Pilots who need a European type rating to fly the Cirrus Vision Jet can now train at Poland-based Aero Poznan, under a partnership agreed to by the two companies. Cirrus Aircraft also unveiled new international financing available from Cirrus Finance. Cirrus has delivered more than 200 Vision Jets since the aircraft received FAA certification in 2016, and more than 400 pilots are type rated in the single-engine jet.
Aero Poznan, located in Poznan, is home to a full-motion Vision Jet simulator built by Australia’s CKAS Mechatronics. The only other full-motion Vision Jet simulator is a CAE-built level-D device used for FAA type-rating training at Cirrus’s Nashville, Tennessee, customer center.
EASA type-rating training is done in the simulator, although newly type-rated pilots may require training or supervised operating experience in the aircraft as well. Aero Poznan also offers recurrent training for the Vision Jet. For those interested in learning more about the light jet, Aero Poznan has developed an eight-hour, one-day course that includes ground school and training in the Vision Jet simulator.
The availability of financing through Cirrus Global Finance helps European buyers with “preferred rates, terms, and conditions only available through Cirrus Aircraft,” according to the company. AirFinance facilitates the financing through Cirrus Global Finance in more than 170 countries, with support from the U.S. Export-Import Bank.
SAF Coalition Welcomes New Member, Issues New Guide
The Business Aviation Coalition for Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) today released an updated version of its guide to the use of SAF. The new version, titled Fueling the Future, details the advances in the industry since its original publication in 2018. The coalition, which includes NBAA, EBAA, GAMA, IBAC, and NATA also announced that it has welcomed a new member, the Commercial Aviation Alternative Fuels Initiative (CAAFI), which contributed to the new guide.
The guide serves as a resource detailing the development of SAF, industry adoption, and the anticipated expansion of supply from a business aviation perspective. As a proven drop-in replacement for conventional jet-A, SAF blends in a component derived from bio-based or other renewable feedstock sources, which on a gallon-per-gallon basis typically reduce net lifecycle CO2 emissions by more than 50 percent over conventional fuel. Anticipated advances could bring that reduction to 100 percent or more, making use of the fuels carbon-negative.
“This new edition of the guide reinforces our global commitment to sustainable aviation fuels, and provides a fresh resource to further educate the business aviation industry of this drop-in alternative jet fuel,” said IBAC director general Kurt Edwards. “SAF represents a critical measure to help the global industry meet its long term goal to address climate change by halving carbon emissions by 2050, relative to 2005 levels.”
Transport Canada Approves Constant’s CL604 Upgrade
Constant Aviation has received Transport Canada Civil Aviation approval for its Bombardier Challenger 604 flight deck upgrade, representing a promising new area of business for the Cleveland-based MRO provider. The upgrade replaces the Challenger 604’s factory-installed CRT displays with Collins Aerospace Pro Line Fusion touchscreens.
The Transport Canada STC validation enables Constant to install the upgrade on Canadian-registered Challenger 604s. Moreover, it marks the first step toward international growth for the program with EASA approval pending.
“Transport Canada validation opens up an important market for the Challenger 604 Pro Line Fusion upgrade,” said Constant CEO David Davies. “There are more than 20 Challenger 604 aircraft registered in Canada, and their operators now have access to an unmatched avionics solution that modernizes these aircraft for many more years of use. Based on the response we have seen since launching this program in the United States, we expect Canadian-based operators will move quickly to install the Pro Line Fusion package on their Challenger 604 aircraft.”
Since Constant began the program in the U.S. in 2018, it has completed 25 Pro Line Fusion installations. It has three more installations pending in the U.S. and estimates 15 percent of Challenger 604s flying in the U.S. will receive the upgrade by mid-2021.
Airbus Delivering New Fleet of H125s to U.S. Customs
Airbus Helicopters has delivered the first of 16 new H125s uniquely configured for U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Air and Marine Operations (AMO). The company tested and delivered the first newly configured helicopter from its facility in Grand Prairie, Texas, and plans to build the remaining aircraft in Columbus, Mississippi. The Columbus plant also builds the UH-72A Lakota for the U.S. Army and has delivered more than 450 single-engine H125 aircraft for the North American market.
The H125 features dual hydraulics, dual-channel Fadec, a crash-resistant fuel system, advanced glass-panel cockpit displays, and accounts for nearly half of all helicopters delivered for law enforcement in North America over the last decade. Airbus has delivered more than 100 helicopters from the H120 and H125 family to the AMO over the last 30 years.
This latest acquisition was facilitated through a partnership with Davenport Aviation, an SBA-certified woman-owned small business and HUBZone contractor specializing in the supply of aerospace equipment to federal, state, and local government agencies. “We are honored to partner with Airbus Helicopters and U.S. Customs and Border Protection to support this fleet upgrade for enhanced law enforcement capabilities through the procurement of 16 new H125 helicopters from our GSA contract,” said Davenport Aviation owner Leah Simoes.
Aircraft Specialties Launches E-commerce Website
Aircraft Specialties—a Part 145 repair station in Omaha, Nebraska, focusing primarily on business aircraft—has launched a new e-commerce website offering aircraft parts, including bearings and seals, as well as Hot Stop L fire containment and Real Clean aircraft cleaning products.
“Our storefront is another step in our continued growth at ASI and furthers our commitment to providing our client base with simplicity and convenience to enhance their customer service experience,” said ASI director of sales Gene Portela.
A second phase of the website will add features such as access to invoices and certificates, the ability to review and approve repair and overhaul quotes, and online exchange orders. Founded in 1985, the company has specialized in the repair, overhaul, and exchange of aircraft wheels and brakes. It also offers machine shop repairs, calibration, aircraft parts, in-flight entertainment, and safety equipment.
Twin Commander Aircraft Expanding Legacy Support
Improved availability of specific parts and a couple of staff additions has enabled Twin Commander Aircraft to expand its legacy support of piston- and turbine-powered Twin Commander airplanes, the North Carolina-based company recently announced. Specifically, the hiring of technical service engineering manager Andrew Wilson and librarian Pam Moore has allowed the company to address some long-standing items of interest to Twin Commander owners.
In addition, the company is working to improve the cost and availability of some difficult-to-obtain parts. For example, Twin Commander is currently working on a replacement for the cabin pressure indicator, which the OEM hasn't provided for a number of years. The company expects a new indicator to be in stock as a custom kit in the next few months.
Owners also will soon be able to find an in-stock oxygen gauge, which hasn’t been available because the supplier no longer supported the system's components. Twin Commander said it has managed to find a different source for the manufacture of new parts at a reasonable cost.
“We are pushing forward to make sure the legacy fleet of Twin Commanders stays active,” said Twin Commander business unit director Brian Harbaugh. “With the addition of new staff, we will have the resources necessary to work hard on legacy obsolescence far into the future.”
Apollo Air Services Opens Cambridge Location
UK-based helicopter charter provider Apollo Air Services has established a new base at Cambridge City Airport. For the company, which operates a fleet of five Leonardo AW109s, Cambridge represents its first location in the southern UK, joining bases in Carlisle, Leeds, St. Andrews, and Cardiff.
According to the company, the new facility will better enable it to meet the growing demand for helicopter travel to and from the London area, South Coast, and cities on the continent. “We already have bases in Scotland, Wales, and the north of England and now we can better service the whole of the country and meet the growing demand coming out of London,” said Steve Graham, the operator’s managing director. “We are also seeing more inquiries for trips to Paris and northern Europe, as customers want to avoid commercial planes, and now, from a distance perspective, this is more feasible and cost-effective for both us and our clients.”
Since the Covid pandemic-induced lockdown ended, both Apollo and Cambridge Airport have noted a strong increase in inquiries for private charter flights, more than 40 percent over the previous year, half of which are from first-time customers.
“There has never been a better time to charter flights, and we see this partnership as offering passengers the very best travel experience, whether for business or pleasure,” added airport director Kevan Craske.
MRO Insider Sees Brisk Interest In Mobile App
Twenty-eight maintenance providers operating in 68 locations in North America, Mexico, and the U.K. have joined MRO Insider’s aircraft maintenance services mobile app since the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic, the company announced.
“With more service providers restricting travel for their sales team, yet charter flights picking up, we are seeing a steep increase in interest and use on our digital (request for quote) platform, especially with the MRO Insider AOG/detailing/parts app we recently launched,” said MRO Insider co-founder Andy Nixon.
When the app went live in July, the company saw a dozen AOG requests come through, which Nixon said, “were quickly taken care of by providers on the MRO Insider network.” The app allows operators to summon AOG, parts, detailing, and equipment rental services from a variety of providers, based on their location. It also allows them to compare hourly rates, provide an estimated time of arrival of their aircraft, and offer reviews of those maintenance providers.
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Requires removing certain longitudinal trim actuators, lateral trim actuators, and yaw trim actuators from service and prohibits installing such parts on MBB-BK 117 D-2 helicopters. This AD was prompted by the discovery that certain of these parts, which are certified for installation on MBB-BK 117 C-2 helicopters, were erroneously listed as eligible for installation on MBB-BK 117 D-2 helicopters.
Requires a one-time inspection of each affected fuel tank and, depending on findings, replacement with a serviceable tank. A manufacturing non-conformity has been reported on an EC 175 B fuel tank, returned for repair, involving reduced coverage of the external fabric layer on the metallic plates. This condition, if not detected and corrected, could lead to fuel leakage, possibly resulting in fire ignition conditions on board following an otherwise survivable impact.
Requires amendment of the applicable Airplane Flight Manual to incorporate applicable emergency procedures cases of display failure. The AD is prompted by occurrences of primary display unit (PDU) data flickering on affected aircraft equipped with EASy software. Investigations have not identified the precise root cause, but have highlighted this phenomenon is linked to a modular avionics unit (MAUxA) failure, which leads to primary flight data flickering on the MAUxA PDU (blinking red crosses and/or blinking blue screen background). This situation inhibits the use of the MAUxA PDU and may have disturbing side effects on the other PDU. This condition, if not corrected, could lead to excessive workload, preventing the crew to perform communication and navigation tasks. To address this potential unsafe condition, Dassault issued an emergency procedure “ALL DU BLANK” dedicated to the event of an unrecoverable failure of all display units and an abnormal procedure “Intermittent loss of ADI and HSI data on PDU” dedicated to recovering the flickering of one PDU and the related side effects.
Requires replacement of the forward and aft wire pull fittings on certain of the affected airplanes. AD is prompted by an investigation finding the fittings are prone to stress corrosion cracking at low cycles/hours. Failure of these wire pull fittings will reduce the strength of the float undercarriage below the required structural capability and could result in a failure of the undercarriage causing the air to tip over and be submerged.
AD requires installing auxiliary circuit breaker modification kits and inserting a Rotorcraft Flight Manual (RFM) supplement into the existing RFM. This AD was prompted by two incidents of erroneous low oil pressure caution cockpit indications and unintended actuation of the main gearbox auto bypass valve.
Supersedes AD 2016-02-06, which required inspecting certain tail rotor (T/R) pitch link bearing bores for corrosion and pitting. AD 2016-02-06 also required a repetitive inspection of the sealant and repeating the inspections for corrosion and pitting if any sealant is missing. This new AD retains the requirements of AD 2016-02-06, expands the applicability, and adds a repetitive inspection. This AD was prompted by an FAA determination that additional part-numbered T/R pitch link assemblies (links) are affected by the same unsafe condition and that an additional repetitive inspection is necessary to address the unsafe condition.
Supersedes AD 2017-14-05, which required replacing certain right-hand (RH) hydraulic pumps and was prompted by reports of broken screws that attach the cover of the hydraulic pump. This new AD requires replacing certain left-hand and RH hydraulic pumps. This AD was prompted by reports of broken bolts that attach the cover of the hydraulic pump.
Requires, for some helicopters, replacement of affected life raft reservoirs and, for other helicopters, inspections of the valve pull rod and the actuator cable of the life raft and, depending on findings, corrective action(s). This AD also prohibits (re)installation of an affected reservoir on any helicopter. This AD stems from a report of inadvertent activation and deployment of the emergency life raft while the helicopter was in flight. Following the deployment, the life raft separated from the helicopter and was lost at sea. This condition, if not detected and corrected, may lead to further unintended activation and deployment of the emergency life raft in flight and separation with possible impact on the rotors, resulting in reduced control of the helicopter.
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