Daher teamed with customized Land Rover and outdoor experience provider Himalaya to offer a package that pairs a special-edition Kodiak 100 Series II turboprop single with the Defender 110 Land Rover. A limited number of Kodiak 100s with customized Himalaya badging and livery will be offered as part of a package that also includes an off-road Defender 110 and a customized trip to Himalaya’s new Experience Center in Alpine, Wyoming, for $3 million.
The partnership plays on the Kodiak’s reputation as a rugged utility aircraft designed for backcountry operations. “This partnership is an exciting opportunity for Kodiak Aircraft to join forces with a company that shares our passion for outdoor exploration and adventure,” said Kodiak chief demo pilot and sales director Mark Brown. “Combining the elements of air travel with off-road driving was a natural fit when putting this package together.”
As for the Experience Center visit, Himalaya is planning to offer backcountry guiding on snowmobiles and snow bikes with a team specializing in custom-built motorsports equipment year-round.
“When we first built this Experience Center, our goal was to emphasize exactly what the Himalaya brand is all about, which is the desire to seek out adventure. In partnering with a legendary aircraft brand like Kodiak, we’ve established another element that sets us apart,” said Himalaya president Greg Shondel.
AINsight: Update on FAA Policies During the Pandemic
The FAA’s medical policies during the pandemic remain a moving target as it learns more about the virus. But given that there are no all-inclusive answers at present, the best action is the conservative one. If there is any question about Covid-19 exposure, a pilot should quarantine.
A recent FAA statement notes the agency is “closely monitoring the active Covid vaccine trials,” adding, “While the agency has made no final decisions, we are prepared to evaluate the use of each vaccine…as soon as an emergency use authorization is issued.”
As of today, there are no Covid vaccines yet approved in the U.S., although emergency approval for at least one of the vaccines could be issued this weekend. While the FAA has typically supported the use of most vaccines in pilots, a pilot should avoid taking any vaccine until clear approval is given by the FAA.
Pilots ask me if I am going to get the vaccine. My answer is that, as soon as a vaccine is approved and available to health care workers, I will gladly take it when offered to me.
I am hopeful that through the availability of vaccines and with ongoing dedication to virus mitigation strategies—wearing a mask, washing hands frequently, and social distancing—that in the foreseeable future we will gradually see a return to a more productive society.
Gulfstream Slides Timeline for Alliance Service Center
Gulfstream Aerospace will be focusing on the construction and opening of a new service center at Fort Worth Alliance Airport in Texas, as well as preparing its maintenance teams for the entry into service of the G700, customer support president Derek Zimmerman said on a webinar this week. “I think the big one for us is just getting ready for the transition into Alliance Airport,” he said.
Groundbreaking on the $42 million, 163,000-sq-ft facility was originally expected to begin in the third quarter, with an opening in 2021. Now, Zimmerman believes it will be the first quarter of 2021 before construction begins, followed by an early to mid-2022 opening. The transition will involve preparing about 135 maintenance staff to move from its Dallas Love Field site to Alliance. Gulfstream plans to add another 50 jobs at Alliance while keeping between 30 and 35 employees at Love Field.
Also, the customer support organization “will be working in the background” to prepare for handing over G700s to customers in 2022. “There’s a lot of preparation and embedded teams that are behind the scenes right now getting ready for a new aircraft deployment so we’re ready to hit the ground running when customers start taking deliveries of G700s,” Zimmerman said.
DFJ Reports Cyberattack Soon After Embraer’s Attack
Dassault has become the second aviation OEM to report a cyberattack in as many weeks. The airframer’s Dassault Falcon Jet division, which markets and supports the Falcon family of business jets in the Americas, on Thursday stated that certain of its IT systems had suffered a cyberattack on Monday, December 7.
“DFJ immediately initiated procedures to investigate and remediate the event and has proactively isolated some of its systems to further protect them,” the company said. Furthermore, the company implemented contingency plans to ensure customers and employee concerns are addressed. DFJ added that global deliveries of Falcons are unaffected so far.
The report comes 11 days after Embraer issued a statement that it had suffered a cyberattack resulting in the disclosure of certain data. That attack actually occurred on November 30 and Embraer said it had to isolate certain systems to protect the overall network.
Lilium Seeks Commercial Pilots for eVTOL Aircraft Services
German eVTOL aircraft developer Lilium has entered into a partnership with Lufthansa Aviation Training to develop a pilot sourcing and training program to qualify flight crew for its all-electric Lilium Jet. The first phase of the program consists of bespoke Lilium type rating training certification for qualified commercial-rated pilots.
The project will use technologies, including mixed and virtual reality (MR/VR), and the agreement will open possibilities to recreate the program worldwide and generate a stable pipeline of qualified pilots to support the growth of the company and industry, Lilium said on Wednesday. In the first phase of the program, all new pilots recruited by Lilium will already hold a commercial pilot license. Lilium invited professional pilots interested in the prospect of flying for its service to contact the company at info@lilium.com.
For its part, Lufthansa Aviation Training will provide expertise in the training and development of competencies needed in the new field of piloting, complementing Lilium’s expertise in eVTOLs and the regional air mobility service it hopes to build. Lilium bills the training program as the first of its kind and a significant milestone on its road to launch.
This story is from FutureFlight.aero, a resource developed by AIN to provide objective, independent coverage and analysis of new aviation technology, including electric aircraft developments and advanced air mobility.
Leonardo Delivering 17 More AW139s to Italian Air Force
Leonardo has delivered the first of 17 multirole HH-139B twin-engine helicopters to the Italian Air Force from its plant in Vergiate. Deliveries of the AW139 variant are expected to be completed in 2021.
The new helicopters will be operated by the Italian Air Force’s 15th Wing, which is in charge of search and rescue (SAR) duties and supports disaster relief operations, and will join an existing fleet of 13 multirole HH-139As and four VH-139As. The latter are used for government transport missions. Compared to the HH-139A, the HH-139B features new electro-optics, radar, rescue hoist, and cabin mission console. Core avionics feature Phase 8 software enabling expanded navigation and mission capabilities. Each aircraft is reconfigurable from SAR to medevac or firefighting.
The AW139 has also been selected by Italy’s Guardia di Finanza, State Police, Coast Guard, National Fire Corps, and Carabinieri, in addition to several emergency medical service operators. This latest Italian Air Force’s program brings the total number of AW139s chosen by Italian government operators to nearly 80, flying parapublic missions including law enforcement and homeland security, patrol, special operations and anti-terrorism, SAR, firefighting, command and control, government/VVIP transport, disaster relief, and training.
Looking to avoid a surge in Covid cases over the busy holiday period, Colorado’s Pitkin County, which encompasses Aspen’s popular ski resorts, has introduced health regulations and an online travel affidavit form that all visitors must complete before arrival.
The regulations, which take effect December 14 and will last indefinitely, require all non-residents aged 10 and above who plan on spending one or more nights in the county to provide proof of a negative Covid-19 testthat was administered within 72 hours of arrival. Visitors must also confirm that all people in the affidavit were symptom-free for at least 10 days before travel. All travelers in the party must be included in the affidavit.
If a negative test result has not been received prior to arrival, travelers must agree to quarantine until they receive such a result. Alternatively, they may obtain a test at their own expense after arrival in Pitkin County, but they must quarantine until they receive a negative result.
In addition, all travelers must adhere to the county’s rule prohibiting gatherings of more than five people and people from more than two households. That includes all private residences, even if those present are masked and socially distanced.
Failure to comply with those requirements could result in a $5,000 fine.
Gogo Upgrades Inflight Entertainment System
Gogo has launched a premium inflight entertainment (IFE) service called Gogo Vision 360 that’s available with its newly released Avance 4.2 software update and features an upgraded 3D moving map from FlightPath3D. Vision 360 also includes unlimited streaming of on-demand movies, TV programming and news, and digital magazines.
The moving map includes high-resolution satellite imagery with virtual reality window seat views and cockpit HUD, as well as real-time flight data such as ground speed, altitude, and heading. Historical information about landmarks, attractions, and locations is also provided with the moving map as an aircraft flies over those points of interest.
Other content offered on the system includes more than 150 of the latest movie releases and popular TV shows, and 30 digital magazine titles such as Golf Digest, Forbes, and Wired. Vision 360 is available as a new service or free upgrade for existing Vision customers with Avance L5, L3, or SCS installed on their aircraft.
Hill Helicopters To Offer HX50 as Kit
Hill Helicopters will initially offer its five-seat HX50 turbine single as an amateur-built aircraft in 2023, following in 2026 with a certified Part 27 version designated the HC50. List price for the HX50 is $662,000 and includes a two-week builder assistance program at Hill’s UK factory. Hill said the price for the HC50 would be “significantly higher.” The company also announced that each helicopter would come with a 5,000-hour, five-year nose-to-tail warranty with no 12-year aircraft or engine overhaul requirement.
“There is no better way to understand the absolute necessity of correct piloting, operating, and vital maintenance requirements than being directly involved in the manufacture of your own helicopter,” said CEO Jason Hill. “We believe very strongly that this awareness is paramount to developing owner-operators with the knowledge, skills, and technical appreciation that enable long-term safe operation of their aircraft.”
Hill unveiled the HX50 in August and said it would begin flight testing in 2022. The aircraft features an all-composite, three-blade main rotor, retractable landing gear, and a ducted tail rotor. Performance targets include a 140-knot cruise speed and a maximum range of 700 nm.
Photo of the Week
Pitstop at Pease in Portsmouth. Mark Millar, an assistant quality assurance manager for PlaneSense, happened upon this Charleston Air National Guard C-17 refueling on the ramp next to his company hangar at Pease International Tradeport in Portsmouth, New Hampshire last month. He was able to snap a few photos at sunset to capture this beautiful shot. Thanks for sharing Mark!
If you'd like to submit an entry for Photo of the Week, email a high-resolution horizontal image (at least 2000 x 1200 pixels), along with your name, contact information, social media names, and info about it (including brief description, location, etc.) to photos@ainonline.com. Tail numbers can be removed upon request. Those submitting photos give AIN implied consent to publish them in its publications and social media channels
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.
