XOJet Aviation is in the midst of a fleet refurbishment program for 16 of its medium-cabin twinjets that will mean new interiors and exterior paint for some of its oldest Challenger 300s and exterior paint for its Cessna Citation Xs, the latter of which senior v-p for maintenance operations Todd Hattaway said was much needed.
Begun in February, the refresh program is an effort to align the XOJet Aviation Challenger 300 fleet with that of the interiors and exteriors of the VistaJet Challenger 350 fleet. (Both companies are units of Vista Global Holdings.) In addition, VistaJet's silver and red livery will be applied to XOJet's Citation Xs.
For the Challenger 300s, the interior refresh includes seats, carpets, trim, cabinets, and other soft goods, as well as TCAS 7.1 upgrades. Also, it is trying out a Cobalt Aerospace wireless charging pad in the cabin of a couple of the refurbished Challengers.
So far, the interior/exterior refresh has been completed on three Challenger 300s. Two of XOJet's Citation Xs have received new exterior paint, with a third currently in the process. A fourth Citation X is undergoing maintenance but will be headed to the paint shop afterward.
CAE has expanded its live online training to include instructor-led maintenance training programs for Bombardier, Dassault, and Gulfstream business aircraft, as well as specific helicopter programs, the Canadian training company announced this week. The training provider's offerings include real-time instruction in a setting that enables interaction between instructors and students.
“We are thrilled to expand our virtual classrooms to support business jet operators at a time when it is needed most. Maintenance technicians are now able to take advantage of instructor-led training online, keeping them healthy and their operations flying safely,” said CAE group president of civil aviation training solutions Nick Leontidis. “Throughout the pandemic, we have strived to find new ways of delivering essential training, and this approach is a prime example of how we are supporting our customers during unprecedented times.”
Using a Webex-based platform, CAE’s courses are designed to offer flexibility for maintenance training, including interactive demonstrations and courseware compliance to regulatory and scheduling guidelines. Business jet maintenance training platforms include the Bombardier Learjet 60 and 60XR; Dassault Falcon 2000, 2000EX, 2000EX EAsy, 50, 50EX, 7X, 900B, 900C/EX, and 900EX EAsy; and Gulfstream GIV series, G450, GV, and G550.
U.S. DOT To Ban Charter Flights to Cuba
Effective October 13, charter flights between the U.S. and Cuba are expected to be prohibited, except for public charters to and from Havana as well as for emergency medical purposes, search and rescue, and “other travel deemed to be in the interest of the United States,” according to the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT). Although published by the DOT as a notice of suspension, additional wording indicates the decision might not be final.
No reason was given for this action, nor was there any proposal published before the order asking for comments. However, interested parties do have until September 3 to file “objections.” The DOT said it will “afford full consideration to the matters or issues raised by the objections to our tentative decision.”
The DOT also warned operators about trying to do an end-run around the provisions. This notice “applies to charter flights operated nonstop, as well as those involving third-country intermediate stops,” the notice cautioned. “The DOT will not look favorably upon operations that seek to evade the requirements of this order...and reserves the right to pursue those involved in such operations through enforcement action.”
MDHI Center Completes 5,000-hour Overhaul on MD 902
MD Helicopters (MDHI) completed a 5,000-hour airframe overhaul, along with inspections, repairs, and modifications, on an MD 902 Explorer that CoxHealth operates in partnership with Air Methods. CoxHealth’s Cox Air Care has two MD 902 Explorers in its fleet that provide helicopter air ambulance services throughout southwest Missouri and parts of northwest Arkansas from bases at Cox South in Springfield and Citizens Memorial Healthcare in Bolivar, Missouri.
“Cox entrusted our MDHI team to perform a significant amount of work on their aircraft in addition to an overhaul, including inspections, a nose-mounted SX-5 Night Sun installation, roof rib bracket upgrade, and thruster modification,” said Nick Nenadovic, v-p of aftermarket and customer support. “MD’s factory service center was able to perform all of this work quickly and economically, getting CoxHealth back in the air with their aircraft flying like new.”
MDHI’s factory service center provides a range of repair and overhaul services on the company’s helicopter lines, including restoring or exchanging parts and providing inspections, overhauls, refurbishments, and upgrades.
Vertical Aerospace Unveils VA-1X Fixed-wing eVTOL
Vertical Aerospace today unveiled the revised design for its all-electric eVTOL aircraft, with service entry now planned in 2024. Called the VA-1X, the UK company said it will be able to fly up to around 100 miles at speeds of 150 mph.
The new design, which features a fixed-wing with tiltrotors and a V-shaped tail, marks a significant change from the earlier Seraph technology demonstrator with its eight rotors installed on beams. In January, Vertical Aerospace announced its intention to switch to a fixed-wing configuration after concluding it needed to provide more range.
Vertical Aerospace will soon start to build the prototype at its headquarters in Bristol and aims to achieve first flight next year. With a wingspan of just over 49 feet and a 42-foot-long fuselage, the VA-1X will be able to accommodate up to four passengers and one pilot. Payload capacity will be 992 pounds, which is almost twice as much as the Seraph.
According to the company, the new design will be able to take off and land at existing helipads and its distributed propulsion system, powered by lithium-ion batteries, will make the VA-1X around 30 times quieter than a conventional helicopter.
This story comes from the new FutureFlight.aero resource developed by AIN to provide objective, independent coverage and analysis of new aviation technology, including electric aircraft developments.
Alto Aviation’s Cadence Switch Series (CSS) has proven a popular retrofit, with owners of more than 100 business jets opting to install the company’s customizable cabin switch panels. The CSS modules require no software but provide switch functionality through discrete logic, simplifying installation and allowing replacement of older non-supported switches with no need to alter cabin furnishings or woodwork because they fit in existing cutouts.
The CSS modules feature one to six switch positions, as well as USB charging, HDMI port, Bluetooth interface, and ordinance signage, adding new functionality to cabin management systems with broken, unserviceable, or obsolete passenger controls, according to Alto. Multiple modules can be combined in one bezel to create a configured switch panel, with an independent overlay allowing for the module to serve a variety of functions. The overlays also can rotate so they can be placed vertically or horizontally.
To define how the module is configured, an eight-channel relay controller is interfaced with the switches. A temperature controller is also available.
“The Cadence Switch Series has been instrumental in satisfying the replacement requirements of legacy systems,” said Kevin Hayes, v-p of sales and marketing.
NATA GA Airports Initiative Reaches Colorado
The National Air Transportation Association has completed its first tour under the newly launched General Aviation Advancing America campaign, landing at seven regional airports throughout Colorado and holding focus groups in four communities. Unveiled earlier this month, the General Aviation Advancing America initiative is designed to highlight the importance of rural airports to economic development, job recovery, and emergency response through a series of meetings with small focus groups involving community leaders and aviation stakeholders.
In the first round, NATA senior v-p Ryan Waguespack led focus groups in Loveland, Longmont, Salida, and Meadow Lake. The airports and their tenants serving those communities generate 1,879 jobs and more than $143 million in annual revenue.
“The General Aviation Advancing America gatherings are designed to encourage open dialogue among a focused group of key participants on how general aviation stakeholders facilitate the success of the community. Additionally, this platform provides forums for collaborating on how we can best support and promote the significant, meaningful contributions the airport and its tenant businesses provide,” Waguespack said.
"These essential businesses all have great stories,” said NATA president and CEO Timothy Obitts, adding the initiative has received an “outpouring of support."
The FAA announced plans on Monday to evaluate at least 10 drone mitigation technologies/systems at its William J. Hughes Technical Center in Atlantic City, New Jersey. The effort is part of the FAA’s Airport Unmanned Aircraft Systems Detection and Mitigation Research Program. After the initial testing and evaluation in Atlantic City, the agency expects to expand the effort to four additional U.S. airports.
Those selections will be made at a later date. Interested manufacturers, vendors, and integrators of drone detection and/or mitigation technologies/systems will have 45 days to respond to the FAA’s announcement.
The FAA Reauthorization Act of 2018 requires the FAA to work with heads of the Department of Defense, Homeland Security, and other relevant federal agencies to “ensure that technologies/systems that are developed, tested, or deployed by federal departments and agencies to detect and/or mitigate potential risks posed by errant or hostile UAS operations do not adversely impact or interfere with safe airport operations, navigation, air traffic services, or the safe and efficient operation of the National Airspace System (NAS).” The Act also requires the FAA to develop a plan for the certification, permitting, authorizing, or allowing of UAS detection and mitigation technologies/systems in the NAS.
AIN Webinar: Separating Fact from Fiction in Bizav Market
Industry leaders on the front line of business aviation will share their candid insights and opinions on the real state of the market, what we can expect through 2021, and strategies for managing during a crisis while targeting new business opportunities. Please join us on October 6 as AIN editor-in-chief Matt Thurber moderates this discussion with Jay Mesinger, president and CEO of Mesinger Jet Sales; Keith G. Swirsky, Esq., president of GKG Law, P.C., and Dan Drohan, chairman and CEO Solairus Aviation. Register now for this no-cost webinar.
Supersedes but retains the requirements of EASA AD 2017-0114, which mandated repetitive visual inspections of the upper vertical fin attachments screws and the fin spar for cracks, as well as repetitive cleaning and detailed inspections of the vertical fin attachments and, depending on findings, any necessary corrective action(s). That AD also provided an optional terminating action modification. Updated AD reduces the inspection interval for and amends the instructions of these visual inspections.
Requires repetitive visual inspections of elevator torque tube bearings and functional tests of the elevator control system to detect and replace contaminated bearings. Prompted by two in-service findings where both the left-hand and right-hand elevator torque tube bearings were contaminated with sand and corroded, restricting free rotation. Left uncorrected, sand contamination of the elevator torque tube bearings could lead to binding or seizure of the bearings and potentially a reduction in or loss of airplane pitch control. Findings of the inspection and functional tests must also be reported to Bombardier to assist in the investigation of this issue and possible development of alternative or additional corrective actions.
Requires either a one-time inspection or repetitive inspections, depending on serial numbers, for tail rotor blade fatigue cracks at the blade root draining hole area and any necessary corrective action(s). This AD also requires a one-time dimensional check to verify tail rotor blade conformity and also prohibits rework, repair, or modification of affected parts. Prompted by an accident of an EC130B4 helicopter in which the pilot experienced a sudden onset of vibration and loss of tail rotor control, though he was able to make a successful emergency landing. The initial investigation found that one tail rotor was broken and three others had a crack. All cracks initiated in the draining hole area at the blade root section and have been identified as fatigue cracks. In the same area, geometrical non-conformities were also observed.
Requires replacement of certain ANCRA seat tracks installed in the cabin with a serviceable part. Prompted by a finding that non-certified ANCRA seat tracks were installed on some airplanes. According to Transport Canada, affected seat tracks have not been demonstrated to sustain the necessary load during an emergency landing.
Requires a detailed inspection of certain pilot and copilot seat belt attaching point nuts for any loose or missing nuts and, if necessary, replacement. Prompted by reports of loose or missing nuts on the pilot and copilot ventral seat belt attachment points.
AINalerts News Tips/Feedback: News tips may be sent anonymously, but feedback must include name and contact info (we will withhold name on request). We reserve the right to edit correspondence for length, clarity and grammar. Send feedback or news tips to AINalerts editor Chad Trautvetter.
AIN Alerts is a publication of The Convention News Company, Inc., 214 Franklin Avenue, Midland Park, New Jersey. Copyright 2020. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without permission is strictly prohibited.
