Wheels Up, Bell Collaborate on First Step Toward UAM

Wheels Up is collaborating with Bell to usher in what the companies claim will be the first step toward urban air mobility (UAM) operations. “This is the next evolution of private aircraft expansion,” said Wheels Up CEO Kenny Dichter. “We’re in the first inning of vertical lift.”

The partnership leverages the large customer base and Avianis flight scheduling software at Wheels Up and Bell’s VTOL aircraft—likely Bell 429 helicopters in the near term and Nexus eVTOLs in the longer term—to provide intra-urban travel from/to city centers using existing airports and helipads. The initial list of high-demand markets is currently under review, but service launch is expected later this year. Wheels Up also plans to provide this last-mile connectivity option to customers of Delta Air Lines, an existing partner.

“Introduction of VTOL transportation in these select markets will add to the seamless travel experience along the entire travel journey for the Wheels Up members and customers,” Wheels Up said. “This initiative will also enhance air travel flexibility and reduce vehicular congestion.”

The collaboration between Wheels Up and Bell will build on the former’s partnership with HeliFlite that was established in 2013. Under that deal, HeliFlite provides transfers for Wheels Up customers between Manhattan and local airports such as Teterboro, White Plains, and Farmingdale using Bell 430s and Sikorsky S-76s.

AsBAA and ACP Host Inaugural China Bizav Safety Day

CAAC deputy administrator Hu Zhenjiang emphasized the agency's commitment to aviation safety on Thursday during a keynote presentation at the China Business Aviation Safety Day 2021 in Chengdu, which was jointly hosted by AsBAA and the U.S.-China Aviation Cooperation Program (ACP). The event hosted more than 150 business aircraft pilots, OEMs, MROs, FBOs, EMS, airport, and government representatives in the year's first in-person event for the Asian business aviation industry.

NTSB chairman Robert Sumwalt and FAA Office of General Aviation Safety Assurance director Robert Ruiz also spoke virtually from Washington, D.C., during the keynote. Sumwalt presented business aviation accident case studies and discussed the importance of following SOPs and “being a professional.” Hu echoed Sumwalt's remarks on the importance of professionalism among the “ecosystem of aircrew, operator, and airport management.” He also encouraged budding Chinese GA and business aviation operators to “proactively adopt” safety management systems (SMS) and promised for the “parallel development” of both commercial and general aviation in China.

The event also featured expert presentation sessions that covered the necessity of cultivating a safety culture, implementing effective SMS, human factors, maintenance, and ground handling, among others. In addition to the presentations were panel discussions on topics relevant to business aircraft operators in mainland China. AsBAA aims to host more aviation safety events elsewhere in the Asia-Pacific region later this year.

Global Jet Capital Creates Carbon-offset Program

Global Jet Capital has developed the CleanFlight Carbon Offset Program to provide clients with a simplified process for purchasing verified carbon offsets for greenhouse gas emissions from their business aircraft.

Established in partnership with the nonprofit Carbonfund Foundation, the program is available to operators with an operating lease, finance lease, or loan with Global Jet Capital. Carbonfund will estimate the carbon footprint size of the client’s anticipated aircraft based on the fuel burn associated with the make and model, anticipated annual operations, and desired years of coverage. Carbonfund, which works with a range of voluntary carbon-offset projects that are third-party validated, will also provide the appropriate certifications for carbon-offset purchases.

“We created this program to help raise visibility around the impacts of climate change and provide our clients with a vetted option to offset the impact of their aircraft operations on the environment,” said Global Jet Capital president and COO Vivek Kaushal, who added that the program is voluntary. “Though this is not intended to satisfy government regulations regarding environmental mitigation, our partnership with Carbonfund provides our clients the assurance of acquiring verified carbon offsets from a trusted and globally recognized partner.”

FlightAware Fuses ADS-B View with SkyAware

Owners of FlightAware-compatible ground-based ADS-B receivers can now view all traffic seen by their receivers in a fused view on the new and free SkyAware Anywhere service. The SkyAware Anywhere view is available from any internet connection, according to FlightAware. “This easy-to-use solution provides users with a secure, raw view of everything their ADS-B receivers are seeing in real-time on one map.”

With SkyAware, hosts can view real-time traffic from multiple ADS-B receivers and using various filters. These include speed and altitude as well as aircraft type and identification.

FlightAware offers free FlightFeeder ADS-B receivers for locations where more coverage is needed, with a priority given to airports and FBOs. Those interested in joining the network can build their own PiAware ADS-B receiver, which combines a low-cost Raspberry Pi computer with a FlightAware ADS-B device and antenna.

Once a FlightFeeder or PiAware ADS-B receiver is switched on, the host can get a free Enterprise account from FlightAware, which includes eight months of historical flight data, unlimited flight alerts, registration numbers for flights that go by call signs, ATC call signs, and full-screen maps without advertisements. The FlightAware host can see traffic via ADS-B and multilateration, including performance statistics for the host’s own receivers and which aircraft those receivers tracked. There is no extra charge to use SkyAware.

75th Anniversary Bonanza Offers Nod to Olive Ann Beech

For the Beechcraft Bonanza’s upcoming 75th anniversary, Textron Aviation will offer a special edition Bonanza G36 option featuring a custom interior and paint scheme, the airframer announced today. The order book has been opened for the special-edition option, priced at $18,000, which will be available for delivery in 2022, the piston single’s milestone year.

Bonanza deliveries began 15 years after Walter and Olive Ann Beech started Beech Aircraft in Wichita and the company and its successors have since produced more than 18,000. Following Walter’s death, Olive Ann became president and led the company until 1982.

The limited-edition Bonanza features a custom color adopted by Olive Ann—on the advice of fashion designer Oleg Cassini—known as “Mrs. Beech Blue,” which was found on her dress suits, office furnishings, automobile, and personal aircraft interiors, according to Textron Aviation, which is exhibiting at this week's Sun 'n Fun International Fly-In & Expo.

The color has been applied to the airplane’s livery, interior window panels, carpet, and accents. It also features a “Bubble B” logo from 1954 on the carpeted entry and Olive Ann’s signature on a metal piece above the cabin table and as an exterior graphic below the pilot window. Capping off the special features are seat upholstery lines and sidewall and table contours that are intended to complement the retro color palette. 

Blade To Add 20 Beta eVTOLs to Urban Air Mobility Fleet

Blade Urban Air Mobility today reached agreement to add up to 20 of Beta Technologies’ $4 million Alia 250 eVTOL aircraft to its passenger transportation network, with deliveries due to start in 2024, followed by operations from 2025. According to Blade, the aircraft will be acquired through its “third-party financing relationships” with its operating partners, and Jet Linx Aviation is set to be the first to start operating an initial batch of five aircraft. 

On a full charge, the Alia will be able to operate on routes of up to 250 nm (288 miles), carrying six people (including a pilot) or three standard cargo pallets at speeds of up to 170 mph. Beta says it will take 50 minutes to recharge the aircraft, which is to be certified under FAA’s Part 23 rules.

Blade says that, initially, the Alia will operate from the company’s existing private terminal infrastructure in the northeast U.S. where Beta will install its purpose-built recharging facilities. Most of the company’s services, which currently use a mix of helicopters and amphibious fixed-wing aircraft, are concentrated around the New York City area, as well as south Florida, Nantucket, and the Hamptons. According to Beta, the Alia will be 10 times quieter than a helicopter when hovering, and even quieter during cruise flight.

A longer version of this story is available at FutureFlight.aero, a news and information resource developed by AIN to provide objective, independent coverage, and analysis of cutting-edge aviation technology, including electric aircraft developments and advanced air mobility.

Garmin Adds Power, Type-C to USB Ports

At this week’s Sun 'n Fun International Fly-In & Expo, Garmin is demonstrating new versions of its GSB 15 USB chargers. The chargers offer both dual Type-C USB ports or a combination of Type-C and Type-A with up to 27 watts of output per port, simultaneously. Other electrical features include optimized power output to match the device being charged and short-circuit and over-temperature protection.

To help mark their locations, the new charging ports have dimmable halo lighting, which helps users find them at night. The lights can be connected to the aircraft’s lighting bus for brightness control. Side or rear power input connectors facilitate more flexible installation in space-constrained areas, according to Garmin, including near armrests or cabin sidewalls.

When installed alongside Garmin GI 275 electronic flight instruments, the GSB 15 can be used to transfer databases into the instruments with a flash drive. Users can also download data from the instruments such as flight and engine indication system information for later analysis.

The GSB 15 is compatible with earlier versions, using the same connector and fitting into a one-inch cutout. Garmin offers optional accessories such as mounting kits and decorative covers. The dual USB Type-C and the Type-C/Type-A variant each retail for $399.

L.A. Drone Pilot Avoids Prison

The pilot of an illegally operated drone that hit a Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) helicopter last year has been fined $500 and sentenced to one year’s probation. Andrew Rene Hernandez was sentenced Monday after pleading guilty to a single misdemeanor charge of unsafe operation of an unmanned aircraft in January. It was the first time a drone operator was charged under the federal statute. He could have received one year in federal prison. 

The charges resulted from a flight conducted by Hernandez shortly after midnight on Sept. 18, 2020. Hernandez said he launched his DJI Mavic Pro to investigate police activity at a nearby Hollywood pharmacy. While an LAPD Airbus Helicopters AStar was flying above the pharmacy at approximately 12:35 a.m., its pilot saw and unsuccessfully attempted to avoid the drone, which struck the helicopter, damaging its nose, antenna, and bottom cowling.

The helicopter then proceeded directly to the LAPD Hooper Heliport (4CAO) and made a precautionary landing. LAPD flight safety officer J. Coley Maddigan told investigators that had the drone struck the aircraft’s main rotor it would have brought the helicopter down. Pieces of the drone also fell through the rear window of a nearby unoccupied Toyota Corolla.