Aerion Plans For 100 Percent Biofuel on AS2

Aerion Corp, developer of the AS2, which when completed would be the world’s first supersonic business jet, plans to certify the $120 million aircraft to be able run on pure biofuel, as well as the currently mandated jet-A blends that are seeing increasing use in commercial and business aviation.

According to the Business Aviation Guide to the Use of Sustainable Alternative Jet Fuel (SAJF), published last year by a consortium of industry organizations including GAMA, NATA, IBAC, NBAA and EBAA, the blend limits are to ensure the appropriate level of compatibility with the aircraft fueling systems, mainly due to ensuring a minimum level of aromatics, which are necessary to maintain the seals in the systems.

“From a technical standpoint, we don’t see any obstacles at this time,” said Gene Holloway, the airframer’s vice president for environmental responsibility. “The modern materials used in today’s seals do not require aromatics to promote proper sealing. Our engine, the GE Affinity, incorporates seals that allow for 100 percent biofuels.”

Holloway pointed out additional benefits from the use of pure biofuel including a significantly lower freezing point and higher energy density for improved operational efficiency and extended range. While the per gallon cost of biofuel is currently six times that of Jet A, Aerion expects that differential will drop considerably as production of SAJF ramps up.

Epic Remains on Course for E1000 Certification

Sunday’s crash of an Epic LT turboprop single that killed Natalia Fileva, the wife of Epic Aircraft owner and board member Vladislav Filev, won’t have any effect on funding or certification efforts for the Epic E1000, Epic Aircraft director of sales and marketing Mike Schrader told AIN yesterday at the Sun ’n‘ Fun Fly-In and Expo in Lakeland, Florida. “Despite this tragic event, Filev is still solidly behind the company. We are solely focused on finishing certification by the end of this year for the E1000,” he said.

The Bend, Oregon-based company is flying two conforming prototypes of its all-composite turboprop single as it finishes final performance testing and prepares for certification flights with FAA personnel. Flight into known icing or non-paved runway operations approvals will be done post certification.

The first flight test aircraft, FT1, has been conducting performance testing in Tucson, Arizona; Moses Lake, Washington; and Bend, according to Schrader. Meanwhile, FT2 has been used to evaluate the production interior, environmental system, and Garmin G1000NXi avionics, as well as the fuel and hydraulic systems.

Epic finished flutter testing in December and all structural tests are now complete, Schrader said. The company currently holds orders for more than 85 of the $3.25 million turboprop singles.

Satcom Direct Unveils Connectivity By-the-Hour Plan

Satcom Direct (SD) launched its Intelsat FlexExec airborne connectivity service this week, as part of its SD Xperience portfolio. Described as the first high-speed, managed, end-to-end broadband service designed specifically for the business aviation sector, FlexExec is distributed in partnership with Intelsat and Astronics AeroSat. For the first time, it gives operators the ability to budget hourly connectivity rates through a “power-by-the-hour” plan said the company. Customers will now have the flexibility to plan for maintenance and downtime, with an hourly rate that includes the full spectrum of SD services such as cabin connectivity, datalink, scheduling, cybersecurity, and post-flight reporting.

Users of the system are not subject to data-speed caps, with consistent delivery of up to 10 Mbps into the cabin, and 2 Mpbs out. The Ku-band system is currently operational on four aircraft types: the Gulfstream GIV, G450, and G550 as well as the Dassault Falcon 7X.

“The flexibility and resilience of the FlexExec system will bring enhanced connectivity to the industry, paired with SD Xperience at a time when synchronizing data across all aspects of flight operations to improve efficiency and safety is becoming increasingly important,” said Satcom Direct founder and CEO Jim Jensen. “The service introduction is the next step in the evolution of the digitized aviation industry.”

Citi Sees Potential for a Gulfstream G650 Follow-on

Analyst Citi is anticipating that Gulfstream Aerospace will reveal a new product this year, and believes it likely will be an enhancement to its flagship G650.

In a recent report from Citi Aerospace & Defense North America, the firm expressed its belief that Bombardier’s Global 7500 has no real competition and has created a new market that is “clearly the go-to” for the biggest. Citi questioned whether this could push up 7500 pricing, which is also helped by a long backlog. At the same time, G650 pricing may soften, but the analyst doubted that would be significant. “It’s neither a disaster nor a surprise for Gulfstream. They’ve been around for decades and are good at managing supply.”

On the product development front, Citi added, “leap-frogging is common in this industry, so we expect a new product from GD this year.” Pointing to a possible G650 enhancement, Citi suggested such an initiative could have a larger fuselage, a new engine, updated cockpit, and maybe a new wing. Such changes would avoid cannibalizing the current G650 but also ensure a quick path to service entry.

“There’s strong brand loyalty with Gulfstream, such that the 300-to-400 G650s in service provides fertile ground for new buyers of whatever comes next,” Citi said. “The 7500 backlog and the large G650/Globals installed base suggest there are going to be buyers for more, bigger aircraft down the line.”

GWBAA Safety Standdown To Look At CPDLC, New Entrants

The Greater Washington Business Aviation Association (GWBAA) will highlight the changing communications environment with Data Comm, as well as new entrants and regional safety efforts, during its 13th Annual Safety Standdown scheduled for April 18 at the NTSB Training Center in Ashburn, Virginia.

During the Standdown, Jeff Wofford, chief pilot and director of aviation for CommScope, will provide an overview of underlying issues in aviation accidents, while Harris Corp. Data Comm outreach and metrics project manager Moranda Reilly will review controller pilot datalink communications (CPDLC) with departure clearances and the en route environment. NBAA officials Heidi Williams and Paige Kroner will discuss the integration of new entrants and the association’s Safety Committee activities.

Global Jet Services president and CEO JD McHenry is the keynote speaker, discussing leadership for higher safety standards. The day wraps up with a business safety panel involving executives from FBO Partners, Jet Aviation, Sharp Details, Air Culinaire, and Geico Flight Department.

The Safety Standdown comes on the heels of GWBAA’s inaugural Open House and Static Display held on March 27. Hosted by ProJet Aviation at Leesburg Executive Airport (JYO), the event drew nearly 300 attendees and featured static displays of a range of business jets, tours of the remote air traffic control tower that has been operating at JYO, and the newly opened Customs and Border Protection facility there.

NBAA: Some Countries Testing Bizav Crews For Alcohol

Business aviation pilots and cabin crews are facing a new level of scrutiny in some countries as authorities begin testing them for alcohol consumption during ramp inspections at airports, according to NBAA. After meetings last week with EASA in Cologne, Germany, NBAA learned that officials in Denmark, Germany, and Japan have begun the testing while officials in Singapore started on March 31 at Changi (SIN) and Seletar (XSP) airports.

Brian Koester, NBAA senior manager of flight operations and regulations, told AIN on Wednesday that those countries are “ahead of the curve” on a new EASA requirement that takes effect in August 2020 calling for random alcohol testing of non-commercial flight and cabin crews during safety assessment of foreign aircraft (SAFA) inspections. Koester said 49 countries are signatory participants in the SAFA inspection program. 

Crews will be tested by breathalyzer, and results that are more than 0.02g of alcohol per 210 liters of breath are considered positive. In the event of a positive breathalyzer, the crewmember will be relieved of duty and tested a second time. Two positive results will result in the notification of the aircraft operator and, potentially, local law enforcement, NBAA said.

Raisbeck Appoints New Dealer in Texas

Turboprop maintenance and modification specialist Aerospace Instrument Support (AIS) of Denton, Texas, has been named an authorized dealer for Raisbeck Engineering, the Seattle-based developer and manufacturer of aircraft performance improvement products announced yesterday. The announcement follows a modification project by AIS of 10 factory new Beechcraft King Air 250s equipped with Raisbeck systems. 

“These mods were done in rapid succession and allowed us to perfect our process and deliver an excellent product with as minimal downtime as possible,” said AIS president Andy Johnson. “Raisbeck’s support and commitment to quality during this project were unmatched, and we are proud to be offering their product lines to our current and future customers.”

Founded in 1994 as an instrument repair facility, AIS has since expanded to include airframe inspections, structural repairs, engine repairs and overhaul, and paint and interior repair. Based at Denton Enterprise Airport (DTO), AIS operates from more than 20,000 sq ft of hangar space.

“Appointing Aerospace Instrument Support with its combined 85-plus years of [staff] experience maintaining aircraft along with their excellent customer support was a natural fit for us,” said Raisbeck president Lynn Thomas.

Bell’s eVTOL, Unmanned Efforts Draw Japanese Partner

Bell’s nascent eVTOL and unmanned programs appear to be getting another boost from a major Japanese partner. Yesterday morning, Japanese conglomerate Sumitomo announced that it is pairing with Bell to create “new logistics and transportation service with Electric Vertical Take Off and Landing aircraft (eVTOL).” Sumitomo said its goal is to use Bell’s unmanned drones and air taxis to provide a variety of aviation services by the mid-2020s. In the interim, it said it will “conduct market research, improve upon existing technologies and build new businesses to provide high-quality services at affordable prices within the air mobility space.” 

Chad Sparks, director of Bell's technology and innovation strategic campaigns, said the company is “excited to partner with Sumitomo Corporation to explore new forms of technology and change the way our passengers and goods are transported.” Bell is currently developing the Nexus air taxi and a series of unmanned air delivery vehicles called Autonomous Pod Transports (APTs).

Sumitomo companies manufacture a variety of aviation components including propellers, landing gear, heat exchangers, and pneumatic and hydraulic systems. Bell’s announced supplier partners on the Nexus include Safran, Garmin, Thales, and Moog. Last year, Bell announced that it was collaborating with Japan’s Yamato Holdings on developing autonomous eVTOL systems that could be used for on-demand package delivery and large-scale logistics by the mid-2020s.