dedication to providing exceptional services and infrastructure for our customers. We look forward to delivering this premium facility and further enhancing our support for the Houston aviation community.”

Neste Starts SAF Production at Rotterdam Facility

Neste, the world’s largest sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) producer, has started production of the renewable fuel at its European facility in Rotterdam. The plant was undergoing modifications to produce SAF when it suffered a fire, throwing delays into the timeline.

Now complete, the enhancements allow Neste to produce up to 165 million gallons (625 million liters) of SAF a year at the Netherlands location. This brings its global SAF production capacity to nearly 500 million gallons a year.

Further planned expansions of the Rotterdam facility are slated for completion in 2027. These will more than double its output of renewable diesel and SAF to 900 million gallons a year, making it the world’s largest renewable fuels refinery. By that time, Finland-based Neste—which also operates refineries in Singapore and Porvoo, Finland—anticipates its global production to be in the range of 2.25 billion gallons annually, of which 726 million will consist of SAF.

“It is clear that we need to continue making progress in mitigating climate change and addressing aviation’s climate impact,” said company president and CEO Heikki Malinen. “Our SAF production capability, now also in Rotterdam, enables us to significantly contribute to the implementation of the ReFuelEU Aviation Regulation and similar SAF mandates. Policies like these are crucial to ramping up SAF production and usage, and we need to keep our ambitions and targets high.”

Photo of the Week

Space ex. Gulfstream G280 pilot Gus Ortiz was able to capture the SpaceX Starship explosion while flying at 5:40 p.m. over the Bahamas on March 6. The explosion occurred to the south of Ortiz’s position. “We were at 43,000 feet flying West in a G280, not too far from the NUCAR intersection,” Oritz explained. By the looks of it, the explosion may have been a bit too close for comfort! Thanks for sharing, Gus.

Keep them coming. If you’d like to submit an entry for Photo of the Week, email a high-resolution horizontal image (at least 2000 x 1200 pixels), along with your name, contact information, social media names, and info about it (including brief description, location, etc.) to photos@ainonline.com. Tail numbers can be removed upon request. Those submitting photos give AIN implied consent to publish them in its publications and social media channels.