NBAA Eyes folicy for Privacy Protections with ADS-B

NBAA president and CEO Ed Bolen is continuing the association’s push to ensure the privacy of business aircraft operators from real-time flight-tracking as operators transition to ADS-B with the Jan. 1, 2020 deadline approaching. The association has been working with the FAA’s Equip 2020 working group, which last week provided an update to the NextGen Advisory Council on the ADS-B transition.

Bolen encouraged the group to continue progress on an “opt-out” solution that would enable operators to obtain a 24-bit ICAO code. Under this option, operators would keep their permanent code tied to the N-number, but could use the secondary temporary code not tied to an N-number. Operators would have the ability to request the code at least once every 30 days, NBAA added. “While private ADS-B receivers could still detect an aircraft flying overhead, they would not see any information allowing them to match that aircraft to the owner listed in the FAA registry,” the association said.

“We remain committed to working with the FAA and others to ensure that operators are given an ability to opt-out from having their flights tracked in real-time, basically by anyone, anywhere in the world, who happens to have the appropriate equipment for doing so and whose intentions may be unknown,” said Bolen.

The industry is awaiting the release of the FAA policy regarding this approach.

Airbus Helicopters Opens Malaysian Completions Center

Airbus Helicopters opened its new regional completion and delivery center (CDC) in Subang, Malaysia, as it streamlines its services in Asia, the company announced yesterday. Previously, the regional CDC was situated in Airbus Helicopters’ Singapore facility in Seletar Aerospace Park.

According to Airbus, the new center can simultaneously accommodate up to four medium-size helicopters and is capable of completing and delivering up to 20 helicopters annually.

The company also expanded its simulation center in Malaysia, transferring the Dauphin AS365 N3/N3+ simulator from the Singapore facility to Subang, which already had an H225/H225M simulator. The Royal Malaysian Air Force and the Royal Thai Air Force are some of the H225 users in the region, as well as a number of VIP Dauphins flown in Malaysia.

The entire move is part of Airbus’s “one-roof” initiative, where Malaysia would be the regional CDC, maintenance repair and overhaul (MRO), and flight simulation center, while Singapore will be Airbus’s Asia-Pacific hub for sales, marketing, training, materials support, logistics, technical support, design engineering, and technology development.

The European manufacturer will also expand its presence in Seletar by building a new office complex by year-end and shifting its various entities under the same roof.

Satcom Tested for Civil UAS Beyond-line-of-sight Ops

Satcom service provider AirSatOne (ASO) has completed testing Cobham’s Aviator UAV 200 satcom terminal with Inertial Labs’ INS-P GPS-aided inertial navigation system. The UAV 200 was specifically designed to provide UASs with satcom connectivity for beyond-line-of-sight (BLOS) operations, which can be used for remote piloting and to provide video feed for surveillance and situational awareness.

The Cobham terminal is designed with a low-gain, electronically-steered antenna that allows for Inmarsat hemisphere coverage to 5 degrees elevation by using external navigation data. To support this, Inertial Labs equipped its INS-P with a UAV 200-compliant data format. Upon UAV system’s initialization, the Inertial Labs INS-P indicated 3D orientation, velocity as well as latitude and longitude using its IMU (1 deg/hr gyro), precision GNSS receiver and gyro-compensated Fluxgate magnetic compass.

During testing, Inertial Labs reported that connectivity remained stable with no interruptions while rotating 360 degrees, during pitch variations of greater than plus or minus 45 degrees, and roll values up to 45 degrees. Reported accuracy was position within one meter, heading variation less than 0.2 degrees, and pitch and roll variation of less than one degree. 

DAS Offers New Challenger 300/350 Inlet Warranty Scheme

Dallas Aeronautical Services (DAS) has launched an inlet acoustic and structural inlet overhaul lifetime warranty program for the Bombardier Challenger 300/350, the Texas-based Part 145 repair station announced. The non-transferable warranty covers acoustic panel and inlet structure assembly and functionality for the life of the in-service airplane. It “is the direct result of the quality of our comprehensive inlet repair, field-tested longevity, and post-repair performance lifespan,” DAS v-p of sales and marketing Elias da Silva said.

Overhaul components covered by the warranty include wire mesh and perforated skin, including corrosion; bonded assembly to include the core and skin, as well as corrosion; outer skins and erosion on the graphite surface at fastener location; and the mount/attach ring, corrosion included. “Our OEM spec inlet repair is comprehensive, thorough, and continually recognized by Challenger 300 and 350 owners and operators,” da Silva added. “Lifetime coverage of both inlet acoustic panel and structure repairs is the next logical step to support our clients.”

DAS will also continue to offer the existing transferable 36-month warranty for Challenger 300/350 inlet acoustic and structural inlet overhaul.

New Onboard Helicopter Hook Cockpit Display Approved

Onboard Systems’ new C-40 cargo hook cockpit indicator has been certified by the FAA for use on Onboard's model E-86 weighing system for the Airbus Helicopters AS350 and H125. The kit also has been submitted to Transport Canada and EASA for certification approval. This is the first Onboard weighing system approved for the C-40 indicator, which uses advanced microcontroller technology to measure and display the cargo weight on a hook. 

“We look forward to announcing certification for the C-40 on many additional kits and aircraft in the months ahead,” said Onboard vice president of sales and marketing Karsten Lemmon.

Onboard’s systems display the weight—accurate within 10 pounds—of the load on the cargo hook via a cockpit display. Weight on the hook is measured by an electronic, temperature-compensated load cell using strain-gauge technology. The C-40 indicator offers improvements over the current C-39 indicator including simplified hook TBO tracking, improved LCD screen contrast, and a digital weight reading with an analog bar display.

A forthcoming data logging software upgrade will allow operators to record time, load weight, and GPS coordinates for pick-up and drop-off locations. Software upgrades can be downloaded from Onboard’s website onto a thumb drive for field installation.

Flightstar Announces New Argentina STCs for Learjet 40

The National Civil Aviation Administration of Argentina (ANAC) has approved Flightstar’s STCs for ADS-B Out and single wide area augmentation system (WAAS) flight management system (FMS) with localizer performance with vertical guidance (LPV) monitor for the Bombardier Learjet 40 series. These STCs were approved by the FAA in 2016.

Two different options for GPS pairing are available to operators with Flightstar’s ADS-B STC: a Honeywell KGS-200 standalone GPS that doesn’t require an upgrade to existing FMS systems or two Universal Avionics UNS-1Ew FMS units that serve as the GPS position source. Flightstar’s single WAAS FMS STC uses one Universal Avionics UNS-1Ew FMS unit and LPV monitor that offers full LPV capability, allowing operators to achieve ADS-B compliance without the need for a second FMS unit.

Based in Champaign, Illinois, at the University of Illinois-Willard Airport (KCMI), Flightstar operates an FBO and MRO from more than 112,000 sq ft of hangar space. It also offers avionics sales, installation, and repair, as well as charter and aircraft management.

Airwolf Adds FAA-approved Bell 407 Main Rotor Elastomerics

Airwolf Aerospace is now offering FAA-approved PMA (parts manufacturer approval) main rotor head elastomeric bearings for the Bell 407. “This is Airwolf’s first elastomeric offering,” said Eric Wolff, Airwolf Aerospace v-p of sales and business development. The new bearings are available for immediate delivery, the company said.

The new PMA'd bearings “are equivalent to Bell part numbers 407-310-100-107, 407-310-101-105, and 407-310-102-103,” according to Airwolf, and include dampers, shear bearings, and lead-lag (CF) bearings.

Airwolf’s PMA’d helicopter TT straps have been available for more than 11 years, and the company manufactures these for the Bell 206, 204, 205, 212, and UH-1, and Enstrom models. 

“As the aerospace industry continues to consolidate, independent small businesses such as Airwolf are crucial to operators as they fight to keep costs under control,” Wolff said. “Airwolf is always striving to give helicopter operators more choices and reducing their costs.”

Million Air Dallas’s Mary Nevada-Morgan Dies at 35

Mary Nevada-Morgan, who had left a mark for strong customer service during her eight-year tenure with Million Air Dallas, died unexpectedly on June 29 at the age of 35. Born Sept. 17, 1983, in Dallas, she graduated from the University of Dallas with a bachelor’s degree in human resources and management.

Nevada-Morgan later joined Million Air and had served as a senior customer service representative/account specialist. In that role, company executives said, she had worked with a number of corporate operators, many of whom became “loyal customers (fans).” Her customer service earned her “Above and Beyond” recognition in this year’s AIN FBO Survey. 

“Wherever a beautiful soul has been, there is a trail of beautiful memories. It is with deep sadness that we share the news of the passing of Mary Nevada-Morgan, a senior CSR at Million Air Dallas,” the FBO chain said in a statement, adding the “entire Million Air family…will truly miss her. She will always be remembered for her joyful heart, love for others, and the spirit that will always be Mary.”

She is survived by her husband, Christian Morgan, as well as daughter Jocelyn Nevada-Morgan and mother Norma Reyes Nevada.