UK-based Hill Helicopters this week unveiled the “Hill Digital Cockpit” (HDC) that monitors its HX50 turbine single. HDC provides the pilot with information as it is needed, including smart annunciations that suggest appropriate actions, and thus allows the primary flight information display to remain uncluttered.
Key features include a central location to attach an iPad for additional navigation; call card pop-ups to assist with radio calls; synthetic vision; traffic alerting; integrated forward-, rearward-, and downward-facing cameras; cloud-based flight data and video recording; and connectivity to cellular phones and music and content streaming devices. HDC was designed in collaboration with Rightware and implemented with Kanzi software, a graphics technology used in the automotive industry for advanced visualization.
The digital flight deck connects with the Hill Cloud and Hill app services to actively manage the aircraft, maintenance, flight ops, licensing, ongoing training, and currency. It is integrated with Hill’s haptic control system that provides shaped force feedback through the flight controls, which provides envelope protection for vortex ring, Vne, and rotor speed limits through the cyclic control.
“We designed HX50 to simplify flight and give aspiring pilots the confidence they can fly,” said Hill Helicopters president and CEO Jason Hill. He added that HDC “boosts safety by intelligently managing the information flow, which minimizes pilot workload and cognitive demand in all phases of flight.”
AINsight: Vaccination FAQs for Bizav Pros
In corporate board rooms around the globe, the Covid-19 vaccination—and whether to mandate it for employees—is on the agenda. After all, businesses have an ethical and legal duty to keep their staff and customers safe.
Because vaccine requirements affect business aircraft crewmembers, my team has received a number of HR-related questions in this area. In response, we crafted Covid-19-related FAQs for U.S.-based aviation departments and operators. Hopefully, our research will help flight department leaders to understand their options and what others are doing to re-establish their travel routines.
Eight out of ten aviation directors we spoke with are not requiring or mandating vaccinations to fly. Most are taking a “wait and see” approach, and their companies are leaving the decision up to employees. “We have not made vaccination a requirement for flight crews,” said an aviation director at a Fortune 100 department. “Everyone is aware that it may be required for international destinations and, to this point, all but one of our pilots have at least had their first vaccination.” And, comparatively, this response, from an aviation director with a major manufacturer: “Yes for flights, but no for hangar or office workers. However, non-essential workers may not come to the office without manager approval. Hangar protocols remain in place for everyone.” (Follow link below to see FAQs.)
Beroe: Bizjet Shipments To Climb at 6% CAGR this Decade
The Global Business Jet Industry Outlook released this week by data intelligence firm Beroe projects deliveries of 8,750 business jets over the next 10 years, with the number increasing at an average compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 6 percent. The overall business jet market is expected to reach $37.5 billion annually by 2030, expanding at a CAGR of 7.3 percent, according to the report.
North America is expected to account for the lion’s share of the forecasted business jet deliveries, with 5,250 aircraft worth $150 billion, followed by Europe and Asia-Pacific each with 1,575 aircraft worth approximately $54 billion. The remainder would be delivered to the Latin America, Middle East, and Africa regions, which along with Asia-Pacific are growing markets, Beroe said.
“Major drivers of business jet market growth are new geographical models, technological advancements, and trade globalization,” Beroe said. “Rapid technological advancements in avionics, addition of new models, entry of new players in the business aircraft market, and growing economies are the major factors supporting the business jet market's growth.”
Sheltair Adds Melbourne FBO
Sheltair has expanded its network with the addition of Apex Executive Jet Center, one of two full-service providers at Florida’s Orlando Melbourne International Airport (KMLB). For Sheltair the purchase represents its 19th FBO and the 12th in its home state.
The company has had a presence at KMLB since 1988 and already operated 250,000 sq ft of hangar space there. The new acquisition added another 52,000 sq ft of hangar space that can accommodate ultra-long-range business jets. Also included in the purchase was the 12,400-sq-ft terminal, which features a pilot lounge, flight planning area, 10-seat A/V-equipped conference room, refreshment bar, concierge, and available U.S. Customs.
Sheltair retained the existing FBO staff, including the general manager, customer service manager, and line service manager. Like the rest of the chain, the new location will be supplied by Avfuel and offer the Avtrip loyalty program.
“Melbourne International Airport is a dynamic aviation hub,” explained Milo Zonka, the company’s v-p of real estate. “Manufacturing giants, including Embraer, Northrop Grumman, and now Aerion Supersonic, co-located with STS Aviation Group’s MRO base, and the headquarters for L3Harris and Southeast Aerospace, all make Melbourne a top destination for our customers.”
Talent Shortage Concerns Return with Industry Recovery
The business aviation market is starting to rapidly take off, but looming talent shortages and supplier issues cast uncertainty on that recovery, business aviation experts said on Wednesday during an NATA air charter roundtable webinar. Craig Picken, managing director of aviation and aerospace executive recruiting services firm NorthStar Group, said 2020 brought “mediocre” results, while “2021 has been on fire.”
However, Picken added that he is concerned that periods of massive overabundance are followed by periods of massive shortages. This is typically true in aviation as people have left the market. “You are seeing massive shortages,” he said, noting the industry has shrunk its labor pool during the pandemic.
JetNet iQ creator/director Rollie Vincent agreed that the market is seeing strong signs of recovery, characterizing the situation as “euphoric.” In the U.S., business confidence is at the highest it’s been in more than a decade in light of forecasts of 6.4 percent economic growth. “That is like rocketship acceleration,” Vincent told webinar attendees.
However, he also cautioned to watch for talent shortage and supplier issues as the industry strengthens. Vincent expressed the belief that, even with a strengthening light-jet and turboprop market, it would take a couple of years for the OEMs to recover “because supply chains have to come back and we have to bring talent back.”
In addition to yachts and high-end vehicles, business, personal, and other general aviation aircraft remain in the Canadian government’s luxury tax proposal. The tax is included in the government’s federal budget, which has been pending for two years but is now expected to be enacted, with the luxury tax taking effect on Jan. 1, 2022.
The Canadian Business Aviation Association (CBAA) has been fighting the tax since it first appeared in the proposed budget in 2019. In its latest protest, the CBAA said the government’s assumption that a “small airplane is an unessential, high-end toy totally misrepresents how these aircraft are generally used.”
According to CBAA president and CEO Anthony Norejko, “Small aircraft have been a niche tool to deliver personnel, food and supplies, equipment, and other essential services to communities of all sizes, many of which have only the most basic airstrip for landing and takeoff.”
Norejko added, “The possibility of a new tax is not only unfair but can have the perverse effect of stifling an area of economic growth and reduce the ability of Canadians to conduct business and connect by using aircraft.”
Russian Partners Set To Fly Hybrid-electric Testbed
A 1970s vintage Yak-40 regional jetliner serves as the platform for what could become the Russian aerospace industry’s biggest step yet towards hybrid-electric propulsion. Developers are now preparing the testbed aircraft for an imminent first flight at the Siberian Scientific Research Academy (SibNIA) and plan to exhibit it to the public for the first time at Moscow’s MAKS 2021 airshow in July.
The project, which enjoys high-level backing from the Russian government, is mainly being led by electric motor pioneer SuperOx and the Ufa State Aviation Technology University, which is providing a generator to power the motors and recharge a lithium-ion battery. The partners have removed the original three Ivchenko-Progress AI-25 turbofans, replacing them with a pair of Honeywell’s TFE731-5BR engines and a Klimov TV2-117 turboshaft, which drives the generator.
Weighing around 100 kg (220 pounds), the generator produces between 400 and 500 kW (up to around 680 hp) of power per tonne, running at 2,500 rpm. The combined electrical power output totals about 800 volts, which the partners say is the highest achieved yet by Russian propulsion companies.
SuperOx’s battery primarily gives the Yak-40 a boost during takeoff. During cruise flight, it accumulates surplus energy while powering the company’s new electric motor, which drives a six-blade propeller at the front of the aircraft.
Helitech 2021 is set to return to the ExCeL convention center in the royal docks area of East London later this year under new management by Prysm Media Group. The organizer has partnered with the UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) and British Helicopter Association for the October 5 and 6 rotorcraft show, which will feature more than 300 exhibitors, a live fly-in, dedicated emergency service zone, and some 100 seminars.
“The show will be filled with informative, inspiring, and innovative ideas directly from front runners of the sector,” Prysm said. “This content will assist the discovery of the latest advancements from the people who are on the forefront as the rotorcraft landscape continues to adapt and diversify.”
According to the show organizer, the UK's overall civil and military rotorcraft industry will be worth an estimated £32 billion between 2019 and 2029, with the UK Ministry of Defence alone expected to purchase £10.8 billion in helicopters during that period.
“The helicopter industry is a key stakeholder, so we are looking forward to engaging with the community at Helitech Expo,” said UK CAA director Jonathan Nicholson. “As the industry safely recovers from Covid-19 and post-EU-exit, there is a significant level of change that we can discuss and share information on.”
Photo of the Week
Fantastic Fuji. Noevir corporate pilot Shinobu snapped this spectacular photo of the iconic Mt. Fuji cone in full view while flying westward from Tokyo Haneda Airport in a King Air 350i at FL200. The 12,389-foot peak is the highest in Japan. Thanks for sharing Shinobu!
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