Bill Would Effectively End Most Heli Tourism in U.S.

Citing a pair of recent high-profile helitour crashes in his home state, U.S. Rep. Ed Case (D-HI) yesterday proposed legislation that would all but eliminate the industry. Case’s “Safe and Quiet Skies Act” would direct the FAA to impose a series of restrictions on the industry, including flying no lower than 1,500 feet agl; prohibiting flights over military installations, national cemeteries, national wilderness areas, national parks, and national wildlife refuges; and forbidding pilots to act as tour narrators.

It would also require helicopters to have a noise signature no greater than 55 dbA during overflight over any “occupied area,” be it commercial, residential, or recreational—a standard that no currently certified helicopter can meet. Further, the bill would scuttle federal pre-emption with regard to airspace and air operations by giving states and localities the power to “impose additional requirements—stricter than the minimum national requirements called for in the act—on tour flights.”

Case’s bill would have a major impact on Hawaii. The Hawaii Helicopter Association estimates that helicopter operators annually contribute $150 million to the state economy. The association points out that it has endeavored to address the concerns of citizen groups and regulators by investing more than $100 million in quiet-technology helicopters, adopting “fly neighborly” programs as advocated by the Helicopter Association International (HAI), and employing the PlaneNoise noise reporting and measuring system since 2017.

While Welcomed, Supersonic NPRM Draws Industry Caution

While believing that the FAA’s recent proposal on special flight authorizations for civil supersonic flight is a key step toward making such operations a reality, manufacturers are seeking changes to stipulations that they fear serve as a barrier to testing over land. Released in June, the proposal would facilitate special authorizations for supersonic flights primarily for flight-testing purposes. Coming at the behest of a congressional directive, the proposal is being praised in the industry as “an important first step toward enabling the next generation of environmentally responsible supersonic aircraft.”

“For manufacturers, testing at supersonic speeds will allow them to better understand the environmental impacts supersonic flight will have and inform decisions on the future design and operation of aircraft,” the Aerospace Industries Association and GAMA said in joint comments.

But manufacturers had concerns about restrictive language, including the use of  “no sonic boom overpressure” and “no measurable sonic boom overpressure” as the implied standard for supersonic test flight over land. The associations called the terms “absolute prohibitions” and said they “would be unduly restrictive and…that an applicant would be unable to guarantee a test flight.”

GAMA and AIA suggested that the FAA instead ensure that such flights would have no significant impacts on the environment or communities and asked the FAA to use the same standards as used in other forms of transportation.

Asset Insight Expands Free Access to Aircraft Data

Asset Insight announced yesterday it will make available its direct operating cost (DOC) data for turbine-powered business aircraft free of charge. “Asset Insight is committed to building a healthy, inclusive, and educated community, without restricting access to information and knowledge by price,” said Asset Insight president Tony Kioussis.  

The data is now available to users through Asset Insight’s eValues system. All it requires is individual users to select a free plan, and the creation of a login ID and password. Asset Insight’s DOC figures are based on real-time fuel costing, utilization, and maintenance expense for individual serial numbers in the active global fleet, compared with data from traditional sources that is typically updated monthly. 

Availability of DOC data follows Asset Insight’s move earlier this month to offer users free access to serial-number-specific market values accounting for actual modifications, hourly cost maintenance program coverage, and maintenance inspection completions, as well as current and projected values by make, model, and year of manufacture.

Singapore’s Clermont Group Acquires Eviation Aircraft

Singapore-based Clermont Group has completed its majority acquisition of Eviation Aircraft, the companies announced today. In January, Clermont entered into an agreement to acquire a 70-percent stake in the Israel-based startup, which plans to become the first-to-market manufacturer of an all-electric-propulsion aircraft.

Eviation is working on the all-electric Alice, which targets middle-mile commutes of up to 650 miles and was unveiled at the Paris Air Show in June. Also at the airshow, the company announced its first commercial contract—with U.S.-based Cape Air—and expects to begin shipping the aircraft for commercial use in 2022.

Clermont Aerospace also owns electric engine company magniX. Besides securing a commitment from Eviation at the Paris show to power the Alice with magni250 engines, magniX recently announced a program with Canadian seaplane operator Harbour Air to certify its magni500 motor.

“Eviation and magniX are two highly complementary platforms both focused on making the dream of sustainable flight a reality,” said Clermont Group chairman Richard Chandler. “Electric airplanes will shape the future of the aviation and transportation industries making air travel cleaner, cheaper and more efficient. We are at the dawn of a new era in aviation and Clermont is investing in innovation to lead this transformation.”

NBAA Sets 2020 Regional Forums Schedule, Cities

NBAA has set its business aviation regional forum schedule for 2020 to include West Palm Beach, Florida; San Jose, California; and White Plains, New York. The forums are designed to bring together a region’s current and prospective business aircraft owners and operators with manufacturers and others in the industry to showcase products and services, discuss important issues, and provide education. They each typically attract about 2,500 attendees and include 150 indoor exhibits and a static display of about 35 aircraft. Educational sessions generally address a variety of topics such as market updates, tax and regulatory changes, aviation safety, and workforce development.

“At NBAA’s regional forums, you can experience the excitement and energy of the business aviation industry in a single day, right in your part of the country,” said NBAA v-p of events Dina Green. “We transform a local airport into a showcase for all the latest technology and trends shaping airborne mobility.”

West Palm Beach will kick off next year’s forum series on January 29 at Palm Beach International Airport (PBI), followed by March 5 at San Jose International Airport (SJC) and June 10 at Westchester County Airport (HPN) in White Plains, New York.

Also new to NBAA’s 2020 calendar is the International Operators Conference (IOC), which is scheduled for March 16 to 19 in Charlotte, North Carolina.

FCC Fines Companies for FAA Wx Radar Interference

The U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has proposed fines and issued a formal warning related to wireless internet providers that allegedly caused interference to the FAA’s doppler weather radar station at San Juan International Airport in Puerto Rico. Three separate $25,000 fines were proposed against Boom Solutions, Integra Wireless, and WinPR.

According to the FCC complaint, the companies used unlicensed national information infrastructure devices for point-to-point wireless broadband communication. “In each case, the companies apparently misconfigured the devices by turning off a required feature that would have prevented the devices from causing interference,” the complaint said. 

"Interference to these weather radar stations, which are used to detect wind shear and other dangerous weather conditions, is potentially life-threatening,” the FCC said. In those instances, which occurred in late 2018, no safety incidents related to the interference were reported. 

In addition to the proposed fines, the commission warned internet operators, manufacturers, and marketers of the devices that they must be certified under FCC rules. The companies cited will be given an opportunity to respond before the FCC takes final action.

Another Citation Crash and Burn with No Fatalities

For the fourth time in six weeks, passengers and crew evacuated safely from a Cessna Citation following a crash and before fire consumed their aircraft. The latest accident occurred on Tuesday and involved a Citation Excel that crashed while on final approach to Aligarh Airport, India. It reportedly contacted high tension wires and came down in the grass between the runway and perimeter fence. A fire destroyed the jet, but all six occupants evacuated safely.

Just six days earlier, on August 21, a Citation Excel suffered a runway excursion after an aborted takeoff at Oroville Airport, California. All 10 occupants evacuated the aircraft before fire engulfed the airplane.

On August 15, a Citation Latitude overran the runway and caught fire after landing at Elizabethton Municipal Airport near Bristol, Tennessee. Five persons on board, including retired Nascar driver Dale Earnhardt Jr., his wife, and infant daughter escaped without serious injuries. The aircraft was destroyed by the fire.

Escaping without serious injury after crash landing his 1981 Citation II on July 17 at Nevada’s Mesquite Airport, the sole-occupant pilot was subsequently arrested on one count of operating an aircraft under the influence of alcohol. The aircraft was totaled from the post-crash fire. Meanwhile, the pilot is out of jail and his next scheduled court appearance is on November 13.

Banyan Air To Host Customer Bash for 40th Anniversary

Fort Lauderdale Executive Airport-based FBO and MRO Banyan Air Service will host a customer-appreciation open house on September 14 to celebrate its 40th anniversary. The free event will feature exhibits, an aircraft static display, entertainment, product demonstrations, food and drinks, giveaways, and tram tours.

“It was 1979 when it all began, and it is hard to believe it’s been 40 years,” said Banyan president Don Campion. “It’s been a fantastic journey and it’s [to] our dedicated teammates and loyal customers that we owe our success.”

During the event, Banyan teammates will take turns sitting in a dunk tank to raise funds that benefit Banyan’s Egbe Hospital and School of Nursing revitalization project. Several vendors will also be exhibiting at the open house, including Fort Lauderdale Executive Airport, FXE Flight Center, Garmin, Go Rentals, Ray-Ban Sunglasses, Snap-On Tools, and The Bahamas Ministry of Tourism. The aircraft static display will feature a HondaJet, Cirrus SR20, Diamond DA20, and Cessna 172 alongside cars and motorcycles from Rick Case Automotive Group.

5G for Bizav: Separating Fact from Fiction

Join us for a free lunch event on October 22 at NBAA 2019 in Las Vegas to hear from a panel of subject experts who will discuss the latest technological advancement for connectivity in aviation—5G. They'll help you cut through the noise in the market to better understand what a true 5G network is, as well as what it will mean for anyone traveling on a private aircraft and what elements are required, end-to-end, for a network to be truly 5G. Attendees will also be entered to win a YETI gift basket. Sponsored by Gogo Business Aviation.