The White House has reaffirmed its commitment to sustainable aviation. Speaking yesterday at a biofuel processing facility in Iowa, President Biden noted the role fuels such as sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) will play in helping reach the environmental targets his administration has put forward.
“I’ve set a goal of zero-carbon for the aviation sector, for example, by 2050,” Biden said, adding the growing renewable fuels industry will create numerous jobs in feedstock-producing locations such as Iowa. “It’s going to require billions of gallons of sustainable aviation fuel, and you simply can’t get to net-zero by 2050 without biofuels.”
The messaging yesterday builds on the Biden administration’s previously announced support of the industry's sustainability efforts, including the SAF Grand Challenge that tasked U.S. industry to produce three billion gallons of SAF a year by 2030 and pledged billions of dollars in R&D funding to help meet that goal. Additionally, Biden supports a blender’s tax credit to further incentivize the development and investment of SAF production infrastructure. Biden noted the measure has united all segments of aviation.
“President Biden’s remarks validate our efforts and confirm the collective voice of the industry is being heard at the highest levels,” said NATA president and CEO Tim Obitts, who called on Congress to pass legislation enabling the blenders tax credit.
Raisbeck Engineering obtained FAA supplemental type certification for a drag-reduction system for the Cessna Caravan 208B. Designed for factory pod-equipped aircraft, the Epic Caravan system will reduce drag, increase cruise speeds, and/or decrease fuel burn, Raisbeck Engineering said.
The Seattle, Washington aircraft modifications specialist noted the 208B experiences a decrease in speed and increase in fuel burn due to the cargo pod. The company developed the Epic Caravan mod to address the aerodynamic drag associated with the cargo pod, using a composite forward cargo pod fairing and metal dual aft body strakes.
According to Raisbeck Engineering, the Epic Caravan modification weighs only 38 pounds and enables the aircraft to fly at least five knots faster or go farther on the same fuel load. In addition, the dual aft body strakes improve lateral stability, it added.
“The Cessna Caravan is renowned for its rugged utility and adaptability to a wide variety of operations,” said Raisbeck Engineering president Hal Chrisman. “Epic Caravan will not only ease pilot workload but offer operators a more cost-effective, environmentally friendly way of flying.”
Raisbeck is pursuing a similar STC for the Cessna Grand Caravan EX and expects approval later this year. It also has begun work toward Brazil ANAC approval for the Epic Caravan mod and anticipates EASA and other foreign certifications to follow.
Police in Dallas continue to investigate an incident that occurred early Saturday morning when a drunk driver crashed through a gate at Love Field and damaged two business aircraft on the ramp at one of the Signature Flight Support FBOs.
According to police reports, the suspect—a 21-year-old male driving a GMC Sierra pickup truck—rammed a locked gate on the east side of the field around 3 a.m., drove onto the ramp and hit a fuel truck, causing minor damage to its front bumper, before impacting the wings of a Gulfstream IV and a Cessna Citation Latitude. AIN was unable to determine the extent of damage to the two jets.
The suspect, who was arrested at the scene on charges of driving while intoxicated and damaging or destroying a critical infrastructure facility, was taken to an area hospital due to his level of intoxication. In a statement, Signature Aviation said there were no injuries in the incident and added that it is cooperating fully with authorities in the course of their investigation.
London-based Muirhead Avionics signed a global repair agreement to provide repair and support services for Honeywell flight deck displays, control displays, and display computers on Embraer Legacy 600/650 business jets and ERJ-135/140/145 regional jets.
The 10-year exclusive agreement between Honeywell and Muirhead Avionics takes effect immediately. Under the agreement, customers will ship their units to Muirhead Avionics’s facility near London Heathrow Airport for servicing.
“This agreement reinforces our long-term relationship with Honeywell and will expand our repair business in the displays sector,” said Steve Wells, managing director for Muirhead Avionics, which is an Ametek MRO brand. “They have confidence in our OEM-trained technicians and our extensive history of customer support.”
The agreement comes as the avionics MRO has seen its business expand over the past 18 months. “Across the Ametek MRO organization, we are seeing new opportunities with larger OEMs,” Wells added. “It is a trend we anticipate will grow as the aviation industry recovers and OEMs embrace and promote new technologies.”
Muirhead Avionics is one of the largest independent repair facilities in Europe, providing avionics services including sales, repair, overhaul, modification, and flight recorder transcription.
Enhancing Performance Now; Increasing Value in the Future
With a customer fleet comprised of over 3,600 aircraft and 7,200 engines, Rolls-Royce Business Aviation has developed a portfolio of services that ensure its customers get the most availability from their aircraft now and top dollar at resale time.
Cirrus Aircraft has opened a dedicated regional sales office in northern France. Dubbed Cirrus France, the new office in Valenciennes will be led by Cedric Dupont, who has been appointed regional sales director. Cirrus France officially launched on March 31.
According to the manufacturer of SR20/22-series piston singles and SF50 Vision jets, Cirrus France complements its existing European network of Cirrus sales agents, Cirrus training centers, and authorized service centers. “Cirrus Aircraft is committed to the French general aviation market, considering the rich aviation culture in the country and in response to the ongoing demand for high-performance, luxury aircraft coupled with industry-leading safety features,” the company said.
Further, it plans to host Discover Cirrus events at regional airports for existing and prospective customers interested in connecting with the Cirrus Aircraft team, as well as owners and pilots.
The FAA has issued a supplemental type certificate (STC) to uAvionix for its tailBeaconX ADS-B Out Mode S transponder, which replaces rear position lights on many light aircraft models. The approval includes an initial approved model list covering more than 550 aircraft models, and more are being added, according to uAvionix.
The $1,999 tailBeaconX combines the 1090 MHz ADS-B transponder with an LED rear position light, SBAS GPS, and antennas. With a single antenna that can transmit towards the ground and up towards satellites, according to uAvionix, the tailBeaconX meets Nav Canada’s performance requirements for space-based ADS-B. This eliminates the need to install a diversity-capable ADS-B transponder for areas that will rely on space-based ADS-B, such as Canada. “TailBeaconX is the only non-diversity solution, saving aircraft owners thousands of dollars for equipment and installation as compared to a full diversity system,” the company explained.
The STC as currently approved requires installation of the tailBeaconX transponder/light as well as uAvionix’s AV-30-C multifunction display as a control head. The company is planning to offer alternative means of control via other uAvionix and third-party devices.
TailBeaconX is available now for 336 aircraft models in Canada, which don’t require an additional Transport Canada STC. But uAvionix is also working on STC validation for another 56 models in Canada.
With international private aviation traffic strongly rebounding, Universal Aviation—the ground handling arm of Universal Weather and Aviation—has added five more locations to its certified global FBO network. Each of these facilities has passed the Houston-based company’s audit for ground handling, quality, training, safety, consistency, and customer service standards.
The facilities include Skylink Executive in Cyprus, an IS-BAH Stage 2-registered facility located at Larnaca International Airport; Nile Valley Aviation at Cairo International Airport, the first ground handler to be certified by Egypt’s Civil Aviation authority; German Aviation Service’s facility at Frankfurt International Airport, which can handle everything from private jets to head-of-state aircraft; Peru’s Servicio Universal de Aviacion at Jorge Chavez International Airport in Lima, which has been in operation for nearly a half-century; and Standard Aviation at Cyril E. King Airport in St. Thomas, which has after-hours customs clearance and hangar space to accommodate ultra-long-range business jets. These locations bring the Universal network to 70 FBOs worldwide.
“Our new members all have outstanding track records and unmatched local expertise,” said Universal Aviation senior v-p Adolfo Aragon. “Their addition to our growing global network will be invaluable in helping provide our customers with a consistent level of service that meets the growing demand at these locations.”
King Aerospace is in the final throes of preparation for the May 1 opening of its new MRO facilities at Northwest Arkansas Airport (KARK), including the recent completion of testing of the fire-suppression system.
The company's KARK facility will provide nearly 195,000 sq ft of hangar, engineering, shop, and office space that will accommodate upgrades, maintenance, VIP interior refurbishment, and special mission modifications. Capable of holding multiple widebody aircraft, the hangars are equipped with LED lighting, technologies for tool and parts scanning, and advanced, hardy exhaust systems.
In addition, the hangars are fitted with upgraded fire detection provisions using a triple infrared/ultraviolet optical flame detector system that can confirm and respond to the presence of a hydrocarbon-based flame at a long distance. When a fire is verified, the system releases overhead foam water. It is designed with a “triple-spectrum design” to guard against false alarms and can be shut off remotely.
Northwest Arkansas-based fire detection and monitoring company Complex Technologies installed the purpose-built, flame-detection systems for early warning. Freedom Fire Pro, a local fire protection service provider, on March 30 tested the system to ensure it meets or exceeds the quick detection, control, and fire extinguishment objectives.
“This system has twice the required coverage, providing double the protection and quicker response,” said King Aerospace COO Greg Watson.
Supersedes but retains requirements of AD 2020-22-01, which mandated inspecting main gearbox suspension bars attachments, fittings, and associated framebores for discrepancies, applicablecorrective actions, and reporting certain information.Updated AD addsrecurring inspections andrevises the applicable service information. Prompted by reportsof corrosion on attachment screws andfittings fastening the main gearbox suspension bars tothefuselage.
Requires revising the rotorcraft flight manual to remove a discrepancy regarding the rotorcraft stay-up flying capabilities for Category Boperation, which were provided through performance data only, not asairworthiness limitations that aredependent upon on the number ofpassengers on board.
Requires inspection for missing fasteners and damage to stringer 19 between fuselage station FS945.75 and FS961.45, repair of any damage found, and—if fasteners are missing—installation of fasteners. Prompted by the disclosure that three fasteners attaching the fuselage skin to stringer 19 may be missing. Under compressive loads, missing fasteners may subject the skin to inter-rivet buckling, creating a hazard of permanent deformation and/or cracking of the skin. The affected area of the fuselage is a build-up of skin, stringers, and frames, and is identified as a principal structural element for which missing fasteners could significantly reduce safety margins.
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